Then each came to the other and put his hands around the neck of the other and gave him three kisses. And that night one inclosure held their horses and at one fire sat their chariot-drivers. And of every healing herb that was put on Cuchulain's wounds Cuchulain sent an equal share westward across the ford for the wounds of Ferdiad. And of food and drink Ferdiad sent a fair share northward to Cuchulain and his men. And in the morning they rose up and came to the ford of battle. "What weapons shall we use to-day?" asked Cuchulain. "To-day is your choice, for I made the choice yesterday," answered Ferdiad. "Then let us take our great broad spears, for so by the end of evening shall we be nearer the end of the fight." From the twilight of the early morning till the fall of evening each cut at and wounded the other, till, were it the custom of birds in their flight to pass through the bodies of men, they might have done so on this day. "Let us stop from this, now," said Cuchulain, "for our horses and men are tired and down-hearted. Let us put the quarrel away for a while." So they threw their spears into the hands of their chariot-drivers, and each put his hand around the neck of the other and gave him three kisses. And that night they slept on wounded men's pillows their chariot-drivers had made for them. A full share of every charm and spell used to cure the wounds of Cuchulain was sent to Ferdiad. And of food Ferdiad sent a share. Again early on the morrow they came to the ford of battle, and there was a dark look on Ferdiad that day. "It is bad you are looking to-day," said Cuchulain. "It is not from fear or dread of you I am looking this way," answered Ferdiad. "No one has ever put food to his lips, Ferdiad, and no one has ever been born for whose sake I would have hurt you." "Cuchulain," cried Ferdiad, "it was not you, but Maeve, who has betrayed us, and now my word and my name will be worth nothing if I go back without doing battle with you." And that day they fought with their swords, and each hacked at the other from dawn till evening. When they threw their swords from them into the hands of their chariot-drivers, their parting that night was sad and down-hearted. Early the next morning Ferdiad rose up and went by himself to the ford, and there clad himself in his shirt of striped silk with its border of speckled gold, over that a coat of brown leather, and on his head a crested helmet of battle. Taking his strong spear in his right hand and sword in his left, he began to show off very cunningly, wonderful feats that were made up that day by himself against Cuchulain. [Illustration: KINGS IN ARMOR _MS. Camb. Univ. Libr. Ee. iii. 59_ C. A.D. 1245]