discharge from him; before it reaches to earth the seven chase-hounds
with their seven silver chains catch it."

At this the hosts come from the dun of Cruachan to view them. The
people in the dun smother one another, so that sixteen men die while
viewing them.


They alight in front of the dun. They tent their steeds, and they
loose the chase-hounds. They (the hounds) chase the seven deer to
Rath-Cruachan, and seven foxes, and seven hares, and seven wild boars,
until the youths kill them in the lawn of the dun. After that the
chase-hounds dart a leap into Brei; they catch seven otters. They
brought them to the elevation in front of the chief rath. They (Fraech
and his suite) sit down there.

A message comes from the king for a parley with them. It is asked
whence they came, they name themselves according to their true names,
"Fraech, son of Idath this," say they. The steward tells it to the
king and queen. "Welcome to them," say Ailill and Maev; "It is a noble
youth who is there," says Ailill, "let him come into the Liss (outer
court)." The fourth of the house is allotted to them. This was the
array of the house, a seven fold order in it; seven apartments from
fire to side-wall in the house all round. A rail (or front) of bronze
to each apartment; a partitioning of red yew under variegated planing
all.

Three plates of bronze in the skirting of each apartment. Seven plates
of brass from the ceiling (?) to the roof-tree in the house.