Valour is an angry strife!"

"Good, O Cucuc," spake Laeg, "let us leave this ford now; too long are we here!" "Aye, let us leave it, O my master Laeg," replied Cuchulain. "But every combat and battle I have fought seems a game and a sport to me compared with the combat and battle of Ferdiad." Thus he spake, and he uttered these words:—

W. 4164.

"All was play, all was sport,

Till came Ferdiad to the ford!

One task for both of us,

Equal our reward.

Our kind, gentle nurse

Chose him over all!