The four mighty provinces of Erin passed that night on Cul Silinne.  The sharp, keen-edged anxiety for Cuchulain came upon Fergus and he warned the men of Erin to be on their guard, because there would come upon them the rapacious lion, and the doom of foes, the vanquisher of multitudes, and the chief of retainers, the mangler of great hosts, the hand that dispenseth [3]treasures,[3] and the flaming [W.502.] torch, even Cuchulain son of Sualtaim.[a] And thus he foreshowed him and chanted a lay, and Medb responded:—­

Fergus:  “Well for ye to heed and watch,
With array of arms and men. 
He will come, the one we fear,
Murthemne’s great, deedful youth!”

Medb:  “How so dear, this battle-rede,
Comes from thee, [LL.fo.58a.] Roig’s son most bold. 
Men and arms have I enough
To attend Cuchulain here!”

Fergus:  “Thou shalt need them, Medb of Ai,
Men and arms for battle hard,
With the grey steed’s[b] horseman brave. 
All the night and all the day!”

Medb:  “I have kept here in reserve
Heroes fit for fight and spoil;
Thirty hundred hostage-chiefs,
Leinster’s bravest champions they.

Fighting men from Cruachan fair,
Braves from clear-streamed Luachair,
Four full realms of goodly Gaels
Will defend me from this man!”

Fergus:  “Rich in troops from Mourne and Bann,
Blood he’ll draw o’er shafts of spears;
He will cast to mire and sand
These three thousand Leinstermen.

With the swallow’s swiftest speed,
With the rush of biting wind,
So bounds on my dear brave Hound,
Breathing slaughter on his foes!”

Medb:  “Fergus, should he come ’tween us,
To Cuchulain bear this word: 
He were prudent to stay still;
Cruachan holds a check in store.”

Fergus:  “Valiant will the slaughter be
Badb’s wild daughter[c] gloats upon. 
For the Blacksmith’s Hound will spill
Showers of blood on hosts of men!”

[3-3] Stowe and Add.

[a] MS.:  Sualtach.

[b] Liath Mache (’the Roan of Macha’), the name of one of Cuchulain’s
two horses.

[c] That is, the goddess or fury of battle.

[W.540.] After this lay the men of the four grand provinces of Erin marched [1]on the morrow[1] over Moin Coltna (’the Marsh of Coltain’) eastwards that day; and there met them eight score deer [2]in a single herd.[2] The troops spread out and surrounded and killed them so that none of them escaped.

    [1-1] LU. 195.

    [2-2] Stowe and Add.

But there is one event to add:  Although the division of the Galian had been dispersed [3]among the men of Erin,[3] [4]wherever there was a man of the Galian, it was he that got them, except[4] five deer only which was the men of Erin’s share thereof, so that one division took all the eight score deer.

    [3-3] Stowe and Add.