now engaged on this hosting, [6]by this time[6] should we have come to
Ulster, driving divers spoils and cattle-herds with us. We wot wherefore
thou workest all this, to delay and detain the host till the Ulstermen rise
from their 'Pains' and offer us battle, the battle of the Tain."

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 322.

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 324.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] Stowe.

[a] "Fourteen," LU. and YBL. 325 and Eg. 1782.

[6-6] Stowe.

"Bring me a swift chariot," cried Fergus. And his own chariot was brought
to Fergus, and Fergus gave a tug at the fork, and nor wheel nor floor nor
one of the chariot-poles creaked nor cracked. Even though it was with his
strength and prowess that the one had driven it down, with his might and
doughtiness the other drew it out,--the battle-champion, the gap-breaker of
hundreds, the crushing sledge, the stone-of-battle for enemies, the
[W.777.] head of retainers, the foe of hosts, the hacking of masses, the
flaming torch and the leader of mighty combat. He drew it up with the tip
of one hand till it reached the slope of his shoulder, and he placed the
fork in Ailill's hand. Ailill scanned it; he regarded it near. "The fork,
meseems, is all the more perfect," quoth Ailill; "for a single stroke I see
on it from butt to top." "Aye, all the more perfect," Fergus replied. And
Fergus began to sing praise [1]of Cuchulain,[1] and he made a lay
thereon:--

"Here behold the famous fork,
By which cruel Cuchulain stood.
Here he left, for hurt to all,
Four heads of his border-foes!

"Surely he'd not flee therefrom,
'Fore aught man, how brave or bold.
Though the scatheless[a] Hound this left,
On its hard rind there is gore!

"To its hurt the host goes east,
Seeking Cualnge's wild Brown bull.
[2]Warriors' cleaving there shall be,[2]
'Neath Cuchulain's baneful sword!

"No gain will their[b] stout bull be,
For which sharp-armed war will rage;
At the fall of each head's skull
Erin's every tribe shall weep!

"I have nothing to relate
As regards Dechtire's son.[c]
Men and women hear the tale
Of this fork, how it came here!"

[1-1] Stowe.

[a] Literally, 'painless,' referring to Cuchulain's exemption from the
_cess_ or 'debility' of the Ulstermen.

[2-2] Reading with Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[b] Translating from Stowe; LL. has 'his' or 'its.'

[c] Tha