hast thou against
the lad?" queried Conchobar. "Not luckily for me hast thou come to quaff
my ale and to eat my food; for my substance is now a wealth gone to waste,
and my livelihood is a livelihood lost [3]now after my dog.[3] [4]He hath
kept honour and life for me.[4] Good was the friend thou hast robbed me of,
[5]even my dog,[5] in that he tended my herds and flocks and stock for me;
[6]he was the protection of all our cattle, both afield and at home."[6]
"Be not angered thereat, O Culann my master," said the little boy. [7]"It
is no great matter,[7] for I will pass a just judgement upon it." "What
judgement thereon wilt thou pass, lad?" Conchobar asked. "If there is a
whelp of the breed of that dog in Erin, he shall be reared by me till he be
fit to do [W.1049.] business as was his sire. [1]Till then[1] myself will
be the hound to protect his flocks and his cattle and his land [2]and even
himself[2] in the meanwhile. [3]And I will safeguard the whole plain of
Murthemne, and no one will carry off flock nor herd without that I know
it."[3]

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 515-518.

[2-2] LU. and YBL. 514.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 518-519.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 525.

[a] According to the LU.-YBL. version, Cuchulain seized the hound with
one hand by the apple of the throat and with the other by the back.

[5-5] LU. and YBL. 519-521.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 529-530.

[2-2] LU and YBL. 532.

[3-3] Stowe, YBL. and LU. 533-534.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 334.

[5-5] LU. and YBL. 535.

[6-6] LU. and YBL. 536.

[7-7] LU. and YBL. 537.

[1-1] Stowe.

[2-2] Literally, 'thyself,' LU. and YBL. 539.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 540-541.

"Well hast thou given judgement, little lad," said Conchobar. "In sooth,
we [4]ourselves[4] could not give one that would be better," said
Cathba.[a] "Why should it not be from this that thou shouldst take the name
Cuchulain, ('Wolfhound of Culann')?" "Nay, then," answered the lad; "dearer
to me mine own name, Setanta son of Sualtaim." "Say not so, lad," Cathba
continued; "for the men of Erin and Alba shall hear that name and the
mouths of the men of Erin and Alba shall be full of that name!" "It
pleaseth me so, whatever the name that is given me," quoth the little
lad. Hence the famous name that stuck to him, namely Cuchulain, after he
had killed the hound that was Culann's the Smith's.

[4-4] Stowe.

[a] The name of Conchobar's