space and time,
[2]and continued in that state till then; at last he rose and rushed to the
encampment,[2] [3]and he, the leech that had alone escaped from Cethern,
brought the alarm to the camp.[3]

[4-4] YBL. 42b, 13.

[5-5] YBL. 42b, 14.

[6-6] YBL. 42b, 16.

[7-7] YBL. 42b, 17.

[8-8] YBL. 42b, 18-19.

[a] See above, page 272.

[1-1] Stowe.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] YBL. 42b, 20.

"Hark, ye men of Erin," shouted the leech; "Cethern son of Fintan comes to
attack you, now that he has been healed and cured by Fingin the prophetic
leech, and take ye heed of him!" Thereat the men of Erin [4]in fear[4] put
Ailill's dress and his golden shawl [5]and his regal diadem[5] on the
pillar-stone in Crich Ross, that it might be thereon that Cethern son of
Fintan should first give vent to his anger on his arrival. [6]Eftsoons[6]
Cethern [7]reached the place where he[7] saw those things, namely Ailill's
dress and his golden shawl around the standing-stone in Crich Ross, and he,
being unaware and weetless, conceived it to be Ailill himself that was in
it. And he made a rush at it like a blast of wind and drave the sword
through the stone pillar till it went up to its pommel, [8]so that his fist
went through it after the sword.[8] "Deceit is here," cried Cethern son of
Fintan, "and on me have ye worked this deceit. And I swear an oath, till
there be found among ye [9]of the men of Erin[9] one that will put yon
royal dress about him and the golden shawl, I will not stay my hand from
them, slaughtering and destroying withal!"

[4-4] YBL. 42b, 22.

[5-5] Stowe.

[6-6] Stowe.

[7-7] Stowe

[8-8] YBL. 42b, 24.

[9-9] Stowe.

Mane Andoe son of Ailill and Medb heard that, and he put [10]his
father's[10] royal raiment about him and the golden shawl [11]and the
diadem on his head, and he snatched them up in his chariot before him[11]
and dashed off through the midst of the men of Erin. Cethern son of Fintan
pursued him closely and hurled his shield the length of a cast at him,
[W.4454.] so that the chiselled rim of the shield clave him[a] to the
ground, with chariot, driver, and horses. [1]When the men of Erin saw
that,[1] they surrounded Cethern on every side [2]and made him a victim of
spears and lances,[2] so that he fell at their hands in the strait wherein
he was. Wherefore 'Cethern's Strait-Fight and the Bloody Wounds of Cethern'
[3]is the name of this tal