“Truly hath this happened to me.”  Fergus responded.  And Fergus placed his two hands on Calad Colg (’Hardblade’), and he heaved a blow with it backwards behind him, so that its point touched the ground, and he thought to strike his three fateful blows of Badb on the men of Ulster, so that their dead would be more in number than their living.  Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar saw that and he rushed to [5]his foster-father, namely to[5] Fergus, and he closed his two [6]royal hands[6] over him [7]outside his armour.[7] [8]"Ungentle, not heedful is this, Fergus my master!  Full of hate, not of friendship is this,[8] O Fergus my master!  Let not the Ulstermen be slain and destroyed by thee through thy destructive blows, but take thou thought for their honour to-day on this day of battle!” [W.6013.] “Get thee away from me, boy! [1]Whom then should I strike?"[1] exclaimed Fergus; “for I will not remain alive unless I deliver my three fateful strokes of Badb on the men of Ulster this day, till their dead be more in number than their living.”  “Then turn thy hand slantwise,” said Cormac Conlongas, “and slice off the hill-tops over the heads of the hosts [2]on every side[2] and this will be an appeasing of thine anger.”  “Tell Conchobar also to fall [3]back again[3] to his place in the battle,” [4]said Fergus; “and I will no longer belabour the hosts."[4] [5]Cormac told this to Conchobar:[5] [6]"Go to the other side, O Conchobar,” said Cormac to his father, “and this man will not visit his anger any longer here on the men of Ulster."[6] So Conchobar went to his place in the battle. [7]In this manner Fergus and Conchobar parted.[7]

    [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [6-6] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [8-8] Following Windisch’s emendation of the text.  The MSS. are corrupt
    here.

    [1-1] YBL. 52a, 35.

    [2-2] YBL. 52a, 36.

    [3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [4-4] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [5-5] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

    [6-6] YBL. 52a, 39-41.

    [7-7] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

[8]Fergus turned away.  He slew a hundred warriors of Ulster in the first onslaught with the sword.  He met Conall Cernach.  “Too great is this rage,” said Conall, “upon people and kindred because of the whim of a wanton.”  “What would ye have me do, ye warriors?” asked Fergus.  “Smite the hills crosswise and the bushes around,” Conall Cernach made answer.[8]

    [8-8] YBL. 52a, 41-47.

Thus it was with that sword, which was the sword of Fergus:  The sword of Fergus, the sword of Lete from Faery:  Whenever he desired to strike with it, it became the size of a rainbow in the air.  Thereupon Fergus turned his hand slantwise over the heads of the hosts, so that he smote the three tops of the three hills, so that they are still on the moor in sight of [9]the men of Erin.[9] And these are the three Maels (’the Balds’) of Meath in that place, [1]which Fergus smote as a reproach and a rebuke to the men of Ulster.[1]