Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

184 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[219]summoned, my troth would be broken, and there would beshame on me in Rathcroghan.” It is now the turn of Ferdia tochoose the weapons, and they betake themselves to their “heavy,hard-smiting swords,” and though they hew from each other'sthighs and shoulders great cantles of flesh, neither can prevailover the other, and at last night ends the combat. This time theyparted from each other in heaviness and gloom, and there wasno interchange of friendly acts, and their drivers and horses sleptapart. The passions of the warriors had now risen to a grimsternness.Death of FerdiaOn the fourth day Ferdia knew the contest would be decided,and he armed himself with especial care. Next his skin was atunic of striped silk bordered with golden spangles, and over thathung an apron of brown leather. Upon his belly he laid a flatstone, large as a millstone, and over that a strong, deep apronof iron, for he dreaded that Cuchulain would use the Gae Bolgthat day. And he put on his head his crested helmet studded withcarbuncle and inlaid with enamels, and girt on his golden-hiltedsword, and on his left arm hung his broad shield with its fiftybosses of bronze. Thus he stood by the Ford, and as he waitedhe tossed up his weapons and caught them again and did manywonderful feats, playing with his mighty weapons as a jugglerplays with apples; and Cuchulain, watching him, said to Laeg,his driver: “If I give ground to-day, do thou reproach and mockme and spur me on to valour, and praise and hearten me if I dowell, for I shall have need of all my courage.”“O Ferdia,” said Cuchulain when they met, “what shall be ourweapons to-day?” “It is thy choice to-day,” said Ferdia. “Thenlet it be all or any,” said Cuchulain, and Ferdia was cast downat hearing this, but he said, “So be it,” and thereupon the fightbegan. Till midday they fought with spears, and none could gainany advantage over the other. Then Cuchulain drew his swordand sought to smite Ferdia over the rim of his shield; but the