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IRISH   TEXTS    SOCIETY 


CUMANN  NA  SGRIBHEANN  GAEDHILGE 


VOL.    XXVIII 

[1926] 
1933 


DUANAIRE  FINN 


THE  BOOK   OF   THE   LAYS   OF   FIOlNN 


PART  II 


IRISH   TEXT,   WITH   TRANSLATION   INTO   ENGLISH 


BY 


GERARD  MURPHY 


^TofTHE  mjMp 


HHLLUSLPf  HILLS,  ^ 


LONDON 

PUBLISHED   FOR   THE    IRISH  TEXTS   SOCIETY 
BY    SIMPKIN    MARSHALL,    LTD. 
4    STATIONERS   HALL    COURT,    E.    C.   4 

1933 


MAR   CHUIMHNIUGHADH 
AR 
PHROINNSIAS     AIRMEAS 


FOREWORD 


In  printing  the  text  the  following  rules  have  been  observed  : 
The  mark  of  aspiration  has  been  represented  by  h.  Where  in  the 
MS  a  vowel  has  been  written  over  a  letter,  r  has  often  been  inserted 
silently  in  the  printed  text  between  the  letter  and  the  super- 
script vowel.  Where  a  consonant. has  been  written  over  a  letter, 
a  has  often  been  silently  inserted.  The  well-known  signs  for 
ar,  air,  ach  (each),  co  (con),  cu,  da,  m,  n,  and  us,  have  been  ex- 
panded silently,  except  in  a  few  instances  where  it  seemed  advis- 
able to  indicate  the  manuscript  reading  as  precisely  as  possible. 
All  other  contracted  syllables  have  been  expanded  in  italics.  When 
the  «s-sign  stands  for  uis,  the  uis  has  been  printed  in  italics.  The 
ur-sign  has  been  represented  variously  by  ar,  air,  ur,  uir,  always 
in  italics.  When  a  contracted  syllable  containing  a  long  vowel 
has  been  expanded,  whether  silently  or  in  italics,  a  makron  has 
in  certain  cases  been  placed  over  the  long  vowel  if  there  is  no 
mark  of  length  visible  in  the  manuscript.  The  makron  has  in  no 
instance  been  supplied  over  a  syllable  not  contracted  in  the  manu- 
script. Where  a  contracted  syllable  containing  an  aspirated 
consonant  has  been  expanded  in  the  printed  text,  an  h  in  square 
brackets,  [h],  has  been  used  to  indicate  the  aspiration  if  there 
is  no  dot  over  the  mark  of  contraction  in  the  manuscript.  Square 
brackets  have  also  been  used  in  a  few  instances  to  supply  a  letter 
accidentally  omitted  by  the  scribe  in  uncontracted  syllables. 
Tall  e  before  a  broad  consonant  has  been  represented  by  ea  where 
the  syllable  is  short,  by  e  (or  e)  where  long.  This  is  in  conformity 
with  the  practice  of  the  scribe,  who,  except  in  one  or  two  instances, 
writes  ea  for  the  short  sound  and  e  (or  e)  for  the  long,  when  he  uses 
the  small  form  of  the  letter  e  (In  XXIV  llrf  he  wrote  ea  by  mistake 


VI 


and  expressly  deleted  the  a).  For  the  diphthong  commonly  written 
ia  the  scribe  often  writes  ie  :  this  is  always  printed  ie,  whether 
the  e  in  the  manuscript  be  a  tall  or  a  small  e.  The  printed  text  does 
not  follow  the  manuscript  in  word-division,  the  use  of  hyphens 
and  apostrophes,  or  the  use  of  capitals. 

The  present  volume  contains  the  whole  of  the  second  half  of 
the  text  of  Duanaire  Finn.  Notes,  indices  and  a  glossary  to  both 
halves  have  had  to  be  held  over  for  a  further  volume  which  will 
appear  as  Volume  XXX. 

I  wish  here  to  express  my  thanks  to  my  father,  Henry  Murphy, 
who  first  introduced  me  to  Duanaire  Finn  ;  to  Dr.  R.  I.  Best,who 
encouraged  me  to  transcribe  and  edit  this,  the  second  part  of  the 
Duanaire,  and  who  gave  me  much  valuable  advice  ;  to  Professor 
Eoin  Mac  Neill,  who  consented  to  let  me  continue  the  work  of  edi- 
ting begun  by  him  ;  to  Professor  0.  J.  Bergin,  who  gave  me  the 
assistance  of  his  unrivalled  knowledge  of  Irish  in  the  solving  of 
many  difficult  points  ;  to  Dr.  A.  Knoch,  who  read  my  work  in 
manuscript  and  made  some  useful  suggestions  ;  to  the  community 
of  the  Franciscan  Convent,  Merchants'  Quay,  Dublin,  who  per- 
mitted me  to  work  at  the  manuscript  of  Duanaire  Finn,  which  is 
in  their  possession  ;  and  to  the  council  and  officers  of  the  Irish 
Texts  Society,  who  have  done  everything  in  their  power  to  facili- 
tate the  work    of  editing  and  proof-reading. 

G.   M. 


CONTENTS 

AND  ARGUMENT  OF  THE  POEMS. 


Page 

XXXVI.  The  Lay  of  the  Smithy 2 

Eight  of  the  Fiana,  including  Fionn  and  Daolghus,  find  them- 
selves on  Sliabh  Luachra  [in  Kerry].  A  monstrous  warrior  ap- 
proaches them.  He  says  that  he  is  Lon,  chief  smith  of  Norway, 
and  that  he  has  come  to  race  the  Fiana.  Thereupon  Ire  leaps  from 
them.  The  eight  Fian  warriors  follow  him.  Lon  takes  them  from 
Kerry  by  Limerick  through  Clare,  Galway  and  Roscommon  to 
the  hill  of  Keshcorran  [in  South  East  Sligo].  Lon  enters  the 
cave  of  Keshcorran.  In  the  cave  is  a  smithy  with  smiths  at  work. 
Lon  sets  about  making  a  sword.  Daolghus  assists  him.  Daolghus 
grows  warm  till  his  face  glows  like  a  lighted  coal.  The  smiths  pre- 
sent ask  who  this  man  can  be,  using  the  compound  adjective 
caoilte  *  slender  and  hot  '  to  describe  him.  Fionn  fixing  on  the 
adjective  decides  that  Daolghus  shall  be  for  ever  known  as  Caoilte. 
Lon  offers  the  Fian  hospitality  and  presents  them  with  spears 
and  swords,  the  names  of  which  are  given.  At  sun-rise  next  morning 
the  Fian,  having  slept  soundly,  find  themselves  once  more  on 
Sliabh  Luachra, 

XXXVII.  Fionn's  Ancestry 16 

Oissin  traces  Fionn's  pedigree.  He  shows  him  to  be  of  the 
Clanna  Deadhadh  of  West  Munster. 

XXXVII  I.  The  Naming  of  Dun  G/  ire 20 

Fionn  goes  to  Dun  Brain  to  woo  Daolach.  There  is  a  rumour 
that  the  Dogheads  under  their  king  Cliabhach  are  approaching. 
Dubh  son  of  Donn  goes  by  sea  to  ward  them  off.  The  Dogheads 
plunder  the  region  round  Sliabh  Collain  Mhic  Criomhthain. 
They  come  upon  Dubh  and  his  men  asleep  and  slay  them.  The 
stream  where  Dubh  fell  is  called  Dubhghlaise  because  of  him. 
The  Dogheads  come  to  Dun  Brain  and  utter  three  cries  :  hence 
its  new  name,  D<in  Gaire,  the  Fort  of  Cries,     Cliabhach  hurls 


viii  CONTENTS    AND    ARGUMENT 

three  javelins.  Those  whom  the  javelins  struck  and  the  places 
where  they  died  are  named.  Gaoine,  known  also  as  Mac  Lughach 
and  as  Caol,  comes  to  the  beach  and  slays  Cliabhach.  His  ex- 
ploits and  the  exploits  of  Faolan  and  Dubh  Droman  are  recounted. 
The  Dogheads  arc  defeated.  Daolach's  marriage  to  Fionn  and 
her  death  are  referred  to.  The  names  of  the  river  Daolach 
and  of  Aidhne  ( ?)  are  accounted  for.  The  poem  ends  with 
praise  of  Caol,  the  name  given  to  Mac  Lughach  in  this  port- 
tion  of  the  poem.  His  death  and  burial  are  mentioned.  Certain 
place-names  are  incidentally  explained. 

XXXIX.  The  Battle  of  Gabhair    ......       32 

The  grave  of  Osgar,  son  of  Garaidh.  suggests  the  story  of 
his  death.  Fionn  went  on  pilgrimage.  Oisin  is  left  as  head  of 
the  Fian.  The  king  of  Ireland  was  Cairbre  Liffeachair.  He 
demands  a  gift  as  a  sign  of  his  overlordship.  Oisin  refuses. 
His  demands  are  given  in  more  precise  terms.  Osgar,  son  of 
Oisin,  and  Mac  Lughach  refuse  vehemently.  War  is  declared. 
Cairbre  marshals  the  men  of  Leinster  and  Ulster.  He  sum- 
mons Osgar,  son  of  Garaidh,  from  Scotland.  The  son  of  Garaidh 
arrives  at  Gabhair  as  the  hosts  are  prepared  for  battle.  Cairbre 
speaks  of  the  havoc  wrought  by  the  House  of  Baoisgne  in  Ire- 
land. The  son  of  Garaidh  promises  to  remember  that  and  his 
own  feud  with  that  House.  Aodhan,  king  of  Ulster,  bids  him  do 
combat  with  the  other  Osgar,  son  of  Oisin.  The  King  of  Loch- 
lainn's  son  is  then  seen  approaching  with  an  army.  He  has 
come  to  help  the  Fiana.  The  armies  join  battle.  The  King  of 
Lochlainn's  son  distinguishes  himself.  Osgar  son  of  Garaidh 
goes  to  meet  him  and  slays  him.  The  army  from  Lochlainn  is 
defeated  by  Osgar's  army.  Osgar  son  of  Garaidh  then  ad- 
vances against  the  Fiana.  Osgar  son  of  Oisin  goes  to  meet  him. 
The  son  of  Oisin  slays  the  son  of  Garaidh.  Osgar  son  of  Oisin 
then  attacks  and  slays  the  High  King,  Cairbre.  The  names  of 
others  slain  in  the  battle  are  given. 

XL.  These  Six 58 

The  six  are  Lovemaking,  Gentleness  and  High  Spirits,  on 
the  one  hand,  to  whom  are  opposed  Trouble,  Need  and  Sorrow 
on  the  other. 

XU.  The  Bird-Crib        ......  .         .       60 

Who   of  the   Fiana   first   made  and  used   a  bird-crib?   Oisin 


CONTENTS  AND  ARGUMENT  ix 

undertakes  to  tell.  Fionn  with  sixty  warriors  is  parted  from  the 
main  body  of  the  Fiana  on  Sliabh  Luachra.  A  magic  mist 
surrounds  them.  A  tall  warrior  (later  called  the  son  of  Tro- 
ghan)  approaches.  He  carries  with  him  a  golden  crib  with  which 
he  catches  birds  as  he  goes.  He  invites  the  Fian  warriors  to 
his  house.  They  go  with  him  to  Inbhear  da  Shal  in  the  East. 
The  warrior  leaves  them  shut  up  in  his  castle  for  seven  days. 
Fionn  in  the  meantime  makes  a  crib  on  the  model  of  the  golden 
crib.  They  catch  birds  and  satisfy  their  hunger.  On  the  se- 
venth day  the  warrior  returns,  thinking  to  find  them  dead. 
Fionn's  companions  would  have  killed  the  warrior,  but  Fionn 
protects  him.  This  is  the  greatest  act  of  clemency  ever  per- 
formed by  Fionn. 

XLII.  The  standing  Stones  of  Ireland       .         .         .         .66 

The  stone  on  Tulach  Thuaithe  is  addressed.  It  tells  the 
story  of  Mac  Lughach  and  his  father  Daire.  Daire  son  of  Conall 
was  on  his  way  from  Gluain  Oirthir  to  Almhain.  At  Bealach 
Gabhrain  he  met  the  three  sons  of  Ross  whose  grandfather  had 
been  killed  by  Fionn.  They  ask  him  whose  man  he  is.  He  replies 
that  he  is  Fionn's.  They  fight.  Daire  slays  all  three.  He 
tells  Fionn  what  happened.  Fionn  goes  north  leaving  Daire  in 
Almhain.  When  Daire  was  healed  he  followed  Fionn.  Once 
Daire  was  alone  and  night  overtook  him  near  Sith  Buidhbh.  The 
fairy  hill  is  opened  before  him.  He  is  welcomed  by  Eoch- 
aidh,  king  of  the  fairy  hill.  Daire  and  Eochaidh's  daughter 
Lughach  lie  together.  Daire  bids  her  bring  the  child  to  Fionn 
if  it  be  a  boy.  A  son  is  born.  He  is  called  Gaoine.  While  still 
a  baby  he  slays  a  weasel.  At  the  end  of  a  year  Lughach  brings 
Gaoine  to  Fionn.  Gaoine  picks  out  his  father,  Daire,  from  the 
assembled  Fian.  Daire's  wife,  Aoibhinn,  is  jealous.  Fionn  to 
ease  her  jealousy  declares  that  the  boy  will  be  known  by  his 
mother's  name  rather  than  by  that  of  his  father.  He  is  therefore 
called  Mac  Lughach.  Lughach  takes  her  son  to  her  father's  house 
in  Cluain  Cheasain.  For  seven  years  Mac  Lughach  was  trained 
as  befitted  a  king's  son.  He  then  entered  the  Fian.  His  first 
love  Tuadh,  daughter  of  Aonghus  died.  For  her  he  planted 
the  stone  on  Tulach  Thuaithe.  The  other  standing  stones  of 
Ireland  are  addressed  and  those  who  lie  beneath  them  are  named. 

XLII  I.  The  Womenfolk  of  the  Fian      .....     100 

Fionn's  birthplace  on  the  hill  of  Almhain   is     pointed     out. 
The  names  of  the  mothers  and  wives  of  the    chief    heroes  of  the 


x  CONTENTS  AND  ARGUMENT 

Fian  are  given.  Fionn's  grief  on  blinding  Dianghus,  a  member  of 
his  deirbhfhine,  is  mentioned.  The  place  of  Fionn's  death  is 
told.     I  lis  grave-mound  is  shown. 

XLIV.  Lugh's  Kinship  with  certain  Members  of  the  Fian     114 

Lugh's  mother.  Eithne,  was  given  as  wife,  to  Tadhg,  son  of 
Nuadha.  By  him  she  had  two  daughters  Uirne  and  Muirne. 
lime  was  given  as  wife  to  Conall.  Daire  was  their  son.  From 
Lughach,  Fionn's  daughter,  and  Daire  sprang  Gaoine,  called  Mac 
Lughach.  Uirne  was  given  as  wife  to  the  king  of  Ulster.  The 
king  of  Ulster's  former  wife,  the  Bodhbh's  daughter,  turned  Uirne 
into  a  dog.  Uirne  as  a  dog  gave  birth  to  Bran  and  Sgeolang. 
Lughaidh  Lagha  had  Uirne  turned  back  into  a  woman.  She  was 
given  to  him  as  wife.  Lughaidh  Lagha's  sons  were  Gaol  Crodha, 
Sgiath,  Aodh  and  Iollann.  Uirne  had  seven  sons;  Muirne 
one  son.  Fionn.  Thus  was  Lugh  related  to  certain   of  the  Fian. 

XLV.  The  Kinship  of  Cnu  Dheireoil  with  Fionn     .         .118 

Eithne,  daughter  of  Balor,  was  mother  of  Lugh.  Lugh  was 
father  of  Cmi  Dheireoil.  Lugh  slew  Balor.  Eithne  followed  Lugh 
to  Tara.  Tadhg  asked  Lugh  to  give  him  his  mother,  Eithne, 
in  marriage.  Muirn,  Fionn's  mother,  was  the  first  child  of 
that  marriage.  Fionn's  kinship  with  Cmi  Dheireoil  is  clear : 
Eithne  was  grandmother  to  both. 

XLVI.  The  Kinship  of  Fjamhoin  son  of  Forach  wit  h  Oisin     122 

Their  mothers  were  sisters,  being  both  daughters  of  the  Dearg. 
Righlinn  was  Fiamhoin's  mother.  Cruithgheal  was  the  mother 
of  Oisin. 

XLVI  I.   Caoilte's  Sword 124 

Caoilte's  sword  is  shown.  The  battles  in  which  it  was  used 
and  the  heroes  whom  it  killed  are  named.  Those  who  inherited 
it,  from  Sithbhac  to  Fionn, are  recounted.  When  Fionn  received  it, 
the  Fian  cried  out  that  it  was  not  his  custom  to  keep  a  precious 
object  for  himself.     Fionn   accordingly   offered   it  to     the  Fian. 

llbhe,  the  daughter  of  Cormac,  famous  for  her  wisdom,  de- 
cides that  the  Fian  should  race  for  the  sword.  They  race. 
Fionn  arrives  first  at  the  scabbard,  Caoilte  at  the  sword.  The 
case  is  laid  before  Aillbhe  for  decision.  She  quotes  the  maxim 
To  every  knight  is  due  his  horse  ',  and  applying  it  to  the  case 


CONTENTS  AND  ARGUMENT  xi 

laid  before  her  decides  that  to  every  sword  is  due  its  scabbard 
and  to  every  scabbard  its  beilfhleasg.  The  sword,  scabbard  and 
beilfhleasg  are  therefore  awarded  to  Caoilte.  Cormac  and  the 
wise  judge  Fitheal  arrive.  Fitheal  upholds  Aillbhe's  judge- 
ment. Cormac  then  states  a  case.  Fitheal' s  goats  have  strayed 
and  destroyed  his  garden.  Who  has  to  pay  for  the  damage? 
Aillbhe  decides  that  the  gardener  must  pay.  Everyone  agrees. 
The  days  of  Cormac  and  Fionn  are  praised.  The  corruption  to 
come  is  prophesied. 

XLVIII.  The  Wild  Rush  of  the  House  of  Morna    .         .     142 

From  fonn  Tuaidhe  to  Tonn  Chi fodhna  the  House  of  Morna 
spread  destruction.  The  list  of  those  they  killed  and  the  places 
where  they  killed  them  is  given.  They  promised  to  defend  Tara 
against  three  hundred  foreigners.  Their  slayings  on  that  occasion 
are  related.  The  list  of  their  slayings  is  continued.  It  is  told 
how  one  night  they  defended  Cormac  against  the  House  of 
Baoisgne.  On  that  night  Daighre  played  music  till  Fionn's 
'host  fell  asleep.  The  House  of  Morna  then  leaped  upon  them 
and  slew  many.  The  list  of  those  whom  they  slew  is  continued. 
In  all  they  slew  five  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty  six  of 
the  House  of  Baoisgne  in  their  Wild  Rush. 

XLIX.  Fionn's  Prophecy 154 

Fionn  as  he  sat  above  the  glen  at  Howth  saw  a  black  cloud 
coming  upon  Ireland  from  the  north.  The  cloud,  he  said,  fore- 
boded the  coming  of  Danair  [literally  'Danes'].  Then  follow 
references  to  the  conquest  of  Ireland  by  the  Normans.  The 
personal  visit  of  a  king  of  England  to  Ireland  is  next  foretold. 
He  will  appoint  a  viceroy.  Certain  battles  are  to  be  fought.  A 
leper  will  be  for  seven  years  king  of  Ireland.  A  man  from  the  east 
will  come  to  Ireland  on  the  leper's  advice.  The  stranger  from 
the  east  will  defeat  a  warrior  known  as  the  Donn.  The  Donn  Fail- 
gheach  will  arise  and  fight  three  battles.  Three  years  later  the 
Gaels  will  be  slaughtered.  The  men  of  Munster  will  have 
vengeance  for  that.  Certain  battles  are  referred  to.  The  coming 
of  the  son  of  the  king  of  England  is  prophesied.  That  son  of  the 
king  of  England  will  inaugurate  a  period  of  equal  law  for  his 
people.  He  will  bestow  the  half  of  Ireland  on  his  followers,  to 
the  anger  of  the  native  lords.  After  him  comes  a  period  of 
injustice.  The  foreigners  and  the  Gaels  will  unite  against  the 
Panair.     They  crown  the  king  of  Aileach,  who  is  defeated  at 


xii  <  I  >\Ti:.\  is  AND  ARGUMENT 

Mullaghmast.  For  thirty  years  there  will  be  peace.  Then  the 
foreigners  will  come  from  the  east.  There  will  be  trouble  in 
Spain  too.  The  battle  of  Singland,  near  Limerick,  will  be  fought 
bj  an  O'Brien  named  Tairbhre,  who  will  defeat  the  foreigners 
and  be  made  king.  Sraonghalach  and  Aodh  the  pure,  both 
from  Deny,  will  win  victories  in  the  north.  Later  fresh  for- 
eigners will  come  and  cause  fresh  trouble. 

L.  The  House  of  Morn  a  defend  Fionn  in  Hell  .         .         .168 

Fionn  appears  to  Oisin.  He  tells  Oisln  that  on  the  night 
he  died  the  Devil  urged  the  House  of  Morna  to  make  common 
cause  with  him  against  Fionn.  They  refused  and,  with  the  rest 
of  the  Fiana,  gathered  around  Fionn  to  protect  him.  The  Fiana 
were  defeated  and  scattered  by  the  demons.  For  sixty  years 
Fionn  was  in  hell.  Then  an  angel  released  him  for  one  night 
that  he  might  visit  Oisin.     He  foretells  Oisin's  salvation. 

LI.    Rise   up,    Oisin 174 

Oisin  and  Caoilte  meet.  They  are  baptized  by  Patrick.  Caoilte's 
death  at   Tara,  apparently  caused  by  Patrick,   is  referred  to. 

LI  I.  Rise  up,   Osgar     ........      176 

Osgar  is  urged  to  wreak  havoc  on  his  foes.  His  strength  and 
man  fulness   are   praised. 

LI  II.  The  Bell  on  Druim  Deikg 178 

oisin  hears  the  note  of  a  bell  on  Druim  Deng.  He  declares 
there  was  sweeter  music  on  Druim  Deirg  when  the  Fian  used  to 
hunt  there.  He  and  Patrick  dispute.  Oisin  tells  what  the 
various  Fian  warriors  would  have  done  to  Patrick  for  ringing  his 
little  lull,  oisin  declares  that  he  himself  believes  in  the  true 
God,  but  that  nevertheless  the  sound  of  the  bell  gives  him  pain. 

LIV.  The  Magic  Pig 181 

One  Sunday  the  Fian  went  hunting  on  the  Luachair  moun- 
tains. That  evening  they  encamped.  Dubh  Dala,  son  of  Maol 
Garbh,  slept  outside  the  encampment.  Cluasan,  his  dog,  star- 
ted a  huge  pig.  The  pig  slew  the  dog.  On  the  next  day  the  Fian 
hunted  the  pig.  She  killed  many  men  and  dogs.  Colla  jumped 
upon  her  back  and  wounded  her  nine  times  as  she  ran.  Fionn 
and  Conan,  aided  by  others  of  the  Fian,  slay  the  pig.     In  all 


CONTENTS  AND  ARGUMENT  xiii 

the  pig  had  killed  thirty  warriors,  nine  attendants  and  one  hundred 
and  forty  hounds  before  she  herself  was  killed. 

LV.  Oisin  in  Elphin 194 

Oisin  in  his  old  age  recalls  the  days  of  his  youth.  He  lam- 
ents the  woes  of  his  present  life  at  Elphin. 

LVI.  Bran's  Departure  from  the  Fian     .         .         .         .198 

The  poet  laments  the  loss  of  Bran.  He  praises  him  above  all 
other  hounds.  He  tells  how  one  day  he  struck  Bran.  Bran 
in  astonishment  looked  at  him  with  tears  flowing  from  his 
eyes.  Bran  then  ran  along  the  mountain  and  plunged  into  the 
lake.  Ever  since  the  going  of  Bran  the  hounds  of  the  Fiana  utter 
each  evening  three  cries  of  woe.  Whenever  the  poet  hears  a 
hound  baying  he  thinks  of  Bran  and  his  heart  is  full  of  grief. 

LVI  I.  The  Dialogue  between  OisIn  and  Patrick     .         .     204 

Oisin  praises  the  days  gone  by.  He  boasts  of  the  natural 
virtues  of  the  Fiana.  Patrick  rebukes  him  for  dwelling  on  the 
past.     It  is  time,  he  says,  for  Oisin  to  think  of  God. 

LVIII.  The  Chase  of  Slievenamon 216 

Oisin  undertakes  to  tell  how  many  deer  fell  in  the  great  hunt 
on  Slievenamon.  He  describes  the  apparel  of  the  hunters  and 
how  they  prepared  for  the  chase.  Six  thousand  horned  deer 
fell  to  them,  besides  deer  of  other  kind  and  does.  In  the  evening 
ten  hundred  of  their  hounds  were  killed  by  a  hundred  boars.  The 
Fiana  succeed  in  slaying  the  boars. 

LIX.  The  coming  of  Laighne  Mor 222 

One  day  the  Fian  were  stationed  at  Dunbo.  Laighne  Mor,  a 
Fomorian  chieftain,  crossed  the  sea  from  Scotland  to  Dunbo. 
He  challenged  the  Fiana  to  combat.  Fionn  and  Fearghus  go 
to   his  tent  disguised   as  poets.  They  take   Cnu   Dheireoil 

and  Blathnaid  with  them  beneath  their  cloaks.  Laighne  wel- 
comes them.  Cnii  Dheireoil  and  Blathnaid  play  wonderful 
music.  Fionn  then  converses  with  Laighne.  He  asks  his 
name  and  the  purpose  of  his  coming.  Laighne  says  he  has 
come  to  subdue  Ireland.  He  offers  Fionn  payment  for  his 
music.  Fionn  demands  immunity  for  his  property  in  Ireland. 
Laighne   promises   him   what   he   has    demanded.     Fionn   then 


xiv  CONTENTS  AND  ARGUMENT 

tells  who  he  is.  All  Ireland,  he  says,  belongs  to  him.  Laighne 
objects  that  his  promise  was  to  a  poet,  not  to  a  king.  Fionn  ex- 
plains that  he  is  poet  as  well  as  king.  Laighne  ceases  to  protest 
and  returns  in  peace  to  his  own  country. 

LX.  The  Chase  above  Lough  Derg 234 

Fionnloch  [in  Donegal]  was  inhabited  by  a  monster.  The 
Fian  went  to  hunt  in  the  mountains  above  the  lake.  The  mon- 
ster demanded  that  fifty  horses  or  else  fifty  cows  be  given 
her  each  day  by  the  Fian.  Albhaidh,  son  of  the  King  of  Greece, 
who  understood  the  language  of  animals,  interpreted  her  demand 
for  the  Fian.  That  night  the  monster  was  hungry.  The  next 
morning  she  raised  a  storm  on  the  lake.  She  came  upon  the 
shore.  The  Fian  attacked  her.  She  swallowed  many  of  the 
Fian  including  Oisin  and  Albhaidh.  Fionn  made  a  sudden 
rush  and  threw  the  monster  on  her  back.  Daire  son  of  Fionn 
leaped  into  her  mouth.  He  hewed  his  way  out  of  her  with  his 
knife.  Two  hundred  of  the  Fiana  came  alive  out  of  the  monster. 
They  had  all  lost  their  hair.  Conan  who  had  no  hair  to  lose, 
being  bald,  lost  the  skin  of  the  crown  of  his  head.  Fionnloch 
(The  White  Lake)  was  known  ever  after  as  Loch  Dearg  (The  Red 
Lake)  because  of  the  slaughter  of  the  Fiana  made  there  that  day. 

LXI.  Man ann an  and  the  Fian 240 

As  the  Fian  were  hunting  over  Benbulben,  a  stranger  ap- 
proached them.  He  had  a  sword  stuck  through  his  head  from 
ear  to  ear.  The  stranger  placed  himself  under  Fionn's  protection. 
The  sword,  he  said,  had  been  put  through  his  head  by  Manan- 
nan with  whom  he  had  fought.  He  asked  the  Fian  to  remove 
it.  Conan,  against  the  advice  of  Fionn,  tried  to  remove  the 
sword.  He  fell  senseless  to  the  ground.  Conan's  kinsmen,  the 
House  of  Morna,  drew  their  swords  to  cut  off  the  strange  war- 
rior's head.  Fionn  and  the  whole  House  of  Baoisgne  arose  to 
defend  the  warrior  in  accordance  with  the  protection  promised 
by  Fionn.  After  much  mutual  slaughter  of  the  two  rival  houses 
I  .nil  recognizes  that  Fionn  is  in  the  right.  Fionn  binds  the  stranger 
under  ijeasa  to  tell  who  he  is.  He  is  Manannan  himself.  He 
bears  an  implacable  hatred  to  the  Fiana.  Fionn  binds  him 
under  geasa  to  succour  Conan.  Manannan  heals  Conan  by 
touching  him  with  his  magic  sword.  Conan  thereupon  attacks 
him.  The  struggle  among  the  Fiana  was  about  to  recommence. 
Manannan  put  his  sword  around  them  so  that  they  became  un- 


CONTENTS  AND  ARGUMENT  XV 

conscious.     Their  senses  did  not   return   to  them  till  the   day 
had  passed  by. 

LXII.  The  Adventure  on  Slieve  Gullen  with  Dubh  son 

OF  DlORFADH    AND  THE  PROWESS  OF  OSGAR     .  .  .      248 

One  day  when  Fionn  was  planning  the  chase  of  Slieve  Gullen  a 
monstrous  warrior  approached.  Fionn  ordered  all  the  Fian  to  go 
to    oppose  him.  Conan  uttered  abusive  words.  Fionn  and  Conan 
dispute.     They    draw   their    swords.     Then    Conan,   seized  with 
fear,    submits.     The    Fian    enquire    of   the    warrior  who    he    is. 
His  name*  is  Dubh  mac  Diorfaidh,    the  Black  One  son  of  Dior- 
fadh.     He  has  come  to  bring  Ireland  to  submission.  He   under- 
takes  to   fight    alone    and   unaided   a  thousand  Fian  champions. 
Osgar  son   of  Oisin  takes  up   Dubh's  challenge.     Caoilte  says  it 
is  well,  for  that   Osgar's  father,  Oisin,  would  never  have  taken  it 
up.     All  wonder  at  this   gratuitous  insult  to  Oisin.     Caoilte  pro- 
phecies  that   Oisin  will  live  to  be  an  old  man  in  Crumlin.     Oisin 
demands  an  explanation.     Caoilte  declares     that  Oisin     will  be 
an    old   man   living   on   the   charity   of   the  Church.  Conan  joins 
violently  in  the  discussion  on  Caoilte's  side.     Oisin  then  attacks 
Caoilte  who  flies  from  him.     Oisin  catches  him    and  brings  him 
bound  among  the  Fiana.     Fionn,  Osgar  and  Cairill  decide  that 
Caoilte  must  pay  a  heavy  fine.     Caoilte  pays  the  fine  twice  over. 
Then  Oisin  and  he  make  peace.   Dubh  son    of    Dforfadh    repeats 
his  challenge.   Osgar  calls  upon   Cairill  to  join  with  him  in  ans- 
wering the  challenge.  Fionn  insults  Osgar  and  his  father,  Oisin. 
Osgar   replies.     He    and    Fionn    argue.     Finally    Fionn,    fearing 
the  consequences   of  the  dispute,  gives  a  large  present  to  Osgar. 
Osgar  and  Oisin  make  peace  with  Fionn.     Dubh  again  repeats 
his  challenge.     Osgar,  along  with  many  other  Fian  champions, 
goes   to    meet   him.     Dubh    slays   two   thousand   of  the    Fiana. 
Then  Osgar  attacks  him.    After  a  fierce  fight  Dubh  is  killed 
by  Osgar.     The  Fiana  cast  his  corpse  into  the  cave  on  Slieve 
Gullen.     Oisin   now   describes  to   Patrick  the  honour  that  used 
to    be    accorded    him    among   the    Fiana.     He    enumerates   the 
members    of    Fionn's    household.     He   tells   how    every    seventh 
year  Caoilte  used  to  entertain  all    the  Fiana    at    his    residence 
at    Carrickfergus.     Carrickfergus    was    also    known    as    Carraig 
Chinn  Choire  mic  Cais.     The  reason  of  the  alternative  name    was 
as  follows.     A  fierce  warrior  called  Cinn  Choire  once  came  from 
France   to    Ireland.     The    Fian    opposed    him    at    Carrickfergus. 
The  battle  was  going  hard  with  the  Fian  when  Osgar  slew  Cinn 
Choire.     Patrick    now    asks    Oisin   to    tell    of    some    adventure 


xvi  CONTENTS  AND  ARGUMENT 

that  befell  himself.  Oisin  tells  of  a  quarrel  he  had  with  Fionn. 
Fionn  on  a  certain  occasion  refused  Oisfn's  claim  to  the  leader- 
ship of  one  half  of  the  Fian.  Osgar  took  up  his  father's  cause. 
He  overpowered  all  of  Fionn  s  men.  Cairill  then  opposed  him. 
Fionn  and  Goll  try  to  separate  the  two  heroes.  They  do  not 
succeed,  however,  till  many  of  the  Fiana  had  fallen.  Fionn 
recognizes  the  justice  of  Oisin's  claims.  He  granted  Oisin  all 
he  had  asked  and  made  him  tanist  of  the  Fiana.  Patrick  here- 
upon advises  Oisin  to  turn  his  thoughts  to  Heaven  and  the 
future  life.  The  lay  ends  with  conversation  between  Oisin  and 
Patrick  on  this  subject. 

LXIII.  The  Coming  of  the  Dearg,  Son  of  Droicheal    .         .     298 

The  Dearg  son  of  Droicheal  came  to  Ireland  from  the  Country 
of  the  Fair  Men  in  the  east.  Roighne  and  Gaol  were  guarding 
the  harbour  at  Howth  when  he  arrived  there.  They  fell  asleep. 
While  they  were  asleep,  the  Dearg  landed.  Roighne  and  Gaol 
awake.  The  Dearg  says  he  has  come  to  win  supremacy  over 
Ireland.  He  defeat  and  binds  Caol  and  Roighne.  The  Dearg  then 
proceeds  to  Tara.  He  calls  upon  Gormac  to  submit.  Cormac 
refuses.  The  Dearg  slays  three  successive  hundreds  of  Cormac's 
folk  sent  to  oppose  him.  Cormac  sends  for  help  to  Fionn.  On  the 
next  day  Fionn  arrives  with  three  thousand  soldiers.  Fionn  . 
visits  the  Dearg  in  his  text.  He  refuses  to  yield  to  the  Dearg. 
The  Dearg  demands  battle  with  a  hundred  men.  He  slays  three 
successive  hundreds  of  the  Fiana.  Faolan  goes  to  meet  the  Dearg. 
The  Dearg  defeats  and  binds  him.  Fionn  appeals  to  Goll  for  help. 
He  promises  Goll  a  great  reward.  Goll,  disregarding  the  feud 
that  exists  between  his  kin  and  the  kinsmen  of  Fionn,  goes  to 
fight  the  Dearg.  The  fight  lasted  three  days.  Eventually 
Goll  slew  the  Dearg.     Fionn  gave  Goll  all  he  had  promised  him. 

LXIV.  Goll's  Tomb  and  the  Coming  of  Magnus  the  Great      318 

Mention  of  Goll's  tomb  gives  occasion  for  the  tale  of  the 
coming  of  Magnus.  Fionn  once  set  to  sea  without  Goll.  A  fleet 
from  Lochlainn  appeared  under  Magnus  the  Great.  Magnus  de- 
manded battle.  Fionn's  men  counselled  surrender.  All  seemed 
lost  when  Goll  appeared.  He  reproved  the  House  of  Baoisgne 
for  their  cowardice.  Goll  goes  to  fight  with  Magnus.  He 
defeats  and  slays  him.  Other  persons  slain  by  Goll  on  other 
occasions  are  named. 


CONTENTS  AND  ARGUMENT  xvii 

LXV.  The  Magic  Cloak 330 

A  woman  with  a  magic  cloak  visits  the  Fian.  The  virtue 
of  the  cloak  is  this  :  it  tests  the  modesty  of  the  woman  who  puts  it 
on.  The  cloak  exposes  the  immodesty  of  the  wives  of  the  chief 
men  of  the  Fian.  Mac  Reithe's  wife  alone  comes  through  the 
ordeal  with  honour.  Fionn  angrily  bids  the  woman  of  the 
magic  cloak  begone. 

ft 

LXVI.  Fionn's  Foray  to  Tara 336 

The  argument,  but  for  a  few  additions,  is  that  of  Poem  II 
(See  Pt.  I,  p.  viii). 

LXVII.  The  Lay  of  Airrghean  the  Great,    son  of  Ancar    362 

Fionn  forgot  to  invite  Caoilte  and  Aille  to  a  feast  he  held  at 
Almhain.  The  insulted  heroes  left  Ireland  and  took  service 
with  Airrghean,  king  of  Lochlainn.  The  king's  wife  fell  in 
love  with  Aille.  She  and  Aille  elope.  Caoilte  goes  with 
them  to  Ireland.  Airrghean  pursues  them.  Airrghean  and  his 
army  come  into  conflict  with  the  Fian.  After  an  eight  days' 
fight   Goll   slays  Airrghean. 

LXVI  1 1.  The  Lay  of  Beann  Ghualann       ....     370 

Caoilte  praises  the  beauty  of  Beann  Ghualann.  He  tells  of  a 
quarrel  between  Conan  and  Mac  Lughach  that  occurred  there. 
The  House  of  Morna  and  the  House  of  Baoisgne  ranged  them- 
selves on  either  side.  A  thousand  leaders  fell  that  day.  Then 
a  giant  with  an  iron  harp  approached.  The  music  of  the  harp 
was  so  dreadful  that  the  Fian  warriors  let  their  weapons  fall 
from  their  hands.  After  speech  with  Conan  and  more  music  from 
the  harp  the  giant  carried  off  their  weapons.  A  month  later 
Fionn  summoned  Goll  to  join  him  in  an  expedition  to  the  Fuar- 
dhacht  (Cold  Land)  to  recover  their  arms  from  the  giant.  In  the 
Fuardhacht  Goll  and  other  Fian  warriors  performed  feats  of 
valour  against  the  giants  who  dwelt  there  ;  but  were  it  not  for  the 
timely  arrival  of  Aonghus  of  the  Brugh,  who  by  magic  discomfited 
the  giants  and  recovered  the  Fian  weapons,  it  would  have  gone 
ill  with  the  Fiana.  The  Fiana  return  to  Ireland.  They  go  to  the 
Brugh  where  they  receive  their  weapons  from  Aonghus. 

LXIX.  The  Chess-game  beneath  the  Yew-tree      .        .        .    402 
Oisin  and  Fionn  were  playing  chess  beneath  a  yew.     Fionn's 


xviii  CONTENTS  AND  ARGUMENT 

enemy,  Diarmaid,  was  hidden  in  the  branches  above  them. 
At  a  critical  moment  he  dropped  a  berry  on  the  board,  thus 
suggesting  the  winning  move  to  Oisin.  Fionn  was  angry.  Osgar 
son  of  Oisin  undertakes  to  defend  Diarmaid.  Faolan  son  of 
Fionn  opposes  him.  The  House  of  Baoisgne,  to  which  both 
Oisin  and  Fionn  belong,  are  thus  divided  among  themselves. 
They  fight.  From  this  internecine  strife,  says  Caoilte,  came 
the  downfall  of  Fionn's  Fiana. 


CORRIGENDA 


Corrections  have,  as  a  rule,  been  made  only  where  the  reader 
might  be  in  doubt  as  to  what  the  editor  wished  to  be  read.  If 
no  other  indication  is  offered  the  correct  reading  is  that  given 
after  the  reference  to  the  line  of  the  page  or  poem.  The 
contraction  "  tr  "  stands  for  "translation." 


p.  viii  11.  8-9  :  portion, 
p.  xvi  1.  18  :  defeats. 
XXXIX  3a  :  laoch. 
XXXIX  41  d  (tr.)  :  strength. 
XXXIX     53b     (tr.)  :     for 


"  smooth  " 
XXXIX  61b  : 
XXXIX   note 


read  "  long." 
ainmin[e]. 
on   61c  :    mac 


Hgk. 


XLI  note  on  14d  :  inuciirsin 

deleted. 
XLI  18d  :  ro  hinnleadh. 
XLII  105c  (tr.)  :  Gluinfhionn. 
XLII  Hid  :  dealbhcaomh. 
XLIII  16d  (tr.)  :  Fuairbheal. 
XLIII    19c,    32c    (tr.)  :   Ean- 

ghach. 
XLIII  43b  (tr.)  :  insert 

"  Himself"  after  "  God." 
XLV  2b  (tr.)  :  delete  comma 

after  "  sweetest." 
XLV  note  on  lid  :  chleirigh. 
XLVII  note  on  10a  :  Ltighach- 
XLVII  44a  (tr.)  :  it  is. 
p.  143  footnote  :  Shield. 
XLVIII  21a  :  sidhe. 
XLVIII  34b  :  niadh. 
XLIX  6a  :  at-beart. 
XLIX  20d  (tr.)  :  might  think. 
XLIX  31a  (tr.)  :  for  "  great  " 

read  "  all." 
LIII  note  on  18c  :  sic. 
LIV  note  on   lie  :  cii. 
LIV  9b  (tr.)  :  delete  "  (?)." 
LV  2nd  line  of  note  on  7d  : 

deaxmad,  tsaoga\. 
LVI  2nd  line  of  note  on  4c  : 

(ceatramhadh) . 


LXII  24c 
LXII  27a 
LXII  88d 


LIX   10a  :  enlaoch. 

LX  note  on  3c  :  mac. 

LXI  3b  :  don. 

LXII  note  on  6b  :  donchluithe 

no  iorgaWe. 
LXII  note  on  12b  :  sic. 
LXII  24b  :  aoinfhir. 
:  iaobur. 
:  Cdir. 
(tr)  :    replace  stop 

by  comma. 
LXII  128b  :  oglaoigh  ar. 
p.  288  second  footnote  :    for 

142c  read  142d. 
LXIII  note  on  18b  :  rdidh. 
LXIII  55c  (tr.)  :  in. 
LXIV  8c  :  do  loisc. 
LXIVnoteon  30a:  greadhnach. 
LXVI  9b  (tr.)  :  overcome. 
LXVI  lib  (tr.)  :  insert  colon 

after  '  there.' 
LXVI  16d  :  cloi^Aiomchruaidh. 
LXVI  22d  :  ag  cur  air  bar. 
LXVI  73a  (tr.)  :  twenty-four. 
LXVI  73b  (tr.)  :  formed. 
LXVI  75b  (tr.)  :  red. 
LXVI  84a  (tr.)  :   account. 
LXVII  5b  :  laoch. 
LXVIII  4c  :  uairsin. 
LXVIII   18d  :  translation 

"  fall  "  is  doubtful. 
LXVIII  note  on  31b  :  mbdgha 
LXVIII   32b  :  n-crdha. 
LXVIII  78c  :  feind*4A] . 
LXVIII  94d  :  tearca. 


DUANAIRE  FINN 


THE  BOOK    OF   THE    LAYS    OF  FIONN 


XXXVI  [50  b] 

1  Sgriobh  sin  a  Brogain  sgribhinn 

do  comradh  fhirgrinn  fheassach 
ni  d'imteachtoibh  mic  Cumhaill 

do  fhulaing  mor  ttaom  ndeacrach 

2  EisdeacW  re  n-abair  Oissin 

do  comradh  roimhin  rioghlan 
ni  chiiala  on  cheithrinn  chrodha 
sgel  budh  cora  do  sgviobadh 

3  Innis  a  mheic  na  flatha 

do  glor  bhlasta  is  beag  mbreige 
sloinn  duinn  go  milis  milla 
sgela  fiora  na  Feine 

4  Innis  duinn  gan  dol  seacha 

narab  e  in  freagra  isdlleach 
cia  fath  fa  ttucadh  Caoilte 

ar  fhear  sgaoilte  na  sgainnear 

5  Teagmit  la  ar  Liiachair  Dea.gh.adh 

da  ceathrar  crodha  in  buigean 
moirsheisear  dhuinn  mun  airdrigh 

ionmhuin  dream  airdmhin  fhuilteach 

6  .  Meise  is  Daolgus  is  Diarmaid 

.    triar  fuair  a  ffianbhoith  fulacht 
tri  mic  Aonchearda  Berra 

Finn  feine  is  mac  Lughach 

2d  cora.  MS  has  crodha  deleted  before  cora. 

56  buigean.    MS  has  sgain,  with  a  stroke   over  the  n,    crossed  out    before 
buig  (stroke  over  g).  The  u  of  buig  has  been  inserted  above  the  line. 


xxxvi 

1  Write  it,  Brogan,  a  writing,  in  truly  pleasant 
wise  speech,  something  of  the  adventures  of 
the  son  of  Cumhall  who  endured  many 
hard  trials. 

2  Let  us  listen  to  what  Oisin  says  in  very  mild 
most  pure  speech  ;  I  have  not  heard  from 
the  valiant  troop  a  tale  it  were  more 
fitting  to  write. 

3  Tell,  son  of  the  prince,  in  clear  voice  of 
little  falsehood  :  recount  for  us  sweetly 
and  gently  the  true  tales  of  the  Fian. 


4  Tell  us,  without  omitting  it  (let  it  be  no 
heedless  answer),  why  the  breaker  up 
of  combats  was  called  Caoilte. 


5  We  arrive  one  day  on  Luachair  Deadhadh  ; 
our  company  was  eight  brave  men,  seven 
of  us  about  the  high  king  :  dear  was  that 
noble  and  gentle  warlike  band. 

6  I  and  Daolghus  and  Diarmaid,  three  who 
obtained  roasting  in  hunting  booth,  the 
three  sons  of  the  One  Craftsman  of  Beare, 
Fionn  himself  and  Mac  Lughach. 


DUANAIRE  FINN  [XXXVI 


7   Gairit  duinn  ar  in  tulaigh 

cian  bhus  cumhain  an  sgelsoin 
go  ttainic  sa  magh  fodbhan 
oalach  morard  ar  enchois 


'si1 


8  Iongnad  ionnioll  an  oglaigh 

togbhamaid  airm  re  a  fhaixtn 
tri  lamha  leis  ar  luamhain 

gne  in  ghualaigh  ar  'aghoidh 

9  Aonchos  faoi  ar  lar  in  tsleibhe 

don  beinn  go  cheile  chugainn 
aonshuil  a  cclar  a  edain 

'se  ag  feghain  mheic  Cumbaill 

10   Ni  raibhe  acht  aonleim  dhosan 

tar  gach  ngleann  ffodbhan  ffasaigh 
ni  roicheadh  dho  acht  ar  eigin 
,bord  a  edaigh  tar  a  mhasaiph 

[51«]  11  Leine  do  chiarsnaith  chasda 

ionar  lar/i/na  is  ruadhbrat 
cochall  mor  ciordhubh  ciartha 

do  sheiche  fhiadha  ar  a  liar/i/ar 

12  Mo  na  Ian  duirn  gach  milidh 

'na  chois  mhoir  dhirigh  dubhguirm 
fuide  no  crann  gach  sleighe 

6  a  ghluin  go  roiche  a  modharn 

13  Ceinnbdrt  don  cochall  cetna 

fan  maoil  ghlesta  mar  ghualac/i 
ba  lor  do  gabadh  dhuine  |  I 

sgath  a  laime  'sa  ghruamdhac/tf 

~c  MS  )i;is  jjiadh  crossed  out,  with  '  no  mayh'   written  above. 
10d  MS  has  eiduigh  with  the  first  i  crossed  out. 


XXXVI]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

7  We  were  but  a  short  while  on  the  hill 
(long  will  that  tale  be  remembered)  till 
there  came  to  us  on  the  fair-sodded  plain 
a  hugely  tall  warrior  with  a  single  foot. 

8  Wonderful  was  the  appearance  of  the  war- 
rior :  we  take  up  arms  on  seeing  him  :  he 
had  three  arms  swinging  :  his  face  was 
the  colour  of  coal. 

9  One  foot  supported  him  on  the  mountain 
as  he  approached  us  from  peak  to  peak  : 
he  had  one  eye  in  his  forehead,  and  his 
gaze  was  on  the  son  of  Cumhall. 

10  One  leap  sufficed  to  carry  him  over  each 
fair-sodded  wild  glen.  Hardly  did  the  edge 
of  his    garment  reach  over  his  buttocks. 


11  He  wore  a  shirt  of  twisted  waxed  thread, 
a  gray  tunic  and  a  i  ed  mantle  and  a  great 
jet-black  waxed  hooded  cloak  of  deerskin 
on  the  upper  portion  of  his  body. 

12  His  big  straight  dark-blue  foot  was  more 
than  each  warrior's  hand  could  hold  : 
longer  than  the  shaft  of  each  spear  was  the 
distance  from  his  knee  to  his  ankle. 

13  A  headgear  for  the  same  cloak  was  about 
his  head,  which  had  the  appearance  of  (?) 
coal.  The  shadow  of  his  hand  and  his 
gloom  were  sufficient  danger  for  us. 


6  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XXXVI 


14  Ar  ttear/i/  dho  ar  in  tulaiah 


BJ 


adubairt  ar  ttoigheacht  chugainn 
gur  beannachaid  na  dee 

duit  fein  a  mheic  Cumhaill 

15  Gur  bheannachsa  ar  Fionn  feinnidh 

cia  tu  a  enfhjr  nach  aithn/aMm 
innis  duinn  bar  n-ainm  bunaigh 
a  fhir  go  gculaidh  gcroicinn 

16  Lon  mac  Liomtha  mh'ainm  baisde 

rug  me  ar  aisde  gach  ceirdi 
is  me  is  ollamh  gabhonn 

ag  righ  Lochlann  sa  Bheirbhe 

17  Liomhthach  6g  inghean  Bholcain 

nirb  olc  a  conach  cloinne 
ni  mairg  fear  fuair  mo  mhathair 
rug  me  's  mo  brathair  eile 

18  D'iarrafaVi  coimreatha  cubhaidh 

tanac  chugaibh  on  Bheirbhe 
adeirid  is  luath  sibhsi 

a  dhream  is  clisde  ceirde 

19  Geis  oirbh  is  troigh  mhna  troghain 

a  \\icht  thosaig  gach  teannta 
muna  leantaoi  bhar  n-oc/i/ar 
me  go  dorus  mo  cheardcha 

20  Lingidh  uainn  mar  ghaoith  n-earra/aa 

ag  dol  tar  beannaibh  sleibhe 
gur  leanamar  e  in  uairsin 

beagan  d'uaisliph  na  Feine 


XXXVI]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

14  When  he  had  come  upon  the  hill,  having 
approached  us,  he  said,  «  May  the  gods 
bless  thee,  son  of  Cumhall.  » 


15  «  May  they  bless  thee  too  (?) »,  said  Fionn 
the  warrior  ;  «  Who  art  thou,  single  man 
whom  I  know  not?  Tell  us  thy  true  name, 
0  man  with  the  skin  garment.  » 

16  «  Lon  son  of  Liomhtha  is  the  name  I  have 
been  given  ;  I  have  mastered  the  nature 
of  every  craft ;  it  is  I  who  am  teacher  of 
smiths  to  the  king  of  Lochlann  in  Bergen. 

17  «  Liomhthach  the  young,  daughter  of  Bol- 
can,  she  had  no  ill  fortune  in  her  children  : 
no  obj  ect  of  pity  is  the  man  who  won  my  mo- 
ther, who  bore  me  and  my  other  brother. 

18  « To  seek  an  even  race  I  have  come  to  you 
from  Bergen  :  they  say  that  you  are  swift, 
0  people  skilled  in  craft  : 


19  «  A  geas  and  the  pangs  of  a  woman  in  tra- 
vail (?)  be  upon  you,  ye  leaders  in  every 
strait,  if  the  eight  of  you  do  not  follow  me 
to  the  door  of  my  smithy.  » 

20  He  leaps  from  us  like  a  spring  wind  going 
over  mountain  tops.  We  followed  him 
forthwith,  a  few  of  the  nobles  of  the 
Fian. 


8  DUANA1RE   FINN  [XXXVI 

21    Do  leathtaoibh  Liiachra  Dheaghaid/i 

seach  dhorus  Bhcalaigh  Luimnigh 
tar  sliabh  Oigidh  tar  Eachtghc 
gliiaismit  ar  gceitri  buidhnzM 

22  Buidhcan  dhibh  sin  in  gabha 

cachgofada  'na  iairneis 
aga  mhor  aige  6  Dhaolghus 

Fionn  'na  aonar  'na  ndiaighsein 

23  Diarmaid  &  mac  hughach 

feadh  tri  ttulach  'na  ndeaghaidh 
meise  is  tri  mic  in  Cearda 

'nar  mbuidhin  chalma  cheatrair 

24  Tre  Mhagh  Main  tre  Mhagh  Maine 

cian  uainn  d'aithle  ar  tturui's 
[51  b]  a  gceann  Mhoighe  mhoir  Mheadhbha 
tar  Ath  Bea/bha  tar  Mucais 

25  Laimh  re  feart  Fraoich  mhic  Fidaigh 

nirbh  e  in  siubhal  nar  shaothrac 
tar  Gleann  Cuilt  is  tar  Cruacham 
ann  sin  do  \\iaihaigh  Daolghus 

26  A  Magh  Luirg  sios  go  Seaghais 

beirmit  cheana  ar  a  cheile 
do-chuaidh  in  gobha  is  Daolghus 
uainn  a  maolchnoc  Chinn  Sleibhe 

27  Teagmaoid  ucht  ar  Uaimh  Chorainn 

ceachaing  romainn  bar  Daolgus 
fuirigh  go  foill  a  ghabha 

ni  ragha  asteach  at  aonar 

22d  aonar  na  and  ndiaighsein  arc  in  reverse  order  in  the  MS  with  sign  to 
transpose 

26a  Staghais  :  4a  here  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS  (r/.24c  where  Mheadh- 
bha is  written  Mhdadhbha  with  a  small  d  +  a). 


XXXVt]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

21  By  the  side  of  Luachair  Deadhaidh,  past 
the  gate  of  Bealach  Luimnigh,  over  Sliabh 
Oidhidh,  over  Eachtghe.we  go  in  four  bands. 


22  The  smith  formed  one  of  those  bands  : 
everyone  was  far  behind  him  :  he  had  a 
big  advantage  over  Daolghus  :  Fionn  came 
after  them  unaccompanied. 

23  Diarmaid  and  Mac  Lughach  were  three 
hills'  length  behind  them  :  I  and  the  three 
sons  of  the  Craftsman  formed  a  brave  band 
of  four. 

24  Through  Magh  Maoin, through  Magh  Maine 
did  we  go  (they  were  far  from  us  after 
our  journey),  into  great  Magh  Meadhbha 
across  Ath  Bearbha,  over  Mucais  : 

25  Close  by  the  grave  of  Fraoch  son  of  Fiod- 
hach  (it  was  no  easy  going),  over  Gleann 
Cuilt  and  over  Cruachain  :  there  Daolghus 
quickened   his    pace. 

26  From  Magh  Luirg  down  to  Seaghais,  in- 
deed, we  catch  up  on  one  another  :  the 
smith  and  Daolghus  went  from  us  into 
the  bare  hill  of  Ceann  Sleibhe. 

27  We  come  right  up  to  the  Cave  of  Corann  : 
«  He  has  gone  before  us,  »  said  Daolghus  : 
«  Wait  awhile,  smith  :  thou  shaft  not  go 
in    alone.  » 


10  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XXXVI 

28  Tiaghaid  ar  aon  san  uamh  aidh 

Fionn  ga  ffuabhairt  go  fearrdha 
fuarattar  builc  da  seideadh 
fuarattar  ere  is  ceardcha 

29  Inneoin  is  uird  ga  mbuakd/i 

le  trenbhuinne  luath  lasrach 
seac/i/  ecloidhme  leo  arna  sineadh 
'na  mbroim'fr/z  dirge  dhata 

30  Ro  raidh  Lon  fein  ga  ttoghdha 

risin  sgoil  ndorrdha  n-adhbhoil 
mo  chuidsi  so  'na  henor 

gan  denamh  dona  harmoibh 

31  Cuiris  teanchoir  fon  teaWaigh 

togbhais  lia  ceithre  ndromann 
do-rinne  in  gabha  is  Daolghus 
urlaighi  fhaobhrach  udmhall 

32  Da  ord  mora  ag  in  ghabha 

&  teanchair  thaile  thaobhglas 
tri  lamha  leis  ga  ffreastaZ 

is  maith  do  freagair  Daolghus 

33  Do-nid  lann  cruaidhgher  crithreach 

fa  maith  biseach  re  bualadh 
feadh  duirn  dhi  gan  da  fhaobhar 

'na  buinne  caomhghlas  criiadha 

34  Teidhis  re  cneas  na  ceardcha 

Daolghus  ba  teann  a  throda 
ba  deirge  na  gual  gartha 

a  shmiadh  d'aithle  na  hopra 


XXXVI]  DUANAIRE   FINN  11 

28  They  go  together  into  the  cavern,  Fionn 
pressing  upon  them  manfully  :  they  found 
bellows  a-blowing  :  they  found  earth  and 
a  forge, 

29  Anvils  and  sledgehammers  being  smitten 
and  a  swift  strong  blast  of  flame,  seven 
swords  too  stretched  out  in  straight  and 
lovely  masses  ( ?). 

30  Lon  himself  said,  beseeching  them  (?),  to 
the  grim  and  mighty  gathering,"  This  alone 
is  my  portion  of  the  weapons  yet  unmade.  » 


31  He  put  a  tongs  into  the  hearth  and  lifted 
a  stone  with  four  ridges  :  the  smith  and 
Daolghus  carried  out  some  keen  and  nimble 
hammering. 

32  The  smith  had  two  great  sledgehammers 
and  a  strong  gray  sided  tongs  :  he  had 
three  hands  attending  to  his  tools  :  Daol- 
ghus responded  well. 

33  They  make  a  hard  sharp  sparkling  blade 
of  good  success  (?)  in  striking  :  for  a  hilt's 
length  it  lacked  two  edges,  a  fair  gray 
shoot  of  steel. 

34  Daolghus  grew  warm  beside  the  forge  (stout 
were  his  combats)  :  redder  than  glowing 
coal  was  his  complexion  after  the  work. 


12  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XXXVI 

35  Do  raidheastar  na  gaibhne 

ba  lor  gairbhe  is  gruamdhacAZ 

cia  in  fear  eailti  gan  time 
shineas  in  tinnc  cruadha 

36  Ro  raidh  Fionn  aga  ffreagra 

fear  gach  ceisde  do  shaoradh 
b  udh  he  sin  a  ainm  choidhche 
Caoilti  da  radh  re  Daolghus 

37  Ag  sin  dhaoibh  mar  do  b&isdeadh 

maith  a  gaisgead[h]  's  a  gniomhradh 
Caoilte  leis  nar  ghnath  era 
coir  a  sgela  do  sgriobadft 

[52  a]  38  Fritheoiltear  ar  Lon  laidir 

in  coinneamh  tainic  chugainn 
dentur  teagh  loghmar  leaptha 

bhus  cneasta  do  mac  Cumhaill 

t 

39  Tabhraidh  dhoibh  fein  dha  ttaisgidh 

liiach  an  aistir  gach  aoinfhir 
do  fhreasta/  catha  is  comhlainn 
sleagh  is  gormlann  go  ffirnimh 

• 

40  Leigidh  dhamhsa  Fionn  fosaigh 

do-bher  dho  coingir  chat  ha 
sleagh  dhireach  sleagh  roidhireach 
is  cloidheamh  firdheas  fada 

41  Tugaid  dhuinn  na  hairm  shenta 

tar  eis  a  ndenta  in  liairsin 
ocht  ccloidhmhe  is  naoi  skao/ia 

or  mhinic  cneadha  a  cruatrf/meimh 


XXXVI]  DUANAIRE  FINN  13 

35  The  smiths,  who  were  full  rough  and  surly, 
said, «  Who  is  the  slender  warm  man  without 
weakness  who  is  stretching  the  bar  of 
steel?  » 

36  Fionn,  who  made  every  problem  easy, 
said  answering  them,  «  That  shall  be  his 
name  always :  Daolghus  shall  be  called 
Caoilte.  » 

37  There  you  have  the  manner  of  his  naming 
(Good  were  his  valour  and  his  deeds). 
Caoilte  who  was  not  wont  to  refuse,  it  is 
fitting  to  write  his  tidings. 

38  «  Let  the  soldiery  who  have  come  to  us 
be  attended  to  »,  said  Lon  the  strong  : «  Let 
a  rich  bed-chamber  be  made  ready  wh'ch 
will  befit  the  son  of  Cumhall. 

39  «  Give  them  to  keep,  to  each  man  the 
price  of  hisjourney,to  do  battle  and  combat, 
a  spear  and  a  blue  blade  of  true  fierceness. 


40  «  Leave  stedfast  Fionn  to  me  :  I  shall  give 
him  a  pair  for  battle,  a  straight  spear,  a 
very  straight  spear,  and  a  truly  lovely 
long  sword.  » 

41  They  give  us  the  charmed  weapons  there- 
upon when  they  had  been  made,  seven 
swords  and  nine  spears  from  which  came 
many  wounds  out  of  harsh  fierceness. 

35  *  slender-warm  ',  in  Irish  caoilte. 


14  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XXXVI 

42  Mac  in  Luin  lann  mhic  Cumaill 

do  chuir  ar  f ulang  feoil  daoine 
in  Drithlinn  ag  Diarmaid  drec/i/ach 
in  Crech/ach  lann  chiuaidh  Chaoilti 

43  Fead    &   Fi   is   Fosgadh 

mor  gcoscar  riarn  rom-cuirseat 
cloidhme  triar  mac  in  Cearda 

mor  tteannta  riam  ro-dhluighseat 

44  Ag  so  um  laim  Gearr  na  cColann 

do  bhiodh  toram  a  ttrodaibh 
an  fic/j/ach  ag  mac  Lughach 

ba  subach  ar  ceann  chosgair 

45  Ba  maith  ar  n-edach  dubhdhonn 

ar  gceol  n-en  cclumdhonn  gcochlac/i 
um  trath  eirghe  arna  mharach 
dhuine  ba  sasadh  colla 

46  D'eirge  ghreine  arna  mharach 

ar  sliaph  langhlan  Liiacra 
ba  maith  ar  lanna  leapra 

ar  sleagha  reamhra  riiadha 

47  Is  ionnsa  crioch  go  foircionn 

ar  in  s\uagh  foiltfhionn  fhiorghlan 
a  sgribhneoir  peinnghil  Patraic 
is  mairg  tarraidh  a  sgriobadh 

Sgiobh  [sic] 

42b  IntheMS daoine,  through  lackof  space,  has  been   written  on  thelinefol- 
lowing  that  to  which  it  belongs,  with  a  full  stop  after  it. 


XXXVl]  DUANAIRE  FINN  15 

42  Mac  an  Luin  was  the  name  of  Cumhall's 
sword  which  caused  the  flesh  of  men  to  suf- 
fer :  Diarmaid  of  the  poems  had  the  Drith- 
linn :  the  Crechtach  was  Caoilte's  hard  blade. 

43  Fead  and  Fi  and  Fosgadh  (many  victories 
have  they  won  me),  these  were  the  swords 
of  the  Craftsman's  three  sons  (they  broke 
up  many  hard  situations). 

44  Here  in  my  hand  is  Gearr  na  gColann  which 
used  to  be  girt  on  me  in  fights:  MacLughach 
had  the  fichtach  :  he  was  happy  as  he  went 
to  victory. 

45  Good  was  our  dark-brown  clothing  and  our 
music  of  brown-plumaged  hooded  birds  : 
at  rising  time  next  day  we  had  had  suffi- 
cient  sleep. 

46  When  the  sun  rose  next  day  on  pure  Sliabh 
Luachra  our  long  swords  were  good  and 
our  thick  strong  spears. 


47  It  is  hard  that  there  should  be  a  complete 
end  to  the  fairhaired  truly  pure  host :  0 
white-penned  writer  of  Patrick,  woe  for  him 
who  has  attained  the  days  when  men 
write  about  them. 


XXXVII 


1  Fiafraighis  Patraic  Macha 


d'Oissin  mac  na  flatha 

cia  tir  dot  athair  a  fhir 

don  Mumham  no  do  Laighnibh 


•fe>' 


2  Is  me  inneossas  duit  sin 
a  Thailghinn  a  thairrngeartaigh 
in  tir  6  a  ttigid  na  fir 
clanna  Baoisgne  mric  Deaghafd/i 

[52  b]  3    Lios  Beag  ainm  in  leasa  shiar 

a  n-Uibh  Badhain  mhoir  na  ffian 
is  as  do  geineadh  Fionn  faidh 
mh'athairsi  is  athair  Fhaolain 

4  Ba  Lios  Beag  ainm  in  leasa 
inar  geineadh  faidh  feasa 

ro  chinsead  go  fior  na  fir 

6  chlannoiph  disle  DeaghaW/i 

5  Fionn  mac  Cumaill  go  li  ccroth 
meic  Baoisgne  meic  Fir  dha  Roth 

meic  Cuinn  mhic  Garai'dh  go  ngoil 
meic  Daire  dhuinn  meic  Deaghotrf/z 

6  Ceitrimic  Daire  go  ngoil 
feirdi  in  tir  ar  gheinstair 

Cii  Ri  ba  ri  ar  gach  tir  shoir 
Baoisgne  Fiachaidh  is  EochazVM 

4b  inar.  The  ar  in  the  MS  has  been  inserted  above  the  line. 
5b  In  the  MS  dha  Roth  has,  through  lack  of  space,  been  written  on  the  next  line 
with  a  full  stop  after  it. 


