Then it was that the same two striplings surprised him, namely, the two sons of Nera son of Nuathar son of Tacan, while engaged in that feat.  And they vied which of the twain [4]would be the first to fight and contend with Cuchuain, which of them[4] would inflict the first wound upon [W.680.] him and be the first to behead him.  Cuchulain turned on them, and straightway he struck off their four heads [1]from themselves [2]Eirr and Indell[2] and [3]from Foich and Fochlam,[3] their drivers,[1] and he fixed a head of each man of them on each of the prongs of the pole.  And Cuchulain let the horses of the party go back in the direction of the men of Erin, to return by the same road, their reins loose [4]around their ears[4] and their bellies red and the bodies of the warriors dripping their blood down outside on the ribs of the chariots. [5]Thus he did,[5] for he deemed it no honour nor deemed he it fair to take horses or garments or arms from corpses or from the dead.  And then the troops saw the horses of the party that had gone out in advance before them, and the headless bodies of the warriors oozing their blood down on the ribs of the chariots ([6]and their crimsoned trappings upon them[6]).  The van of the army waited for the rear to come up, and all were thrown into confusion of striking, that is as much as to say, into a tumult of arms.

    [4-4] Stowe.

    [1-1] Stowe.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 306.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 306.

    [4-4] Stowe.

    [5-5] Stowe.

    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 310.

Medb and Fergus and the Mane and the sons of Maga drew near.  For in this wise was Medb wont to travel, and nine chariots with her alone; two of these chariots before her, and two chariots behind, and two chariots at either side, and her own chariot in the middle between them.  This is why Medb did so, that the turves from the horses’ hoofs, or the flakes of foam from the bridle-bits, or the dust of the mighty host or of the numerous throng might not reach the queen’s diadem of gold [7]which she wore round her head.[7] “What have we here?” queried Medb.  “Not hard to say,” each and all made answer; [LL.fo.60.] “the horses of the band that went out before us are here and their bodies lacking their heads in their chariots.”  They held [W.702.] a council and they felt certain it was the sign of a multitude and of the approach of a mighty host, and that it was the Ulstermen that had come [1]and that it was a battle that had taken place before them on the ford.[1] And this was the counsel they took:  to despatch Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar’s son, from them to learn what was at the ford; because, even though the Ulstermen might be there, they would not kill the son of their own king.  Thereupon Cormac Conlongas, Conchobar’s son, set forth and this was the complement with which he went, ten hundred in addition to twenty hundred armed men, to ascertain what was at the ford.