manner they should proceed on their hosting.  Thus they declared they should proceed:  Each host with its king, each troop with its lord, and each band with its captain; each king and each prince of the men of Erin [1]by a separate route[1] on his halting height apart.  They took counsel who was most proper to seek tidings in advance of the host between the two provinces.  And they said it was Fergus, inasmuch as the expedition was an obligatory one with him, for it was he that had been seven years in the kingship of Ulster.  And [2]after Conchobar had usurped the kingship and[2] after the murder of the sons of Usnech who were under his protection and surety, Fergus left the Ultonians, and for seventeen years he was away from Ulster in exile and in enmity.  For that reason it was fitting that he above all should go after tidings.

    [7-7] Stowe.

    [1-1] Stowe and Add.

    [2-2] Stowe and Add.

So [3]the lead of the way was entrusted to Fergus.[3] Fergus before all fared forth to seek tidings, and a feeling of [4]love and[4] affection for his kindred of the men of Ulster came over him, and he led the troops astray in a great circuit to the north and the south.  And he despatched messengers with warnings to the Ulstermen, [5]who were at that time in their ‘Pains’ except Cuchulain and his father Sualtaim.[5] And he began to detain and delay the host [6]until such time as the men of Ulster should have gathered together an army.[6] [7]Because of affection he did so.[7]

    [3-3] Eg. 1782.

    [4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] LU. and YBL. 217.

[6-6] LU. and YBL. 227.

[7-7] Eg. 1782.

[W.472.] Medb perceived this and she upbraided him for it, and chanted the lay:—­

Medb:  “Fergus, speak, what shall we say? 
What may mean this devious way? 
For we wander north and south;
Over other lands we stray!”

Fergus:  “Medb, why art thou so perturbed? 
There’s no treacherous purpose here. 
Ulster’s land it is, O queen,
Over which I’ve led thy host!”

Medb:  “Ailill, splendid with his hosts,
[1]Fears thee lest thou should’st betray.[1]
Thou hast not bent all thy mind
To direct us on our way!”

Fergus:  “Not to bring the host to harm
Make these changing circuits I.
Haply could I now avoid
Sualtach’s son, the Blacksmith’s Hound!"[a]

Medb:  “Ill of thee to wrong our host,
Fergus, son of Ross the Red;
Much good hast thou found with us,
Fergus, in thy banishment!”

“[2]If thou showest our foemen love, No more shalt thou lead our troops; Haply someone else we’ll find To direct us on our way![2]”

[1-1] Reading with LU. and YBL. 252.

[a] That is, Cuchulain.

[2-2] Eg. 1782.

“I will be in the van of the troops no longer,” cried Fergus; “but do thou find another to go before them.”  For all that, Fergus kept his place in the van of the troops.