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The Death of the Sous of Usnech. 171
ardry upon them, for he put a great-waved sea along the field
before the Children of Usnech. And the men of Ulster two // '
feet behind them, and sad it was that the Children of Usnech
were overwhelmed in the great sea, and Naisi uplifting Deirdre
on his shoulder to save her from being drowned.
538. Then Conchobar called out to slay the Children of
Usnech, and all the men of Ulster refused to do that. For
there was not one man in Ulster who had not wages from
Naisi. Conchobar had a youth whose name was Maine Red-
hand, the son of the king of Norway, and Naisi had slain his
father and his two brothers, and he said that he himself would
behead the Children of Usnech in vengeance for that deed.
545. "If so," saith Ardan, "slay myself first, for I am the
youngest of my brothers."
the first."
"Let not that be done," saith Ainnle, "but let me be slain
"Not so is it right," saith Naisi; "but I have a sword which
Manannan Mac Lir gave me and which leaves no relic of stroke
or blow. And let us three be struck by it at once, so that
none of us may see his brother being beheaded."
554. Then those noble ones stretched forth their necks on
one block, and Maine gave them a sword-blow, and shore the
three heads at once from them at that spot. And each of the
Ulstermen at that grievous sight gave forth three heavy cries
of grief for them.
559. As to Deirdre, when each of them was attending to
the other, she came forward on the green of Emain, fluttering
hither and thither from one to another, till Cúchulainn hap-
pened to meet (?)her. And she went under his safeguard, and
told him tidings of the Children of Usnech, from beginning to
end, how they had been betrayed.
565. "That is sad to me," saith Cúchulainn; "and dost thou
know 2 who killed them?"
literally "how treachery had heen practised upon them."
lit. "is there knowledge with thee?"
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