Chapter XI

[Thereafter he followed his charioteer. “My plan,” quoth Mève to
Ailill, “is to keep those three heroes with us again to-night, and to
further test them.” “Do as thou deemest right,” quoth Ailill. The men
were then detained and brought to Cruachan and their horses
unyoked.]^[16]
§ 63. Their choice of food was given them for their horses. Conall and
Loigaire told them to give oats two years old to theirs. But Cuchulainn
chose barley grains for his. They slept there that night. The women were
apportioned among them. Findabair, with a train of fifty damsels, was
brought into the stead of Cuchulainn. Sav the Eloquent (Sadb Sulbair),
another daughter of Ailill and of Mève, with fifty maids in attendance,
was ushered into the presence of Conall Cernach. Conchend, daughter of
Ceit mac Magach, with fifty damsels along with her, was brought into
the presence of Loigaire the Triumphant. Moreover, Mève herself was
wont to resort to the stead of Cuchulainn. They slept there that night.
§ 64. On the morrow they arose early in the morning and went into
the house where the youths were performing the wheel-feat. Then
Loigaire seized the wheel and tossed it till it reached half up the side
wall. Upon that the youths laughed and cheered him. It was in reality a
jeer, but it seemed to Loigaire a shout of applause. Conall then took the
wheel; it was on the ground. He tossed it as high as the ridge-pole of the
palace. The youths raised a shout at that. It seemed to Conall it was a
shout of applause and of victory. To the youths it was a shout of scorn.
Then Cuchulainn took the wheel—it was in mid-air he caught it. He
hurled it aloft till it cast the ridge-pole from off the place; the wheel went
a man’s cubit into the ground in the outside enclosure. The youths raised
a shout of applause and of triumph in Cuchulainn’s case. It seemed to
Cuchulainn, however, it was a laugh of scorn and of ridicule they then
gave vent to.
§ 65. Cuchulainn anon sought out the womenfolk, and took thrice
fifty needles from them. These he tossed up one after the other. Each
needle went into the eye of the other, till in that wise they were joined
together. He returned to the women, and gave each her own needle into
her hand. The young braves praised Cuchulainn. Whereupon they bade
farewell to the king, the queen, and household as well.