XXXVII 

1  Patrick  of  Armagh  asked  Oisin,  the  prince's 
son,  «  From  which  country  is  thy  father, 
0  man  ;  from  Munster,  or  from  Leinster?  » 

2  «  It  is  I  shall  tell  thee  that,  0  Tailgheann, 
prophetic  one,  the  land  from  which  come 
the  men,  the  race  of  Baoisgne  son  of  Deadh- 
adh. 

3  «  Lios  Beag  is  the  name  of  the  lios  to  the 
west  inUi  B[h]adhainMhoirnabhFian  [the 
territory  of  the  descendants  of  great  Badh- 
an  of  the  Warrior  Bands]  :  from  it  wasFionn 
the  seer  sprung,  my  father  and  the  father  of 
Faolan. 

4  «  Lios  Beag  was  the  name  of  the  lios  in 
which  a  wise  seer  was  begotten.  The  men 
are  sprung  in  truth  from  the  loyal  race  of 
Deadhadh. 

5  (f  Fionn,son  of  Cumhall  of  ruddy  complexion, 
son  of  Baoisgne,  son  of  Fear  da  Both,  son 
of  Conn,  son  of  Garadh  the  valorous,  son 
of  Daire  Donn,  son  of  Deadhadh. 

6  «  The  four  sons  of  valorous  Daire  (the  land 
where  they  were  born  was  the  better,  of 
it),  Cu  Raoi  who  was  king  over  every  east- 
ern land,Baoisgne,  Fiachaidh  andEochaidh. 


18  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XXXVII 

7  Cu  Ri  mac  ba  sine  dhibh 

is  Baoisgne  a  ndeaghat'rf/i  Chon  Ri 
Fiacha/da  ba  foixe  dho  sin 
&  Eochaidh  'na  dheaghaidh 

8  Mac  Baoisgne  Garadh  na  slogh 
mac  do  Garadh  Conn  cathmor 

mac  Cuinn  Fear  da  Roth  nar  ffoil 
is  mac  d'Fior  da  Roth  Trenmor 

9  Mac  Trenmhoir  Cumhollna  ccath 
mac  do  Cumall  Fionn  fathac/? 

mac  don  Fionnsin  me  budhdhein 
ionnsa  mo  bheith  for  micheill 

10  Ag  sin  mar  deaghlaid  na  fir 

6  Dhaire  dhonn  mac  Deagha/f/a 
gan  mo  speis  a  cceol  go  li 
tar  eis  na  cceol  ad-chluinti 

1 1  Den  re  Crlosd  mo  dhail  go  grod 
ni  fuil  acht  mh'  iasacht  agad 

do  lion  cumha  mo  croidhi 
d'eis  na  ccmadh  fiafraia/ie 

Fiafraighis 


XXXVII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  id 

7  «  Cii  Raoi  was  the  eldest  son,  and  Baoisgne 
after  Cii  Raoi  :  Fiachaidh  was  next  to  him, 
and  Eochaidh  after  him. 

8  «  Garadh  of  the  hosts  was  Baoisgne's  son  : 
Conn,  great  in  battle, was  a  son  of  Garadh  : 
Fear  da  Roth,  who  was  not  insignificant,  > 
was  Conn's  son,  and  Trenmhor  was  a  son 
of  Fear  da  Roth. 

9  «  Cumhall  of  the  battles  was  Trenmhor's 
son,  and  wise  Fionn  was  a  son  of  Cumhall  : 
I  myself  am  a  son  of  that  Fionn  (Hard 
for  me  to  be  in  error). 

10  « That  is  how  the  men  branch  forth  from 
Daire  Donn  son  of  Deadhadh.  I  am  heedless 
of  rich  melody  since  the  melodies  that  used 
to  be  heard  are  gone. 


t>v 


11  «  Quickly  arrange  my  meeting  with  Christ : 
I  am  but  lent  to  thee.  Grief  has  filled  my 
heart  for  the  heroes  about  whom  thou 
askest.  » 


XXXVIII 

1  A  Lorcain  mheic  Luighdheach  lain 
meic  Brenoinn  bhaith  mic  Baodain 

an  ni  dia  tta  Dim  nGaire 
sam  eolach  'na  tromghaire 

2  Inghe.an  do  bhoi  ag  Dubh  mac  Duinn 
dar  comainm  Daolao/i  dioghainn 

carais  Fionn  na  ffian  ffearrdha   • 
an  inghean  filial  inneallda 

3  Cuiris  eachlach  d'iarraida  Fhinn 
feacht  dia  mbadhmar  a  cCroimghlinn 

do  lodmar  as  go  Beinn  mBroin 
da  hiarr aidh  ar  a  hathair 

[53a]    4  Tricedlaochgongniom  ngrod 
lodma/1  atiiaidh  dia  tochmharc 
fuaramar  earradh  gach  fir 
an  oidhchesin  on  ingin 

5  Ba  maith  leisin  ingean  uill 
is  ba  maith  le  mere  Cumhoill 

an  toisc  tangamar    dia  tigh 
&  ba  maith  le  a  mhuinntir 

6  Bo  raidh  Dirraing  mac  Doghair 
&  nochar  radh  fholaigh 

do-gephthaoi  congal  is  cath 
isin  maidinsi  amarach 

bft  fholaigh,sic  MS   (clotted/). 


XXXVIII 

1  0  Lorcan,  son  of  Lughaidh  Lan,  son  of 
Brenainn  the  Foolish,  son  of  Baodan,  how 
Dun  Gaire  got  its  name  —  I  know  about 
its  heavy  cries. 

2  Dubh  son  of  Donn  had  a  daughter  whose 
name  was  great  Daolach.  Fionn  of  the 
manly  Fiana  loved  the  modest  graceful 
maiden. 

3  She  sent  a  messenger  to  seek  Fionn  once 
when  we  were  in  Croimghleann  :  we  went 
off  to  Beann  Brain  to  seek  her  from  her 
father. 

4  We  went  south  to  woo  her,  three  hundred 
champions  of  swift  deed  :  we  got  from 
the  girl  that  night  an  outfit  for  every 
man. 

5  The  great  maiden  was  pleased,  and  the  son 
of  Cumhall  was  pleased  with  the  mission 
on  which  we  came  to  her  house  ;  and  his1 
people  were  pleased. 

'  6  Diorraing  son  of  Doghar  said  (and  it  was  no 
hidden  saying),  «  You  shall  receive  battle 
and  conflict  tomorrow  morning.  » 


t,e.,  Fipiin's, 


22  DIANAIRE   FINN  [XXXVIII 

7  Adubairt  Fionn  flaith  na  ffian 
a  Dirraing  mic  Doghair  shiar 

cia  eidir  ar  tir  ar  tuinn 
chuireas  iomarghal  eadroinn 

8  Cliabhach  ri  Coinceann  coir 
gabhus  a  ITraig  Inheir  Moir 

ar  ttear/i/  co  dun  Beinne  Brain 
isse  chuirius  an  iorghail 

9  Ann  sin  ro  raidh  Duph  mac  Duinn 
go  molbthacb  re  mac  Cumhaill 

dingebhsa  in  loingius  Ian 

dia  ngabhaid  sa  trachl  ttonnbhan 

10  Eirgis  uainne  Dubh  mac  Duinn 

tri  c[h]sd  deaghlaoch  druim  ar  druim 
gabhaid  seachnoin  na  fairrge 
go  srothaibh  criche  Cairbhre 

11  Do  gapsat  Coinchinn  chruaidhe 
fa  Cliabac/z  go  met  n-uaille 

leigid  airgne  siar  is  soir 

fo    sliabh    Collain    meic    Crimthain 

12  Teagaid  laimh  re  traigh  atiiaidh 
tri  mhile  Coincheannach  criiaidh 

ro  marbhsat  ar  maidin  Dubh 
cona  muinnteir  'na  ccodladh 

13  Tuitis  sis  isin  sruthair 

Dubh  mac  Duibh  oir  ba  duthain 
6  bheith  da  corp  sa  ghlaisi 
do  lean  6  Dhubh  Dubhghlaisi 

86  MS  has  coincheann  co  deleted  before  Inbeir. 
I0d  Cairbhre,  sic  MS  (dotted  b)- 


XXXVIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  23 

7  Fionn,  prince  of  the  Fiana,  said,  «  0  Dior- 
raing,  son  of  Doghar  of  the  west,  who  at 
all,  on  land  or  water,  sets  contention 
amongst  us?  » 

8  «  Cliabhach,  king  of  the  righteous  Dogheads 
who  lands  at  Traigh  Inbheir  Mhoir  ;  it 
is  he  who  having  come  to  the  fort  of  Beann 
Brain  starts  the  warfare.  » 

9  Then  Dubh,  son  of  Donn,said  praiseworthily 
to  the  son  of  Cumhall,  «  I  shall  ward  off 
the  full  fleet  if  they  come  upon  the  wave- 
white  strand. » 

10  Dubh,  son  of  Donn,  went  from  us  with 
three  hundred  goodly  warriors  in  ordered 
array  :  they  go  over  the  sea  to  the 
streams  of    Crioch   Cairbre. 

11  The  harsh  Dogheads  came  under  proud 
Cliabhach  :  they  make  plunderings  west 
and  east  beneath  Sliabh  Collain  mhic 
Criomhthain. 

12  Three  thousand  of  the  Dogheaded  ones 
come  beside  the  strand  from  the  north  : 
in  the  morning  they  killed  Dubh  and  his 
people  in  their  sleep. 

13  Dubh,  son  of  Donn,  fell  down  in  the  stream  ; 
for  he  was  short-lived  :  from  his  body's 
being  in  the  brook  Dubhghlaise  (Dubh's 
Brook)  remained  its  name  because  of  Dubh, 


24  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XXXVIII 

14  Teagaid  iar  sin  go  Dun  mBrain 
leigit  tri  garrtha  gabhaidh 

ro  lean  don  dun  Dun  nGaire 
od-ratsat  tri  tromghaire 

15  Cuirid  fir  ar  fud  fairrge 

go  rainic  Ceann  na  Cairrge 

gur  gabh  each  ceann  a  cheile 
a  ttrac/i/  Oirir  Uirshleibhe 

16  Teilgis  Cliabhach  cleitin  cruinn 

tre  slogh  mpic  Morn  a  in  morghluinn 
nir  fed  coisceim  seacha  sin 
rob  ail  le  each  e  d'oighirf/i 

[53  b]  17  Ro  theilgsean  cleitin  eile 

go  Fionn  do  budh  sgel  sgeile 
go  ttorcair  Fionn  Failbhe 
d'fuiliugadVi  a  aonlaimhe 

18  Teilgis  in  treas  cleitin  cuir 
go  ro  marp  Glas  mac  Ingair 

go  ttorchair  Glas  a  Moigh  Mhain 
do  lea/Maobh  Droma  Decrrgchain 

19  Do  riacht  mac  Lugach  Lagha 
go  luath  docom  na  tragha 

go  ttorchair  CYiabach  sa  ghleo 
do  comrac  Gaine  ghairgbheo 

20  Do  marb  Torcan  &  Tarbh 
ro  marb  Garbhan  &  Garbh 

do  marbh  Labraigh  is  Leasgor 
ar  aon  Maolan  &  Measgor 

14ft  garrtha  gabhaidh  are  in  reverse  order  in  the  MS  with  sign  to  transpose. 
IQb  docom  is  written  as  two  words  (do  com)  in  MS, 


XXXVIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  25 

14  They  come  then  to  Dun  Brain  :  they  utter 
three  cries  of  danger  :  Dun  Gaire  (the  Fort 
of  Cries)  remained  the  name  of  the  fort 
since  they  gave  three  heavy  cries. 

15  They  send  men  over  the  sea  as  far  as  Ceann 
na  Cairrge,  and  each  seized  the  other's 
head  (?)  on  the  beach  of  Oirear  Uir- 
shleibhe. 

16  Cliabhach  hurled  a  well-directed  javelin 
through  the  host  of  the  son  of  Morna  the 
deedful  :  he  could  go  no  step  further  : 
every  one  wished  to  put  him  to  death. 

17  He  hurled  another  javelin  towards  Fionn 
(it  was  a  grievous  thing),  and  Fionn  Failbhe 
fell  by  the  wounding  his  hand  had  caus- 
ed. 

18  He  hurled  the  third  casting  javelin  and 
killed  Glas  son  of  Iongar  :  Glas  fell  in 
Magh  Maoin  by  the  side  of  Druim  Dearg- 
chaoin. 

19  The  son  of  Lughaidh  Laghdha  came  swift- 
ly to  the.  strand,  and  Cliabhach  fell  in 
the  fight  through  the  valour  of  Gaoine 
the  fierce  and  lively. 

20  He  killed  Torcan  and  Tarbh  :  he  killed 
Garbhan  and  Garbh  :  he  killed  Labhraigh 
and  Leasgor,  Maolan  and  Measgor  togeth- 
er. 


26  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XXXVIII 

21  Marbhuis  tri  chaoga  sa  cath 
don  mhanaois  moir  nric  Lughach 

ba  hainm  don  laoch  ag  cur  death 
,    in  lasin  Caol  crodha  cedac/i 

22  Tucadh  leis  ceann  Cliabhach  cruaidh 
go  Fionn  a  ffiadhnuise  in  tsluaigh 

agus  fagbais  'na  luidhe 
ag  mac  Cumaill  Almhaine 

23  Adhaig  is  Uath  is  Uath 

a  gcomlann  ba  briiach  re  briiach 
na  tri  galgada  gabhaidh 
ro  marbh  Faolan  fiorlamaia/i 

24  Torchair  le  Faolan  mac  Finn 
Accais  &  Agh  is  fiislinn 

Corran  in  ceatramad/i  con 
rodus-marbh  Ailbhe  a  aonor 

25  Torchair  Troma  sa  traigh  shiar 
le  Dubh  Droman  nar  bho  dian 

gin  go  ttainic  slan  da  tigh 
marbh  Dubh  Droman  doih'on 

26  Ro  mharbh  \ucht  na  ccenn  gcon 
a  marbaoTz  ba  mor  in  modh 

fearrdorn  a  ffiacoil  gach  con 
Ian  glaice  laich  na  timcioll 

27  An  cathsin  tuc  Fionn  fearrda 
&  Coinchinn  ceanngarbha 

ni  tucsat  cath  'na  des.gh.aidh 

acht  cath  Atha  Breo  a  mBreaghoibh. 


XXXVIII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  27 

21  The  son  of  Lughaidh  killed  three  fifties 
in  the  battle,  with  the  great  spear  :  that 
day  the  champion's  name  as  he  hurled 
shafts  was  Caol  Crodha  of  the  hundreds. 

22  The.  head  of  harsh  Cliabhach  was  brought 
by  him  to  Fionn  in  the  presence  of  the  host ; 
and  he  left  it  lying  there  with  the  son 
of  Cumhall  of  Almhuin. 

23  Adhaig  and  *  *  *  and  Uath,  who 
were  close  together  in  battle,  those  three 
dangerous  warriors  were  killed  by  Faolan 
of  true  shot. 

24  By  the  hand  of  Faolan  son  of  Fionn  fell 
Accais  and  Agh  and  fiislinn  :  *  *  „. 
*-*'*'**  Ailbhe  killed  it  single- 
handed. 

25  Troma  fell  on  the  beach  to  the  west  by  the 
hand  of  Dubh  Droman  who  was  not  violent  ; 
yet  neither  did  he  return  home  safe  ;  for 
dreadful    Dubh    Droman    too   was   killed. 

26  The  folk  with  dogs'  heads  were  killed  —  to 
have  killed  them  was  a  great  deed  :  each 
dog's  tooth  was  equal  to  a  man's  fist,  its 
circuit  as  much  as  a  warrior  could  grasp. 

27  After  that  battle  which  brave  Fionn  and 
the  rough-headed  Dogheads  fought,  they 
fought  no  battle  but  that  of  Ath  Breo  in 
Breagha. 


28  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XXXVIII 

28  Do  bhui  Daolach  'na  deagh a  1V//1 
ag  moc  Cumhaill  airmleabhair 

gur  baithcarf[/i]  ag  snamh  in  bhean 
a  Moigh  Aird  in  da  Inbhear 

29  Do  lean  Aidhne  d'Aidhm'dn  shoir 
do  lean  Daolach  do  Daolaigh 

bean  Finn  &  a  hingean 
ataid  sonna  a  dha  n-inbhear 

[54  a]  30  Do  rad  Fionn  a  bheannac/if  mbiiain 
do  Chaol  crodha  ba  mait  buoidh 
tre  bheannar/z/ain  fhire  Finn 
tarraidh  creideamh  in  Tailghinn 

31  Diarmaid  lia  Duibhne  is  Caol 
is  Oissin  mac  Finn  fiorchaomh 

ag  lamhach  ar  tir  ar  tuinn 
nir  teilgseat  urchar  n-imruill 

32  Gach  ni  do  teilgeadh  Caol  cas 
ro  gonadh  e  go  hamhnus 

ni  bhlaise.adh  biadh  no  beathaid[/i] 
ar  in  talmain  tromleathain 

33  Inge.an   Abhartaigh  fuiligh 
cedsearcus  Caoil  chedghuinigh 

do  rad  in  sleigh  mbric  mbreacft/aigh 
do  Chaol  ina  cedsearcaibh 

34  Coicc  lamha  Chaoil  ina  crann 
triocha  urlach  na  hiaronn 

do  budh  blaith  aluinn  a  halt^ 
tuiWeadh  'na  dhorn  duthracht 

^4d.  MS  has  hiar  with  '  no  dhorn  '  written  over  it  as  a  correction. 


XXXVIII]  DUANAlRE   FINN  29 

28  The  son  of  Cumhall  of  the  long  weapons 
had  Daolach  after  that  till  the  woman 
was  drowned  while  swimming  in  Magh 
Ard  an  da  Inbhear  *. 

29  The  name  Aidhne  clung  to  Aidhne  in  the 
east ;  the  name  Daolach  clung  to  Daolach  : 
Fionn's  wife  and  her  daughter,  their  two 
estuaries  are  here. 

30  Fionn  gave  his  lasting  blessing  to  Caol  the 
valiant  and  victorious :  through  Fionn's 
true  blessing  he  obtained  the  Tailgheann's 
faith. 

31  When  Diarmaid,  grandson  of  Duibhne,  and 
Caol  and  beautiful  Oisin,  son  of  Fionn, 
were  casting  on  land  or  on  water  they  never 
threw  a  false  shot. 

32  Everything  at  which  swift  Caol  cast  was 
killed  mercilessly  :  it  enjoyed  neither  food 
nor  life  on  the  heavy  broad  earth. 


33  It  was  the  daughter  of  fierce  Abhartach, 
hundred-slaying  Caol's  first  love,who  gave 
the  speckled  charmed  spear  to  Caol  in  her 
first  ecstasies  of  love. 

34  Its  shaft  measured  five  lengths  of  Caol's 
arm  :  its  iron  part  was  thirty  inches  :  its 
joining  was  smooth  and  lovely  :     *     *     * 


(1)  «  The  High  Plain  of  the  two  £stuaries  ». 


30  DUANAIRF   FINN  [XXXVIII 

35  Duthracht  Duirn  buidhe  bhiiadhac/i 
a  hainm  a  ghaois  aniiabhar 

Duthracht  sleagh  Abhartaigh  linn 
do  lean  a  hainm  don  abhoinn 

36  Mar  do  ghlantaoi  in  ga  glas 
a  hlnbea/'  in  da  Eachlus 

do  bhi  an  sruLh  mear  amoigh 
ina  dhiaigh  go  dearg  on  fhuil 

37  Sabharn  tuc  in  brat  bladhach 
do  Chaol  crodha  comramhach 

tug  inor  ingantac/i  leis 

nach  gontaidhi  faoi  no  thaireis 

38  Sabharn  ba  bean  hhunaidh 
do  Caol  mor  asin  Mumhain 

is  hi  dus-rad  Caol  gan  chloinn 
trena  sidhe  sa  sabhrainn 

39  Marbh  Caol  re  cois  Patraic  fein 
ihuaidh  isin  Midhe  moighreidh 

gur  adhnacht  a  cCrosaibh  Caoil 
mac  Lughac[/i]  ann  da  lea//itaoibh 

40  Is  misi  Feargus  feine 
fada  dam  tar  eis  na  Feine 

ro  chosnus  mo  chuid  don  traigh 
sa  lathairsin  a  Lorcain 

A   Lorcain 

38c,  d  This  couplet  in  the  MS  immediately  follows  37a,  b  with  'dearmad' 
written  in  in  the  margin  and  a  cross  indicating  that  37c,  d  and  38a, b  are  to  be 
transposed  from  the  position  they  occupy  at  the  end  of  the  poem.  Between 
38d  and  39a  the  whole  of  stanza  38  has  been  written  in  again,  partly  between 
the  lines,  partly  in  the  margin,  crddha  replacing  mor  in  38b. 


XXXVill]  DUANAIRE    FINN  31 

35  Yellow  victorious  Diithracht  Duirn  (Eager- 
ness of  Hand)  was  its  name  :  his  wisdom  was 
excessive  pride  (?).  Diithracht,  the  spear  of 
fair  Abhartach,  its  name  clung  to  the  river. 

36  When  the  gray  spear  used  to  be  cleaned 
out  of  Inbhear  an  da  Eachlas,  then  was 
the  rapid  stream  without  red  from  the 
blood. 

37  Sabharn  gave  the  famous  mantle  to  valiant 
triumphant  Caol :  she  gave  also  a  wonderful 
tunic,  beneath  which  or  through  which  it 
was  impossible  to  inflict  a  wound. 

38  Sabharn  was  the  true  wife  of  great  Caol 
of  Munster.  It  is  she  who  brought  childless 
Caol  through  her  fairy  hills  (?) 


39  Caol  met  his  death  beside  Patrick  himself 
in  the  north,  in  Meath  of  the  smooth  plains  ; 
and  he  was  buried  in  Crosa  Caoil  with  the 
son  of  Lughaidh  beside  him. 

40  I  am  Fearghus  himself  :  long  have  I  linge- 
red after  the  Fiana  :  I  defended  my  portion 
of  the  beach  on  that  field  0  Lorcan. 


XXXIX 

1  A  Oisin  cia  in  feart  dona 
ga  ffuil  in  luige  fada 

sloinn  duinn  a  seanoir  gan  oil 
cia  in  feart  6s  na  feartoibh 

2  Cia  in  feart  do  claidhead  go  mor 
a  Oisin  go  n-imad  slogh 

a  fhad  is  med  a  luighe 
uime  atii  da  fhiafraighe 

[54  b]  3   Cia  in  laoch  ro  hadhlaiceadh  ann 
a  niheic  Finn  nar  ob  comhlann 
sloinn  duinn  a  seanoir  ma-le 
fearr  leinn  na  comradh  eile 

4  Lease  Horn  a  innisin  duibh 
lomlan  mo  cli  dia  cumhaidh 

in  lion  sloigh  ro  torchair  ann 
d'fianoibh  Albon  is  Eirionn 

•    5  Na  habairsi  sin  a  fhir 
a  Oisin  a  fhir  eolaigh 

rachaid  sloigh  in  beatha  biiain 
a  fhir  aitheasaigh  armriiaidh 

6  Treig  do  cumha  creid  budhdhein 
a  mheic  Finn  ba  laochdha  leim 
gaph  creidiom  coir  gan  sen  a 
tug  dot  uidh  na  soisge'/a 


XXXIX 

1  Oisin,  what  sad  mound  is  this  that  holds 
the  long  grave?  Tell  us,  blameless  old  man, 
what  grave-mound  it  is  which  is  thus 
greater  than  the  rest. 

2  What  grave  is  this  that  has  been  heaped  big, 

0  Oisin  of  the  many  hosts?  Because  of  its 
length  and  the  greatness  of  its  buriaj  space 

1  ask  thee  the  question. 

3  Who  is  the  hero  that  lies  buried  in  it,  son 
of  Fionn  who  never  refused  battle?  Tell 
us  that  too,  old  man  :  we  would  prefer  it 
to  other  conversation. 

4  I  am  loath  to  tell  you  :  my  breast  is  filled 
with  grief  for  the  number  of  the  host 
that  fell  there  of  the  Fiana  of  Scotland  and 
Ireland. 

5  Say  not  so,  0  man,0  wise  man,  Oisin  :  the 
hosts  of  the  lasting  world  will  pass,  suc- 
cessful man  of  the  strong  weapons. 


6  Cease    thy  grieving,   and  thyself  believe, 
son  of  Fionn  of  the  warrior  leap  :  accept 
without  denial  the  correct  faith  :  pay  heed 
to  the  Gospels- 


34  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XXX IX 

7  A  Patraic  an  rim  anois 
go  ffreagrainn  ar  fhiafraighis 

go  sloinninn  a  clileinVy/i  chaidh 
cia  dar  claoidheadh  an  feartan 

8  Feart  Osgair  mhic  Garadh  fheil 
feart  fhir  aitheasaia/i  airmgheir 

feart  laoich  go  n-iomat  ttreideadA 
feart  curadh  feart  firfheindead/i 

9  Feart  laoich  do  chuireadh  catha 
is  do  commbriseaoVi  craoiseacha 

feart  airdrigh  go  ngniom  treinfhir 
feart  mic  Morna  moirfheindid/i 

10  Ata  uirsgel  agam  dhuit 

a  Patraic  dia  mbeantar  cluig 

ar  sluaghoz'Wi  Teamra  gan  fheall 
's  ar  fhianoibh  aille  Eireann 

11  Smuainis  mac  Cumhaill  gan  on 
airdrigh  oireagdha  Almhan 

an  cuimdhe  ceann  na  n-uile 
athair  teann  na  trocaire 

12  Gluaisis  dia  oilithre  uainn 
mac  Muirne  gusin  morbuaidh 

is  tri  chaoga  laoch  gan  ceilg 

do  mhuinntir  Fhinn  faobufrdeirg 

13  Is  e  ba  tigearna  ann  sin 

a  nEirmn  alainn  iubhraigh 

fear  borb  brighmor  um  creachoi"M 
Cairbre  lionmar  Lifeachair 

\2b  MS  has  -;h'tagh  with  '  n<3  biiaidh  '  written  in  above  as  a  correction. 


XXXIX1  DUAXAIRE   FIXX  35 

7  0  Patrick,  have  patience  with  me  now, 
that  I  may  answer  what  thou  hast  asked, 
that  I  may  tell,  holy  cleric,  for  whom  the 
grave  was  dug. 

8  Itisthegraveof  Osgar  son  of  Garaidhthegen- 

erous,  the  grave  of  a  successful  man  whose 
weapons  were  sharp,  the  grave  of  a  hero  with 
many  good  qualities,  the  grave  of  a  champ- 
ion, the  grave  of  a  true  warrior. 

9  It  is  the  grave  of  a  hero  who  fought  battles 
and  smashed  spears,  the  grave  of  a  high 
king  of  soldierly  deed,  the  grave  of  the  son 
of  Morna,  the  great  warrior. 

10  I  have  a  tale  for  thee,  Patrick,  for  whom 
bells  are  rung,  concerning  the  guileless  hosts 
of  Tara  and  the  beautiful  Fiana  of  Ireland. 

11  The  faultless  son  of  Cumhall,  noble  high 
king  of  Almhain,  bethought  him  of  (?)  the 
Lord,  the  head  of  all,  the  sure  father  of 
mercy. 

12  The  greatly  gifted  son  of  Muirne  went  from 
us  on  a  pilgrimage,  and  with  him  went 
thrice  fifty  warriors  without  deceit  of 
the  people  of  redbladed  Fionn. 

13  The  ruler  at  that  time  in  beautiful  Ireland 
of  the  yew  trees  was  a  man  violent  and 
forceful  in  plunderings,  Cairbre  Lifeachair 
of  the  numerous  following. 


30  DUANAIRE   FINtf  [XXXIX 

14  Meisi  i  n-ionadh  Finn  fhearrdha 
am  triath  is  am  thighearna 

ba  he  ar  ttinol  riogdha  in  reim 
tri  riiadhcata  do  roifhein 

15  Meisi  &  Caoilti  na  ccath 
Osgar  &  mac  Lughach 

Goth  Gaoithe  do  beireadh  buaidh 
is  meic  eile  Chaoilti  crannruaidh 

[55  a]  16   Domhnall  mac  Caoilti  rom-car 
&  Teghmall  tren  talcar 

Colla  mac  Caoilti  ni  chel 
is  in  fear  firluath  Faoillen 

17  Bai  ag  Cailte  cumhain  leinn 
ceathrar  eile  nach  airmhim 

fir  do  ladh  tossach  goile 
laoich  nar  obtach  n-irghaile 

18  Fionn  mac  Breasail  fa  borb  dhe 
&  Fionn  ban  ua  Baoisgni 

Dolbh  Sgeine  ba  fear  go  neimh 
&  Feargus  firfhilidh 

19  Aodh  mac  Finn  ba  fear  go  cceill 
&  Faolan  a  mhacsein 

Baoisgne  mac  Finn  fear  go  rath 
&  in  Dearg  deigheanach 

20  Dis  oile  ba  hionmhain  liom 

do  cloinn  Bhaoisgni  na  mbeimionn 
fa  borb  a  mbrosgor  'sa  mbrigh 
da  mac  Osgair  mic  Oisin 


XXXIX]  DUANAIRE  FINN  37 

14  I  was  in  the  place  of  manly  Fionn  as  lord 
and  ruler  :  three  strong  battalions  of  fine 
soldiery  was  our  strength  (it  was  a  kingly 
course). 

15  I  was  there  and  Caoilte  of  the  fights,  Osgar 
and  Mac  Lughach,  Goth  Gaoithe  who  gained 
victory  and  the  other  sons  of  Caoilte  of  the 
stout  shafts 

16  Domhnall,  son  of  Caoilte  who  loved  me, 
was  there,  and  strong  stubborn  Teaghmall, 
Colla,  son  of  Caoilte  (I  shall  not  hide  it) 
and  the  truly  swift  man,  Faoillean. 

17  Caoilte  (I  remember  it)  had  four  other  sons 
whom  I  do  not  mention,  men  who  deliver- 
ed battle  before  all,  champions  who  were 
not  wont  to  refuse  conflict. 

18  There  too  were  Fionn  son  of  Breasal  who 
was  indeed  violent  and  Fionn  Ban,  grandson 
of  Baoisgne,  Dolbh  Sgeine  (he  was  a  fierce 
man)  and  Fearghus,  the  true  poet. 

19  Aodh  son  of  Fionn  was  there  (he  was  a 
man  of  sense),  and  Faolan  his  son,  Baoisgne 
son  of  Fionn  (a  fortunate  man)  and  the 
Dearg  *     *     *. 


» 


20  Two  others  who  were  dear  to  me  of  the 
race  of  Baoisgne  of  the  blows  were  there  : 
violent  was  their  clamour  and  their  vigour, 
the  two  sons  of  Osgar  son  of  Oisin. 


38  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XXXIX 

21  Dursan  learn  aireamh  a  laoch 

's  a  fieindeadh  Huilrach  ffiorghaoth 
le  himat  a  ttaoisseach  ffian    - 
tan  do  biodhmaois  ar  aonrian 

22  Laithe  duinn  ina  diaigh  sin 

a  nAlmhain  a  n-ibhthe  miodh 

a  ndiin  mheic  Cumhaill  na  ttreabh 
ag  61  is  ag  oirfideadh 

23  Gluaisis  teachta  go  hAlmhain 
mac  Corbmac  in  t-6g  zngbaidh 

d'iarroidh  chomhadh  ar  in  ffein 
no  a  mbeith  uile  dha  mhireir 

24  Ann  sin  fuighlimsi  gan  fheall 
re  teac/z/oibh  airdrigh  fiireann 

sloinnidh  bhar  ttosga  gan  oil 
6  Choirbre  lonn  Liffeachair 

25  Seilg  Eirionn  do  leigean  do 
do  ri  Teamhra  nar  chan  go 

gan  luadh  ciosa  6  sin  amach 
no  go  ttoir  an  brath  braonach 

26  Adubai/t  Osgar  amhra 
ba  he  in  milidh  mor  calma 

sealg  Eirionn  ni  tiubram  uainn 
do  Cairbre  coscrach  crannrriadh 

27  Ro  raidh  mac  Lughach  go  luath 
do-dhenam  tabach  trentiiath 

sealg  Eirionn  do-ghentar  linn 
no  go  ttigidh  mac  Cumhaill 

26  b  mor  calma  are  written  separately  in  the  MS  as  in  the  printed  text, 


XXXIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  39 

21  It  is  sad  for  me  to  count  up  their  champions 
and  their  fierce  truly  wise  warriors  and 
the  number  of  their  captains  of  warbands 
when  we  used  to  be  together. 

22  One  day  after  that  we  were  in  Almhain 
where  mead  was  drunk,  in  the  fort  of 
the.  son  of  Cumhall  of  the  dwellings,  drinking 
and  making  minstrelsy. 

23  The  ruthless  warrior,  Cormac's  son,  sent 
messengers  to  Almhain  to  seek  a  gift  from 
the  Fian,  saying  if  it  were  refused  they 
would  all  be  rebels. 

24  Then  I  speak  without  guile  to  the  messengers 
of  Ireland's  high  king  : «  Tell  without  blame 
the  purpose  for  which  passionate  Cairbre 
Lifeachair  has  sent  you.  » 

25  «  He  asks  that  the  hunting  of  Ireland  be 
given  up  to  him,  to  the  king  of  Tara  who  has 
told  no  lie,  and  that  henceforward,  till  the 
sad  judgement  day  come,  no  mention  of 
tribute  be  made.  » 

26  Wondrous  Osgar,  the  greatly  brave  hero, 
said :  « Never  shall  we  give  away  the 
hunting  of  Ireland  to  conquering  stout- 
speared    Cairbre.  » 

27  Mac  Lughach  said  swiftly  :  «  We  shall  lay 
a  levy  on  the  strong  communities  ;  the 
hunting  of  Ireland  will  be  carried  out  by 
us  till  the  son  of  Cumhall  returns.  » 


in  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XXXIX 

28  Cuirmitne  teach/a  go  fior 

go  mac  Cormaic  aibhlibh  gniomh 

go  Teamraigh  nach  treabhdaois  groidh 
a  mbiodh  Cairbre  Liffeachair 

[55  b]29  Innisit  sgela  gan  fheall 

na  teacta  d'airdrigh  Eirionn 
fograid  cath  ogal  eangach 
for  Cairbre  na  claoinTeamrac 

30  Tinoilis  Cairbri  na  ccreach 
colamhainteanna  Teamhrach 

timairgis  Laighneac/ia  leis 

is  sliiagh  Cruachan  go  coimhdheis 

31  Cruinnigit  \J\aidh  Eamhna 
fa  Cairbri  chosgrach  Chearma 

ba  he  a  ttinol  lith  nar  lag 
seac/i/  gcatha  fraochdha  iicm[h]ar 

32  Do-ronsam  comairle  chriiaidh 
Fiena  Eirionn  a  n-enuair 

cath  do  tabairt  gan  chairde 
do  righ  Eirionn  imairdhe 


"&* 


33  Cuiris  teachta  go    hAlbain 
mac  Cormaic  in  t-6g  angbairfh 
go  hOsgar  mac  Garadh  fheil 
fa  borb  cosaar  a  caithreim 


Jol 


34  Maith  do  freagradh  ag  Osccar 
teachta  in  righ  od-chiialastar 

triallaid  tar  in  ffairrge  ffiiair 
drich  cced  do  ghleire  ghlansluaigh 

30c  Laighneacha.  The  MS  contraction  (a  dotted  stroke)  would  normally  be 
expanded    Laighni^h. 
3\d  /icm[h[ar.  The  MS  has  fie  with  an  undotted  stroke  over  the  c. 


XXXIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  41 

28  We  send  messengers  truly  to  Cormac's  son 
(a  mighty  deed),  to  Tara  unploughed  by 
horses,    where    dwelt    Cairbre   Lifeachair. 


29  The  messengers  tell  the  tidings  without  dec- 
eit to  the  high  king  of  Ireland  ;  they  give 
notice  of  angry  loud  battle  to  Cairbre  of 
sloping  Tara. 

30  Raiding  Cairbre  gathered  the  stout  Col- 
umns of  Tara :  he  collected  to  him  the 
Leinstermen  and  the  host  of  Cruachain,as 
was  fitting. 

31  The  Ulstermen  from  Eamhain  gather  around 
conquering  Cairbre  of  Cearma  ;  their  muster 
(no  weak  festival)  was  seven  wroth  and 
angry  battalions. 

32  We,  the  Fiana  of  Ireland, straightway  made 
a  stern  resolve,  to  give  battle  without 
delay  to  the  king  of  lofty  Ireland. 


33  Cormac's  son,  the  ruthless  warrior,  sent 
messengers  to  Scotland  to  Osgar,  son  of 
generous  Garaidh,  who  triumphed  violently 
as  he  swept  through  battle. 

34  Osgar  responded  well  when  he  had  heard 
the  king's  messages  :  he  goes  over  the  cold 
sea  with  ten  hundreds,thc  pick  of  a  bright 
host. 


42  DUANAIRE    FINN  [XNNIX 

35  Rainic  roimhe  go  Teamraigh 
Osgar  mac  Garaidh  ghreadhnaidh 

ri  Teamra  6  nach  fiiair  ann  sin 
tainic  roimhe  go  Gabhair 

36  Nior  airigli  airdrigh  Teamrach 
an  t-6g  alainn  ildhealbhach 

no  go  ffacaioTi  sa  ffaiche 
deich  cced  curadh  coirighthe 

37  Laoch  rompabarighdhareim 
mac  Garadh  an  airm  aithgheir 

dho  ro  budh  comainm  Osgar 
nir  b'fearr  laoch  um  thuarustal 


38  Eirghis  in  ri  'na  aghaidh 

mac  Cormaic  chruaidh  chostadaio/i 
fearais  failti  fris  gan  fheall 
suidhis  ar  deis  righ  Eirionn 

39  Inbhaidhdhuitdolobadha 
ro  raidh  Coirbri  go  dana 

do  tabairt  leinne  ma-lle 
a  n-aghaidh  Fhinn  Almhaine 

40  Ni  mhair  a  Osgair  re  headh 
acht  triar  calma  curadh 

nachar  thuiteadair  uile 

le  cloinn  Bhaoisgne  bharrbhuidhi 

41  Cuimhneochadsa  dhuitsi  sin 
a  ri  Eirionn  go  moirneimh 

a  Chairbre  clioir  gan  anadh 
dhoibh  treisi  na  tromfhaladh 


XXXIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  43 

35  Osgar,  son  of  glad  Garaidh  advanced  to 
Tara.  When  he  found  not  the  king  of  Tara 
there  he  went  on  to  Gabhair. 


36  The  high  king  of  Tara  di  dnot  perceive  the 
lovely  beauteous  warrior  till  he  saw  upon 
the  field  ten  hundred  ordered  champ- 
ions. 

37  Before  them  was  a  hero  who  moved  as  a 
king,  the  son  of  Garaidh  of  the  keen  arms  : 
his  name  was  Osgar :  no  warrior  better 
earned  his  pay. 

38  The  king  went  to  meet  him,  the  son  of 
harsh  restraining  Cormac  :  he  welcomed 
him  without  deceit :  he  sate  him  on  the 
right  hand  of  Ireland's  king. 

39  « The  time  »,  said  Cairbre  boldly,  «  at  which 
thou  hast  been  brought  to  join  us  against 
Fionn  of  Almhain,  is  the  day  of  battle. 


40  «  For  some  time  past,  0  Osgar,  there  have 
been  left  alive  three  brave  champions  only 
who  have  not  fallen  by  the  race  of  fair- 
headed  Baoisgne.  » 

41  «  I  shall  remember  that  to  thee,  0  king  of 
Ireland  of  great  ferocity,  0  righteous  un- 
delaying  Cairbre  ;  and  for  their  part  I  shall 
remember  the  strenghtof  the  heavy  feud.  » 


44 


DUANAIRE   FINN 


[XXXIX 


[56  a]42  Ro  raidh  ri  Uladh  go  rath 

Aodhan  angbaidh  anghlonnach 
cubhaidh  bar  ccomlann  ma-le 
tu  fein  's  a'  t-Osgar  eile 

43  Glor  nar  bh'ionraidh  dhuitsi  e 
a  ri  Uladh  go  gcaoimhgne 

ni  imtigh  talmhain  na  ttor 
laoch  budh  ioncomlainn  d'Osgar 

44  Do-bersa  briathar  oile 

a  ri  Eamhna  iathghloine 

nar  gabh  sgiath  no  cloidheam  corr 
laoch  da  seachonainn  comhlann 

45  Gairit  ro  bamar  ann  sin 

a  mheic  Carploinn  a  chleirigh 
no  go  ffacamar  san  magh 
deich  gced  catharmach  curadh 

46  Laoch  rompa  go  sgeith  ccorcra 
go  n-earradh  saor  somholta 

go  luirigh  ffirthrein  ffearrdha 
go  gceinnbeirt  oir  oireaghdha 

47  Go   sleig  rinnghasta  roireidh 
go  lainn  ffada  ffaobairgheir 

fogha  coir  is  ceis  oile 
bai  a  laim  in  cathaighe 

48  Ba  he  sin  in  laoch  fuileach 

mac  righ  Lochlann  liiathghuineac/i 
for  tteasdaibh  tainic  6  a  thigh 
on  Bheirbhe  bhainghlain  bhothaigh 


1 


XXXIX]  DUANAIRE    FINN  45 

42  The  prosperous  king  of  Ulster,  ruthless 
warlike  Aodhan,  said :  «  It  were  right 
that  you  should  do  combat  together,  thou 
and  the  other  Osgar.  » 

43  «  It  is  a  sentence  thou  shouldst  never  have 
uttered,  king  of  Ulster  of  lovely  appearance  : 
there  goes  not  upon  the  crowded  earth  a 
warrior  who  could  do  combat  with  Osgar. 

44  «But  I  too  have  something  to  say,  0  king 
of  Eamhain  of  the  bright  territory,  that  no 
warrior  on  whose  account  I  would  avoid 
combat  ever  bore  shield  or  jutting  sword.)) 

45  Short  time  were  we  there,son  of  Calpurnius, 
cleric,  till  we  saw  armed  for  battle  in 
the  plain  ten  hundred  champions. 


46  Before  them  was  a  hero  with  a  purple 
shield  and  noble  garments  that  lent 
themselves  to  praise,  with  a  truly  strong 
brave  corselet  and  a  lordly  helmet  of  gold. 

47  He  had  a  lance  excellently  pointed  and 
very  even  and  a  long  keen-edged  sword  : 
in  his  hand  the  warrior  held  a  good  javelin 
and  another  spear. 

48  That  was  the  warlike  hero,  the  son  of  the 
king  of  the  swift-wounding  Lochlanns,  who 
had  come  from  fair  pure  Bergen  of  the  huts 
to   win   fame  ( ?). 


46  DUANA1RE   FINN  [XXXIX 

49  Fostaighim  Osgar  go  ngrain 
is  mac  righ  Lochlann  d'enlaimh 

mo-ghenor  triath  ga  ttarla 
da  dheich  cced  curaidh  calma 

50  Mac  righ  Lochlann  ba  lonn  goil  # 
geallais  diongbhail  meic  Garai'dh 

mor  in  feidm  freagra  d'Osgar 
fear  a  theasta  um  tuarusta/ 

51  Cuirthear  linn  a  chleirigh  caidh 
ar  moigh  Gabhra  go  morgrain 

sonn  sgiath  is  geirreann  nar  mhin 
um  triath  Kirionn  's  um  Oisin 

52  Tiagmaid  a  cceann  a  cheile 
ba  curata  ar  ccoimeirge 

leigmit  tri  gaire  cinnte 
go  gclos  iatt  a  ffirminnte 

53  Diubraicmit  ar  a  cheile 
ba  curata  ar  ccoimeirge 

teascmid  dar  lannaibh  leabra 
ar  luireacha  loinnearrdha 

54  Ba  hiomdha  sgiath  'na  blodhaibh 
ar  moigh  Gabhra  graineamhail 

&  corp  go  gcrec/i/oibh  dhe 
6  ar  n-eachtaibh  ar  a  cheile 

55  Do  radsam  torannchleas  teann 
sinne  is  muinntir  righ  fiirionn 

nir  sguiriomar  don  treas  te 
gur  dithaigh  each  a  cheile 

54cgcrechtoibh.  Thee  represents  a  tall  e.    In54dtheea  of  eachtaibh  represents 
a  small  e\a.         55a  Spacing  as  in  MS. 


XXXIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  47 

49  Simultaneously  I  hold  back  dreadful  Osgar 
and  the  king  of  Lochlainn's  son  :  happy 
for  the  chief  who  had  twice  ten  hundred 
stalwart  champions. 

50  The  king  of  Lochlainn's  son  of  angry  courage 
promised  to  ward  off  the  son  of  Garaidh  :it 
was  a  big  task  to  stand  against  Osgar,  a 
man  so  famed  for  hired  service. 

51  On  the  dread  plain  of  Gabhair,  chaste  cleric, 
we  set  a  fence  of  shields  and  sharp  ungentle 
points  around  the  lord  of  Ireland  and  Oisin. 


52  We  go  to  meet  one  another  :  valiant  was  our 
uprising  :  we  utter  three  certain  ( ?)  cries 
which  were  heard  through  the  firmament. 


53  We  cast  at  one  another  (valorous  was  our 
uprising)  :  with  our  smooth  swords  we 
hew  our  shining  corselets. 


54  Many  a  shield  was  in  fragments  on  the 
hateful  plain  of  Gabhair,  and  many  a 
body  too  lay  wounded  from  the  deeds  we 
did  on   one  another. 

55  We  made  a  stout  display  (?),  we  and  the 
king  of  Ireland's  folk  :  we  did  not  cease 
from  the  hot  conflict  till  all  were  annihilat- 
ed. 


48 


DUANA1RE   FINN 


[XXXIX 


[56  b]  56  Tucc  ceim  cruadh  as  ar  n-ucht 
mac  righ  Lochlann  na  longport 
cona  deich  gced  curadh  cain 
re  gaisgeadh  re  gnathiorgoil 

57  Ro  marbh  ced  gacha  cearna 

sa  cath  crodha  choimhfhearrdha 
tainic  fein  'na  chro  catha 
mac  uasal  an  ardfhlatha 

58  Od-chlos   sin   d'Osgar   uallach 
an  cur  calma  catbhuadhac[/f] 

freagria's  mac  Garadh  go  lonn 
mac  righ  loingleabatr  Lochlann 

59  Saitid  do  chur  in  catha 
an  dis  curadh  comhfhlatha 

corcraid  a  sleagha  ma-le 
a  ngeilchneasoibh  a  cheile 

60  Nochtaid  a  lanna  liomtha 

an  dis  crodha  coimfhiochdha 

ar  sgaoileadh  a  sgiath  mballghlan 
mairg  tarrai'd/i  in  chathirghail 

61  Ba  he  sin  in  brath  fire 
cia  comlann  rob  ainmin[e] 

dar  thuit  mac  righ  Lochlann  lir 
do  laim  Oscair  mhic  Garaidh 

62  Deich  gced  na  Lochlannac/i  lonn 
ro  thuitseatar  bonn  ar  bhonn 

le  deic  cced  mic  Garadh  ghloin 
nochar  chabhair  dar  bfianoibh 

61cm  crigh  have  been  written  in  reverse  order  in  the  MS  with  sign  to  trans- 
pose. 


XXXlX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  49 

56  The  son  of  the  king  of  Lochlainn  of  the 
harbours  made  a  hardy  step  on  our  behalf 
with  his  ten  hundred  goodly  warrious,  to  do 
heroism  and  customary  battle. 

57  At  each  corner  he  killed  a  hundred  in  the 
brave  manly  battle  :  the  noble  son  of  the 
high  prince  came  in  person  in  his  battle 
enclosure. 

58  When  proud  Osgar,  the  bold  battle- 
victorious  warrior  heard  of  that,  the  son  of 
Garaidh  angrily  replied  to  the  son  of  the 
king  of  Lochlainn  of  the  graceful  ships. 

59  The  two  equally  princely  champions  adv- 
ance to  do  battle  :  they  mutually  make 
crimson  their  spears  each  in  the  other's 
white  skin. 

60  They  unsheathe  their  polished  swords,those 
two  valorous  fierce  men  :  their  clearly 
speckled  shields  having  been  loosened,  it  was 
woe  for  him  who  reached  the  battle  conflict. 

61  That  was  the  true  dealing  of  doom  (What 
fight  more  ungentle  has  there  been  ?),  when 
the  son  of  the  king  of  populous  Lochlainn 
fell  by  the  hand  of  Osgar,  son  of  Garaidh. 

62  The  ten  hundred  sent  by  the  passionate 
Lochlannaigh  fell  chose  together  before  the 
ten  hundred  belonging  to  pure  Garaidh's 
son  (it  was  no  help  to  our  Fiana). 


50  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XXXIX 

63  Tug  a  aghoidh  oirne  dream 
deaghmac  Garaidh  na  ngeirreann 

nir  gabhadh  ris  rioghdha  in  reim 
gur  dhithaigh  pairt  dar  ngnaithfhein 

64  Dearcuis  Osgar  eile  air 

ag  sloighe  in  chatha  crecn/aigh 

tig  'na  chuinne  anba  in  gnimb 
deaghmhac  aitheasach  Oisin 

65  Od-connairc  mac  Garadh  fheil 
dianreim  Osgair  go  micheill 

leigis  liadha  coscar  chaigh 
ar  Osgar  mhor  do  dhingbhail 

66  Tucsat  ann  sin  beim  ar  bheim 
in  dis  curadh  ba  coimhreil 

tollaid  da  sleagoibh  seacda 
a  sgeith  aille  oirgreanta 

67  Fuaim  a  lann  ba  laochdha  in  troid 
cian  6  ionadh  in  comhraic 

's  a  gcroidheadha    ag    rodhail    reann 
ag  gearradh  chnamha  is  chathbharr 

68  A  Patraic  ni  dearnadh  riamh 
a  ffogus  no  a  n-eidirchian 

ni  dingentar  go  la  in  Luain 
a  measraightear  na  morshluaigh 

69  Sochtaid  fir  Eirionn  uile 

ag  eisteacM  re  a  n-ur\uidhe 

no  gur  tuit  mac  Garadh  gloin 
do  laim  aitheasaigh  Osgair 


XXXIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  51 

63  The  good  son  of  Garaidhof  the  sharp  points 
set  his  face  towards  us...:  no  one  went  ag- 
ainst him  (it  was  a  kingly  course)till  he  had 
annihilated  a  portion  of  our  standing  Fian. 

64  The  other  Osgar  looked  upon  him  hewing 
down  the  injured  battalion  :  the  good  suc- 
cessful son  of  Oisin  comes  against  him  (it 
was  a  mighty  deed). 

65  When  the  son  of  generous  Garaidh  saw  sense- 

less Osgar's  vehement  course,  he  abandoned 
triumphing  over  the  rest  to  ward  off 
great  Osgar. 

66  Then  those  two  equally  bright  heroes  gave 
blow  for  blow  :  with  their  hard  spears  they 
pierce  their  beautiful  gold-graven  shields. 

67  The  noise  of  their  blades  (it  was  a  heroic 
fight)  [could  be  heard]  far  from  the  place 
of  battle,  while  their  hearts  (?)  kept 
distributing  spear-points,  cutting  bones 
and  helmets. 

68  0  Patrick,  never  have  [such  deeds]  been 
done  near  or  far,  and  never  will  [such 
deeds]  be  done  till  the  last  day  on  which 
the  great  hosts  are  judged. 

69  The  men  of  Ireland  all  are  silent  listening 
to  their  blows  till  the  son  of  pure  Garaidh 
fell  by  Osgar's  successful  hand. 


52  DUANAIRE   FINN  XXXIX] 

[57  a]  70  Ata  liom  do  mheabhair  ghloin 

deich  geed  meanmnach  mic  Garadh 
gur  chuir  Osgar  go  roghrod 
a  gcoscar  'sa  gcriiadhchomhrac 

71  Eirgis  fearg  adhblial  ann  sin 

iar  cciorrbhadh  a  chuirp  choimhghil 
a  gcoinne  righ  Eirionn  ain 
rohudh  deacair  a  n-eadrain 

72  Timceall  in  cro  catba 
is  teaghlac  an  ardflatha 

gur  chuir  ar  in  catha  cruaidh 
ag  roc/i/ain  Cairbre  crannriiaidh 

73  Togbhais  Cairbri  in  sgiath  uallac/t 

's  an  lann  breacA/ach  bhithbhuadhac/i 
togbhais  in  da  sleigh  go  neim 
a  n-aghaidh  Osgair  echtaigh 

74  Leigid  liaidhi  in  sleigh  seadhmhair 
go  mac  Oisin  liirfheadhmaigh 

go  ndeachaid/z  thrid  in  tsleigh  theann 
corp  in  churaidh  gur  chroighearr 

75  Le  hOsgar  maith  ro  freagradh 
is  urchur  fuair  airleagadh 

do  theasc  ceann  Cairbre  go  neimh 
do  bheim  curata  cloidheimh 

76  Od-connairc  Oscar  Eamhna 
nach  raibhe  fein  infheadhma 

teid  dia  choiriugad/i  mun  ccath 
ar   cho\&m\\n oibh   na    Teamhrach 

76a  MS  has  angbhaidh  with  '  no  Eamhna  '  written  in  above  the  line  as  a  cor- 
rection. 


[XXXIX  DUANAIRE   FINN  53 

70  Well  do  I  bear  in  mind  the  son  of  Garaidh's 
spirited  ten  hundred,  and  that  Osgar 
conquered  them  and  gave  them  hard  battle 
very  quickly. 

71  Then, his  white  body  having  been  lacerated, 
great  anger  arose  [in  him]  against  the 
splendid  king  of  Ireland  :  it  would  have 
been  hard  to  separate  them. 

72  He  encircled  the  battle  enclosure  and  the 
household  of  the  high  prince,  and  made  a 
slaughter  of  the  hardy  battalioirwhile  advan- 
cing   towards  Cairbre  of  the  strong  shafts. 

73  Cairbre  raised  his  proud  shield  and  his 
magic  ever- victorious  sword  :  he  raised  his 
two  fierce  spears  against  deedful  Osgar. 


74  He  casts  from  him  the  stout  (?)  spear  to- 
wards the  son'of  Oisin  who  did  great  service  : 
the  stout  spear  went  through  him  and  blood- 
ily wounded  the  hero's  body. 

75  Osgar  replied  well  (it  is  a  shot  that 
got  repayment  [  ?])  :  he  cut  off  fierce 
Cairbre' s  head  with  a  mighty  sword  stroke. 


76  When  Osgar  of  Eamhain  saw  that  he 
himself  was  unfit  for  service,  he  goes  against 
the  Columns  of  Tara  to  receive  the  blame 
of  the  fight. 


54  DUANAIRfc   FINN  [XXXIX 

77  Deich  gced  is  tri  catha  ar  sliiaigh 
ar  moigh  Gabra  go  morbhiiaidh 

ba  he  ar  ttinol  ag  teacht  as 
fiche  ced  ieindeadh  foltchas 

78  Fada  damh  dia  n-aireamh  sin 
a  mic  Calprainn  a  chleirigh 

ag  feitheamh  a  ffeart  go  ndath 
ar  moigh  goirtiomdha  Gabhra 

79  Go  riomtar  gaineamh  mara 
ar  aon  agus  reltana 

ni  haireamhtar  trian  a  ttrin 
.  ar  marb  Osgar  mac  Oisin 

80  Creidim  duit  a  cleirigh  chaoimh 
a  Patraic  iodhain  foltchaoimh 

is  creidim  do  righ  neamhdha 
gwab  e  mo  tigearna 

81  Barran  mac  Milidh  don  moigh 
Togan  mac  Daire  Breatlmaigh 

tuitid  in  dis  ba  garbh  goil 
do  laim  aitheasaigh  Osgair 

82  Tuitis  ri  Uladh  liom  fein 
Aodhan  aiteasaigh  aigmheil 

a  los  sgeith  is  chloidhimh  chuirr 
ar  lathair  chatha  is  comlainn 

[57  b]  83  Ro  thuit  ri  Laighean  na  learg 

le  hOsccar  chruaidh  cloidheamhdhearg 
tuitid  laochraidh  Laighean  de 
le  deaghchloinn  chosgraigh  Chaoilti 

81a  m^c  MS  1ms  don,  witii  •  iiu  mac'  written  above  it  as  a  correction. 


XXXIX]  DUANAIRE    FINN  55 

77  Our  hosts  numbered  ten  hundred  and  three 
battalions  onthevictoriousplain  of  Gabhair  : 
our  muster  as  we  came  out  was  twenty 
hundred  curly-haired  warriors. 

78  Long  have  I  been  reckoning  them  up,  son 
of  Calphrann,  cleric,  watching  their  beauti- 
ful graves  on  the  many-fielded  plain  of 
Gabhair. 

79  Until  both  sea  sand  and  stars  be  counted 
one  third  of  the  third  of  those  whom  Osgar, 
son  of  Oisin,  killed  may  not  be  reckoned. 


80  I  believe  in  thee,  gentle  cleric,  pure  Patrick 
of  the  soft  locks,  and  I  believe  in  the  heaven- 
ly King,  that  he  is  my  lord. 


81  Barran,  son  of  Mllidh  don  Mhoigh,  Togan 
son  of  Daire  Breathnach, those  two  men  of 
rough  courage  fall  by  Osgar's  sucessful 
hand. 

82  By  me  the  king  of  Ulster  fell,  Aodhan 
the  .  .  .  and  terrible,  by  means 
of  shield  and  jutting  sword  on  the  field 
of  battle  and  combat. 

83  The  king  of  Leinster  of  the  slopes  fell  by 
hardy  red-sworded  Osgar  :  the  warriors 
of  Leinster  fall  too  by  Caoilte's  goodly 
triumphant  children. 


56  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XXXIX 

84  Ro  bhasaidh  Cairbre  go  neimh 
Forlamh   mac  fir  Cliuirb   crechtaigh 

tri  bronaibh  do  laimh  Osgair 
le  mac  Garadh  gormrosccaigh 

85  Le  Barran  mac  MWidh  Mhuaidh 
taoth  seaca/  mic  Chaoilti  crannruaidh 

da  mac  Osgair  reil  go  n-agh 
do  thuitseat  fos  le  Barran 

86  Mor  in  gniom  do-ronadh  ann 
Osgar  is  airdrigh  fiireann 

Art  mac  Cairbre  lion  a  shluaigh 
is  Mac  Lughac/i  go  lanbhuaidh 

87  Seac/i/  meic  Chaoilte  ba  garbh  goil 
&  Osgar  mac  Garaidh 

ro  thuitseat  ba  borb  a  mbrigh 
's  da  mac  Osgaz>  mhic  Oisin 

88  Da  mac  righ  Laighean  na  long 
ro  thuitsead  tra  bonn  ar  bhonn 

mac  le  hOsgar  ba  garbh  gnimh 
is  mac  eile  le  hOisin 

A    Oisin 


84c  bronaibh.  MS  has  n  with  a  dotted  stroke  overit  (=  a  vowel  or  vowels 
aspirated   consonant). 


XXXIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  57 

84  Fierce  Cairbre  put  to  death  Forlamh,  son 
of  wounding  Fear  Corb  :         *         *         * 
by  the  son  of  blue-eyed   Garaidh. 


85  By  Barran  son  of  Milidh  Muaidh  fell 
strong-shafted  Caoilte's  seven  sons,  and 
the  two  sons  of  bright  warlike  Osgar  fell  by 
Barran. 

86  Great  was  the  deed  done  there  :  Osgar 
and  the  high  king  of  Ireland,  Art  son  of 
Cairbre,  with  all  his  host,  and  Mac  Lugh- 
ach  of  full  victory  (?). 

87  The  seven  sons  of  Caoilte  of  rough  courage 
and  Osgar,  son  of  Garaidh, those  fell  (their 
vigour  was  violent),  and  the  two  sons  of 
Osgar,  son  of  Oisin. 

88  The  two  sons  of  the  king  of  Leinster  of 
the  ships  fell  close  together,  a  son  of 
Osgar  who  was  rough  in  deed  and  ano- 
ther son  of  Oisin. 


XL 

1  An  seisior 

triar  a  ttigim  ar  deisiol 

triur  frithir  fallsa  focham 
is  triur  coirpseang  cnisgeal 

2  An  deacair 

is  isi  a'  bhean  rom-tachair 

taibhseach  sliocht  a  dha  gegbhonn 
ni  hettrom  mar  a  saltair 

3  An  tsuirghe 

macamh  meallta  gach  buidhne 
gerb  annsa  i  na  in  t-anam 
agam  ni  ffuil  a  cuimne 

4  An  reidhe 

mo-chean  neach  diarab  ceile 

dhi  riamh  ni  deachaid/i  rogha 
fearr  ina  gach  togha  sbreidhi 

5  An  eigion 

pudarlach  6  16  in  cheidfhir 

treisi  naid  mna  na  cruinne 
smac/)/    uirre  nochan  eidir 

6  An  mheanma 

rioghan  ur  bhuilidh  breaghdha 

gidh  inmhain  an  bhean  bhunaidh 
dhamh  6  'nuraidh  ni  tharla 

[58  a]  7    An  chumha 

uimpe  bhid  na  bruit  dubha 
ni  mo-chean  bean  a  lera 
ni  hiad  a  sgela  is  lugha 

An 


XL 


1  These  six  :  three  to  whom  (?)  I  come 
going  righthandwise,three  who  are  vehement 
treacherous  and  crooked  and  three  who  are 
slender  of  body  and  white  of  skin. 

2  Trouble  :  she  is  the  woman  who  has  come 
to  me  ;  manifest  is  the  trace  of  her  two 
feet ;  where  she  treads  she  treads  not 
lightly. 

3  Lovemaking  :  she  who  beguiles  every  comp- 
any ;  though  she  be  dearer  than  life  I 
have  no  memory  of  her. 

4  Mildness :  happy  the  person  to  whom 
she  is  companion  ;  preference  has  never 
gone  from  her  (to  another) ;  she  is  better 
than  the  choicest  dowry. 

5  Necessity  :  a  surly  wretch  from  the  day  of 
the  first  man,  stronger  than  all  women  ; 
to  control  her  is  impossible. 

6  High  spirit  :  a  noble  courteous  and  excel- 
lent queen  ;  though  the  woman  herself 
be  dear,  since  last  year  she  has  not  come 
to  me. 

7  Grief  :  she  wears  black  garments  ;  I  welcome 
not  a  woman  so  diligent  (?)  :  her  tidings 
are  not  least. 


XLI 

1  Cliabhan  cuill  cia  do-roine 
innisidh  a  sheanoire 

&  do-rinne  cleas  cuir 
agaibh  ar  tus  ar  enoibh 

2  An  ccluineann  t.u  a  sheanoir  thall 
an  ceist  a  chuireas  in  Tailgheann 

innis  mar  is  aithnidh  dhuit 
an  cheist  ad  chuireas  Patraic 

3  Laithe  n-aon  dia  raibhe  Fionn 

ar  sliabh  Liiachra  na  lainghlionn 
go  ttarla  se  ar  leith  on  fhein 
tri  f  ichit  laoch  go  lainmhein 

4  Ro  bhadhmar  gin  gur  threorach 
go   neamhshadhal   aineolach 

fa  cheo  ndraoitheacft/a  ndoirche 
no  g«r  chinnseam  comhairle 

5  Silleadh  da  ttug  thairis  siar 
Finn  mac  Cumhaill  flaith  na  fFian 

ad-chi  oglach  ard  aistreac 

go  n-earradh  ndearg  ndeaghmhaiseach 

6  Do  bhai  ar  deaslaim  in  fhir  mhoir 
cliabhan  dathalainn  deargoir 

do  ghabhadh  mar  budh  mian  lais 
a  ngabadh  d'enoibh  thairis 


2d  ad,  sic   MS, 


XLI 

1  «  A  hazel  bird-crib  :  who  made  one,  tell, 
ancient  men  ;  and  tell  which  of  you  first 
played    the  jerking  (?)  trick  upon  birds.  » 


2  «  Dost  thou  hear,  thou  ancient  man,  the 
question  which  the  Tailgheann  puts  ?  Answer, 
according  to  thy  knowledge,  the  question 
Patrick  asks.  » 

3  One  day  when  Fionn  was  on  SliabhLuachra 

of  the  full  glens  he  chanced  to  be  apart 
from  the  Fian  with  three  score  willing 
warriors. 

4  Although  we  were  strong  we  were  uneasy 
and  ignorant,  beneath  a  dark  magic  mist, 
till  we  decided  on  a  plan.    • 


5  As  Fionn,  son  of  Cumhall,  prince  of  the 
Fiana, glanced  out  towards  the  west,he  sees 
a  tall  roving  warrior  clad  in  a  handsome 
red  suit. 

6  On  the  big  man's  right  hand  was  a  beau- 
tifully coloured  bird-crib  of  red  gold  :  he 
caught  as  he  wished  what  birds  went  past 
him. 


