go again to view the hosting of the men of Ulster, so
that he reached their encampment at Slane of Meath.[5] It was not long
macRoth had been there when he saw something: An incomparable, immense
troop of horsemen in Slane of Meath coming straight from the north-east. He
hastened forward to where were Ailill and Medb and Fergus and the chiefs of
the men of Erin. Ailill asked tidings of him on his arrival: "Say,
macRoth," queried Ailill; "sawest thou aught of the men of Ulster on the
trail of the host this day?" "Truly I know not," answered macRoth; "but I
saw an incomparable, immense troop of horsemen in Slane of Meath coming
straight from the north-east." "But how many numbered the horse-troop?"
asked Ailill. "Not fewer, meseemed, [W.5107.] than thirty hundred fully
armed chariot-fighters were they, even ten hundred and twenty hundred fully
armed chariot-fighters," macRoth made answer.

[5-5] YBL. 46a, 28-31.

"So, O Fergus," quoth Ailill, [1]"those are the warriors of Ulster with
Conchobar![1] How thinkest thou to terrify us till now with the smoke and
dust and the breath of a mighty host, while all the battle-force thou hast
is that we see yonder!"

[1-1] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

"A little too soon belittlest thou them," Fergus retorted; "for mayhap the
bands are more numerous than is said they are."

"Let us take good, swift counsel on the matter," said Medb; "for yon huge,
most fierce, most furious man will attack us we ween, Conchobar, to wit,
son of Fachtna Fathach ('the Giant') son of Ross Ruad ('the Red') son of
Rudraige, himself High King of Ulster and son of the High King of Erin. Let
there be a hollow array of the men of Erin before Conchobar and a force of
thirty hundred ready to close in from behind, and the men shall be taken
and in no wise wounded; for, no more than is a caitiff's lot is this
whereto they are come!" Wherefore this is the third most derisive word that
was spoken on the Cattle-lifting of Cualnge, even to take Conchobar [2]and
his people[2] prisoners without wounding, and to inflict a caitiff's lot on
the ten hundred and twenty hundred who accompanied the kings of Ulster.

[2-2] Stowe.

And Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar heard that, and he knew that unless
he took vengeance at once upon Medb for her great boast, he would not
avenge it till the very day of doom and of life.

It was then that Cormac Conlongas son of Conchobar arose with his troop of
thirty hundred to infli