g of Mac D

on of Datho. Two possessions had he; namely, a hound which could outrun every other hound and every

hound for a price, and both the messengers arrived at the Dún of mac Datho on the same day. Said the Connacht messenger, "We will give thee in exchange for the hound six hundred milch cows, and a chariot with two horses, the best that are to be found i

ssly on his bed. His wife observed his condition, and said to him, "Thy fast hath been long, Mesroda, though good food is by thee

Datho, "'Trust not a thrall with

wife, "but when something were amiss? What t

lster and from Connacht at one and the same time, "and whichever of t

id them come and fetch it; and if there be any harrying to be done, let

v, and said to him, "Long have I doubted what to do, but now I am resolved to give the hound to Connacht. Let ye send for it on such a day with a train of your nobles or warr

Conor. Let the best of the Ulstermen come to fetch him, and they shall be welcomed and entertaine

Connacht. Mac Datho went forth to meet them. "Welcome, warriors," he said to them, "albeit for two armies at once we were not prepared." Then he bade them into the Dún, and in the great hall they sat down. Now in this hall there w

d that boar been nourished on the milk of fifty cows; yet rather on venom should it

s of food as side dishes, "and if more be wanting to the feast,"

is good,"

ll; "and now, O mac Datho, how

s in biting speeches and in fomenting strife, though he himself was never know

rve it him who is best in deeds of arms? Here be all the valiant men of Ire

Ailill, "so l

ty of our lads in the house that have many a

lad in the West. "They have often been seen on their backs on the

day," replied Moonremar of Ulster, "even thine own brother

f Fergus mac Leda, who fell by the hand of Echb

Hornskin of Ulster. "Is it of him ye boast

aga of the Connachtmen, arose and stood over the boar and took the knife into his hand. "Now," he cried,

said to Logary the Triumphant, "Stay that for me." So Logary a

rove himself on us. So didst thou, Logary, and we met thee at the border. From that meeting I have thy chariot and hors

"Indeed?" said Ket, "and why is his father called Lama Gabad [wanting a hand]?" "We know not," said they. "But I know it," said Ket. "Once I went on a foray to the East, and was attacked by a troop, Lama Gabad among them.

who is this?" said Ket. "Owen Mór, King of Fermag," said the Ulstermen. "I have seen him ere now," said Ket. "I took a drove of cattle from him before his

"Thou hast not won it yet," said Moonremar, son of Gerrkind,

f thee. Three heads of thy fighting men did I carry off from Dún Moonremar,

"Contest thou shalt have," said Mend, son of Sword-heel. "

iest who christened thy father that name. 'Twas I who cut the heel off him, so that off he went w

arose from the Ulstermen a huge grey and terrible warrior. "Who i

of Dún. All thy folk attacked me, and thou amongst them. In a narrow pass we fought, and thou didst fling a spear at me and I a

King Conor, named Cuscrid the Stammerer "Whom have we here?" said Ket. "'Tis Cuscrid son of Conor," crie

A third of thy people, thou didst leave behind thee, and came away with my spear through thy throat, so that thou canst not s

e Province of Ulster, nor was there any other

exultation arose

rd at the great door of the hall, and a mighty shout of exultation arose from the Ulstermen. When the press parted, Ket saw com

hat all is ready for feast; and

hey, "for none could contest

Ket?" says Co

hou of the iron heart and fiery blood; keen as the glitter of

heroes, lord of chariots, a raging sea in battl

ll, "rise up from the b

?" repl

t since I first took weapons in my hand I have never passed one day that I did not slay a Connachtman, nor one ni

I yield thee the boar. But if Anluan my brother were here, he would

h that he drew from his girdle the head o

ch other in the open field, until the Connacht host were put to flight. The hound of mac Datho pursued them along with the Ulstermen, and it came up with the chariot in which King Ailill was driving, and seized the pole of th

lill, lighted down and hid himself in the heather; and as Conor drove past,

ou have of me

ee to Emania,[19] and let the maidens of Emania so long as

thlone; and Ferloga had from the King of Ulster two noble horses with golden bridles, but the serenade from the maidens of Ulster he did not g