62  DUANAIBE   FINN  [XLI 

7  Sa  ttulaigh  ttaobhalainn  ttruim 
tainic  in  t-6glach  chugainn 

is  ro  bheannaigh  dhuinne  tra 
do  briathraibh  glcsta  glana 

8  Dia  ttigthae  lim  lin  d'fheadhna 
a  Fhinn  na  fFian  ffiorchalma 

sean  gach  dighe  do-bher  dhibh 
&  nua  gacha  seanbhidh 

9  Ro  eirgeamorr  siias  go  grod 
muinntir  Fhinn  na  n-arm  n-urnocht 

gidh  ar  leas  ni  tainic  dhe 
leinne  nir  leasg  an  eirghe 

10  Gluaisis  romhainn  in  fear  mor 
do  leanamar  e  's  ba  trogh 

go  cathair  Inbhir  dha  Shal 
ait  ar  hinnleadh  in  cliabhan 

11  Ar  ndol  don  fior  mhor  amach 
uainn  tar  dorus  na  caithrcrch 

comla  ghairbhiarainn  gan  mhoill 
iadhais  an  uairsin  orainn 

12  Seacht  lo  go  n-oidhche  gan  bhiadh 
dhuinn  sa  ch&thr aigh  cladhard  criadh 

[58  b]  gan  aoinneach  do  teac/i/  diar  ffios 

do  chian  no  do  comhfhogus 

13  Ar  aithris  in  chliabhain  chuir 
ar  saith  enaigh  gach  einfhir 

do-rinne  Fionn  cliabhan  cuill 
dhuinn  nir  seachmidh  in  fhoghluim 

go  ffaghmaois  on  chliabhan  chuir 

ar  saith  enaigh  gach  einfhir 

8c  dhibh.  MS  has  dtunbh  with  the  o  deleted. 


XLI]  DUANAIRE  FINN  63 

7  The  warrior  came  towards  us  on  the  fair- 
sided  heavy  hill,  and  indeed  greeted  us  in 
polished  pure  words. 


8  «  If  thou  and  all  thy  band  come  with  me, 
0  Fionn  of  the  truly  brave  Fiana,  I  shall 
give  you  what  is  old  in  every  drink  and 
what  is  new  in  every  ancient  food.  » 

9  We,  the  people  of  Fionn  of  the  unsheathed 
weapons,  rose  up  quickly  :  although  no 
good  came  of  it  to  us,  we  were  not  slow 
to  rise. 

10  The  big  man  went  before  us  :  we  followed 
him  (and  it  was  sad)  to  the  stronghold 
of  Inbhear  dha  Shal  where  the  crib  was 
prepared. 

11  When  the  big  man  had  gone  out  from 
us  beyond  the  gate  of  the  stronghold, 
without  delay  he  closed  a  door  of  rough 
iron  upon  us. 

12  For  seven  days  and  nights  we  were  in 
the  high-ditched  earthen  fortress  without 
food  ;  and  no  one  came  to  see  us  from  far 
or  near. 

13  In  imitation  of  the  jerking  (?)crib,to  secure 
sufficient  birdcatching  for  every  man,  Fionn 
made  a  hazel  crib  (the  lesson  was  not  negl- 
ected ( ?)  by  us),  that  we  might  get  from  the 
jerking  (?)  crib  sufficient  birdcatching 
for  every  man  of  us. 


G4  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLI 

14  A  gcionn  scacht  laithe  mar  sin 
tig  mac  Troghain  diar  ffeghain 

do  mhcas  se  nach  rabhsam  beo 
dier  ndicheannad  i  n-enlo 

15  teagmaid  aniar  is  anoir 

fa  mac  Troghain  an  uairsoin 

ar  tteacht  duinn  uime  go  rcacht 
nochar  foghain  do  a  draoithcrcM 

16  Beiris  Fionn  uainn  in  fear  dearg 
rissein  ger  adhbal  ar  iiearg 

&  cuiris  slan  da  thigh 

gin  gur  dheoin  leinn  a  chleirigh 

17  lochl  is  fearr  do-rinne  riam 
deaghmcfc  Cumaill  flaith  na  fFian 

fear  dearg  d'idhlacadh  slan 
&  sinne  d'eadradhan 

18  Ag  sin  iocht  do-rinne  Finn 

a  chleirigh  na  mbachall  mionn 
an  fear  do  imbread  gach  n-agh 
leis  ro  hinn  leadh  in  cliabhan 

19  A  Chaoilte  ge  atii  go  fann 

na  leig  learn  dia  n-abair  breg 
aoinneach  budh  commaith  le  Fionn 
in  ffacaidh  til  riamh  red  re 

20  Fo  a  anam  cona  chorp 

acht  gidh  dubh  anocht  mo  li 
ni  bhi  commaith  einigh  Finn 
a  nduine  re  a  linn  a  ccli 

CliabhAn 

14d  MS  has  inuairsind  eleted  and  '  no  indnld  '  written  above  it  as  a  correction. 
196  learn.  The  ea  represents  a  tall  c  in  MS. 
19d  red.  The  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 


XLI]  DUANAIRE   FINN  65 

14  At  the  end  of  seven  days  spent  thus  the 
son  of  Troghan  comes  to  see  us:  he  thought 
we  were  not  alive,  and  came  to  behead  us 
all  on   one   day. 

15  We  come  from  all  sides  about  the  son  of 
Troghan  then  :  when  we  came  round 
him  in  fury  his  magic  availed  him  nothing. 


16  Fionn  bore  the  red  man  away,  though 
our  anger  was  great  against  him  ;  and  he 
sent  him  safe  to  his  house,  although  we  did 
not  so    will  it,  0  cleric. 

17  The  best  act  of  clemency  ever  done  by 
the  good  son  of  Cumhall,  prince  of  the 
Fiana,  was  to  conduct  the  red  man  safe 
and  to  ward  us  off. 

18  There,  0  cleric  of  the  jewelled  croziers, 
is  an  act  of  clemency  done  by  Fionn, 
the  man  who  practised  all  valour  :  by 
him  was  the  crib  prepared. 

19  0  Caoilte,  although  I  am  weak,  do  not  let 
it  pass  if  I  speak  a  lie  :  any  person  as  good 
as  Fionn  sawest  thou  ever  in  thy  time? 


20  «  As  regards  his  soul  and  his  body  (though 
tonight  my  appearance  is  gloomy)  no  man 
living  in  his  age  had  nobility  equal  to 
that  of  Fionn.  » 


XLII 

1  A  Lia  Thulcha  Tuaithe  shuas 
gus  ttigdis  curaidh  go  gcruas 

dainim  da  gach  ergna  uaiph 
narsat  berla  go   mbithbhuaidh 

2  A  n-us  deach  Gaoidhealg  is  glor 
&  ciall  bhuih'd/i     blathmhor 

ag  cur  ciiart  fom  chli  do  chin 
gurab  siiairc  ag  seanchaid[/i]ibh 

3  Na  sgela  ro  shirseam  ort 
innis  damsa  radii  gan  \ocht 

gacha  nona  lor  do  bhrath 
sgela  mora  Mhic  Lughac/i 

[59  a]  4  Os  duinne  fein  tuc  Dia  dil 
re  a  n-innisin  re  a  n-airimh 

cia  dia  mbeinn  dia  sena  ar  seilg 
sgela  meic  Daire  drechderrg 

5  Daire  dearg  mac  Conaill  chain 
mheic  Oika/la  mhic  Eoghain 

isse  sin  athair  airmhid 

ag  Mac  Lughac/i  lanfhailidh 

6  hughaidh  roime  d'agalloimh  Fhinn 
Daire  a  gCluain  Oirrthir  aoibhinn 

tar  gach  ardbrugh  gusan  moigh 
suaill  nach  rainic  go  hAlmhaigh 

lc  ergna.  The  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 


XLII 

1  «  0  stone  above  on  Tulach  Thuaithe,  to 
which  hardy  heroes  used  to  come,  every 
science  has  suffered  injury  through  you, 
because  speech  of  lasting  virtue  is  not 
in   your   power.  » 

2  All  who  are  (?)  best  in  language  and  utter- 
ance and  in  fine  smooth-great  (?)  sense 
have  come  (?)  with  questions  (?)  around  my 
body  so  that  it  may  be  pleasant  for  historians. 

3  «  The  tidings  which  we  have  asked  of  thee 
tell  to  me  (a  faultess  saying) :  every  even- 
ing (it  is  sufficient,  betrayal  [?])  tell  the 
great  tidings  of  Mac  Lughach.  » 

4  Since  it  is  to  us  dear  God  gave  them  that 
they  might  be  told  and  recounted,  why 
should  I  deny  tidings  of  the  son  of  red-faced 
Daire   to   [one(?)]  hunting   [for  them(?)]? 

5  Daire  the  Red,  son  of  goodly  Conall,  son 
of  Oilill,  son  of  Eoghan,  him  they  reckon 
as  father  to  full-joyous  Mac  Lughach. 

6  Daire  from  pleasant  Cluain  Oirrthir  went 
to  converse  with  Fionn  :  going  over  every 
high  country  to  the  plain  he  had  almost 
reached  Almhain. 


OS  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XL  1 1 

7  An  tan  tainic  Daire  donn 
bealach   Gabhrain  na  ngarbhghlonn 

ro  iadhsat  uime  ar  in  ngurt 
tri  meic  Rossa  go  riiadhf hult 

8  Teagaid  ag  fiefraidhe  sgel 
do  Dhaire  uasal  airmgher 

ro  raidh  ba  he  Fionn  fearrdha 
a  triath  is  a  thighearna 

9  Ni  hi  so  do  conair  choir 
raidhid  meic  Rossa  romhoir 

isse  in  Fionnsin  lith  go  ngoil 
ro  bhassaigh  ar  seanathair 

10  Canaidh  cred  is  maith  ann 
ar  Daire  mor  na  ccathbharr 

acht  ar  marbadh  fein  fir  dhe 
madh  hi  crioch  bhar  ccomairle 

11  Ni  iarrmaid  comai'rle  ar  neach 
a  oga  tigidh  d'einleath 

is  fior  in  f ath  gan  aga 

's  bar  n-airm  diomor  difhreagra 

12  Tri  nonbhair  ro  bhattar  sin 
tri  meic  Rosa  go  roghail 

&  nonbhar  do  Dhaire 
ba  he  lion  a  gcomhairmhe 

13  Tuitid  tri  meic  Rosa  reidh 
d'armaibh  Dhaire  detrg  burf/idJiein 

gidheadh  do  marbadh  uile 
muinntear  Dhaire  dhualbhuidhe 


XLII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  69 

7  When  brown  Daire  came  by  Bealach 
Gabhrain  of  the  rough  deeds,  the  three 
sons  of  Ros  of  the  red  hair  closed  about  him 
on  the  field. 

8  They  come  to  question  noble  sharp-weapon- 
ed  Daire.  He  said  manly  Fionn  was  his 
chief  and  lord. 


9  «  This  is  not  thy  proper  path, »  say  the 
sons  of  mighty  Ros  :  «  it  is  that  Fionn 
(a  festival  of  valour)  who  slew  our  grand- 
father. » 

10  «  Say  what  you  consider  right  in  that 
case,  »  said  great  Daire  of  the  helmets  : «  un- 
less, in  truth,  the  end  of  your  counsel  be 
our  death.  » 

11  «We  ask  counsel  of  none  :  0  warriors, come 
together  :  the  cause  is  true  without...  and 
your  weapons...  » 


12  The  three  sons  of  valorous  Ros  were  thrice 
nine  strong,  and  Daire  had  nine  :  their  full 
number  was  so. 


13  The  three  sons  of  smooth  Ros  fall  by 
RedDaire's  own  weapons  ;  but  yellow-hair- 
ed Daire's  people  were  all  killed. 


70  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLII 

14  Innisidh  a  sg^/a  iar  sin 

do  mac  Cumhaill  a  hAlmhain 

ba  maith  le  Fionn  flaith  na  fFian 
gach  a  ndearna  in  righniadh 

15  Fuirigh  sunn  a   nAlmhain  fhiiair 
ag  so  meisi  ag  dol  budhthuaidh 

agad  leigheas  go  lion  gceird 
a  chur  fhosaigh  fhaobaj'rdheirg 

16  An  tan  tainic  leigheas  Ian 
&  ro  bhai  go  hogshlan 

gliiaisis  i  ndeaghaid/i  in  tsluaigh 
arna  leigheas  go  lanbhuaidh 

17  La  dia  raibhe  'na  aonar 
Daire  dearg  nar  dreachaoradh 

[59b]  a  ttosach  oidhche  fiiaire 

ag  Sith  Buidhbh  go  moruaille 

18  Suidhis  in  iemdidh  iar  sin 
tuirrseach  d'aithle  a  aistir 

go  ttuc  dia  uidh  in  t-amus 
a  anshodh  cona  ocobhrus 

19  Ad-chi  &  ni  a  gcodhladh 
brugh  alainn  dia  oslagadh 

slogh  gan  tuirrsi  &  muirn  mor 
soillsi  &  cuirm  go  gcomol 

20  Teid  sa  mbrugh  in  feindidh  fial 
fiadhaightear  e  soir  is  siar 

suidhis  Daire  'na  deagha*7//i 
tuc  a  airm  ar  aighleandoibh 

lid  mdruaille.  In  the  MS  mor  and  uaille  are  separated. 


XLIIJ  DUANAIRE   FINN  71 

14  He  then  tells  his  tidings  to  the  son  of  Cumh- 
all  from  Alhmain.  Fionn,  prince  of  the 
Fiana,  was  pleased  with  all  that  the  royal 
warrior  had  done. 

15  « Wait  here  in  cold  Almhain,  for  I  am 
going  north,  being  cured  by  numerous 
arts,  0  staid  hero  of  the  red  blades.  » 


16  When  a  full  cure  had  come  about,  and  he 
was  whole  and  sound,  he  went  after  the 
host  having  been    cured  successfully. 


17  One  day  Red  Daire,  who  was  never  scathing- 
ly (?)  satirized,  was  alone, in  the  beginning 
of  a  cold  night,  by  the  Fairy  Hill  of  Rodhbh 
of  great  pride. 


18  The  warrior  sat  down  weary  after  his 
journey,  and  then  the  soldier  realized 
how  miserable  and  hungry  he  was. 


19  He  se  es,  and  'twas  not  in  sleep,  a  lovely 
mansion  disclosed,  with  a  griefless  host  and 
great  merriment,  light  and  ale  and  convivial 
drinking. 

20  The  generous  warrior  goes  into  the  mansion  : 
he  is  received  with  honour  on  all  sides  : 
Daire  sat  down  thereupon  and  placed  his 
weapons  on  racks. 


72  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLII 

21  Fritheoiltear  e  sa  tigh  thall 

go  maith  ag  Tiiadh  De  Dhanann 
ro  eirigh  go  dian  iar  sin 
teid  eidir  an  ingheanrazd/j 

22  Boi  dalta  ag  righ  in  tsiodha 
dierb  ainm  Eochaidh  ailtmhilla 

bean  tsubac/i  nar  ckmeadh  ceill 
Lughach  laimgheal  a  hainmsein 

23  An  tan  ad-connairc  Daire 

an  mnaoi  gceinnfhinn  go  n-aille 
ro  tidhlaic  dhi  searc  ni  saobh 
maith  le  meanmam  in  macaoim 

24  Faoidhid  sa  dun  ar  aon 

Daire  's  an  ainnear  fholtcaomh 
gur  foillsigh  do  Dhaire  iar  sin 
gurbh  am  lamhnaidh  don  ingin 

25  Madh  torrach  tra  thu  a  bhean 
ro  raidh  ria  Daire  dreic/igheal 

tug  leat  go  Fionn  fath  gan  gheis 
madh  mac  bheire  gan  eisleis 

26  Budh  maith  mac  berthor  ann 
ro  raidh  Eochaidh  go  hinmhall 

foigheola/rf/i  mor  maine  amach 
budh  e  a  ainm  Gaine  Gaisgeadhac/i 

27  An  uair  tainic  a  hinhaidh 

is  ro  dhesdaigh  re  a  troimiodhnoi6/i 

■ 

rug  si  mac  ba  caoime  h\adh 
diar  comainm  Gaine  glegheal 

23c  MS  has  nir  deleted  before  ni, 


XLIIJ  DUANAIRE   FINN  73 

21  He  is  well  attended  to  in  that  house  by  the 
Tuath  De  Danann  ;  afterwards  he  arose 
eagerly  and  goes  among  the  maidens. 

22  The  king  of  the  fairy  hill,  whose  name 
was  Eochaidh  of  the  Smooth  Joints,  had 
a  foster  child,  a  pleasant  woman  whose 
good  sense  was  never  impeached  :  Lughach 
of  the  White  Hands  was  her  name. 

23  When  Daire  saw  the  fairheaded  beautiful 
woman  he  bestowed  love  upon  her  (it 
is  not  false) ;  his  soul  was  pleased  with  the 
maiden. 

24  They  sleep  together  in  the  fort,  Daire  and 
the  softhaired  maiden.  Later  she  (?)  rev- 
ealed to  Daire  that  the  time  had  come  for 
the  maiden  to  give  birth. 

25  «  If  thou  come  to  be  with  child,  0  woman,  » 
bright-faced  Daire  said,  «  and  if  it  be 
a  son  thou  bearest,  bring  him  with  thee  to 
Fionn  without  fail  (it  is  a  cause  with  no 
prohibition).  » 

26  «  Good  is  the  son  who  will  be  borne, »  Eoch- 
aidh said  slowly :  « he  shall  harry  out 
much  wealth  :  his  name  shall  be  Gaoine  the 
Champion.  » 

27  When  her  time  had  come,  and  her  heavy 
pangs  had  left  her,  she  bore  a  son  of  fairest 
fame  whose  name  was  bright  Gaoine. 


71  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLII 

28  Tainic  fo  tri  tar  a  bel 

is  amlaidh  ro-chuala  in  sgel 
istig  ag  triall  a  bhiadhtha 
in  eas  alainn  aimriadhta 

29  Gabhais  in  eas  'na  laim  laich 
mor  an  obair  meic  bhig  bhaith 

an  eass  ina  laim  ro  lean 
no  gur  eirigh  an  inghean 

30  Ro  hinniseadh  in  gniom  ghlan 
tainic  each  dia  coimhfegadh 

an  eas  i  laim  in  leinimh 
nir  fedadh   a  n-imdeaghail 

[60a]  31  Gidh  be  do  innisfeadh  thall 

eidir  sloghaibh  na  saorchlann 
iss  e  sin  gan  taidhe  amach 
ceidgnimh  laimhe  mic  Lughach 

32  Ro  bhoi  bliadhain  sa  dun  dhe 
aga  mhathair  butf/idheine 

is  tainic  a  ccionn  bliadhna 

go  Fionn  fossciidh  firniamhdha 

33  Do  luidh  leis  a  mhathair  mhin 
dia  innisin  don  airdrigh 

is  do  rad  dho  a  ccogar  chain 
gurb  e  Daire  a  dheaghathair 

34  Mar  tangattar  Fiana  Fail 

go  teagh  Fhinn  uile  d'enlaimh 
ro  shuidhseat  an  slogh  ier  sin 
mar  do  bhiadh  61  a  nAlmain 


XLII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  75 

28  Thrice  there  came  across  his  mouth  —  so 
have  I  heard  the  tale  —  seeking  to  be 
fed  within,  a  beautiful  untamed  weasel. 


29  He  seized  the  weasel  in  his  hero  hand  (it 
was  great  work  for  a  little  tender  boy) : 
the  weasel  remained  in  his  hand  till  the 
girl  arose. 

30  The  clear  deed  was  told  :  every  one  came 
to  view  it  —  the  weasel  in  the  child's  hand  : 
they  could  not  be  separated. 


31  It  matters  not  who  should  tell  it,  there 
amid  the  freeborn  hosts  :  that,  without 
concealment  .  .  .,  is  the  first  deed  of 
Mac  Lughach's  hand. 

32  He  was  for  a  year  then  in  the  fort  with 
his  own  mother,  and  when  a  year  was  ended 
he  came  to   stedfast  truly  bright  Fionn. 


33  His  gentle  mother  went  with  him  to  tell 
everything  to  the  high  king, and  she  confided 
to  him  as  a  fair  secret  that  his  good  father 
was  Daire. 

34  When  the  Fiana  of  Ireland  came  all  together 
to  the  house  of  Fionn,  the  host  sat  down  as 
though  there  was  to  be  drinking  in  Al- 
mhain. 


76  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLII 

35  Iar  suidhe  don  Fhein  uile 

a  ttigh  mhoir  na  hAlmhuine 

tugadh  go  Fionn  ba  dearg  dreach 
Lughach  cona  mac  muirneach 

36  Gabhais  in  leanam  ar  laim 
Fionn  nar  adhair  d'iomarbhaidh 

7  do  toirbhir  dho  poig 

don  mac  alainn  gan  urchoid 

37  A  mheic  aithin  h'athair  fein 
adubatrt  Finn  flaith  go  gceill 

ameasg  caich  gidh  feidm  doih'an 
&  eirg  dha  innsaigidh 

38  Ger  lionmar  an  Fian  uile 
eidir  righ  agus  ruire 

suidhis  a  n-ucht  Dhaire  dhil 
an  mac  ba  haille  a  nAlmam 

39  Gabhais  ed  bean  Dhaire  dhil 
iar  ffaixin  in  mheic  mheirghil 

d'olc  as  a  haithle  nir  fhan 
on  mac  ar  n-aithne  a  athor 

40  Is  hi  bean  do  bhoi  ag  Daire 
Aibhinn  6g  go  n-iolghaire 

bean  gan  tacha  each  na  oir 
ingean  data  meic  Dimhoir 

41  Na  dena  ed  a  Oibhinn  fhial 
adubairt  Fionn  flaith  na  fFian 

raghoidh  dhuit  is  heart  go  mblaid/i 
sloindeadh  in  mheic  6  a  mathair 

38a  In  the  MS  uile  precedes  an  Fian  with  sign  to  transpose. 

38rf  This  line  preceded  by  '  no  '  has  been  written  as  a  correction  over  a  deleted 
ropv  of  line  39  b.  The  deleted  copy  reads  ier  for  the  iar  of  39  b. 

41«  adibhinn  [sic]  is  written  as  one  word  in  the  MS.  The  6  has  been  altered 
from  an  original  i. 


XLII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  77 

35  When  all  the  Fian  were  seated  in  the  great 
house  of  Almhain,  Lughach  and  her 
darling  son  were  brought  to  Fionn  of  the 
red   countenance. 

36  Fionn,  who  was  no  lover  of  contention, 
took  the  child  by  the  hand,  and  bestowed 
a  kiss  on  him,  on  the  beautiful  innocent 
boy. 

37  « Boy,  recognize  thy  father,  »  said  Fionn 
the  wise  prince  :  «  recognize  him  in  the 
midst  of  all,  though  it  be  hard  to  do,  and  go 
to  him.  » 

38  Although  the  gathered  Fian,  including 
king  and  chieftain,  were  many,  the  boy, 
the  loveliest  in  Almhain,  took  his  seat  in 
dear  Daire's  bosom. 

39  Jealousy  seized  dear  Daire's  wife  when 
she  had  seen  the  white-fingered  boy  :  after 
the  recognition  of  his  father  by  the  boy 
she  never  ceased  to  bear  him  ill-will. 

40  Daire's  wife  was  young  Aoibhinn  of  much 
laughter,  a  woman  who  had  no  lack  of 
steeds  or  gold,  the  lovely  daughter  of 
Diomhor's  son. 

41  «  Do  not  be  jealous,  generous  Aoibhinn,  » 
said  Fionn,  prince  of  the  Fiana  :  «  it  will 
be  granted  to  thee  (it  is  a  famous  act)  that 
the  son  be  named  from  his  mother.  » 


78  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLII 

42  Beir  leat  ar  Fionn  mac  Lughach 
in  naoidhe  suilbhir  subhach 

a  inghean  dhata  mar  dhoigh 
budh  he  in  dalta  go  ttrenghoil 

43  Ann  sin  rug  le  mac  LughacA 
an  inghean  seghainn  subhach 

go  teagh  a  hathor  uallaigh 

go  Guam  Cheasain  chathbhuadaj'a/z 

44  Go  ceann  sea.cht  mbliadnan  iar  sin 
ro  bhoi  in  mac  aga  mhathair 

[60  b]  dia  oileumhain  anba  in  gniomh 

samalta  d'adhbar  airdriogh 

45  Tig  sa  fFeiu  6  sin  amach 

ba  maith  a  luth  's  a  lamhaca 
mar  tainic  gniomha  goile 
d'ua  na  rioghna  roghloine 

46  Ceidbhean  do  rad  searc  go  sochla 
Tiiadha  ingean  ard  Aongusa 

isi  do  rad  thiiaidh  ga  tigh 
a  ttulaz'aa  liaine  fosaigh 

47  Mac  Lughach  ar  aon  is  Fionn 
ro  saith  in  gcloich  os  a  cionn 

os  feart  Tiiaidhe  attaoissi  ann  sin 
a  liog  liaine  aith  Ihosaidh 

48  Is  he  ro  saith  in  lia  lorn 
giolla  uallach  ur  ettrom 

ge  do  mharbh  aibhlibh  niadh 
do  saith  le  a  laimh  in  laochliag 

42c  In  the  MS  ghoil  go  has  been  crossed  ont  before  dhoigh, 
46a  do  rad  sic  MS. 


[XLII  DUANAIRE  FINN  79 

42  « Take  with  thee, »  said  Fionn,  « Mac 
Lughach,  the  cheerful  genial  child :  0 
lovely  flame-like  girl,  he  will  be  a  fosterling 
of  great  valour.  » 

43  Then  the  comely  pleasant  girl  took  Mac 
Lughach  with  her  to  her  proud  father's 
house,  to  Cluain  Cheasain  Chathbhuadhaigh 
[the  Meadow  of  battle- victorious  Ceasan]. 

44  For  seven  years  after  that  the  boy  was 
with  his  mother  being  reared  (mighty  the 
deed)  like  a  prince  eligible  for  high-king- 
ship. 

45  From  that  on  he  was  a  member  of  the  Fian  : 
when  the  time  came  for  the  bright  queen's 
offspring  to  do  soldierly  deeds,  his  agility 
and  his  casting  were  good. 

46  The  first  woman  to  whom  he  gave  honourable 
love  was  Tuadh,  the  tall  daughter  of  Aon- 
ghus  :  it  is  she  whom  he  laid,  by  his  house 
in  the  north,  in  a  firm  green  mound. 

47  Mac  Lughach  and  Fionn  together  planted 
the  stone  over  her  :  above  the  grave  of 
Tuadh  thou  art,  0  sharp  firm  green  stone. 


48  He  who  planted  the  bare  stone  was  a 
proud  generous  agile  lad  :  ...  (a  hero's 
might)  he  planted  with  his  hand  this 
warrior  stone. 


80  DUANAIRE  FINN  %         [XLIt 

49  A  cloch  ata  a  tTeamhair  Breagh 

ro  saith  Fionn  tre  maith  meanman 
fut  ata  Aillen  amhra 
an  siodhaighe  saorcalma 

50  A  cloch  Feadha  Gaibhle  glain 
ro  shaith  Finn  nar  ob  iorghail 

ata  Dianartac/z  mar  dhoigh 
fut  is   Dearg  mac  Dianartaigh 

51  Is  fear  roghain  ba  garbh  grain 
Domnall  mac  Finn  mic  Cuain 

flit  ata  &  is  dearbh  dhe 

Conn  leidmheach  mac  Lathairne 

52  A  cloch  Chairn  Fhearadhaia/i  uill 
ro  shaith  mac  crodha  Cumhaill 

is  f  utsa  ro  cuireadh  dhe 
Daighre  ceoilbhinn  cruitire 

53  A  cloch  ata  ar  Moigh  Raighne 
ro  saith  Finn  flaith  go  saidhbre 

ata  Goll  fut  mar  deirtear 
&  Raighne  roiscleathan 

54  A  cloch  ata  a  n-Almhain  uill 
ro  saith  go  moch  mac  Cumhaill 

Daolgus  mac  Cairill  chais  chain 
tii  os  loighe  in  laoich  laidir 

55  A  cloch  Mhoighe  Dithlain  dhein 
ro  saith  Fionn  in  treasa  threin 

fut  ata  Dolbh  Sgoinne  in  sgail 
&  Fionnlaoch  6g  adhnair 

49  c  aid.  is  followed  by  an  erasure   of  two  letters.       Aillen  :  the    e    represents 
a  tall  einMS.  51a  A  faint  indistinguishable  (erased?)  letter  is  to  be  seen 

in  the  MS  between  (ear  and  roghain. 


XLII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  81 

49  0  stone  in  Tara  of  Bregia,  planted  by  Fionn 
through  excellence  of  spirit,  beneath  thee 
lies  wondrous  Aillen,  the  noble  brave  fairy. 

50  0  stone  of  pureFiodh  Gaibhle,  planted  by 
Fionn  who  refused  not  combat,  Dianartach 
like  a  flame  lies  beneath  thee  and  Dearg, 
son  of  Dianartach. 

51  A  man  of  great  woundings  (?),  rough  and 
dreadful,  Domhnall,  son  of  Fionn,  son  of 
Cuan ,  lies  beneath  thee  too  ;  also  (it  is 
certain)  eager  Conn,  son  of  Lathairn. 

52  0  stone  of  Cam  Fearadhaigh  Uill  [the  Cairn 
of  mighty  Fearadhach]  planted  by  the  brave 
son  of  Cumhall,  it  is  beneath  thee  was  laid 
melodious  Daighre,  the  harper. 

53  0  stone  upon  Magh  Raighne,  planted  by 
Fionn,  the  wealthy  prince,  Goll  is  beneath 
thee,  as  is  told,  and  Raighne  of  the  great 
eyes. 

54  0  stone  in  mighty  Almhain,  planted  early 
by  the  son  of  Cumhall,  thou  art  over  the 
grave  of  the  strong  hero,  Daolghus,  son  of 
good  Cairioll  the  curly. 

55  0  stone  of  Magh  Diothlain  Dein  [the  Plain 
of  eager  Diothlan],  planted  by  Fionn  who 
battled  stoutly,  beneath  thee  lies  Dolbh 
Sgoinne,the  hero, and  young  modest  Fionn- 
laoch. 


82  UUANAIRE    FINN  [XLIt 

56  A  clochiid  Aonaigh  Pataoin 

is  fud  ataid  na  deaghmacaoimh 
Patan  mac  righ  mhara  hlocht 
ionmhain  laoch  ata  fon  ffiort 

57  A  cloch  shleibhe  Collain  criiaidh 
gus  a  gceimnighdis  ar  sliiaigh 

as  red  thaobh  ad-bath  in  fear 
in  laoch  Collan  coisreamhar 

[61a]  58   A  cloch  ata  a  nGrein  mar  Ghloin 
do  saith  go  moch  Maoil  Eanaigh 
is  leis  ro  cuireadh  gan  cheilg 
uas  cionn  mic  Dhaire  drechdhei'rg 

59  A  cloch  Cronnmhona  an  catha 
ro  saith  Fionn  fear  in  ratha 

fud  ataid  in  triar  ba  trom  neimh 
Conn  Codhnach  is  Cuingidh 

60  A  cloch  ata  a  nDun  os  Loch 

ro  raidh  Fionn  narbho  hoglach 

is  fud  ata  Bodhmann  binn 

is  Fiacoil  Aoi  mac  Conchind 
ocht  meic  Bodhmainne  go  mbuaidh 
in  cuire  calma  comhcruaidh 

61  A  cloch  ata  a  nDruim  Sgartha 
do  saith  Fionn  fear  in  ratha 

fud  ata  Druim  Sionna  slan 
giolla  do  thuit  le  Conan 


&a 


62  A  clochud  Teamra  Luachra 

ro  shaiuh  Finn  feindiV//i  fuachdha 

fud  do  cuireadh  ni  fios  foill 

Blathnoid  bheag  is  Cnu  l)earo\\ 

57c  red.  The  c  represents  a  tall  e  in  .MS. 

59rf  Codhnach.  MS  has  Condhnuch  with  the  first  n  deleted. 

60  b  rdidh,  sic  US. 


XLII]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

56  Thou  stone  of  Aonach  Pataoin,  beneath 
thee  lie  goodly  youths  —  Patan,  son  of 
the  king  of  Muir  nlocht  :  dear  is  the  hero 
who  lies  beneath  the  grave. 

57  0  stone  of  Sliabh  Collain  Chruaidh  [the 
Mountain  of  hardy  Collan],  whither  our 
hosts  used  to  march,  it  is  beside  thee  died 
the  hero,  Collan  the  thick-footed. 

58  O  stone  in  gleaming  Grian  planted  early 
by  Maoil  Eanaigh  :  by  him  was  the  stone 
planted  without  deceit  above  the  son  of 
red-faced    Daire. 

59  0  stone  of  Cronnmhoin  of  the  battle,planted 
by  Fionn  the  fortunate,  beneath  thee  are 
those  very  fierce  three,  Conn,  Codhnach 
and  Cuingidh. 

60  0  stone  in  Dun  6s  Loch  planted  by  Fionn 
who  was  no  youth,  beneath  thee  lies  mus- 
ical Bodhmann  and  Fiacoil  Aoi,  son  of 
Concheann,also  the  seven  sons  of  conquer- 
ing Bodhmann,  that  valiant  hardy  band. 


61  0  stone  on  Druim  Sgartha,  planted  by 
fortunate  Fionn,  beneath  thee  lies  Druim 
Sionna  the  sound,  a  lad  who  fell  by  Con- 
an. 

62  Thou  stone  of  Teamhair  Luachra  planted 
by  Fionn,  the  angry  warrior,  beneath 
thee  was  laid  (no  small  knowledge)  little 
Blathnaid  and  Cnu  Dhearoil. 


84  DUAXAIRE   FINN  [XLII 

63  A  cloch  Ollarbha  gan  fheall 
a  ttorchair  airdrigh  Eirionn 

fud    ata    Leagan    luaimneach 
&    Ronan    rouaibhreach 

64  A  cloch  Seisginn  Uairbhe.oil  fhuair 
ro  saith  Einn  ba  gnath  go  mbwaidh 

fud  ata  in  laoch  ba  dearg  ga 
Sgiath  Breag  mac  Loga  Lagha 

65  Dubhchosach  Dubhthnuthach  donn 
dha  mac  Morna  na  morghlonn 

ataid  fud  sunna  re  seal 

is  Iubhar  mac  righ  Laigean 

66  A  cloch  ata  a  nDruim  Righe 
do  shaith  Fionn  flaith  ar  ffine 

is  fud  ata  Cairioll  coir 
&  Colla  mor  ua  Conbhroin 

67  A  clochud  Cairn  Fhearadha/o/*  fhuair 
ro  saith  Fionn  codhnacA  ar  sluaigh 

fud  ata  curaidh  na  ngiall 

Lughaidh  mac  Con  mheic  Mhaicniadh 

68  A  cloch  mor  ata  sa  Raith 

do  saith  Fionn  feindidh  foltbhlaith 
fud  ataid  arna  ffolach 
Clidhna  is  Ciabhan  casmhongacn 

69  A  cloch  ata  ar  Tuinn  Cliodhna 
ro  saith  Einn  na  n-echt  n-imdha 

ri  Easpainne  na  n-arm  nger 
fud  ata  Rinnal  roithren 


XLIIJ  DUANAIRE    FINN  85 

63  0  stone  of  Ollarbha  without  deceit,  where 
fell  Eire's  high  king,  beneath  thee  lies 
rushing  Leagan  and  haughty  Ronan. 

64  0  stone  of  cold  Seisgeann  Uairbheoil 
planted  by  Fionn  who  was  ever  victorious, 
beneath  thee  lies  the  hero  of  the  red  spear, 
Sgiath  Breag,  son  of  Lugh  Lagha. 

65  Dubhchosach  andbrownhairedDubhthnuth- 

ach,  the  two  sons  of  Morna  of  the  great 
expoits,  they  have  been  here  beneath 
thee  for  some  time,  and  Iubhar,  son  of 
Leinster's  king. 

66  0  stone  on  Druim  Righe  planted  by  Fionn, 
prince  of  our  race,  beneath  thee  are  right- 
eous Cairioll  and  great  Colla,  grandson  of 
Conbhron. 

67  Thou  stone  of  cold  Cam  Fearadhaigh  planted 
by  Fionn,  chieftain  of  our  host,  beneath 
thee  lies  the  hostage-holding  champion, 
Lughaidh,  son  of  Cii,  son  of  Maicnia  [recte 
Lughaidh  (called  Mac  Con)  son  of  Maicnia]. 

68  0  great  stone  in  the  Raith  planted  by 
Fionn,  the  smooth-haired  warrior,  Cliodhna 
and  curly-headed  Ciabhan  lie  hidden  be- 
neath  thee. 

69  0  stone  on  Tonn  Cliodhna  planted  by  Fionn 
of  the  many  deeds,  the  king  of  Spain  of 
the  sharp  weapons,  mighty  Rionnal,  lies 
beneath  thee. 


86  DUANAIFiF   FINN  [XL  1 1 

70  A  chloch  mhor  ata  a  gCuan  Dor 
ro  shaith  Finn  go  neart  ffaobar 

Tor  mhac  Diancrotha  go  ngoil 
ri   Easpainne  fot  eochair 

[611)]  71  A  chloch  Glaisi  Cro  in  Chomair 
ro  shaith  Fionn  lerbh  ait  ollaimh 
fud  ata  Sgoran  na  sgiath 
mac  righ  Breatan  na  mboirbtriath 

72  A  cloch  ata  a  gCionn  Mhara 
ro  shaith  Fionn  in  fiorchara 

f lid  ata  Cas  cuilfhionn  caidh 
is  Gotha  Gaoithe  mac  Ronain 

73  A  cloch  Bhcalaigh  Chonghlais  gairbh 
ro  saith  Finn  ar  nach  ffrith  faill 

fiid  ata  Art  og  an  aigh 

nar  ob  cath  nar  char  bannail 

74  A  cloch  Finntragha  an  air  truim 
ro  shaith  mac  calma  Cumaill 

mac  righ  Uladh  Goll  go  ngoil 
fiid  ata  is  Caol  mac  Crimthain 

75  A  cloch  ata  ar  moin  Mhacha 
do  sait  Fionn  fear  in  ratha 

ata  fot  ardbrugh  ni  chel 

righ  Alban  Dcidgheal  Duirbhel 

76  A  cloch  mhor  ata  ar  Moigh  Linn 
ro  shaith  mac  Cumaill  airmgrinn 

Tud  ata  in  triath  nar  lag  rian 

ceann   na  slogh   Coinnceann  coimfhial 

736  saith  :  .MS  lias  rqith  with  r  deleted  and  sign  to  insert  s, 


XLII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  87 

70  0  great  stone  in  Cuan  Dor  planted  by 
strongly-armed  Fionn,  Tor,  king  of  Spain, 
son  of  brave  Dianchruth,  lies  beneath  thy 
brink. 

71  0  stone  of  Glaise  Cro  an  Chomair  planted 
by  Fionn  who  loved  learned  men,  beneath 
thee  lies  shielded  Sgoran,  son  of  the  king 
of  Britain  of  the  turbulent  lords. 

72  0  stone  who  art  in  Ceann  Mara,  planted 
by  Fionn,  the  true  friend,  beneath  thee  lies 
fairhaired  pure  Cas  and  Goth  Gaoithe,  son 
of   Ronan. 

73  0  stone  of  rough  Bealach  Conghlais 
planted  by  Fionn  who  was  never  found 
unprepared,  beneath  thee  lies  young  val- 
orous Art,  who  refused  no  fight  and  loved 
not  women's  company. 

74  0  stone  of  Fionntraigh  of  the  heavy  slaughter 
planted  by  the  valiant  son  of  Cumhall,  the 
king  of  Ulster's  son,  Goll  the  brave,  lies 
beneath  thee,  andCaolson  of  Criomhthan. 

75  O  stone  upon  the  bog  of  Macha  planted  by 
Fionn  the  fortunate,  beneath  thy  tall 
mass  [?]  (I  shall  not  conceal  it)  lies  the 
king  of  Alba,  Deidgheal  Duirbhel. 

76  0  great  stone  upon  Magh  Linn  planted  by 
the  son  of  Cumhall  of  the  lovely  weapons, 
beneath  thee  lies  the  chieftain  who  was  not 
weak  in  power,  generous  Coincheann,  leader 
of  the  hosts. 


88  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLII 

77  A  cloch  ata  a  tTraigh  Li  loir 

ro  shaith  Finn  tigcarna  ar  sloigh 
uch  mo  cuma  aibhlibh  niadh 
fiid  ata  Fearghus  finnliatb 

78  A  cloch  mor  ata  ar  Sliabh  Mis 
ro  shaith  Finn  flaith  gan  eislis 

ata  Daire  ba  dearg  dreach 
fiid  'na  luighe  is  Flann  fuileach 

79  A  chloch  ata  ag  Cam  Sealba/aZi 
ro  shaith  mac  CumhaZZZ  armglain 

fiid  ata  in  laoch  ba  teann  treoir 
Sealbac/j  in  Berla  6  Bhreaghbhoinn 

80  A  cloch  mhor  ata  ag  in  Eas 

do  shaith  mac  Cumhaill  airmdheas 
fud  ata  laoch  gan  doghra 
Geibhtine  dheagmac  Morna 

81  A  cloch  ata  'gCionn  Tire 

ro  shaith  Fionn  flaith  ar  ndhine 
Finn  mac  Cuain  'na  luighe 
fiid  ata  is  mac  Geibhtine 

82  A  cloch  Eachrusa  in  fheoir  truim 
ro  shaith  mac  calma  CumaZZZ 

fiid  ata  laoch  ba  garbh  grain 
Dubhan  mac  Cais  meic  Cannain 

83  A  cloch  ata  sa  Bhlarna 
fiid  ataid  in  dis  aghdha 

's  an  da  Art  don  taobh  oile 
nirbh  e  in  fianlaoch  fingoile 

78a  MS  has  sia  crossed  out  before  Sliabh. 

19b  MS  has  m  deleted,  followed  by  a  crossed  out  calma,  before   Cum/jaill. 

19d  -bhoinn.  The  dotted  b  in  the  MS  seems  to  be  an  m  turned  into  a  b, 

81c  MS  has  m  deleted  between  the  u  and  the  d  of  Cuain. 

82a  MS  has  a  deleted  eo,  partly  erased,  before  Eachrusa, 


XLIIJ  DUANAIRE    FINN  89 

77  0  stone  in  Traigh  Li  Loir  [the  strand  of 
great  Li]  planted  by  Fionn,  lord  of  our  host : 
woe  and  alas !  (champions'  greatnesses) 
beneath  thee  lies  fair-gray  Fearghus. 

78  0  great  stone  upon  Sliabh  Mis  planted  by 
Fionn,  the  watchful  prince,  Daire  of  the 
red  countenance  liesbeneath  thee, and  Flann 
the  fierce. 

79  0  stone  at  Carn  Sealbhaigh  planted  by  the 
son  of  bright-armed  Cumhall,  beneath  thee 
is  the  hero  strong  in  might,  Sealbhach 
the  Eloquent  (?),  from  Breaghmhoin. 

80  0  great  stone  beside  the  Eas  planted  by 
the  son  of  Cumhall  of  the  fair  weapons, 
beneath  thee  is  a  griefless  hero,  Geibhthine 
the  good  son  of  Morna. 

81  0  stone  in  Ceann  Tire,  planted  by  Fionn 
prince  of  our  race,  Fionn  son  of  Cuan  lies 
beneath  thee,  and  Geibhthine's  son. 


82  0  stone  of  Eachrosofthe  rich  grass, planted 
by  the  brave  son  of  Cumhall,  beneath  thee 
is  a  rough  and  dreadful  hero,  Dubhan  son 
of  Cas,  son  of  Cannan. 

83  0  stone  who  art  in  Blarney,  beneath  thee 
are  two  daring  men,  and  on  the  other  side 
the  two  Arts  :  it  was  no  murderous  compa- 
ny- 


90  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XL  1 1 

84  A  clock  Tulcha  Cheapain  chain 
ro  thogaibh  Goll  in  ghaisgidh 

[62  a]  flit  do  fagbhadh  ger  cheim  criiaidh 

Oapan  mac  Morna  mhongraazdh 

85  A  cloch  Dhunaidh  na  n-Ochiar 
fud  ataid  tri  deagocMair 

ocht  mic  Copthaia/j  ocht  mic  Cuinn 
ocht  meic  Ursgaith  Atha  Truim 

86  A  cloch  ata  a  gCuillinn  Chliach 
ros-togaibh  Feargus  finnliath 

gidh  be  rod-cuirfeadh  tar  ais 
do  gep  aoVi  seoid  is  ionmhufs 

87  A  chloch  Bheinne  Muilt  nar  mhaoth 
o  do  saith  Daire  in  deaghlaoch 

ataoi  gan  deacair  mar  dhoigh 
os  cionn  leaptha  Mhaoil  Eanaigh 

88  A  chloch  Gaphra  ba  garbh  grain 
ro  shaith  Caoilti  mac  Ronain 

fo  attaid  in  dis  ba  garbh  gal 
mac  Lughac/?  &  Osgar 

89  A  cloch  Thulcha  in  comlainn  chrizaidh 
umar  thoc/i/adar  na   sliiaigh 

fiid  ata  deaglaoch  go  ngoil 
Osgar  mac  Garaidh  greadhnaza/i 

90  A  clochso  Gaphra  thiiaidh 
rus-togaibh  Finn  faobarchruaidh 

Cairbre  Liffeachair  nar  lag 
fud  ata  cona  dheaghmhac 

Sod  MS  has  tri  with  '  no  ocht'  written  in  above  the  line  as  a  correction. 


XLII]  Dl"  ANA  IRE    FINN  91 

84  0  stone  of  Tulach  Cheapain  Chain  [Good 
Ceapan's  Hill]  raised  by  gallant  Goll, 
beneath  thee  was  left  (although  it  was  a 
hard  step)  Ceapan  son  of  red-haired  Morna. 

85  0  stone  of  Diinadh  na  nOchtar,  beneath 
thee  are  three  good  bands  of  eight :  the 
eight  sons  of  Cobhthach,  the  eight  sons 
of  Conn,  the  eight  sons  of  Ursgath  of  Ath 
Truim. 

86  0  stone  in  Cuilleann  Cliach  whom  fair- 
gray  Fearghus  raised,  he  who  Overturned 
thee  would  get  jewels  and  riches. 

87  0  unsoft  stone  of  Beann  Muilt,  since  Daire, 
the  good  warrior,  planted  thee,  thou  standest 
untroubled  like  a  flame  above  Maol  Ean- 
aigh's  bed 

88  0  stone  of  Gabhair  of  fierce  horror, 
planted  by  Caoilte,  son  of  Ronan,  beneath 
whom  lie  two  men  of.  fierce  courage,  Mac 
Lughach  and  Osgar — 

89  0  stone  of  Tulach  an  Chomhlainn  Chruaidh 
[the  Hill  of  the  hard  Battle]  around  whom 
the  hosts  grew  silent,  beneath  thee  is  a 
good  hero  of  courage,  Osgar,  son  of  gladsome 
Garadh. 

90  0  stone  here  on  Gabhair  in  the  north  whom 
Fionn  of  the  hard  blades  raised,  Cairbre 
Liff  eachair,who  was  no  weakling,lies  beneath 
thee,  along  with  his  good  son, 


92  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLII 

91  A  clochso  theas  sa  chnoc  chorr 
rus-togaibh  Oisin  armlonn 

dha  mac  righ  Lochlann  tar  lear 
fud  ataid  in  da  threinfear 

92  A  clochso  oile  theas  tshiar 

in  mhaicne  ba  mor  soimhiadh 
se  mic  Chaoilti  ba  garbh  goil 
fud  is  deaghmac  Osgair 

93  A  cloch  AthaBarrain  bhuain 
umar  ghaireador  ar  sliiaigh 

urchor  tug  Osgar  ard 

dar  thuit  Barran  briatargharg 

94  A  cloch  ata  a  cCarn  Craoibhe 
ro  shaith  Fionn  flaith  Formaoi'Ze 

is  fud  ro  cuireadh  Flann  ruadh 
in  tuir  calma  chloidimriiadh 

95  A  cloch  ata  a  gCrois  Aodha 

ro  saith  Finn  ba  fear  aobhdha 
is  fud  do  cuireadh  gan  oil 
an  deaghlaoch  Aodh  mac  Garaidh 

96  A  clochud  Ghlaisi  Builge 

ro  shaith  Finn  mor  mac  Muirne 
is  fudsa  ro  cuireadh  dhe 
Daire  deidgheal  is  Daighre 

97  A  cloch  lanmhor  6  Luighdheac 
is  lem  croidhe  fein  is  cuimhneach 

as  fud  ro  cuiread  's  ni  a  ngioll 
Dubhan  dian  &  Moingfhionn 

97b  lem  :  the  c  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 


XLII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  93 

91  0  stone  here  in  the  south  on  the  steep  hill, 
raised  by  Oisin  of  the  angry  weapons,the  two 
sons  of  the  king  of  Lochlainn  beyond  the  sea 
—  beneath  thee  are  those  two  men  of  might. 

92  Thou  other  stone  here  in  the  south-west, 
a  family  of  great  glory  lies  beneath  thee, 
the  six  sons  of  Caoilte  of  fierce  courage,  and 
the  good  son  of  Osgar. 

93  0  stone  of  Ath  Barrain  Bhuain  [the  Ford 
of  long-lived  Barran],  around  whom  our 
hosts  cried  out,  it  was  by  a  cast  of  tall 
Osgar' s   that   rough-speeched   Barran  fell. 

94  0  stone  in  Carn  Craoibhe  planted  by  Fionn, 
prince  of  Formaoil,  beneath  thee  Flann 
Ruadh,  the  bold  strong-sworded  chieftain1, 
has  been    laid. 

95  0  stone  in  Cros  Aodha  planted  by  comely 
Fionn,  beneath  thee  has  been  laid  without 
blame  the  good  hero,  Aodh  son  of  Gar- 
aidh. 

96  Thou  stone  of  Glaise  Builge  planted  by 
great  Fionn,  son  of  Muirne,  beneath  thee 
Daire  of  the  white  teeth  and  Daighre  have 
been  laid. 

97  0  full  great  stone  of  Ui  Luighdheach,  my 
heart  remembers  it,  beneath  thee  were  laid 
irrevocably  (?)  eager  Dubhan  and  Moing- 
fhionn. 

(1)  Literally  '  pillar  '  (Bergin). 


94  Dt'ANATRE   FINN  [XLII 

[62  b]  98  A  cloch  Atha  Glinne  caoin  cain 
ro  saith  Finn  in  flaithfheindio'n 

Logharn  ua  Baoisgne  go  mbuaidh 
furl  ata  in  feind  idfl  fiorcn'widh 
fear  ba  maith  luth  ar  lathair 
is  Daolgus  a  dea/bhrathair 

99  A  cloch  Dhunaid  Lodhaim  loir 
is  fiid  ata  in   cuire  coir 

coigear  mac  Diarmada  dein 
mar  aon  is  Echtach  airmgheir 

100  A  cloch  ata  a  n-Eachthghe  aird 
fud  ata  gcr  mor  in  mhairg 

Sealbac/z  ua  Duibhne  ba  deas 
oigfear  ris  nar  chiall  coimmeas 
iar  gcur  dea/gair  Feine  Finn 
maidin  a  marbhtha  a  gCruimglinn 

101  A  cloch  Aonaigh  Cairn  mhic  Tail 
ro  shaith  mac  Rosa  rinnbhlaith 

rod-fhagbarf/i  go  cliste  dhe 
os  cionn  chiste  Chroinfhinne 

102  A  cloch  ata  ar   Sliabh  Aillbhe 
ro  shaith  Fionn  flaith  gan  doilghe 

is  fud  ro  cuireadh  nir  mhiadh  linn 
Aillbhe  ard  usdlach  airmgrinn 

103  A  cloch  Croimghlinne  ba  glas 
ro  thogaibh  Fionn  fioramhnus 

do-gebhtha  agat  go  gcail 
mor  do  sgeloibh  Bruacharain 

104  A  chloch  Chinn  Mhorna  is  dearg  dreach 
ro  shaith  Fionn  ba  linmar  creach 

is  fudsa   ro   cuireadh   dhe 
Dubhan   mac  Breasoil  Bhoirne 


XLTI]  DUANAIRE   FINN  95 

98  0  stone  of  fair  Ath  Glinhe  planted  by  Fionn, 
the  princely  warrior,  Logharn,  grandson 
of  victorious  Baoisgne,  that  hardiest  warrior 
is  beneath  thee  (a  man  whose  activity  on 
the  field  was  good) ;  Daolghus,  his  brother, 
lies  beneath  thee  too. 

99  0    stone    of    Diinadh    Lodhairn    Loir  [the 

Fortress  of  great  Lodharn],  beneath  thee  lies 

a  righteous  company,  the  five  sons  of  eager 

Diarmaid,  and  Fxhtach  of  the  sharp  weapons 

with  them. 

100  0  stone  in  high  Eachtghe,  beneath  thee 
(though  it  was  a  great  grief)  lies  Sealbhach, 
grandson  of  lovely  Duibhne,  a  youth  with 
whom  it  were  not  wise  to  make  comparison  : 
having  made  a  fierce  slaughter  of  Fionn's 
Fian,  on  the  morning  of  his  death  in  Cruim- 
ghleann,  [he  was  buried  beneath  thee]. 

101  0  stone  of  Aonach  Cairn  mhicTail  planted 
by  the  son  of  Ross  of  the  smooth  points, 
thou  wert  left  skilfully  above  Croinfhinne'  s 
coffin  (?). 

102  0  stone  upon  Sliabh  Ailbhe  planted  by 
Fionn,  a  prince  without  harshness,  beneath 
thee  was  laid  (we  thought  it  no  honour)  tall 
proud  Ailbhe  of  the  lovely  weapons. 

103  O  stone  of  green  Croimghleann  whom  Fionn 
the  truly  fierce  raised,  with  thee  (full 
of  fame)  might  be  found  many  tales  concern- 
ing Bruacharan. 

104  O  stone  of  Ceann  Morna  is  dearg  dreach1, 
planted  by  Fionn  of  the  numerous  raids, 
beneath  thee  has  been  laid  Dubhan  son  of 
Breasal  of  Boireann. 

1  'The  Head  of  Morna  who  is  red  of  face  '. 


96  DUANAIRE    FINN  [XLTI 

105  A  cloch  ata  n-Eic/i/ghe  aird  uill 
isi  ro  shaith  mac  Cumhaill 

ata   (Huinfhinn   mac  Morna 
fud  is  Dolor  gan  doghra 

106  A  chloch  Mhoighe  Line  lain 

ro  shaith  Fionn  fein  dia  laochlaimh 
is  fud  do  cuircadh  gan  oil 
Duibhgreann  dana  mac  Doghair 

107  A  chloch  Tolcha  Fiadhmhoir  fiiair 
ro  thogaibh  Fionn  faobharchraaidh 

fo  a  ttaid  in  triar  ba  garbh  gal 
ri  Alban  's  a  dhis  brathar 

108  A  chloch  ata  a  tTailltin  teinn 

ro  shaith  mac  Cumhaill  airmgrinn 
Iodhlann  og  ro  budh  mor  miadh 
fud  ata  in  feinnidh  firfhial 

« 

109  A  chloch  Atha  Glonnaidh  ghloin 
ros-togaibh  Goll  glunladair 

attaoi  os  da  Dhuph  dhata 

calma  crodha  curata 
Dubh  mac  Morna  ro  liiadh  goil 
Dubh  Roid  mac  Maoil  Tnuthaigh 

[63a]110  A  cloch  ata  a  gCinn  Chluidh  chriiaidh 
ro  saith  Fionn  deaghfhlaith  ar  sluaigh 
fud  ata  DuphthacA  mac  Duibh 
laoch  ba  harrac/i/a  a  n-iorghail 

111  A  cloch  mor  ata  sa  mBrugh 
ro  shaith  Aongus  'na  aonor 
is  fudsa   ro   cuireadh   dhe 
Diarmaid  dealbhcamoh  ua  Duibhne 

107c  a  tl&id.  MS  has  attdd. 

109e  In  the  MS  the  a  of  liiadh  has  been  added  in  below  the  line. 

110a  MS  has  dor  deleted  before  Chluidh. 


XL  1 1]  DU  ANA  IRE  FINN  ttf 

105  0  stone  in  high  huge  Eichtghe  (it  is  this 
stone  that  the  son  of  Cumhall  planted), 
Gluinfhinn  son  of  Morna  is  beneath  thee 
and  cheerful  Dolor. 

106  0  stone  of  Magh  Line  Lain  [the  Plain  of 
full  Line]  planted  by  Fionn  himself  with  his 
hero  hand, beneath  thee  bold  Duibhghreann, 
son  of  Doghar,  was  blamelessly  laid. 

107  0  stone  of  Tulach  Fhiadhmhoir  Fhuair 
[The  Hill  of  cold  Fiadhmhar  (?)],  raised 
by  Fionn  of  the  hard  blades,  beneath  whom 
lie  three  men  of  fierce  courage,  the  king 
of  Alba  and  his  two  brothers  — 

108  0  stone  who  art  in  stout  Taillte  planted  by 
the  son  of  Cumhall  of  the  good  weapons, 
beneath  thee  lies  that  truly  generous 
warrior,  young  Iodhlann  of  great  honour. 

109  O  stone  of  Ath  Glonnaidh  Ghloin  [the 
Ford  of  pure  Glonnadh]  whom  strong-kneed 
Goll  raised,  thou  art  above  two  lovely 
valorous  mettlesome  soldierly  Dubhs,  Dubh 
son  of  Morna,  who  spoke  of  ( ?)  bravery 
and  Dubh  Roid  son  of  Maol  Tnuthaigh. 

110  O  stone  who  art  in  Ceann  Gluidh  Chruaidh 
[Hard-ditch  Head]  planted  by  Fionn,  good 
prince  of  our  host,  beneath  thee  lies  Dubh- 
thach,son  of  Dubh,  a  hero  powerfulin  battle. 

111  0  great  stone  in  the  Brugh  planted  single- 
handed  by  Aonghus,beneath  thee  was  laid 
beauteous  Diarmaid,  grandson  of  Duibhne, 


.Vs  '  -£-x 


£&U3LW  HILLS, 


08  DUAXAIRE   FINN  [XLII 

112  A  cloch  ata  a  nDruim  Chriadh  chain 
is  fuel  ro  cuireadh  Finn  fe'mdidh 

fear  ba  hiolardha  ced  sgiath 
tigearna  laoch  gcalma  coimhfial 

113  Go  n-airrchisi  Mac  Muire 
Finn  mac  Cumaill  Almhaine 

go  ruga  leis  codhnaibh  niadh 
in  fear  ro  saith  gach  rilia 

114  Athair  is  Mac  Ri  talmhan 
Iosa  Criosd  dar  ccomadhradh 

rom-fagbad  a  ndiaigh  na  fFian 
go  crion  arsaidh  aradhliath 

Alia 


112rf  MS  has  what  looks  like  a  crossed  out  after  tigear  ;  the  na  is  written  as 
a  separate  word  ;  coimhjial  has  been  written  as  a  correction  beneath  a  crossed 
out  cloidimhruadh. 


XLII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  &9 

112  0  stone  in  fair  Druim  Criadh,  beneath  thee 
was  warrior  Fionn  laid,  a  man  who  had 
many  hundreds  of  shields,  lord  of  brave 
generous  warriors. 

113  May  the  Son  of  Mary  have  mercy  on  Fionn, 
son  of  Cumhall  of  Almhain  ;  may  He  take 
with  Him  (a  champion's  ...)  the  man 
who   planted   each   royal     stone. 

114  May  the  Father  and  the  Son  who  is  king  of 
earth,  Jesus  Christ,  be  equally  worshipped  : 
I  have  been  left  after  the  Fiana  withered, 
old  and   gray-templed. 


XI.  Ill 

1  Ag  so  in  fod  inar  ghein  Fionn 
nochan  eadh  nach  meabhair  liom 

Muirn  math  air  in  meic  mhoir 
deighmheic  Cumaill  meic  Treinmoir 

2  Oisin  mac  Finn  fear  go  neimh 
ro  geineadh  a  gCluain  loch /air 

ingean  Dheirg  a  mhathair  mhaith 
ierna  toirrceadh  on  righfhlaith 

3  Aine  inghean  in  Deirg  bzzd/idhein 
mathair  Feargusa  fhirthrein 

ceile  Eathach  Gunat  glain 
aga  mboi  Banba  blzaoVzain 

4  Is  hi  robudh  bean  do  Gholl 
Sgannlach    ingean    do    Conall 

Dearp  comalta  Cuinn  go  ngoil 
matair  Chuinn  oile  is  Chodnaiyh 

5  Lughach  laimgheal  ingean  Fhinn 
mathair  Gaine  in  ghaisgi'rf/t  grinn 

Daire  dearg  mac  Finn  na  ffleadh 
athair  Ghaire  na  ccorrsleao/i 

6  Baine  mathair  in  da  riogh 
ingean  righ  Connacht  na  ngniomh 

mathair  Fheidhlimid/i  in  oir 
&  Cumaill  mhic  Trenmhoir 


5d  Gh&ire,  sic  MS. 


XLIII 

1  Here  is  the  spot  where  Fionn  was  born 
(I  know  this  if  nought  else).  Muirne  was 
mother  of  this  great  son  who  was  the  good 
son  of  Cumhall,  son  of  Trenmhor. 

2  Oisin,  son  of  Fionn,  a  fierce  man,  was  born 
in  Cluain  Iochtair  :  his  good  mother  was 
Dearg's  daughter,  made  pregnant  by  the 
royal  prince. 

3  Aine,  the  Dearg's  own  daughter,  was  the 
mother  of  truly  strong  Fearghus  :  she  was 
the  spouse  of  bright  Eochu  Gunnat  who 
held  Banbha  for  a  year. 

4  She  who  was  wife  to  Goll  was  Sgannlach, 
a  daughter  of  Conall  :  Dearbh,  brave 
Conn's  foster-sister,  was  mother  of  an- 
other Conn  and  of  Codhnach. 

5  Whitehanded  Lughach,  Fionn's  daughter, 
was  mother  of  Gaoine  of  good  valour  :  Red 
Daire,  son  of  feasting  Fionn,  was  father  of 
Gaoine  (?)  of  the  peaked  spears. 

6  Baine,  mother  of  the  two  kings,  was  the 
deedful  king  of  Connaught's  daughter: 
she  was  the  mother  of  Feidhlimidh  of  the 
Gold,  and  of   Cumhall,  son    of  Trenmhor. 


102  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLIII 

7  Bean  Luighdheach  Laga  don  linn 
Dathchaoin  ingean  Taidg  thaoibhsheing. 

tJain  ingean  Crimhthain  ni  eel 
mathair  Bhainb  Sionna  na  sed 

8  Cruithgheal  siur  Ghuill  Peine  Fail 
mathair  Aodha  meic  Ronain 

Aoiffe  ingean  Aodha  Rinn  an  leirg 
bean  meic  Leith  Liiacra  laimhdheirg 

[63  b]  9   Cana  inghean  Chiothruaidh  ni  chel 
i  fo  bean  d'Fearghus  Finbhel 

Loch  inghean  Maicniadh  gan  gheis 
mathair  Nhadhat  Finn  eigis 

10  Lathoirt  inghean  Dha  Neasa 
tri  teora  bliadhan  rus-beara 

mathair  Osgair  i  dana 

ron-boi  ag  Oisin  naoi  mbliadhna 

11  Muirionn  ag  Oisin  go  beacht 
seacht  mbliadhna  dhi  re  draoitheac/*/ 

mathair  a  thri  mac  oile 
ingean  Chualann  Ciochmhuine 

12  Da  ingean  Cumhoill  sa  fp'ein 
Sidhe  &  Siianach  budhdhein 

Siianach  mathair  Fhiachra  dhe 
is  Sidhe  mathair  Chaoilte 

13  Ainnear  inghean  Bharrain  na  Hleadh 
bean  Chaoilti  chruaidh  na  gcorrshleaa/i 

ingean  brughadh  on  Bhoin  ffeil 
mathair  Teadhmaill    is  Pliaillein 

U)a  Neasa.  The  ea  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 
106  beara.  The  ea  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 
JOc  dana.  MS  has  dna  with  a  stroke  over  the  na. 


XLIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  103 

7  The  wife  of  Lughaidh  Lagha  from  the 
Pool  was  Dathchaoin,  graceful  Tadhg's 
daughter.  Uain,  Criomhthan's  daughter 
(I  shall  not  hide  it),  was  the  mother  of  Banbh 
Sionna  of  the  jewels. 

8  Cruithgheal,  the  sister  of  Goll  of  the  Fiana 
of  Ireland,  was  the  mother  of  Aodh  son  of 
Ronan.  Aoiffe,  daughter  of  Aodh  Rinn 
from  the  Slope,  was  the  wife  of  redhanded 
Liath  Luachra's  son. 

9  Cana,  daughter  of  Ciothruadh  (I  shall  not 
hide  it),  she  it  is  who  was  wife  to  Fearghus 
Finbhel.  Loch  daughter  of  Maicnia,  with- 
out prohibition,  was  the  mother  of  Nuadha 
Fionn  FJgeas  [Fair  Nuadha  the  Poet]. 

10  Lathoirt,  daughter  of  Dha  Neasa  (?), 
thrice  three  years...  She  moreover  (?)  was 
the  mother  of  Osgar.  She  lived  with  Oisin 
for  nine  years. 

11  Muirionn  verily  was  Oisin's  wife:  seven 
years  she  spent  at  magic  :  she  was  the 
mother  of  his  three  other  sons,  and  was 
daughter  of  Cuala  Ciochmhuine. 

12  Cumhall  had  two  daugthers  in  the  Fian.Sidhe 
and  Suanach  herself  :  Suanach  wasFiachra's 
mother,  and  Sidhe  mother  of  Caoilte. 

13  Ainnear,  feasting  Barran's  daughter, was  the 
wife  of  hardy  Caoilte  of  the  peaked  spears  : 
she  was  the  daughter  of  a  hospitaller  from 
the  generous  Boyne,  and  was  mother  of 
Teadhmall  and  Faoillen. 


