38.

[8-8] YBL. 48b, 39.

[1-1] YBL. 48b, 40.

[2-2] YBL. 48b, 40.

"Yet another company there came thither to the same hill in Slane of
Meath," said macRoth. "Two [3]fair,[3] tender, young warriors at the head
of that company, [5]and both wholly alike. Brown, curly hair on the head of
one of them; fair, yellow hair on that of the other;[5] two green cloaks
wrapped about them; two bright-silver brooches in the cloaks over their
breasts; two tunics of smooth yellow silk next to their skin; bright-hilted
swords on their belts; [6]two bright shields with devious figures of beasts
in silver;[6] two five-pronged spears with windings of pure bright silver
in their hands. Moreover, their years were nigh the same. [7]Together they
lifted their feet and set them down again, for it was not their way for
either of them to lift up his feet past the other."[7]

[3-3] YBL. 48b, 20.

[5-5] Stowe and H. 1. 13.

[6-6] YBL. 48b, 22.

[7-7] YBL. 48b, 23-25.

"But, who might they be?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Well do we know them,"
Fergus made answer. "Two single, strong-necked champions are they; two
united flames; two united torches; two champions; two heroes; two
ridge-poles of hosts[a]; two dragons; two thunderbolts; two destroyers (?);
two boars; two bold ones; two mad ones; the two loved ones of Ulster around
their king; [W.5378.] [1]two breach-makers of hundreds; two spencers; the
two darlings of the north of Erin, namely[1] Fiacha and Fiachna have come
thither, two sons of Conchobar son of Fachtna son of Ross Ruad son of
Rudraige."

[a] That is, 'two chiefs of hospitality.'

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

"There came also another company to that same mound," said macRoth. "'Tis
the engulphing of the sea for size; red-flaming fire [2]for splendour;[2] a
legion for number; a rock for strength; annihilation for battle; thunder
for might. A [3]rough-visaged,[3] wrathful, terrible, ill-favoured one at
the head of that band, and he was big-nosed, large-eared, apple-eyed,
[4]red-limbed,[4] [5]great-bellied, thick-lipped.[5] Coarse, grizzly hair
he wore; a streaked-grey cloak about him; a skewer of iron in the cloak
over his breast, so that it reached from one of his shoulders to the other;
a rough, three-striped tunic next to his skin; a sword of seven charges of
remelted iron he bore on his rump; a brown hillock he bore, namely his
shield; a great, grey spear with thirty nails driven through