; he is the absence of every weakness, is that man,"
said Fergus, "namely Fingin the prophet mediciner, the physician of
Conchobar, with the leeches of Ulster around him. It is he that knoweth
the sickness of a man by the smoke of the house wherein he lies, or by
hearing his groans. Their medicine bags are the sacks which thou sawest
with them."

"Another company came to the mound in Slane of Meath," continued macRoth.
"A powerful, heavy, turbulent company; they caused uproar in their deeds of
arms [W.5512.] for the accomplishment of brilliant feats;[a] they tore up
the sad-sodded earth with the strength of their bitter rage, for the mighty
princes of the proud province of Conchobar would not allow them to proceed
to the great camp till all should be arrived. Two youths, swarthy and huge,
in the front of that company; soft, playful eyes in their heads; about
them, dark-grey tunics with silver pins set with stones; great, horn-topped
swords with sheaths they bore; strong, stout shields they bore; hollow
lances with rows of rivets, in their hands; glossy tunics next to their
skin." "We know well that company," quoth Fergus; "the household of
Conchobar and his vassals are those; their two leaders, Glasne and Menn,
two sons of Uthechar."

[a] There is a gap here in both Stowe and H. 1. 13, and consequently
the translation is uncertain.

"There came yet another band to the mound in Slane of Meath," continued
macRoth; "to wit, a band of a numerous body of henchmen. A black, hasty,
swarthy, ..., man in the front rank of that band; seven chains around his
neck; seven men at the end of each chain; these seven groups of men he
drags along, so that their faces strike against the ground, and they revile
him until he desists. Another terrible man is there, and the ponderous
stone which powerful men could not raise, he sets on his palm and flings on
high to the height a lark flies on a day of fine weather; a club of iron at
his belt." "I know those men," quoth Fergus: "Triscoth the strong man of
Conchobar's house; it is he that flings the stone on high. Ercenn son of
the three stewards, he it is in the chains."

"There came [1]another[1] large, stately company to the mound in Slane of
Meath," macRoth went on. "Three, very curly-headed, white-faced youths in
the van of that troop; three curly-red kirtles with brooches of silvered
bronze was the apparel they wore about them; three [W.5535.] sparkling
tunics of silk with gold