Note 3-3 — Footnotes.

"Cathba the druid was 3with his son, namely Conchobar son of Ness,3 imparting 4learning4 to his pupils in the north-east of Emain, and eighta 5eager5 pupils in the class of druidic cunning were with him. 6That is the number that Cathba instructed.6 7One of them7 questioned his teacher, what fortune and presage might there be for the day they were in, whether it was good or whether it was ill. Then spake Cathba: "The little boy that takes arms 8this day8 shall be splendid and renowned 9for deeds of arms9 10above the youths of Erin 11and the tales of his high deeds shall be told11 forever,10 but he shall be short-lived and fleeting." Cuchulain overheard what he said, though far off at his play-feats south-west of Emain; and he threw away all his play-things and hastened to Conchobar's sleep-room 12to ask for arms.12 "All W. 1077. good attend thee, O king of the Fenè!" cried the little lad. "This greeting is the speech of one soliciting something of some one. What wouldst thou, lad?" said Conchobar. "To take arms," the lad made answer. "Who hath advised thee, little boy?" asked Conchobar. "Cathba the druid," said the lad. "He would not deceive thee, little boy," said Conchobar. Conchobar gave him two spears and a sword and a shield. The little boy shook and brandished the arms 1in the middle of the house1 so that he made small pieces and fragments of them. Conchobar gave him other two spears and a shield and a sword. He shook and brandished, flourished and poised them, so that he shivered them into small pieces and fragments. There where were the fourteena suits of arms which Conchobar had in Emain, 2in reserve in case of breaking of weapons or2 for equipping the youths and the boys—to the end that whatever boy assumed arms, it might be Conchobar that gave him the equipment of battle, and the victory of cunning would be his thenceforward—even so, this little boy made splinters and fragments of them all.