h is holding his shield, and even
there thrice fifty bloody wounds are upon it. And unless ye avenge this
betimes, ye will never avenge it till the end of time and of life."

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] YBL. 44a, 9.

[4-4] YBL. 44a, 13.

[5-5] YBL. 44a, 13.

[6-6] YBL. 44a, 15.

[LL.fo.94a.] "Fitter is death and doom and destruction for the man that so
incites the king!" quoth Cathba the druid. "In good sooth, it is true!"
[1]said the Ulstermen[1] all together.

[1-1] Stowe.

[2]Thereupon[2] Sualtaim went his way [3]from them,[3] indignant and angry
because from the men of Ulster he had not had the answer that served him.
Then reared Liath ('the Roan') of Macha under Sualtaim and dashed on to
the ramparts of Emain. Thereat [4]Sualtaim fell under his own shield, so
that[4] his own shield turned on Sualtaim and the [5]scalloped[5] edge of
the shield severed Sualtaim's head, [6]though others say he was asleep on
the stone, and that he fell thence onto his shield on awaking.[6] [7]Hence
this is the 'Tragical Death of Sualtaim.'[7]

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] YBL. 44a, 28.

[6-6] YBL. 44a, 32-33.

[7-7] Stowe.

The horse himself turned back again to Emain, and the shield on the horse
and the head on the shield. And Sualtaim's head uttered the same words:
"Men are slain, women stolen, cattle lifted, ye men of Ulster!" spake the
head of Sualtaim.

"Some deal too great is that cry," quoth Conchobar; "for yet is the sky
above us, the earth underneath and the sea round about us. And unless the
heavens shall fall with their showers of stars on the man-like[a] face of
the world, or unless the ground burst open in quakes [8]beneath our
feet,[8] or unless the furrowed, blue-bordered ocean break o'er the tufted
brow of the earth, will I restore [W.4756.] to her byre and her stall, to
her abode and her dwelling-place, each and every cow and woman of them with
victory of battle and contest and combat!"

[a] Reading with LL. 5027 and 5975, which gives better meaning than the
expression 'fort-face,' of LL.

[8-8] Stowe.

Thereupon a runner of his body-guard was summoned to Conchobar, Findchad
Ferbenduma ('he of the copper Horn') to wit, son of Fraech Lethan ('the
Broad'), and Conchobar bade him go assemble and muster the men of Ulster.
And in like manner, in the drunkenness of sleep and of his 'Pains,'
Conchobar enumerated to him their quic