[12-12] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

    [13-13] YBL. 47b, 37.

    [14-14] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 37.

    [15-15] YBL. 47b, 40.

“But who might that man be?” asked Ailill of Fergus.  “We know him full well,” Fergus made answer.  “He is half of a battle; he is the dividing[a] of combat; he is the wild rage of a watchhound, the man who is come thither; Rochad son of Fatheman, from Rigdonn in the north, is he yonder. [1]Your son-in-law is he[1]; [2]he wedded your daughter, namely Finnabair,[2] [3]without dower, and he brought neither marriage-gift nor bride-price to her."[3]

    [a] That is, ‘a single-handed warrior,’ translating from YBL. 47b, 43
    and Stowe.

    [1-1] YBL. 47b. 45.

    [2-2] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 47b, 46.

    [3-3] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

“Another battalion there came to the same hill in Slane of Meath,” continued macRoth.  “A stalwart, thick-thighed, [4]gross-calved[4] warrior at the head of that company; little but every limb of him as stout as a man.  Verily it is no lying word, he is a man down to the ground,” said he.  “Brown, bushy hair upon his head; a round-faced, ruddy countenance [5]covered with scars[5] he had; a flashing, proud eye in his head; a splendid, dexterous man was there, in this wise:  Accompanied by black-haired, black-eyed youths; with a red, flaming banner; [6]with terror and fearsomeness; with wonderful appearance, both of arms and apparel and raiment and countenance and splendour; with converse of heroes; with champions’ deeds;[6] with wilful rashness, so that they seek to rout overwhelming numbers outside of equal combat, [7]with their wrath upon foes, with raids into hostile lands,[7] with the violence of assault upon them, without having aught assistance from [W.5327.] Conchobar. [1]It is no lying word, stiffly they made their march, that company to Slane of Meath."[1]

    [4-4] YBL. 47b, 48, Stowe and H. 1. 13.

    [5-5] YBL. 48a, 2, Stowe and H. 1. 13.

    [6-6] Stowe, and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 4-6, H. 1. 13.

    [7-7] YBL. 48a, 8-9, and, similarly, Stowe and H. 1. 13.

    [1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and, similarly, YBL. 48a, 10-11.

“But, who might he be?” asked Ailill of Fergus.  “Aye then we know him,” Fergus made answer.  “A thirst for valour and prowess; a thirst for madness and fury; [2]a man of strength and of courage, of pride and of greatness of heart[2] is he that came thither.  The welding of hosts and of arms; the point of battle and of slaughter of the men of the north of Erin, mine own real foster-brother himself, Fergus son of Lete, [3]the king[3] from Line in the north, is the man yonder!”

    [2-2] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

    [3-3] YBL. 48a, 14.