LU. and YBL. 702.

[9-9] LU. and YBL. 703.

[10-10] Stowe.

[11-11] LU. and YBL. 703.

[12-12] LU. and YBL. 704.

[13-13] LU. and YBL. 706.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 707.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 708.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] LU. and YBL. 709-711.

[6-6] H. 2. 17.

"[7]Thereupon[7] they went on till [8]bravely, boldly, battle-victoriously,
boastingly, blade-redded,[8] they reached [9]the fair plain of[9] Emain. It
was then Lebarcham, [10]the watch in Emain Macha,[10] [11]came forth
and[11] discerned them, she, the daughter of Aue ('Ear') and of Adarc
('Horn') [12]and she hastened to Conchobar's house, her eye restless in her
head and her tongue faltering in her jaw.[12] "A single chariot-fighter is
here, [13]coming towards Emain Macha,"[13] cried Lebarcham, "and his coming
is fearful. The heads of his foes all red in his chariot with him.
Beautiful, all-white birds he has hovering around in the chariot. With him
are wild, untamed deer, bound and fettered, shackled and pinioned. And
[14]I give my word,[14] if he be not attended to this night, [15]blood will
flow over Conchobar's province by him and[15] the youths of Ulster will
fall by his hand." "We know him, that chariot-fighter," spake Conchobar;
"[16]belike it is[16] the little gilla, my sister's son, who went to the
edge of the marches [17]at the beginning of the day,[17] [W.1355.] who has
reddened his hands and is still unsated of combat, and unless he be
attended to, all the youths of Emain will fall by his hand." [1]Soon he
turned the left[a] side of his chariot towards Emain, and this was geis for
Emain. And Cuchulain cried, "I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen
swear, if a man be not found to engage with me, I will spill the blood of
every one in the dun!"[1]

[7-7] H. 2. 17.

[8-8] H. 2. 17.

[9-9] H. 2. 17.

[10-10] LU. and YBL. 713.

[11-11] H. 2. 17.

[12-12] H. 2. 17.

[13-13] H. 2. 17.

[14-14] H. 2. 17.

[15-15] H. 2. 17.

[16-16] H. 2. 17.

[17-17] H. 2. 17.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 715-718.

[a] To turn the left side was an insult and sign of hostility.

"And this was the counsel they agreed to follow: to let out the womenfolk
to meet the youth, namely, thrice fifty women, even ten and seven-score
bold, stark-naked women, at one and the same time, and their chieftainess,
Scannlach ('the Wanton') before them, to discover t