Chapter XIV

§ 75. “Go forth to the ford of Yellow, son of Fair. He will adjudge
ye.” Accordingly the three heroes went to the abode of Yellow (Budi).
They told their wants and the rivalries which brought them. “Was not
judgment given you in Cruachan by Ailill and by Mève?” said Yellow. “In
sooth there was,” quoth Cuchulainn, “but those fellows don’t stand by
it.” “Stand by it,” quoth the other men, “we will not; what has been
given us is no decision at all.” “It is not easy for another to adjudge ye
then,” quoth Yellow, “seeing ye did not abide by Mève and Ailill’s
arrangement. I know,” he continued, “one who will venture it, viz.,
Terror, son of Great Fear (Uath mac Imomain), at yonder loch. Off then
in quest of him; he will adjudge ye.” A big powerful fellow was Terror,
son of Great Fear. He used to shift his form into what shape he pleased,
was wont to do tricks of magic and such like arts. He in sooth was the
wizard from whom Muni, the Wizard’s Pass, is named. He used to be
called “wizard” from the extent to which he changed his divers shapes.
§ 76. To Terror at his loch they accordingly went. Yellow had given
them a guide. To Terror they told the cause for which they had sought
him out. He said he should venture on adjudgment provided only they
would adhere to it. “We will adhere to it,” they quoth; whereupon he
solemnly pledges them. I have a covenant to make with you,” he quoth,
and whoever of you fulfils it with me, he is the man who wins the
Champion’s Portion.” “What is the covenant?” they said. “I have an axe,
and the man into whose hands it shall be put is to cut off my head
to-day, I to cut off his to-morrow.”
§ 77. Thereupon Conall and Loigaire said they would not agree to
that arrangement, for it would be impossible for them to live after
having been beheaded, although he might. Therefore they declined
(shirked) that: [although other books narrate that they agreed to the
bargain, to wit, Loigaire to, cut off Terror’s (Uath’s) head the first day,
and (on the giant’s returning) that Loigaire shirked his part of the
bargain and that Conall likewise behaved unfairly]. ^[18] Cuchulainn,
however, said he would agree to the covenant (bargain) were the
Champion’s Portion given to him. Conall and Loigaire said they would
allow him that if he agreed to a wager with Terror. Cuchulainn solemnly
pledged them not to contest the Champion’s Portion if he made covenant
with Terror. And they then pledged him to ratify it. Terror, having put
spells on the edge of the axe, lays his head upon the stone for
Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn with his own axe gives the giant a blow and cuts
off his head. He then went off from them into the loch, his axe and his
head on his breast.
§78. On the morrow he comes back on his quest. Cuchulainn
stretches himself out for him on the stone. The axe with its edge reversed
he draws down thrice on Cuchulainn’s neck. “Get up,”quoth Terror; “the
sovranty of the heroes of Erin to Cuchulainn, and the Champion’s
Portion without contest.” The three heroes then hied them to Emain. But
Loigaire and Conall disputed the verdict given in favour of Cuchulainn
and the original contest as to the Champion’s Portion continued. The
Ultonians advised them to go for judgement unto Curoi. To that too they
agreed