Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

CHAPTER V: TALES OF THE ULTONIAN CYCLE 177paroxysm it is said that once a hundred of Maev's warriors felldead from horror.The Compact of the FordMaev now tried to tempt him by great largesse to desert thecause of Ulster, and had a colloquy with him, the two standing onopposite sides of a glen across which they talked. She scannedhim closely, and was struck by his slight and boyish appearance.She failed to move him from his loyalty to Ulster, and deathdescends more thickly than ever upon the Connacht host; themen are afraid to move out for plunder save in twenties andthirties, and at night the stones from Cuchulain's sling whistlecontinually through the camp, braining or maiming. At last,through the mediation of Fergus, an agreement was come to.Cuchulain undertook not to harry the host provided they wouldonly send against him one champion at a time, whom Cuchulain [211]would meet in battle at the ford of the River Dee, which is nowcalled the Ford of Ferdia. 149 While each fight was in progress thehost might move on, but when it was ended they must encamptill the morrow morning. “Better to lose one man a day than ahundred,” said Maev, and the pact was made.Fergus and CuchulainSeveral single combats are then narrated, in which Cuchulainis always a victor. Maev even persuades Fergus to go againsthim, but Fergus and Cuchulain will on no account fight eachother, and Cuchulain, by agreement with Fergus, pretends to flybefore him, on Fergus's promise that he will do the same forCuchulain when required. How this pledge was kept we shall seelater.Capture of the Brown BullDuring one of Cuchulain's duels with a famous champion,Natchrantal, Maev, with a third of her army, makes a sudden149 Ath Fherdia, which is pronounced and now spelt “Ardee.” It is in Co. Louth,at the southern border of the Plain of Murthemney, which was Cuchulain'sterritory.