Will fend him from Erin's men!"

Fergus: "Howe'er young the Hound thou seest,
That Murthemne's Plain doth course,
That man hath not stood on earth
Whom he'd crush not with his might!"

Medb: "We will bring this warrior terms;
If he slight them, he is mad:
Half his cows, his women, half.
He shall change his way of fight!"

Fergus: "My wish, that yell not o'ercome
This Hound from proud Murthemne!
Deeds he fears not--fierce and bright--
This I know, if it be he!"

[2-2] H. 2. 17.

"Accost Cuchulain, O Fergus," said Medb. "Nay, then," quoth Fergus, "but do
thou accost him thyself, for ye are not asunder here in the valley, in
Glenn Fochaine." [W.1653.] And Medb began to address Cuchulain and she
made a lay, [1]to which he responded:[1]

Medb: "Culann's Hound, whom quatrains praise,[a]
Keep thy staff-sling far from us;
Thy fierce, famed fight hath us ruined,
Hath us broken and confused!"

Cuchulain: "Medb of Mur, he, Maga's son,
No base arrant wight am I.
While I live I'll never cease
Cualnge's raid to harass sore!"

Medb: "If thou wilt take this from us,
Valiant chief, thou Cualnge's Hound;
Half thy cows, thy women, half,
Thou shalt have [2]through fear of thee!"[2]

Cuchulain: "As by right of thrusts am I
Ulster's champion and defence,
Naught I'll yield till I retrieve
Cow and woman ta'en from Gael!"

Medb: "What thou askest is too much,
After slaughtering our fair troops,
That we keep but steeds and gauds,
All because of one sole man!"

Cuchulain: "Eocho's daughter, fair, of Fal,
I'm not good at wars of words;
Though a warrior--[b] fair the cheer--[b]
Counsel mine is little worth!"

Medb: "Shame thou hast none for what thou sayest,
O Dechtire's lordly[c] son!
Famous are the terms for thee,
O thou battling Culann's Hound!"

[1-1] Stowe.

[a] Literally, 'love.'

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

[b-b] A cheville.

[c] Literally, 'richly trooped.'

When this