abdicated the supreme captainship of the Red Branch in favour of
Concobar, for though his heart was great his understanding was not
fine and acute like the understanding of his foster-son.

The table was set for them upon the lawn before the great painted
and glowing palace, and three-footed stools were put on either
side of that table, and bright cloths flung over them. A knight to
whom that was a duty brought forth and unfolded a chess-board of
ivory on which silver squares alternated with gold, cunningly
wrought by some ancient cerd, [Footnote: Craftsman.] a chief jewel
of the realm; another bore in his hand the man-bag, also a wonder,
glistening, made of netted wires of findruiney, [Footnote: A
bright yellow bronze, the secret of making which is now lost. The
metal may be seen in our museums. In beauty it is superior to
gold. ] and took therefrom the men and disposed them in their
respective places on the board, each in the centre of his own
square. The gold men were on the squares of silver, and the silver
on the squares of gold. The table was set under the shadowing
branches of a great tree, for it was early summer and the sun
shone in his strength. So Concobar and Fergus, lightly laughing,
affectionate and mirthful, the challenger and the challenged, came
forth through the wide doorway of the dun. Armed youths went with
them. The right arm of Fergus was cast lightly over the shoulder
of Concobar, and his ear was inclined to him as the young king
talked, for their mutual affection was very great and like that of
a great boy and a small boy when such, as often happens, become
attached to one another. So Concobar and Fergus sat down to play,
though right seldom did the Champion win any game from the King.
Concobar beckoned to him one of the young knights. It was Conall
Carna, [Footnote: Conall the Victorious. He came second to