rd prepare for battle.[2]
Perish [LL.fo.101b.] shall their race!
[3]Manful contest there shall be;[3]
Their foes they lie in wait for
And slay them all to-day!
Deep draughts of blood they drink:
Grief fills the hearts of queens:
[4]Tender lamentations follow:
Till soaked in blood shall be the grassy sod
On which they're slain,
To which they come.[4]
If for Cualnge's kine it be,
[5]Let Macha's kings![5] Let them arise!"

[1-1] Reading with YBL 50a, 52.

[2-2] From a conjectural emendation of YBL. 50a, 54.

[3-3] YBL. 50b, 1.

[4-4] YBL. 50b, 3.

[5-5] YBL. 50b, 5.

Not long was Laeg there when he witnessed something: the men of Erin all
arising at one time, taking their shields and their spears and their swords
and their helmets, and urging the men-of-war before them to the battle. The
men of Erin, every single man of them, fell to smite and to batter, to cut
and to hew, to slay and to destroy the others [W.5859.] for a long space
and while. Thereupon Cuchulain asked of his charioteer, of Laeg son of
Riangabair, at the time that a bright cloud came over the sun: [1]"Look for
us![1] How fight [2]the Ulstermen[2] the battle now, O my master Laeg?"
"Like men they fight," Laeg answered. "Should I mount my chariot, and En,
Conall [3]Cernach's ('the Victorious')[3] charioteer, his chariot, and
should we go in two chariots from one wing to the other on the points of
the weapons, neither hoof nor wheel nor axle-tree nor chariot-pole would
touch [4]the ground[4] for the denseness and closeness and firmness with
which their arms are held in the hands of the men-at-arms at this time."

[1-1] YBL. 51a, 45.

[2-2] YBL. 51a, 45.

[3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13, Add. and YBL. 51a, 47.

[4-4] Stowe and Add.

"Alas, that I am not yet strong enough to be amongst them [5]now!"[5] cried
Cuchulain; "for, were I able, my breach would be manifest there to-day like
that of another," spake Cuchulain. "But this avow, O Cucuc," said Laeg:
"'tis no reproach to thy valour; 'tis no disgrace to thine honour. Thou
hast wrought great deeds before now and thou wilt work great deeds
hereafter."

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

Then began the men of Erin to smite and to batter, to cut and to hew, to
slay and to destroy the others for a long space and while. Next came to
them the nine chariot-fighters of the champions from Norseland, and the
three foot-warri