goes to him. They tell him their message. "Come with us for the
sake of the honour of Connacht." "I will not go," said he, "unless they
give Finnabair to me." Afterwards he goes with them. They bring his armour
in a car from the east of Connacht and place it in the camp.[4] [5]Then was
Nathcrantail called into the tent of Ailill and Medb.[5] [6]"Wherefore am I
summoned to ye?" Nathcrantail asked. "It would please us well," Medb
replied, "werest thou to fight and contend with Cuchulain on the ford and
ward him off from us at the morning hour early on the morrow.[6] [1]Thou
shalt have Finnabair," said Medb, "for going to fight yonder man." "I will
do it," said he.[1] [2]He engaged to undertake the battle and combat and
that night be made ready, and early on the morrow Nathcrantail arose for
the battle and combat and he took his warlike implements with him to the
fight, and though early he arose, Cuchulain arose still earlier.[2]
[3]That night Lugaid came to Cuchulain. "Nathcrantail comes to meet thee
to-morrow. Alas for thee, thou wilt not withstand him." "That matters not,"
Cuchulain made answer.[3][a]

[1-1] Stowe, and LU. fo. 69a, in the margin.

[2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, H. 2. 17.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 1233-1242 and Eg. 1782.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1242-1246.

[5-5] H. 2. 17.

[6-6] H. 2. 17.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 1246-1247.

[2-2] H. 2. 17.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 1248-1250.

[a] Here follows one line (1251 in LU., edition of Strachan and
O'Keeffe, and almost similarly in YBL.) which seems to refer to some
saying of Cuchulain's about Nathcrantail which we cannot locate.

[4]On the morrow Nathcrantail went forth from the camp[4] and he came to
attack Cuchulain. [W.1942.] He did not deign to bring along arms but thrice
nine spits of holly after being sharpened, burnt and hardened in fire. And
there before him on the pond was Cuchulain [5]a-fowling and his chariot
hard by him,[5][b] and there was no shelter whatever. [6]And when
Nathcrantail perceived Cuchulain[6] he [7]straightway[7] cast a dart at
Cuchulain. Cuchulain sprang [8]from the middle of the ground[8] till he
came on the tip of the dart. [9]And he performed a feat on the point of
the dart and it hindered him not from catching the birds.[9] And again
Nathcrantail threw a second dart. Nathcrantail threw a third dart and
Cuchulain sprang on the point of the second [W.1951.] dart and so on till
he was on the