And when he was come, he saw naught save the fork in the middle of the ford, with four heads upon it dripping their blood down along the stem of the fork into the stream of the river, [2]and a writing in ogam on the side,[2] and the signs of the two horses and the track of a single chariot-driver and the marks of a single warrior leading out of the ford going therefrom to the eastward. [3]By that time,[3] the nobles of Erin had drawn nigh to the ford and they all began to look closely at the fork.  They marvelled and wondered who had set up the trophy. [4]"Are yonder heads those of our people?” Medb asked.  “They are our people’s, and our chosen ones’,” answered Ailill.  One of their men deciphered the ogam-writing that was on the side of the fork, to wit:  ’A single man cast this fork with but a single hand; and go ye not past it till one man of you throw it with one hand, excepting Fergus.’[4] “What name have ye men of Ulster for this ford till now, Fergus?” asked Ailill.  “Ath Grenca,"[a] answered Fergus; “and Ath Gabla (’Ford of the Fork’) shall now be its name forever from this fork,” said Fergus.  And he recited the lay:—­

    [7-7] Stowe.

    [1-1] Stowe.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 313.

    [3-3] LU. and YBL. 314.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 314-318.

    [a] So Stowe; LL. has ‘Grena.’

[W.719.] “Grenca’s ford shall change its name, From the strong and fierce Hound’s deed.  Here we see a four-pronged fork, Set to prove all Erin’s men!

    “On two points—­as sign of war—­
    Are Fraech’s head and Fochnam’s head;
    On its other points are thrust
    Err’s head and Innell’s withal!

    “And yon ogam on its side,
    Find, ye druids, in due form,
    Who has set it upright there? 
    What host drove it in the ground?”

(A druid answers:)

    “Yon forked pole—­with fearful strength—­
    Which thou seest, Fergus, there,
    One man cut, to welcome us,
    With one perfect stroke of sword!

    “Pointed it and shouldered it—­
    Though this was no light exploit—­
    After that he flung it down,
    To uproot for one of you!

    “Grenca was its name till now—­
    All will keep its memory—­
    Fork-ford[a] be its name for aye,
    From the fork that’s in the ford!”

    [a] That is, Ath Gabla.

After the lay, spake Ailill:  “I marvel and wonder, O Fergus, who could have sharpened the fork and slain with such speed the four that had gone out before us.”  “Fitter it were to marvel and wonder at him who with a single stroke lopped the fork which thou seest, root and top, pointed and charred it and flung it the length of a throw from the hinder part of his chariot, from the tip of a single hand, so that it sank over two-thirds into the ground and that naught save one-third is above; nor was a hole first dug with his sword, but through a grey stone’s flag it was thrust, and thus it is geis for the men of Erin to proceed to the bed of this ford till one of ye pull out the fork with the tip of one hand, even as he erewhile drove it down.”