'I see very red, I see red,' said Fedelm.
'I see a fair man who will make play
With a number of wounds(?) on his girdle;
[Note: Unless this is an allusion to the custom of carrying an
enemy's head at the girdle, the meaning is obscure. LL has quite a
different reading. The language of this poem is late.]
A hero's flame over his head,
His forehead a meeting-place of victory.
'There are seven gems of a hero of valour
In the middle of his two irises;
There is —— on his cloak,
He wears a red clasped tunic.
'He has a face that is noble,
Which causes amazement to women.
A young man who is fair of hue
Comes ——
[Note: Five syllables missing.]
'Like is the nature of his valour
To Cuchulainn of Murthemne.
I do not know whose is the Hound
Of Culann, whose fame is the fairest.
But I know that it is thus
That the host is very red from him.
'I see a great man on the plain
He gives battle to the hosts;
Four little swords of feats
There are in each of his two hands.
'Two Gae-bolga, he carries them,
[Note: The Gae-bolga was a special kind of spear, which only
Cuchulainn could use.]
Besides an ivory-hilted sword and spear;
—— [Note: Three syllables missing] he wields to the host;
Different is the deed for which each arm goes from him.
'A man in a battle-girdle (?), of a red cloak,
He puts —— every plain.
He smites them, over left chariot wheel (?);
The Riastartha wounds them.
[Note: The Riastartha ('distorted one') was a name given to
Cuchulainn because of the contortion, described later, which came
over him.]
The form that appeared to me on him hitherto,
I see that his form has been changed.
'He has moved forward to the battle,
If heed is not taken of him it will be treachery.
I think it likely it is he who seeks you:
Cuchulainn Mac Sualtaim.
'He will strike on whole hosts,
He will make dense slaughters of you,
Ye will leave with him many thousands of heads.
The prophetess Fedelm conceals not.