en seams tucked up about them; three studded
shields with images of beasts for emblems in silvered bronze upon them and
with bosses of red gold; three very keen swords with guards adorned with
gold thread along their shoulders; broad-bladed javelin-heads on ashen
shafts in their hands." "Who might that be there, O Fergus?" asked Ailill.
"That I know," answered Fergus: "the three venoms of serpents; three
cutting ones; three edges; three watchful ones; three points of combat;
three pillars of the borders; three powerful companies of Ulster; three
wardens of Erin; three triumph-singers of a mighty host are there," said
Fergus, "the three sons of Conchobar, namely Glas and Mane and Conaing."

[1-1] H. 1. 13.

"Yet another company there came to the mound in Slane of Meath," said
macRoth. "Stately, in beautiful colours, gleaming-bright they came to the
mound. Not fewer than an army-division, as a glance might judge them. A
bold, fair-cheeked youth in the van of that troop; light-yellow hair has
he; though a bag of red-shelled nuts were spilled on his crown, not a nut
of them would fall to the ground because of the twisted, curly locks of his
head. Bluish-grey as harebell is one of his eyes; as black as beetle's
back is the other; the one brow black, the other white; a forked,
light-yellow beard has he; a magnificent red-brown mantle about him; a
round brooch adorned with gems of precious stones fastening it in his
mantle over his right shoulder; a striped tunic of silk with a golden
hem next to his skin; an ever-bright shield he bore; a hard-smiting,
threatening spear he held over him; a very keen sword with hilt-piece of
red gold on his thigh." "Who might that be, O Fergus?" asked Ailill. "I
know, then," replied Fergus: "it is battle against foes; it is the inciting
of strife; it is the rage of a monster; it is the madness of a lion; it is
the cunning of a snake; it is the rock of the [W.5558.] Badb; it is the sea
over dikes; it is the shaking of rocks; it is the stirring of a wild host,
namely Conall Cernach ('the Victorious'), the high-glorious son of Amargin,
that is come hither."[12]

[12-12] See note 12, page 331.

"Yet another company came to the same mound in Slane of Meath," said
macRoth. [1]"Very heroic and without number it is;[1] steady and dissimilar
to the other companies. [2]Strange garments, unlike the other companies
they wore. Famously have they come, both in arms and raiment and dress. A
great h