104  DUANAIRE   FINN  XLIII] 

14  Da  mac  Crochnaide  caise 
seinge  seimhe  sulghlaisi 

ionmhoin  dis  buadhach  on  Brugh 
Diarma/d  uallac/i  is  Osgar 

15  Anmanna  mac  Diarmada  duinn 
re  hingin  Cormaic  ui  Chuinn 

DonnchaoTi  is  SealbacA  na  sluagh 
Eochaidh  ard  &  Iruath 

16  Mathair  triair  ba  calma  in  chlann 
Connla  Aodh  &  Iollann 

tri  hliadhna  ag  Diarmai'd  dha  dheoin 
Dubhinbhir  ingean  Fhuairbheoil 

17  Luchar  ingean  Maicniadh  mhuaidh 
rug  da  mac  d'Fionn  i  n-enuair 

Aodh  beag  7  Aodh  foda 
marbh  d'aithle  na  moropra 

18  Aine  ag  mac  Cumhaill  gan  oil 
ni  tug  mnaoi  'na  deaghaid 

Daolghus  ba  hainm  da  hathair 
mac  Lir  Sithe  Fionnachafrfft 

19  Ceatrar  ag  Trenmor  sluaghach 
Criomall  Cumall  cathlihiiadac/i 

Conall  7  Aodh  Eangach 

ba  ceathrar  mear  moirmeanmnach 

20  Is  ceist  ar  seanchadTiaibh  sunn 
in  triar  mac  ro  bhoi  ag  Cumall 

fionn  7  Fiothal  fior  damh 
is  Feindidh  feta  fiorghlan 


XLIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  105 

14  Curly  slender  smooth  gray-eyed  Crochnaid's 
two  sons  (a  dear  conquering  pair  from  the 
Brugh)  were  proud  Diarmaid  and  Osgar. 

15  The  names  of  the  sons  of  brown  Diarmaid 
by  the  daughter  of  Cormac,  grandson  of 
Conn,  are  Donnchadh  and  Sealbhach  of  the 
hosts,  Eochaidh  the  tall  and  Ioruath. 

16  One  who  was  mother  of  three  ('t  was  a  brave 
family),  Connla,  Aodh  and  Iollann,  was  of 
her  own  will  for  three  years  with  Diarmaid  : 
[her  name  was]  Dubhinbhir,  daughter  of 
Fuairbheol. 

17  Luchar,  daughter  of  good  Maicnia,  bore 
two  sons  to  Fiohn  together,  Aodh  the  Little 
and  Aodh  the  Tall:  she  was  dead  when 
the  great  labour  was  over. 

18  Aine  was  the  wife  of  the  son  of  blameless 
Cumhall  :  he  married  no  woman  after  her  : 
Daolghus  was  her  father's  name,  the  son 
of  Lir  of  Siodh  Fionnachaidh. 

19  Trenmhor  of  the  hosts  had  four  sons, 
Criomhall,  battle-victorious  Cumhall,  Conall 
and  Aodh  Eangach  :  they  were  four  swift 
magnanimous  heroes. 

20  It  is  a  problem  for  historians  here  to  name 
Cumhall's  three  sons  :  they  were  Fionn 
and  Fiothal  (I  speak  truth)  and  comely 
truly  pure  Feindidh. 


10G  DUANAIRE    FINN  [XLIII 

21  Ingean  righ  Broatan  go  mbiiaidh 
mathair  in  Fheindcfld/i  armruaidh 

mathair  a  mheic  Chail  nar  ffann 
ingean  righ  Innsi  Finnghall 

22  Rug  dha  mac  do  Caol  go  gcail 
ingein  Finn  mhoir  mic  Cuain 

Daolgus  ba  dian  ag  dail  arm 
iss  in  laoch  laidir  Lodharn 

[64a]  23  Bodhmann  malhair  Fithil  fheil 
ceist  ar  seancha/rfnibh  iadsein 
&  Cumhall  a  athair 
Fithil  osna  hardfhlathaibh 

24  Clann  da  dheirbhseatar  ma-le 
EochazoTi  Fionn  Fiach'aitfn  Suidhe 

Crimall  is  Aodh  anosa 
Conall  athair  Dhiengasa 

25  Cnucha  inghean  righ  Alban 
mathair  Fhiacra  go  n-Bidbladh 

Taisi  taoibhgheal  a  siiiir  choir 
ba  hi  mathair  mic  Trenmoir 

26  Ba  hi  mathair  Cairill  chain 
Maoin  ingean  Smoil  a  Mumhain 

Aine  ingean  Ealcmhair  anoir 
mathair  Fhearrdhomhain  airmhigh 

27  Teide  ingean  Chail  Smirrga 
mathair  Guill  na  n-arm  n-imdha 
da  mac  dheg  um  (iholl  na  nglac 
rug  in  rioghan  do  Chormac 

21c  Chail,  sic  MS. 

22b  Finn,  etc.  In  place  of  t  hese  words  1  he  scribe  first  wrote  riyh  Innsi  Fionnghall 
(cf.  21  d).  lie  afterwards  wrote  Finn,  etc.  with  a  mark  showing  that  they  were 
to  replace  the  words  first  written. 


XLIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  107 

21  The  daughter  of  the  victorious  king  of 
Britain  was  the  mother  of  strong-weaponed 
Feindidh  :  the  mother  of  his  son  Caol  who 
was  not  weak  was  the  king  of  Inis  Fionn- 
ghall's  daughter. 

22  The  daughter  of  great  Fionn,  son  of  Cuan, 
bore  two  sons  to  famed  Caol,  Daolghus  who 
dealt  weapons  vehemently  and  the  strong 
hero,  Lodharn. 

23  Bodhmann  was  the  mother  of  generous 
Fitheal  (These  men  are  a  problem  for 
historians),and  Cumhall  was  his  father, fath- 
er of  Fitheal  exalted  above    high  princes. 

24  The  children  of  two  sisters  together  were 
Eochaidh  the  Fair,  Fiachaidh  Suighdhe, 
Criomhall  and  now  ( ?)  Aodh  :  Conall  was 
the  father  of  Dianghus. 


it>j 


25  Cnucha,  daughter  of  the  king  of  Alba,  was 
mother  of  Fiachra  of  great  renown  :  fair- 
sided  Taise,  his  good  sister,was  the  mother 
of  Trenmhor's  son. 

26  Fair  Cairioll's  mother  was  Maoin,  daughter 
of     Smol   of  Munster.    Aine,    daughter  of 

'  Ealcmhar  from  the  east,  was  the  mother  of 
armed  Feardhomhan. 

27  Teide,  daughter  of  Caol  Smiorrgha,  was 
the  mother  of  Goll  of  the  many  weapons  : 
gripping  Goll  and  twe  lve  other  sons  did  the 
queen  bear  to  Cormac. 


108  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLIII 

28  Mathair  seac/i*  mac  ndeg  oile 

do  chloinn  mhoir  mhoingbhuidhi 
isi  do  rug  do  Dhaighre  on  leirg 
Aillbhe  ingean  LabraidA  laimhdeirg 

29  Samhadir  ingean  Finn  breagdha 
bean  mheic  Oilea/la  fhearrdha 

rug  Tinnle  Cnodhbhu  is  Connla 
is  Mogh  Corb  chatha  Gabra 

30  Creidhe  ingean  Coirbre  on  linn 
ba  hi  bean  Chaoil  i  Neamhnainn 

Aoiffe  ingean  Trenmoir  anoir 
mathoir  Chaoil  cona  bhrathair 

31  Bean  Conaill  mic  Trenmoir  thuaidh 
Aillinn  shir  Daigre  dreacnniaidh 

&  isi  rug  re  a  radh 

dis  mac  Diangus  is  Ronan 

32  Da  mac  ag  Conall  gan  chradh 
Ronan  is  Diengus  dreac/mar 

aonmac  maith  ag  Aodh  Eangarn 
Conbron  cetach  caithreandadi 

33  Mac  Conbroin  Dianghus  na  ndamh 


mac  dhosein  Cairioll  comhlan 
ieindidh  mia  an  bhiiaing] 
ba  hiia  d'ua  Conbroin  Cairill 


ieindidh  niia  an  bhuainghloir  re  a  linn 


34  Athoir  Cairill  Diangus  Donn 
le[i]s  nar  gabh  cath  no  comhlann 
mac  do  Conall  Diangus  Fionn 
'se  ba  mo  agh  a  n-Eirinn 

34ft  le[i]s  :  the  c  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 

34c    The   /  of   fionn  in  the  MS  looks  like  two  (or  three)  blotted  out  letters 
changed  to  /. 


XLIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  109 

28  The  mother  of  seventeen  other  sons,  all  big 
and  with  yellow  hair  (it  is  sh  e  who  bore  them 
to  Daighre  from  the  SIope),wasAilbhe,daugh- 
ter  of  red-handed  Labhradh. 

29  The  wife  of  brave  Oilill's  son  was  Samhaoir, 
daughter  of  excellent  Fionn:  sheboreTinnle, 
Cnodhbha  and  Connla  and  Mogh  Corb  of 
the  battle  of  Gabhair. 

30  The  wife  of  Caol,  grandson  of  Neamhnann, 
was  Creidhe,daughter  of  Cairbre  of  the  Pool  : 
the  mother  of  Caol  and  of  his  brother  was 
Aoiffe,  daughter  of  Trenmhor  from  the  east. 

31  Aillinn,  daughter  of  red-faced  Daighre  was 
the  wife  of  Conall,  son  of  northern  Tren- 
mhor ;  and  it  is  she  who  bore  (that  it  might 
be  told  of)  two  sons,Dianghus  and  Ronan. 

32  Untroubled  Conall  had  two  sons,  Ronan 
and  Dianghus  of  the  modest  countenance. 
Aodh  Eangach  had  one  good  son,  Conbhron 
of  the  hundreds,    bearer  of  battle-points. 

33  Dianghus  of  the  companies  was  the  son 
of  Conbhron  :  Cairioll  the  complete,  that 
warrior  ever  voiceful  (?)  in  his  time,  was 
a  son  of  his  ;&  Cairill  was  grandson  to  Con- 
bhron's  grandson. 

34  Dianghus  the  Rrown  was  Cairioll's  father 
...Dianghus  the  Fair  was  son  to  Conall  : 
he  was  the  bravest  man  in  Ireland. 


110  DUANAtRE    FINN  |XLIII 

35  Ni  raibh  mac  ag  Diangus  Fionn 
6  ro  dalladh  e  le  Fionn 

acht  Diangus  d'eg  'na  leabaidh 
a  gCionn  Droma  Finnteagair. 

36  Nir  codail  Fionn  oidhche  riamh 
gur  bho  lionmar  a  chlann  's  a  fhian 

[64  b]       gan   deoir  fhola  'na  cridhe 
tre  dalladh  a  dheirbhfhine 

37  Gan  dol  a  gcath  le  mac  Cuinn 
dha  bhron  mora  mhic  Cumhaill 

beiih  'na  ffarradh  rob  fhusa 
's  gan  dallad/i  Dhianghusa 

38  Nir  urmais  ar  a  leas 

nir  mhian  leis  61  no  aoibhneas 
ro  bhi  seacht  la  gan  labra 
gerbh  e  ba  fearr  urlabhra 

39  An  tan  do-chluineada  Fionn  fein 
dalladh  Diangusa  dretcnreidh 

a  eineach  a  chiall  's  a  chruth 
do-bheiread/i  uaidh  in  t-aonguth 

40  Bas  Finn  a  mBroic  ar  ndul  di 
do  easgar  um  lig  nDoire 

bas  Crimaill  a  Loch  dha  Dhall 
taoth  a  ccat  Cnuch  Cumall 

41  Gidh  Fithil  ba  laige  lamh 
don  triar  brathar  go  moragh 

comhlann  da  ched  leis  gan  len 
gur  thuit  re  Feargus  Finbhel 

40d  Cnuch,  sic  MS. 


XLIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  111 

35  Dianghus  the  Fair  had  no  son  after  he  had 
been  blinded  by  Fionn.  Rather  did  Dian- 
ghus die  in  his  bed  at  the  Head  of  Druim 
Finnteagair. 

36  Fionn  never  slept  a  night  (although  his 
children  and  his  Fian  were  numerous) 
without  a  bloody  tear  in  his  heart  for  the 
blinding  of  his  deirbhfhine. 

37  These  were  the  son  of  Cumhall's  two  great 
griefs  :  he  wished  that  he  had  not  joined 
battle  with  Conn's  son,  for  to  be  with  them 
would  have  been  easier  ;  and  he  wished  that 
he  had  not  blinded  Dianghus. 

38  He  could  find  no  way  of  bettering  his  case  : 
he  desired  neither  drinking  nor  pleasure  : 
he  was  seven  days  without  speaking 
though  he  was  preeminent  in  eloquence. 

39  Whenever  Fionn  himself  heard  of  the 
blinding  of  smoothfaced  Dianghus,  that 
single  utterance  would  rob  him  of  honour, 
sense  and  beauty. 

40  Fionn  met  his  death  in  Broic  after  she  [i.  e. 
Aine]  had  died  :  [Daire's  fall  occurred  by 
Leac  Daire]  :  Criomhall  met  his  death  in 
Loch  Dha  Dhall :  Gumhall  fell  in  the  battle 
of  Cnucha. 

41  Even  Fithiol,  who  of  the  three  very  valo- 
rous brothers  was  weakest  of  hand,engaged 
two  hundred  without  mishap  till  he  fell 
by    Fearghus    Finbhel. 


112  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLIII 

42  Is  e  sud  in  feart  fo  f f nil 
Fionn  mac  Cnmaill  is  a  athair 

is  Criomall  cian  ro-clos 
&  Daire  donnsholus 

43  Triiagh  mo  sgaradh  risin  fFein 
fearr  dam  adhrad/i  De  buaVidhein 

mar  a  rugad  Fionn  go  ngne 
adetnmsi  ribh  as  e 

Ag 


[XLIII  DUANAIRE   FINN  113 

42  Yonder  is  the  mound  beneath  which  lies 
Fionn,  son  of  Cumhall,  and  his  father  and 
Criomhall  (far  has  it  been  heard)  and  Dai  re 
the  brown  and  bright. 

43  Alas  for  my  parting  with  the  Fian  !  I  had 
better  turn  to  the  worship  of  God.  This, 
I  tell  you,  is  the  place  where  Fionn  was 
born. 


XLIV 

1  Cairdius  Logha  re  droing  don  Fhein 
is  meabhair  liomsa  burtTidhein 

ge  do-chodar  uile  in  slogh 
ad-bhiursa  gan  iomargho 

2  Mathair  Logha  Eithne  ard 
do  radadh  isein   do  Tadhg 

uaithe  ro  chinsead  sliocht  saor 
Tuirn  mhor  &  Muirn  mhuncaomh 

3  Tugad  do  Conall  ni  chel 
an  rioghan  Uirne  aithbhel 

rug  si  mac  's  nir  bho  donus 
an  flaith  Daire  dedsolus 

4  Mac  do  Dhaire  mac  Lughach 
an  giolla  seghainn  subhach 

Lughach  mgean  Finn  go  mbriogh 
mathair  Gaine  na  nglainghniomh 

5  Naisgis  Fionn  flaith  na  gcuradh 
Tuirn  le  deaghtriath  Uladh 

ro  bhoi  ag  in  righ  go  rath 
go  ttarla  taobhtrom  torrach 

[65a]    6  Bean  do  bhoi  roimpe  ag  in  righ 
ingean  Buidhph  ba  mor  a  brigh 
a  riocht  con  ba  mor  in  sgel 
ro  chuir  si  Uirne  aithbhel 


XLIV 

1  I  remember  how  Lugh  and  a  portion  of  the 
Fian  were  related.  Although  the  host  has 
all  gone  I  tell  it  without  falsehood. 


2  Tall  Eithne  was  Lugh's  mother  :  she  was 
given  to  Tadhg  :  from  her  sprang  a  noble 
progeny,  great  Tuirn1  and  smooth-necked 
Muirn. 

3  To  Conall  was  given  (I  shall  not  conceal  it) 
the  queen,  Uirne  Sharpmouth  :  she  bore  a 
son  (and  it  was  no  misery)  princely  Daire 
of  the  bright  teeth. 

4  The  comely  pleasant  lad  Mac  Lughach  was 
son  to  Daire  :  Lughach,  daughter  of  forceful 
Fionn,  was  the  mother  of  Gaoine  of  the  clear 
deeds. 

5  Fionn,  the  prince  of  heroes,  bound  Tuirn1 
to  the  good  lord  of  Ulster  :  she  lived  with 
that  prosperous  king  and  so  became  heavy 
and  with  child. 

6  The  king  had  a  wife  before  her,  the  very 
powerful  daughter  of  Bodhbh  :  she  cast 
Uirne  Sharpmouth  into  the  shape  of  a 
hound  (a  great  tale  to  tell). 


1  sic,  rede  Uirne. 


116  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLIV 

7  Assaighthear  in  rioghan  reidh 
i  ttigh  Feargusa  fhinnleith 

go  rug  si  ba  caomh  in  clann 
Bran  ar  aon  &  Sgeolang 

8  Ro  fhuagair  hughaidh  Lagha 
oir  ba  heisein  a  slana 

a  cor  as  deilbh  chon  go  teann 
a  ffiadhnuise  ffear  nKireann 

9  Tugadh   do  Lughaid/i  Lagha 
an  rioghan  fhial  fiormhalla 

rug  si  mac  Sgiath  fuileach 
is  Caol  crodha  cedghuineach 

10  Ceithre  mic  LughaieZn  Lagha 
ro  brisdis  cath  go  dana 

Caol  cedguineach  corcras  crann 
Sgiath  breac  Aodh  &  Iollann 

11  Moirsheisior  do  cloinn  ni  chel 
is  eadh  rug  Uirne  aithbhel 

da  triar  mac  ba  meabhair  Horn 
d'ardmhathaifc/z  liaisle  Ereann 

12  A  aonmac  ro  bhoi  ag  Muirn  mhin 
nocharbh  e  ba  measa  dhibh 

flaith  ar  ffulaing  mionn  ar  sloigh 
Fionn  mac  CumaiZZ  meic  Tre'nmhoir 

13  Ba  he  sin  cairdeas  nar  lag 

da  ingean  Taidg  moir  mhic  Niiadat 
gin  go  mairit  fein  ro-feas 
mairidh   budhdhein  a  ccairdeas 


XLIV]  DUANAIRE   FINN  117 

7  The  gentle  queen  is  delivered  ( ?)  in  Fear- 
ghus  Finnliath's  house :  she  bore  both 
Bran  and  Sgeolang,  a  lovely  offspring. 


8  Lughaidh  Lagha,  who  was  her  surety,issued 
a  mandate  that  she  should  be  freed  firmly 
from  hound's  form  in  the  presence  of 
the  men  of  Ireland. 

9  The  modest  truly  gentle  queen  was  given 
to  Lughaidh  Lagha  :  she  bore  a  son,  warlike 
Sgiath,  and  valiant  hundred-slaying  Caol. 


10  These  are  Lughaidh  Lagha's  four  sons 
(boldly  did  they  conquer  in  battle),  hun- 
dred-slaying Caol  who  makes  his  spear  crims- 
on, speckled  Sgiath,  Aodh  and  Iollann. 

11  Seven  children  (I  shall  not  hide  it)  did 
Uirne  Sharpmouth  bear  :  twice  three  sons 
have  I  remembered,  who  ranked  among  the 
high  nobles  of  Ireland. 

12  Gentle  Muirn  had  one  son,  yet  was  he  not 
the  least,  the  prince  who  sustained  us, 
the  diadem  of  our  host,  Fionn,  son  of  Cumh- 
all,  son  of  Trenmhor. 

13  That  was  the  strong  kinship  of  the  two 
daughters  of  great  Tadhg  son  of  Nuadha. 
Although  they  themselves,  as  is  known,  ex- 
ist no  more,  their  kinship  itself  ( ?)  remains, 


XLV 

1   Innis  a.Oisin  echtaigh 

an  aignidh  gleghloin  ghusmhair 
an  raibh  gaol  ag  Cnaoi  DeiVeoil 

re  Fionn  in  chineoil  cruthghloin 


'S>J 


2  Cnu  Deireoil  cnii  mo  cridhe 

ceol  is  binne  da  gciiala 
sed  is  fearr  boi  a  sithbrugh 

an  ghein  brigmar  bhuadlia 

3  Ba  he  in  ghein  ghasta  ghlormar 

ba  he  in  ceol  nosmar  neimhsearbh 
le  a  ccoideoldis  fir  ghonta 

deagmac  Logha  meic  Eithlinn 

4  Lugh  mor  mac  Cein  nnc  Cainti 

mac  mna  ba  haille  i  nEn'nn 
ba  hi  Eithne  ingean  Bhalair 

bean  in  fhuilt  cladhaigh  cheibhfhinn 

5  Ar  ngabhail  righe  nEreann 

do  Lugh  na  mbeimionn  mbailctren 
[65b]        ro  bhasaigh  fine  Fomra 

neimh  a  fhoghla  san  aier 

6  Iar  marbad/i  Bhaloir  bheimnigh 

do  Lugh  an  eidigh  fearrdha 
tainic  Eithne  ingean  Bhaloir 

'na  dheagoidh  go  teagh  Theamra 


XLV 

1  Tell,  mighty  Oisin,  of  the  clear  pure  active 
mind  :  was  Cnii  Dheireoil  related  to  Fionn 
of  the  cleanly  shaped  kindred? 


2  Cnu  Dheireoil,  the  nut  of  my  heart,  the 
sweetest,  music  I  have  heard,  the  best  jewel 
that  ever  was  in  fairy  mansion,  the  pow- 
erful gifted   one ! 

3  He  was  an  excellent  glorious  offspring, 
maker  of  famed  non-discordant  music  at 
which  wounded  men  might  sleep,  the  good 
son  of  Lugh,  son  of  Eithne. 

4  Great  Lugh,  son  of  Cian,  son  of  Cainte,  was 
son  to  the  loveliest  woman  in  Ireland  : 
that  woman  of  the  billowing  fair-tressed 
hair  was  Eithne,  Balor's  daughter. 

5  When  Lugh  of  the  stout  strong  blows  had 
assumed  the  kingship  of  Ireland,  his  fierce 
airy  (?)  plundering  brought  death  on  the 
Fomorian  race. 

6  When  Balor  of  the  blows  had  been  killed 
by  Lugh  of  the  manful  clothing,  Eithne, 
Balor's  daughter,  followed  him  to  the 
house  of  Tara. 


120  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLV 

7  Tainic  Tadg  mor  mac  Nuadhat 

feadhan  uasal  san  aonach 
ba  maith  fiadhoin  na  feisi 

d'iarraidh  Eithne  ar  a  haonmac 

8  Do  radad  dho  an  deighbhean 

do  Tadhg  ba  calma  in  deighfear 
ro  bhoi  'na  haonmhnaoi  aige 
go  ttainic  a  dhianoigeadn 

9  Ba  hi  ceidghein  na  deisi 

on  feisin  a  ttigh  Theamra 
Muirn  ingean  Taidg  mic  Nuadhat 
in  bean  ba  huaso  cearda 

10  Ag  sin  a  ngaol  re  cheile 

a  cleirigh  tainic  chugainn 
Eithne  ingean  Bhaloir  bhadhaigh 
mathair  mathar  mic  Cumaill 

11  Guidh  ar  mh'anmain  a  cleirigh 

aga  bfuil  leighionn  laingrinn 
do-ghebhair  6  righ  Parrthais 

neamh  dom  anmain  a  Tailghinn 

12  Guidh  ar  anmain  Chnu  Dheireoil 

fa  binn  cineoil  a  gcoimseinm 
giolla  ro  gabhadh  diiana 

ni  chuala  ceol  a  coimmbinn 

Innis 

lid  Tailghinn.  MS  has  '  chleirigh  no  Tailghinn  '. 


XLV]  DUANAIRE   FINN  121 

7  Great  Tadhg,  son  of  Nuadha,  came  with 
a  noble  band  to  the  fair  (The  witnesses  of 
the  marriage  were  good)  to  seek  Eithne 
from  her  only  son. 

8  The  lady  was  given  to  him,  to  Tadhg,  the 
brave  excellent  man  :  she  was  his  sole  wife 
till  his  stern  death  came. 


9  The  first  child  born  to  those  two  as  a  result 
of  that  marriage  in  the  house  of  Tara  was 
Muirn  daughter  of  Tadhg,  son  of  Nuadha, 
the  woman  of  noble  accomplishments. 

10  There  is  their  relationship  to  one  another, 
0  cleric  who  hast  visited  us:  Eithne, 
daughter  of  warlike  Balor,  was  the  mother 
of  the  mother  of  the  son  of  Cumhall. 


11  Pray  for  my  soul,  0  cleric  of  the  full  pleas- 
ant learning :  Heaven  will  be  obtained 
for  my  soul  from  the  King  of  Paradise,  0 
Tailgheann. 

12  Pray  for  the  soul  of  CniiDheireoil  who  was 
musical  by  nature  when  men  played  to- 
gether, a  lad  who  uttered  poems  :  never 
did  I  hear  music  so  sweet. 


XLVI 

1  Fiamhain  mac  Foraigh  go  fior 
&  Oisin  mac  in  riogh 

ger  imchian  eattorra  sin 

da  deirbhsiur  a  dha  mathair 

2  Righlinn  fionn  mgean  in  Deirg 
mathair  Fiamhoin  lith  gan  ceilg 

Cruithgheal  ingean  Deirg  go  mblaidh 
mathair  Oisin  iolchrothafan 

3  Gidh  tearc  neach  ga  ffuil  eol 
nochan   eidir  a  aithcheo 

clann  da  dezrbseatar  na  fir 
Oisin  mac  Finn  is  Fiamhoin 

FiAMHain 


XLVI 


1  Fiamhain,  son  of  Forach,  in  truth,  and 
Oisin,  son  of  the  king,  though  a  great  dist- 
ance lay  between  those  men  their  two 
mothers  were  two  sisters. 


2  Righlinn  the  fair,  daughter  of  the  Dearg, 
was  Fiamhoin's  mother  (a  guileless  fest- 
ival). Cruithgheal,  daughter  of  renowned 
Dearg,  was  mother  of  comely  Oisin. 

3  Though  few  know  it,  it  is  impossible  to 
deny  it :  Oisin  son  of  Fionn  and  Fiamhain 
were  the  children  of  two  sisters. 


XLVII 

1   Iss  e  sud  colg  in  laoich  lain 
Chaoilti  meic  roglain  Ronain 
ar  in  tulaigh  os  Druim  Lir 
is  i  a  lamh  fein  rus-folaigh 

[66  a]  2  Adersa  riot  a  laoich  luinn 

a  Diarmaid  moir  mhic  Cearbhoill 
nocha  gciiala  cloidheamh  cruaidh 
ba  fearr  aitheas  is  ardbuaidh 

3  Ro  marb  se  ced  ag  Ath  Liiain 
is  ced  a  tTulaigh  Mongruaidh 

an  treas  ced  a  fFiodh  dha  Bhan 
an  ceathramhad[7i]  ced  a  nDurmagh 

4  Maith  ro  himreadh  thu  gan  feall 
a  gcath  Fionntragha  na  mbeimionn 

&  tu  a  laim  in  laoich  lain 
Chaoilti  mic  roglain  Ronain 

5  An  coigeadh  ced  ag  Ath  Liiain 
do  macroidh  e&chaigh  armriiaidh 

an  seisead[/i]  ced  meabhoir  linn 
ag  Ath  na  nfig  ar  Sionainn 

6  Dit  ro  cuireadh  cath  Cuailgne 
ier  ttcacht  6  Inbear  Mhuaidhe 

cath  do  chaoineadar  mna  amach 
da  ttorcair  Conoll  cedach 


XLVII 

■ 

1  That  is  the  blade  of  the  perfect  warrior,  of 
Caoilte,  Ronan's  bright  son.  His  own  hand 
hid  it  on  the  hill  above  Druim  Lir. 


2  I    shall   tell   thee,    fierce    warrior,    great 
Diarmaid,   son  of  Cearbhall,  never  did    I 
hear  of  a  hard    sword  that  excelled   it   in 
success  and  high  victory. 

3  It  slew  a  hundred  at  Ath  Luain  and  a 
hundred  at  Tulach  Mongruadh,  a  third 
hundred  in  Fiodh  dha  Bhan,  a  fourth  hun- 
dred in  Durmhagh. 

4  Well  wert  thou  wielded  without  deceit  in 
the  battle  ofVentry  of  the  blows,  when  thou 
wert  in  the  hand  of  the  perfect  warrior, 
Caoilte,  Ronan's  bright  son. 

5  A  fifth  hundred  of  mounted  stout- weaponed 
youths  did  it  slay  at  Ath  Luain,  a  sixth 
hundred  (we  remember  it)  at  Ath  na  nfig 
on  the  Shannon. 

6  By  thee  was  the  battle  of  Cuailgne  fought 
when  thou  hadst  come  from  Inbhear  Muai- 
dhe,  a  battle  mourned  to  the  full  (?)  by 
women,  where  Conall  of  the  hundreds  fell. 


126  DUANAIRE    FINN  .       [XLVII 

7  Dit  ro  marbadh  Core  is  Cian 
seal  beag  o  Teamraigh  aniar 

&  dit  go  ngairbe  ngluinn 

do  thuit  Loingseach  mac  Domn ainn 

8  Dit  ro  marbad[/t]  gan  meaboi'Z 
an  Liath  a  Luachair  Deaghoz'dA 

nochar  e  in  t-echt  gan  dioghail 
duinn  nir  choir  a  commaoidhiomh 

9  Fear  gach  enla  sa  mbliad[/?]ain 
is  eadh  ros-marb   dar  bfianoibh 

fa  Conan  fa  Mhac  in  Luin 

ni  rangattar  a  leas  a  athghuin 

10  Dit  ro  marbaoTi  mac  Luighdheach 
seal  beag  uasan  Ath  Buidhneach 

do  lamhac/i  Finn  na  Feine 
do  budh  cruaidh  in  coimeirge 

11  Iris  caillighe  Glinne  Marc 

tuc  in  cloidheam  do   Sithbhac 
mairidh  fo  a  chruth  gan  a  gne 
is  dearbh  liomsa  gurab  e 

12  Sithbhac  fos  do-rad  dia  mac 

in  cruaidh  claisleatan  coimneart 
d'eis  Poil  meic  Coirbre  treoraia/z 
a  gcathoibh  nirb  aineolac/i 

13  Coirbre  garbhsron  triath  ba  teann 
dual  do  oireachus  Eireann 

eulais  6  Choirbri  nar  lag 
6  Trenmor  go  a  deaghmac 

10a  Luighdheach  in  the  MS  is  preceded  by  a  crossed  out  Luchach. 


XLVII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  127 

7  By  thee  were  killed  Core  and  Cian  a  little 
to  the  west  of  Tara,  and  by  thee  with  rough- 
ness of  deed  fell  Loingseach,  son  of  Domh- 
nann. 

8  By  thee,  without  deceit,  was  killed  the 
Liath  of  Luachair  Dheadhoidh  :  that  deed 
was  not  unavenged  :  we  had  no  right  to 
boast  of  it. 

9  He  killed  from  our  Fiana  a  man  every  day 
in  the  year,  led  by  Conan  and  Mac  an  Luin. 
They  had  no  need  to  wound  him  a  se- 
cond time. 

10  By  thee  was  the  son  of  Lughaidh  killed 
a  little  above  the  Ath  Buidhneach,  by  the 
dexterity  of  Fionn  of  the  Fian  (It  was  a 
hardy  uprising). 

11  Iris,  the  hag  of  Gleann  Marc,  gave  the 
sword  to  Sithbhac  :  it  retains  its  shape  and 
appearance  (?) ;  I  am  certain  that  this 
is  it(?). 

12  Sithbhac  then  gave  to  his  son  the  broad- 
grooved  stout  steel  weapon  after  (?)  Pol 
son  of  strong  Coirbre,  who  showed  no 
ignorance   in   battles. 

13  Coirbre  Garbhshron,  a  firm  lord,  to  whom 
the  sovranty  of  Ireland  was  due  — from 
that  Coirbre  who  was  no  weakling  it  passed 
—  from  Trenmhor,  to  his  good  son. 


128  DUANAIRE   FINN  IXLVII 

14  Do-rad  Trenmor  gan  iarraidh 
in  cloidheamhsin  da  chliamhoin 

do-rad  in  cliamhoin  nar  lag 
arna  iarraidh    dha  deaghmac 

15  Do-rad  Cumall  e  dha'eis 
do  Crimall  ag  so  a  fhaisneis 

[66  b]  ge  ata  se  go  cohhsaidh  coir 

uch  is  aisaidh  in  seanoir 

16  An  Criomallsin  uas  gach  dionn 
rus-toirbeir  e  dha  deoin  d'Fionn 

do  thoirbhir  Fionn  mor  in  ro 
d'Fianoibh  Eirionn  a  n-aonlo 

17  Ann  sin  tiagaid  FianaFail 
a  n-aonionadh   a  n-aondhail 

ba  gairid  leo  teacht  uile  | 
go  haonach  na  hAlmhaine 

18  Ann  sin  adubafrt  Fionn  Fail 
cred  fo  ttangobai'r  san  dail 

do  breith  uaim  deimhin  go  ngoil 
ar  ceann  mh'einigh  tangabhair 

19  Iongnadh  leinn  a  Finn  aistrigh 
sed  agaibh  is  e  a  ttaisgidh 

tussa  in  coigeadh  gan  fheall 
is  fearr  eineach  d'iath  Eireann 

20  Ag  sud  dhaoibhsi  in  cloidheam  coir 
ar  mac  Cumaill  mic  Treinmoir 

on  16  aniu  go  brath  na  mbett 
ar  mo  seilbh  ni  bhiaidh  a  coime'd 


kLVlIj    .  DUANAIRE  FINN  129 

14  Trenmhor  gave  that  sword  unasked  to 
his  kinsman  by  marriage,  and  his  strong 
kinsman  gave  it,  when  asked,  to  his  good 
son. 

15  Cumhall  gave  it  after  him  to  Criomhall 
(I  tell  it  now)  :  though  he  is  steady  and 
true,  alas  !  he  is  an  aged  old  man. 


16  That  Criomhall,  highest  of  princes,  pres- 
ented it  of  his  own  will  to  Fionn  :  Fionn 
on  that  same  ( ?)  day  presented  it  (a  great 
excess)  to  the  Fiana  of  Ireland. 

17  Then  the  Fiana  of  Fal  gather  in  one  place 
in  one  assembly  :  it  did  not  take  long  for 
all  to  come  to  the  fair  of  Almhain. 


18  Then  Fionn  of  Fal  said  «  Why  have  you 
come  to  the  assembly  ?  To  take  something 
from  me,  I  am  certain  :  to  receive  of  my 
generosity  you  have  come  » 

19  «  We  wonder,  roving  Fionn,  that  you  should 
have  a  precious  article  laid  by  :  you,  with- 
out deceit,  are  one  of  the  five  most  generous 
men  in  the  land  of  Ireland.  » 

20  «  There  for  you  is  the  good  sword, »  said  the 
son  of  Cumhall,  son  of  Trenmhor.  «  From 
today  till  the  calamitous  day  of  doom  its 
sheath  shall  not  be  in  my  possession.  » 


130  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XLVII 

21  Caidhe  mar  do-beire  dhoibh 
ro  raidh  Oisin  a  gcedoir 

an  e  a  chosnam  as  a  neart 

no  in  crannchar  cubaidh  coimneart 

22  Aigillidh  ingm  i  Cuinn 

in  rioghan  6  Theamr aigh  truim 
is  i  bainbretiomh  gan  feall 
is  fearr  a  n-inis  Eireann 

23  Ann  sin  ro  chan  Aillbhe  chaidh 
in  bhean  dob  fearr  ciall  do  mnaibh 

seanbrethir  so  go  brath  mbil 
denadh  each  ceart  in  cloidhim 

24  Denaidhsi  coimrith  a  gcein 
eidir  reidh  &  aimreidh 

ce  be  dibh  bus  deach  rus-reath 
rod-ria  in  cloidim  claisleathan 

25  Ann  sin  reathaid  Fiana  Fail 
a  n-aonchonair  as  in  dail 

ni  fhaca  coimrith  ba  mo 
a  n-aonionad  a  n-aonlo 

26  Ann  sin  do-choidh  Caoilti  don  Fhein 
eidir  reidh  &  aimreidh 

ba  he  Fionn  budh  foixe  dho 
is  fior  is  ni  hiomargho 

27  Tarraidh  Caoilte  in  cloidiom  caidh 
tarraid[/ij  Fionn  in  truaill  'na  laimh 

rug  Caoilti  an  cloidheam  glan 
an  truaill  d'Fionn  mor  Alman 

22c  The  e  in  -bretiomh  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 

22d  is  fearr  comes  before  gan  feall  in  the  MS  with  sign  to  transpose. 

23c  The  ea  in  sean-  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 


XLVII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  131 

21  «  How  dost  thou  give  it  to  them?  »  said 
Oisin  straightway.  «  Shall  they  contend  for 
it  by  their  strength,  or  shall  they  use  even 
equal  lottery  ?  » 

22  «  Consult  the  daughter  of  Conn's  grandson  , 
the  queen  from  heavy  Tara  :  she  (without 
deceit)  is  the  best  woman  judge  in  the 
island  of  Ireland.  » 

23  Then  chaste  Aillbhe,  wisest  of  women,  made 
pronouncement  (this  will  be  a  proverb  for 
ever)  :  «  Let  each  man  establish  his  claim 
to  the  sword. 

24  «  Hold  a  race  afar  over  smooth  ground  and 
rough.  He  among  you  who  shall  have  run 
best  will  get  the  broad-grooved  sword.  » 


25  Then  the  Fiana  of  Fal  all  run  on  the  one 
track  from  the  assembly  :  never  did  I  see 
a  greater  race  in  one  place  on  one  day. 


26  Then  Caoilte  went  from  the  Fian  over 
smooth  ground  and  rough  :  next  to  him 
was  Fionn  (It  is  true  and  no  lie). 


27  Caoilte  obtained  the  pure  sword  :  Fionn 
obtained  the  sheath  in  his  hand.  Caoilte 
got  the  clean  sword  :  the  sheath  went  to 
great  Fionn  of  Almhain. 


132  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLVI1 

28  Damsa  ceart  a  Caoilti  chriiaidh 
fon  gcloidheamsin  cona  truaill 

ad-clad  fiadhoin  sunn  go  glan 
gur  a  n-aoinf eacht  tarramar 

[67  a]  29  Do-bersa   ceart  na   caingne 
mar  as  fearr  bherus  Aillbhe 

mad  fearr  leat  munbudh  treorach 
beraidh  Fithiol  fireolac/i 

30  Do-ghen  bar  gceart  ar  Aillbhe 
sol  deachus  sibh  a  rogairge 

breith  dhaor  oraibhsi  re  headh 
is  mairg  duine  do  beradh 

31  Do  hudh  e  sin  is  ceart  coir 

ar  mac  Cumaill  meic  Trenmhoir 

acht  gemadh  ail  duinn  teacht  ris 
is  duinne  ro  breathnaighis 

32  Na  habairsi  sin  a  ri 

gin  gub  ail  lim  sibh  gan  ni 
aderad  Fithil  na  mbreath 
dlighidh  gach  laoch  a  deigheach 

33  Dia  ndlighidh  cloidheamh  a  truaill 
a  meic  Cumaill  cloidheamcriiaidh 

dligidh  in  truaill  sgel  go  li 
in  beilfhleasg  oir  go  gcaoimli 

34  Ag  slid  duitsi  a  Chaoilti  chriiaidh 
in  cloidheamsin  cona  truaill 

&  ag  slid  suairc  in  se'd 
beilfhleasg  oir  go  n-imcoime'd 


XLVII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  133 

28  «  Grant  justice,  hardy  Caoilte,  concerning 
that  sword  with  its  sheath  :  witnesses 
here  see  clearly  that  we  reached  them 
together.  » 

29  «  I  shall  admit  the  rights  of  the  case  as 
Aillbhe  shall  best  adjudge.  If  you  prefer, 
if  the  judgement  be  not  one  to  follow,  truly 
wise  Fithiol  shall  give  judgement.  » 

30  «  I  shall  decide  between  you,  » said  Aillbhe, 
«  before  you  grow  too  violent :  woe  to  the 
person  who  should  now  give  judgement 
against  you.  » 

31  «  That  would  be  the  correct  decision,  » 
said  the  son  of  Cumhall,  son  of  Trenmhor  : 
«  even  though  we  should  wish  to  oppose  it 
(?)  thou  hast  judged  in  our  favour.  » 

32  «  Say  not  so,  0  king  :  though  I  would  not 
have  you  deprived  of  everything,  Fithiol 
of  the  judgements  would  say  «  To  every 
knight  is  due  his  good  horse.  » 

33  «  If  to  a  sword  is  due  its  sheath,  0  son  of 
hard-sworded  Cumhall,  to  the  sheath  (a 
goodly  tale)  the  gold  edge-ring  of  lovely 
appearance  is  due. 

34  «  There  for  you,  hardy  Caoilte,  is  that 
sword  with  its  sheath,  and  there  (a  pleasing 
jewel)  is  the  gold  edge-ring  and  guard. 


131  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLVII 

■ 

35  tri  fichit  uinge  d'or  dhearg 
mar  do  innill  Iollann  dearg 

iss  eadh  ata  suairc  a  li 

ar  in  mbeilfhleisg  go  gcaoimli 

36  Deich  cced  each  is  deich  cced  bo 
is  do-bheradh  ni  budh  mo 

ar  son  in  cloidhim  go  maoin 
targaidh  dho  Fionn  a  Formaoil 

37  Mar  tairnic  duinn  ceart  na  ffear 
dirim  cairpteaca  na  ndeighfear 

Fithiol  is  Flaithri  amach 
ad-ciam  cugainn  is  Cormac 


38  Ceiltear  uainn  ceart  na  caingne 
iss  eadh  adubairt  Aillbhe 

mo  breithsi  munbudh  treorach 
beraidh  Fithil  fireolach 

39  Fearaid  failti  Fiana  Fail 

risin  gcaom  gconchar  gcomchair 
gizr  suidheadar  ar  deis  Finn 
an  ceathrar  uallach  airmgrinn 

40  Sona  go  ttigit  leasa 
adubairt  Fionn  faidh  feasa 

mo  ceart  is  Caoilte  gan  on 
daoibhsi  tig  a  leasughad/i 

41  Sgel  agamsa  duit  a  Finn 
adubairt  Cormac  caomgrinn 

sib  si  &  Aillbhe  uas  gach  modh 
is  ail  leinn  diar  siodhughatfn 


37c  amach,  sic  MS  (dotted  c). 


XLVII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  135 

35  «  Upon  the  edge-ring  of  lovely  appearance 
are  three  score  ounces  of  red  gold  as  pre- 
pared by  Iollann  the  Red  (pleasant  their 
sheen).  » 

36  A  thousand  steeds  and  a  thousand  cows 
(and  more  would  he  have  given)  Fionn 
of  Formaoil  offers  him  for  the  precious 
sword. 

37  When  the  men's  case  had  come,  to  an  end, 
we  see  approaching  us  a  band  of  good 
men  in  chariots,  Fithiol  and  Flaithri,  his 
son,  and  Cormac. 

38  «  Let  the  decision  of  the  case  be  concealed 
by  us, »  said  Aillbhe.  «  If  my  judgement  be 
not  sound  Fithiol  the  Wise  will  give  judge- 
ment. » 

39  The  Fiana  of  Fal  welcome  the  handsome 
noble1  allrighteous  one,  and  the  four 
proud  well-armed  men  sat  at  Fionn's  right 
hand. 

40  «  All  is  well  till  claims  arise, »  said  Fionn 
the  wise  prophet :  «  It  is  for  you  to  settle 
my  case  and  faultless  Caoilte's.  » 


41  «  I  have  something  to  tell  you,  Fionn,  » 
said  handsome  pleasant  Cormac  :  « We 
would  have  you  and  most  honoured  Aill- 
bhe to   make   peace  between   us. 

1  conchar,  originally  'fond  of  hounds  ',  later  has  a  vague  meaning  '  noble 
excellent '. 


136  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XLVII 

12  Gabhoir  Fithil  crodh  gan  \ochl 
do-deachadar  am  lupgort 
[67  6]  do  itheadar  mo  losa  dhe 

's  do  millseador  mo  blath  blaithi 

43  Innisidh  Fionn  na  sgela 

's  ni  roibh  Caoilti  dia  sen  a 

an  breathsin  rug  Aillbhe  doibh 
rus-mol  an  ceathrar  comcoir 

44  Nochan  eadarsa  nach  iad 
ro  mhill  lubhgort  Atha  Liag 

teagaid  mo  gobhair  am  dhail 
gan  fostadh  gan  iomgabhail 

45  Buachail  a  ndiaigh  na  ngopar 
gan  eagla  gan  iomomhan 

is  buachail  oile  gan  \ocht 
agatsa  thall  ad  lubhgort 

46  Do-ghen  bar  gceart  ar  Aillbhe 
nocha  bhiii   dia   comairle 

iocadh  in  lubhgartoir  ribh 
ar   millseat  gabhair  Fithil 

47  Ag  sin  breath  do  bhermaois  fein 
ro  raidh  Cormbac  go  gcoimcheill 

is  i  do  bermaois  uile 

ar  mac  Cumaill  Almhaine 

48  Fleadh  agamsa  duit  a  Fhinn 
adubairt  Cormac  caoimhgrinn 

aire  tanac  ar  do  cionn 

mar  onoir  d'Fianoibh  Eireann 

43b  Fionn  is  crossed  out  in  the  MS  before  Caoilti. 

Aid  Cumaill  in  MS  comes  after  Almhaine  with  sign  to  transpose, 


XLVII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  137 

42  « Fithiol's  goats,  a  flawless  herd,  came 
into  my  garden  :  they  ate  my  plants  there- 
by, and  destroyed  my  flowers. 


*43  Fionn  gives  the  particulars  and  Caoilte 
did  not  deny  them  :  that  judgement  which 
Aillbhe  passed  for  them  the  allrighteous 
four  upheld. 

44  «  I  do  not  know  but  that  it  si  they  who 
destroyed  the  garden  of  Ath  Liag.  My 
goats  come  to  me  without  stopping  or 
straying  ( ?) » 

45  «  A  herd  follows  the  goats  without  fear  or 
terror,  and  you  too,  without  fault,  have  a 
guardian  there  in  your  garden.  » 


46  «  I  shall  decide  your  case,  »  said  Ailbhe  : 
«  I  shall  not  take  (?)  advice  about  it  (?). 
Let  the  gardener  pay  you  for  all  that  Fith- 
iol's goats  destroyed.  » 

47  «  That  is  the  judgement  we  ourselves  would 
have  given, »  said  Cormac  the  sensible. 
«  It  is  the  judgement  all  of  us  would  have 
given, »  said  the  son  of  Cumhall  of  Almhain. 

48  «  I  have  a  feast  for  you,  Fionn, »  said 
handsome  pleasant  Cormac  :  «  my  purpose 
in  coming  to  see  you  was  to  do  honour  to 
the  Fiana  of   Ireland. » 

*  This  quatrain  should  clearly  be  read  before  41. 


138  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLVII 

49  Deich  cced  do  taoiseachaibh  Fian 
lodmar  go  Teamraigh  na  ngiall 

gan  caolbhaidh  gan  caingean  locht 
Aillbe  caomnar  's  a  banntrac/i* 

50  Coig  tratha  duinn  a  tTeamraigh 

a  ttigh  in  riogh  mhoirmeanmnaigh 
ag  caitheam  bidh  is  leanna 
ba  haoibhinn  ar  n-airrdheana 

51  Suairc  in  tuarustal  dar  Horn 
dus-rad  Cormac  da  dheoin  d'Fionn 

tri  fichid  uinge  d'or  dearg 
&  caoga  cii  croibhdhearg 

52  Caoga  ceangaltach  na  gcorn 
caoga  fithchioll  go  ndath  ngorm 

&  caoga  each  n-aonaigh 

do  mac  Cumaill  armfhaobhrato/i 

53  Maith  righe  Cormaic  is  Finn 
mairg  fuil  na  ndiaigh  a  nEiri/m 

ba  he  bleaghan  gach  bo  abhus 
Ian  a  sreabhainn  re  a  tomhus 

54  Mairg  tair  an  aimseir  dia  n-eis 
re  a  hinnisin  re  a  haisneis 

budh  sladaighe  fir  domham 
bradaige  mna  a  gcuikad/?oibh 

55  Reacfaigtear  iasg  mara  moir 
risna  Gallaibh  a  gcedoir 

ar  ttoigheac/jf  docum  tire 
budh  comartha  drochrighe 


XLVII]  .  DUANAIRE   FINN  139 

49  We  went,  ten  hundred  captains  of  fians, 
to  Tara  of  the  hostages,  with  no  lack  of 
amity,  no  fault-finding,  gentle  modest 
Aillbhe  and  her  ladies  with  us. 

50  We  were  five  days  in  Tara  in  the  house 
of  the  magnanimous  king  consuming  food 
and    ale :    our    enjoyment   was    apparent. 


51  A  pleasing  reward,  to  my  thinking,  did 
Cormac  give  of  his  own  accord  to  Fionn, 
sixty  ounces  of  red  gold  and  fifty  red-pawed 
hounds ; 

52  Fifty  binders  (?)  of  the  drinking-horns, 
fifty  chess  sets  of  blue  colour  and  fifty 
show  horses  to  the  son  of  keen-weaponed 
Cumhall. 

53  Good  was  the  kingship  of  Cormac  and 
Fionn  :  woe  for  him  who  is  in  Ireland  after 
them  :  every  cow  here  milked  the  measured 
full  of  her  udder. 

54  Woe  for  him  who  reaches  the  age  after 
theirs,  to  speak  and  tell  of  it :  all  men  will 
be  robbers  and  women  thieves  in  store 
rooms. 

55  The  fish  of  the  great  sea  will  be  sold  to 
the  foreigners  immediately  they  have  been 
brought  to  land  :  it  will  be  a  sign  of  evil 
kingship. 


140  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLVII 

[68  a]56  A  ndiaigh  na  naom  go  n-aille 
cleirigh  dhiana  dioghaire 

ag  folair  chrabhaidh  go  heacht 
is  iad  fein  nocha  ndingneat 

57  Gidh  olc  na  cleirigh  gan  bhrigh 
measa  go  mor  na  hairdrigh 

gidh  olc  na  righa  rabhaigh 
measa  na  maoir  threintaphaigh 

58  Dia  labhraid  cluig  a  gceaWaibh 
gidh  ard  leighionn  gach  seanoidh 

nocha  mo  do-cluin  Criost  caidh 
no  sanais  isin  camair 

59  Nochan  feadar  cred  do-dhen 
fil  mo  rose  ag  silcadh  der 

cloidhiomh  Caoilti  ba  caom  gne 
is  meabhair  leamsa  gurab  e 

Ise 


XLVI11  DUANAIRE   FINN  141 

56  After  the  beauteous  saints  will  come  fierce 
and  violent  clerics  strictly  enjoining  piety, 
and  they  themselves  will  not  practise 
it. 

57  Though  the  worthless  clerics  be  bad,  worse 
far  will  be  the  high  kings  :  though  bad  the 
warning  (?)  kings,  worse  again  the  strongly 
exacting    stewards. 

58  Though  (?)  bells  sound  in  churches,  though 
high  be  the  learning  of  every  synod,  chaste 
Christ  hears  it  no  more  than  an  announ- 
cement at  daybreak. 

59  I  know  not  what  I  shall  do  :  my  eye  is 
shedding  tears  :  I  remember  that  this  is 
comely    Caoilte's    sword. 


XLVIII 

1  Deargriiathar  cloinne  Morna 
sochaz'tf[/i]e  dia  ttugsat  dogra 

o  Tuinn  Tiiaidhe  nir  treas  tim 
budftdheas  go  Cliodhna  cheinnfinn 

2  Ro  marbsat  a  nDiin  da  Bheann 
Maine  &  Dian  is  Deileann 

ionmhain  triar  ar  gcur  a  neirt 
meic  Feardhomhain  moir  feirceirt 

3  Do  marbhsat  a  nGleann  Umha 
Uaithne  fionn  mac  Finnumha 

ro  marbsat  a  cCarn  Alloidh 
Faolan   7   Follamhoin 

4  Ro  marbsat  na  tri  Finn 

is  na  tri  Duinn  cinn  ar  chinn 
ro  marbsat  is  rob  olc  liom 
in  seanoir  crimnac/i  Crimall 

5  Do  marbsat  TuathaZ  nar  thim 
do  marbhsat  Aodh  is  Oilill 

do  marbsat  Tadg  ina  tigh 
&  Fionn  ban  mac  Breasail 

6  Ro  marbhsat  Sgiath  breac  buadac/z 
ro  marbhsat  Aongus  usd\ach 

ro  marpsat  mo  dha  daltan  dil 
Leagan  liiaimhneac/i  a  Luachair 

2a  In  the  MS  the  Bh  of  Bheann  is  a  d  altered  to  what  is  apparently  intended 
to  represent  a  dotted  b. 
6a  There  is  a  very  slight  space  between  sgiath  and  breac  in  the  MS. 


XLVIII 

1  The  red  rush  of  Morna's  children  :  they 
gave  sorrow  to  many,  from  Tonn  Tuaidhe 
(it  was  no  weak  onset)  southwards  to 
Cliodhna  of  the  fair  head. 

2  They  killed  in  Dun  da  Bheann  Maine  and 
Dian  and  Deileann,  a  dear  three  who  had 
put  forth  their  strength,  the  sons  of  Fear- 
dhomhan  son  (?)  of  Feirceart. 

3  They  killed  in  Gleann  Umha  Uaithne  the 
Fair  son  of  Fionnumha.They  killed  in  Cam 
Alloidh  Faolan  and  Follamhoin. 


4  They  killed  the  three  Fionns  and  the 
three  Donns  side  by  side.  They  killed  (I 
liked  it  not)  the .  .  .  old  man  Criomh- 
all. 

5  They  killed  Tuathal  who  was  not  weak. 
They  killed  Aodh  and  Oilill.  They  killed 
Tadhg  in  his  house  and  Fionn  the  Fair, 
son  of  Breasal. 

6  They  killed  victorious  Sgiath  Breac1.  They 
killed  proud  Aonghus.  They  killed  my  dear 
fosterling  Leagan  the  Swift  from  Luachair. 


1  Literally  *  Speckled  Shlied  '. 


144  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLVllI 

7  Do  loiscseat  Formaoil  na  fFian 
go  n-iomat  geimhiol  is  giall 

do  marbhsat  Raighne  go  rath 
do  loisgseat  Aillbhe  uallac/i 

8  Ro  marpsat  a  tTulac/z  Og 
Iollann  mac  Finn  is  deaghOg 

Og  mac  Finn  fear  go  rath 
uaidhe  sloinntear  in  tulach 

9  Aodh  6  Geimhnain  nar  laga 
&  Aodh  6  hl)aineagda 

Aodh  o  Teamhair  ro-chlos 
ro  marbhsat  uile  a  gClaonros 

10  A  gClaonros  mac  n-Uisneach  n-ard 
sochaidhe  dia  ttuscat  mairg 

mar  ar  fhagoibh  Caoince  ciath 

mo  macsa  fein  forrac/z  niadh 
budh  e  ainm  na  tulcha  dhe 
go  tti  in  brath  Cainsgiath  Chaoinche 

11  Caoince  cearr  a  cCionn  Tire 
Aodh  mac  Aodha  is  lie 

[68  b]  Aodh  &  lie  &  Bran 

is  leosan  do-rochrador 

12  Tri   died  allmarrach   ar  cai 
um  Bhaire  um  Labraid/i   Gai 

do  geallsatar  damh  ni  breg 
Alma  uile  do  choimhed 

13  Tugattar  deargar  na  ffear 
Bodiimann  luchoir  laingheal 

nochar   fagaibhseat   'na   bea.th.aidh 
ingean  Iochtoir  airmleathain 

10c  ciath  sic.  11*  is.  In  the  MS  the  a  of  an  original  as  has  been  crossed 

out  and  i  substituted  beneath.  12a  MS  has  chdoga  deleted  before  chid. 


XLVIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  145 

7  They  burned  Formaoil  of  the  Fiana  with 
much  fettering  and  hostage-taking.  They 
killed  Raighne  the  fortunate.  They  burned 
proud  Aillbhe. 

8  They  killed  in  Tulach  Og  Iollann,  son  of 
Fionn,  and  goodly  Og  :  Og,  son  of  Fionn, 
a  prosperous  man,  from  him  the  hill  is 
named. 

9  Aodh,  grandson  of  Geimhnan...  and  Aodh, 
grandson  of  Uainidh  (?),  Aodh  of  Tara 
(it  has  been  heard),  they  killed  them  all 
in  Claonros. 

10  In  Claonros  of  the  sons  of  high  Uisneach 
were  there  many  to  whom  they  caused 
woe  :  there  did  Caoinche  my  own  son  (a 
warrior's  overthrow)  leave  his  shield  :  from 
that  the  name  of  the  hill  shall  ever  be 
Cainsgiath   Chaoinche. 

11  Caoince  the  Crooked  in  Ceann  Tire,  Aodh 
son  of  Aodh,  and  lie,  Aodh  and  lie  and 
Bran  fell  by  them. 


12  Three  hundred  foreigners  on  the  march 
led  by  Baire  and  Labhraidh  Gaoi  promised 
me  (no  lie)  to  guard  all  Almha. 


13  They  made  a  red  slaughter  of  the  men  : 
they  did  not  leave  bright  full  fair  Bodhmann, 
daughter  of  broad-weaponed  Iochtar,  alive. 


146  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XLVIII 

14  Ro  marbadar  na  tri  died 

um  Bhaire  um  habhr aidh  ni  breg 
marbsat  Bodlimann  lith  ngal 
&  ro   gonsat   Sgannal 

15  A   gcionn    hliadhna   nocha   go 
ba  marbh  Sgannal  do  gaibh  cro 

tren  rom-gabh  sniom  arna  dul 
Almha  do  heith  gan  Sgannal 

16  Ced  rioghan  nach  liiaidhearf[/i]  claon 
da  died  um  an  da  macaomh 

ro  marbhsat  mor  in  sgeile 

um   Uathach    fhionn    Almhaine 

17  Ro  marbhsat  a  Port  Omna 
Breasal  is  Core  is  Connla 

do  ghonsat  Oissin  budMhein 
&  Cairioll  go  gcaoimhcheill 

18  Naoi  mic  Iobhair  is  Iochtair 
deich  meic  Cuinn  deich  mmchidh 

ro  marbhsat  ag  Druim  os  Traigh 
um  Finndeirb  ingm  Cannain 

19  Do  marbhsat  ag  Druim  os  Loch 
Oih71  mor  maith  d'ar  tteaglach 

is  uime  adeirthear  Druim  Bron 
mar  ar  marbarf/i  Oilt'/l  mor 

20  Druim  Broin  6  bhron  Feine  Finn 
on  laithe  do  thaot  Oih'/l 

nochar  codlus  oidhche  shaimh 
6  do  mavhadh  mac  Faolain 

14a  na.  The  a  has  been  added  in  below  the  line  in  place  of  an  erased  /. 


XLVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  147 

14  They    killed    the    three    hundred  (no    lie) 
around  Baire  and  Labhraidh.  They  killed 
Bodhmann  (a  festival  of  feats),  and  they 
wounded   Sgannal. 

15  In  a  year  (no  falsehood)  Sgannal  had 
died  of  blood-darts1 :  when  he  had  gone, 
mightily  did  grief  seize  me  that  Almha 
should  be  without  Sgannal. 

16  A  hundred  queens  who  never  spoke  untruth 
(and  two  hundred  around  the  two  youths) 
did  they  kill  (great  misery)  about  fair 
Uathach  of  Almha  [?]. 

17  They  killed, in  Port  Omna,  Breasal  and  Core 
and  Connla.  They  wounded  Oissin  himself 
and  Cairioll  of  excellent  sense. 

18  The  nine  sons  of  Iobhar  and  Iochtar,  the 
ten  sons  of  Conn,  the  ten...  they  killed  at 
Druimos  Traigh around Finndearbh,  daught- 
er of  Cannan. 

19  They  killed  at  Druim  6s  Loch  great  Oilill, 
a  prince  of  our  household.  Therefore  is  it 
called  Druim  Bron  (The  Ridge  of  Sorrows) 
where  great  Oilill  was  killed. 

20  It  is  Druim  Broin  (The  Ridge  of  Sorrow) 
from  the  sorrow  of  Fionn's  Fian,  since 
the  day  that  Oilill  fell :  I  have  not  slept 
soundly  for  a  night  since  the  son  of  Fao- 
lan  was   killed. 

1  *  Blood- darts  '  in  Irish  is  a  conventional  phrase,  meaning  ,   the  pernicious 
effects  of  an  unhealed  wound  '. 


i48  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLVIII 

21  Meic  sidhe  assin  Mumhain  mhais 
dainim  dhuinn  bheith  'na  ffegmais 

is  iad  do  tuidhcad/i  go  prap 
a  mbotha  do  ruscoibh  slat 

22  Ro  marbhsat  Taidhme  'na  dhiin 
teaglach  ro  budh  dainim  dhiin 

&  Breasal  mac  Bratha 
&  Coirbrc  Claonratha 

23  Do  loisceadar  Criiacha  Ceard 

's  a  ingean  Luchair  laimhdhearg 
do  marbhattar  'na  hinis 
a  shiur  budndhein  Maighinis 

24  As  sin  dhi'iin  ba  cuairt  chonuis 
go  Buaib'rf/z  an  Aondorais 

rugsam  orra  truagb  an  dail 
urn  Leitribh  cruaidhe  Collain 

25  Adubairt    Goll   do   glor   ard 
go  rioghdba  &  go  rogharg 

na  faghbliadh  Finn  sibh  amoigh 
a  maca  Cormaic  cneisgbil 

26  Tabhraidh  dhamh  mo  chruit  go  n-or 
adubairt  Daighre  dreac/imhor 

go  seinnear  i  mor  in  modh 
go  gcuirinn  each  'na  ccodhladh 

27  Ann   sin   dus-radadh  a  chruit 
go  mac  Morna  fa  binn  puirt 

[69  a]  no  gar  codailseat  uile 

le  mac  Morna  mungbhuidho 


XLVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  149 

21  They  were  lads  from  goodly  Munster  :  it  is 
hard  for  us  to  be  without  them  :  it  is  they 
who  used  to  thatch  their  booths  swiftly 
with  peelings  of  rods. 

22  They  killed  Taidhme  in  his  fort  (a  house- 
hold which  was  injurious  to  us)  and  Breasal 
son  of  Brath  and  Coirbre  of  Claonraith. 


23  They  burned  Cruacha  the  Craftsman  and 
his  daughter  Luchair  of  the  red  hands  : 
they  killed  in  her  island  his  own  sister 
Maighinis. 

24  From  that  we  went  on  (it  was  a  fighting 
visit)  to  Buaile  an  Aondoruis  (the  One- 
doored  Enclosure)  :  we  came  upon  them 
(a  woeful  meeting)  about  the  hard  Slopes 
of  Collan. 

25  Goll  said  in  a  loud  voice  regally  and  very 
roughly,  «  Let  not  Fionn  find  ye  without, 
0  sons  of  white-skinned  Cormac.  » 


26  Give  me  my  gilded  harp  said  large-faced 
Daighre  till  I  play  it  (a  great  deed)  so  as 
to  put  everyone  asleep. 

27  Then  his  harp  was  brought  to  the  son  of 
Morna  whose  melodies  were  sweet,  till 
sleep  came  to  them  all  by  the  playing  of  the 
son  of  yellow-haired  Morna. 


150  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XLVIII 

28  An  tan  ro  hudh  codladh  dhoibh 
teagmaid  cuca  lin  ar  sloigh 

isseadh  ron-mosgail  miadh  ngal 
gair  na  Feine  ga  marbaoTi 

29  Ro  fagsat  da  ttrien  a  n-arm 

ro  marbsat  Feargus  foltgarbh 
do  marbsat  teannta  re  muir 
Garb  Crot  Garb  Greine  6  Ghlasmhuir 

30  Ann   sin  do-cuadhmar  'na  ndail 
go  feis  tighe  Forannain 

dha  c[h]ed  dar  muinntir  go  ngoil 
ro  marbsat  an  oidhchesoin 

31  Ro  marbhatar   Saltran   seang 
ro  marbhadar  Guaire  cearr 

do  marbhadar  gerb  olc  linn 

tri  mic  Luighdeach  meic  Croimchinn 

32  Ro  marbhsat  Gille  Uallcha 
ag  teacht  6  Teamhair  Luachra 

ro  marpattar  truagh  in  dail 
Feindidh  mac  Finn  mic  Cuain 

33  Ro  marbattar  Cirre  caol 

ro  marbattar  Duph  &  Daol 

ro  marbsat  ar  Moigh  Line 
Dealan   cuanna   cruitire 

34  Ro  mharpador  Faolchu  fial 
mo  macsa  fein  iorrach  nia  dh 

ro   marbsat  mo  mac  eile 
Maol  Dearg  ro  ba  moirsgeile 

29b  MS  has  da  deleted  before  Feargus. 

$2d  mac.  MS  has  mic  with  the  ic  crossed  out  and  c  written  above  the  m  (=  mac). 


XLVIII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  151 

28  When  they  were  asleep  we  come  to  them 
with  all  our  host:  what  awakened  us  (battle 
honour!)  was  the  cry  of  the  Fian  being 
slain. 

29  They  left  two  thirds  of  their  arms.  They 
killed  Fearghus  of  the  rough  hair  :  they 
killed  (a  hard  pressing  by  the  sea  [  ?])  Garbh 
Crot,  Garbh  Greine  of  Glasmhuir. 

30  Then  we  went  to  meet  them  to  the  feast 
in  Forannan's  house  :  twohundred  of  our 
brave  folk  did  they  kill  that  night. 


31  They  killed  slender  Saltran  :  they  killed 
Guaire  the  crooked  :  they  killed,  though 
we  liked  it  not,  the  three  sons  of  Lughaidh, 
son  of  Croimcheann. 

