[10]I was sent against
him[10] I would not have come myself. I would have lads [11]enough[11] of
[W.2086.] his age from amongst my people to go meet him on a ford."

[1-1] Stowe.

[2-2] Eg. 93.

[3-3] Eg. 93.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1488.

[5-5] Eg. 93.

[6-6] Stowe.

[7-7] LU. and YBL. 1491.

[8-8] Eg. 93.

[9-9] LU. and YBL. 1491-1492.

[10-10] LU. and YBL. 1492-1493.

[11-11] Stowe and LU. and YBL. 1493.

"Indeed, it is easy to talk so," quoth Cormac Conlongas son of
Conchobar. "It would be well worth while for thyself if by thee fell
Cuchulain." [1]"Howbeit," said Cur, "since on myself it falls,[1] make ye
ready a journey [2]for me[2] at morn's early hour on the morrow, for a
pleasure I will make of the way [3]to this fight,[3] [4]a-going to meet
Cuchulain.[4] It is not this will detain you, namely the killing of yonder
wildling, Cuchulain!"

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 1496-1497.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1499-1500.

[5]There they passed the night.[5] Then early on the morrow morn arose Cur
macDa Loth [6]and he came to the ford of battle and combat; and however
early he arose, earlier still Cuchulain arose.[6] A cart-load of arms was
taken along with him wherewith to engage with Cuchulain, and he began to
ply his weapons, seeking to kill Cuchulain.

[5-5] Eg. 93.

[6-6] Eg. 93.

Now Cuchulain had gone early that day [7]to practise[7] his feats [8]of
valour and prowess.[8] These are the names of them all: the Apple-feat, and
the Edge-feat, and the Level Shield-feat, and the Little Dart-feat, and the
Rope-feat, and the Body-feat, and the Feat of Catt, and the Hero's
Salmon-leap,[a] and the Pole-cast, and the Leap over a Blow (?), and the
Folding of a noble Chariot-fighter, and the Gae Bulga ('the Barbed
Spear') and the Vantage (?) of Swiftness, and the Wheel-feat, [9]and the
Rim-feat,[9] and the Over-Breath-feat, and the Breaking of a Sword, and the
Champion's Cry, and the Measured Stroke, and the Side Stroke, and the
Running up a Lance and standing erect on its Point, and the Binding of the
[10]noble[10] Hero (around spear points).

[7-7] LU. and YBL. 1500.

[8-8] Stowe.

[a] "The Salmon-leap--lying flat on his face and then springing up,
horizontally, high in the air."--J.A. Synge, "The Aran Islands," page
111, Dublin, 1907.

[9-9] YBL. 1504.

[10-10] LU. 1506.

[W.2121.]