he battle, [1]and he
cleared a gap of an hundred in the battle-ranks with his sword in his two
hands.[1] Ailill seized his weapons. Medb seized her weapons and entered
the battle. [2]The Mane seized their arms and came to the battle. The
macMagach seized their arms and came to the battle,[2] so that thrice the
Ulstermen were routed before them from the north, till Cualgae[c] and sword
drove them back again. [3]Or it was Cuchulain that drove the men of Erin
before him, so that he brought them back into their former line in the
battle.[3]

[1-1] YBL. 52a, 6-8.

[2-2] Stowe, and, similarly, Add.

[c] The name of the wheeled towers described above, page 338 fl.

[3-3] Stowe, H. 1. 13 and Add.

Conchobar heard that from his place in the line of battle, that the battle
had gone against him thrice from the north. Then he addressed his
bodyguard, even the inner circle of the Red Branch: "Hold ye here a while,
ye men!" cried he; "even in the line [4]of battle[4] where I am, that I may
go and learn by whom the battle has been thus forced against us thrice from
the north." Then said his household: "We will hold out," said they, [5]"in
the place wherein we are:[5] [W.5974.] for the sky is above us and the
earth underneath and the sea round about us, [1]and[1] unless the heavens
shall fall with their showers of stars on the man-face of the world, or
unless the furrowed, blue-bordered ocean break o'er the tufted brow of the
earth, or unless the ground yawns open, will we not move a thumb's breadth
backward from here till the very day of doom and of everlasting life, till
thou come back to us!"

[4-4] Stowe.

[5-5] YBL. 52a, 14.

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

Conchobar went his way to the place where he heard the battle had gone
three times [LL.fo.102b.] against him from the north. [2]Then Conchobar
made a rush at Fergus,[2] and he lifted shield against shield there, namely
against Fergus mac Roig, even Ochain ('the Fair-ear')[a] of Conchobar with
its four ears of gold and its four bracings of red gold. Therewith Fergus
gave three stout blows of Badb on the Ochain of Conchobar, so that
Conchobar's shield cried aloud on him [3]and the three chief waves of Erin
gave answer, the Wave of Clidna, the Wave of Rudraige and the Wave of Tuag,
to wit.[3] Whenever Conchobar's shield cried out, the shields of all the
Ulstermen cried out. However great the strength and power with which Fergus
smote Conchoba