e, their oxen and their kine and their
droves, their steeds and their horses.[4] He then conceived a plan [5]in
his mind[5] and he made perfect his plan privily with his people. "What
counsel were better for me to make than to go and attack the men of Erin
[6]and to use my[a] strength on them[6] and have [7]my boast and[7] victory
over them, and thus avenge the honour of Ulster. And I care not though I
should fall myself there thereafter."

[1-1] YBL. 43a, 29.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] Stowe.

[6-6] Stowe.

[a] The MS. has 'his.'

[7-7] Stowe.

[LL.fo.92b.] And this is the counsel he followed. His two withered, mangy,
[8]sorrel[8] nags that were upon the strand hard by the fort were led to
him. And to them was fastened his ancient, [9]worn-out[9] chariot. [10]Thus
he mounted his chariot,[10] without either covers or cushions; [W.4601.]
[1]a hurdle of wattles around it.[1] His [2]big,[2] rough, pale-grey shield
of iron he carried upon him, with its rim of hard silver around it. He wore
his rough, grey-hilted, huge-smiting sword at his left side. He placed his
two rickety-headed, nicked, [3]blunt, rusted[3] spears by his side in the
chariot. His folk furnished his chariot around him with cobbles and
boulders and huge clumps, [4]so that it was full up to its ...[4] (?)

[8-8] YBL. 43a, 36.

[9-9] YBL. 43a, 36.

[10-10] YBL. 43a, 35.

[1-1] YBL. 43a, 35.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] YBL. 48a, 38.

In such wise he fared forth to assail the men of Erin. And thus he came,
[5]stark-naked,[5] [6]and the spittle from his gaping mouth trickling down
through the chariot under him.[6] [7]When the men of Erin saw him thus,
they began to mock and deride him.[7] "Truly it would be well for us," said
the men of Erin,[a] "if this were the manner in which all the Ulstermen
came to us [8]on the plain."[8]

[5-5] YBL. 43a, 40.

[6-6] This is the sense of Zimmer's translation, which is only
conjectural, of this difficult passage (see _Zeitschrift fuer Deutsches
Alterthum und Deutsche Litteratur_, Bd. xxxii, 1888, S. 275). The idea
is probably more clearly expressed in Stowe, H. 1. 13 and YBL. 43a,
41, and may be rendered, '_membrum virile ejus coram viros Hiberniae et
testes pendentes per currum_.'

[7-7] Stowe and, similarly, H. 1. 13.

[a] 'Said Medb,' Stowe.

[8-8] Stowe and, sim