Of pine the house was made; it is a covering of shingle it had
externally. There were sixteen windows in the house, and a frame of
brass, to each of them; a tie of brass across the roof-light. Four
beams of brass on the apartment of Ailill and Medb, adorned all with
bronze, and it in the exact centre of the house. Two rails of silver
around it under gilding. In the front a wand of silver that reached
the middle rafters of the house. The house was encircled all round
from the door to the other.[FN#23]


[FN#23] It should be noted that it is not certain whether the word
"imdai," translated apartments, really means "apartments" or "benches."
The weight of opinion seems at present to take it as above.


They hang up their arms in that house, and they sit, and welcome is
made to them.

"Welcome to you," say Ailill and Medb. "It is that we have come for,"
says Fraech. "It shall not be a journey for boasting[FN#24] this,"
says Medb, and Ailill and Medb arrange the chess-board after that.
Fraech then takes to the playing of chess with a man of their (?)
people.


[FN#24] This is the rendering in the Yellow Book of Lecan, considered
by Meyer to be the true reading. The Book of Leinster text gives
"aig-baig," a word of doubtful meaning. The Eg. MS. has also a
doubtful word.