XXV. 1HERE FOLLOWETH THE ARRAY OF THE HOST1
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Dunn, Joseph
"I heard a great uproar there, west of the battle or to W. 5711. its east," said macRoth. "Say, what noise was it?" asked Ailill of Fergus. "Ah, but we know it well," Fergus made answer: "Cuchulain it was, straining to go, sick as he is, to battle, wearied at the length of his lying sick on Fert Sciach ('Thorn-mound') under hoops and clasps and ropes, and the men of Ulster do not permit him to go because of his sores and his wounds, inasmuch as he is not fit for battle and is powerless for combat after his encounter with Ferdiad."
True indeed spake Fergus. Cuchulain it was, wearied at the length of his lying supine on Fert Sciach under hoops and clasps and ropes. 1"But, there is one thing more to tell," said Fergus: "unless he be held back now, he will surely come to the battle!"
Thus far the Companies of the Táin Bó Cúalnge1 2mustered by Conchobar and the men of Ulster.2
Then came two women lampoonists from the camp and quarters of the men of Erin; 3their names,3 Fethan and Collach, to wit; and they stood with a feint of weeping and wailing over Cuchulain, telling him of the defeat of Ulster and the death of Conchobar and the fall of Fergus in combat.
4Now Conchobar proceeded with his troops till he pitched camp nearby his companions. Conchobar asked a truce of Ailill till sunrise on the morrow, and Ailill granted it for the men of Erin and the exiles, and Conchobar granted it for the men of Ulster, and thereupon Conchobar's tents were pitched. In this way the ground was bare between them, and the Ulstermen came thither at sunset.4