[4]"Another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath,” continued macRoth.  “Three bold, high-spirited youths of noble countenance, [5]fiery and noble,[5] in the front rank of that company.  Three cloaks of the one colour [6]they wore folded[6] upon them; [7]three close shorn, blae-yellow heads; three gold brooches over their arms; three sleeved tunics with embroidery of red gold, girded around them;[7] three shields wholly alike they bore; [8]three gold-hilted swords on their shoulders;[8] three five-pointed, [W.5360.] [1]broad and grey-green[1] spears in their [2]right[2] hands.”  “Who were those men there?” Ailill asked.  “I know,” Fergus answered; “the three princes of Roth, the three champions of Colph, the three of Midluachair, great in achievements, three seasoned warriors of the east of Erin, to wit, the three sons of Fiachna in quest of their bull are there, even Ros and Dare and Imchad, for theirs was the possession of the Brown Bull of Cualnge.  Even had they come alone, they would have offered you battle in defence of their bull and their drove, even though before them the enemy should not be routed."[4]

    [4-4] Stowe, and, partly, YBL. 48b, 33-45.

    [5-5] YBL. 48b, 34.

    [6-6] YBL. 48b, 36.

    [7-7] YBL. 48b, 35-38.

    [8-8] YBL. 48b, 39.

    [1-1] YBL. 48b, 40.

    [2-2] YBL. 48b, 40.

“Yet another company there came thither to the same hill in Slane of Meath,” said macRoth.  “Two [3]fair,[3] tender, young warriors at the head of that company, [5]and both wholly alike.  Brown, curly hair on the head of one of them; fair, yellow hair on that of the other;[5] two green cloaks wrapped about them; two bright-silver brooches in the cloaks over their breasts; two tunics of smooth yellow silk next to their skin; bright-hilted swords on their belts; [6]two bright shields with devious figures of beasts in silver;[6] two five-pronged spears with windings of pure bright silver in their hands.  Moreover, their years were nigh the same. [7]Together they lifted their feet and set them down again, for it was not their way for either of them to lift up his feet past the other."[7]

    [3-3] YBL. 48b, 20.

    [5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

    [6-6] YBL. 48b, 22.

    [7-7] YBL. 48b, 23-25.

“But, who might they be?” asked Ailill of Fergus.  “Well do we know them,” Fergus made answer.  “Two single, strong-necked champions are they; two united flames; two united torches; two champions; two heroes; two ridge-poles of hosts[a]; two dragons; two thunderbolts; two destroyers (?); two boars; two bold ones; two mad ones; the two loved ones of Ulster around their king; [W.5378.] [1]two breach-makers of hundreds; two spencers; the two darlings of the north of Erin, namely[1] Fiacha and Fiachna have come thither, two sons of Conchobar son of Fachtna son of Ross Ruad son of Rudraige.”

    [a] That is, ‘two chiefs of hospitality.’