"Come not nigh me, noble chief, Ferdiad, comrade, Daman's son. Worse for thee than 'tis for me; Thou'lt bring sorrow to a host! "Come not nigh me 'gainst all right; Thy last bed is made by me. Why shouldst thou alone escape From the prowess of my arms? "Shall not great feats thee undo, Though thou'rt purple, horny-skinned? And the maid thou boastest of, Shall not, Daman's son, be thine! "Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair, Great her charms though they may be, Fair as is the damsel's form, She's for thee not to enjoy! "Finnabair, the king's own child, Is the lure, if truth be told; Many they whom she's deceived And undone as she has thee! "Break not, weetless, oath with me; Break not friendship, break not bond; Break not promise, break not word; Come not nigh me, noble chief! "Fifty chiefs obtained in plight This same maid, a proffer vain. Through me went they to their graves; Spear-right all they had from me! "Though for brave was held Ferbaeth, With whom was a warriors' train, In short space I quelled his rage; Him I slew with one sole blow! "Srubdarè-- sore sank his might-- Darling of the noblest dames, Time there was when great his fame-- Gold nor raiment saved him not! "Were she mine affianced wife, Smiled on me this fair land's head, I would not thy body hurt, Right nor left, in front, behind!" "We were heart-companions once; We were comrades in the woods; We were men that shared a bed, When we slept the heavy sleep, After hard and weary fights. Into many lands, so strange, Side by side we sallied forth, And we ranged the woodlands through, When with Scathach we learned arms!" "O Cuchulain, rich in feats, Hard the trade we both have learned; Treason hath o'ercome our love; Thy first wounding hath been bought; Think not of our friendship more, Cua, it avails thee not!" "We need not our chariots break-- This, a struggle fit for giants. Place the hobbles on the steeds, Now that din of arms is o'er!" "Ferdiad, ah, if it be thou, Well I know thou'rt doomed to die! To have gone at woman's hest, Forced to fight thy comrade sworn!" O Cuchulain-- wise decree-- Loyal champion, hero true, Each man is constrained to go 'Neath the sod that hides his grave!" Finnabair, Medb's daughter fair, Stately maiden though she be, Not for love they'll give to thee, But to prove thy kingly might!" "Provèd was my might long since, Cu of gentle spirit thou. Of one braver I've not heard; Till to-day I have not found!" Thou art he provoked this fight, Son of Daman, Darè's son, To have gone at woman's word, Swords to cross with thine old friend!" "Should we then unfought depart, Brothers though we are, bold Hound, Ill would be my word and fame With Ailill and Cruachan's Medb!" "Food has not yet passed his lips, Nay nor has he yet been born, Son of king or blameless queen, For whom I would work thee harm!" "Culann's Hound, with floods of deeds, Medb, not thou, hath us betrayed; Fame and victory thou shalt have; Not on thee we lay our fault!" "Clotted gore is my brave heart, Near I'm parted from my soul; Wrongful 'tis-- with hosts of deeds-- Ferdiad, dear, to fight with thee!"
