[4] This is the mysterious sickness which seizes upon all the Ultonians at intervals except Cuchulain. See ch. XXIV, note [3].
[5] For more about the Gaileóin see p. 598 of Rhys's Hibbert Lectures, and O'Curry, "M. and C.," vol. ii. p. 260.
[6] They were countrymen of Oilioll's.
[7] Crann-tábhail; it is doubtful what kind of missile weapon this really was. It was certainly of the nature of a sling, but was partly composed of wood.
[8] See above, p. [54] and [291]. Rigú is the old form of roghan.
[9] "ὁ δέ Κύπριν ἐπῴχετο νηλέι χαλκῷ
Γιγνώσκων ὅτ᾽ ἄναλκις ἔην θεός, οὐδὲ θεάων
Τάων αἵ τ᾽ ἀνδρῶν πόλεμον κατα κοιρανέουσιν,
Οὔτ᾽ ἄρ᾽ Ἀθηναίη, οὔτε πτολίπορθος Ἐνυώ.
Ἀλλ ὅτε δή ῥ᾽ ἐκίχανε πολὺν καθ᾽ ὅμιλον ὀπάζων,
Ἐνθ᾽ ἐπορεξάμενος, μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὸς
Ἄκρην οὔτασε χεῖρα, μετάλμενος ὀξέϊ δουρὶ
Ἀβληχρήν. εἶθαρ δὲ δόρυ χροὸς ἀντετόρησεν
Ἀμβροσίου διὰ πέπλου, ὁν οἱ Χάριτες κάμον αὐταὶ,
Πρυμνὸν ὑπερ θέναρος ῥέε δ᾽ ἄμβροτον αἷμα θεοῖο
Ἰχώρ, οἷος πέρ τε ῥέει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν."
Iliad, v. 330.
A better instance except for the sex is where he afterwards wounds Ares. (See v. 855.)
[10] In Irish, sidh. The stranger is really Cuchulain's divine father.
[11] This is incredible, for the sickness of the Ultonians could not have endured so long.
[12] The prominence given to and the laudatory comments on the non-Gaelic or non-Milesian races, such as the Gaileóins and Firbolg in this saga is very remarkable. It seems to me a proof of antiquity, because in later times these races were not prominent.