32  They  killed  Gille.  Uallcha  coming  from 
Teamhair  Luachra  :  they  killed  (a  woeful 
event)  Feindidh,  son  of  Fionn,  son  of 
Cuan. 

33  They  killed  Cirre  the  Slender  :  they  killed 
Dubh  and  Daol  :  they  killed  on  Magh  Line 
comely  Dealan,  the  harper. 


34  They  killed  generous  Faolchu,  my  own 
son  (a  warrior's  overthow)  :  they  killed 
my  other  son,  Maol  Dearg  (it  was  a  great 
grief). 


152  DUANAIRE    FINN  [XLVIII 

•     35  Ro  marp attar  na  tri 

ar  in  leirg  uas  Cnucha  cuirr 
ro  baitheadair  ar  in  muir 
na  tri  Deirg  6  Shleibh  Ditraibh 

36  Ro    marpaderr    Faolchii    fial 
ro  marbadar  Core  is  Cian 

ro  marbhsat  Mongan  on  tuinn 
7  Conan  mac  ■  Crimthain 

37  Ro  marpadar  hughaidh  lonn 
ro  marpsat  Cairche  crom 

ro  loiscseat  ced  cuaine  con 
a  tTulaigh  liaine  Archon 

38  Tulach  Archon  6  ar  con 
ainm  na  tulcha  mor  in  modh 

Tulach  Airde  a  ainm  roimhe 
6  aird  con  Mic  Fiodhba?'rf/ie 

39  Seisior  fiche  ar  se  ched 

ar  choig  mhile  mor  in  bed 

do  cloinn  Bhaoisccne  mor  in  modh 


do  thuit  ar  in  deargruatar 


Dearg 


35a  MS  sic  (word  omitted). 

35c  marb  has  been  deleted  in  the  MS  before  baitheadair. 


XLVIII] 


DUANAIPxE   FINN 


153 


35  They  killed  the  three  ...  on  the  slope 
above  steep  Cnucha  :  they  drowned  on  the 
sea  the  three  Deargs  from  Sliabh  Dioth- 
raibh. 

« 

36  They  killed  generous  Faolchu  :  they  killed 
Core  and  Cian  :  they  killed  Mongan  from 
the  wave  and  Conan,  son  of  Criomhthan. 


37  They  killed  passionate  Lughaidh  and  Cair- 
che  the. Bent.  They  burned  a  hundred 
dog-litters  in  green  Tulach  Archon. 


38  Tulach  Archon  from  dr  con  (slaughter  of 
dogs)  is  the.  hill's  name  (a  great  honour). 
Tulach  Airde  was  its  name  before  that  from 
the  collar  (aird)  of  the  hound  of  Mac  Fiodh- 
bhaidhe  (The  Son  of  Woodland). 

39  Five  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty 
six  (great  the  deed)  of  the  children  of 
Baoisgne  ('twas  a  great  work)  fell  in  the 
red  rush. 


XLIX 

1  A   Oissin   in   raidhe  rinn 

ni    d'faisdine    mic    Cumhaill 
ar  tairrngir  in  ri  go  rath 
aingi'Z  go  fior  do  adhradh 

2  Inneosat  duit  sgel  gaidh  grinn 
a  Patraic  moir  mic  Calprainn 

&  budh  cradh  led  chroidhe 
gach  dal  ga  ttu  ag  tarrngoire 

3  Suidhe  do-rinne  Fionn  shoir 
os  glinn  ag  Beinn  liir  fidoir 

[69  b]       go  fiacaidh  nell  tiugh  atiiaidh 
gor  much  Eirinn  re  heniiair 

4  Is  iad  ba  foixe  don  righ 
do  mac  Cumaill  Almhaini 

meisi  &  Osgar  go  ngrain 
&   Caoilti   mac   Ronain 

5  Briatraighim   ar   tus   miadh   ngal 
d'Fionn  mor  avdUaith  Almhan 

cred  in  nell  dorcha  atuaidh 
ro  much  Eirinn  re  henuair 

6  Ann    atbeart   Caoilti   croidhc 
re   mac   Cumaill  Almhaine 

tabhair  h'ordain  fad  dhett  fis 
is  na  leig  sinn  a  n-ainfhis 


XL  IX 

1  «  Oissin,  canst  thou  tell  us  something  of  the 
prophecy  of  the  son  of  Cumhall?  Did  the  prosp- 
erous king  predict  that  angels  truly    .     .     .  ?  » 


2  I  shall  tell  thee  a  clear  tale  of  hardship,  great 
Patrick,  son  of  Calpurnius,  and  every  event  I 
am  predicting  will  be  torment  to  thy  heart. 


3  Once  Fionn  took  his  seat  in  the  east  above  the 
glen  at  fresh  Beann  fidair  when  he  saw  a  thick 
cloud  coming  from  the  north  covering  Ireland 
in  an  instant. 

4  Those  nearest  the  king,  the  son  of  Cumhall 
of  Almhain,  were  myself  and  dread  Osgar  and 
Caoilte  son  of  Ronan. 


5  I  first  speak  (Battle  honour!)  to  great  Fionn, 
high  prince  of  Almhain  :  «  What  is  that  dark 
cloud  from  the  north  which  has  covered  Ireland 
in  an  instant  ?  » 

6  Then  dear  Caoilte  said  to  the  son  of  Cumhall  of 
Almhain  ;  «  Put  thy  thumb  beneath  thy  tooth 
of  knowledge  and  leave  us  not  in  ignorance.  » 


156  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLIX 

7  Truagh   sin   a  Chaoilti   chroidhe 
is  cian   uait  in   tairrngire 

measgfaid  Danair  tar  Muir  Meann 
a  n-uilc  ar  fhearoibh  Eireann 

8  Millfidh  siad  Eire  uile 
eidir  mhagh  mhin  is  muine 

fri  re  da  c[h]cd  mb\iad[h]am  mbil 
in  Fodla  fon  gceinneamhain 

9  Ni  ffuighit  siad  do  rath  ann 
nach  mo  is  dith  dhoibh  a  fhulang 

gach  a  marptar  ann  miadh  ngle 
bidh  amrath  da  n-ierdraighe 

10  Fear  Diardaoin  tig  ar  a  gcionn 
olc  a  iermairt  d'iath  Eirionn 

Mac  Murchadha  in  diabhal  di'ir 
budh  siabhradh  sin  a  n-iumpudh 

11  Bidhat  olc  reimhins  in   righ 
biaidh  a  aras  ar  dimbrigh 

gan  mac  gan  iarmhua  go   mbladh 
gid  iargno  Horn  ar  labhraaTi 

12  Laighin  ar  tiis  daortar  ann 
saoth  lem  chroidhisi  a  chomhall 

gan  righ  orra  achi  iarla  duph 
gan   fiana   dia   n-anacal 

13  Loitid  Midhe  is  Mumha  mhas 
nocha  lugha  in  t-olc  amhnus 

go  mbeid  fad  o  dioghail  duibh 
uch  budh   doiligh  in   dioghail 

12b  lem  :  The  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 

12c,  d  In  place  of  this  couplet  13c,d  was  first  written  and  then  crossed  out, 
•with  mbe"id  for  mbeid  and  dighail  for  dioghail  in  line  13c  and  nach  for  uch  in 
line  13d. 


[XLIX  DUANAIRE   FINN  157 

7  «  It  is  woe,  dear  Caoilte.  The  prophecy  lies  in  the 
distant  future.  The  Danair  crossing  Muir  Meann 
will  force  their  wickednesses  on  the  men  of 
Ireland. 

8  «  They  will  destroy  all  Ireland  both  cultivated 
plain  and  brake  :  for  two  hundred  full  ( ?)  years 
that  will  be  Ireland's  fate. 


9  «  They  shall  get  no  prosperity  there  the  suffer- 
ing (?)  of  which  shall  not  be  greater  loss  for 
them  (?).  All  who  are  killed  there  (clear  fame) 
shall  bring  ill-luck  on  their  posterity. 

10  «  On  Thursday  a  man  comes  before(?)  them  (the 
consequences  of  his  action  will  be  bad  for  the 
land  of  fiire)  Mac  Murchadha,  the  cruel  devil 
(Their  turning  will  be  a  bewitching  [?]). 

11  «  That  king's  reign  will  be  evil  :  his  house  will 
be  powerless,  without  son  or  famous  descendant, 
though  what  has  been  said  causes  me  grief. 


12  «The  Leinstermen  are  the  first  to  suffer  bondage 
(sad  to  my  heart  that  it  should  come  to  pass), 
having  no  king  but  a  black  earl, having  no  warrior 
bands  to  protect  them. 

13  «  They  destroy  Meath  and  goodly  Munster  (the 
fierce  evil  will  be  no  less),  and  they  will  be  far 
from  black  vengeance.  Alas !  the  vengeance 
will  be  difficult. 


158  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLIX 

14  Oirghialla  is  Ulaidh  an  aigh 
daorfaightear  iad  don  aonplaigh 

futliaibh  go   danardha   dil 
beid    Connac/i/a    go    crithir 

15  Siol  Conaill  is  Eoghain  fheil 
fon    daoiresin   fon    deighreir 

beit  futhaibh  go  ciamhair  cain 
re  triocha  b\iad[h]am  bunaidh 

16  Ticc  chuca  ri  Saxan  saibh 
dia  n-easchoma   dia  n-anaoibh 

go  mbeir  a  ngeill  tar  Muir  Meann 
olc  a  mhein  d'fearoibh  Eireann 

17  Fagbaid  fear  'na  ionadh  ann 
re  siubhal  reacht  is  remionn 

fear  firinne  adearor  riss 
gidh  dichleith  is  fear  fuiris 

18  Cedchath  chuirit  ni  dalbh  dil 

ni.  cath  e  acht  maidhm  do  ghnuisiWi 
cath  Cnucha  ar  tri  cathoip  dhe 
mar  do  ordaig[h]  Ri  neimhe 

[70a]  19  Aimseir    medhoin    a   fheadha 
ni    deireoil   a   imneadha 

dia  mbiaidh  lobar  gidh  saoth  lim 
se&cht  mb\iad[h]na  a  righe  nEin'onn 

20  Go   ttig   trenfear   oile   anoir 
tre  comairle  in  lobhair 

go  ccuirionn  go  lonn  dar  libh 
rissin  Donn  cath  an  einfhir 

16a  In  the  MS  tar  has  been  erased  before  saibh. 
lib  remionn.  The  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 
17c  adearor.  The  ea  represents  a  small  e  +  a. 


XLIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  159 

14  «  Oirghialla  and  bold  Ulidians,  they  will  be 
doomed  by  the  same  plague.  Connaught  will 
be  trembling  beneath  them  savagely  and  dearly. 


15  «  The  seed  of  Conall  and  of  generous  Eoghan  will 
be  beneath  that  bondage  and  goodly  discipline  : 
they  will  be  beneath  them  mournfully  and  well 
for  thirty   solid  years. 

16  «  The  king  of  the  false  Saxons  comes  to  them 
to  their  undoing  and  distress,  and  takes  their 
hostages  over  Muir  Meann  (He  is  evilly  disposed 
to  the  men  of  Ireland). 

17  «  They  leave  a  man  in  his  place  there  for  .  .  . 
of  laws  and  courses  :  he  will  be  called  a  man  of 
truth... 


18  «  The  first  battle  they  fight  (it  is  no  fond  false- 
hood) will  be  no  battle  but  an  utter  (?)  rout. The 
battle  of  Cnucha  and  three  other  battles  will 
follow  as  ordained  by  the  King  of  Heaven. 

19  «  In  the  very  middle  of  his  time  his  troubles 
will  not  be  trifling,  when  a  leper  will  be  (though 
I  like  it  not)  for  seven  years  in  the  kingship  of 
Ireland. 

20  «  Till  comes  another  champion  from  the  east 
through  the  counsel  of  the  leper  and  fights  the 
Battle  of  the  Single  Man  (?)  with  the  Donn 
fiercely,  as  ye  think. 


160  DUANAIRE  FINN  [XLIX 

21  Rod-bath  in  t-aoinfhear  don  cath 
aim  claoitear  a  reim  's  a  rath 

budh  len  don  lobar  iar  sin 

tren    a    omhan    dia    mhuinntir 

22  Eireochaid/i  in  Donn  Failgeach 
feta  fossaidh   firchaingneach 

cuirthear  gan  fhatha  le  a  linn 
tri  catha  leis  a  nEirinn 

23  Cuirfe  cath  a  nAth  Seanoigh 

6  a  mbeid  Gaoidhil  fo  mheabhoil 
do  thuit  gleo  GaoideaZ  sa  chath 
&  aoinfhear  allmhurrach 

24  In  fear  donnsin  gan  deile 
budh   sonn  fola  is  fionghaile 

do-thaot  do  galar  uaire 
gan  cophair  na  caomuaille 

25  A  gcionn  tri  mbliad[/i]an  iar  soin 
cuirthear  ar  ar  Ghaoidhiolaibh 

nach  saoilionn  duine  'na  dhiaigh 
gan  Gaoidhil  uile  a  n-airdghliaidh 

2G  Digheoltar  in   t-ar   ier   soin 

mar  nach  nar  ag  Mhuimhneachoiph 
ar  reabhradh  na  ngall  ngaisctrf/i 
a    fFeapra    thall    tarrustazr 

27  Da  cath  dibh  sin  a  Mumhain 
in  treas  do-bheraid  Ulaidh 
&  cath  sa  Midhe  mhais 
Ri   neimhe  ga   ccoimaitchis 

24c  In  the  MS  uaille  has  been  followed  by  the  correction  '  no  uaire  ' . 
266  Mhuimhneachoiph,  sic  MS  (both  ms  dotted). 


XLIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  161 

21  «  The  Single  Man  is  killed  in  the  fight :  there 
his  career  and  good  fortune  are  upset.  It 
will  be  woe  to  the  leper  after  that :  great  his 
fear  for  his  people. 

22  «  The  Donn  Failgheach  will  arise,  comely,  stead- 
fast and  truth-seeking  :  three  battles  will  be 
fought  without  cause  by  him  in  Ireland  in  his 
time. 

23  «  He  will  fight  a  battle  in  Ath  Seanoigh  as  a 
result  of  which  the  Gaels  will  be  in  shame  : 
many  (?)  Gaels  fell  in  the  battle  and  one  of 
the  foreigners. 

24  «  That  brown  un churlish  (?)  man  will  be  a 
staff  of  blood  and  murder  :  he  will  fall  by  a 
sudden  (?)  disease,  his  (?)  fair  pride  availing 
him  ( ?)  nothing. 

25  «  Three  years  after  that  a  slaughter  of  Gaels 
is  made,  and  there  is  no  one  but  imagines  after 
it  that  the  Gaels  are  all  in  great  dissension(?). 


26  «  The  slaughter  will  be  avenged  after  that  in 
a  way  that  will  be  no  shame  to  the  Munstermen. 
In  February  the  activity  ( ?)  of  the  bold  foreigners 
will  be  punished  (?). 

27  «  Two  of  those  battles  will  be  in  Munster  :  the 
Ulstermen  will  fight  the  third  and  there  will 
be  one  battle  in  goodly  Meath.  The  King  of 
Heaven  ... 


162  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLIX 

28  Tic  mac  righ  Saxan  tar  sal 
cien  lim  's  ni  ar  a  ghradh 

budh  da  thoigheacht  go  fior  dhe 
cuirtear   Danoir   tar    saile 

29  An  macsin  tig  tar  in  sal 

go  n-imat  Gall  go  neamhgradh 
nocha  ndingne  righe  reidh 
go  cur  na  tire  a  n-aimreidh 

30  Coimhriaghoil   soir    is   abhus 
ga  chineadh  ar  aoncadhus 

re  tomhus  ted  is  troigheadh 
tig  dia  eis  in  t-ainndligead/i 

31  Tidhlaicfidh  leath  Eireann  uile 
don  \ucht  tiucfus  leis  tar  tuinn 

go  ndighlaid  in  \ucht  abhus 
go  fiorchruaidh  orra  a  tturus 

32  Do-gnit  connailbhe  go  caidh 
Goill   &   Gaoidz'Z    d'enlaimh 

a  n-aghoidh  na  nDanor  ndur 
madh  lamhor  Horn  a  n-iompiidh 


33  Fearoid  in  cath  cruaidh  go  cain 
beodha  do-nit  a  thaistil 

marptar  e  's  a  sluaigh  ier  sin 

don  taoiph  thuaidh  do  Moigh  Maistean 

[70  6]34  Rioghait  ri   Oiligh  amhra 
docum  in  catha  calma 

marbhtar  e  's  a  sluaigh  go  fior 
a  gcath  Maistean  na  moirgniom 

30c  In' MS  tige  has  been  crossed  out  before  tdd. 

31a  uile.  The  e  in  MS  is  an  I  changed  into  a  small  e. 

33c  abhus  has  been  deleted  in  the  MS,  with  a  sign  to  insert  ier  sin  in  its  place. 

'64b  docum  is  writlen  as  two  words  (do  cum)  in  MS. 


XLlXj  DUANAIRE  FINN  163 

28  «  The  son  of  the  king  of  England  comes  over 
the  sea  (I  long  for  his  coming  but  not  for  love 
of  him)  :  truly  a  result  of  his  coming  will  be 
the  sending  of  the  Danair  across  the  sea. 

29  «  That  son  who  comes  over  the  sea  with  many- 
foreigners,  unloved,  he  will  not  exercise  ordered 
kingship  till  the  country  be  thrown  into  dis- 
order. 

30  «  In  the  east  and  here  his  race,  in  equal  honour, 
enjoy  the  same  law  for  measurement  by  line 
and  foot.  After  him  comes  evil  legislation. 


31  «  He  will  bestow  the  half  of  great  Ireland  on 
those  who  accompany  him  over  the  wave, 
till  the  folk  here  take  fierce  vengeance  on  them 
for  their  journey. 

32  «  The  Gaill  and  Gaoidhil  holily  4make  peace 
together  against  the  cruel  Danair  (If  I  may  dare 
to  turn  them  [?]). 


33  «  Well  do  they  give  brave  battle  :  they  make 
their  marches  with  spirit.  He  and  his  hosts  are 
killed  after  that  to  the  north  of  Magh  Maistean. 


34  « They  crown  the  king  of  wondrous  Aileach 
for  the  stout  battle  :  he  and  his  hosts  are  truly 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Maiste  of  the  great   deeds. 


164  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLIX 

35  Dcich  mb\iad[h]na.  fichead  go  holl 
gan  chath   &  gan  comhlann 

gan  neach  'na  n-aghoidh  fo  neimh 
seal  a  samhail  'na  samhloibn 

36  Go    tteagoitt   na   Goill   anoir 
do  dioghail  orra  a  n-armhoigh 

on  Easpainn  adhbhail  andeas 
ni  cabhoir  in  comhfaitcheas 

37  Cath  Saingeal  cuirfidhear  ann 
a  n-aithfithear  fir  Eireann 

ni  cuirfit  Gaoidhil  no  Goill 
a  shamhoil  sin  a  n-Einnn 

38  An  cathsin  adeirim  ribh 
ann  bhias  roirighe  Saingil 

beid  Danoir  go  bronach  dhe 
budh  dreamhoin  a  n-armhoighe 

39  Rioghait  Tairbhre  do  shiol  mBriain 
do  chur  in  catha  go  ngliaidh 

go  soiris  assin  Mumhain  mhoir 
go  cubaidh  siol  in  gallghloir 

40  Tri  la  dho  ag  cur  in  catha 
re  macoibh  na  n-anfhlatha 

a  gcionn  tri  laithe  go  mb\adh 
tair  a  maithe  do  marbhadh 

41  Eirgid  coig  coigidh  Eireann 
futhoibh  go  rathoibh  reimionn 

go  ndiongoibh  in  duileam  dil 
do  gach  cuigead  a  coinnimh 

36d»The  dotted  m  of  comhfaitcheas  looks  more  like  i  +  a  dotted  n. 
41a,  42a  Eirgid.  In  each  case  there  seems  to  be  a  faint  dot  over  the  d  (  = 
Eirgidh). 


XLIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  165 

35  «  Thirty  long  years  will  there  be  without  fight 
or  combat,  with  no  one  in  in  the  world  against 
them.  For  a  while  ... 


36  «  Then  the  Gaill  come  from  the  east  to  avenge 
their  slaughter  on  them.  The  equal  anxiety  (?) 
caused  by  great  Spain  in  the  south  will  be  no 
help. 

37  «  The  battle  of  Saingeal  will  be  fought  there,  in 
which  battle  the  men  of  Ireland  will  be  revenged. 
Neither  Gaoidhil  nor  Gaill  will  fight  another  battle 
like  it  in  Ireland. 

38  «  That  battle  of  which  I  speak  to  you,  there 
will  the  high  royalty  of  Saingeal  be:  the  Danair 
will  be  sorrowful  by  reason  of  it  :  their  slau- 
ghters  will  be  dreadful. 

39  «  They  make  Tairbhre  of  the  race  of  Brian  king 
to  fight  the  fierce  battle,  to  drive  (?)  the 
race  of  foreign  speech  duly  out  of  great 
Munster. 

40  «  He  will  be  three  days  fighting  the  battle  against 
the  tyrants'  sons.  After  three  glorious  days  he 
will  succeed  in  slaying  their  nobles. 


41  «  The  five  provinces  of  Ireland  arise  under 
them  (?)  in  prosperous  career,  and  the  dear 
Creator  repels  from  each  province  the  soldiery 
quartered  on  it. 


1G6  DUANAIRE   FINN  [XLIX 

42  Eirgid  ua  na  righ  reabhach 
bhios  fo   shiol   na   Saxanach 

do  dichur  in  cinidh  cuil 

do  hudh  dlighead[h]  a  dhenuimh 

43  Eirgis   Sraonghalach   Doire 
go  gcuirionn  a  n-ar  uile 

go  ceann  miosa  on  chath  amach 
gabhoid  orra  dia  fforrach 

44  Sraongalach   6   Dhoire   atuaidh 
&  Aodh  iodhan  go  mbiiaidh 

gidh  cia  fri  senadh  atuaidh 
teit  docom  neimhe  fo  bhuaidh 

45  Ni  leanfam  go  leig  ni  bhus  mo 
tar  eis  gall  n-iir  is  anrodh 

gidh  mor  a  loc/i/a  lera 
is  mo  anois  a  n-aithmhela 

46  Patraic  mac  Alprainn  go  mhloidh 
orus  fortail  for  dheamhnoibh 

sireadh  sossadh  reidh  6n  righ 
d'Osgar  dam  fein  is  d'Oisin 

A  Oisin 
44d  In  MS  docom  is  written  as  two  words. 


XLIX] 


DUANAIRE   FINN 


167 


42  «  The  descendant  of  the.  deedful  ( '?)  kings,  who 
is  subject  to  the  seed  of  the  Saxons,  arises  to 
banish  the  wicked  race  (To  do  so  would  be  just- 
ice). 

43  «  Sraonghalach  of  Doire  arose  and  slaughters 
them  all.  For  a  month  on  from  that  battle  they 
attack  and  oppress  them. 


44  «  Sraonghalach  from  northern  Doire  and  vict- 
orious Aodh  the  pure.  Whoever  it  be  by  (?) 
whom  he  was  blessed  (  ?)  in  the  north,  he  goes  to 
Heaven  victoriously. 

45  «  For  the  present  we  shall  continue  no  further, 
past  the  coming  of  new  foreigners  and  trouble  : 
though  their  clear  faults  be  great,  greater  now 
is  their  repentance. 

46  «  May  Patrick  son  of  Calpurnius  of  fame,  since  he 
is  strong  against  demons,  seek  a  pleasant  abode 
from  the  King  for  Osgar,  myself  and  Oisin  ». 


1  A  Oisin  fuirigh  ar  Dhia 
na  himidh  uaim   ni  bhus  sia 
tabhair  aithne  mar  hudh  gar 
is  misi  anam  t'athar 

[71a]  2  Ueh  ni  tabbraim  aithne  fort 

a  Finn  acht  ge  caomh  do  corp 

ba  halainn   do  dbealbh  do  dreach 
ag  dol  uaim  tar  gach  n-aonach 

3  Deacair  aithne  orm  a  fhir 
a   Oisin   a   mheic   mheirgil 

iomat  mo  pian  mett  mo  glial 
iad  ata  agom  treagdad/i 

4  In  cedoidhche  do-chuadhus  d'eg 
d'fios  na  croine  mor  in  bed 

dar  chogain  si  me  sa  glinn 
uchan  nir  chonair  airdrigh 

5  Ann  sin  ad-beart  Ifreann  fein 
eirgith  slaidhtear  Fionn  on  Fein 

buailidh   tuargidh   e   go   teann 
na  bioth  agoibh  a  dithioll 

6  Mar  ba  dursan  leo  mo  len 
anmanna  na  fFein  ffiortren 

teagoit  cugom  mor  in  modh 
&  trialloit  mo  chosnam 

2d  uaim.  In  the  MS  a,  /has  been  deleted  and  an  m-stroke  placed  over  the  uai. 


1  Stay,  Oisin,  for  God's  sake  :  go  no  further 
from  me.  Know  me  (it  should  be  easy1)  :  I 
am  thy  father's  soul. 


2  «  Ah  me !  I  know  thee  not,0  Fionn,  though 
thy  body  be  beautiful  :  thy  form  and  face, 
as  thou  didst  go  from  me  over  every  fair- 
green,  used  to  be  lovely.  » 

3  It  is  hard  to  recognize  me,  0  man,  Oisin, 
lad  of  the  white  fingers  :  all  my  pains  .  .  . 
.     .     .     ,  they  are  tormenting  me. 


4  The  first  night  I  died  and  went  to  meet  the 
Swarthy  One  (?)  (a  great  injury),  when  she 
did  chew  me  in  the  glen,  alas  !  it  was  no 
journey  for  a  high  king. 

5  Then  the  Infernal  One  himself  said,  «  Arise, 
let  Fionn  be  cut  down  by  the  Fian  :  strike, 
smite  him  stoutly  :  neglect  him  not  ». 


6  When  the  souls  of  the  truly  strong  Fiana 
were  saddened  by  my  woe,  they  come  to  me 
(great  deed)  and  prepare  to  defend  me. 


laterally,  '  as  would  be  easy '  (or  '  probable  '  ?) 


170  DUANAIRE    FINN  [L 

7  An  cumhain  leat  a  Ghuill  gloin 
do  mac  Cumhaill  a  hAlmhoin 

do  marbadft  sa  carraic  tall 
is  do  sgaradh  ret  anam 

8  Ro  ionnarb  se  clann  Mhorna 
ro  imbhir  orra  doghra 

ro  bhasaidh  na  milte  fear 

do  cloinn  Mhorna  na  gcorrsleaa/i 

9  Dia  ndeacham  sios  ar  do  cionn 
ar  Conan  maol  ni  leasg  liom 

da  ttugam  beim  tar  do  ceann 
na  tisam  fein  as  ifreann 

10  In  cumhain  leat  a  Ghuill  glain 
do  mac  Cumaill  6  Theamraigh 

do  marpadhsa  mor  in  modh 
&  marbadh  do  bhrathor 

11  Ge    do-rinne    seision   sin 
deaghmac  Cumhaill  a  hAlmhain 

truagh  gan  neart  ceud  am  corp  cain 
do  taba/rt  Fhinn  6  dheamhnai&A 

12  Ionmhain  buidhion  tainic  ann 
sios  do  comrac  tar  mo  ceann 

anam  Guill  ba  feirde  in  dail 
anam  Daigre  anam  Conain 

13  Anam  Airt  oig  mic  Morna 
ge   do-rinneas   ris   dogra 

anam  Osgair  ro  claoi  cath 
&  anam  Mheic  Lughach 

Id  ret  anam.  MS  has  re  tanam. 


L]  DUANAIRE   FINN  171 

7  «  Dost  thou  bear  in  mind,  bright  Goll, 
against  the  son  of  Cumhall  of  Almhain,  how 
thou  wert  killed  there  on  the  rock  and  parted 
from  thy  soul? 

8  «  He  banished  the  children  of  Morna  :  he 
wrought  woe  on  them  :  he  slew  thousands 
of  the  children  of  Morna  of  the  jutting 
spears.  » 

9  «  If  we  go  down  for  thee  »,  said  bald  Conan, 
« it  worries  me  not,  if  only  we  strike  a  blow 
on  thy  behalf,  that  we  ourselves  come  not 
out  of  Hell.  » 

10  «  Dost  thou  bear  in  mind,  bright  Goll, 
against  the  son  of  Cumhall  of  Tara,  that 
thou  wert  killed  (a  great  deed)  and  thy 
brother  x    also  ?  » 

11  «  Though  he,  the  good  son  of  Cumhall  of 
Almhain,  did  that,  woe  is  me  that  I  have 
not  the  strength  of  a  hundred  in  my  fair 
body  to  rescue  Fionn  from  the  demons.  » 

12  Dear  the  company  who  came  down  there 
to  fight  on  my  behalf,  the  soul  of  Goll  (the 
event  was  the  better  of  it),  the  soul  of  Daigh- 
re,  the  soul  of  Conan, 

13  The  soul  of  young  Art,  son  of  Morna, though 
I  had  wrought  him  woe,  the  soul  of  battle - 
conquering  Osgar  and  the  soul  of  Mac 
Lughach. 

(*)  'brother',  'brothers',   'kinsman',  'kinsmen'  are  all  possible  translations. 


172  DUANAIRE  FINN  [L 

14  Ro  iadhsat  umam  ar  gach  Ieath 
anmanna    na    cceitri   riiadhcath 

sgaoiltear  iad  ba  cruaidh  in  teidm 
soir  siar  seachnoin  ifeirn 

15  Uch  tri  fichid  bliadhsm  buan 
ro  bhi  misi  a  n-iframn  fhuar 

no  go  ttainic  Righ  neimhe 
gur  fech  orm  tre  trocaire 

16  Ann    sin    ro-siacht    aingea/    De 
uchagan  ba  geal  a  ghne 

ba  he   radh  an  aingil  rim 
a    Finn    fagoibhsi    ifrind 

17  Do    rugusa   learn   ar   luas 
tigim    ar    bord    iffn'/m    suas 

mile  deamhan  don  tsluagh  gorm 
ro  lean  me  ar  luas  a  hifiorn 

[71  b]  18  Dia  madh  liomsa  an  bioth  ban 
eidir   crann   is    cloich   is    chlar 

uaim  a  n-onoir  mo  Dhe  dhuinn 
ar  teac/iZ  aonoidhche  a  hifn'onn 

19  Eirigh   anois  go   Sith  Truim 
ait  ar  cuireadh  Cu  Culainn 

leat  fein  neamh  6  Righ  neimhe 
amach  o  16  in  measra£<7/ithe 

20  Ag  sin  turus  do-chpidh  Fionn 
mar   do   ordaigh  Ri   na   rionn 

dar  fhiahaigh  sgela  go  min 
do  Patraic  &  d'Oisin 

A  OisiN 


L]  DUANAIRE  FINN         #  173 

14  They  closed  around  me  on  every  side,  the 
souls  of  the  four  stout  battalions  :  they  are 
scattered  ('t  was  a  hard  strain)  east  and 
west  all  over  Hell. 

15  Ah  me!  for  three  score  long  years  I  was  in 
cold  Hell,  till  the  King  of  Heaven  came  and 
looked  upon  me  in  mercy. 


16  Then  arrived  God's  angel  (oh  !  but  his  sem- 
blance was  bright).  The  angel's  word  to  me 
was, «  Fionn,  leave  thou  Hell.  » 


17  I  hurried  off  and  come  up  to  the  edge  of 
Hell.  A  thousand  demons  of  the  black1  host 
followed  me  swiftly  out  of  Hell. 


18  If  I  owned  the  fair  world  with  its  trees  and 
stones  and  plains,  [I  would  give  all]j[away 
in  honour  of  my  noble  God,  for  letting  me 
leave  Hell  for  one  night. 

19  Go  now  to  Sioth  Truim  where  CuChulainn 
was  buried  :  Heaven  will  be  thine  by  the  gift 
of  its  King  from  the  day  of  judgment  on. 


20  There  is  the  journey  Fionn  went  by  command 
of  the  King  of  the  stars,  on  which  occasion 
he  gently  asked  for  tidings  from  Patrick 
and  Oisin. 

(1)  literally  '  blue  '. 


LI 

1  Eirigh    suas    a    Oissin 

a  mheic  Finn  meic  Cumaill 
meic  Trenmoir  i  Bhaoisgne 
ag  sin  Caoilte  cugainn 

2  Bithi   ar  aon  go   subac/j 

a   mheic   righ    na   Feine 
denoidh    go    ceart    comhlan 
bar  gcomradh  re  cheile 

3  Ro   bhaist  Patraic  baismhin 

iad  a  ndeireadh  a  n-aoise 
tug  se  Art  ar  Oisin 
&  Conn  ar  Caoilte 

4  Ag   sin   daoip   bas   Caoilte 

m«c  reidh  Ronain  reabhroidA 
a   ndeireadh  a  lathoir 

a  baihadh  a  tTeamhroigh 

5  Do  tuit  mac  na  flatha 

le  horchar  in  cleirigh 
Oisin   ger   tren   talcar 
on  urchor  nir  eirigh 

filRIGH 


LI 


1  Rise  up,Oissin,  son  of  Fionn,  son  of  Cumh- 
all,  son  of  Trenmhor,  grandson  of  Baoisgne  : 
there  Caoilte  approaches. 


2  Be  ye  both  joyful,  0  son  of  the  king  of  the 
Fian  :  hold  converse  with  one  another 
correctly  and  completely. 


3  Patrick  of  the  smooth  hands  baptized  them 
at  the  end  of  their  days  :  he  called  Oisin 
Art  and  Caoilte  Conn. 


4  There  you  have  the  manner  of  Caoilte's 
death,  the  mild  son  of  sportive  Ronan  : 
in  the  last  days  of  his  vigour  he  was  drowned 
in  Tara. 

5  The  prince's  son  fell  by  the  cast  of  the  cleric  : 
Oisin,  though  he  was  stout  and  obstinate, 
never  rose  after  that  cast. 


LII 

1  Eirigh  siias  a  Osgair 

ro-fheas  is  tu  in  bunadh 
gidh  lor  med  na  ndeighfear 
dingoibh  dinn  ced  curadh 

2  Imthigh  trithibh  is  tairrsiph 

gursat  maola  meidhe 
geibh  sgieth  eangach  uaine 
is   cloideam  go   ngeire 

3  Geiph  sgieth  is  geibh  cloidhim 

is  airm  niadh  rod-rubha 
geibh  liiirigh  rod-meala 

nar  maoidhit  do  thubha 

4  Is  mor  in  gniom  dhamhsa 

a  ffiadhnui'se  m'fiadhan 
dearlacadh  mo  naoidhion 

a  gcionn  a  naoi  mbliadhan 

5  Ni  tiucfa  is  ni  thainic 

ba  fearr  lamh  na  luighe 
is  ni  ffuil  crann  sleighe 
is  sia  dus-sia  a  nduine 

6  Mairg  re  ttiubhra  a  treisi 

le  a  cloidhiom  go  ngeire 
6  thig  fearg  a  laime 

in  fear  dearg  is  deine 

Eirigh 

4c  dearlacadh.  The  ea  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 

Hd  An  erased  g  is  still  to  be  seen  faintly  in  the  MS  after  fear. 


LII 

1  Rise  up,  Osgar  :  it  is  known  that  thou  art  the 
main-stay.  Though  sufficient  be  the  size  of 
the  good  men,  ward  off  from  us  a  hundred 
champions. 

2  Go  through  them  and  over  them  that  their 
necks  be  left  headless.  Take  green  many- 
pieced  shield  and  sword  of  sharpness. 


3  Take  shield  and  take  sword  (They  are  hero's 
weapons  that  could  slay  thee)  :  take  a 
corselet  (May  it  last  thee  all  thy  life  1)  lest 
they  boast  that  they  have  wounded  thee. 

4  'T  is  a  great  deed  for  me  in  the  presence  of 
my  witnesses  to  give  away  my  child  just  nine 
years  old. 


5  There  shall  not  come,  and  never  has  come 
one  better  in  deed  or  word  ;  and  no  spear- 
shaft  is  there  that  will  penetrate  further  into 
any  man. 

6  Woe  for  him  on  whom  he  will  exert  his 
strength  with  his  sword  of  sharpness,  when 
the  wrath  of  his  hand  has  come — that  red 
man  most  fierce. 


LIII 

[72  a]  1  Faoidh  cluig  do-chiiala  a  nDruim  Dheirg 
mar   a    ndendis    in    Fian    seilg 
ni    ehuala    riam    roime    soin 
guth  cluig  a  fforaois  fhiadhaigh 

2  Faoidh  cluig  do-chiiala  a  nDruim  Dheirg 
mar  a  ndendis  in  Fhian  seils 
agus    ni    cuala   rem   re 
aonguth  ami  budh  binne 


*t> 


"t>" 


3  Faoidh  cluig  do-ciiala  a  nDruim  Dheirg 
mar  a  ndendis  in  Fhian  seilg 

binne  liom  ar  tteacht  ar  slogh 
an  dord  Fian  ga  ttinol 


4  Faoidh  chluig  do-cuala  a  nDruim  Dheirg 
mar  a  ndendis  in  Fhian  seilg 

binne  liom  ar  tteacht  amach 
in  fhead  do-niodh  Mac  Lughach 

5  Annamh  le  coill  Droma  Deirg 
faoidh  cluig  innti  leirg  do  leirg 

fa  minca  don  al  chuaine 
dekeadh   oidhche  adhfhuaire 

6  Cia  in  trii  chleiri(//jso  shiar 
bheanus  a  cluigin  go  dian 

nach  eistionn  re  guth  na  ccon 
ata  sa  ghlionn  'na  fhorradh 

2c  rem.  The  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 


Lin 

1  The  note  of  a  bell  have  I  heard  in  Druim 
Deirg  where  the  Fian  were  wont  to  hunt  : 
never  before  did  I  hear  the  sound  of  a  bell 
in  a  hunting  forest. 

2  «The  note  of  a  bell  have  I  heard  in  Druim 
Deirg  where  the  Fian  were  wont  to  hunt, and 
never  in  my  day  did  I  hear  a  sound  more 
sweet.  » 

3  The  note  of  a  bell  have  I  heard  in  Druim 
Deirg  where  the  Fian  were  wont  to  hunt : 
more  sweet  to  me, when  our  hosts  had  come, 
was  the  Dord  Fian  gathering  them. 

4  The  note  of  a  bell  have  I  heard  in  Druim 
Deirg  where  the  Fian  were  wont  to  hunt : 
more  sweet  to  me  on  sallying  forth  was 
the  whistle  Mac  Lughach  used  to  give. 

5  Seldom  has  there  been  in  the  wood  of  Druim 
Deirg  the  note  of  a  bell  from  slope  to  slope  : 
more  often  has  the  late  night  been  bitterly 
cold  for  the  litter  of  young  wolves. 

6  Who  is  this  miserable  cleric  to  the  west, 
who  rings  his  little  bell  violently,  who  does 
not  hearken  to  the  cry  of  the  hounds  in  the 
glen  beside  him? 


180  DUANAIRE   FINN'  [LI  1 1 

7  Gidh  binn  leatsa  guth  na  gcon 
&  gidh  adba/'  meanman 

is  binne  leisin  Righ  in  neach 
eisteas  comradh  na  ccleiirar/i 

8  Gidh  binn  leatsa  a  n-abrait  soin 
&  gidh  maith  led  meanmain 

is  binne  buireac/i  in  doimh  mhir 
no  in  ceol  chanaid  na  cle'iriyh 

9  Ad-connarcsa  fir  sa  moigh 
nac  eistfeadh  re  guth  do  cluig 

is  do  iuicieadh  marb  ma-le 
tusa  is  do  cleir ig[h]  uile 

10  Binne  liom  um  trath  eirghe 
cearca  fraoich  a  mbeannuibh  sleibhe 

no  guth  an  cleirigh  astigh 
ag  meighhgh  ag  meigeallai'<//i 

11  A  Oisin  innis  sgela 

is  na  leig  sinn  fo  mhela 

creud  do-dendis  riomsa  dhe 
fan  cluiginso  bheanuimse 

12  Do-bheirimsi  briatar  go  fior 
luighim  fo  anmain  mo  riogh 

go  mbeanfadh  do  clog    ad  ceann 
no  go  mbeithea  gan  anam 

13  Da  gcluinead/i  Garbh  Doire  dian 
faoidh  cluig  sa  chillso  hsiar 

do  rachad  go  grod  asteach 

's  do  brisf eadh  clog  na  ccleireac/z 

86  led.  The  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 
136  hsiar.  The  h  represents  an  h  in  the  MS. 


LITI]  DUANAIRE   FINN  181 

7  «  Though  sweet  to  thee  the  cry  of  the  hounds, 
and  though  it  cause  thy  spirits  to  rise,  more 
pleasing  to  the  King  is  he  who  listens  to 
the  clerics'  words.  » 

8  Though  sweet  to  thee  what  they  say,  and 
though  it  please  thy  mind,  the  roar  of  the 
swift  stag  is  more  sweet  than  the  music  the 
clerics  chant. 

9  I  have  seen  men  in  the  plain,  who  would  not 
listen  to  the  sound  of  thy  bell,  and  who  would 
leave  thee  and  all  thy  clerics  dead  together. 


10  I  would  sooner  at  rising  time  hear  grouse 
on  mountain  peaks  than  the  voice  of  the 
cleric  indoors  bleating  like  a  sheep  or  a 
goat. 

11  «  0  Oisin,  tell  it,  and  leave  lis  not  ashamed  : 
what  would  they  do  to  me  for  ringing  this 
little  bell?» 


12  I  truly  give  my  word,  and  I  swear  by  the 
soul  of  my  king  that  he  would  strike  thy 
bell  on  thv  head  till  thou  wert  lifeless. 


13  Had  fierce  Garbh  Doire  heard  the  sound  of 
a  bell  in  this  western  church,  he  would  have 
soon  gone  in  and  broken  the  clerics'  bell. 


182  DUANAIRE    FINN  [LIIT 

14  Da  gcluincadn  Fionn  in  feind/rf/i 
faoidli  do  cluigin  a  cleirigh 

do  rachadh  ad  ceann  gan  acht 
is  ni  roickadh  uait  imteaeW 

15  Da  gcluinead/i  Conan  na  fFian 
faoidh  in  cluigsi  riom  aniar 

cleirigh  bheata  do  bheith  ann 
do  beidis  uile  gan  anam 

16  Da  gchuneadh  Caoilti  croidhe 
fear  nar  opthac  n-iorghaile 

[72  b]  do  rachadh  asteach  gan  ghaoi 

's  do  hrisfcadh  bar  gcluigini 

17  Uchan  is  cradh  lem  chroidhe 
sgaradh   re   leirg  Maonmhoighe 

is  rissin  \Aochraidh  ffeilsin 
rem  fhein  is  rem  deigheixibh 

18  Is  me  Oisin  deaghmhac  Finn 
creidim  Dia  thuas  a  Thailginn 

ge  atu  atu  anocM  gan  fhein  gan  mhaoin 
is  pian  lira  faoidh  in  chluigf/i 

FAOiDH 

166  opthac.  There  is  a  mark  (an  accent?)  over  the  o. 
17a,  d :  lem,  rem,  rem.  The  e  in  each  case  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 
17b  Maonmhoighe.    There  is  an  imperfect  letter  (a?)  crossed  out  before  the 
second  o. 

18c  atu  atu,  si    MS. 


LIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  183 

14  Had  Fionn,  the  warrior,  heard  the  sound 
of  thy  little  bell,  0  cleric,  he  would  assured- 
ly have  gone  to  meet  you  and  you  would 
not  have  been  able  (?)  to  escape. 

15  Had  Conan  of  the  Fiana  heard  the  note  of 
this  bell  that  comes  to  me  from  the  west, 
though  all  the  clerics  of  the  world  had  been 
there  they  would  have  all  been  lifeless. 

16  Had  dear  Caoilte  heard  it,  a  man  who  did 
not  refuse  battle,  he  would  have  gone  in 
(no  lie)  and  broken  your  little  bells. 


17  Ah  me !  it  is  torture  to  my  heart  to  part 
from  the  slope  of  Maonmhagh  and  from 
those  generous  heroes,  from  my  fian  and  my 
good  poets. 

18  I  am  Oisin,  Fionn's  good  son  :  I  believe  in 
the  God  above,  0  Tailgeann.  Though  to- 
night I  am  without  fian,  without  wealth, 
the  bell's  note  gives  me  pain. 

17,  18  fian  as  a  common  noun  means    'a  war-band',  as  a  proper  noun    'the 
Fian  (or  Fiana)',  i.  e.,  Fionn's  Warband  (or  Warbands). 


LIV 

1  Domhnach  lodmair  tar  Luachair 
dar  cuirsiom  seilg  urn  Cruachain 

urn  bordaibh  Locha  Lein  Lir 

um  bruachaibh  Ghleanna  Faoinneallaig7i 

2  Cuirmid  ar  mna  uainn  ier  sin 
ar  Hilidh  ar  n-oirfidio/i 

do  lodmair  a  ndiaigh  ar  mban 
&  ar   UWeadh   ffiorghlan 

3  Do  roinnseamar  sinn  budhdhein 
don  taoibh  aniar  do  Loch  Lein 

battar  gille  glana  ann 

nach  geaWadh  ni  gan  chomhall 

4  In  gnaithFian   6  Leamhain   siar] 
um  Coirthe  um  Dhoire  na  fFian 

um  Gleann  mBroic  is  um  Gleann  Con 
um  Gleann  Duine  dha  Dhubhthar 

5  Clann  Morna  laimh  re  Loch  Lein 
aoibhinn  doibh  6  shleibh  do  shleibh 

ionmhain  crobhaing  dhileas  dhron 
ar   nach   ffuighbithe  baeghal 

6  Aos   ogbaidh    soir   agus    siar 
in  lasin  fa  fhlaith  na  fFian 

a  gceartmheadhon  na  sealga 
gondaois   doimh   dhoinndhearga 

6c  In  the  MS  mod  has  been  deleted  bzlore-mheadMn. 


LIV 

1  One  Sunday  we  went  over  Luachair  and 
hunted  about  Cruachain,  about  the  borders 
of  Loch  Lein  Lir,  around  the  edges  of  Gleann 
Faoinneallaigh. 

2  Thereupon  we  dismiss  our  women,  our  poets 
and  our  musicians  :  we  went  on  after  [the 
departure  of]  our  women  and  our  truly  pure 
poets. 

3  We  scattered  ourselves  on  the  western  side 
of  Loch  Lein  :  there  were  clean  lads  there 
who  would  promise  no  thing  they  would 
not  fulfill. 

4  The  standing  Fian  spread  themselves  west- 
ward from  Leamhain,  around  Coirthe  and 

Doire  na  bhFian,  around   Gleann  mBroic 
and  Gleann  Duine  dha  Dhubhthar. 

5  The  sons  of  Morna  were  beside  Loch  Lein  : 
it  was  pleasant  for  them  to  pass  from  moun- 
tain to  mountain  :  dear  was  that  loyal  firm 
cluster  in  whom  no  weakness1  might  befound. 

6  There  were  young  men  to  east  and  west  that 
day  under  the  Fian  chieftain  :  in  the  very 
centre  of  the  chase  they  used  to  slay  red- 
brown  stags. 

badghal  literally  'danger',  ,hence  'unguarded  spot',     unguarded  moment' 
'  opportunity  for  an  enemy  to  harm  one'. 


18G  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LIV 

7  Gapmaoid   longport  lith  gan   oil 
tortach  ar  seilg  in  lasoin 

suidhighmid  longport  gan  tar 
adit    Dubh  Dala    a    aona/an 

8  Codhlais  mac  Maoil  Gairbh  amuigh 
gairit  do   no  gur  mhuscail 

biodhghais  a  sdgneadh  gan  tlas 
beiridh  ruatar  tre  uathbhas 

9  Tairringis  Cluasan  a  ceann  cain 
as  a  haird  aloinn  eagair 

duisgis  in  cii  go  ngairbhe 
arracht  muice  moraidhble 

10  Gearr  do  battar  'na  garadh 
ar  n-eirge  dhi  da  falach 

fagbhais  in  gcoin  fa  mhela 
da  goinidibh  gairbhghera 

11  Imdhis  in  mhuic  uainn  don  leirg 
is  fagbhais  in  gcoin  fa  mairg 

cii  Dubh  Dhala  fa  a  choin 
is  claoidhis  a  feart  fodbaigh 

12  As  sin  do  go  longport  Finn 
's  nir  cheil  ar  in  fFein  ffoiltfhinn 

muc  do  luathmharbadA  a  chon 
's  a  dol  uadha  gan  fhostadh 

[73  a]  13  A  Dbuibh  Dhala  a  laoich  gan  \ocht 
adubairt  Fionn  faobarnocft/ 

in  mhuic  'sa  tuaruscbhail  sin 
ni  fuighbitbear  i  a  n-aisgidh 

lb  In  the  MS  the  first  t  of  torlach  somewhat  resembles  a  d. 

8a  Codhlais,  sic  MS.  8c  biodhghais,  sic  MS.  lie  cii,  sic  MS. 


LIV]  DUANATRE   FINN  187 

7  We  encamp  (a  blameless  festival)  :  our  chase 
that  day  was  fruitful  :  we  pitch  our  camp 
without  disgrace,  excepting  Dubh  Dala 
alone. 

8  The  son  of  Maol  Garbh  slept  without :  it  was 
but  a  short  time  till  he  awoke  :  his  unweary 
mind  leaped  :  he  rushes  in  horror. 


9  Cluasan  raised  her  goodly  head  from  out  her 
lovely  ornamented  (?)  collar  :  the  fierce 
hound    started    a     monstrous    huge   great 

Pig- 

10  They  were  but  a  short  time  in  the  pig's 
den  after  she  had  arisen  from  her  hiding- 
place  when  she  left  the  hound  in  sore 
plight  with  her  rough  sharp  tusks  (  ?). 

11  The  pig  went  from  us  down  the  slope  and 
left  the  hound  in  woe.  Dubh  Dala  wept 
for  his  hound  and  dug  her  sodded  grave. 


12  Thence  did  he  go  to  Fionn's  camp,  and  con- 
cealed not  from  the  fairhaired  Fian  that 
a  pig  had  swiftly  killed  his  hound  and  escap- 
ed from  him  unhindered. 

13  Dubh  Dala,  blameless  warrior,  said  Fionn 
of  the  unsheathed  weapons:  the  pig  of 
whom  that  is  the  description  will  not  be 
easily    captured. 


188  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LIV 

14  Arna  mbarach  dhuinn  da  scilg 
sochaid[h]e.  do-rad    fa    mairg 

iadhmaid  uimpe  aniar  's  anoir 
fa  dheisceart  Bhearnuis  Baogblaian 

15  Ad-ciam  chugainn  in  muic  mir 
ina    hairacht    anaithnidh 

ina   ruatrtr  tresan   fFein 
mar   sidhe   con    da   coneill 

16  Tarla   urcar   do   cloich   chruinn 
ar  a  gnuis  6  mac  Cumhaill 

gur  bris  a  dreich  dorcha  dhuibh 
gar  leig  tri  garrtha  gabaidh 

17  Beartuia/rim  buille  chuice 
ni  d'imgabhail  na  muice 

go  ndeachaid/i  tresan  gcloich  gcruaidh 
's  nir  dearg  ar  in  muic  mbongr uaidh 

18  A  hecta  ag  Bealach  Bheime 
6  mhaidin  go  trath  eirghe 

triar  ar  fichid  radh  nach  breg 
is  tri  coin  teasda  do  ched 

19  Maol  Tuile  is  Tadg  miadh  ngle 
in  da  mac  hudh  so  ag  Caoilti 

do  thuit  le  ar  lathair  goile 
&  Conn  mac  Cabhlaighe 

20  Colla   do  hudh  neassa   dhi 
fa  duibhfheadhaifi/j  Formaoile 

ga  hiompodh  do  ag  Sgairbh  Chomair 

lingis  in  mbuic  morghlonnaia/i 


LTV]  DUANAIRE   FINN  189 

14  On  the  morrow  we  hunted  her :  many  did 
she  bring  to  grief  :  we  close  around  her  from 
east  and  west  to  the  south  of  Bearnus 
Baoghlach. 

15  We  see  the  swift  pig  approach  us,  as  an 
unknown  monster,  rushing  through  the  Fian 
as  a  hound  springs  from  its  leash. 


16  A  round  stone  cast  by  the  son  of  Cumhall 
hit  her  in  the  face,  breaking  her  gloomy 
black  jowl,  so  that  she  gave  three  cries  of 
distress. 

17  I  aim  a  blow  at  her,  not  intending  to  avoid 
the  pig  (?) ;  it  passed  through  the  hard  stone 
and  drew  no  blood  from  the  red-maned  pig. 


18  Her  slayings  at  Bealach  Beime  from  morn- 
ing to  rising  time  were  twenty-three  men 
(a  saying  that  is  no  lie)  and  a  hundred 
hounds  all  but  three. 

19  Maol  Tuile  and  Tadhg  (bright  honour), 
Caoilte's  two  youngest  sons,  fell  by  her  on 
the  field  of  combat,  and  Conn  mhac  Cabh- 
laighe. 

20  Colla,  who  was  nearest  her  about  the 
black  woods  of  Formaoil,  leapt  the  deedful 
pig  as  he  turned  her  at  Sgairbh  Ghomair. 


190  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LIV 

21  As  sin  di  go  hAth  Chluig 
Colla  nochar  chuir  da  muin 

go  ttug  naoi  ngon  do  sgin 

ar  in  ffuath  n-eitigh  n-ainmhin 

22  Anais    Conan    agus    Fionn 
ag  Sruibh  Dairbreacft  ar  a  chionn 

&  nir  lughaide  a  ngrain 

re  huath   no  re  hiomgabhail 

23  Anais  Faolan  fear  go  gceill 
eidir  in   muic    &  in   Fein 

gur  chuir  corrgha  nar  beag  neimh 
go  ceart  triana  dha  seiridh 

24  Tairbeiris  Conan  a  dhi  shleigh 
ar  an   arracht  n-anaithnidh 

cuiris  di  shleigh  Conain  fein 
'na  mblodhaiph  go  hard  aigmeiZ 

25  Diubraicis  Fionn  sleigh  oile 
ar  in  slios  ngarp  nginoidhe 

do  ghoin  is  do  bhuail  ier  sin 
is  do  marbh  i  'na  deaghoidh 

26  A  n-aoinfeacM  do  Colla  chain 

's   do  Mac  Lughach  ar  lathair 
is  do  tuit  in  muic  ar  lar 


le   Fionn   7    le   Conan 

27  Naoi  ngilla  7  tricha  fear 
eidir   thus    agus    deireadh 

do-rochair  le   miste  ar  sealg 
is  seacht  fichid  cii  croibhdearg 

22d  no  follows  re  in  the  MS  with  sign  to  transpose. 


L1V]  DUANAIRE  FINN  191 

21  From  there  she  proceeded  to  Ath  Cluig  : 
she  did  not  dislodge  Colla  from  her  back, 
and  he  gave  nine  woundings  of  a  knife  to 
the  horrible  ungentle  phantom. 

22  Conan  and  Fionn  awaited  the  beast  at 
Srubh Dairbhreach  :  their  honor,  as  regards 
terror  and  avoidance  ( ?),  was  none  the  less 
for  that. 

23  Faolan  (a  man  of  sense)  remained  between 
the  pig  and  the  Fian  and  put  a  stinging 
pointed  spear  right  through  her  two  heels. 


24  Conan  launched  his  two  spears  upon  the 
unknown  monster.  She  made  morsels  of 
Conan's  own  two  spears  loftily  and  terribly. 


25  Fionn  hurled  another  spear  against  the 
rough  .  .  .  side  :  after  that  he  wounded  and 
struck  her  and  thereupon  slew  her. 


26  Goodly  Colla  and  Mac  Lughach  were  at  the 
same  instant  on  the  spot,  and  the  pig  fell 
to  earth  at  the  hands  of  Fionn  and  Conan. 


27  Nine  lads  and  thirty  men,  counting  beginn- 
ing and  end,  fell  by  her  (It  saddened  our 
chase),  and  seven  score  red-footed  hounds. 


192  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LIV 

[73b]  28  Deich  cced  muc  is  deich  gced  agh 
isin  seac/i/mainsin  tar  lear 

is   se   c[h]sd  mil  moighe   amach 
ar  seilg  a  sin  go  Domnach 

Domhnach 


LIV]  DUANAIRE   FINN  193 

28  Ten  hundred  pigs  and  ten  hundred  deer... 
and  six  hundred  hares  was  our  hunting 
spoil  from  that  on  till  Sunday. 


LV 

1  Is    fada    anocht    a    n-Oil  Finn 

fada  linn  an  oidhche  areir 
in  la  aniu  ge  fada  damh 

do  budh  leor  fad  in  laoi  ane 

2  Fada  liom  gach  la  dha  ttig 

ni  mar  sin  fa  cleacMadh  dhiiin 
mo  bheith  a  ffegmais  na  fFian 
do  cuir  sin  mo  ciall  ar  ccuil 

3  Gan  aonach  gan  ceol  gan  cruit 

gan  brondadh  cruidh  gan  gniom  greadh 
gan  diol  ollamhan  ar  or 

gan  ealadhoin  gan  61  fleadh 

4  Gan  bheit  ag  suirghe  no  ag  seilg 

in  da  cheird  le  a  raibhe  ar  suil 
gan  deabaidh  gan  denamh  creach 

gan  beith  ag  foghluim  elects  luith 


5  Gan  earradb  gaisgidh  do  ghnath 

gan  imbi'rt  mar  budh  gnath  leinn 
gan  snamh  re  laochraitf/i  gan  locht 
is  fada  anocht  a  n-Oil  Finn 

6  Fada  mo  saoghal  tar  eis  na  fFian 

ni  cneasta  na  budh  cian  linn 
ba  hiad  in  laochrarf/i  gan  locht 
is  fada  anocht  a  n-Oil  Finn 


LV 


1  Time  passes  wearily  in  Elphin  tonight : 
last  night  I  thought  it  passed  wearily  too  ; 
and  though  wearily  I  find  today  go  by, 
yesterday  lacked  nothing  in  its  weary  length. 

2  Wearisome  to  me  is  each  succeeding  day  : 
it  was  not  so  we  used  to  be  :  my  being  part- 
ed from  the  Fiana  has  upset  my  wits. 


3  No  gatherings,  no  music,  no  harps,  no  be- 
stowal of  wealth,  no  deeds  of  horsemanship, 
no  rewarding  of  the  learned  with  gold,  no 
art,  no  festive  drinking. 

4  No  courting  or  hunting,  the  two  crafts  we 
looked  forward  to,  no  fighting,  no  raiding, 
no  learning  of  athletic  feats. 


5  Never  any  equipment  of  war,  nor  playing 
[of  games]  as  was  our  wont,  no  swimming 
with  blameless  warriors  —  Time  passes 
wearily  in  Elphin  tonight. 

6  Wearisome  is  my  life  after  the  Fiana  :  it 
is  right  that  I  should  find  it  so  :  they  were 
blameless  warriors  ■ —  Time  passes  wearily 
in  Elphin  tonight. 


196  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LV 

7  Is  don  tsaoga/  mar  ata  me 

truagh  a  Dhe  mar  ata  sinn 
am  aonar  ag  tarruing  cloch 

is  fada  anocht  a  n-Oil  Finn 

8  Sir  a  Patraic  dhiiin  ar  Dhia 

fios  an  ionaidh  a  mbia  sinn 
no  in  saorfa  m'anam  ar  olc 
is  fada  anocht  a  n-Oil  Finn 

Is  FADA 


7c?  After  this  Verse  the  first  couplet  of  the  quatrain  (7c,  d)  is  repeated,  with 
deavmad  written  in  the  margin  on  each  side.  In  the  recopied  couplet  Isaogal  is 
replaced  by  tsaogal  and  truagh  by  truagh. 


LV]  DUANAIRE   FINN  197 

7  And  my  worldly  plight  —  sad  it  is  that  I 
am  so,  0  God  :  all  alone  drawing  stones  — 
Time  passes  wearily  in  Elphin  tonight. 


8  Patrick,  on  my  behalf  ask  God  to  let  it  be 
known  in  what  place  I  shall  be,  or  whether 
he  will  save  my  soul  from  evil  —  Time  passes 
wearily  in  Elphin  tonight. 


LYI 

1  Mairg  fuil  ar  h'iarraidh  a  Bhrain 
is    sgaradh    cuirp    re    hanmain 

liair   nachad-faguim   a   Bhrain 
ni  charuim  ni  ar  talmhain 

2  An  lamh  dar  bhuaileas  Bran 
dursan    nach   liom   do   sgaradh 

nach  beinn  a  mbeathai  dh  abhus 
dursan  nach  d'eg  do-chuadhus 

3  Ri  na  gcon  do  biodh  am  laim 
os  leicnibh  Sleibhe  Collain 

is  ni  raibhe  ar  bith  go  mbaigh 
cu  ar  a  mbeith  a  tuaruscbdi/ 

4  Da  taobh  geala  do  bhi  ag  Bran 
earboll  nua  corcra  gleghlan 

[74  a]  ceatramha  corcra  go  roinn 

otha  earboll  go  hiardruim 

5  Ceithre  cosa  gorma  faoi 

re  himteac/i/  oidhche  &  laoi 

cruibh  uaine  nar  teacA/sat  baigh 
ingne  ettroc/i/a  iuchain 

6  Rose  dreagain  ina  ceann  coir 
ris  nir  fedadh  iomarbhaidh 
aluinn  agus  caomh  a  clii 
mo  is  gasta  na  gach  miolchu 

4c  ceatramha.    The  MS  contraction  (a  dotted  stroke)  should  normally  have 
been   extended  adh  (ceatramhadb). 


LVI 

1  Woe  for  him  who  has  lost  thee,  Bran  :  it  is 
the  parting  of  soul  and  body  :  since  I  find 
not  thee,  0  Bran,  I  love  no  thing  on  earth. 


2  The  hand  with  which  I  struck  Bran,  alas ! 
that  it  was  not  parted  from  me.  So  that  I 
might  not  be  here  alive,  alas  !  that  I  did 
not  meet  my  death. 

3  The  king  of  hounds  who  used  to  be  held 
by  me  on  the  sides  of  Sliabh  Collain  —  there 
was  not  on  the  boastful  earth  a  hound  who 
could  be  praised  as  Bran  could  be. 

4  Two  white  sides  had  Bran  and  a  fresh  crim- 
son shining  tail.  His  crimson  haunch  was 
well  apportioned,  stretching  from  his  tail 
to  the  end  of  his  back  (?). 

5  He  had  four  blue  feet  for  going  by  night 
and  day,  green  paws  that  .  .  .  not  battle 
and  gleaming  pale-red  claws. 


6  He  had  a  fierce  eye  in  his  shapely  head.  It 
was  impossible  to  contend  with  him.  Beau- 
tiful and  lovely  was  his  fame.  He  was  swift- 
er than  all  hare-hounds. 


200  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LVI 

7  In  cu  ba  hairde  sa  Fein 
thigead  gan  cromadh  fo  a  blein 

is  a  ceann  ba  gasta  in  roinn 
ba  comard  e  rem  ghualainn 

8  Ceithre  mil  do  leiginn  uaim 

miol  budhdheas  is  miol  budhthuaidh 
miol  siar  agus  miol  soir 
do  bidis  uile  a  mbel  Bhrain 

9  Da  mbeith  dmeadh   laoi   gun  fFein 
gan  seilg  gan  fhiadhacft  do  chein 

do  bheradh  a  gcuid  a  coill 
do  bi&ihiadh  Bran  6  Bhoirinn 

10  Is  aire  do  bhuaileas  Bran 

is  mor  n-uair  ba  haithreacn  dhamh 
gair  na  ccon  is  na  sealga 
risna  fiadhaibh  foirdearga 

11  Tugus   buille    d'eill   buidhe 
dho  go  HaWgibh  fionndruine 

do-chiiaidh  an  idh  oir  'na  ceann 
mairg  do-rinne  in  gnim  roitheann 

12  longnadh  leis  a  bhualad/i  damh 
do  bhoi  aihaidh  gom  feghadh 

gur   silseat   frasa   dera 
tar  a  rosgaibh  rinnghera 

13  Olc  sen  far  togbadh  in  lamh 
olc  sen  ro  tairngeadh  go  han 

olc  sen  do-righneadh  in  be'adg 
mairg  do-rinne  in  gniom  rogharg 

Id  rem.  The  c  represents  a  tall  e  In  the  MS. 

9d  biathfadh.  The  MS  contraction  (a  dotted  7)  here  expanded  qdfi  would 
normally  have  been  expanded  eadh. 


LVI]  DUANAIRE   FINN  201 

7  The  tallest  of  the  Fian  dogs  would  pass 
beneath  his  groin  without  stooping :  his 
head  (it  was  a  cunning  distribution)  was 
as  high  as  my  shoulder. 

8  I  used  to  loose  four  hares,  one  south,  one 
north,  one  west,  one  east.  Bran  used  to 
have  them  all  in  his  mouth  ! 


9  If  the  Fian's  day  had  ended  with  no  spoils 
won  afar  in  chase  and  hunt,  he  would  bring 
their  meal  from  the  wood  :  Bran  from  Burren 
would  feed  them. 

10  This  is  why  I  struck  Bran  (Many  a  time  have 
I  regretted  it)  :  the  hounds  and  hunt 
were  crying  to  the  deep-red  deer. 


Ill  gave  him  a  blow  of  a  yellow  thong  decor- 
ated with  rings  of  white  bronze. The  golden 
circlet  entered  his  head.  Woe  for  him  who 
did  the  overbearing  deed  ! 

12  He  wondered  at  being  struck  by  me  :  for 
a  while  he  looked  at  me,  and  then  streams 
of  tears  poured  from  his  piercing  eyes. 

