Note 4-4 — Footnotes.

4Thereupon4 macRoth 5arose and5 came to parley with Cuchulain. "To parley with thee am I come this time 6with other terms,6 for I wis it is thou art the renowned Cuchulain." "What hast thou brought with thee now?" 7Cuchulain asked.7 "What is dry of the kine and what is noblest of the captives 8shalt thou get,8 and hold thy staff-sling *LL. fo. 71a. from the men of Erin and suffer the men of Erin to go to sleep, for not pleasant is the thunder-feat thou workest upon them every evening." "I accept not that offer, because, as amends for their honour, the Ulstermen will kill the dry cattle. For the men of Ulster are honourable men and they would remain wholly without dry kine and milch-kine. They would bring their free women ye have captured to the querns and to the kneading-troughs and into bondage and 9other9 serfdom 10besides.10 11This would be a disgrace.11 Loath I should be to leave after me this shame in Ulster, that slave-girls and bondmaids should be made of the daughters of kings and princes of Ulster." "Is there any offer at all thou wilt accept this time?" 12said macRoth12 "Aye, but there is," answered Cuchulain. "Then wilt thou tell me the offer?" asked macRoth. "By my word," Cuchulain made answer, "'tis not I that will tell you." "It is a question, then," said macRoth. "If there be among you in the camp," said Cuchulain, "one that knows the terms I demand, let W. 1766. him inform you, 1and I will abide thereby."1 "And if there be not?"2 said macRoth. "If there be not," said Cuchulain,2 "let no one come near me any more with offers or with friendly intercourse 3or concerning aught other injunction,3 for, whosoever may come, it will be the term of his life!"