YBL. 1739-1743.

And deep distress[a] possessed Cuchulain that day [2]more than any other
day[2] for his being all alone on the Tain, [3]confronting four of the five
grand provinces of Erin,[3] [4]and he sank into swoons and faints.[4]
Thereupon Cuchulain enjoined upon Laeg his charioteer to go to the men of
Ulster, that they should come to defend their drove. [5]And, on rising,
this is what he said:[5] [6]"Good, O Laeg, get thee to Emain to the
Ulstermen, and bid them come henceforward to look after their drove for I
can defend their fords no longer. For surely it is not fair fight nor equal
contest for any man for the Morrigan to oppose and overpower him and Loch
to wound and pierce him."[6] And weariness of heart and weakness overcame
him, and he gave utterance to a lay:--

"Rise, O Laeg, arouse the hosts,
Say for me in Emain strong:
I am worn each day in fight,
Full of wounds, and bathed in gore!

"My right side and eke my left:
Hard to say which suffers worse;
Fingin's[b] hand hath touched them not,
Stanching blood with strips of wood!

[W.2329.] "Bring this word to Conchobar dear,
I am weak, with wounded sides.
Greatly has he changed in mien,
Dechtire's fond, rich-trooped son!

"I alone these cattle guard,
Leave them not, yet hold them not.
Ill my plight, no hope for me,
Thus alone on many fords!

"Showers of blood rain on my arms,
Full of hateful wounds am I.
No friend comes to help me here,
Save my charioteer alone!

"Few make music here for me,
Joy I've none in single horn.
When the mingled trumpets sound,[a]
This is sweetest from the drone!

"This old saying, ages old:--
'Single log gives forth no flame;'
Let there be a two or three,
Up the firebrands all will blaze!

"One sole log burns not so well
As when one burns by its side.
Guile can be employed on one;
Single mill-stone doth not grind!

"Hast not heard at every time,
'One is duped'?--'tis true of me.
That is why I cannot last
These long battles of the hosts!

"However small a host may be,
It receives some thought and pains;
Take but this: its daily meat
On one fork is never cooked!

"Thus alone I've faced the host,
By the ford in broad Cantire;
Many came, both Loch and Badb,
As foretold in 'Regomain!'[b]

"Loch has mangled my two thighs;
Me