Before XVI. 1THE VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT1
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Dunn, Joseph
On one fork is never cooked!
"Thus alone I've faced the host,
By the ford in broad Cantire;
Many came, both Loch and Badb,
As foretold in 'Regomain!'b
"Loch has mangled my two thighs;
Me the grey-red wolf hath bit;
Loch my sidesc has wounded sore,
And the eel has dragged me down!
"With my spear I kept her off;
I put out the she-wolf's eye;
And I broke her lower leg,
At the outset of the strife!
W. 2371.
"Then when Laeg sent Aifè's spear,a
Down the stream—like swarm of bees—
That sharp deadly spear I hurled,
Loch, 1Mobebuis'1 son, fell there!
"Will not Ulster battle give
To Ailill and Eocho's lass,b
While I linger here in pain,
Full of wounds and bathed in blood?
LL. fo. 75b.
"Tell the splendid Ulster chiefs
They shall come to guard their drove.
Maga's sonsc have seized their kine
And have portioned them all out!
"Fight on fight—though much I vowed,
I have kept my word in all.
For pure honour's sake I fight;
'Tis too much to fight alone!
"Vultures joyful at the breach
In Ailill's and in Medb's camp.
Mournful cries of woe are heard;
On Murthemne's plain is grief!
"Conchobar comes not out with help;
In the fight, no troops of his.
Should one leave him thus alone,
Hard 'twould be his rage to tell!
1"Men have almost worn me out