13  111  the  omen  under  which  the  hand  was 
raised  ;  ill  the  omen  when  it  was  splendidly 
drawn  ( ?)  ;  ill  the  omen  when  the  movement 
was  made.  Woe  for  him  who  did  the  cruel 
deed  ! 


202 


[LVI 


DUANAIRE   FINN 

14  Tairngidh  uaim  a  heill  go  trie 
gur  bhris  in  mhuince  airgid 

dar  theith  go  moch  ar  in  sleibh 
gur  ling  sa  loch  a  luathleim 

15  Tri  hualla  gacha  nona 
ag  ar  gconartoibh  crodha 

coin  na  Feine  ag  iarraidh  Bhrain 
's  an  Fhian  uile  go  ciamhair 

16  Ni  chiiala  guth  con  ag  seilg 
ar  moigh  ar  moin  ar  morleirg 

6  do  sgarus  rem  choin  ngairg 
na  beith  mo  croidhe  fo  mairg 

Mairg 

Ag  sin  duit  a  chaiptin  Samhairle.  &  da  ffaghuinn  ni  budh  mo 
ina  sin  do  Dhuanaire  Finn  rena  sgriobadh  do-dhenainn  dhaobhsi 
eMisi  Aodh  0  Docartaigh  do  sgriobh  a  n-Oisdin.  in  .12.  Februari. 
1627. 


16c  rem.  The  e  represents  a  small  e  in  MS. 

Scribal  Note  disdin.  The  d  looks  something  like  a  b. 


LVI]  DUANAIRE    FINN  203 

14  He  pulls  his  leash  hastily  from  me,  breaking 
the  silver  neck-chain,  and  soon  fleeing  along 
the  mountain  plunged  with  a  swift  leap 
into  the  lake. 

15  Three  cries  every  evening  were  uttered  by 
our  brave  dogs  :  it  was  the  Fian  hounds 
seeking  Bran,  while  the  Fian  were  all  in 
gloom. 

16  I  have  never  heard  the  voice  of  a  hound 
a-hunting  on  plain,  on  bog,  or  spreading 
slope,  since  I  parted  with  my  bold  hound, 
but  that  woe  would  come  upon  my  heart. 


There  you  are,  Captain  Somhairle,  and  if  I  could  get  more  than 
that  of  Fionn's  Poembook  to  write  I  would  do  it  for  you.  I, 
Aodh  0  Dochartaigh,  wrote  this,  in  Ostend,  the  12th  of  February, 
1627. 


LVII 

[74  b]  1  A  Oisin  as  fada  do  shiian 

eiridh  siias  is  eisd  na  sailm 
6  thairnic  do  liith  is  do  rath 

do  chuirthea  cath  a  ngleo  garbh 

2  Do  thairnic  mo  liith  is  mo  rath 

6  nach  mairionn  cath  ag  Fiond 
i  ccleircibh  ni  fhuil  mo  speis 
no  ceol  da  n-eis  ni  binn  liom 

3  Ni  chiialais  a  ccomhmaith  do  ceol 

6  thus  domain  mhoir  gus  anocht 
ta  tu  arsaidh  aimglic  liath 

ge  do  dhiolta  cliar  ar  cnoc 

4  Dq  dhiolainnsi  cliar  ar  cnoc 

a  Patraic  gidh  docht  do  run 
as  mairg  dhuit  do  chain   mo  chruth 
is  nach  ffuair  me  guth  ar  tus 

5  Do-chual  ceol  as  icarr  no  an  ceol 

ge  raor  mholus  tu  in  chliar 
sgalgarnach  luin  Leitrear/i  Laoi 

's  a'  (aoidheadh  do-niodh  in  Dord  Fian 

6  Smolach  guithbhinn  Ghleanna  in  Sgail 

monghar  na  mbarc  'buain  re  tracht 
budh  binne  liom  trosd  na  ccon 
na  do  sgol  a  chlein'0/2  chaidh 


LVII 

1  Oisin,  thy  slumber  is  long  :  rise  up  and  listen  to 
the  psalms,  now  that  your  activity  and  prosperity 
are  over :  you  used  to  do  battle  in  fierce  war. 


2  My  activity  and  prosperity  are  over  since  Fionn 
no  longer  has  a  battalion.  After  them  I  care  not 
for  clerics,  nor  is  music  sweet  to  me. 


3  You  never  heard  such  good  music  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  great  world  till  tonight.  You  are 
old,  stupid  and  grey,  though  once  you  used  to 
reward  learned  men  on  hilltops. 

4  I  used  to  reward  learned  men  on  hilltops,  0  Pat- 
rick, though  you  keep  such  secrets  closely  ( ?).  It  is 
an  ill  deed  for  you  to  revile  my  condition  wit- 
hout first  hearing  what  I  had  to  say  ( 7)1. 

5  I  have  heard  music  better  than  their  music,  though 
you  praise  the  clergy  highly  :  the  chatter  of  the 
blackbird  of  Leitir  Laoi  and  the  sound  made  by 
the  Dord  Fian. 


6  The  sweet-voiced  thrush  of  Gleann  an  Sgail,  the 
noise  of  the  ships  as  they  touched  the  shore  :  the 
cry  of  the  hounds  was  more  musical  to  me  than 
thy  chant,  holy  cleric. 

1  Or  perhaps  '  seeing  that  I  did  not  receive  blame  at  first  '. 


206  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LVII 

7  Da  ghadar  d[h]eg  do  bhi  ag  Fionn 

an  uair  do  leigthi  fa  Glionn  Raith 
budh  binne  liom  a  n-oific  chiuil 
's  a  n-aghoidh  on  tSitiir  amach 

8  An  uair  do  shuidhiodh  Fionn  ar  cnoc 

shinnti  gan  locht  in  Dord  Fian 
chuireadh  'na  ccodladh  na  sluaigh 
mo-nuar  budh  binne  led  in  chliar 

9  Cnu  Dheireoil  enii  mo  chuirp 

abhac  beag  do  bhi  ag  Fionn 

an  uair  do  shinne  adh  cuir  is  puirt 

do  bhiodh  se  's  a  cruit  qo  binn 


&" 


10  Blathnaid  bheag  an  inghean  6g 

tug  moid  re  fear  fon  ngrein 
acht  Cnii  Dheireoil  7  si 

och  a  ri  budh  binn  a  mbeil 

11  Do  budh  mian  le  Fionn  na  ffleadh 

siansan  con  a  ffad  ar  sliabh 
coin  allta  ag  fagbhail  a  cciian 

mordhail  na  sluagh  dob  e  a  mian 

12  Iomdha  mian  do  bhi  ag  Fionn 

nach  ccuirtear  a  suim  id  dhiaigh 
ni  mhairionn  Fionn  no  na  coin 

's  ni  mairfe  tu  a  Oisin  na  ccliar 

13  As  mo  an  sgel  Fionn  no  sinn 

b  na  'ttainic  ler  linn  riamh 
a  ndeachaid/i  is  na  ffuil  beo 

dob  fearr  fa  or  Fionn  na  fFian 

13  b  ler  :  the  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 


LVII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  207 

7  Fionn  had  twelve  hounds  :  when  they  were  let 
loose  in  Gleann  Raith  their  tuneful  chanting,  as 
they  swept  away  from  the  river  Suir,  was  more 
musical  to  me. 

8  When  Fionn  took  his  seat  on  a  hill  the  Dord  Fian 
would  be  faultlessly  sounded.  It  used  to  put  all 
men  asleep:  alas!  they  would  [now?]  find  the 
clergy  more  musical. 

9  Cnii  Dheireoil,  the  nut  of  my  body,  was  a  little 
dwarf  of  Fionn's  ;  when  he  played  tunes  and  melo- 
dies he  and  his  harp  were  musical. 


10  Little  Blathnaid,  the  young  maiden,  who  pledged 
her  troth  to  no  man  beneath  the  sun  excepting 
Cnu  Dheireoil  (?)  ...  —  Ah  me!  0  King,  their 
mouths  were  musical. 

11  A  thing  beloved  of  feasting  Fionn  was  the  music 
of  hounds  far  off  on  a  mountain,  wolves  leaving 
their  lairs,  the  pomp  of  the  hosts  :  it  was  that  he 
loved. 

Patrick  :  12  Many  were  the  things  beloved  of  Fionn  of  which 
no  heed  is  taken  now  that  he  has  gone.  Fionn 
and  the  hounds  live  no  more  and  you  shall  cease 
to  live,  Oisin  of  the  clerics. 

Oisin  :  13  Fionn  is  more  important  than  we  and  than  all 
who  have  ever  lived  in  our  time  :  Fionn  of  the 
Fian  was  better  as  regards  gold  than  all  who  have 
gone  and  all  who  are  alive. 


208  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LVII 

14  Tug  se  naoi  gcatha  sa  fFraingc 

naoi  bhfichid  cath  a  nEirinn  uill 
on  tsruth  ar  baisdeadh  Crlosd 

do  theigh  a  chios  go  Toigh  in  Duinn 

15  Tug  se  naoi  ccatha  sa  Spain 

airdrigh  Lochlann  a  laim  leis 
beach/  do  bhi  in  domhan  fa  chios 
'se  budh  righ  isin  Greig  Bhig 

16  Lochland  's  an   Innia   mhor 

tigeadh  a  n-6r  go  teach  Fhinn 
ni  roibhe  coimmeas  ris  6  Chrlosd 
ni  fhacus  ri  os  a  chionn 

[75  a]  17  Mairg  dhamh  do  hanadh  dha  eis 
gan  mo  speis  a  muirn  no  a  cceol 
um  damh  crion  d'aithle  na  sliiagh 
as  damh  is  truagh  a  beith  beo 


18  Truagh  a  Thailginn  an  sgel 

bheith  a  ndiaigh  na  ffear  go  fann 
ag  eisdeacht  re  ceol  na  gclog 

as  me  um  sheanoir  bhocht  dhall 


19  Da  mairiodh  Fionn  is  an  Fian 

do  fhuicfinn  cliar  na  ccros 
do  leanfuinnsi  fiadh  a  ngleann 

is  budh  mian  learn  bheith  re  a  chos 

20  Sir  a  Patraic  dhuinn  ar  do  Dhia 

neamh  d'Fionn  na  bFian  is  da  chloinn 
dena    guidhe    risin    fflaith 

ni  chiiala  a  commaith  rem  linn 

17c  crion.  MS  cas  cion  with  a  puncium  delens  under    the  i  and  another  i  su- 
perscript over  the  c. 

20d  rem  :  the  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  MS. 


LVII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  209 

14  He  fought  nine  battles  in  France,  nine  score 
battles  in  great  Ireland.  His  sway  extended  from 
the  stream  where  Christ  was  baptized  to  Teach 
an  Duinn. 

15  He  fought  nine  battles  in  Spain  :  the  High  King 
of  Norway  was  his  captive  :  the  whole  world  was 
tributary  to  him  :  he  was  king  in  Lesser  Greece. 


16  The  gold  of  Norway  and  great  India  came  to  Fionn's 
house.  Since  Christ's  time  no  one  can  be  compared 
to  him.  I  have  seen  no  king  more  exalted  than 
he. 

17  Alas  for  me  who  have  been  left  behind  him.  I  have 
no  care  for  merriment  or  music.  I  am  a  worn  out 
stag  whose  herds  have  left  him.  Woful  for  me  to 
be  alive ! 

18  It  is  a  piteous  thing,  0  Adzehead,  to  be  left  behind 
them  in  my  weakness,  listening  to  the  music  of  the 
bells,  a  poor  blind  old  man. 


19  If  Fionn  and  the  Fian  lived  I  would  leave  the  cross- 
bearing  clergy  :  I  would  follow  a  deer  in  a  glen, 
and  I  should  love  to  be  at  his  heels. 


20  Patrick,  ask  from  your  God,  I  pray  you,  that  Fionn 
of  the  Fiana  and  his  children  reach  Heaven.  Make 
prayer  for  the  prince  :  never  in  my  time  did  I 
hear  of  one  to  equal  him. 


210  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LVII 

21  Ni  iarrfa  meisi  neamh  d'Fionn 

a  fhir  nach  grinn  ler  eirigh  m'fearg 
gurab  e  a  mhian  rena  linn 

beith  a  nglionn  ag  siansan  sealg 

22  Da  mbeithea  faris  in  fFein 

a  chleirigh  na  ccliar  's  na  clog 
ni  tiubhra  th'aire  do  Dhia 
acht  riar  chliar  &  suol 


■'&" 


23  Ni  threigfinnsi  Mac  De  Bhi 

ar  a  ttainic  a  ccli  thoir  is  tiar 
a  Oisin  in  fuighle  bhuig 

olc  do-chuaidh  dhuit  diol  na  ccliar 

24  Gach  ar  pronn  tii  7  Fionn  d'or 

olc  do-chuaidh  dho  7  duit 
ata  se  a  n-ifreann  'na  gheall 
mar  do-denadh  feall  7  broid 

25  Beag  do  chreidfinn  dot  ghlor 

a  chleirio/i  na  leabar  mban 
ni  roibhe  Fionn  na   coimfhial 
ag  duine  no  ag  Dia  a  lamh 

26  Ata  se  a  n-ifrionn  a  laim 

fear  fa  saimh  do  bhronnadh  or 
a  ndiol  a  easurradhais  ar  Dhia 
ta  se  a  ttigh  na  bpian  fa  bron 

27  Da  mbeith  clanna  Morna  astigh 

no  chlann  Bhaoisgne  fir  fa  tren 
do-bherdaois  sin  Fionn  amach 
no  bhiadh  in  teach  aca  fen 

2lb  ler  :  the  e  represents  a  tall  e.  21  c  rena  is  written  re  na  in  MS  (small  e). 

22a  The  ea  of  mbeithea  is  obscured  by  a  blot. 
26d  fa  has  been  inserted  above  the  line  in  the  MS. 
27  (iMS  has  ag  crossed  out  before  aca. 


LVII]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

Patrick  :  21  I  will  not  seek  Heaven  for  Fionn,  unpleasant  man 
against  whom  my  anger  has  arisen  ;  for  what  he 
loved  in  his  day  was  to  be  in  a  glen  amid  the  clam- 
our of  the  chase. 

Oisin  :  22  If  you  had  been  along  with  the  Fian,  0  clerk  of  the 
clergy  and  the  bells,  you  would  have  paid  no  heed 
to  God,  but  to  giving  due  treatment  to  learned 
men  and  scholars. 


211 


Patrick  :  23  I  would  not  desert  the  Son  of  the  Living  God  for 
all  who  have  come  in  the  flesh,  east  or  west.  Oisin 
of  weak  judgement  (?)1,your  rewarding  of  learned 
men  has  ended  badly  for  you. 

24  All  the  money  you  and  Fionn  bestowed  has  ended 
badly  for  him  and  for  you  :  he  is  in  Hell  because 
of  it ;  for  he  practised  treachery  and  violence. 


Oisin  :  25  Little  faith  would  I  put  in  your  words,  0  clerk  of 
the  white  books.  Neither  Fionn  nor  anyone  so 
generous  as  he  has  been  kept  in  bondage  by  man 
or  God. 

Patrick  :  26  He  is  prisoner  in  Hell,  that  man  who  benignly 
bestowed  gold.  On  account  of  his  want  of  faith  in 
God  he  is  in  sorrow  in  the  house  of  torments. 


Oisin  :  27  Were  the  children  of  Morna  there,  or  the  children 
of  Baoisgne  (they  were  stout  men), they  would  carry 
Fionn  out,  or  else  themselves  take  possession  of 
the  house. 


1  Or  «  of  soft  speech  » ? 


212  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LVII 

28  Da  maireadh  Faolan  is  Goll 

Diarmaid  donn  is  Osgar  aigh 
a  n-eintigh  riam  dar  chom  Dia 
ni  bhiadh  Fionn  na  fFian  a  laimh 


29  Coig  coigidh  'Eireann  fa  seach 

's  na  seacht  ccatha  boi  san  fFein 
ni    tiubhraidis    Fionn    amach 
ger  mhor  a  nea/t  is  a  ttrein 

30  A  Patraic  is  truagh  in  sgel 

an  fear  fial  do  bheith  fo  gblas 
croidhe  gan  aingidheac/?/  gan  fhuath 
croidhe  cruaidh  ag  cosnamh  cath 

31  As  egcoir  nar  mhaith  le  Dia 

or  is  biadh   'thabhairt  do   neach 
nir  er  se  tren  no  truagh 

ifreann  fiiar  mas  e  a  theach 

[75  b]  32  Cred  do-rinne  Fionn  re  Dia 

acht  riar  na  cellar  is  na  sgol 
is  treas  mor  re  bronnadh  oir 

is  treas  fos  re  meadhair  chon 

33  'S  a  gheall  re  meadhair  na  ccon 

is  re  riar  na  sgol  gach  la 
is  gan  smaoithiugh  ar  Dhia 
ata  Fionn  na  fFian  a  laimh 

34  Ata  sgel  agam  ar  Fhionn 

ni  raibh  ionn  acht  se  fir  dheg 
gabhsam  ri  Sacsan  na  ffleadh 
chuiriomar  cath  ar  righ  Greg 


LVII]  DUANAIRE    FINN 

28  Did  Faolan  and  Goll  live,  Rrown  Diarmaid  and 
Osgar  the  Rold,  never  would  Fionn  of  the  Fiana 
be  in  captivity  in  any  house  made  by  God. 


213 


Patrick  :  29  The  five  separate  provinces  of  Ireland  and  the 
seven  battalions  of  the  Fian  could  not  bring  Fionn 
out,  though  their  power  and  strength  were  great. 


Oisin  :  30  Patrick,  't  is  a  pitiful  thing  that  the  generous 
man  should  be  imprisoned,  a  heart  without  wic- 
kedness or  hatred,  a  stout  heart  to  do  battle. 


31  It  is  unjust  that  God  should  not  be  pleased  with 
the  giving  to  people  of  gold  and  food.  Fionn  refused 
neither  strong  nor  weak,  if  cold  Hell  is  his  house. 


32  What  did  Fionn  do  against  God  but  attend  to  the 
learned  and  scholars,  now  giving  up  much  time  to 
the  bestowal  of  gold,  another  time  joyfully  following 
hounds? 

Patrick  :  33  Fionn  of  the  Fiana  is  imprisoned  on  account  of  the 
joy  of  the  chase  and  the  attention  he  devoted  to  the 
learned  every  day  without  a  thought  of  God. 


Oisin  :  34  I  know  a  tale  about  Fionn  :  sixteen  men  only 
were  there  there  :  we  captured  the  festive  king  of 
Engand  :  we  went  to  war  with  the  king  of  Greece. 


214  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LVII 

35  Do  gabsam  an  Innia  ar  fad 

ba  mor  ar  neart  is  ar  ttren 
do  cuiriomar  cath  ar  righ  Frangc 
dar  do  laim  ni  abruim  breg 

36  Do  gabhamar  Maghnus  mor 

mac  righ  Lochlann  na  long  mbreac 
rangamar  gan  ghuin  gan  sgis 

do  chuirmis  ar  ccios  a  ffad 

37  A  sheanoir  do  shaobh  do  chiall 

beag  in  sgel  gan  a  mbeith  beo 
a  raiph  do  shluagaibh  ann  sin 

ni  bhia  as  ni  fhuil  acht  mar  cheo 

38  A  Patraic  na  mbachall  mbreac. 

ni  rachadh  leat  aithis  Fhinn 
nir  er  se  duine  fa  or 

ni  thug  a  mbreig  moid  no  mionn 

39  Tabhairsi  th'aire  duit  fein 

6  atathaoi  gan  ceill  abhus 
tabair  th'aire  duit  a  triiaigh 

tapair  dot  uaidh  th'aire  anos 

A  Oisin 


LVII]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

35  We  took  the  whole  of  India  (Our  strength  and  might 
were  great)  :  we  went  to  war  with  the  king  of  the 
Franks.  By  your  hand,  I  tell  no  lie. 


215 


36  We  captured  Magnus  the  Great,  son  of  the  King  of 
Norway  of  the  speckled  ships  ;  we  arrived  back 
unwounded,  unwearied :  we  made  distant  lands 
tributary  to  us. 

Patrick  :  37  0  ancient  man,  who  have  perverted  your  reason  : 
you  make  little  account  of  their  being  alive  no 
more  :  all  those  hosts  of  past  time  shall  be,  and 
already  are,  but  mist. 

Oisin  :  38  Patrick  of  the  speckled  croziers,  you  could  not  find 
fault  with  Fionn  :  he  never  refused  anyone  as  re- 
gards gold  :  he  never  perjured  himself  nor  took 
false  oath. 


Patrick  :  39  Do  you,  now  that  you  are  here  in  your  folly,  turn 
your  thoughts  upon  yourself  :  reflect  on  your  own 
case,  poor  wretch  :  turn  your  thoughts  now  to 
your  tomb. 


LVIII 

1  La  da  ndeachaidh  Fionn  na  bFian 

do  sheilg  ar  Sliabh  na  mBan  fFionn 
tri  mhile  'mathaibh  na  fFian 

.   ni  deachaidh  sgiamh  os  ar  gcionn 

2  A  Oisin  is  binn  linn  do  ghlor 

beannac/?/  fos  ar  anmuin  Fbinn 
7  innis  ca  mhed  fiadh 

do  thuit  ar  Sliabh  na  mBan  fFionn 

3  Budh  mor  na  creacha  dar  sliiagh 

dar  a  ndeachaidh  uaim  's  ni  sbleadh 
ar  thuit  ar  Sliabh  na  mBan  bFionn 
d'fiadhach  re  Fionn  na  Hleadh 

4  Innis  rod  roimhe  gach  sgel 

beannac/2/  ar  do  bhel  gan  go 
in   mbiodh   eideadh  no   airm 
ag  dul  do  sheilg  libh  gach  16 

5  Do  biodh  eideadh  7  airm 

ag  dul  do  sheilg  linn  mar  sin 
ni  bhiodh  Mndidh  dhinn  dom  dhoigh 
gan  Ieinidh  sroil  is  da   choin 

6  Gan  cotun  sithe  seimh 

is  luireach  bharraidh  gheir  ghlain 
's  gan  ceinnbeirt  clochorrdha  chorr 
's  da  sleidh  a  ndorn  gach  fir 


LVIII 

Oisin  :  1  One  day  Fionn  of  the  Fiana  went  to  hunt  on  Sliabh 
na  mBan  bhFionn,  with  three  thousand  good  men 
of  the  Fiana  :  we  were  unsurpassed  in  our  splendour. 


Patrick  :  2  Oisin,  I  love  the  sound  of  your  voice,  and  a  blessing 
to  Fionn's  soul  too,  and  tell  how  many  deer  fell 
on  Sliabh  na  mBan  bhFionn. 


Oisin  :  3  Great  spoils  for  our  men  (I  swear  it  by  all  I  have 
lost,  and  it  is  no  exaggeration)  was  the  prey  that 
fell  to  festive  Fionn  on  Sliabh  na  mBan   bhFionn. 


Patrick  :  4  Speak  out  before  anything  else  —  A  blessing  on 
your  unlying  mouth!  —  Used  you  to  take  war- 
raiment  or  arms  with  you  each  day  when  you  went 
hunting  ? 

Oisin  :  5  We  carried  war-raiment  and  arms  whenever  we 
so  went  hunting.  I  believe  there  was  no  warrior 
amongst  us  without  a  satin  shirt  and  two  hounds, 


6  Without  a  soft  smooth  wadded  tunic  and  a  corselet 
of  sharp  clean  tow,  an  upstanding  jewelled  and  gild- 
ed headpiece  and  two  spears  in  each  man's  hand, 


218  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LVIII 

7  Gan  sgiath  uaine  hhe'ircadh  buaidh 

is  lann  chriiaidh  re  sgoi\teadh  cionn 
[76  a]  da  sirthea  in  domhan  fa  seach 

ni  raibhe  neach  budh  fearr  no  Fionn 

8  As  e  dob  fearr  eineach  is  agh 

ni  deachaid/i  lamh  6s  a  cionn 
dul  do  thaistiol  na  ccuan  ngeal 
gan  faicsin  ar  fear  mar  Fhionn 

9  Cath  eagair  do-chiiadhmar  siar 

do  seilg  ar  Sliabh  na  mBan  fFionn 
a  Patraic  a  cheann  na  ccliar 

dob  alainn  grian  6s  ar  ccionn 

*  » 

10  An  uair  do  shuidheadh  Fionn  ar  ccoin 

dob  iomdha  anoir  is  aniar 
guth  gadhair  ag   dol   do   chnoc 
ag  dusgadh  thorc  &  fiadh 

11  Do  biodh  Fionn  7  Bran 

'na  suidhe  seal  ar  in  sliabh 
gach  fear  dhiobh  a  n-ionadh  sealg 
no  gur  eirigh  cealg  na  bfiadh 

12  Leigiomar   tri    mhile   cu 

dob  fearr  luth  is  do  bhi  garg 
do  marbh  gach  cu  diobh  da  fhiadh 
sul  do  cuireadh  iall  'na  n-aird 

13  Marbhamar  se  mhile  fiadh  barr 

ar  in  ghleannn  do  bhi  fan  tsliabh 
a    nfegmais    aighe    7    fearb 

ni  dearnad  sealg  mar  sin  riamh 


[LVIII  DUANAIRE   FINN  219 

7  Without  a  green  conquering  shield  and  a  hard 
sword  for  splitting  heads  —  Did  you  search  the 
world  man  by  man,  you  would  have  found  no  one 
better  than  Fionn. 

8  He  was  the  noblest  and  bravest :  never  was  he 
overpowered  :  one  might  go  voyaging  through  all 
bright  havens  without  looking  upon  a  man  like 
Fionn. 

9  An  ordered  battalion  we  set  out  westwards  to  hunt 
on  Sliabh  na  mBan  bhFionn.  Patrick,  head  of 
the  clergy,  the  sun  was  lovely  above  our  heads. 


10  When  Fionn  had  arranged  our  hounds,  manifold 
from  east  and  west  were  the  voices  of  dogs  taking 
to  the  hill,  starting  boars  and  deer. 


11  Fionn  and  Bran  would  be  awhile  seated  on  the 
mountain.  Every  man  would  be  in  his  hunting 
position  till  the  hidden  (?)  deer  arose. 


12  We  loosed  three  thousand  hounds  who  were  both 
fierce  and  exceedingly  active  :  every  one  of  them 
killed  two  deer  before  the  leashes  were  replaced 
in  their  collars. 

13  We  killed  six  thousand  horned  deer  in  the  valley 
beneath  the  mountain,  not  counting  hornless  deer  (?) 
and  does  :  such  a  hunt  had  never  been  before, 


220 


DUANAIRE   FINN 

14  Dob  e  de\rcad[h]    ar  sealga  thiar 

a  cleirigh  na  cellar  's  na  cclog 
deich  cced  cu  go  slabhrairf/z  n-6ir 
do  thuit  urn  noin  re  Ccd  tore 


[LVIII 


15  Do  thuitsiod   linnc   na   tuirc 

rinne  na  huile  ar  in  leirg 
muna  beitb  ar  luinn  is  ar  lamb, 
chuirfidis  ar  ar  bFein 

16  A  Patraic  na  mbacball  bfiar 

ni  faca  me  tbiar  no  thoir 
sealg  enlaoi  ar  Fhianuibh  Finn 

re  mo  linn  budh  mo  ina  soin 

17  Ag  sin  sealg  do-rinne  Fionn 

a  mic  Carploinn  na  mbionn  mblaith 
na  gair  cheolan  isin  chill 
do  budh  binne  liom  in  la 

La 


15d  bFein  sic  MS. 


l(5ct  MS  mb&n  deleted  before  bfiar. 


LVIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  221 

14  The  end  of  our  hunt  in  the  west,  0  clerk  of  the 
clergy  and  the  bells,  was  the  slaying  of  ten  hundred 
gold-chained  hounds  by  a  hundred  boars. 


15  The  boars  who  did  the  ill  deeds  were  slain  by  us 
on  the  slope  :  were  it  not  for  our  fierceness  and  our 
skill  (?)  they  would  have  made  slaughter  of  the 
Fian. 

16  Patrick  of  the  crooked  croziers,  never  in  my  time 
did  I  see,  east  or  west,  a  single  day's  hunting  of 
Fionn's  Fiana  which  was  greater  than  that. 


17  That  is  the  tale  of  a  hunt  held  by  Fionn,  0  son 
of  Calpurnius  of  the  smooth  croziers  (?).  More 
musical  to  me  than  the  din  of  church  bells  were 
the  sounds  of  that  day. 


LIX 

1  La   da   rabhamar  a    nDiin  Bo 
Fian  Eirionn  lion  a  ttionol 

coime'd  ciiain  fa  ceim  deacair 
6  Chairbri  lionmar  Lifeachair 

2  Gearr   do   bhadhmo/'   ann    sin 
a  mic  Alproinn  a  chleiriaA 

go  ttainic  chugainn  Laighne  mor 
aonmac  righ  na  fForaor 

3  Bliadhain  fa  thri  roimhe  soin 

nach  deachaidfJYJ  laoch  dhinn  tar  muir 
le  huamhan  in  fhir  mhoir 
a  chleirigh  adeir  an  chanoin 

4  Ar  tteacht   dhosan   tar   Albain 
motaighimid   anfa   na   fairge 

6  iomramh  lamh  in  fir  moir 
's  6  buillighibh  ramh  an  Fomoir 

5  A  mic  Blaighe  ingine  in  Deirg 
beannac/i/  ar  do  bhel  gan  cheilg 

&  innis  duinn  mar  soin 

a  ndearnabhair  's  a'  fearsain 

6  Do  leagad  leision  a  sheoil 

a  bportaibh  dileann  nar  choir 

's   do-rinne   eachreidh    amach 
o  n-ainmnigtear  in  t-ollamhach 

4a  MS  has  fairge  deleted  with  «  no  Albain  »  written  above  as  a  correction. 
Gc  amach.  There  is  a  dot,  probably  accidental,  on  the  m  in  the  MS. 


LIX 


Oisin  :  1  One  day  we,  the  Fian  of  Ireland  in  full-  as- 
sembly, were  in  Dun  Bo,  sent  by  (?)  Cair- 
bre  Lifeachair  of  the  hosts  as  a  garrison 
for  the  haven  (it  was  a  difficult  proceeding). 

2  We  were  but  a  short  time  there,  0  cleric, 
son  of  Calpurnius,  when  Laighne  the  Great, 
only  son  of  the  King  of  the  Fomorians,  came 
to    us. 

3  Before  that, a  year's  length  had  gone  by  three 
times  without  any  one  of  us  crossing  the 
sea,  for  dread  of  the  great  man,  0  cleric 
who  announce  the  Gospel. 

4  When  he  had  passed  over  Scotland  we 
notice  the  disturbance  of  the  sea  caused  by 
the  hand-rowing  of  the  big  man,  the  oar- 
strokes  of  the  Fomorian. 

Patrick  :  5  0  son  of  Bladh,  the  Dearg's  daughter,  a 
blessing  on  your  guileless  mouth !  Tell  us 
then  all  that  ye  and  that  man  did. 


Oisin:  6.  He  directed  (?)  his  sails  towards  us  (?) 
in  the  ocean  havens,  and  succeeded  in  rea- 
ching (?)  Eachreidh  (?)  from  which  the 
Ollmhach  (?)  takes  its  name. 


224  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LIX 

7  Dob  e  dob  cloidcamh  catha 
don  mhacsin  an  ardfhlatha 

lorg  fhairsing   d'iaronn   chriiaidh 

tri  c[h]ed  caor  iarainn  'na  lealhgriiaidh 

[76  b]  8   Do  bhi  coimhe'rf  fan  luirg  mboir 
lomnan  d'airgead  7   d'or 

's  do  clochaib  biiadha  oile 
d'uaislibh  Thire  Tairngoire 

9  Ar  ttiacht  dhosan  a  ttir 
do  leig  beiceadh  nar  chaol 
d' iarr aidh  trodain   in   fear 
&  teagmhala  in  milidh 

10  Ni  raibhe  en  laoch  'nar  fFein 
go  roiche  soir  a  nda  ttrian 

nach  ttiubhradA  dar  n-uaish'6/i 
maith  fel  coidhche  ar  a  thiiarusdaZ 

11  'S  i  comhairle  do-rinne  Fionn 
le  cloinn  Morna  is  rena  ccloinn 

dul  go  pupaZ  in  fir  mhoir 
a  riocht  fhileacZA  a  ccedoir 

12  Gliiaisios  Fionn  feasa  is  Feargus 
Cnu  Dheireoil  &  Blathnad 

go  riac/z/sat  in  popaZ  coir 

do  bhi  ag  mac  righ  na  fFomhoir 

13  Beannaidhis  Fionn  don  fhear  mhor 
&   Feargus   ba   binn   glor 

ni  fhacattar  thiar  no  thoir 
riamh  leitheid  in  mluh'dn 

Id  c[h]6d,  MS  has  «  xx  »  with,  «  no  .c.  »  written  above  as  a  correction. 


LIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  225 

7  The    battle-sword    of    that    High    Prince's 
son  was  a  broad   club   of  hard  iron  with 
three  hundred  iron  knobs  on  one  of  its 
sides. 

8  The  big  club  had  a  case  around  it  all  full  of 
silver  and  gold  and  other  precious  stones  ... 
the  Land  of  Prophecy. 


9  When  he  came  to  land  he  gave  a  roar  that 
was  not  narrow  :  the  man  was  seeking 
battle,  the  warrior  conflict. 


10  There  was  no  champion  in  our  Fian  .... 
who  would  not  have  given  to  our  nobles 
.     .     .     as  his  wage. 


11  Fionn,  in  conclave  with  the  children  of 
Morna  and  their  children,  decided  to  go 
straightway  to  the  tent  of  the  big  man 
in  the  guise  of  a  poet. 

12  Wise  Fionn  and  Fearghus,  Cmi  Dhearoil 
and  Blathnaid  set  out  till  they  reached 
the  goodly  tent  of  the  Fomorian  king's 
son. 

13  Fionn  and  sweet-voiced  Fearghus  greeted 
the  big  man.  They  had  never  seen,  west 
or  east,  the  equal  of  the  warrior. 


0K  OF  THE  ASSUtip^ 


^LeZLEY  HfLLS, 


226  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LIX 

14  Suidhis  'na  pupal  ann  soin 
a  n-onoir  do  na  filead/iuibh 

cuiris  Feargus  da  laim  cle 
&  Fionn  fein  da  deissein 

15  Beiris    chuige   fana   brot 
Cnii  Dheireoil  &  Blathnot 

sinnid  an  ceol  sithe  siiain 

re  ngabadh  draoithe  deaghdhuain 

16  Fiafraidhis  mac  Cumhaill  fheil 
don  oglaoch  liathmar  aigmheil 

caidhe  h'ainm  bunaidh  go  beac/i/ 
no  ca  tir  a  ffuil  .th'imteac/i/ 

17  Mac  righ  na  bFomorach  thoir 
misi  a  dhraoi  uasail  iodhain 

Laighne  mor  mh'ainm  bunaidh 
ag  cur  ghliaidh  gach  aonchuraidh 

18  Innis  a  churaidh  chalma 
do  raidh  Fionn  fa  mor  meanma 

caidhe  in  fath  tangais  anoir 
go  hEiri/m  alainn  iasgaigh 

19  Inneosa  me  dhuitsi  soin 
a  dhraoi  uasail  iodhain 

an  fath  fa  tangus  om  thoigh 
go   hEirinn    aloinn   iiibhraigh 

20  Maithe  Eireemn  bheith  a  ngiaWaibh 
's  a  ccios  cugam  gaclm  bliadhain 

no  gan  lion  sioluidhe  d'fior 
d'fagbhail  a  nEirinn   iodhain 


LIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  227 

14  He  seated  himself  thereupon  in  his  tent 
in  honour  of  the  poets.  He  set  Fearghus  on 
his  left  hand  and  Fionn  himself  to  the 
right  of  Fearghus. 

15  Fionn  placed  Cmi  Dhearoil  and  Blath- 
naid  beneath  his  cloak.  They  play  that  soft 
soothing  music  to  which  druids  used  to 
sing  a  good  song. 

16  The  son  of  generous  Cumhall  asked  the 
dread  and  terrible  warrior  :  «  What  is  your 
true  name  accurately,  and  to  what  land  do 
you  make  your  way?  » 

17  «  I,  0  noble  pure  druid,  am  the  son  of  the 
Fomorian  king  in  the  east.  My  true  name  as 
I  do  battle  with  all  champions  is  Laighne 
Mor. » 

18  « Tell,  bold  champion »,  said  courageous 
Fionn,  «  for  what  reason  did  you  leave  the 
east  to  come  to  delightful  fish-abounding 
Ireland  ?  » 

Laighne  :  19  I  will  tell  you  that,  pure  and  noble  druid. 
I  shall  tell  you  the  reason  for  which  I 
have  left  my  home  to  come  to  delightful 
yew-clad  Ireland. 

20  I  have  come  that  the  nobles  of  Ireland  might 
be  in  bondage  and  pay  yearly  tribute  to 
me,  or  that  no  man  sufficient  to  ( ?)  propag- 
ate the  race  (?)  be  left  in  holy  Ireland. 


228  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LIX 

21  Iomdha  laoch  romhad  riam 
tainic  go  hEirinn  d'iarraidh  gliadh 

einneach  dhibh  nir  thill  tar  ais 
uainn  soir  a  hEir/nn  fhodghlais 

22  A  ttainic  chuca  thoir  is  tiar 
's  a  raibhe  a  nEirim?  rompo  riamh 

ni  thiiibhrainn  ait  suidhe  d'fior 
d'eagla  comlainn  na  ccuradh 

23  Fiafraidhis  an  curadh  calma 
da  draoithibh  go  med  meanma 

caidhe  in  diol  is  diol  libh 
a  dhraoithe  aille  iodhan      « 

24  Do-ghebha  sibh  airgead  is  or 
is  gach  ni  is  ail  le  bur  ccoir 

do-ghebha  uaimsi  astighsi 
gach  ni  ata  ar  bur  n-ainnisi 

25  Draoithe  sinn  Ian  d'eagna 
do  raidh  Fionn  ris  da  fhreagra 

cadhas   uaitsi   dhgidh   sinn 
ar  h'eineach*  as  cadh  iarruim 

26  Do  gheall  go  ttiubhradhsan  soin 
cadhas  don  chleir  go  cubaidh 

[77  a]  gion  do  bhiadh  na  bheathrtirf/i  abhus 

do  gheall  nach  airgf ead[h]  eigius 

27  Tabhair  do  bhriatar  leis  soin 

do  raidh  mac  Cumhaill  a  hAlmhuin 
ar  a  bheith  diolus  re  do  linn 
da  ngabhann  linne  dh'Eirinn 


LIX]  DUANAIRE  FINN  229 

Fionn  :  21  Many  a  hero  before  you  has  come  to  Ire- 
land seeking  combat :  not  one  of  them  left 
green-sodded  Ireland  to  return  back 
from  us  to  the  east. 

Laighne  :  22  To  no  man,  east  or  west,  of  all  who  have 
gone  there,  and  to  no  man  of  all  who  had 
been  in  Ireland  before  them  would  I  yield 
my  seat  for  fear  of  warrior-battle. 

Oisin  :  23  Then  the  bold  warrior  asked  his  courageous 
druids,  « What  payment  do  you  consider 
worthy,  0  pure  and  delightful  druids  ? 


24  «  You  shall  get  silver  and  gold  and  every 
thing  you  wish  for  your  use :  you  shall 
have  from  me  in  this  house  everything  of 
which  you  are  in  need.  » 

25  «  We  are  druids  full  of  wisdom  »,  said  Fionn 
to  him  in  reply,  «  you  owe  us  reverence  :  it 
is  that  I  ask  for  by  all  you  hold  honour- 
able. » 

26  He  promised  to  give  that,  to  give  due  rever- 
ence to  learned  folk.  He  promised  as  long 
as  he  lived  in  this  world  to  harm  no  poet. 


27  «  Swear  to  that, »  said  the  son  of  Cumhall 
from  Almha.  « Swear  to  respect  loyally 
as  long  as  you  live  whatever  we  own  of 
Ireland. » 


230  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LIX 

28  Tugsan  briatar  gan  gho 
nach  sirfeerdn  air  rena  bheo 

no  ar  draoi  da  ttiocfadh  'na  teach 
cios  no  cain  no  cahhalach 

29  Mithe  duit  imtheacM  tar  h'ais 
dearbh  go  ndearnais  do  thurais 

liomsa    anois.gabhus   Eire 

's  me  Fionn  flaith  na  fiorFheine 

30  Mas  tusa   Fionn   na   Feine 

do  raidh  in  t-oglaoch  go  bfeile 
ni  thugus  briatar  re  hais 
acht  do  draoithibh  gan  ainbfeas 

31  Draoi  sinn  a  churaidh  chalma 
do  raidh  Fionn  fa  mor  meanma 

mo  ghliocus  nir  shannon  neach 
dar  thaisdil  in  bioth  braonach 

32  Ag  aighnius  ort  ni  bhiadh  sinn 

a  Fhinn  mic  Cumhaill  airmghrinn 
6  thugus  briatar  gan  ghaoi 
denam  sith  treigiom  eissiodh 

33  D6-rinne  se  sith  go  coir 

Fionn  mac  Cumaill  mic  Trenmoir 
dho  fein  is  d'Eirinn  uile 
mor  in  geilleadh  enduine 

34  Toimhsis  Fionn  gan  fhius  do 

n  t-oglaoch  's  ni  hiomargho 
ba  hadhbhal  re  aithris  duit 
fad  an  oglaoich  's  a  leathad 


LIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  231 

28  He  gave  his  untying  oath  that  he  would 
never  in  his  lifetime  ask  him  or  any  druid 
who  visited  his  house  to  pay  tribute,  tax, 
or  impost. 

29  «  You  may  as  well  return  :  clearly  you 
have  completed  your  journey,  for  Ireland 
belongs  to  me.  I  am  Fionn,  prince  of  the 
true  Fian.  » 

30  «  If  you  are  Fionn  of  the  Fian,  »  said  the 
generous  warrior,  «  I  swore  no  oath  to 
anyone  but  to  learned  druids.  » 


31  «  I  am  a  druid,  brave  warrior, »  said  courag- 
eous Fionn  :  «  My  skill  has  been  surpassed 
by  no  one  of  all  who  have  walked  upon  the 
dewy  world.  » 

Laighne  :  32  I  will  not  argue  with  you,  Fionn,  son  of 
keen-weaponed  Cumhall.  Since  I  have  given 
my  untying  word,  let  us  make  peace  and 
abandon  strife. 

Oisin  :  33  Fionn,  son  of  Cumhall,  son  of  Trenmhor, 
made  peace  righteously  for  himself  and  all 
Ireland  (Great  was  that  yielding  of  a 
single    person). 

34  Fionn  (It  is  no  lie)  measured  the  warrior 
without  his  knowing  it.  The  weight  and 
breadth  of  that  warrior  would  be  huge  to 
relate  to  you. 


232  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LIX 

35  Seacht  ccomfada   Fhinn   fein 
boi  ar  fad  a  Laighne  thren 

's  a  dha  chomhfhad  ar  tracht 
fa  mor  in  trenoglach 

36  Teid  Fionn  a  gcionn  a  shloigh 
beiris  leis  fion   &  feoil 

eire  chaogad  gearran  croin 
do  mhiodh  is  do  brogoid 

37  Beirthear  oidhcheacft/  on  fhear  thren 
ni  chuala  a  leitheid  6  chleir 

&  on  oidhchesin  iar  sogh 
ainmnightmr  Purt  a  Righol 

38  Gluaisis  an  t-oglaoch   uainne 
tar  na  tonnaibh  taobhuaine 

ceileabhnn's  da  cleir  re  hais 
buidheach  an  Fian  da  thurus 

39  Do-bheirimsi  dhuit  a  mhoid 
a  Patraic  tainic  on  Roimh 

nach  rabhamar  fein  no  clanna  Cuinn 
a  tteann  budh  measa  ar  bfulang 

40  As  me  Oisin  do  bronnadh  oir 
do  gradh  na  tfileadh  a  ccedoir 

ge  ataim  anocht  fa  bhron 
le  smuaintiugarf/i  gach   enlo 

La 


LIX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  233 

35  Stout   Laighne   measured    in   height   seven 
lengths  of  Fionn  himself,  and  in  breadth  (?) 
two  lengths.  That  stout  warrior  was  large. 


36  Fionn  goes  to  meet  his  men.  He  took  with 
him  wine  and  meat,  the  load  of  fifty  yellow 
nags  of  mead  and  bragget. 


37  Entertainment  such  as  I  never  heard  of 
clergy  giving  is  given  by  the  stout  man  ; 
and  from  that  night  spent  in  merriment 
Port  an  Rioghoil  has  been  named. 

38  The  warrior  went  off  over  the  green-sided 
waves.  He  bade  farewell  to  the  learned 
men  he  left  behind  (?).  The  Fian  were 
pleased  with  his  journey. 

39  I  swear  it  to  you,  Roman  Patrick  :  neither 
we  nor  the  race  of  Conn  were  ever  in  a  more 
intolerable  difficulty. 


40  I  am  Oisin  who  used  to  bestow  gold  straight- 
way out  of  love  for  poets,  although  tonight 
I  am  sorrowful,  through  thinking  every  day. 


LX 

1  In  cciiala  tu  Fiana  Finn 

a  Patraic  mhoir  mic  Alproinn 

ag  eirghe  6s  ceann  Locha  Deirg 
mar  aon  is  each  ag  coimhsheilg 

2  Peisd  do  bhi  ar  loch  in  tsleibhe 
le  a  ttugadh  ar  na  Feine 

fiche  ced  no  ni  is  mo 
da  ttug  si  eg  a  n-enlo 

"[77  b]  3   Oglaoch  maith  do  bhi  ag  Fionn 
go  deimhin  duit  a  Thailghinn 
Albhaidh  an  Oir  mac  righ  Greg 
do  thuigeadh  glor  6  gach  peist 

4  In  ttuige  an  ni  adeir  in  peisd 
do  raidh  Albhaidh  risin  fFein 

caoga   each    no    caoga   bo 
do  chur  cuice  gach  aonlo 

5  Innis  go  bfuighe  si  soin 

a  Albhaidh  an  chrotha  glain 
fearr  sin  no  enlaoch  lonn 
do  thuitim  leisi  a  ccomhlann 

6  An  peisd  an  oidhchesin  gan  bhiadh 
codhlaidh  's  nir  smuaintz'o/z  in  Fhian 

ar  tteacht  na  maidne  go  moch 
do  chuir  anfa  ar  in  ffionnloch 

2c  ffuair  has  been  deleted  in  the  MS  after  nd. 

3c  mac.  There  is  a  dot,  probably  accidental,  over  the  m, 


LX 


Caoilte  :  1  Have  you  heard  this  tale  of  Fionn's  Fiana, 

great  Patrick,  son  of  Calpurnius  :  how  they 
went  up  above  Lough  Derg,  all  together, 
for  a  general  hunt? 

2  There  was  a  monster  in  the  mountain  lough 
who  made  slaughter  of  the  Fian.  Two  thous- 
and or  more  did  she  kill  in  a  single  day. 


Fian  : 


3  Fionn  (This,  0  Adzehead,  is  certain)  had  a 
good  warrior,  Albhaidh  of  the  Gold,  son  of 
the  King  of  Greece,  who  understood  the 
language  of  all  monsters. 

4  « Do  you  understan  d  what  the  monster 
says  ?  »  said  Albhaidh  to  the  Fian  :  «  she 
must  have  fifty  horses  or  fifty  cows  given 
her  every  day.  » 

5  Say,  0  clean-shaped  Albhaidh,  that  she  will 
get  that.  It  is  better  so  than  that  any  fierce 
champion  should  fall  by  her  in  battle. 


Caoilte:  6  The  monster    sleeps  (?)  without  food  that 

night,  and  the  Fian  thought  not  of  it  (?). 
When  the  early  morning  came  she  raised 
a  storm,  on  the  white  lake. 


23G  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LX 

7  Ar  tteacht  don  pcistl  ar  in  ttracht 
do  leigiodar  in  Fhian  gair 

dob  iomdha  ag  brisiodh  a  croinn 
iliomad  laoch  'na  timchioll 

8  Eidir  sin  7  mead[h]6n  don  16 

do  budh  lia  ar  mairbh  na  ar  mbeo 
budh   sambail  re   sliiagh   oile 
uireasbaoTi  ar  laochraidhe 

9  Do  sluigeadh  le  mac  rig  Greg 
is  Oisin  fa  mor  in  bed 

'se  do  sluigeadh  le  go  beacht 
fear   &  ced  a  n-aoinfheac/i/ 

10  Nior  sluigeadh   mac  Cumhaill  le 

no  in  mheid  do  bhi  amoigh  dhd  Fhein 
's  ni  raibhe  dhiobh  gan  dul  thart 
acht  beagan  beag  a  mbel  imtheacht 

11  Do  shluig  si  Daolghus  is  Goll 
Fionn  mac  Rossa  na  ccomhlann 

Conan  Maol  sgel  nar  mho 
Diarmaid  taobhgheal   Tre/imhor 

12  Tug  Fionn  in  sitheadh  prap 
glacais  in  peisd  ar  alt 

&  tug  car  go  dian  di 
gur  chuir  a  cliabh  anairde 

13  Mar  do-connairc  Daire  mac  Finn 
rifheindid/j  is  si  cionn  a  ccionn 
tug  leim  a  mbel  na  piasta 
dob  e  in  sithead  aimhrialta 


LX]  DUANAIRE   FINN  237 

7  When  the  monster  came  upon  the  shore  the 
Fian  gave  a  cry  :  many  were  the  numer- 
ous warriors  who  crowded  round  her  brea- 
king their  spearshafts. 

8  Between  that  and  midday  those  of  us  who 
had  fallen  were  more  numerous  than  those 
who  still  lived.  Our  missing  warriors  were 
like  a  second   army. 

9  She  swallowed  the  son  of  the  King  of  Greece 
and  Oisin  ('t  was  a  great  disaster).  One 
hundred  and  one  persons  is  an  accurate  telling 
of  the  number   she    swallowed   at  one  gulp. 

10  She  did  not  swallow  the  son  of  Cumhall  nor 
those  of  his  Fian  who  were  away  from  the 
camp  (?)  ;  and  only  a  few  who  were  on  the 
point  of  moving  off  had  escaped  passing 
[down  her  gullet]  (?). 

11  She  swallowed  Daolghus  and  Goll,  Fionn 
mac  Rossa  of  the  battles,  Conan  Maol  (a 
less  important  matter),  Dermot  of  the  white 
sides,  Trenmhor. 

12  Fionn  gave  a  sudden  rush  :  he  gripped  the 
monster  by  one  of  her  joints,  and  giving 
her  a  sharp  twist  put  her  lying  on  her  back 


i 


13  When  Daire  son  of  Fionn  saw  the  warrior- 
chieftain  and  the  monster  at  grips  (?),  he 
leaped  into  her  mouth  (It  was  a  wild  rush). 


1  Literally  :  « put  her  chest  up  ». 


238  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LX 

14  Ar  ndul  do  Dhaire  'na  cliabh 
ann  sin  do  chuimhni^/i  a  sgian 

ar  a  hasgaill  tig  amach 

dob  i  in  chosgairt  iongantach 

15  Da  c[h]ed  beo  aisde  don  Fhein 
Oisin   is  mac  righ  Greg 

comhrac  budh  beodha  na  soin 
annamh  duine  go  ccualaidTi 

16  An  da  ched  tainic  amach 

do  bhadar  gan  fholt  gan  edach 
maith  do  cheas  Fiana  Finn 
a  ffuairsiod  riamh  a  nEirinn 

17  Tunis  Conain  nar  choir 

'steach  a  mbroinn  an  bheathaidh  mhoir 
mar  nach  roibhe  gruag  ar  a  chionn 
nir  an  leadhb  ar  a  chloiginn 

18  Fionnloch  dobh  ainm  don  loch 
ar  tus  a  chor  a  chleireach 

do  an  Loch  Dearg  air  re  a  bheo 
6  ar  na  Feine  a  n-enlo 

19  Tri  la  7  mi  7  bliaghain 

do  bhi  Loch  Dearg  fa  dhiamhair 
6  la  marbhtha  Fiana  Finn 
go  deimhin  duit  a  Thailghinn 

[78  a]  20  As  me  Caoilti  a  ndiaigh  na  fFian 
a  Patraic  do  dhealbhus  grian 
na  sgela  do  innsim  dhuit 
iomdha  duine  do-chua\aidh 

In 

16c  cheas.  The  ea  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 

18a  dobh  ainm  is  divided  do  bhainm  in  MS  (the  bh  =  a  dotted  b). 

186  a  chor  a  is  written  as  one  word,  achora,  in  the  MS. 


LX]  DUANAIRE  FINN  239 

14  When  Daire  had  passed  into  her  chest  he 
bethought  him  of  his  knife  :  he  comes  out  at 
her  armpit  (T  was  a  wonderful  slaughter). 


15  Two  hundred  of  the  Fian  came  forth  from  her 
alive,  and  with  them  Oisin  and  the  son  of 
the  King  of  Greece.  Few  people  have  heard 
of  a  battle  livelier  than  that. 

16  The  two  hundred  who  came  forth  were  hair- 
less, and  their  clothes  were  gone.  Well 
did  the  Fiana  of  Fionn  pay  for  anything 
they  ever  won  in  Ireland. 

17  Conan's  unseemly  journey  into  the  belly 
of  the  huge  beast  resulted  thus  :  as  he  had 
no  hair  on  his  head  to  lose,  no  strip  [of  skin] 
remained  on  his  skull. 

18  Fionnloch  (White  Lake)  had  been  the  lough's 
name  in  the  beginning...  Loch  Dearg  (Red 
Lake)  became  its  name  for  ever  by  reason  of 
that  single  day's  slaughter  of  the  Fian. 

19  For  three  days,  a  month  and  a  year  from 
the  day  Fionn's  Fiana  met  their  death  Lough 
Derg  was  in  gloom  ('T  is  a  fact,  0  Adzehead). 


20  I  am  Caoilte  left  behind  the  Fiana,  0  Patrick 
shaper  of  the  sun.  The  tale  I  tell  you  has 
been  heard  by  many. 


LXI 

1  La  da  ndeachat'rf/j  Fionn  na  bFian 
do  sheilg  ar  Beinn  Gulbain  siar 

go  bfacamar  ag  tocht  co  each 
oglaoch  go    n-egcosg  neamhghnath 

2  Do-conncamar  chugainn  sa  magh 
oglaoch  mor  go  meid  mhikadh 

cloidhiom  trid  a  cheann  gan  chair 
go  rainic  in  chluas  go  cheile 

3  Beannaighis  in  t-6glaoch  mor 
don  righfeindid/i  fath  gan  bhron 

7  beannaighis  do  Gholl  ghlan 
7  suidhis  'na  fharradh 

4  Ar  bhar  ccuimridhe  damh  fein 
a  rifheindj'd/i  feasaigh  fheil 

fam  iodhlacadh  uaibh  gan  fheall 
a  Fhiana  aille  Eireann 

5  A  oglaigh  tainic  sa  ccnoc 
do   raidh  Conan   faobarnoc/i/ 

cia  chuir  in  cloidiom  id  cheann 
no  cia  re  ndearnuis  comlann 

6  Do-rindeasa  comhlann  cruaidh 
le  Manannan   na  m6rs\uagh 

's  e  do  chuir  cloidheamh  um  ceann 
is  ris  do-rinnius  comlann 


LXI 

1  One  day  Fionn  of  the  Fiana  had  gone  west- 
ward to  hunt  over  Beann  Gulbain  when 
we  saw  a  warrior  of  strange  appearance 
coming  to  meet  us  all. 

2  We  saw  approaching  us  in  the  plain  a  great 
warrior  of  soldierly  size.  A  sword  was 
through  his  head  (no  fault)  stretching  from 
ear  to  ear. 

3  The  big  warrior  greeted  the  chieftain  (a 
griefless  matter),  and  he  greeted  bright 
Goll  and  sat  by  his  side. 


4  «  I  cast  myself  on  your  protection,  wise 
generous  chief,  trusting  that  you  conduct 
me  loyally  from  you,  lovely  Fiana  of  Ire- 
land. » 

5  «  0  warrior  who  have  come  to  this  hill, » 
said  Conan  of  the  unsheathed  blades.  «  Who 
put  that  sword  in  your  head,  or  with  whom 
did  you  do  combat?  » 

6  «  I  did  hard  combat  with  Manannan  of  the 
great  hosts  :  it  is  he  fixed  a  sword  in  my 
head  :  it  is  with  him  I  did  combat. 


242  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXl 

7  Ataim  fo  gheasaibh  o  shoin 
fan  domhan  uile  d'iarraidh 

ni  fhuarus  aoinneach  ann 
do  bheanfa  in  cloidiom  asam 

8  Tanac  cugaibhsi  a  Fian 
chuala  bar  tteisd  thoir  is  thiar 

ar  bar  n-eineach  tabhraidh  damh 
beanaidh  asam  in  cloidheam 

9  Do  raidh  Conan  don  taobh  thall 
beanfad  in  cloidiom  as  do  cheann 

no  beanfadsa  gan  fheall  damh 
an  ceann  diot  is  a'  cloidheam 

10  Na  bean  as  arsa  Fionn  fein 

a  Conain  mhaoil  mhir  gan  cheill 
ga  fios  nach  ttiucfa  sa  magh 
dograinge  a  ndiaigh  in  chidhimh 

11  Maith  Horn  dograing  do  theacht  as 
do  raidh  Conan  maol  gan  cheis 

tug   sithe   prapdha   go    ngoil 
7  glacais  in  cloidhiom 

12  Tuitis   Conan    ar    lar   dhe 

gan  sbionnad/i  a  n-alt  no  a  n-aighe 
beith  mar  sin  acht  ger  nar  dho 
gan  neart  ann  mna  seola 

13  Mar  do-connairc  clann  Morna  mhoir 
Conan  maol  ag  faghail  broin 

tairrngid  a  ccloidhme  go  nimh 
do  ghearrad/i  chinn  in  gruaga  igh 

lie,  d  Instead  of  this  couplet  the  scribe  first  copied  12  c,  d,  then  deleted  it 
and  wrote  the  correct  couplet  in  the  margin  with  sign  to  insert.  The  deleted 
couplet  reads  n6ir  for  n&r  and  dhd  for  dho  of  12c  and  nt,  with  a  stroke  above 
for  nt  with  the  ear  (eir)  compendium  above  of  12  d. 

136  MS  has  m&oil  with  the  i  deleted. 


LX1]  DUANAIRE    FINN  243 

7  «  Since  that  I  have  been  under  geasa  binding 
me  to  search  the  whole  world.  I  have  found 
no  one  there  to  take  the  sword  out  of  me. 


8  «  I  have  come  to  you,  0  Fian,  having 
heard  you  spoken  of  east  and  west.  Of  your 
honour  grant  me  [what  I  ask]  :  take  out  of 
me  the  sword.  » 

9  Conan  who  was  on  the  other  side  said,  «  I 
shall  remove  the  sword  from  your  head,  or 
else,  in  sooth,  I  shall  remove  both  head  and 
sword. » 

10  «  Do  not  remove  it, »  said  Fionn  himself, 
«  mad  senseless  Conan  Maol.  Who  can  tell  but 
that  trouble  might  come  upon  the  plain  (?) 
after  the  sword  ?  » 

1 1  «  I  would  like  trouble  to  result  from  it,  » 
said  stout  (?)  Conan  Maol.  He  gave  a  sud- 
den bold  rush  and  seized  the  sword. 


12  Thereupon  Conan  fell  to  the  ground  without 
vigour  in  joint  or  juncture  [of  his  body], 
though  it  was  shameful  for  him  to  be  like 
that,  weaker  than  a  woman  in  travail. 

13  When  the  children  of  great  Morna  saw  Co- 
nan Maol  in  distress,  they  draw  their  fierce 
swords  to  cut  off  the  head  of  the  gmagach. 


244  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXI 

14  Eirgis  Fionn  don  taobh  oile 
is  nochtais  a  cholg  nimhe 

eirgid  clanna  Baoisgne  mhear 
do  dhul  a  n-aghaid  in  gruagaigh 

15  Eirgid  ann  sin  as  gleo  garbh 
Fian  Eireann  go  n-imad  n-arm 

nir  sguirsiod  da  gcleasaib  gail 
gur  basgadar  naoi  nonmhair 

16  Rachadsa  ar  do  kith  a  Fhinn 
do  raidh  Goll  fa  pairt  grinn 

[78  b]  do  budh  coir  ar  ttuitim  dhe 

ar  mbrisiodh  do  cuimridhe 

17  Cuirim  fo  gheasoibh  thu  ar  Fionn 
crdd  fa  ttangais  re  olc  linn 

muna  n-innisi  a  gruagaigh  thall 
ge  tii  do  Tuath  De  Danann 

18  As  me  Manannan  mac  Lir 
mor  m'fioch  7  m'fala  ribh 

as  i  mo  thoisg  om  thigh 
com  bar  ttuitim  re  cheile 

19  Ni  muirfimne  sinn  fein  duit 
a  gruagaigh  uasail  oirrdefrc 

cuirim  gach  ceisd  ort  mur  ghrain 
muna  bfoire  tii  ar  Co  nan 

20  Tairrngeas  ger  crodha  an  ceim 
an  cloidheamh  as  a  cheann  fein 

fagbais  a  chionn  'na  dhiaigh  slan 
toimsios  a  dhias  re  Conan 

15a  clanna  b  has  been  deleted  in  the  MS  before  ann  sin. 


LXI]  DUANAIRE    FINN  245 

14  Fionn  arose  on  the  other  side  and  bared  his 
biting  blade.  The  families  of  swift  Baoisgne 
(?)arise  to  go  against    the  gruagach. 


15  Then  arise  the  many-weaponed  Fian  of 
Ireland  ('Twas  a  turbulent  fight).  They 
ceased  not  from  their  deeds  of  bravery  till 
they  had  laid  low  nine  times  nine. 

16  «  I  shall  side  with  thee,  0  Fionn,  »  said 
Goll  ('Twas  a  pleasing  decision  [  ?]).  «  It  is 
right  that  we  should  be  slain  for  having 
violated  your  safe  conduct.  » 

17  «  I  put  you  under  geasa »,  said  Fionn,  «  [to 
tell]  why  you  came  to  do  us  injury.  ['T  is 
a  breach  of  your  geasa,]  0  gruagach  yonder, 
if  you  tell  us  not  who  of  the  Tuath  De 
Danann  you  are.  » 

18  «  I  am  Manannan  mac  Lir  :  my  wrath  and 
enmity  against  you  are  great.  I  left  my  home 
for  this,  that  you  might  all  fall  at  one 
another's  hands.  » 

19  «  We  shall  not  kill  ourselves  for  you,  noble 
illustrious  gruagach.  I  put  you  under  horr- 
id ( ?)  geasa  if  you  do  not   succour  Conan.  » 

20  He  drew  the  sword  out  of  his  own  head 
(though  that  was  a  bold  proceeding).  His 
head  he  left  whole  when  he  had  drawn  it 
out :  its  blade  he  measured  alongside  Conan. 


246  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXI 

21  Do  eiridh  Conan  slan  de 
on  leagadh  ar  a  raibhe 

nirbh  i  sin  an  eirge  ghar 
do  nocht  Conan  a  cloidhiora 

22  Tug  Conan  agaidh  ann 
ar  Manannan  na  morlann 

do  thog  Fionn  a  sgiath  go  mblaidh 
os  cionn  Manannain  mheanmnaig'/i 

23  Gach  duine  dhiobh  don  Fhein 
ag  dul  a  leitb  a  arm  fein 

gach  fear  dhiobh  le  cleasaibh  gail 
teacht  ar  fhioch  is  ar  fhalaidh 

24  Cuiris  gruagach  in  fhuilt  fhinn 
a  cloidheam  fein  'na  timchill 

nir  fidir  neach  d'uair  no  trath 
gur  gabh  uatha  ar  lar  in  la 

La 


LXI]  DUANAIRE   FINN  247 

21  Then  Conan  arose  whole  from  the  spot 
where  he  had  been  thrown  down  ( ?).  That 
was  no  helpful  rising  :  Conan  unsheathed 
his  sword. 

22  Conan  faced  Mananna  n  of  the  great  blades 
there.  Fionn  raised  his  glorious  shield 
over  bold  Manannan. 


23  Every  one  of  the  Fian  was  moving  towards 
his  own  arms,  every  man  of  them  preparing 
to  meet  (?)  wrath  and  enmity  with  feats 
of  bravery. 

24  The  fairhaired  gruagach  put  his  own  sword 
about  them.  Not  one  of  them  knew  anything 
of  ( ?)  hours  or  divisions  of  time  till  the 
day  had  gone  by. 


LXII 

1  La  do  bhi  sealg  Shleibhe  Guilleann 
da  hinnioll  re  mac  Cumhaill 

go  fhacamar  oglaoch  gabhaidh 
cugainn    os    na    firmaintibh 

2  Brot  ciordhubh  fa  dorcha  dath 
is   comartha   ardfhlath 

fa  dorcha  dealb  in  fir  mhoir 
do  bhi  chugainn  ar  anbhoin 

3  Enshuil  ar  mire  gan  ghean 

a  cceann  an  fir  fa  maith  denam 

mar  dorn  gach  curaidh  sa  fFein 
'na  sroin  churata  aigmheil 

4  Da  craoisigh  catha  'na  laimh 

is  cloidheamh  Ieathan  go  morghrain 
is  lorg  don  iarrann  nar  thim 
ag  an  oglaoch  re  a  ghualainn 

5  Mur  connairc  maithe  na  fFian 

cuca  in  t-arracht  nar  maith  sgiamh 
glacaidh  gach  fear  a  dha  sleidh 
a  sgiath  's  a  cholg  'na  aghaidh 

6  Togbais  Fionn  in  colg  nimhe 
ga  mbiodh  buaidh  gach  iorgaile 

is  teachaid  an  Fhian  ann   sin 
tiomcill  m£c  Cumaill  armghloin 

lc  fhacamar,  sic  MS  (dotted  /) 

2c  dealb.  MS  has  dath  deleted  with  dealb  written  above  it. 

