the
crested, plated, four-bordered battle-cap with variety of every colour
and every figure, reaching [5]down[5] over the middle of his shoulders
behind. It was an adornment for him and not an encumbrance. With his hand
he placed the red-yellow frontlet--like one red-golden strip of glowing
gold smelted over the edge of an anvil--on his forehead as a token of
charioteering, to distinguish him from his master. He opened the hobbles
that fastened his steeds and grasped his gold-mounted goad in his right
hand. In his left hand he seized the lines, that is, the bridle-reins of
his horses for restraining his steeds before performing his charioteering.

[1-1] Eg. 93.

[2-2] Stowe and LU. 1874.

[3-3] H. 2. 17 and Eg. 93, instead of, 'Darius.'

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

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

[W.2542.] He next threw the iron-sheathed gold-bedecked coats of mail over
his horses, so that they covered them from forehead to forehand. [1]The
chariot was[1] [2]studded with[2] dartlets, lancelets, spearlets, and
hardened spits, so that every portion of the frame bristled with points in
that chariot and every corner and end and point and face of that chariot
was a passage of laceration.

[1-1] There is a gap in the MS., and these words are supplied from the
context.

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

Then cast he a spell of concealment over his horses and over his fellow, so
that they were not visible to any one in the camp, while all in the camp
were visible to them, [3]and over this veil of protection he wounded each
one and through it and behind it.[3] Well indeed was it that he cast that
charm, for on that day the charioteer had to perform the three gifts of
charioteership, namely leaping over a cleft in the ranks, unerring driving,
and the handling of the goad.

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

Then [4]arose[4] the champion and battle-warrior and the instrument of
Badb's corpse-fold[a] among the men of the earth,[c] Cuchulain son of
Sualtaim, and he donned his war-dress of battle and fight and combat. To
that war-dress of battle and fight and combat which he put about him
belonged seven and twenty[b] waxed, board-like, equally close skin-tunics
which were girded by cords and swathings and ropes on his fair skin, to the
end that his wit and reason might not become deranged when the violence of
his nature came over him.

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

[a] That is, the piled up