HKB
have no consideration for them. Take thought for the honour of Ulster: what has not been lost shall not be lost, if it be not lost through you to-day (?).
'Go in some other direction, O Conchobar,' said Cormac to his father; 'this man will not put out his rage on the Ulstermen any more here.'
Fergus turned away. He slew a hundred warriors of Ulster in the first combat with the sword. He met Conall Cernach.
'Too great rage is that,' said Conall Cernach, 'on people and race, for a wanton.'
'What shall I do, O warriors?' said he.
'Smite the hills across them and the champions (?) round them,' said Conall Cernach.
Fergus smote the hills then, so that he struck the three Maela [Note: i.e. flat-topped hills.] of Meath with his three blows. Cuchulainn heard the blows then that Fergus gave on the hills or on the shield of Conchobar himself.
'Who strikes the three strong blows, great and distant?' said Cuchulainn.
... Then Loeg answered and said: 'The choice of men, Fergus Mac Roich the very bold, smites them.' ...
Then Cuchulainn said: 'Unloose quickly the hazeltwigs; blood covers men, play of swords will be made, men will be spent therefrom.'
Then his dry wisps spring from him on high, as far as ---- goes; and his hazel-twigs spring off, till they were in Mag Tuag in Connaught ... and he smote the head of each of the two handmaidens against the other, so that each of them was grey from the brain of the other. They came from Medb for pretended lamentation over him, that his wounds might burst forth on him; and to say that the Ulstermen had been defeated, and that Fergus had fallen in opposing the battle, since Cuchulainn's coming into the battle had been prevented. The contortion came on him, and twenty-seven skin-tunics were given to him, that used to be about him under strings and thongs when he went into battle; and he takes his chariot on his back with its body and its two tyres, and he made for Fergus round about the battle.
'Turn hither, O friend Fergus,' said Cuchulainn; and he did not answer till the third time. 'I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear,' said he, 'I will wash thee as foam [Note: Reading with L.L.] (?) is washed in a pool, I will go over thee as the tail goes over a cat, I will smite thee as a fond mother smites her son.'
'Which of the men of Ireland speaks thus to me?' said Fergus.
'Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim, sister's son to Conchobar,' said Cuchulainn; 'and avoid me,' said he.
'I have promised even that,' said Fergus.
'Your promise falls due, then,' said Cuchulainn.
'Good,' said Fergus, '(you avoided me), when you are pierced with wounds.'
Then Fergus went away with his cantred; the Leinstermen go and the Munstermen; and they left in the battle nine cantreds of Medb's and Ailill's and their seven sons.
In the middle of the day it is that Cuchulainn came into the battle; when the sun came into the leaves of the wood, it is then that he defeated the last company, so that there remained of the chariot only a handful of the ribs about the body, and a handful of the shafts about the wheel.
Cuchulainn overtook Medb then when he went into the battle.
'Protect me,' said Medb.
'Though I should slay thee with a slaying, it were lawful for me,' said Cuchulainn.
Then he protected her, because he used not to slay women. He convoyed them westward, till they passed Ath Luain. Then he stopped. He struck three blows with his sword on the stone in Ath Luain. Their name is the Maelana [Note: i.e., flat-topped hills] of Ath Luain.
When the battle was broken, then said Medb to Fergus: 'Faults and meet here to-day, O Fergus,' said she.