THE BATTLE OF VENTRV. 23 



' Na habair-si sin,' ar an ri ' uair nf hincomraic leanamh tri m-bliadan d^c 7 damadh 

 eadh do badh eadh thu-sa.' 7 do thuig an ri narbh ail leisin macam anmain gan 405 

 dul co fianaibh Eirenn. Do gabadh imoro leo he 7 do cuireadh a seomra fo 

 iadhadh he 7 da macam d^g do macaibh righ 7 roflatha Ulad do bhi 'na comalta- 

 dhaibh aigi leis. ' A oga,' ar an macamh ' is maith doghenadh sib-si techt lium-sa 



00 fianaibh Eirenn, ar gin co fuil bhar n-airisi re righi n-Ulad, do badh maith dib 

 clu maith da bar rochtain fen. Uair gin gur gabh Conall Cearnach mac Aimirgin 410 

 na Cuchulaind mac Subhaltaigh naid mic uaisli aghmara Uisnig righi n-UIad, is beac 

 ma ba oirrdearca Concobhar ag a roibhi righi Ulad 'na siad trena n-gnimarthaibh 

 maithi fen 7 is cubhais dam-sa fos ' ar se ' nach racha proin no tomaltas am bel-sa 

 coidhchi ar ulcaibh rib-si innas co fuider-sa bas 7 co n-geba ri eachtrann righi Ulad 

 tar eis m' athar-sa 7 co ruca ambreatha oraibh-si.' 415 



Dochuaidh imoro an comhradh sin fo na macamaibh 7 an tan do chodail an 

 ri do cuadar-san fo teach na sed 7 tuc [fo. 5b. i.] -sad sciath 7 cloidheamh 

 7 cathbarr 7 da craisigh chatha 7 da chuilen milchon gacha macaimh l^o as 7 tan- 

 gadar rompu tar Eas Ruaidh mic Badhuirn atuaidh 7 tre crichaibh craebhtorthocha 

 Cairbri co coimdireach 7 tre chuiged clannh'nmar Connacht 7 tre Chailli an Chos- 420 

 numa rea n-abarthar Rogha Gacha Righi 7 Fironoir Gacha Filed 7 tar sruth 



years is not fit for fighting, and if such a one were, thou wouldst be so.' And the 

 king perceived that the boy did not wish to live without going to the fianns of Erinn. 

 Therefore he was seized by them and put into a chamber under lock, and twelve sons 

 of the kings and chieftains of Ulster that were his foster-brothers together with him. 

 ' O youths,' said the boy, ' you would do well, if you went with me to the fianns of 

 Erinn ; for though your fame goes along with the kingship of Ulster, it would be good 

 for you, if you had a good name of your own. For though Conall Cernach the son of 

 Aniargin, or Cuchulaind the son of Sualtam, or the noble prosperous sons of Usnech 

 have not possessed the kingship of Ulster, yet Conchobur with whom was the kingship 

 of Ulster was scarcely more illustrious than they through their own brave deeds, and 



1 pledge my word moreover,' said he, * that food or eating shall not pass over my 

 lips ever for the wrongs (done) to you, so that I shall find dcath, and a foreign king 

 will take the kingship of Ulster after my father and pass wrong judgments upon you.' 



Now, this speech went round among the youths, and when the king was asleep, 

 they went into the armoury, and every boy took a shield, and a sword, and a helmet, 

 and two battle-spears, and two whelps of a grcyhound out with him. And they went 

 across Ess Ruaid mic Baduirn in the north, and straight through the fertile lands of 

 Cairbre, and through the province of Connaught of numerous clans, and through 

 Caille an Chosnuma (the Woods of Defence) which are called Roga Cacha Rigi and 

 Fironoir Cacha Filed (Choice of every Kingship and True Honour of every Poet), and 



412. Concobhair '^VS. 419. wa<r MS. 



