o came, thirty hundred
their number.

[W.173.] [1]Now Cormac had three companies which came to Cruachan.[1]
Before all, the first company. A covering of close-shorn [2]black[2] hair
upon them. Green mantles and [3]many-coloured cloaks[3] wound about them;
therein, silvern brooches. Tunics of thread of gold next to their skin,
[4]reaching down to their knees,[4] with interweaving of red gold.
Bright-handled swords they bore, with guards of silver. [5]Long shields
they bore, and there was a broad, grey spearhead on a slender shaft in the
hand of each man.[5] "Is that Cormac, yonder?" all and every one asked.
"Not he, indeed," Medb made answer.

[1-1] LU. 7.

[2-2] Add.

[3-3] LU. 8.

[4-4] LU. 9.

[5-5] LU. 9-10.

The second troop. Newly shorn hair they wore [6]and manes on the back of
their heads,[6] [7]fair, comely indeed.[7] Dark-blue cloaks they all had
about them. Next to their skin, gleaming-white tunics, [LL.fo.55b.] [8]with
red ornamentation, reaching down to their calves.[8] Swords they had with
round hilts of gold and silvern fist-guards, [9]and shining shields upon
them and five-pronged spears in their hands.[9] "Is yonder man Cormac?" all
the people asked. "Nay, verily, that is not he," Medb made answer.

[6-6] Eg. 1782.

[7-7] Add.

[8-8] LU. 11-12.

[9-9] LU. 12-13.

[10]Then came[10] the last troop. Hair cut broad they wore; fair-yellow,
deep-golden, loose-flowing back hair [11]down to their shoulders[11] upon
them. Purple cloaks, fairly bedizened, about them; golden, embellished
brooches over their breasts; [12]and they had curved shields with sharp,
chiselled edges around them and spears as long as the pillars of a king's
house in the hand of each man.[12] Fine, long, silken tunics [13]with
hoods[13] they wore to the very instep. Together they raised their feet,
and together they set them down again. "Is that Cormac, yonder?" asked
all. "Aye, it is he, [14]this time,[14]" Medb made answer.

[10-10] Eg. 1782.

[11-11] LU. 16.

[12-12] LU. 17-18.

[13-13] LU. 15.

[14-14] Eg. 1782.

[W.186.] [1]Thus the four provinces of Erin gathered in Cruachan Ai.[1]
They pitched their camp and quarters that night, so that a thick cloud of
smoke and fire rose between the four fords of Ai, which are, Ath Moga, Ath
Bercna, Ath Slissen and Ath Coltna. And they tarried for the full space of
a fortnight in Cruachan, the hostel of Connacht, in wa