it is for thee to oppose thy foster-brother and thy
comrade and friend, on the counsel of any woman in the world!" "A pity it
is, O Cuchulain," Ferdiad responded. "But, should I part without a struggle
with thee, I should be in ill repute forever with Medb and with the nobles
of the four grand provinces of Erin." "A pity it is, O Ferdiad," said
Cuchulain; "not on the counsel of all the men and women in the world would
I desert thee or would I do thee harm. And almost would it make a clot of
gore of my heart to be combating with thee!"[1]

[3-3] Eg. 209 and Eg. 106.

[a] An unusual colour of the hair betokened misfortune.

[1-1] Eg. 106.

And Cuchulain lamented and moaned, and he spake these words and Ferdiad
responded:--

Cuchulain: "Ferdiad, ah, if it be thou,
Well I know thou'rt doomed to die!
To have gone at woman's hest,
Forced to fight thy comrade sworn!"

Ferdiad: "O Cuchulain--wise decree--
Loyal champion, hero true,
Each man is constrained to go
'Neath the sod that hides his grave!"

Cuchulain: "Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair,
Stately maiden though she be,
Not for love they'll give to thee,
But to prove thy kingly might!"

Ferdiad: "Proved was my might long since,
Cu of gentle spirit thou.
Of one braver I've not heard;
Till to-day I have not found!"

Cuchulain: "Thou art he provoked this fight,
Son of Daman, Dare's son,
To have gone at woman's word,
Swords to cross with thine old friend!"

Ferdiad: [W.3679.] "Should we then unfought depart,
Brothers though we are, bold Hound,
Ill would be my word and fame
With Ailill and Cruachan's Medb!"

Cuchulain: "Food has not yet passed his lips,
Nay nor has he yet been born,
Son of king or blameless queen,
For whom I would work thee harm!"

Ferdiad: "Culann's Hound, with floods of deeds,
Medb, not thou, hath us betrayed;
Fame and victory thou shalt have;
Not on thee we lay our fault!"

Cuchulain: "Clotted gore is my brave heart,
Near I'm parted from my soul;
Wrongful 'tis--with hosts of deeds--