Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

182 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[217]Cuchulain had now overcome all the mightiest of Maev's men,save only the mightiest of them all after Fergus, Ferdia son ofDaman. And because Ferdia was the old friend and fellow pupilof Cuchulain he had never gone out against him; but now Maevbegged him to go, and he would not. Then she offered him herdaughter, Findabair of the Fair Eyebrows, to wife, if he wouldface Cuchulain at the Ford, but he would not. At last she badehim go, lest the poets and satirists of Erin should make verses onhim and put him to open shame, and then in wrath and sorrowhe consented to go, and bade his charioteer make ready for tomorrow'sfray. Then was gloom among all his people when theyheard of that, for they knew that if Cuchulain and their mastermet, one of them would return alive no more.Very early in the morning Ferdia drove to the Ford, and laydown there on the cushions and skins of the chariot and slept tillCuchulain should come. Not till it was full daylight did Ferdia'scharioteer hear the thunder of Cuchulain's war-car approaching,and then he woke his master, and the two friends faced eachother across the Ford. And when they had greeted each otherCuchulain said: “It is not thou, O Ferdia, who shouldst have cometo do battle with me. When we were with Skatha did we not goside by side in every battle, through every wood and wilderness?were we not heart-companions, comrades, in the feast and theassembly? did we not share one bed and one deep slumber?”But Ferdia replied: “O Cuchulain, thou of the wondrous feats,though we have studied poetry and science together, and thoughI have heard thee recite our deeds of friendship, yet it is my handthat shall wound thee. I bid thee remember not our comradeship,O Hound of Ulster; it shall not avail thee, it shall not avail thee.”They then debated with what weapons they should begin thefight, and Ferdia reminded Cuchulain of the art of casting smalljavelins that they had learned from Skatha, and they agreed tobegin with these. Backwards and forwards, then, across the Ford,hummed the light javelins like bees on a summer's day, but when