ain, maddened with
thirst, begged her for a milking. She gave him a milking of one of the
teats [7]and straightway Cuchulain drank it.[7] "May this be a cure in time
for me, [8]old crone," quoth Cuchulain, "and the blessing of gods and of
non-gods upon thee!" said he;[8] and one of the queen's eyes became whole
thereby. He begged the milking of [9]another[9] teat. [10]She milked the
cow's second teat and[10] gave it to him and [11]he drank it and said,[11]
"May she straightway be sound that gave it." [12]Then her head was healed
so that it was whole.[12] He begged a third drink [W.2418.] [1]of the
hag.[1] [2]She milked the cow's third teat[2] and gave him the milking
of the teat [3]and he drank it.[3] "A blessing on thee of gods and of
non-gods, O woman! [4]Good is the help and succour thou gavest me."[4]
[5]And her leg was made whole thereby.[5] [6]Now these were their gods, the
mighty folk: and these were their non-gods, the folk of husbandry.[6] And
the queen was healed [7]forthwith.[7] [8]"Well, Cuchulain,[8] [9]thou
saidst to me," spake the Morrigan, "I should not get healing [10]nor
succour[10] from thee forever." "Had I known it was thou," Cuchulain made
answer, "I would never have healed thee." Or, it may be Drong Conculainn
('Cuchulain's Throng') on Tarthesc is the name of this tale in the Reaving
of the Kine of Cualnge.[9]

[1-1] LU. fo. 77a, in the margin.

[2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[3-3] Eg. 93.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 1748.

[5-5] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[6-6] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[a] Reading _fiadnaisse_.

[7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[8-8] Eg. 93.

[9-9] Stowe.

[10-10] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[11-11] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[12-12] LU. and YBL. 1753.

[1-1] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[2-2] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[3-3] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[4-4] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93.

[5-5] LU. and YBL 1755.

[6-6] A gloss incorporated in the text of LL., LU., YBL., Stowe,
H. 2. 17. and Eg. 93.

[7-7] Eg. 93 and H. 2. 17.

[8-8] Eg. 93.

[9-9] LU. and YBL. 1755-1758.

[10-10] Eg. 93.

[11]Then it was she alighted in the form of a royston crow on the bramble
that grows over Grelach Dolair ('the Stamping-ground of Dolar') in Mag
Murthemni. "Ominous is the appearance of a bird in this place above all,"
quoth Cuchulain. Hence cometh Sge nah Einchi ('Crow's Bramble') as a name
of Murthemne.[11]

[11-11] Eg