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By Root 639 0

of Ériu, five of their number to incite the sons of Mil to battle and combat and strife and slaughter. They were particularly careful to leave five men in the province of Ulaid: Brea son of Belgan in Drommanna Breg, Redg Rotbél in Slemna Mage Ítha, Tindell son of Boclachtnae in Slíab Edlicon, Grici in Crúachu Aí and Gulban Glass in Bend Gulbain Guirt maicc Ungairb. These men aroused discontent among the Ulaid over the province’s division into three parts, and they did this when the province was at its best – at the time of Conchubur son of Fachtnae Fáthach. The two who shared the province with Conchubur were his own fosterlings: Cú Chulaind son of Súaltaim and Findtan son of Níall Níam-glonnach at Dún Dá Bend. This is the division that was imposed upon the province: from Cnocc Úachtair Forcha, which is now called Uisnech Mide, to the very centre of Tráig Baile was Cú Chulaind’s share, while Conchubur’s third extended from Tráig Baile to Tráig Tola and Findtan’s from Tráig Tola to Rind Semni and Latharnai.

The province was thus divided into thirds for a year, or until Conchubur held the feis of Samuin at Emuin Machae. One hundred vats of every kind of drink were provided, and Conchubur’s officers said that the excellence of the feast was such that all the chieftains of Ulaid would not be too many to attend. And this is the plan that Conchubur devised: to send Lebarcham to Cú Chulaind at Dún Delga and Findchad Fer Bend Uma son of Fróeglethan to Findtan son of Níall Níamglonnach at Dún Dá Bend.

Lebarcham arrived at Dún Delga and told Cú Chulaind to go and speak with his dear foster-father at Emuin Machae. At that time, Cú Chulaind was giving a great feast for the people of his own territory, and he said that he would not go but would attend to his own people. But Emer Foltchaín, the daughter of Forgall Manach and one of the six best women in Ériu, said that he should not stay but should rather go to speak with his foster-father Conchubur.

Cú Chulaind ordered his horses harnessed, then, and his chariot yoked. ‘The horses are harnessed, and the chariot is yoked,’ said Lóeg. ‘Do not delay, or an evil hour may blot your valour. Step into the chariot when you please.’ Cú Chulaind seized his war gear and leapt into the chariot; he took the straightest roads and the shortest ways to Emuin Machae, and there Senchae son of Ailill came to greet him, saying ‘Always welcome your arrival, O chief of prosperity of the host of Ulaid, salmon of valorous weaponry of the Goídil, dear, many-hosted, crimson-fisted son of Deichtine.’

‘The welcome of a man asking a present that,’ said Cú Chulaind. ‘It is, indeed,’ said Senchae son of Ailill. ‘Name the present,’ said Cú Chulaind. ‘I will provided that I have a proper guarantee,’ answered Senchae. ‘Then name your guarantors, in return for a counter-present for me,’ said Cú Chulaind. ‘The two Conalls and Lóegure,’ said Senchae, ‘that is, Conall Ánglonnach son of Íriel Glúnmár and Conall Cernach son of Amorgen and Lóegure Londbúadach.’ These guarantors sufficed to secure the present, in return for a counter-present for Cú Chulaind.

‘What guarantors do you ask for your counter-present?’ Senchae then asked. ‘Three young, noble, valorous lads,’ said Cú Chulaind. ‘Cormac Cond Longes son of Conchubur, Mess Ded son of Amorgen and Echu Cendgarb son of Celt-chair.’ ‘This is my request, then,’ said Senchae, ‘that you give the third of Ulaid that is in your possession to Conchubur for a year.’ ‘If the province were the better for being in his possession,’ said Cú Chulaind, ‘that would not be difficult, for he is a well-spring of authority; there is no refuting or contradicting him, and he descends from the kings of Ériu and Albu. But if the province is not better, then we will have a skirmish of little boys, and he will be returned to his own third.’

After that, Findtan son of Níall Níamglonnach arrived. The most excellent druid Cathub took charge and greeted him, saying ‘Welcome your arrival, fair, noble youth, chief warrior of the great province of Ulaid. Against you neither reavers nor raiders nor foreign