He opened the other so that it was as large as the
mouth of a meadcup. He laid bare from his jawbone to his ear; he
opened his mouth to his jaw [Note: Conjectured from the later
description of Cuchulainn's distortion.] so that his gullet was
visible. The hero's light rose from his head. Then he strikes at
the boys. He overthrows fifty of them before they reached the door
of Emain. Nine of them came over me and Conchobar as we were
playing chess. Then he springs over the chessboard after the nine.
Conchobar caught his elbow.
'"The boys are not well treated," said Conchobar.
'"Lawful for me, O friend Conchobar," said he. "I came to them from
my home to play, from my mother and father; and they have not been
good to me."
'"What is your name?" said Conchobar.
'"Setanta Mac Sualtaim am I," said he, "and the son of Dechtere,
your sister. It was not fitting to hurt me here."
'"Why were the boys not bound to protect you?" said Conchobar.
'"I did not know this," said Cuchulainn. "Undertake my protection
against them then."
'"I recognise it," said Conchobar.
'Then he turned aside on [Note: i.e. to attack them.
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