The Tain Bo Culaigne
The Slaying Of The Three MacArach
Then came the three macArach
on to the ford at Ard Ciannacht to encounter
Cuchulain: Lon ('Ousel'), Uala ('Pride'), and Diliu ('Deluge');-- Meslir ('Lir's
Fosterling'), and Meslaoc ('Hero's Fosterling'), and Meslethain ('Lethan's
Fosterling') were the names of their charioteers. This is why they came to
engage with Cuchulain, for the deed he had done the day before they deemed past
bearing, when the two sons of Nera son of Nuatar, son of Tacan, were slain at
Ath Gabla ('Fork-ford'), and Orlam, Ailill's son and Medb's, was slain withal
and his head displayed to the men of Erin, so that their desire was to kill
Cuchulain in the same manner in revenge for him, and that they should be the
ones to rid the host of that pest and bring his head with them to set it aloft.
They went into the wood and cut off three great white-hazelwood-strips (and
put them) into the hands of their charioteers, so that the six of them might
engage in battle at one and the same time with Cuchulain. Cuchulain turned on
them and smote their six heads from them. Thus fell the macArach at the hands of
Cuchulain

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