XXVIIa. 1HERE FOLLOWETH THE MUSTER OF THE MEN OF ERIN1
Joseph Dunn translation
XXVIIa. 1HERE FOLLOWETH THE MUSTER OF THE MEN OF ERIN1
"Blood he sheds—increase of slaughter— Splendid the hero, Fergus macRoig! Hidden had lain Fairyland's chariot-sword! Battle now hath reached the shield, Shield of my master Conchobar!"
At that time there did not remain in Cuchulain's hand of the chariot but a handful of its spokes around the wheel, and a handbreadth of its poles around the shell, with the slaying and slaughtering of the four grand provinces of Erin during all that time.
Then Medb betook her to a shield-shelter in the rear of the men of Erin. Thereafter Medb sent off the Brown Bull of Cualnge along with fifty of his heifers and eight of her runners with him around to Cruachan, to the end that whoso might and whoso might not escape, the Brown Bull of Cualnge should get away safely, even as she had promised.
"How is this, O Cualnge's Hound, Hero of the Red Branch, thou: Great woe, champion, hast thou borne, Battling in thy land's defence! "Every morn a hundred slain, Every eve a hundred more, While the host purveyed thy fare, Feeding thee with cooling food! "Five-score heroes of the hosts, These I reckon are in graves. While their women—fair their hue— Spend the night bewailing them!"7