their colour, for some said they were blue, and some grey, and others hazel; and there were those who said that they were blacker than the blackest night that was ever known.  Yet again, there were those who said that they were of all colours named and nameless.  They were soft and liquid splendours, unfathomable lakes of light above his full and ruddy cheeks, and beneath his curved and most tranquil brows.  In form he was symmetrical, straight and pliant as a young fir tree when the sweet spring sap fills its veins.  So he came to that assembly, in the glory of youth, beauty, strength, valour, and beautiful shame-fastness, yet proud in his humility and glittering like the morning star.  Choice youths, his comrades, attended him.  The kings held their breaths when he drew nigh, moving white knee after white knee over the green and sparkling grass.  When the other rites had been performed and the due sacrifices and libations made, and after Cuculain had put his right hand into the right hand of the King and become his man, Concobar gave him a shield, two spears and a sword, weapons of great price and of thrice proved excellence—­a strong man’s equipment.  Cuculain struck the spears together at right angles and broke them.  He clashed the sword flat-wise on the shield.  The sword leaped into small pieces and the shield was bent inwards and torn.

“These are not good weapons, my King,” said the boy.  Then the King gave him others, larger and stronger and worthy of his best champions.  These, too, the boy broke into pieces in like manner.

“Son of Nessa, these are still worse,” he said, “nor is it well done, O Captain of the Red Branch, to make me a laughing-stock in the presence of this great hosting of the Ultonians.”

Concobar Mac Nessa exulted exceedingly when he beheld the amazing strength and the waywardness of the boy, and beneath delicate brows his eyes glittered like glittering swords as he glanced proudly round on the crowd of martial men that surrounded him.  Amongst them all he seemed himself a bright torch of valour and war, more pure and clear than polished steel.  He then beckoned to one of his knights, who hastened away and returned bringing Concobar’s own shield and spears and sword out of the Tec Brac, where they were kept, an equipment in reserve.  And Cuculain shook them and bent them and clashed them together, but they held firm.

“These are good arms, O son of Nessa,” said Cuculain.

“Choose now thy charioteer,” said the King, “for I will give thee also war-horses and a chariot.”

He caused to pass before Cuculain all the boys who in many and severe tests had proved their proficiency in charioteering, in the management and tending of steeds, in the care of weapons and steed-harness, and all that related to charioteering science.  Amongst them was Laeg, with a pale face and dejected, his eyes red and his cheeks stained from much weeping.  Cuculain laughed when he saw him, and called him forth from the rest, naming him by his name with a loud, clear voice, heard to the utmost limit of the great host.