led to one of the sons of Mile,[a] none
of the Tuatha De Danann ('the Folk of the Goddess Danu') will have power to
practise concealment or magic. And why complainest thou here, [4]O
Ferdiad?" said Cuchulain.[4] "Thou hast a horn skin whereby to multiply
feats and deeds of arms on me, and thou hast not shown me how it is closed
or how it is opened."

[1-1] Stowe, H. 1. 13. Eg. 106 and Eg. 209.

[2-2] Eg. 106.

[3-3] Eg. 106.

[4-4] Eg. 106.

[a] That is, the Milesians, the ancestors of the Irish.

Then it was they displayed all their skill and secret cunning to one
another, so that there was not a secret of [W.3851.] either of them kept
from the other except the Gae Bulga, which was Cuchulain's. Howbeit, when
the Fairy friends found Cuchulain had been wounded, each of them inflicted
three great, heavy wounds on him, on Ferdiad, to wit. It was then that
Ferdiad made a cast to the right, so that he slew Dolb with that goodly
cast. Then followed the two woundings and the two throws that overcame him,
till Ferdiad made a second throw towards Cuchulain's left, and with that
throw he stretched low and killed Indolb dead on the floor of the ford.
Hence it is that the story-teller sang the rann:--

"Why is this called Ferdiad's Ford,
E'en though three men on it fell?
None the less it washed their spoils--
It is Dolb's and Indolb's Ford!"

What need to relate further! When the devoted, equally great sires[a]
[2]and champions,[2] and the hard, battle-victorious wild beasts that
fought for Cuchulain had fallen, it greatly strengthened the courage of
Ferdiad, so that he gave two blows for every blow of Cuchulain's. When Laeg
son of Riangabair saw his lord being overcome by the crushing blows of the
champion who oppressed him, Laeg began to stir up and rebuke Cuchulain, in
such a way that a swelling and an inflation filled Cuchulain [3]from top to
ground,[3] as the wind fills a spread, open banner, so that he made a
dreadful, wonderful bow of himself like a sky-bow in a shower of rain, and
he made for Ferdiad with the violence of a dragon or the strength of a
blood-hound.[1]

[1-1] See note 1, page 255.

[2-2] H. 1. 13.

[3-3] Eg. 106.

And Cuchulain called for the Gae Bulga from Laeg son of Riangabair. This
was its nature: With the stream it was made ready, and from between the
fork of the foot [a] Cuchulain was partly of divine birth, on one side the
son of Lugh lam