6ft  iorgaile,  MS  has  «  aonchlutthe  no  forgaile.  & 


LXII 

Oisfn  :  1  One  day  the  son  of  Cumhall  was  preparing 
the  chase  of  Slieve  Gullen  when  we  saw  a 
dangerous  warrior  approaching  us  over 
the  true  bogs. 

2  [He  had]  a  jet-black  mantle  of  dark  colour 
and  the  insignia  worn  by  high  princes  (?). 
The  big  man  approaching  us  distresstully 
was  of  dark  appearance. 

3  One  unpleasant  frenzied  eye  had  that  well- 
built  man  in  his  head.  His  bold  and  terrible 
nose  equalled  the  fist  of  any  Fian  champion 
in  size. 

4  In  his  hand  he  had  two  battle  spears  and 
a  sword  that  was  broad  and  very  horrible. 
Slung  upon  the  warrior's  shoulder  was  a 
stout  iron  club. 

5  When  the  Fian  nobles  saw  this  monstrous 
unlovely  fellow  approaching,  every  man 
takes  his  two  spears,his  shield  and  his  sword 
to  oppose  him. 

6  Fionn  lifted  that  keen  blade  which  was  ever 
victorious  in  battle.  Then  the  Fian  gather 
round  the  bright-weaponed  son  of  Cumh- 
all. 


250  DUANA1RE   FINN  [LXII 

7  Adubhairt  Fionn  re  neart  a  sloigh 
is  re  mathoibh  clann  Tre'nmoir 

is  re  cloinn  Morna  go  ngoil 
dhul  a  n-aghoidh  in  treinfhir 

8  Adupairt  Conan  mac  Morna 
fear    mallac/j/ach    miolabhra 

as  romhor  b'eaglusa  'Fhinn 
roime  an   oglaochso   cbugainn 

[79  a]  9    Nior  gabh  eagla  misi  riamh 

a  Chonain  mhaoil  nach  maith  sgiamh 
do  bheanfainn  do  cbeann  diot  anois 
muna  bfechainn  dot  ainbfios 

10  Commaith  mo  chinnsi  a  fhir 
nir  marbadh  re  do  mhuinntei'r 

's  nir  chosain  tu  gnaoi  duit  fein 
timcioll  Aile  no  aoinsgeil 

11  Mur  do-chuala/dh  flaith  na  fFian 
Conan  da  fhreagra  go  dian 

nochiais  a  chloidheam  nar  thim 


a  n-am  catha  no  comhlainn 

12  Noc/i/ais   Conan   a   lann 
a  cceartaghoidh  mhic  mhic  Cumaill 

tug  sitheadb  diochra  dana 
a  ccoinne  an  righ  dingmhala 

13  Adubairt  Conan  go  ngruaim 
le  mac  Miiirne  na  mo[r]shliiaa/i 

do-bherainn  comhairle  duit  a  fhir 
gan  anmhuin  re  mo  dheabairf/i 

Id  MS  has  gruagaigh  deleted  before  treinfhir. 
12b  mhic  mhic,  si  MS, 


XLIIJ  DUANAIRE   FINN  251 

7  Fionn  ordered  the  assembled  strength  (?) 
of  his  host  and  the  nobles  of  the  families  of 
Trenmhor  and  Morna's  brave  descendants 
to  go  to  meet  the  champion. 

8  Conan  son  of  Morna,  a  man  of  oaths  and 
abusive  speech,  said  :  «  Very  great,  0  Fionn, 
is  your  fear  of  this  warrior  coming  towards 
us.  » 

Fionn  :  9  Never  did  fear  seize  me,  unlovely  Conan 
Maol.  Had  I  not  regard  for  your  folly 
I  should  strike  your  head  from  you  forth- 
with. 

Conan  :  10  Never  did  your  folk  bring  down  a  head 
as  good  as  mine  ;  nor  did  you  secure  your 
will  concerning  Aile  or  any  other  matter. 


Oisin  :  11  When  the  prince  of  the  Fiana  heard  Conan 
answering  him  violently,  he  bared  his 
sword  that  was  never  feeble  at  the  moment 
of  battle  or  combat. 

12  Conan  bared  his  blade  in  direct  opposition  to 
the  son  of  Cumhall.  He  rushed  eagerly  and 
boldly  to  meet  the  worthy  king. 


13  Conan  the  gloomy  said  to  the  son  of  Muirne 
of  the  great  hosts,  «  I  should  advise  you, 
0  man,  not  to  wait  for  my  attack.  » 


252  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

14  Mur  do-c\ma\aidh  Fionn  agha 
Conan  da  sirchaineadh 

glacais  a  dha  shleidh  go  ngail 
is  gabhais  iad  'na  fhochair 

15  Aduba/rt   Conan   go   treith 
ag  iompodh  irsigh  a  sgeith 

gapuim  red  choimridhe  a  Fhinn 
is  do-bheirim  an  urruim 

16  Do  thug  Fionn  nar  er  neach 
an   comairce   dho   ar  eineach 

adubairt  re  Conan  ann  sin 
imtheac/i/  ameasg  a  mhuinntir 

17  Sgela  an  oglaoigh  6  chianuibh 
inneosad  dhuit  a  chleirigh 

tainic   se    chugainn   ann   sin 
d'iarraidh  catha  ar  ar  muinntir 

18  Do  fiahaigh  misi  sgela  dhe 

do  fhiafraio/i  Caoilte  is  Mac  Reithe 
ga  criocha  cinel  duit  a  fhir 
no  ca  tir  a  ffuil  t'athoir 

19  Dubh  mac  Diorfaidh  as  ainm  damh 
is  Mac  Suirnn  mo  sloinncad/i 

as  i  mo  thoisg  om  thigh 
gabhail  gheiWidh  gach  naonmhuir 

20  RaogaZ  a  Dhuibh  mic  Diorfaidh 
dhuit  an  eac/j/rasin  d'innsin 

go  ttiucfa  at  aonor  ann 
'gabhail  geilliaTi   ffear  nEireann 

15c  red.  The  e  represents  a  talj  e  in  the  MS. 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  253 

14  When  valorous  Fionn  heard  Conan's  contin- 
ued abuse,  he  grasped  his  two  brave 
spears  and  held  them  near  him. 


15  Conan  said  weakly,  turning  the  strap  of 
his  shield,  «  I  accept  your  protection,  Fionn, 
and  I  make  obeisance.  » 


16  Fionn,  who  never  refused  anyone,  generous- 
ly granted  the  protection  :  he  then  bade 
Conan  go  among  his  people. 


17  [Now],  0  cleric,  I  shall  tell  you  of  the  warrior 
[we  mentioned]  a  while  ago  :  he  came  to  us 
then  to  seek  combat  from  our  folk. 


18  I  made  enquiry  of  him,  as  did  also  Caoilte 
and  Mac  Reithe,  «  What  territory,  what 
race  is  yours,  0  man,  or  in  what  land  does 
your  father  dwell  ?  » 

Warrior :  19  Dubh  mac  Diorfaidh  is  my  name  and  Mac 
Suirnn  my  surname.  The  object  of  my  jour- 
ney from  home  is  to  win  submission  from 
everyone. 

Oisin  :  20  It  is  dangerous  for  you,  0  Dubh  son  of 
Diorfadh,  to  tell  of  that  expedition  —  that 
you  should  come  alone  to  win  submission 
from  the  men  of  Ireland. 


254  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXII 

21  Da  mbeith  sloigh   dhomhain  uile 
ar  mh'ineac  's  ar  mh'impidhe 

ni  thiubhrainn  Horn  dhibh  tar  sal 
do  shluagh  acht  me  um  aonaran 

22  Do  freagradh  sud  go  luath 

le  hOsgar  do-bheiirad/i  gach  biiadh 
ga  lion  fhognus  duit  a  fhir 
'dhul  do  comrac  at  aghoidh 

23  Ge  do  fhiafroidh  tu  sin  diom 
as  romor  b'eagla  is  th'imsniomh 

as  e  lion  toghaim  as  gach  tir 

do  thocht  a  n-aghoidh  mo  moirgnimh 

24  Deich  cced  curaidh  go  ngail 

dha  shleidh  a  ndorn  gach  aoin  fhir 

deich  cced  cloidhiom  is  fearr  faobur 
deich  cced   sgieth   da   n-imdhidan 

25  Do  ihiahaigh  Conan  do  guth  mhor 
go  hiomard  ameasg  na  slogh 

cia  hagoibh  don  Fhein  fhearrda 
theid  ar  son  a  thigea/na 

[79  b]  26  Do   labhair   Osgar   Eamhna 

macamh   na  fFian   ffiorchalma 
rachad  fein  ar  son  m'athar 
ar  mo  son  fein  's  mo  seanathor 

27  Coir  do  theid  tusa  ann    sin 
do  raidh  Caoilte  fa  maith  rith 
an  t-athair  ata  agad  a  fhir 
nocho  cathach  e  a  n-iorghail 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

Warrior :  21  Were  all  the  hosts  of  the  world  ready  to 
come  at  my  demand  and  request,  I  would 
not  bring  any  of  them,  excepting  myself 
alone,   over  the  sea    with  me  as  an  army. 

Oisin  :  22  He  was  quickly  replied  to  by  Osgar  the  vic- 
torious, «  What  number  is  it  usual  for  you(  ?), 
0  man,  to  have  sent  to  do  combat  with  you?  » 


255 


Warrior  :  23  Though  you  have  asked  me  that,  your  fear 
and  anxiety  are  very  great.  This  is  the 
number  I  choose  from  every  land  to  oppose 
my  great  deeds  : 

24  One  thousand  valorous  champions,  each 
one  with  two  spears  in  his  hand,  and  one 
thousand  swords  of  keenest  edge  and  one 
thousand  shields  protecting  them. 

Oisin  :  25  From  amid  the  hosts  Conan  asked  very 
loudly  in  a  great  voice,  «  Which  of  you 
members  of  the  manly  Fian  advances  on 
behalf  of  his  chieftain  ?  » 


26  Osgar  of  Eamhain,  the  youthful  one  of  the 
truly  brave  Fiana,  spoke  :  «  I  shall  advance 
on  behalf  of  my  father,  on  my  own  behalf 
and  on  that  of  my  grandfather.  » 

27  «  Rightly  do  you  advance  there  »,  said  Caoil- 
te,  the  excellent  runner  :  «  that  father  of 
yours,  0  man,  is  no  fighter  in  a  combat. » 


256  DUANAIRE   FINN 

28  Do  eisdiodar  Fiana  Finn 
ar  a'  tulaigh  6s  ar  cciond 

do  shaoilsead  nach  roibhe  sa  fFein 
aoinneach  6  a  ffuighinn  toibheim 

29  Cred    do-rinne    Oisin   rit 

a  fhir  labhrus  go  haimghlic 

cred  do-bheir  tu  da  ch&ineadh 
da  aithis  no  da  imdeargadh 

30  Ni  dhuitsi  do-bherainn  sgela 
a  Osgair  aird  in  fheadhma 

ni  mo   is   d'Oisin   na   nglonn 
bhias  'na  seanoir  a  cCroimlinn 

31  Robhorb  an  ni  do  labhra 

a  mhic  cholamhnaigh  Theamhra 
tuitfe  tii   liomsa  a  fhir 
a  n-eruic  do  dhul  fam  athair 

32  Do-beirim  do  shlansa  fuim 
a  Osgair  ge  maith  do  clu 

7   slan  chloinne  th'athor 
a  mhic  Oisin  ardfhlatha 

33  Iarruim  ar  Osgar  na  ngniom  ngle 
leigion  eadrom  is  Caoilti 

ionnus  go  ndioghlainn  an  sar 
do  fuarus  6  mac  Ronan 

34  Leigiom  eadrad  7  se 

do  raidh  Osgar  fa  maith  gne 
7  tapair  fein  do  ghleo 
ar  mac  Ronain  iomorro 


[LXII 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

28  Fionn's  Fiana  upon  the  hill  above  us  listen- 
ed. They  had  thought  there  was  no  one  in 
the  Fian  from  whom  I  should  receive  an 
insult. 


Osgar  :  29  What  has  Oisin  done  against  you,  0  man 
who  speak  foolishly?  What  causes  you  to 
abuse  him,  to  insult  him,  or  revile  him? 


Caoilte  :  30  I  would  not  give  any  information  to  you, 
high  mighty  Osgar,  any  more  than  I  would 
to  deedful  Oisin  who  shall  be  an  old  man 
in  Grumlin. 


Osgar 


31  You  speak  overboldly,0  lad  of  the  Columns 
of  Tara  :  you  shall  fall  by  me,  0  man, 
in  payment  of  your  attack  on  my  father. 


Caoilte  :  32  I  accept  your  challenge,  Osgar,  though  your 
fame  is  good,  and  the  challenge  of  your 
father's  family,  0  son  of  the  high  prince 
Oisin. 


Oisin  :  33  I  ask  Osgar  of  the  bright  deeds  to  leave  it 
between  me  and  Caoilte,  so  that  I  might 
avenge  the  insult  I  had  received  from  the 
son  of  Ronan. 

34  «  I  leave  it  between  you  and  him »,  said  Os- 
gar of  the  goodly  appearance,  «  and  do  you 
then  yourself  do  battle  with  the  son  of 
Ronan.  » 


258  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXll 

35  Fiafraighimsi    go  hard  ard 

do  mac  Cronnchair  go  fiorgharg 
cred  tug  e  dom  chaineadh 
dom  aithis   dom  imdeargad/i 

36  As  i  freagra  fiiair  misi 

6  Chaoilti  aigeantac/i  chlisde 

go  mbeinnsi  ar  deireadh  chaich 
ag   iaxraidh  na  ndeachamhan 

37  Adubatrt  fear  millte  na  fFian 
Conan  maol  coinntinneach  cian 

na  tugadh  se  urraim  dhuit 
's   nar  mo  bhias  se   agad 

38  Maith  do  dhlighfea  sin  a  fhir 
do  chongnam  beith  am  aghoidh 

do  bris  me  an  corn  ar  do  chionn 
a    mBruighin    Cheise    Corainn 

39  Maith    do   dioghlomai/ne   sin 
a   maidin   catha   Cnocha 

do  marbhamar  Cumhall  go  mbuaidh 
is  da  ttrian  a  tromshluaioh 

40  Ni    chuimhneochum   fala   anois 
dhuit  a  Conain  cheannsholais 

fearr  linn  do  beith  os  cionn  chlair 
ag  bualadh  dorn  is  famer 

41  Maith  aithnidhimsi  in  t-adhbar 
do-bheir  ort  gan  teacht  fam  gh&badh 

ar  cheasta  fhaophar  mo  loinn 
is   ar   eagla   mo    comlainn 

39ft  MS  has  Concha  with  a  sign  to  transpose  n  and  o. 


LXH]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

35  Loudly,  very  loudly  and  most  haughtily 
I  ask  the  son  of  Cronnchar  what  caused  him 
to  abuse,  insult  and  revile  me. 


259 


36  The  answer  I  got  from  clever  and  intelligent 
Caoilte  was  that  I  should  be  left  seeking 
tithes  when  all  were  gone. 


37  Quarrelsome  and  wearisome  (?)  Conan  Maol, 
the  upsetter  of  the  Fiana,  said,  «  Let  him 
show  you  no  respect,  and  may  you  prize  him 
no  whit  more.  » 


Conan 


38  It  would  be  indeed  right  for  you,  0  man,  to 
lend  your  assistance  in  opposition  to  me  : 
I  broke  the  goblet  on  your  head  in  the 
Bruighean  of  Ceis  Corainn. 

39  Well  did  we  avenge  that  on  the  morning  of 
the  Battle  of  Cnucha  :  we  slew  conquering 
Cumhall  and  two  thirds  of  his  mighty  host. 


Oisin  :  40  We  will  not  cherish  the  memory  of  that  griev- 
ance against  you  now,  0  Conan  of  the  shin- 
ing head  :  we  would  rather  have  you  seated 
at  table  fist-hammering  and  ... 

Conan  :     41  Well  do  I    recognize   the  reason  which  prev- 
ents you  coming  within  danger-distance(?)  : 
you   dread   (?)   the  keenness  of  my  sword, 
and  you  are  afraid  to  fight  me. 


260  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

42  Leigiom  diom  tagra  Conain 
ni  raipe  speis  liom  'na  te&gmdil 

mar  nar  chuireas  brigh  'na  laimh 
'na  atais  no   'na  mhorrdhail 

[80  a]    43  Do-rinneas  rioth  tre  lar  an  tsluaigh 
dar  chuireas  Chaoilti  ar  anbhuain 
do-chuaidh  uaim  ar  luas  a  chos 
go  rainic  se  go  Durlus 

44  Tiompoim  6  Dhurlus  tar  ais 
do  aimdheoin  Caoilti  coimdheas 

ger  maith  rioth  mic  Ronain  teinn 
go  huaim  mhoir  Sleibhi  Guilleand 

45  Ni  dhearnus  comnaidAe  coidhche 
no  go  rugas  ar  Chaoilte 

go  ttuccus  creapailti  rem  loinn 
Caoilte  ameasg  Fhian  Eireann 

46  Adubairt  mac  Cumhaill  mheadhraia/i 
ar  ffaicsin  Caoilti  chedaigh 

liomsa  dhul  fana  bhreith  fein 
's  go  ndenadh  mo  dheaghreir 

47  Adubhrusa  nach  denainn  sith 
le  Fionn  fa  maith  fos  is  brigh 

's  nach  ttiubhrainnsi  mo  lamh  na  laimh 
no  go  millinn  mac  Ronain 

48  As  i  sith  do  ceangail  Fionn 
do  ceangail  Osgar  is  Cairioll 

da  c[h]ed  cuach  6  Chaoilti  damh 
da  c[h]cd  corn  da  c[h]ed  cloidhiom 

43ft   Chaoilti,  sic  MS. 

44d  Guilleand.  The  MS  has  7  (=  ayus,  ei,  eit,  ead,  etc.)  with  a  stroke  (=n) 
over  it. 

■i^c  rem.  The  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  261 

Oisin  :  42  I  cease  this  discussion  with  Conan.  I  was 
free  from  care  as  regards  (?)  meeting  him; 
for  I  made  little  account  of  his  prowess, 
his  slandering,   or  his  pomp. 

43  By  a  rush  I  made  through  the  centre  of  the 
host  I  left  Caoilte  in  evil  plight.  He  went 
from  me  as  fast  as  his  feet  could  carry  him 
till  he  reached  Thurles. 

44  Against  his  will  I  turn  comely  Caoilte  hack 
from  Thurles,  though  the  stout  son  of  Ronan 
was  a  good  runner,  [and  I  chase  him]  to 
the  great  cave  of  Slieve  Guile  n. 

45  I  never  rested  till  I  had  caught  Caoilte 
and  by  means  of  my  sword  had  brought 
him    fettered  among  the  Fiana  of  Ireland. 


46  When  Caoilte,  captain  of  hundreds,  was 
seen  by  the  son  of  joyous  Cumhall,  he 
bade  me  pass  beneath  his  own  jurisdiction, 
saying  he  would  give  me  good  award. 

47  I  said  that  I  would  not  make  peace  with 
Fionn,  the  strong  and  steadfast,  and  would 
not  place  my  hand  in  his  hand  till  I  had 
ruined  the   son   of   Ronan. 

48  The  terms  laid  down  bv  Fionn,  Osgar  and 
Cairioll  were  that  Caoilte  should  pay  me 
two  hundred  goblets,  two  hundred  drink- 
ing horns  and  two  hundred     swords. 


262  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

49  Gach  a  ndubaf'rt  Fionn  agha 
7  a  oiread  eile  gan  cairde 

fuarus  a  n-a.oinieacht  urn  laim 
suil  do  sgaoilius  do  mac  Ronain 

50  Do  tug  misi  briatar  dho 
do  tug  Osgar  nar  chan  go 

nach  ttiubhramaois  achmusan  go  mbroid 
do  Chaoilti  ar  son  a  ndubaz'rt 

51  Do-rinniomar  sith  sulchair 
misi  is  Caoilti  mac  Cronnchair 

tugamar  frais  pog  ann  sin 
ar  slios  sron  7  aighthe 

52  Adubairt  an  Dubh  mac  Diorf aidh 
goth  is  aibhseach  re  n-innsin 

tigidh  do  troimdeab  aidh  riom 
a  ardmaithe  Fhian  Eirionn 

53  Tugaidh  comrac  talchar  tren 
damhsa  go  mbuailinn  beim 

no  tugaidh  braighde  go  ngoil 

6  gach  taoiseach  naoi  naonmhair 

54  Adubhairt  Osgar  fa  maith  gniom 
re  Cairioll  mac  in  airdriogh 

teachmaoidne   do  comrac  ris 

7  millmid  a  ainbfios 

55  Prap  adubairt  flaith  na  fFian 
le  mo  mac  maith  is  liom  fein 

ar  mhailheas  an  domain  dil 
nach  rachmaois  ris  do  dheabaida 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  263 

49  All  that  brave  Fionn  said,  and  as  much 
again  forthwith,  I  received  all  together  in 
my  hand  before  I  set  the  son  of  Ronan 
free. 

50  I  pledged  my  word  to  him,  and  so  did 
Osgar  who  told  no  lie,  that  we  would  cast 
no  galling  reproach1  at  Caoilte  for  what 
he  had  said. 

511  and  Caoilte  son  of  Cronnchar  made  happy 
peace.  We  bestowed  a  shower  of  kisses 
then  on  side,  nose  and  face. 


52  The  Black  One  son  of  Diorfadh  said  (T  is 
a  magniloquent  utterance  to  relate), 
«  Come  to  grave  battle  with  me,  lofty 
nobles  of  the  Fiana  of  Ireland. 

53  «  Give  stubborn  stout  battle  to  me  that 
I  may  strike  a  blow ;  or  give  hostages 
bravely,  nine  times  nine  hostages  from 
every  chieftain ». 

54  Said  deedful  Osgar  to  Cairioll,  the  High 
King's  son,  «  We  are  coming  to  battle 
against  him  and  we  [shall]  bring  to  naught 
his  folly.  » 

55  Quickly  the  prince  of  the  Fiana  said  to 
my  good  son  and  me  that  not  for  all  the 
good  things  of  this  dear  world  would  we 
oppose  him  in  fight 

1  Literally  «  reproach  with  captivity ». 


264  DUANAIRE    FINN  ILXII 

56  Adubairt  Osgar  nar  thim 
glor  nar  bfosaidh  re  mac  Cumhaill 

do  mhill  do  comairle  an  Fian 
a  mhic  Cumhaill  na  morcliar 

57  Adubairt  Osgar  glor  eile 
nar  choir  re  Fionn  Almhuine 

as  urusa  braighde  gill 

do  gabhail  ar  FhienazM  Eirinn 

58  Ann  sin  adupairt  Faolan  cain 
ag  eirghe  ar  son  a  athar 

[80b]        roborb  a  Osgair  Eamhna 
labhras  tii  re  tigearna 

• 

59  Adubhairt  Fionn  go  feargac/z 

le  hOsgar  grinn  mearmeanmn ach 

muna   ndearna   dioghaltus   ort  a   fhir 
ni  bhiad  fein  um  beathaid[a] 

60  Mun  beith  an  Dubh  mac  Diorfaz'aTz 
ag  iarr aidh  catha  ar  mo  muinntir 

do  digheoluinn  ort  a  fhir 

a  nden  tu  d'imreasain  am  aghaidh 

61  Amlaidh  sin  do-nimsi  riot 

a  mic  Cumhaill  na  n-arm  nglic 
do  sheac/z/  ccatha  is  tu  fein 
do  bheith  uile  dom  mireir 

62  Ge  teann  do  labhrus  tii  a  fhir 
liom  fein  is  le  mo  mhuinntir 

biaidh  t'athair  ag  iomchor  chlog 
&  leabhur  na  sagart 

57*  Almhuine.  MS  has  Almhuile  with  the    second  I  deleted  and  a  stroke 
(=  n)  over  the  ui.  58d  re  tigearna,  sic  MS, 

596  MS  has  greadhnach  deleted  after  grinn< 


LXI1]  DUANAIRE   FINN  265 

56  Osgar  who  was  not  feeble  made  this  un- 
stable remark  to  the  son  of  Cumhall, 
«  Your  counsel  has  been  the  ruin  of  the 
Fiana,  0  son  of  Cumhall  of  the  great 
bardic  companies. » 

57  Osgar  said  another  thing  that  was  not 
right  to  Fionn  of  Almhain  :  «  It  is  easy 
to  take  hostages  in  pledge  from  the  Fiana 
of    Ireland.  » 

58  Then  goodly  Faolan  arising  on  behalf 
of  his  father  said,  «  Too  boldly,  Osgar  of 
Eamhain,  do  you  speak  to  your  lord ». 

59  Fionn  said  angrily  to  pleasant  quick-  spirited 
Osgar,  «  Either  I  shall  cease  to  live  or  I 
shall  have  vengeance  on  you,  0  man. 

60  «  Were  it  not  that  the  Black  One  son  of 
Diorfadh  is  seeking  battle  from  my  folk, 
I  should  avenge  on  you,  0  man,  all  your 
contentious    acts  against  me. » 

Osgar  :  61    So  do  I  continue    to  act  towards  you,  son 

of  Cumhall  of  the  dexterous  weapons, 
though  you  yourself  and  your  seven  bat- 
talions be  all  opposed  to  me. 

Fionn  :  62  Though  you  speak  confidently  to  me  and 
my  folk,  0  man,  your  father  will  carry 
priests'  bells  and  books. 


266  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

63  Fearr  Horn  m'athair  is  me  fein 
do  beith  ar  deireadh  na  fFian 

no  bheith  ag  ithe  smaoise  mo  lamh 
mar  bhios  tusa  go  hamhnar 

64  Le  fios  do  gabhus  tii  neart 
&  re  feabhus  t'inntleacn/ 

&  re  cognam  do  mher 

ag  iarraidh  fheasa  gach  aoinsgel 

65  Do  sguir  Fionn  da  tagra 
do  sgar  rena  troimeagla 

do  gheall  go  ttiubhradh  or  glan 
dho  7  airgead  fionngheal 

66  Fiche  dabhach  d'or  bhuidhe 
is  oiread  eile  d'fiondruine 

ceithre-fichid  cuilen  con 
do  tug  mac  Cumaill  d'Osgar 

67  Do-rinne  misi  is  Osgar  sith 
le  Fionn  fa  maith  fos  is  brigh 

tugamar  ar  lamh  'na  laimh 
fa  cur  leis  ami  gach  aondhail 

68  Do  labhair  in  t-arracht  's  a'  fuath 
do  chuir  eagla  ar  gach  morsluagh 

gur  mhithe  leis  comhrac  teann 
d'faghail  6  Fhianaibh  Eirionn. 

69  Do  bhrosdaigh  mac  Cumaill  ann  soin 
ar  Osgar  dhul  san  iomghuin 

do  brosdaigh  ar  Cairill  chedach 

's  ar  Gholl  chalma  chaithreimeac/i 

65ft  do  sguir  has  been  crossed  out  in  the  MS  and  do  sgar  •written  above  it 
with  sign  to  insert. 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  267 

Osgar  :  63  I  would  sooner  that  my  father  and  I  be 
left  when  the  Fiana  are  gone  than  eat  the 
marrow  of  my  hands,  as  you  are  shameless- 
ly  wont  to   do. 

64  You  obtain  your  power  by  knowledge 
and  the  excellence  of  your  intellect  and 
by  chewing  of  your  fingers,  inquiring  into 
everything. 

Oisin  :  65  Fionn  ceased  arguing  with  him  :  he  aban- 
doned his  great  fear  :  he  promised  he  would 
give  him  pure  gold  and  silver  fair  and  white. 


66  Twenty  vessels  of  yellow  gold  and  as  many 
again  of  white  bronze,  eighty  hound  pups  — 
all  that  did  the  son  of  Cumhall  give  to 
Osgar. 

67  I  and  Osgar  made  peace  with  stedfast 
mighty  Fionn  :  we  laid  our  hands  in  his 
hand,  pledging  to  help  him  in  everything. 


68  Then  spoke  the  monstrous  apparition  who 
had  terrified  every  mighty  army,  saying 
he  thought  the  moment  ripe  for  the  Fiana 
of  Ireland  to  give  him  stout  battle. 

69  Then  the  son  of  Cumhall  urged  Osgar  to 
advance  to  the  fray  :  he  urged  Cairill  of 
the  hundreds  and  brave  triumphant  Goll, 


268  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

70  Do  freagrad/z  sin  go  luath 

le  hOsgar  do  hhehcadh  gach  buadh 

do  glac  meirge  sroil  na  mban    ffionn 
boi  re  hagaidh  ghleo  na  ngerlann 

71  Do  glac  a  cloidhiom  liomtha 
's  a  dha  mhanaois  iorghala 

do  glac  a  sgeith  druimneach  breac 
dob  fearr  seoladn  is  inntleacht 

72  Do  cheangaiZ  in  treinfear  da  chorp 
earradh  catha  tre  cruaidhneart 

mar  sin  do-chuaidh  Osgar  aigh 
do  chosg  an  athaigh  go  morgrain 

73  Gidh  be  chifeadh  mo  mac 

's  a  dha  mhanais  'na  ghealglaic 

mairg  neach  do  theigeomad/?  ris 
d'iarraidh  teacht  faoi  no  thairis 

[81  a]       74  A  ttainic  roimhe  is  'na  dhiaigh 
a  n-Eirinn  thoir  &  tiar 

do  muirfead  Osgar  re  a  loinn 
da  ffagadh  comtrom  comloinn 

75  D'ionnsoidhe  comraic  in  fhir 
do-cuaidh  Cairioll  is  Osgor 

is  Mac  Lughac/z  fa  maith  dreach 
&  Fiachra  mac  Eathach 

76  Do-chiiaidh  Aodh  beag  mac  Finn 
&  Faolan  na  ngerlann 

&  Diarmaid  donn  dana 
.da  ced  curadh  comdhala 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  269 

70  Victory-winning  Osgar  responded  quickly  : 
he  grasped  the  silken  Standard  of  the  Fair 
Women  which  was  intended  for  sharp- 
bladed  conflict. 

71  He  grasped  his  polished  sword  and  his 
two  battle  spears  :  he  grasped  his  speckled 
ridgy  shield  that  was  most  excellently  direc- 
ted  and  most  cunningly  contrived. 

72  The  champion  bound  a  battle  suit  in  hard 
strength  to  his  body.  Thus  did  bold  Osgar 
go  to  hold  back  the  very  horrid  giant. 


73  Whoever  had  seen  my  son  with  his  two 
spears  in  his  white  hand  —  Woe  for  him 
who  should  meet  him,  trying  to  come 
under  him  or  over  him  ( ?) ! 

74  Were  he  given  fair  battle  Osgar  would 
have  slain  with  his  blade  all  who  ever 
came  to  Ireland,  whether  east  or  west, 
before  or  after  his  time. 

75  CairiolLand  Osgar,  along  with  Mac  Lughach 
of  the  comely  countenance  and  Fiachra 
mac  Eathach,  advanced  to  fight  with  the 
man. 

76  Aodh  the  Little,  son  of  Fionn,  Faolan  of 
the  sharp  blades  and  bold  brown-haired 
Diarmuid,  with  two  hundred  assembly 
warriors,  advanced  also. 


270  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXll 

77  Do-chuaidh  Goll  nar  lag  lamh 
do-chuaidh  Caoilti  7  Conan 

do-chuaidh  Garaidh  mor  na  nglonn 
7  Osgor  mac  Croimchinn 

78  Do-chiiaidh  Liath  Luacra  fa  borb  treas 
fear  lonn  longportac/j  coimdheas 

&  Fionn  ban  mac  Breasail 
lamli  nar  treith  a  n-imreasain 

79  Do-chuaidh  dha  mac  Osgair  go  mbladh 
nar  teip  cosgar  na  congnamh 

tri  Finn  tri  hAodhain  on  leirg 
tri  Faolain  Leitreac/z  Loinndeirg 

80  Do-chiiaidh  clann  in  Liath  Luacra 
com  an  oglaoigh  ger  uathmhar 

is  clann  Chaoilte  fa  borb  sdair 
is  Gal  Gaoithe  a  mbrathair 

81  An  mheid  do-cuadaz-san  uile 
do  denamh  na  hiorghaile 

fa  mo  a  n-eagla  roim  an  f he  ar 
no  a  eagla  as  e  'na  enar 

82  Do  sheolada/-  aghoidh  a  n-arm 
ar  an  arrac/i/  nar  maith  dealbh 

do  chaithsead  a  sleadha  go  nimh 
leis  an  aitheach  tren  laidir 

83  Tug  seision  bualadh  teand 
d'Osgar  &  do  Cairill 

do  trasgair  a  n-aoinfeac/i/  re  a  laim 
Caoilte  is  Garaidh  is  Conan 


LXII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  271 

77  Goll  whose  hand  was  not  weak,  Caoilte 
and  Conan, great  Garaidh  of  the  deeds  and 
Osgar  son  of  Croimcheann  advanced. 

78  [With  them]  went  the  Grey  Man  of  Luach- 
air  who  was  fierce  in  onset,  an  angry 
well-built  fellow  suited  for  a  camping  life, 
and  Fionn  the  White,son  of  Breasal,whose 
hand  was  not  weak  in  a  fray. 

79  Osgar's  two  famous  sons,  who  never  failed 
to  conquer  or  bear  help,  advanced  with  the 
three  Fionns,  the  three  Aodhans  from  the 
slope,  the  three  Faolans  of  Leitir  Loinndeirg. 

80  The  children  of  the  Grey  Man  of  Luachair 
went  towards  the  warrior,  though  he  was 
dreadful ;  with  them  went  the  children  of 
Caoilte,  whose  rush  was  fierce,  and  Gal 
Gaoithe  their  kinsman. 

81  All  those  who  went  to  fight  that  battle 
were  more  frightened  of  the  man  than 
he  of  them,  though  he  was  alone. 

82  They  directed  their  weapons  against  that 
monster  of  uncomely  appearance :  they 
cast  their  fierce  spears  at  the  stout  strong 
giant. 

83  He  gave  a  stiff  beating  to  Osgar  and  Cair- 
ill :  by  his  hand  he  laid  Caoilte,  Garaidh 
and  Conan  low  at  the  same  instant. 


272  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

84  Tug  se  sitheadh  dian  dana 
d'aimdeoin  na  fFian  ffiorcalma 

do  marp  se  ger  maith  a  lamh 
Gal  Gaoithe  mac  mic  Ronain 

85  Do  mharp  se  Crimtann  mac  Guill 

's  da  c[h]sd  trenfear  da  fhoirinn 

do  mharbh  se  deich  cced  ann  sin 
ag  a  mbiodh  fian  is  muinntir 

86  Fiche  taoiseach  fa  maith  neart 
do  marbh  se  d'Fianaibh  Connacht 

do  t«c  ar  budh  mo  ina  soin 
ar  Fhein  Alban  is  Rhreatain 

87  Do  marbh  se  Roighne  mac  Finn 
sgel  is  doilge  da  n-innsim 

&  mac  oile  dhamhsa 

nir  ffearr  laoch  a  chomhaosa 

88  A  n-fegmais  mo  mhicsi  is  mic  Finn 
Gal  Gaoithe  is  Criomtai7?n  meic  Guill 

Baoithin  mic  Croimcinn  nar  lag 
is  chloinne  Caoilte  mo  charad 

89  Dob  e  ar  n-easbad[h]  on  fhear  mhor 
tainic  chugainn  on  Easroimh 

fiche  ced  sgieth   nar  lag 

tuit  leis  in  Duph  sa  ccomhrac 

90  Mur  do-connairc  mo  macsa  fein 
urlaidhe  an  oglaoigh  aigmheil 

do-chiiaidh  'na  aghaidh  reim  teann 
da  iarr aidh  cuige  a  ccomlann 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  273 

84  He  gave  a  bold  swift  rush  in  spite  of  the 
truly  brave  Fiana  :  he  killed,  though  he 
was  dexterous,  Gal  Gaoithe,  son  of  Ronan's 
son. 

85  He  killed  Criomhthann  son  of  Goll  and  two 
hundred  fighting  men  of  his  following  : 
he  killed  ten  hundred  then  who  had  war- 
bands  and  retainers. 

86  Twenty  right  strong  captains  did  he  kill 
of  the  Fiana  of  Connacht :  he  wrought 
still  greater  slaughter  on  the  Fian  of 
Scotland  and  Britain. 

87  He  killed  Roighne  son     of    Fionn    (the 
.    saddest  tale  of  all  I  tell),  and  yet  again  a 

son  of  my  own  whom  no  warrior  of    his 
age  excelled. 

88  Not  counting  my  own  son  and  Fionn's  son, 
Gal  Gaoithe  and  Criomhthann  son  of  Goll, 
Baoithin  son  of  Croimcheann  the  unfeeble 
and  the  children  of  my  beloved  Caoilte. 

89  Our  loss  at  the  hands  of  the  big  man  who 
came  to  us  from  Easroimh  was  two  thous- 
and unfeeble  shield-bearing  warriors  who 
fell  by  the  Black  Man  in  the  battle. 

90  When  my  own  son  had  seen  [the  havoc 
wrought  by]  the  terrible  warrior  s  blows, 
he  went  to  meet  him  (a  confident  course), 
seeking  him  out  for  himself  in  conflict. 


274  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

[81   b  |     91    Do  dhruid  in  t-oglaoch  nar  ob  troid 
'na  choinne  d'iarraid/i  comhraic 

nir  fechadTi  a  ngaisgeada  no  'ngail 
laoch  darbh  anta  rena  iorghail 

92  Cioth  fola  cioth  cailce  criiaidh 
baoi  da  ccorpaibh  a  n-enuair 

7  cioth  teineadh  go  nim 

do  bhi  d'armoibh  na  mhileadh 

93  Do  bhi  fos  cuideac/ifo  oile 
os  a  cceann  san  iorghaile 

cioth  brainen  timcioll  a  n-arm 

ag  in  cuideachta  uathmair  aghghairbh 

94  Ni  tiubhartar  's  ni  tugadh  riamh 
comrac  mar  sin  thoir  no  thiar 

baoi  idir  Osgar  na  nglonn 

6  a'  Dubh  sa  comlann 

95  Tug  Osccor  luathbheim  borb 
don  arracht  rena  morcholg 

dar  sgoilt  se  a  sgieth  go  lar 

7  smior  smeannta  a  mhuineil 

96  Tug  in  t-oglaoch  buille  oile 
d' Osgar  na  n-arm  ttinntid/ze 

dar  sgoilt  a  mheirge  's  a  sgieth 
tainic  6  criochuibh  na  hAisia 

97  Tug  Osgar   buille  nar  thlaith 
don  arracht  rena  dheaslaimh 

da  ndearna  da  leith  dha  chneas 
dhi  nir  fedadh  a  leighius 

92d  The  dot  over  the  m  of  mhileadh  is  blurred.    Perhaps  the  scribe  has  tried 
to  erase  it. 
93d  uathmair  or  uathm&r  (contraction  =  ur-sign). 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  275 

91  The  warrior  who'  never  shirked  a  fight 
moved  towards  him  to  seek  battle.  As 
regards  valour  or  bravery  no  champion 
had  been  seen  fit  to  await  his  onset. 

92  Together  a  shower  of  blood  and  a  cruel 
shower  of  chalk  came  from  their  bodies ; 
while  from  the  weapons  of  the  warriors 
issued  a  fierce  shower  of  fire. 

93  They  had  other  company  too  above  their 
heads  as  they  fought,  a  shower  of  ravens 
around  their  weapons  —  That  was  a  dread 
and  hateful  company. 

94  Never,  east  or  west,  has  been  or  shall  be 
fought   a   combat   such   as  that  between 
Osgar  of  the  deeds  and  the  Dubh[when  they    . 
met  J  in  the  battle. 

95  Osgar  with  his  great  sword  gave  a  fierce 
swift  blow  to  the  monster,  splitting  his 
shield  to  the  earth  and  the  marrow  of 
the  vertebrae  (?)  of  his  neck. 

96  The  warrior  gave  a  return  blow  to  Osgar 
of  the  fiery  arms,  splitting  his  standard 
and  his  shield,  which  had  come  from  the 
lands  of  Asia. 

97  Osgar  with  his  right  hand  gave  a  blow 
that  was  not  feeble  to  the  monster,  making 
two  halves  of  his  skin  :  it  was  impossible 
to  cure  him  of  that. 


276  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

98  Marbhtar  an  fear  treasborb  teann 
le  hOsgar  nar  ob  comlann 

an  fearsin  ger  mhor  a  grain 

do  mharp  Osgar  re  a  dheaghlaimh 

99  Leigtbear  tri  garrtha  catha 

a  tteaglach  an  ardfhlatha 

ar  son  thuitim  an  fhir  mhoir 

do  chuir  Fiena  Finn  ar  anbhuain 

1 00  Togtar  in  t-oglaoc/z  linn 

go  huaim  mhor  Shleibhe  Guillinn 
tugamar  urchar  asteach 
isin  mbrogh  mhor  don  aitheach 

101  On  c[h]ed  la  do-righneadh  sealg 
linn  a  n-Eirinn  go  hiomard 

as  e  in  fear  morsin  dna- — 

is  mo  do  chuir  dar  morcathaiWi 

102  Sgela  Osgair  'na  deaghaidh  dhuit 
do  brigh  chosgair  in  chomhruic 

badar  leagha  Eireann  faris 
re  feadh  bliadhna  da  leighius 

103  Fa  hiomdha  sgieth  'na  dha  cuid 
ar  Sliabh  Guilleann  on  mortroid 

7  corp  mileadh  gan  brigh 

6  mac  Diorfaidh  na  moirgnimh 

104  Do  rachadh  ar  fflaithius  uile 
risin  aitheach  n-aingidhe 

ar  mbraighde  7  ar  n-6r  glan 
do-bher adh  uainn  mun  beith  Osgar 

98c  The  g  of  ger  is  written  over  a  partly  erased  n. 

101c  dna — .    MS  has  dna  with  a  long  stroke  stretching  over  all  three  letters. 


LXII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  277 

98  The  stout  battle-fierce  man  is  killed  by 
Osgar  who  shirked  not  combat.  Osgar  by 
his  good  hand  slew  that  man,  though  the 
horror  he  caused  was  great. 

99  Three  warcries  were  uttered  in  the  High 

Prince's  palace  for  the  falling  of  the  big 
man  who  had  brought  Fionn's  Fiana  to 
distress. 

100  We  bore  the  warrior  to  the  great  cave  on 
Slieve  Gullen  :  we  hurled  the  giant  into 
the  great  palace. 


101    Since  first  we  hunted  gloriously  in  Ireland, 
it  is  that  great  man  ...  who  most  of  all  ... 


102  Here  for  you  are  the  subsequent  tidings 
of  Osgar  :  as  a  result  of  the  victory  of 
that  fight  the  leeches  of  Ireland  were  with 
him  for  a  year  attending  him. 

103  Many  a  shield  was  in  two  halves  on  Slieve 
Gullen  as  a  result  of  the  great  fight,  and 
many  a  soldier's  body  without  vigour  by 
reason  of  the  son  of  Diorfadh  of  the  great 
deeds. 

104  All  our  sovereignty  would  have  passed 
to  the  wicked  giant :  he  would  have  carried 
off  our  hostages  and  our  pure  gold  were  it 
not  for  Osgar. 


278  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

105  Baoi  Osgar  ba  cuimhneach  linn 
on  lasin    Shleibhe  Guilleann 

tri  raithe  'na  luidho  abhus 
6  nimh  a  chr echt  da  leigh ius 

106  Ni  hiongnad  tuirrsi  do  beith  orm 
a  chleir igh  na  leabhor  ngorm 

ni  mhair  Osgor  na  Fionn 

na  Fian  Osruidhe  urn  timchioll 

107  Ge  ataim  a  ndeireadh  mo  neirt 
a  Patraic  is  me  a  n-aimhrioc/?/ 

dhamh  do  berrthi  ceannus  chloinne  Finn 
an  liair  do  suidhmis  a  cCruimlinn 


[82  a] 


108   Damh  do-berthi  tosach  suidhe 
a  ndeaghaiaTi  Fhinn  Almhuine 
Goll  is  Osgar  da  eis  sin 
fa  gair  cosgair  dar  iFienaibh 

109   Caoilti  is  Diarmaid  6  Duibhne 

dream  nar  sgaoilteach  6  bhuidhm'Wi 
is  Osgar  mac  Garaidh  nar  thlaith 
choisgead  gach  cosgar  ionraith 

110  Garaidh  is  Mac  Lughach  lonn 
Faolan  is  Cairill  ceithirbheann 

do  andaois  ar  m'fhocal  uile 
fa  hiad  sgath  gach  iorghuile 

111  Deich  mic  fhichead  comluinn  ced 
do  bhi  is  ni  himarbhreg 

ag  m'athairsi  a  chlein'oa  cbaidh 
an  uair  do  suidhmis  d'enlaimh 


J07c,  108a,    -bentfii,  -pertfii.  The  e  in  each  case  -=  a  tall  e  in  MS, 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  279 

105  After  that  day  on  Slieve  Gullen  Osgar, 
I  remember,  was  nine  months  lying  here 
being  healed  from  the  pain  of  his 
wounds. 

106  No  wonder  I  am  sad,  clerk  of  the  blue 
books  :  Osgar  lives  not,  nor  Fionn,  nor  the 
Fian  of  Ossory  around  me. 

107  Although  I  am  at  the  end  of  my  strength, 
0  Patrick,  and  my  appearance  other  than 
it  was,  to  me  used  to  be  given  the  headship 
of  the  children  of  Fionn  when  we  seated 
ourselves  in  Cruimlinn. 

108  To  me  used  the  first  place  to  be  given  after 
Fionn  of  Almhuin  :  then  came  Goll  and 
Osgar  ('T  was  a  victory-cry  for  our  Fiana). 

109  Caoilte  and  Diarmuid  6  Duibhne,  a  group 
who  were  not  stragglers  from  troops  (?), 
as  also  Osgar  son  of  Garaidh  the  un- 
feeble,  who  used  to  check  every  famous 
victory    ( ?). 

110  Garaidh  and  angry  Mac  Lughach,  Faolan 
and  four-peaked  Cairill,  all  awaited  my 
word  :  they  were  the  protection  of  every 
battle. 

111  Thirty  sons  who  could  fight  hundreds  had 
my  father,  holy  cleric  (and  it  is  no  lie), 
when  we  took  our  seats  all  together. 


280  DUANAIRE    FINN  [LXII 

112  Ni  biodh  mac  againn  gan  ceol 
an  uair  theighmis  d'athol 

's  gan  da  c[h]ed  curadh  ag  gach  mac 
is  tri  chaoga  do  bhanntracM 

113  Deich  cced  fichead  teaghlach  Fhinn 
d'airdfhein  criocha  Lochlann 

a  n-fegmais  gach  mic  dhiobh  sin 
boi  ag  mac  Cumaill  do  muinntir 

114  Deich  fichit  7  deich  cced 

do  thaoiseachuibh  is  ni  breg 

a  n-fegmais  mic  riogh  go  ngoil 
do  biodh  againn  fan  sgainnir 

115  Gan  taoiseach  da  n-aireum  fein 
nach  biodh  naonmar  do  gnaithfhein 

gan  mnaoi  is  giolla  is  da  choin 
innilt  is  cupla  gadar 

116  Gacha  seachtmadh  bliadhuin  binn 
do  ceilti  fiadhach  mic  Cumaill 

nach  ffagmais  uiread  in  mhil 
re  bliadhuin  uile  d'entaoibh 

117  Do  chongmadh  mac  Ronain  co  rath 
mac  Cumhaill  guna  ardcath 

proinn  c\h\sd  6  Chaoilte  go  ngail 
gach  n-oidhche  a  laimh  gach  einfhir 

118  Fa  buan  ar  freasdol  do  mhiodh 
fa  mor  ar  meisge  6  chornazM 

fa  maith  ar  n-oirfideaoT?  bhinn 
a  n-onoir  Fhinn  mic  Cumhaill 


LXII]  DUANA.IRE  FINN  281 

112  When  the  time  for  repeated  drinking  arrived1 
there  was  no  one  amongst  us,  his  sons,  hut 
had  music,  each  of  us  having  in  addition 
two  hundred  warriors  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  women-folk. 

113  Thirty  hundred  men,  Fionn's  retainers, 
drawn  from  the  high  Fian  of  the  lands  of 
Lochlainn,  not  counting  every  one  of  those 
sons,formed  the  son  of  Cumhall's  household. 

114  Ten  score  and  ten  hundred  captains  (and 
it  is  no  lie),  not  counting  valorous  kings' 
sons,  had  we  to  support  us  in  battle. 

115  There  was  no  captain...  who  had  not  a 
permanent  company  of  nine,  a  wife,  a 
man-servant  and  two  hounds,  a  maid- 
servant and  a  couple  of  dogs. 

116  Every  goodly  (?)  seventh  year  the  son  of 
Cumhall's  game  used  to  be  concealed,  so 
that  not  even  a  hare  could  we  find  any- 
where for  a  whole  year. 

117  The  gracious  son  of  Ronan  would  keep  the 
son  of  Cumhall  and  his  noble  battalion. 
A  meal  sufficient  for  a  hundred  did  brave 
Caoilte  give  each  night  into  every  man's 
hand. 

118  Mead  was  continuously  served  to  us  :  the 
drinking-horns  made  us  very  drunk  :  good 
was  our  tuneful  music  in  Fionn  son  of 
Cumhall's  honour. 

1  Literaliy  «  When  we  used  to  go  for  (the  purpose  of)  repeated-drinking'. 


282  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

119  Fa  maith  ar  nduanta  molta 
's  ar  leapthacha  donncorcra 

maith  riar  gach  fileodh   's  gach  damh 
re  bliadhain  6  mac  Ronan 

120  Ni  roibhe  enri  sa  fFein 

no  taoiseach  calma  coimhthrein 
nach  biodh  file  fana  laimh 
ar  gheall  Chaoilte  mhic  Ronain 

121  Bliadhain  dhuinne  mar  sin 
fare  Caoilte  'na  bruighin 

gan  tacha  cuirme  no  ceoil 
gan  dith  muirne  no  comhoil 

122  As  i  bruighean  a  mbeithmis  fein 
fare  Caoilte  fa  maith  sgeimh 

a  cCarraic  Chinn  Choire  mic  Cais 
ris  a  raitior  Carruic  Fearguis 

123  Cred  fa  ttugadh  Cinn  Choire 
os  diot  is  coir  a  iiosr aighe 

ar  dhunadh  Fhearguts  mic  Roich 
sloinntear  leat  duinn  a  seanoir 

124  As  in  fFraingc  cian  6  shoin 
Cinn  Choire  is  e  is  cumhain 

[82b]  as  uaithe  tainic  anall 

do  gabhail  gheillidh  ffear  nEireann 

125  Cuiris  teac/ifa  uadha  ann  soin 
go  mac  Cumaill  a  hAlmhuin 

d'iarrairf/i  gheille  ar  Finn 
7  sgur  do  sheilg  Eirinn 

1216  The  dotted  g  of  bruighin  has  been  written  over  an  original  d. 

123c  Rdich.  A  gloss  in  the  margin  in  non-Gaelic  script  and  a  different  ink  to 
that  of  t  he  text  reads  : «  Nota  Fergussium  /.  Roghii  fecisse  nomen  PetreFergussii. » 
The  handwriting  appears  to  be  that  of  the  glossator  who  has  written  marginal 
glosses  on  the  copy  of  Acallam  na  Sen6ra.ch  which  is  bound  with  the  Duanaire, 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  283 

119  Good  were  our  poems  of  praise  and  our 
brown-purple  beds.  For  a  year  all  poets 
and  learned  men  were  well  looked  after 
by  the  son  of  Ronan. 

120  There  was  no  king  or  brave  powerful 
captain  in  the  Fian  who  had  not  a  poet 
beneath  his  hand  pledged  for  by  Caoilte 
son  of  Ronan. 

121  For  a  year  we  were  like  that  with  Caoilte 
in  his  residence,  with  no  scarcity  of  ale 
or  music,  with  no  lack  of  mirth  or  convi- 
viality. 

122  The  mansion  where  we  used  to  be  with 
handsome  Caoilte  was  Carraig  Chinn  Choire 
mic  Cais,  now  called  Carrick-Fergus. 


Patrick  :  123  Tell  us,  old  man,  seeing  that  you  are  the 
person  to  ask  about  it,  why  Cinn  Choire 
was  given  as  a  name  to  the  fortress  of 
Fearghus  Mac  Roich. 

Oisin  :  124  Cinn  Choire  (this  is  remembered)  came  long 
ago  from  France  :  hither  did  he  come  from 
that  land  to  win  submission  from  the  men 
of  Ireland. 

125  He  sent  an  envoy  then  to  the  son  of 
Cumhall  of  Almhain, demanding  that  Fionn 
submit  and  cease  hunting  in  Ireland. 


284  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

126  Do-bhcirim  briathor   anois 
do  raidh  Conan  maol  an  ainfhis 

muna  beithea  a  ffiadhnuise  Fhinn 
go  mbeith  do  cheann  gan  cholainn 

127  Do-bheirimsi  briatar  oile 
do  raidh  oglaoch  Chinn  Choire 

da  leigthi  eadrom  is  tu  a  fhir 
go  rachainn  riot  do  dheabaidh 


128  Ni  ffuighe  comrac  ann  sunn 
a  oglaoigh  a-  mac  Cumhaill 

na  biodh  ceastan  ort  a  fhir 
as  tu  ameasg  mo  mhuinntire 

129  Beir  leat  uaim  go  Cinn  Choire 
go  ffuighe  se  iorghuile 

's  nach  bfaghtar  sealg  Eireann  uainn 
.    mura  marbhtar  sinn  a  n-enuair 

130  Gluaisis  an  t-oglaoch  nar  dheas 
uainn  co  Cinn  Choire  mic  Cais 

innsios  don  fhear  tainic  tar  tuinn 
an  freagra  fiiair  6  mac  Cumai'// 

131  Luidhim  fom  armoibh  curadh 
do  raidh  Cinn  Choire  go  humhal 

go  bfuighinn  urraim  ffecrr  Fail 
da  mbeittis  uile  d'enlaimh 

132  Togbhais  Cinn  Choire  air  ann  soin 
naoi  fichit  ced  do  cheduibh 

gluaismid  chuige  go  teann 
ceithre  catha  cum  comhluinn 

126c  beithea.  MS  has  beithiea  with  the  i  deleted. 

129rf  mura.  MShasmur(perhapstobeexpanded/nar)a//oj?,  with ffag deleted. 

130d  MS  has  tainic  tar  tu  deleted  with  fiiair  written  above. 


LXII]  DUANAIRE    FINN  285 

126  «  I  declare  herewith, »  said  ignorant  Con- 
an  Maol,  « that  were  you  not  in  the 
presence  of  Fionn  your  head  should  be 
without  a  body. » 

127  «  I  on  my  part  declare,  »  said  Cinn  Choire's 
warrior,  « that  if  you  and  I  were  let  fight 
it  out  together  l,  0  man,  I  would  meet  you 
in  combat.  » 

128  « Battle  will  not  be  given  you  here  in  this 
place,  0  warrior, »  said  the  son  of  Cumh- 
all.  «  Have  no  fear,  0  man,  while  among 
my  people. 

129  « Bear  with  you  this  reply  from  me  to  Cinn 
Choire,  that  battle  will  be  given  him,  and 
that  the  hunting  rights  of  Ireland  shall 
not  be  won  from  us  unless  we  be  all  killed 
together.  » 

130  The  ugly  warrior  went  from  us  to  Cinn 
Choire  rm'c  Cais  :  he  told  him  who  had  come 
across  the  sea  the  answer  the  son  of  Cumh- 
all  had  given  him. 

131  « I  swear  by  my  champion's  weapons,  » 
said  Cinn  Choire  humbly,  « that  I  would 
win  homage  from  the  men  of  Ireland  were 
they  all  together.  » 

132  Of  hundreds  Cinn  Choire  then  took  on  (?) 
himself  nine  score  hundred.  We  advance 
stoutly  to  the  fight  four  battalions  strong. 

1  Literally  « if  (it)  were  left  between  me  and  you  ». 


286  DUANA1RE  FINN  [LXII 

133  Teagmaoid  da  cheile  sinn  fein 

's  a'  t-oglaoch  liathmar  aigmheil 
ag  saorcarruic  na  long  mbreac 
mar  a  ttogthaoi  sdair  na  longport 

134  Tugamar  tuireann  grangca 
sinne  is   ogiaoigh  na  Fraingce 

dar  tuit  an  Fian  bonn  re  bonn 
re  Cinn  Choire  sa  ccomlann 

135  Ge  do  marbad/i  ar  sluaigh  ionn 
re  Cinn  Choire  na  mbeimionn 

nir  ffearr  do  mhuinntir  in  fir 
do  thuitsiod  linn  sa  deabaid/i 

136  Tug  a  aghaidh  ar  Osgar  amhra 
mor  in  t-adhbar  doimheanma 

Cinn  Choire  mic  Cais  mic  Cinn 
mairg  ler  chaith  a  comhlann 

137  Marbhtar  Cinn  Choire  mic  Cais 
sgel  is  mo  tainic  thairis 

re  mo  macsa  tuit  gan  fhea'l 
fear  do  gabh  neart  mic  Cumaill 

138  Da  mbeith  sgribhionn  7  peann 
agam  dhuit  a  mhic  legheinn 

ni  aireomhainn  leat  no  trian 
ar  marbh  Osgar  a  ccath  riamh 

139  Triiagh  a  Mhuire  mar  taimse  fein 
a  n-Ard  Soileach  na  moirsgel 

gan  gaisgeadA  curadh  gan  creach 
ameasg  choradA  chleireach 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  287 

133  We  and  the  dread  terrible  warrior  meet 
at  the  noble  rock  of  the  speckled  ships 
where  the  ...  of  the  harbours  used  to  be 
raised  (?). 

134  We  and  the  warriors  of  France  made  a 
horrid  (?)  onslaught;  and  the  Fian  fell 
thickly1  by  the  hand  of  Cinn  Choire  in  the 
struggle. 

135  Though  our  hosts  were  slain  there  by  Cinn 
Choire  of  the  blows,  his  men  were  in  no 
better  case  :  they  fell  by  us  in  the  fray. 


136  Cinn,  of  Coire  son  of  Cas  son  of  Cinn,  (Woe 
for  him  against  whom  he  cast  (?)  in  ( ?)  bat- 
tle !)  turned  towards  wondrous  Osgar  ('T 
was  a  strong  reason  to  be  downhearted). 

137  Cinn  Choire  mic  Cais  is  slain  (the  greatest 
tale  that  has  been  told  concerning  him)  : 
by  my  son  fell  honourably  the  man  who 
overpowered  the  son  of  Cumhall. 

138  Had  I  script  and  pen  for  you,  0  student, 
I  could  not  reckon  the  half  or  the  third 
of  all  whom  Osgar  ever  killed  in  battle. 


139  My  plight  in  Ard  Soileach  of  the  great  tales 
is  woful,  0  Mary  —  no  heroic  warfare,  no 
raiding,  in  the  midst  of  a  choir  of  clerics. 


1  Literally  « footsole  by  footsole  ». 


2cS8  DUANAIRE    FINN  [LXII 

140   Ar  gradh  h'einigh  a  Oisin  fheil 
innis  duinn  ni  dot  caithreim 
6  atai  a  ndeireadh  do  neirt 
innis  duinn  treas  dot  imteac/i/ 

[8;>  a]    141    La  da  rabhamar  ag^ol 

Fian  Eirionn  lion  ar  ttionol 
go  ttarla  imreasain  ann 
eadrom  fein  is  mac  Cumai/Z 

142  Cred  tarla  eadroip  ann  soin 
a  Oisin  in  crotha  glain 

no  cred  fa  ndearnuts  troid 
let  athoir  a  Oisin  oirrdeirc 

143  As  e  adbar  far  eiridh  m'fearg 

le  mac  CumaZZZ  na  ccuach  ndearg 

d'iarroidh   leat  thaoiseach   na  fFien 
a  sgieth  's  a  craoiseach  ar  aonrien 

144  As  i  freagra  fuarus  6  Fhionn 
an  uair  chanus  in  t-uraigioll 

nach  ffuighionn  ceannus  ona  chloinn 
da  mbeith  se  fein  gan  marrthainn 

145  Adubhairt  liomsa  glor  eile 
Fionn  mac  Cumbaill  Almhuine 

nacli  ffuighinn  fein  no  mo  mac 
ac/zZ  cuid  d'FienaiM  Connacht 

146  Do  tug  meisi  briatar  dho 
do  tug  Osgar  nar  cllan  go 

nach  beinnsi  reidh  7  Fionn 

go  ffaghainn  gach  ni  do  shirfinn 

140c  atai.  The  accent  is  over  the  a  (atdi)  in  the  MS. 
142c  letalhoir.   MS  has  le  tathoir. 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

Patrick  :  140  For  the  sake  of  your  honour,  generous 
Oisin,  tell  us  something  of  your  triumph- 
ing :  since  you  are  at  the  end  of  your 
strength  tell  us  some  fight  of  your  advent- 
ures. 


289 


Oisin  :  141    One  day  when  we,  the  assembled"!  Fian  of 

■ 

Ireland,  were  drinking,  a  quarrel  sprang  up 
between  me  and  the  son  of  Cumhall. 

Patrick  :  142  What  occurred  between  you  then,  Oisin 
of  the  bright  form?  Why,  illustrious  Oisin, 
did  you  fight  with  your  father? 

Oisin  :  143  The  reason  my  anger  was  roused  against 

the  son  of  Cumhall  of  the  red  goblets  was 
that  I  asked  for  half  of  the  captains  of 
the  Fiana,  [half]  of  their  shields  and  spears 
all  together 

144  The  answer  I  got  from  Fionn,  when  I 
uttered  these  words,  was  that  I  should  not 
receive  headship  from  his  children  even 
though  he  himself  were  no  longer  alive. 

145  Fionn  son  of  Cumhall  of  Almhain  said 
another  thing  to  me,  that  neither  I  nor 
my  son  should  receive  any  more  than  a 
part  of  the  Fiana  of  Connacht. 

146  I  swore,  and  unlying  Osgar  swore,  that  I 
should  not  have  done  with  Fionn  till  I 
had  got  everything  I  might  demand. 


290  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

147  Rominic  iarrus  tu  a  fhir 
geill  is  troid  ar  mo  mhuinntir 

's  go  ffuil  da  fear  d[h\eg  dom  chloinn 
do-dhenadh  fa  leith  riot  comlann 

148  Ni  fada  go  fechfadsa  fein 

do  raidh  Osgar  fa  mor  caithreim 
cia  is  treise  m'athair  no  sibh 
mas  e  atathaoise  dh'iarraidA 

149  Do  eiridh  Osgar  Eamhna 
le  tarcuisne  a  thighearna 

a  ffuair  'na  seasamh  sa  dun 
do  trasgair  iad  a  n-enchuil 

150  Gach  neach  da  ffuair  'na  suidhe 
a  mbruighin  Fhinn  Almhuine 

do  chuir   'na  sheasam  go  teann 
gion  gar  cead  le  mac  Cumhaill 

151  Do  ekigh  Cairioll  gan  on 
d'i&rraidh  urrama  ar  Osccor 

do  gheall  a  ffiadhnuis  chaicch 
misi  is  Osgar  do  diongmhail 

152  Tugsat  aghaidh  gidh  reim  theann 
ar  a  cheile  com  comhlainn 

sa  torainn  fa  borb  a  ttreas 
Osgar  is  Cairill  coimbdheas 

153  Adubairt  moc  Muirne  go  mbuaidh 
re  mac  Morna  go  moruaill 

dealaidhe  re  cheile  go  liiath 
Cairill  is  Osgar  armriiadh 

150a  MS  has  what  looks  like  the  beginning  of  an  a  before  the  e  of  neach. 
151a  MS  has  oil  deleted  before  on. 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  291 

Fionn  :  147  Too  often,  0  man,  do  you  ask  for  hostages 
and  battle  from  my  folk,  though  there 
are  twelve  of  my  children  who  separately 
would  fight  you. 

Oisin  :  148  «  It  will  not  be  long  till  I  test  that  in  perr 
son »,  said  Osgar  mighty  in  triumph, 
«  till  I  test  who  is  the  stronger,  you  or  my 
father,  if  it  is  tbat  you  seek  », 

149  Osgar  of  Eamhain  arose  by  reason  of  the 
insult  cast  at  his  lord.  All  whom  he 
found  standing  up  in  the  fortress  he  laid 
low  in  one  corner. 

150  Every  one  whom  he  found  seated  in  Fionn 
of  Almhain's  palace  he  boldly  made  stand 
up,  though  the  son  of  Cumhall  willed  it 
not. 

151  Flawless  Cairioll  arose  to  seek  respect 
from  Osgar.  He  promised  publicly  that 
he  would  ward  me  and  Osgar  off. 


152  They  faced  one  another  for  battle,  though 
it  was  a  confident  course.  Fiercely  they 
fought  in  the  fray,  Osgar  and  comely  Cai- 
rioll. 

153  The  victorio  us  son  of  Muirne  said  to  the 
very  proud  son  of  Morna,  «  Quickly  se- 
parate Cairioll  and  stout-armed   Osgar ». 


