The nobles of Erin arrived at the pillar-stone and they there beheld the signs of the browsing of the horses, cropping around the pillar, and they looked close at the rude hoop which the royal hero had left behind about the pillar-stone. [1]Then sat they down to wait till the army should come, the while their musicians played to them.[1] And Ailill took the withy in his hand and placed it in Fergus’ hand, and Fergus read the ogam script graven on the plug of the withy, and made known to the men of Erin what was the meaning of the ogam writing that was on it. [2]When Medb came, she asked, “Why wait ye here?” “Because of yonder withy we wait,” Fergus made answer; “there is an ogam writing on its binding and this is what it saith:  ’Let no one go past here till a man be found to throw a withy like unto this, using only one hand and made of a single branch, and I except my master Fergus.’  Truly,” Fergus added, “it was Cuchulain threw it, and it was his steeds that grazed this plain.”  And he placed the hoop in the hands of the druids,[2] and it is thus he began to recite and he pronounced a lay:—­

    “What bespeaks this withe to us,
    What purports its secret rede? 
    And what number cast it here,
    Was it one man or a host?

    “If ye go past here this night,
    And bide not [3]one night[3] in camp. 
    On ye’ll come the tear-flesh Hound;
    Yours the blame, if ye it scorn!

“[4]Evil on the host he’ll bring,[4] If ye go your way past this. [W.596.] Find, ye druids, find out here, For what cause this withe was made!”

[1]A druid speaks[1]: 

    “Cut by hero, cast by chief,
    As a perfect trap for foes. 
    Stayer of lords—­with hosts of men—­
    One man cast it with one hand!

    “With fierce rage the battle ’gins
    Of the Smith’s Hound of Red Branch.[a]
    Bound to meet this madman’s rage;
    This the name that’s on the withe!

[2]"Would the king’s host have its will—­ Else they break the law of war—­ Let some one man of ye cast, As one man this withe did cast![2]

    “Woes to bring with hundred fights
    On four realms of Erin’s land;
    Naught I know ’less it be this
    For what cause the withe was made!”

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 250.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 252-258.

    [3-3] Reading with Stowe, Add. and H. 1. 13.

    [4-4] Reading with LU. and YBL. 261.

    [1-1] LU., marginal note.

    [a] The name of the festal hall of the kings of Ulster.

    [2-2] Eg. 1782.