The men of Ireland settled it that Ferdiad and Cuchulain should fight the next day. But when they sent messengers to fetch Ferdiad he would not come, for he learned that they wanted him to fight against his friend Cuchulain. Then Maeve, the Queen, sent the Druids after him, who by their hurtful poems about Ferdiad should raise three blisters on his face--the blisters of Shame, Blemish, and Reproach. So Ferdiad had to come to answer the Queen, Maeve. She offered him great riches if he would fight against his friend Cuchulain--speckled satins and silver and gold, with lands, horses, and bridles. But to Maeve Ferdiad replied, "If you offered me land and sea I would not take them without the sun and moon." For he loved his friend Cuchulain so that there was no wealth which could tempt Ferdiad to go out against him to wound him. "But," said Maeve, "you shall have your fill of the jewels of the earth. Here is my brooch with its hooked pin and my daughter, Findabair." "Nay," answered Ferdiad, "these things and all things like unto them shall remain yours, for there is nothing I would take to go into battle against my friend Cuchulain. Nothing shall come between him and me--he who is the half of my heart without fault, and I the half of his own heart. By my spear, were Cuchulain killed, I would be buried in his grave--the one grave for the two of us! Misfortune on you, Maeve, misfortune on you for trying to put your face between us!" Then Maeve considered how she should stir him up and thus get her own ends. Aloud she said to her people, "Is it a true word Cuchulain spoke?" "What word was that?" asked Ferdiad, sharply. "He said," answered Maeve, "that there would be no wonder in it did you fall in the first trial of arms against him." Then was Ferdiad angry. "That had Cuchulain no right to say! If it be true he said this thing, then will I fight with him to-morrow!" At that Fergus left Ferdiad and Maeve, and went out in his chariot to tell Cuchulain what had happened. "I give my word," exclaimed Cuchulain, "for my friend to come against me is not my wish!" "Ferdiad's anger is stirred up," said Fergus, "and he has no fear of you." "Be quiet," replied Cuchulain, "for I can stand against him anywhere!" "It will go hard with you getting the better of him," answered Fergus, "for he has the strength of a hundred." "My word and oath," said Cuchulain, "it is I who will be victorious over Ferdiad." Then went Fergus joyfully back to the encampment. But Ferdiad, gloomy and heavy-hearted, slept only through the early part of the night. Toward the end of night he told his driver to harness his horses. "Ferdiad," said the driver, "it would be better for you to stop here, for grief will come of that meeting with Cuchulain." Yet the chariot was yoked and they went forward to the ford, and day and its full light came upon them there. Then Ferdiad slept while he waited for the coming of Cuchulain.