take part in the hosting. 3With nine chariotsa she was wont to travel, that the dust of the great host might not soil her.3 Medb suffered not her chariot to be let down nor her horses unyoked until she had made a circuit of the camp.
Then, 4when she had reviewed the host,4 were Medb's horses unyoked and her chariots let down, and she took her place beside Ailill macMata. And Ailill asked tidings of Medb: who was eager and who was loath for the warfare. "Futile for all is the emprise but for one troop only, 5namely the division of the Galian ('of Leinster'),"5 quoth Medb. 6"Why blamest thou these men?" queried Ailill. "It is not that we blame them," Medb made answer.6 "What good service then have these done that they are praised above all?" asked Ailill. "There is reason to praise them," said Medb. 7"Splendid are the warriors.7 When the others begin making their pens and pitching their camp, these have finished building their bothies and huts. When the rest are building their bothies and huts, these have finished preparing their food and drink. When the rest are preparing their food and drink, these have finished eating and feasting, 8and their harps are playing for them.8 When all the others have finished eating and feasting, these are by that W. 422. time asleep. And even as their servants and thralls are distinguished above the servants and thralls of the men of Erin, so shall their heroes and champions be distinguished beyond the heroes and champions of the men of Erin this time on this hosting. 1It is folly then for these to go, since it is those others will enjoy the victory of the host.1" "So much the better, I trow," replied Ailill; "for it is with us they go and it is for us they fight." "They shall not go with us nor shall they fight for us." 2cried Medb.2 "Let them stay at home then," said Ailill. "Stay they shall not," answered Medb. "3They will fall on us in the rear and will seize our land against us.3" "What shall they do then," Finnabaira asked, "if they go not out nor yet remain at home?" "Death and destruction and slaughter is what I desire for them," answered Medb. "For shame then on thy speech," spake Ailill; "4'tis a woman's advice,4 for that they pitch their tents and make their pens so promptly and unwearily." "By the truth of my conscience," cried Fergus, 5"not thus shall it happen, for they are allies of us men of Ulster.5 No one shall do them to death but he that does death to myself 6along with them!"6
"Not to me oughtest thou thus to speak, O Fergus," then cried Medb, "for I have hosts enough to slay and slaughter thee with the division of Leinstermen round thee. For there are the seven Manè, 7that is, my seven sons7 with their seven divisions, and the sons of Maga with their 8seven8 divisions, and Ailill with his division, and I myself with my own body-guard besides. We are strong enough here to kill and slaughter thee with thy cantred of the Leinstermen round thee!"
"It befits thee not thus to speak to me," said Fergus, W. 439. "for I have with me here 1in alliance with us Ulstermen,1 the seven Under-kings of Munster, with their seven cantreds. 2Here we have what is best of the youths of Ulster, even the division of the Black Banishment.2 Here we have what is best of the noble youths of Ulster, even the division of the Galian ('of Leinster'). Furthermore, I myself am bond and surety and guarantee for them, since ever they left their own native land. 3I will give thee battle in the midst of the camp,3 and to me will they hold steadfast on the day of battle. More than all that," added Fergus, "these men shall be no subject of dispute. By that I mean I will never forsake them. 4For the rest, we will care for these warriors, to the end that they get not the upper hand of the host.
"The number of our force is seventeen cantreds, besides our rabble and our women-folk—for with each king was his queen in Medb's company—and our striplings; the eighteenth division is namely the cantred of the Galian.4 This division of Leinstermen I will distribute among 5all the host of5 the men of Erin in such wise that no five men of them shall be in any one place." "That pleaseth me well," said Medb: "let them be as they may, if only they be not in the battle-order of the ranks where they now are in such great force."
Forthwith Fergus distributed the cantred 6of the Galian6 among the men of Erin in such wise that there were not five men of them in any one place.
*LL. fo. 57b. Thereupon, the troops set out on their way and march. It was no easy thing 7for their kings and their leaders7 to attend to that mighty host. They took part in the expedition W. 453. according to the several tribes and according to the several stems and the several districts wherewith they had come, to the end that they might see one other and know one other, that each man might be with his comrades and with his friends and with his kinsfolk on the march. They declared that in such wise they should go. They also took counsel in what manner they should proceed on their hosting. Thus they declared they should proceed: Each host with its king, each troop with its lord, and each band with its captain; each king and each prince of the men of Erin 1by a separate route1 on his halting height apart. They took counsel who was most proper to seek tidings in advance of the host between the two provinces. And they said it was Fergus, inasmuch as the expedition was an obligatory one with him, for it was he that had been seven years in the kingship of Ulster. And 2after Conchobar had usurped the kingship and2 after the murder of the sons of Usnech who were under his protection and surety, Fergus left the Ultonians, and for seventeen years he was away from Ulster in exile and in enmity. For that reason it was fitting that he above all should go after tidings.
So 3the lead of the way was entrusted to Fergus.3 Fergus before all fared forth to seek tidings, and a feeling of 4love and4 affection for his kindred of the men of Ulster came over him, and he led the troops astray in a great circuit to the north and the south. And he despatched messengers with warnings to the Ulstermen, 5who were at that time in their 'Pains' except Cuchulain and his father Sualtaim.5 And he began to detain and delay the host 6until such time as the men of Ulster should have gathered together an army.6 7Because of affection he did so.7
W. 472. Medb perceived this and she upbraided him for it, and chanted the lay:—
Medb:
