Part 26 (1/2)

'Protect me,' said Medb.

'Though I should slay thee with a slaying, it were lawful for me,'

said Cuchulainn.

Then he protected her, because he used not to slay women. He convoyed them westward, till they pa.s.sed Ath Luain. Then he stopped. He struck three blows with his sword on the stone in Ath Luain. Their name is the Maelana [Note: i.e., flat-topped hills] of Ath Luain.

When the battle was broken, then said Medb to Fergus: 'Faults and meet here to-day, O Fergus,' said she.

'It is customary,' said Fergus, 'to every herd which a mare precedes; ... after a woman who has ill consulted their interest.'

They take away the Bull then in that morning of the battle, so that he met the White-horned at Tarbga in Mag Ai; i.e. Tarbguba or Tarbgleo.[Note: 'Bull-Sorrow or Bull-Fight,' etymological explanation of Tarbga.] The first name of that hill was Roi Dedond.

Every one who escaped in the fight was intent on nothing but beholding the two Bulls fighting.

Bricriu Poison-tongue was in the west in his sadness after Fergus had broken his head with his draughtmen [Note: This story is told in the _Echtra Nerai_. (See _Revue Celtique_, vol. x. p. 227.)] He came with the rest then to see the combat of the Bulls. The two Bulls went in fighting over Bricriu, so that he died therefrom.

That is the Death of Bricriu.

The foot of the Dun of Cualnge lighted on the horn of the other.