Note 2-2 — Footnotes.

2They passed there that night and he engaged to do the battle and combat, and early on the morrow2 went Long 3to the ford of battle and combat3 to seek Cuchulain, and Cuchulain slew him and 5they brought him dead into the presence of his brother, namely of Loch. And Loch 4came forth and raised up his loud, quick voice and4 cried, had he known it was a bearded man that slew him, he would slay him for it.5 6And it was in the presence of Medb that he said it.6 7"Lead a battle-force against him," Medb cried to her host, "over the ford from the west, that ye may cross, and let the law of fair fight be broken with Cuchulain." The seven Manè the warriors went first, till they saw him to the west of the edge of the ford. He wore his festive raiment on that day and the women clambered on the men that they might behold him. "It grieves me," said Medb. "I cannot see the boy because of whom they go there." "Thy mind would not be the easier for that," quoth Lethrenn, Ailill's horseboy, "if thou shouldst see him." Cuchulain came to the ford as he was. "What man is that yonder, O Fergus?" asked Medb.c And Medb, too, climbed on the men to get a look W. 2272. at him.7 1Then1 Medb called upon 2her handmaid for two woman-bands,2 3fifty or twice fifty3 of her women, to go speak with Cuchulain and to charge him to put a false beard on. The woman-troop went their way to Cuchulain and told him to put a false beard on 4if he wished to engage in battle or combat with goodly warriors or with goodly youths of the men of Erin;4 5that sport was made of him in the camp for that he had no beard, and that no good warrior would go meet him but only madmen. It were easier to make a false beard:5 "For no brave warrior in the camp thinks it seemly to come fight with thee, and thou beardless," 6said they.6 7"If that please me," said Cuchulain, "then I shall do it."7 Thereupon Cuchulain 8took a handful of grass and speaking a spell over it he8 bedaubed himself a beard 9in order to obtain combat with a man, namely with Loch.9 And he came onto the knoll overlooking the men of Erin and made that beard manifest to them all, 10so that every one thought it was a real beard he had.10 11"'Tis true," spake the women,a "Cuchulain has a beard. It is fitting for a warrior to fight with him." They said that to urge on Loch.11 Loch son of Mofemis saw it, and what he said was, "Why, that is a beard on Cuchulain!" "It is what I perceive," Medb answered. Medb promised the same great terms to Loch to put a check to Cuchulain. 12"I will not undertake the fight till the end of seven days from this day," exclaimed Loch. "Not fitting is it for us to leave that man unattacked for all that time," Medb answered. "Let us put a warrior every night to spy upon him if, peradventure, we might get a chance at him." This then they did. A warrior went every night to spy upon him and he slew them all. These are the names of the men who fell there: the seven Conall, the seven Oengus, the seven Uargus, the seven Celtri, the eight Fiach, the ten Ailill, the ten Delbrath, the ten Tasach. These are the deeds of that week on Ath Grenca.