292  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

154  Ar  a  ffuil  do  mhaithius  ad  dhiin 
a  mic  Cumaill  fa  maith  run 

nocha  rachainn  leo  dom  ghoin 
no  go  sguirid  da  ndeab  a  id/i 

155  Eirgeann  6  Baoisgne  borb 
is  mac  Morna  na  morcholg 

'chosg  na  troda  ar  a  raibh  nimh 
tarla  ag  Cairill  's  ag  Osgor 

156  Dob  i  easbaidh  Finn  ann  sin 
suil  do  coisgeadh  a  mhuinntir 

da  c[h]ed  fear  flaithis  gan  on 
6  laimh  aithisaio/i  Osgair 

157  Sul  do  coisgeadh  fearg  Osgair 
no  Chairill  on  cruadhchosgar 

dob  iomdha  ann  laoich  ghonta 
&  crechta  cruadhchorcra 

[83  b]    158   Ge  rinneadh  slid  uile  linn 
le  hOsgar  is  re  Cairill 

luaithe  d'furail  Fionn  na  ffleadh 
sith  orainn  no  d'iarramar 

159  Do  tairgeadh  gach  dara  sealg 
gach  dara  lann  faobardearg 

gach  dara  cu  da  chonaibh 

da  cholgaibh  da  craoiseachuibh 

160  Gach  dara  \eath  da  gach  cath 
gach  dara  sleadh  on  righflaith 

gach  dara  comrac  6  Fhionn 
gach  dara  diiain  a  cCroimlionn 


[LXII  DUANAIRE   FINN  293 

Goll :  154   For  all  the  wealth  in  your  fortress,  secretive 

son  of  Cumhall,  I  would  not  go  with  them 
to  be  wounded  till  they  cease  from  their 
fight. 

155  The  fierce  grandson  of  Baoisgne  and  the 
son  of  Morna  of  the  great  blades  arise  to 
check  the  bitter  struggle  that  had  come 
about  between  Cairioll  and  Osgar. 

156  Before  Fionn's  folk  were  checked  his  loss 
there  by  Osgar's  successful  hand  was  two 
hundred  flawless  men  of  authority. 


157  Before  the  anger  of  Osgar  or  Cairioll  had 
been  checked  by  the  harsh  triumphing, 
there  were  many  injured  heroes  and  wounds 
cruel  and  crimson. 

158  Though  all  that  was  done  by  us,  by  Osgar 
and  Cairioll,  feasting  Fionn  enjoined  peace 
upon  us  before  we  asked  for  it. 


159  Every  second  hunt  was  offered  us,  every 
second  red-edged  sword,  every  second  one 
of  his  hounds,  of  his  blades,  of  his  spears. 

160  The  second  half  of  every  battalion  and 
every  second  lance  were  given  us  by  the 
royal  prince ;  every  second  combat  was 
granted  us  by  Fionn,  every  second  poem 
in  Croimlionn, 


294  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

161  Gach  dara  cuid  d'61  fleadh 
gach  dara  ceol  d'oirfideadh 

gach  dara  corn  ar  a  lar 
gach  dara  ciiach  is  copan 

162  Tugadh  tanuisdeacht  damh  fein 
an  uairsin  6  ihlaith  na  fFian 

tanuisteac/?/  a  n-6ir  's  a  ccon 
sul  rainic  in  t-6r  Osgar 

163  Ionarbh  i  sin  do  chuidsi  don  Fhein 
a  Oisin  go  righe  reidh 

an  't    aghoidh  do  bhadar  no  leat 
na  ceithre  morchatha  a  n-aoinfheac/i/ 

164  Do-bheirim  do  lamsa  inois 

a  Patraic  6  taoi  'teacht  thairis 

nach  rabhasa  no  mo  mac  fein 
gan  ceithre  catha  do  gnaithFe'in 

165  Iarrsa  ar  Airdrigh  na  ndul 
a  Oisin  airrhgeir  uir 

a  ttug  tii  'chathaibh  ann  soin 
iarr  a  mhaitheamh  dot  anmuin 

166  Maithsi  7  Ri  nimhe 

damsa  a  ndearnus  d'io'rghaile 

tabhair  neamh  mas  rogha  libh 
damsa  ar  son  do  Thigearna 

167  Dena  ineach  gan  dith  dhuit  fein 
berus  furtacht  dar  ngnaithFhein 

iarr  neamh  d'Osgar  7  d'Fionn 
ar  Mac  ingine  Anna  is  Iaichim 

\t)7b  ngnaith-,  The  first  n  has.  been  written  above  the  line  with  sign  to  insert. 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN 

161  Every  second  share  of  festal  drinking, 
every  second  melody  of  minstrelsy,  every 
second  drinking  horn  on  its  base(?),  every 
second  goblet  and  cup. 

162  The  office  of  tanist  was  given  me  on  that 
occasion  by  the  ruler  of  the  Fiana,  tan- 
istry  as  regards  their  gold  and  dogs,  be- 
fore the  gold  came  to  Osgar  (?). 

Patrick  :  163  Was  that  your  share  of  the  Fian,  Oisin  of 
mild  kingship?  The  four  great  divisions 
taken  together,  were  they  against  you  or 
for  you  ? 


295 


Oisin  :  164  I  swear  now  by  your  hand,  Patrick,  since 
you  refer  to  it,  that  neither  I  nor  my  son 
lacked  four  permanent  Fian  divisions. 

Patrick  :  165  Ask  the  High  King  of  the  elements,  noble 
Oisin  of  the  sharp  weapons,  ask  Him  to 
pardon  your  soul  all  the  fights  you  fought 
then. 


Oisin  :  166  May  you  and  the  King  of  Heaven  forgive 
me  all  the  quarrelling  of  which  I  have  been 
guilty.  So  please  you,  grant  me  Heaven  on 
behalf  of  your  Lord. 

167  Make  supplication  which  without  injuring 
yourself  will  bring  relief  to  our  standing 
Fian.  Ask  for  Heaven  for  Osgar  and  Fionn 
from  the  Son  of  Anne  and  Joachim's 
daughter. 


2^6  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXII 

168  Iarr  neamh  do  mac  Morna  mhear 
iarr  do  Chaoilti  iarr  do  Gharad/z 

iarr  neamh  do  Mac  Lughach  lonn 
7  d'Osgor  mac  Croimchinn 

169  A  Oisin  ni  shirfe  me 

neamh  do  mac  Cumaill  na  da  Fein 
's  gur  binne  leo  gotha  con 
no  bheith  ag  guidhe  in  Duilimh 

170  Da  mbeith  iiil    agad  ar  in  fFein 
a  chleirigh  nach  ffuil  dom  reir 

hudh  binne  leat  no  denomh  trath 
bheith    'na  ccaomtach  re  henla 

La 


LXII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  297 

1 68  Ask  for  Heaven  for  the  swift  son  of  Morna, 
for  Caoilte,  for  Garadh,  for  turbulent  Mac 
Lughach  and  for  Osgar  son  of  Croimcheann. 


Patrick  :  1  69  Oisin,  I  will  not  seek  Heaven  for  the  son  of 
Cumhall  nor  his  Fian,  seeing  that  they 
preferred  the  voices  of  hounds  to  supplica- 
tion of  the  Creator. 

Oisin  :  170  Did  you  know  the  Fian,  0  cleric  who  oppose 

my  will,  you  would  "prefer  to  be  in  their 
company  for  a  single  day  than  to  perform 
the  Hours. 


LXIII 

1    Aithreos  caithreim  in  fir  moir 
tainic  anoir  fo  dheaghbhiiaidh 
treinfear  do  bhi  Ian  da  ghail 
an  Dearg  dana  mac  Droichil 

2  Briatar  tug  in  laoch  Ian 
suil  tainic  cugainn  tar  sal 

nach  gebhadh  gan  geilleatf/?  ar  ais 
6  gach  treinfear  dha  fheabhus 

3  Fa  thasg  na  fFian  dob  fearr  gail 
trialluis  in  Dearg  mac  Droichil 

anoir  6  Crich  na  fFear  fFionn 
go  tir  oirirmhin  Eirionn 

[84  a]      4   Ar  ttiacht  a  ttir  don  laoch  lonn 
ar  ar  himreadh  egcomlond 

gabhais  an  Dearg  deidgeal  ciian 
a  mBeinn  Edair  na  morslu agh 

5  Do  bhi  dias  nar  cumang  dail 

ag  coime'd  in  chiiain  chobhairbhain 
Raighne  na  rod  mac  Finn 
's  a'  Caol  crodha  mac  Criomthuinn 

6  Nior  choimheid  siadsan  an  ciian 
do  thuitsiod  'na  ttoircim  siiain 

tainic  bare  in  fhir.  mhoir 

ar  in  tra.cht  fa  a  cceartcomair 


LXIII 

1  I  shall  tell  of  the  warlike  course  of  the  big 
man  who  came  triumphantly  from  the 
east,  a  fighting  man  full  of  valour,  the 
bold  Dearg  son  of  Droicheal. 

2  Before  coming  to  us  over  the  sea  the  per- 
fect warrior  swore  that  he  would  not  re- 
turn without  submission  from  every  cham- 
pion however  excellent. 

3  To  meet  (?)  the  Fiana  who  were  bravest 
of  all,  the  Red  Man  son  of  Droicheal  came 
from  the  east  from  the  Country  of  the  Fair 
Men  to  Ireland  where  the  land  is  good. 

4  When  the  turbulent  warrior  who  was  over- 
come (?)  in  battle,  the  Red  One  of  the 
white  teeth,  landed, he  harboured  [his  ship] 
in  Reann  Iidair  of  the  great  hosts. 


s>* 


5  Guarding  the  foam-white  haven  were  two 
who  were  in  no  wise  limited  *,  Raighne 
of  the  Roads  son  of  Fionn  and  Caol  the 
Valiant  son  of  Criomhthann. 

6  They  did  not  guard  the  haven  :  they  fell 
into  a  heavy  slumber ;  and  the  big  man's 
barque  came  upon  the  strand  right  in  front 
of  them. 

1  Literally  «  whose  condition  was  not  narrow  (or  '  contracted  ') », 


300  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXIII 

7  Leimis  an  Dearg  fa  maith  dreach 
i  ttir  le  crannuib  a  craoiseach 

tug  a  bharc  arna  snoidhe 

ar  in  tracht  gheal  ghainmhidhe 

8  Folt  fionnbhuidhe  mar  or  cheard 
os  cionn  amhalchach  ngruadhndearg 

dha  dheirc  ghorma  go  ngloine 
os  gealghniiis  an  mhilidhe 

9  Lann  nimhe  le  leadradh  corp 
ag  in  laoch  d'eagla  chomhraic 

mionn  cumdaigh  clochorrdha  corr 
mun  mbiodbaidn  sochma  siilghorm 

10  Da  shleidh  crannrighne  chatha 
a  laimh     mhic  an  ardfhlatha 

sgiath  6rdhuidhe  re  gualainn  chli 
ag  mac  uasal  an  airdri 

11  Geall  gaisgidh  in  domain  thoir 
do  chosain  in  Dearg  mac  Droichil 

ar  mhed  ar  neart  ar  dheilbh  ghloin 
ar  comlann  cheart  ar  chedoibh 

12  Eirigheas  Raighne  na  roda 
's  a'  Caol  csdgoineac  crodha 

gabhaid  a  n-airm  ina  laimh 
&  reathaid  'na  comdhail 

13  Innis  sgela  dhuinn  a  fhir  mhoir 
oruinn  tainic  coimed  in  chuain 

dha  mac  righ  go  sarbhuaidh  sinn 
d'Fianuibh  lanuaisle  Eirinn 

8  c  In  MS  g  has  been  deleted  before  the  c  of  dheirc. 

12  c  laimh.  MS  has  lamhuibh  with  uibh  deleted  and  i  written  in  beneath  the  d, 


LXIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  301 

7  The  Dearg  who  was  comely  of  countenance 
leaped  ashore  by  means  of  the  shafts  of  his 
spears  :his  boat  which  had  been  chipped  ( ?) 
he  brought  upon  the  white  sandy  beach. 

8  On  a  beardless  red-cheeked  head  was  fair- 
yellow  hair  like  smiths'  gold,  while  above 
the  soldier's  fair  countenance  were  two 
bright  blue  eyes. 

9  The  warrior,  lest  he  should  have  to  do 
battle,  had  a  biting  blade  to  hack  bodies  : 
the  calm  blue-eyed  enemy  wore  an  up- 
standing ornamented  diadem  set  with 
gold  and  [precious]  stones. 

10  In  the  hand  of  the  High  Prince's  son  were 
two  battle  spears  with  tough  shafts  :  the 
noble  son  of  the  High  King  had  a  gilded 
shield  on  his  left  shoulder. 

11  The  prize  of  valour  of  the  Orient  had  been 
won  by  the  Dearg  son  of  Droicheal  for 
size,  strength,  purity  of  feature  and  right 
combating  of  hundreds. 

12  Raighne  of  the  Roads  and  Caol  the  Valiant, 
wounder  of  hundreds,  arose.  They  grip 
their  weapons  in  their  hands  and  run  to 
meet  him. 

13  «  Give  tidings  to  us,  great  man  :  to  guard 
the  haven  has  fallen  to  our  lot :  two  very 
victorious  kings'  sons  are  we  of  the  wholly 
noble  Fiana  of  Ireland.  » 


302  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXIII 

• 

14  Asan  ccrich  o  ttanac  anois 
nirb  iomdha  neach  um  ainbfius 

misi  in  Dearg  mac  righ  na  fFionn 
ag  iarraidh  airdrioghdac/i/  Eirionn 

15  Do  chan  Raighne  an  aigm'da  mhir 
go  dian  risin  Dearg  mac  Droichil 

ni  ghebha  tusa  a  laoich  lain 
urruim  no  geilleadA  ffear  fFail 

16  Acht  ge  borb  sibhsi  a  dhias  laoch 
canus  formad  &  fioch 

cia  do  bhacfadh  diom  a  gabhail 
a  glacadh  no  a  hiongabhail 

17  Da  n-airmhinn  duitsi  gach  fear 

a  Dheirg  moir  mhic  an  ardflath 
iomdha  laoch  aderadh  ann 
go  ngebhadh  re  do  chomhlann 

18  Cait  a  ffuil  einneach  dhiobh  sin 
do  raidh  an  Dearg  mac  Droichil 

go  ffechmaois  re  cheile 
ar  f fioch  is  ar  n-aimhreidhe 

19  Do  briathra  ge  borb  linn 

bar  Caol  crodha  mac  Criomhthuinn 
ag  sud  misi  dot  chlaoi  anois 
a  laoichiid  tainic  thairis 

20  Go  Caol  crodha  fa  dearg  dreach 
freagrais  in  Dearg  dasac/i/ach 

'  go  ffearg  mhoir  is  go  ffioch 
mairg  ar  ar  bhuail  in  trenlaoch 

led  The  n  of  hiongabhd.il  has  what  seems  to  be  the  beginning  of  a  stroke  over  it. 

186  MS  has  bhi  deleted  before  rriidh. 

18c  gd.  MS  has  gi  with  the  e  changed  to  o. 


LXIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  303 

14  «In  the  country  whence  I  have  come  now 
there  were  not  many  who  did  not  know  of 
me  :  I  am  the  Dearg  son  of  the  King' of  the 
Fair  Men,  and  I  seek  the  highkingship  of 
Ireland  ». 

15  Quickwitted  Raighne  declared  vehemently 
to  the  Dearg  son  of  Droicheal,  «  You  shall 
not,  perfect  warrior,  receive  the  homage  or 
submission  of  the  men  of  Ireland.  » 

16  Though  you  are  an  overbearing  twain,  0 
warriors  announcing  envy  and  wrath,  who 
would  prevent  me  receiving  it,  seizing  it 
or  avoiding  (?)  it? 

17  «Were  I  to  enumerate  each  man  for  you, 
great  Dearg  son  of  the  High  Prince,  there 
are  many  warriors  who  would  say  there 
that  they  would  go  to  fight  you.» 

18  «Where  is  any  one  of  those?  »  said  the 
Dearg  son  of  Droicheal,  «  so  that  we  may 
try  out  our  fury  and  stubbornness  against 
one  another. » 

19  «  Though  we  find  your  words  fierce, »  said 
Caol  Crodha  son  of  Criomhthann,  «  here 
come  I  to  overthrow  you  now,  0  warrior 
who  have  mentioned  it ». 

20  To  Caol  the  Valiant  who  was  red  of  coun- 
tenance the  angry  Dearg  responded  with 
great  wrath  and  fury.  Woe  for  him  upon 
whom  the  strong  warrior  showered  his 
blows  ! 


304  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXIII 

21  Do-rinne  an  Dearg  comlann  cniaidh 
's  a'  Caol  crodha  go  moruaill 

dobh  i  sin  in  torann  chleas  teann 
ag  sgoilteadn  sgieth  is  chathbharr 

22  Dob  i  iomthusjia  deisi 
san  irgail  nar  thairise 

ceanglin's  an  Dearg  rodglan  rod 
an  Caol  crodha  sa  comrac 

[84b]     23   Gluaisis  Raighne  na  rod  nar  thim 
d'eis  in  Chaoil  crodha  creapall 
mac  righ  na  Feine  gan  tar 
cum  in  treinfhir  'na  comdhal 

24  Dob  iomdha  cleasa  gala 
san  imreasain  eattorra 

gur  ceangail  ger  crodha  an  ceim 
Raighne  na  rod  go  luathbheim 

25  Ge  maith  an  gniomh  's  na  gala 
duit  sinn  ar  aon  do  cheangol 

sgaoil  ar  ccreapall  a  laoich  luinn 
is  beir  leat  sinne  id  timcioll 

26  Sgaoilius  an  Dearg  na  ccleas  bfraoch 
cuibhreach  na  deisi  deaghlaoch 

naiscis  a  briathor  ar  gach  fear 
nach  ttiupraidis  airm  'na  aghoidh 

27  Tig  cugainn  go  Teamroigh 
go  Cormac  an  mhoirtheaghlaich 

mac  Droichil  na  ngeirreann  mbuadh 
go    triath    Teamhra    na    ccaomsluao/i 

21c  dobh.    The  bh  represents  a  dotted  b.     The  words  are  divided  do  bhi  in 
MS  (c/.  Dob  i,  22a,  representing  Do  bi  in  MS). 

21b  Cormac.  MS  has  comrac  with  the  m  deleted  and  an  m-stroke  over  the  r. 


[LXIII  DUANAIRE   FINN  305 

21  The  Dearg  and  Valiant  Caol  of  great 
pride  did  cruel  combat.  That  was  the  stout 
fray,  splitting  shields  and  helmets. 


22  This  is  what  happened  to  the  two  in  the 
insecure  conflict :  the  ruddy-clear  ruddy 
Dearg  bound  Caol  the  Valiant  in  the  battle. 


23  After  Caol  the  Valiant  had  been  shackled 
unfeeble  Raighne  of  the  Roads,  the  undis- 
graced  son  of  the  Fian  king,  went  towards 
the  champion  to  meet  him. 

24  Many  were  the  feats  of  valour  performed 
in  the  struggle  between  them,  till  he  bound 
(though  it  was  a  valiant  proceeding)  Raigh- 
ne of  the  Roads  by  a  swift  blow. 

25  Though  good  the  deed  and  good  these 
exploits  of  yours  by  which  we  are  both 
bound,  loosen  our  chains,  fierce  warrior, 
and  take  us  with  you. 

26  The  Dearg  of  the  furious  feats  loosed  the 
fetters  of  the  two  good  warriors  :  he  made 
each  man  swear  not  to  use  arms  against 
him. 

27  The  son    of  Droicheal  of  the  victorious 
sharp  spears  comes    to    us    in    Tara,    to 
Cormac  of  the  great  household,  to  Tara's 
lord  of  the  lovely  hosts. 


306  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXIII 

28  Eirghid  laochraidh  Teamhra 
fir  mora  dhiochra  dhealbha 

dob  iomda  fear  dronnbrait  sroil 
timcheall  Cormaic  a  ccedoir 

29  Do  raidh  triath  Teamra  gan  on 
suidhidh  a  chliar  calma  churadh 

ni  huamhan  daoibh  meirghe  in  fhir 
na  togbaidh  airm  'na  aghaidh 

30   Suidhis  trenfheara  Fail 
d'eis  a  cheile  'na  comdhail 
tigidh  chuctha  go  dana 
an  fear  forasda  fiormhalla 

ft 

31  Ar  tteacht  ar  in  ffaichthe  dho 
do  mac  Droichil  na  morghleo 

don  6g  inneallta  chuimsi 
leigtear  in  rod  righshoillsi 

32  Beannaighis  an  Dearg  do  glor  bhinn 
do  triath  Teamra  go  haoibhinn 

freagrais  an  flaith  gon  dogra 
caithmihd/i  na  trenfhoghla 

33  Ar  suidhe  do  mac  righ  na  fFionn 
fiafraighis  dhe  airdrigh  Eireann 

benefit  do  thurais  go  Teamhraigh 
innis  a  laoich  moirmheanmnaigh 

34  Beac/i/  mo  thuraisi  duit 

a  mic  Airt  curata  'Cormaic 

geiUeadh  Eirionn  dob  ail  bom 
no  frais  blieimionn  'na  timcioll 

32c  MS  has  gon  dogra  (wordspacing  sic). 

34a  mo.  The  m  has  been  altered  from  an  original  d. 


LXIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  307 

28  The  warriors  of  Tara,  great  eager 
shapely  men,  arise.  At  once  many  a  man 
in  brown( '?)  satin  cloak  was  around  Cormac. 

29  The  flawless  lord  of  Tara  said,  « Be 
seated  brave  band  of  champions:  you 
have  no  need  to  fear  the  man's  flag  :  raise 
not  your  arms  against  him.  » 

30  The  fighting  men  of  Ireland  seated  them- 
selves one  after  another  in  his  presence. 
The  stately  truly  gentle  man  comes  towards 
them  boldly. 

31  When  he,  the  son  of  Droicheal  of  the  great 
fights,  came  upon  the  lawn  the  path  of 
royal  dignity  (  ?)  is  left  to  the  well-equipped 
seemly  warrior. 

32  The  Dearg  in  a  musical  voice  greeted 
pleasantly  the  lord  of  Tara.  The  un- 
gloomy  prince  answered  the  mightily  plun- 
dering battle-champion. 

33  When  the  son  of  the  King  of  the  Fair  Men 
had  sat  down  the  High  King  of  Ireland 
questioned    him :    « Particulars    of    your 
journey  to      Tara,     give  to   us,     great- 
spirited  warrior.  » 

34  «Here  are  the  particulars  of  my  journev 
for  you,  Cormac  son  of  valiant  Art  :  I 
would  have  Ireland  surrendered  or  a  show- 
er of  blows  concerning  it  ». 


308  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXIII 

35  GeiWeadh  Eirionn  tar  muir 
ge  minic  do  sirdis  treinfhir 

ni  frith  is  fuighthear  go  brach 
a  tabhach  re  haonoglach 

36  0   nach  bfaghuimsi  a   Chormaic 
flaitheas  liaidsi  gan  comhrac 

togh  comhrac  ced  curadh 

uaid  a  mhic  airdgrinn  chubhaidh 

37  Cuiris  Cormac  ced  calma 

do  chlaoi  an  oigfhir  allmu/rdha 
do  thogsan  re  feirg  nar  lag 
meirge   'na  ccoinne  a  ccomrac 

38  Dob  e  iomthus  mhic  righ  na  fFionn 
thuit  an  cedsin  'na  comlann 

is  da  ched  oile  fa  gniom  dho 
do  chlaoi  an  Deirg  a  n-enlo 

39  Mur  do-chonnraic  airdri  Teamhra 
an  Dearg  ag  denam  airligh 

seolais  teac/i/a  liadh  go  liiath 
co  mac  Cumhaiil  na  morsluagh 

40  'iig  chugainn  arna  mharac/i 
mac  Cumaill  go  mordhalach 

tri  mhile  gaisgt'ad/iach  glan 

nar  thim  easbhadhach  sgainnear 

41  Failm  oir  fa  chionn  gach  fir 
do  mhuinntir  Finn  a  hAlmuin 

sgieth  lite  go  n-amlad/i  n-6ir 
go  n-earradh  sithe  saorsroil 

35c  MS  has  ni  fuighthear  is  frith  with  sign  to  transpose   fuighthear  and  frith. 


LXIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  309 

35  «Though  champions  crossing  the  sea  often 
have  sought  submission  from  Ireland, 
no  warrior  has  succeeded  or  ever  shall 
succeed  in  winning  tribute  from  her  ». 

36  «  Since  I  cannot  win  kingship  from  you, 
Cormac,  without  battle,  choose  a  fighting 
force  of  a  hundred  warriors  to  represent 
you,   0  extremely  pleasant  seemly  lad.  » 

37  Cormac  sent  a  hundred  brave  men  to 
overthrow  the  young  stranger.  He  with 
no  slight  anger  raised  his  standard  against 
them  in  battle. 

38  This  was  the  fortune  of  the  son  of  the  King 

of  the  Fair  Men  :  those  hundred  men  fell 
fighting  with  him  and  yet  another  two 
hundred  ('T  was  a  great  deed  he  did), 
overthrown  by  the  Dearg  in  a  single  day. 

39  When  Tara's  High  King  saw  the  Dearg 
wreaking  slaughter,  he  sent  word  quickly 
to  the  son  of  Cumhall  of  the  great  hosts. 

40  The  son  of  Cumhall  comes  to  us  proudly 
on  the  morrow  with  three  thousand  bright 
champions  who  were  not  weak  or  found 
to  be  wanting  in  a  fight. 

41  Every  man  of  Fionn  of  Almhuin's  folk  had 
a  golden  helmet  around  his  head,  a  plaited 
shield  with  gold  marking  and  soft  garments 
of  noble  satin. 


310  DUANA1RE   FINN  ILXIII 

[85  a]    42  Ar  tteacht  ann  isin  ffaichthe 

don  tsluagh  churadh  choirighthe 

togbhais  an  Dearg  fa  maith  tlacn/ 
pupall  ordha  ioldhathach 

43  Ar  ndul  do  mac  righ  na  fFionn 
uainn  asteach  'na  pupall 

togbhais  tri  mhile  cleas  liiith 

fa  maith  in  t-adhbhar  iomthnuith 

44  Fearais   Cormac  gan  time 
failte  re  Fionn  Almhuine 

fuair  sluagh  mic  Muirne  na  ccreach 
pog  is  cuirm  a  tigh  Theamhrach 

45  Do-chuaidh  mac  Cumhaill  fheil 
cum  in  pupaill  don  c[/z]edreim 

&  beannaighis  don  Dearg 
don  laoch  anaithnidh  iomard 

46  Mur  do  bheannuidh  in  flait  gan  tar 
freagrais  an  Dearg  dreachnar 

iarrais  comha  go  luath  lonn 
ar  mac  Cumhaill  no  comlann 

47  Ge  maith  do  neartsa  a  fhir 

do  raidh  flaithfheindirfa  Almhan 
ni  thairbheorsa  braighde  dhuit 
a  Dheirg  ar  eagla  comhruic 

48  Mas  chugainn  do  thaWaigh  sibh 
a  laochrada  leidmeach  Laighean 

ar  chomhlann  ced  umhal  sinn 
uaid  a  mhic  Cumhaill  airmgrinn 


LXIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  311 

42  When  the  marshalled  host  of  heroes  had 
come  there  upon  the  lawn  the  well-clad 
Dearg  raised  a  gilded  many-coloured  tent. 


43  When  the  King  of  the  Fair  Men's  son  had 
gone  from  us  into  his  tent,  he  performed 
three  thousand  athletic  feats  ('T  was  a 
good  reason  to  be  envious). 

44  Cormac  the  unfeeble  welcomed  Fionn  of 
Almhain.  The  army  of  the  raiding  son  of 
Muirne  got  kisses  and  ale  in  the  house  of 
Tara. 

45  The  son  of  generous  Cumhall  went  to  the 
tent  straightway.  He  greeted  the  Dearg, 
that  unknown  lofty  warrior. 

46  When  the  blameless  prince  had  saluted 
him  the  Dearg  of  modest  countenance  made 
answer  :  he  demanded  swiftly  and  fiercely 
that  the  son  of  Cumhall  give  him  either 
presents  or  battle. 

47  « Though  good  your  power,  0  man  »,  said 
the  warrior  prince  of  Almhain, «  I  shall  not 
offer  you  hostages,  0  Dearg,  through  fear 
of  battle.  » 

48  «  If  you  have  come  to  meet  me,brave  war- 
riors of  Leinster,  I  am  agreeable  to  do 
combat  with  a  hundred  of  your  men,sharp- 
weaponed  son  of  Cumhall.  » 


312  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXIII 

49  Do  chuir  mo  ri  c^d  ann  sin 
dochum  in  Deirg  da  mhuinntir 

um  Dhorn  urn  Dhonn  mac  in  Sgail 
&  um  Chonn  mac  Conain 

50  Do  thuit  Conan  mac  in  Leith 
leis  7  in  Dorn  nar  threith 

do  chlaoi  rena  laim  gan  locht 
tri  c[li]ed  feargach  iaobarnocht 

51  Mur  do-connairc  mo  ri  ann  sin 
ar  chlaoi  in  Dearg  da  mhuinntir 

do  brosd  aigh  a  chip  catha 
do  chosg  mic  an  ardfhlatha 

52  Eirghis  Faolan  go  ffeirg  mhoir 
gabhais  a  mheirg  saorsnath  sroil 

do-chiiaidh  do  chosg  in  laoich  lain 
mairg  do  brosdaidh  'na  chomhdhail 

53  Ann  sin  teasgaid  a  lanna 

ar  a  ccneasuibh  cruithgheala 

's  do  redhbattar  a  n-airm  aigh 
ar  a  cheile  sa  teagmhail 

54  Glacaid  compair  a  cheile 
d'eis  na  hurlaidhe  aigmheile 

no  gar  ceangladh  leisin  Dearg 
Faolan  crodha  na  ccniadhcheard 

55  A  mhic  Morna  nach  meata 

a  mhir  crodha  na  crodhac/i/a 

coisg  dhinn  comhrac  an  fir  mhoir 
a  cheann  gaisg idh  na  morshlogh 

53c  r$dhbattar.  The  e  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 


LXIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  313 

49  My  king  then  sent  a  hundred  of  his  people 
against  the  Dearg  led  by  Dora,  Donn 
son  of  the  Sgal  and  Conn  son  of  Conan. 


50  Conan  son  of  the  Liath  fell  by  him  and  the 
Dora  who  was  not  feeble.  He  overthrew 
with  his  faultless  hand  three  hundred  angry 
men  whose  blades  were  bared. 

51  Then  when  my  king  saw  what  numbers  of 
his  people  the  Dearg  laid  low  he  urged 
on  his  battle  phalanx  to  check  the  High 
Prince's  son. 

52  Faolan  arose  in  great  anger  :  he  grasped 
his  noble-threaded  satin  standard  and  went 
to  check  the  perfect  warrior  (Woe  for  him 
who  hastened  to  meet  him  !). 

53  Then  they  cut  their  swords  upon  their  skins 
which  were  white  of  form  (?),  and  they 
destroyed  their  dangerous  weapons  upon 
one  another  in  the  fray. 

54  They  gripped  one  another's  chests  when 
the  terrible  smiting  was  over,  till  valiant 
Faolan  of  the  hard  crafts  was  bound  by 
the  Dearg. 

55  «  Son  of  Morna  who  are  not  cowardly, 
valiant  portion  of  valour,  ward  off  the 
big  man's  battling,  0  foremost  n  bravery 
of  the  great  hosts. 


314  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXIII 

56  Leat  fein  do  thus  dala 
trian  comhadh  trian  edala 

deich  cced  uinge  d'or  fa  tri 
uaimsi  dhuit  ar  in  t-airdri 

57  Ge  do  fogradh  ret  fine 
clanna   Morna   mongbhuidhe 

do-bheur  fein  mo  chongnam  leat 
a  ri  na  Feine  dot  fhurtac/i/ 

58  Do-chuaidh  Goll  nar  fulaing  tar 
'na  chulaidh  eididh  iomlan 

do  thog  re  dasacht  nar  thim 
na  hairm  shenta  cum  comhlainn 


59  Tucc  in  Dearg  do  chlaoidhe  Guill 
na  hairm  nimhe  do  bhi  a  ccoigill 

is  tig  go  diomsach  dana 

go  fiochmar  a  n-am  theagmhala 

60  Ann  sin  cuimhnighid  a  bfearga 
na  fir  bhorba  soidhealbhdha 

[85b]        ag  snoighe  chlogad  is  cheann 
do  bhi  mac  Droichil  is  Iollann 

61  Fechaid  digheann  a  ccleas 
ar  a  cheile  sa  mortreas 

tochtaid  fir  Ein'onn  uile 

re  clos  bheimionn  na  hiorghaile 

62  Ona  ccomrac  re  tri  la 
fa  tuirrsioch  mic  &  mna 

no  gur  torchradh  in  Dearg  ann 
re  mac  Morna  na  mbeimionn 

57a  MS  has  H  tfine. 

59ft  MS  has  shenta  with  «  no  nimhe  » -written  above  the  line  as  a  correction. 

62  c  Some  letters  (re?)  have  been  erased  before  in. 


LXII1]  DUANAIRE   FINN  315 

56  «  To  commence  with,  a  third  of  all  presents, 
a  third  of  all  wealth  will  be  given  you  ;  and 
three  times  one  thousand  ounces  of  gold  shall 
I  hand  over  to  you, » said  the  High  King. 

57  « Though  the  race  of  yellowhaired  Morna 
was  outlawed  by  your  kinsmen,  I  shall 
lend  you  my  aid,  king  of  the  Fian,  to 
relieve  you.  » 

58  Goll  who  brooked  no  insult  clad  himself 
in  his  complete  suit  of  armour  :  he  raised 
with  no  feeble  fury  the  charmed  weapons 
for  battle. 

59  The  Dearg,  that  he  might  overthrow  Goll, 
took  the  fierce  weapons  which  were  in 
reserve  and  advances  proudly,  boldly  and 
wrathfully  at  the  moment  of  meeting. 

60  Then  those  fierce  shapely  men  bethink 
them  of  their  reasons  for  wrath.  The  son 
of  Droicheal  and  Iollann  began  hew- 
ing helmets  and  heads. 

61  They  try  their  hardest  (?)  feats  on  one 
another  in  the  great  fight.  The  men  of 
Ireland  all  keep  silent  to  hear  the  blows 
of  the  battle. 

62  Boys  and  women  were  weary  by  reason 
of  their  three  days'  conflict,  till  the  Dearg 
was  felled  there  bv  the  son    of  Morna  of 
the  blows. 


316 


DUANAIRE   FINN 


[LXIII 


63  Da  leigthi  suan  no  codhladh 

do  laoch  na  ndearg  ngruadhchorcra 
treisi  Eirionn  do-gebhthaoi  leis 
bhiadh  a  mbraighde  'na  loingeas 

64  Othar  bliadhna  luidhe  Guill 
6  chomhrac  in  laoich  luinn 

i  ttigh  righ  Teamhra  go  bfios 
baoi  mac  Morna  dha  leighios 

65  Do  fiiair  Goll  ar  geaWadh  dho 
6  mhac  Cumhaill  is  ni  go 

ba  buidheach  an  flaith  go  mbuaidh 
6  comrac  Iollainn  armruaidh 

66  Do-rinne  an  Dearg  dithchioll  borb 
fa  dhith  inne  ona  morcholg 

thuit  tri  died  uainne  'na  troid 
is  se  died  do  mhuinntir  Cormaic 

67  As  me  Feargus  file.  Finn 

do  gnaithfeind/6/?  mhic  Cumhaill 
6  thoisg  na  ffearsin  ar  ttos 
trian  a  ngaisgidh  ni  aithreos 

A 


63ft  Word- order  sic  in  MS. 


LXIII]  DUANAIRE   FINN  317 

63  Had  the  warrior  of  the  red-purple  cheeks 
been  granted  slumber  or  sleep  he  would 
have  won  sway  over  Ireland  :  their  hostages 
would  have  been  in  his  ships. 

64  A  sick  man  for  one  year  —  so  long  was  Goll 
in  bed  (?)  as  a  result  o f  the  fight  with  the 
fierce  warrior  :  in  the  house  of  the  wise 
king  of  Tara  did  the  son  of  Morna  rec- 
eive treatment. 

65  Goll  got  all  he  had  been  promised  from  the 
son  of  Cumhall  (and  it  is  no  lie).  The  vic- 
torious prince  was  grateful  by  reason  of 
stoutarmed   Iollann's  fight. 

66  The  Dearg  did  fiercely  all  he  could.  We 
were  in  need  by  reason  of  his  great  blade. 
Three  hundred  of  us  fell  fighting  with 
him  and  six  hundred  of  Cormac's  men. 

67  I  am  Fearghus,  Fionn's  poet,  of  the  stand- 
ing Fiana  of  the  son  of  Cumhall.  Since 
those  men  began  their  journeying  (?) 
not  a  third  of  their  valour  may  I  tell. 


LXIV 

1  Leac/z/  Guill  do  chraidh  mo  croidhe 
treinfear  Eirionn   iobhruidhe 

ionmhuin   taobh  fon  leacht  ata 
tearc  laoch  re  roiph  iomarbaidh 

2  Trenfhear  do  chloinn  Morna  mhear 
do  ghabh  geiWeadh  in  domhain 

6   fhearaibh   Eirionn   aille 
go  crich  oirrdeirc  Easpainne 

3  Ger  mhaith  Trenmor  is  Fionn 
ger  mhaith  Baoisgne  is  Cumall 

do  ghabh  Iollann  a  ngeill  uile 
idir  triath  is  rodhuine 

4  Naoi  naonmafr  do-cuadhmar  amach 
do  mhaithibh  na  fFian  ffuilteac/z 

fa  Fhionn  is  fa  Gharad/i  ghlan 
fa  Bhaoisgne  is  fa  Osgar 

5  Do  gabhamar  d'airde  na  mbeann 
Fionn  flaithfheindzd/i  gan   loWann 

'gabhail  geiMidh  na  mara 
ar  na  tonnoibh  taobhghlana 

6  Don  taobh  thuaith  do  Thir  na  tTracht 
do-conncomar  iomarcadh  bare 

iad  ag  seo\adh  sa  chuan  gleannach 
fiche  cid  long  LochlannacA 

2a  mhear.  The  ea  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 


LXIV 

1  The.  tomb  of  Goll,  champion  of  yew-clad 
Ireland,  has  grieved  my  heart.  Beloved 
the  side  that  lies  beneath  that  tomb.  Few 
were  the  warriors  who  could  vie  with 
him  (?). 

2  He  was  a  champion  numbered  among  the 
swift  sons  of  Morna.  He  subdued  the  world, 
from  the  men  of  lovely  Ireland  as  far  as 
the  illustrious  land  of  Spain. 

3  Though  Trenmhor  and  Fionn  were  good  : 
though  Baoisgne  and  Cumhall  were  good, 
Iollann  won  hostages  from  them  all, 
both  chief  and  high  personage. 

4  Nine  times  nine  of  us,nobles  of  the  blood- 
thirsty Fiana,  set  out  led  by  Fionn,  pure 
Garadh,  Baoisgne  and  Osgar. 

5  We  set  off  from  the  towering  cliffs  (?) 
(Fionn  the  royal  chieftain  was  there,  but 
not  Iollann)  to  win  mastery  over  the 
sea  upon  the  clear-sided  waves. 

6  To  the  north  of  the  Land  of  the  Beaches  we 
saw  a  large  number  of  vessels  sailing  to- 
wards the  glenny  harbour.  They  were  two 
thousand  ships  from  Lochlainn. 


320  DUANAIRE   FINN  (LXIV 

7  Fiche  csd  do  thainic  ann 
Maghnus  mor  mac  righ  Lochlann 

do  bhi  cBd  ar  gach  sgairbh  sa  chabhlach 
is  nir  mheirbh  in  trentheaghlarn 

8  Tainic  Maghnus  mor  a  ttir 
go  huaman  is  go  haimnin 

doloisc  6  fhraoch  go  tuinn 
an  taobh  fa  a  ttarla  dh'Eirinn 

9  Comhrac  fhichead  ced  ar  a'  traigh 
iarraidh  Maghnus   da   dheaslaimh 

7  geallais  da  laimh  chli 

go    ttroidfeadn    leisan    airdri 

10  Cuiris  fios  go   Fionn  Fail 
Magnus  mor  do  theac/i/  'na  dhail 

's  nach  gebadh  gan  comrac  teann 
d'fagai/  6  fhearuibh  Eireann 

11  As  e  comairle  tug  a  shliiagh 
d'Fionn  mac  Cumai/Z  armriiadh 

[86a]       an  tir  d'fhagbhail  don  fhior 

sul  do  muirfead/i  a  mhuinntior 

12  Do  gabhadar  ag  imteaca/  ann  sin 
's  do  gabh  uamhan  na  fir 

iad  ag  dail  a  mbarc  ar  tuinn 
an  trathsin  tainic  Iollann 

13  Fiafraighis  Iollann  tre  fheirg 

a  Fhinn  mic  Cumaill  airmdheirg 
crsd  do  rug  ort  a  fhir 
far  fhagbhais  damsa  Eire 


LXIV]  DUANAIRE   FINN  32i 

7  Magnus  the  Great,  son  of  the  king  of  Loch- 
lainn,  had  come  two  thousand  strong.  The 
fleet  contained  a  hundred  men  for  every 
shallow(?).  That  mighty  body  of  retainers 
was  not  feeble. 

8  Magnus  the  Great  came  to  land  awfully 
and  ungently.  He  burned  the  part  of  Ire- 
land where  he  found  himself,  from  the 
heather  to  the  sea. 

9  Magnus  desires  to  do  battle  on  the  strand 
with  his  right  hand  against  two  thousand, 
and  with  his  left  he  promised  to  fight  the 
High  King. 

10  He  sent  word  to  Fionn  of  Ireland  that 
Magnus  the  Great  had  come  to  him  and 
would  accept  nothing  but  that  firm  batt- 
le be  given  him  by  the  men  of  Ireland. 

11  His  army  advised  Fionn  son  of  Cumhall 
of  the  stout  weapons  to  leave  the  land  to 
the  man  before  he  should  slay  his  people. 

12  Then  they  set  about  departing,  and  terror 
seized  the  men.  They  were  apportioning 
their  vessels  to  the  sea.  At  that  moment 
Iollann  came. 

13  Iollann  angrily  asked  :  « Pied-weaponed 
Fionn  son  of  Cumhall,  what,  0  man,  has 
led  you  to  leave  Ireland  to  me?  » 


322  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXIV 

14  Oglach  mor  ag  teacht  anall 
cugainn  as  iartar  Lochlann 

do  gabh  geiMeadh  Eirionn  uile 

le  neart  a  chloidhim  chrobhuidhe 

15  Ga  ffuil  maithe  na  Feine 
nac[h]  dendaois  ris  coimheirghe 

nach  ttiubraidis  comlann  teann 
do  Maghnus  mac  righ  Lochlann 

16  Ga  ffuil  Fionn  mac  Cumaill  fheil 
ga  ffuil  Osgar  na  Oisin 

ga  ffuil  Caoilte  claoidhis  cath 
Gal  Gaoithe  no  mac  Lughach 

17  Ga  ffuil  Fear  Logha  na  n-eac 

ga  ffuil  Diarmaid  deaghbhreatach 
ga  ffuil  Daire  mac  Smoil 
no  Cairill  6  Conbhroin 

18  Ga  ffuil  Chaoilti  coisgfeadh  an  ri 

Faolan  no  Aodh  mac  Finn 
no  clann  a'  Chearda  na  sed 

do  choisgfeaaTz  mor  cced  a  nglinn 

19  Ca  ffuil  Fear  Logha  nach  ffiiair  guth 

no  Lugha  mac  Cairill  aird 
no  Fionn  mac  Dubhain  na  cciiach 
6  Theamhraia/i  Liiachra  na  sealg 

20  Ca  ffuil  do  ghairbhteaglac/jsaVFhinn 

Fian  Locha  Lein  no  do  chlann 
da  mac  ri  Lochlann  na  seol 

nach  ttiubhradaois  dho  gleo  arm 

U)b  na,  sic  MS.  16c  claoidhis,  sic  MS,  but  beneath  the  i  is  a  mark  which 

seems  to  be  part  of  an  incompleted  o  (=  claoidhiosl). 

18a  Chaoilti.  The  dot  over  the  c  may  be  accidental.  20c  da,  sic  MS. 


LXIV]  DUANAIRE   FINN  323 

14  «  It  is  a  great  warrior  who  lias  come  hither 
to  us  from  the  west  of  Lochlainn  and  has 
won  the  submission  of  all  Ireland  by  the 
strength    of   his  yellow-socketted  sword.  » 

15  aWhere  are  the  Fian  nobles  that  they  would 
not  rise  up  against  him,  that  they  would 
not  give  firm  battle  to  Magnus  son  of  the 
King    of  Lochlainn? 

16  « Where  is  Fionn  son  of  generous  Cumhall  ? 
Where  is  Osgar,  or  Oisin  ?  Where  is  Caoilte 
who  wins  battles,  Gal  Gaoithe,  or  Mac 
Lughach  ? 

17  «WThere  is  Fear  Logha  of  the  steeds  ? Where 
is  Diarmaid  of  the  good  j  udgments  ?  Where 
is  Daire  son  of  Smol,  or  Cairioll  grandson 
of  Conbhron? 

18  «  Where  is  Caoilte  who  would  check  the 
king,  Faolan,  or  Aodh  son  of  Fionn,  or  the 
bejewelled  children  of  the  Craftsman  who 
would  hold  up  many  hundreds  in  a  glen? 

19  « Where  is  Fear  Logha  who  never  received 
blame,  orLughason  of  exalted  Cairioll,  or 
Fionn  son  of  Dubhan  of  the  goblets  from 
Teamhair  Luachra  of  the  hunts? 

20  « Where,  Fionn,  is  your  own  rough  house- 
hold, the  Fian  of  Loch  Lein,  or  your  sons, 
that  they  would  not  give  armed  combat  to 
the  son  of  the  King  of  Norway  of  the  sails  ?» 


324  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXlV 

21    Dar  do  laimh  a  Ghuill  greadhnaia/i 
ar  n-airiom  dhuit  mo  theaglai'a/i 

dob  i'earr  led  dhul  fan  talam  ghlas 
no  dhul  do  Lroid  le  Maghnus 

z2  Dar  do  laim  a  Ghuill  griiama 
ni  tig  duine  beo  uadha 

suil  do  claoidhfitear  uaidh  don  fhior 
cuirida  se  siuagh  a  ttalniain 

23  Dar  do  laim  a  Ghuill  go  ngrain 
ni  lamhann  duinc  dhul  'na  dhail 

treisi  a  luinne  ined  a  bhuille 
truime  treine  a  brathbhuille 

24  Gur  thoilidh  Maghnus  mear 
6  taoi  'na  mac  ardfhlatha 

6  nach  biiaih'rf/i  duine  eile 
buille  air  a  n-iorghaile 

25  Airde  a  sgeithe  os  clar  ochta 
guirme  geire  a  loinn  corcra 

gan  coimmeas  ris  fon  grein  grinn 
acht  tusa  fein  a  Illinn 

26  Tabhair  do  ghea\\ad[h\   's  do  gheillearf/z 
a  Fhinn  moir  &  dena 

gan  gheillettfiTi  Ghuill  no  Gharaidh 
'chur  a  luing  re  mac  allmurr a ia/i 

27  Damadh  tusa  a  ldilainn  fheil 
do-bheradh  comrac  as  ar  IFein 

chuirfinn  mo  braighde  id  theach 
amach  a  cCruachain  Connacht 


LX1V]  DUANAIRE   FINN  325 

•  21  « By  your  hand,  exultant  Goll,  now  that 
you  have  reckoned  up  my  household,  they 
would  sooner  go  beneath  the  green  earth 
than  go  to  fight  with  Magnus. 

22  « By  your  hand,gloomy  Goll,  no  one  escapes 

from  him  alive.  Before  a  grave  be  dug 
for  the  man  he  will  send  a  host  to  bur- 
ial. 

23  «By  your  hand, fearsome  Goll,  no  one  dares 
approach  him  because  of  the  strength  of 
his  wrath,  the  magnitude  of  his  blow,  the 
weight  and  power  of  his  stroke  of  doom. 

24  «  .        •        •  • 

since  no  one     else  will      strike    a    blow 
against  him  in  battle. 

25  «[By  reason  of]  theheight  of  his  shield  above 
the  expanse  of  his  chest,  the  blueness  and 
sharpness  of  his  crimson  blade,  he  has  no 
equal  under  thekeensun  but  you,  0  Iollann. 

26  ((Promise  and  grant  this  to  me,great  Fionn 
(and  carry  out  your  promise),  that  you  will 
never  send  a  token  of  submission  from  Goll 
or  Garadh  in  any  ship  with  a  foreigner's 
son.  » 

27  «  If  you,  generous  Iollann,  were  the  man 
from  our  Fian  to  give  him  battle,  I  would 
send  my  hostages  to  your  house  away  in 
Cruachain  in  Connacht.  » 


326  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXIV 

28  0  nach  bfaghaim  isin  fFein 
fear  da  fhreasdal  acht  me  fein 

rachad  do  troid  ar  bhar  ccionn 
le  Maghnus  mac  righ  Lochlann 

29  Tairgeas  Fionn  do  Maghnus  mor 
comtrom  loUainn  don  deargor 

[8&b]        's  a'  comrac  do  shinead/i  amach 
go  maidin  arna  mharach 

30  Ann  adubairt  Goll  greadhnac/i 
ionmhuin  croidhe  mear  meadhrac/z 

gomadh  fearr  leis  comrac  an  fir 
ina  maithius  na  talma/? 

31  Comhraicis  Iollann  ar  a'  traigh 
&  Maghnus  lamh  ar  laimh 

teid  uatha  isna  neWaibh  nimhe 
morshlaim  theineadh  thinntighe 

32  Ar  sathad/7  na  sleadh  sibhneach 

a  ccneasuibh  na  ccuradh  ccaithnimhneach 
tig  do  sheamannaiM  na  sleadh 
lasair  uaine  &  folradh 

33  Cuirdis  ceatha  tola  ruaidhe 
osna  lannoibh  sleasiiaine 

an  uair  budh  dearg  in  talamh  ghlas 
tig  fearg  Iollainn  re  Maghnus 

34  Tug  lollann  in  beim  deas 
os  bile  sgeithe  Maghnuis 

tcasgaidh  an  lamh  gniomach  ghlan 
ann  sin  de  go  thalmain 

30a  g  eadhnnch.  The  ea  represent  a  tall  c  in  the  MS  (In  the  same  word  in 
LXIV  21  it  represents  a  small  e  +  a,  with  the  sign  of  length  in  an  uncertain 
position)  344  go  lhalnvdin,  sic  MS  (dotted  t), 


LXIV]  DUANAIRE   FINN  327 

28  Since  I  find  in  the  Fian  no  man  to  deal  with 
him  but  myself,  I  shall  go  to  fight  on  your 
behalf  with  Magnus  son  of  the  King  of 
Lochlainn. 

29  Fionn  offered  Magnus  the  Great  Iollann's 
weight  in  red  gold  provided  that  he  made 
the  fight  last  till  morning  on  the  fol- 
lowing day. 

30  Then  exultant  Goll  (Dear  was  that  swift 
merry  beloved  man)  said  he  would  rather 
fight  the  man  than  [own]  the  wealth  of  the 
world. 

31  lollann  and  Magnus  fought  hand  to  hand 
on  the  beach.  A  great  streak  of  flaming 
fire  goes  from  them  into  the  clouds  of 
heaven. 

32  When  the  rush-like  spears  had  been  thrust 
in  the  skins  of  the  battle- fierce  warriors, 
a  green  flame  and  a  blood-jet  come  from 
the  rivets  of  the  spears. 

33  They  sent  showers  of  red  blood  over  the 
green-sided  swords.  When  the  green  earth 
was  red,  Iollann's  anger  against  Magnus 
begins. 

34  lollann  delivered  a  dexterous  blow  over  the 
edge  of  Magnus's  shield.  Then  he  cuts  off 
to  the  earth  his  bright  deedful  hand. 


328  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXIV 

35  Togbais  in  lamh  anairde 
ionmum  croidhe  go  ngairge 

beanuis  a  cheann  da  bhraghuid  bhain 
is  glacais  e   'na  dheaslaimh 

36  Gach  comhrac  tigeadh  go  fior 

go  Teamhraigh  rathmhair  na  riogh 
Iollann  fear  da  ccosg  uile 
's  do  chosnamh  na  hAlmhuine 

37  Do  thuit  le  laimh  echtaigh  Ghuill 
triar  ingean  Chonarain  chuirr 

Iartrac/z  is  Camog  chas 
&  Guillionn  ogharghlas 

38  Do  thuit  lartrach  re  laimh  Ghuill 
is  Guillionn  ogharglas  aoibhinn 

mo-nuar  do  thuit  rena  loinn 
is  Iolaran  mac  righ  Lochlann 

39  Measa  liom  Osgar  Eamhna 
chmreadh  mor  ccosgor  ccalma 

na  sluaigh  in  bheatha  go  beacht 
&    bid  uile  fo  enleacht 

LEACht 

35a  Tdgbais.  The  MS  contraction  (Idgb,  with  a  stroke  over  the  loop  of  the  b) 
would  in  the  Duanaire  normally  stand  for  ttigban,  or,  less  usually,  tdgbann. 
376  MS  has  Chonair&in  with  the  first  i  deleted, 


LXIVj  DUANAIRE   FINN  329 

35  He  raised  the  hand  aloft  (Dear  was  that 
fierce  beloved  man).  He  struck  his  head 
from  his  white  neck  and  took  it  in  his  right 
hand. 

36  Everyone  who  used  to  come  truly  to  pros- 
perous Tara  of  the  kings  seeking  combat, 
Iollann  was  the  man  to  check  them  all 
and  to  defend  Almhain. 

37  Conaran  the  Odd's  three  daughters  fell 
by  Goll's  deedful  hand,  lartrach  and  curly 
Camog  and  pale-grey  Guillionn. 


38  lartrach  fell  by  Goll's  hand  and  pale-grey 
pleasant  Guillionn  (Alas  for  all  who  fell  by 
his  blade !)  and  Iolaran  son  of  the  King 
of  Lochlainn. 

39  Dearer  to  me  Osgar  of  Eamhain,  who  used 
to  win  many  brave  victories,  than  all  the 
hosts  of  the  world,  though  they  were  all 
beneath  a  single  tomb. 


LXV 

1    La  da  raibh  Fionn  ag  ol 

a  n-Almhain  ar  bheagan  sloigh 
seisior  ban  &  seisior  fear 
giolla  Sc  innilt  uchtghlan 

2   Fionn  ann  &  Diarmazd  gan  on 
mac  Reithe  Oisin  is  Osgar 

Conan  maol  nar  lag  ar  muir 
ann  &  mna  na  se  laochsin 

3  An  uair  do  gabh  meisge  na  mna 
do-chuadar  dha  iomradh 

nach  raibh  ar  talmain  trie 
seisior  ban  bii  comionnraic 

4  Do  raidh  Fionn  fath  gan  on 
colach  ceirdeach  e  an  domhan 

cidh  maith  sibhsi  is  iomdha  bean 
nar  fheis  riam  acht  re  haoinfear 

5  Ni  fada  do  badar  mar  soin 

an  uair  tainic  bean  da  ffechain 
aonbrat  uimpe  go  n-aille 
&  i  'na  haontshnaithe 

6  Fiafraighis  mac  Cumhaill  ain 
d'ingin  in  bhruit  ortshnaith 

a  bhean  in  bruit  go  n-aille 
gad  bheir  tu  gan  aontshnaite 

6d  gad  is  written  above  the  line  with  a  sign  to  insert  it  ;  bheir  is  followed  by  a 
word  afterwards  crossed  out  and  blotted  :  this  word  was  probably  the  ann  of  lb. 


LXV 

1  One  day  Fionn  was  drinking  in  Almhain, 
having  only  a  few  folk  with  him,  six  women 
and  six  men,  a  man-servant  and  a  fair- 
hosomed  maid-servant. 

2  Fionn  was  there  and  flawless  Diarmaid, 
Mac  Reithe,  Oisin  and  Osgar  :  Conan  Maol, 
who  was  no  feehle  sailor,  was  there,  and 
the  wives  of  those  six  heroes. 

3  When  the  drink  had  gone  to  the  women's 
heads  they  started  boasting  that  there 
were  not  on  the  populous  (?)  earth  six 
women  so  pure. 

4  Fionn  said  (He  had  good  reason) :  «  The 
world  is  full  of  sin  and  wile.  Though  you 
be  good  there  are  many  women  who  have 
lain  with  one  husband  only.  » 

5  They  were  not  long  so  when  a  woman  came 
to  test  them.  She  wore  a  single  beautiful 
cloak,  being  clad  in  a  single  thread  (?). 


6  The  son  of  glorious  Cumhall  asked  the 
maiden  with  the  golden-threaded  cloak  : 
«  0  woman  of  the  lovely  cloak,  what  in- 
duces you  to  wear  not  a  thread  ?  » 


332  DUANAIRE   FINN  [LXV 

7  Biiaidh  an  bhruit  go  n-aille 
bean  ann  gan  aontshnaithe 

nach  bfaghann  a  diol  don  bhrot 
acht  bean  aoinfhir  gan  rolocht 

[87  a]      8  Tabhair  an  brat  do  mo  mhnaoi  fein 
do  raidh  Conan  maol  gan  cheill 

go  bfechmaois  don  bhreithir  mhir 
glor  na  mban  6  chianuibh 

9    Glacais  bean  Conain  in  brat 
&  gabhuis  uimpe  go  prap 
fa  geis  ar  a  mein  go  beach t 
mar  do  leig  ris  a  n-aoinfheac/i/ 

10  Mar  do-connairc  Conan  maol 
an  brat  ag  fiWeadh  fana  taobh 

togbhais  a  chraoiseac  gan  on 
&  marpais  an  ingin 

11  Glacais  bean  Diarmada  shaoir 
an  brat  6  mhnaoi  Conain  mhaoil 

gerbh  isi  in  tsaoi  gan  \ocht 
nir  iolaigh  se  a  gealocht 

12  Glacais  bean  Osgair  a  ccein 
an  brat  comfada  coimreidh 

ger  ffada  in  brot  sgothach  fionn 
nior  fholaigh  se  a  himlionn 

13  Glacais  bean  Oisin  amhra 
an  brat  fa  ciiis  labhra 

an  t-edach  nar  foghain  di 
fa  nar  dhi  a  chur  uimpe 

8b  Condn  is  written  above  the  line  with  sign  to  insert  it. 
llc,d  In  the  MS  this  couplet  conies  after  12b.  It  has  had  .a.  written  in  front 
of  it.  The  couplet  12c,  d  comes  after  Mb  and  has  had  .b,  written  in  front  of  it. 


LXV]  DUANAIRE  FINN  333 

7  « The  lovely  cloak  possesses  this  virtue 
that  if  a  woman  without  a  single  thread 
[about  her]  puts  it  on,  the  cloak  will  not 
suffice  to  cover  her,  unless  she  be  the  bla- 
meless wife  of  one  husband  only.  » 

8  «  Give  the  cloak  to  my  wife,  »  said  foolish 
Conan  Maol,  «  that  we  may  test  that 
mad  word,  that  recent  saying  of  the 
women. » 

9  Conan's  wife  took  the  cloak  and  put  it 
about  her  hastily 


10  When  Conan  Maol  saw  the  cloak  rumpl- 
ing up  beneath  her  side  he  raised  his  flaw- 
less spear  and  killed  the  maiden. 


11  The  wife  of  noble  Diarmaid  took  the  cloak 
from  Conan  Maol's  wife.  Though  she  was 
an  excellent  and  faultless  woman,  it  did 
not  cover  her  white  breast. 

12  Osgar's  wife  from  far  away  took  the  long 
even  cloak.  Though  the  choice  fair  cloak 
was  long   it   did   not  cover  her  middle. 


13  The  wife  of  wondrous  Oisin  took  the  cloak 
(T  was  a  matter  for  comment).  It  was 
shame  for  her  to  put  about  her  the 
garment  which  did   not  fit  her. 


334 


DUANAIRE   FINN 


[LXV 


14   Glacais  Maighean  bean  Fhinn 
an  brat  fa  cuis  mhighrinn 

do  chrap  is  do  cruaidh  mar  soin 
an  brat  siias  fana  cliiasai'Wi 


15  Tabhair  in  brat  do  raidh  mac  Reithe 
dom  mhnaoi  's  ni  cuis  cleithe 

go  ffechmaois  an  ionann  dail 
dhi  is  dona  cgdmhnaibh 

16  Noc/ifais  bean  mhic  Reith  in  taobh 
&  gabhais  uimpe  an  brat  lancaomh 

do-chuaidh  in  brat  sleamhuin  slan 
dhi  go  ladhair  a  laodagcm 

17  An  pog  tugus  gan  fhios 

do  mac  i  Duibhne  do  Dhiarmaid 
do  rachadh  in  brat  dam  go  lar 
muna  bheith  sin  'na  haonaran 


18  Racha  misi  uaibh  amach 

is  fuicfe  me  bar  tteac  a  mhna 
sgel  ni  ffuil  agaibh  oram 
sgel  agam  oruibh  ata 

19  Beir  do  mha.Wa.cht  imthigh  uainn 
do  raidh  mac  Cumai//  armruaidh 

d'fagbhais  sinn  fa  mhela  bhroin 
na  tarr  dar  ffechain  enlo 

La  da 


LXV]  DUANAIRE  FINN  335 

14  Maighean,  Fionn's  wife,  took  the  cloak 
('T  was  a  cause  of  discontent).  The  cloak 
thereupon  shrunk  and  stiffened  up  beneath 
her  ears. 

15  «  Give  the  cloak »,  said  Mac  Reithe,  « to 
my  wife  (and  it  is  no  matter  for  conceal- 
ment), till  we  see  is  it  the  same  with  her 
as  with  the  first  women.  » 

16  Mac  Reithe's  wife  bared  her  side  and  put 
the  all-lovely  cloak  about  her.  The  smooth 
perfect  cloak  went  on  her  as  far  as  the 
middle  of  her  little  toe. 

17  «  The  kiss  I  gave  unwittingly  to  Mac  I 
Dhuibhne,  Diarmaid  —  the  cloak  would 
reach  the  ground  for  me  but  for  that  one 
kiss. » 

18  «  I  shall  go  forth  from  you,and  I  shall  leave 
your  house,  0  women.  You  have  nothing 
to  tell  against  me.  I  have  something  to  tell 
against  you.  » 

19  « Depart,  and  carry  with  you  a  curse, » 
said  the  stout-weaponed  son  of  Cumhall : 
« you  have  left  us  sorry  and  ashamed  : 
come  not  to  see  us  any  day.  » 


LXVI 


1  In  cumhain  leat  a  Oisin  fheil 
ar  tturus  go  Teamhraigh  threin 

da  ochtor  fa  bronntoir  brot 
lucht  comhoil  corn  um  Chormac 

2  Do-bheirim  briathor  go  mbaidh 
a  mhic  Cronnchair  meic  Rondi'n 

gur  me  is  fearr  sna  fremhoibh  fis 
annsna  sgelaibhsin  d'fiarfaia/us 

3  In  meisce  tuc  ar  Cormac 

ar  Fionn  gur  fhogair  comhrac 
dar  chuir  anuadal  in  dail 
's  dar  fogair  a  n-iomarbd  id/i 

4  Adupairt  Cormac  rem  athair 
mac  Airt  mic  Cuinn  c[/i]e'dcathaia/i 

go  ccuirfead/i  tre  fsdaidh  dhe 
Fionn  fo  gabhail  choire 

[87b  ]     5   Gach  a  ttarla  eadrainn  is  e 

adubairt  Fionn  flaith  na  Feine 
ge  teann  gach  cruaidh  re  ccuire 
hudh  learn  buaidh  gach  encluithe 

6  Da  ccomraiciom  riot  aris 
a  Cormaic  da  mbeanum  cis 

ni  budh  maithfeac  me  sa  dail 
is  budh  aithreac  an  iomarbdid/i 

3c  Before  chuir,  tuit  has  been  deleted.         4a  rim  athair.  MS  has  r6  mathair. 


LXVI 

1  «  Do  you  remember,  generous  Oisin,  our 
visit  to  strong  Tara,  twice  eight  men, 
givers  of  cloaks,  men  who  used  to  drink 
up  goblets  in  Cormac's  company?  » 

Oisin  :  2  I  pledge  my  word  and  vow,  son  of  Cronn- 
char,  son  of  Ronan,  that  I  am  best  in  the 
roots  of  knowledge  as  regards  the  affairs 
about  which  you  have  asked. 

3  Drunkenness  affected  Cormac  so  that  he 
challenged  Fionn  to  battle 

and  when  he  challenged  them  to  contend 
with  him. 

4  Cormac,  son  of  Art,  son  of  Conn  of  the 
Hundred  Battles,  said  to  my  father  that 
through  vindictiveness  he  would  make 
Fionn   pass  under  the  caldron  fork. 

5  «  Everything  that  happened  between  us 
and  him,  »  said  Fionn,  prince  of  the  Fian  — 
«  Though  stout  ...  I  always  won 
the  game. 

6  «  If  again  we  meet  you  in  fight,  Cormac 
from  whom  we  levy  tribute,   I  shall  not. 
be   forgiving    in    the   encounter,    and  the 
strif ■•  shall  be  rued. 


338 


duanairp:  FINN 


[LXVI 


7  As  nar  dhaoibh  tri  deich  ccatha 

a  n-agaidh  Cumhaill  an  ardfhlatha 
ger  maith  fir  Mhidhe  'na  dhail 
nir  diongaibh  sibh  a  aonlaimh 

8  Acht  muna  a  bheithis  fir  Mumhan 
is     Connac/z  aigh  na  ccuradh 

ni  thiubhrfld/i  seim  sleidhe  d'fhior 
do  chloinn  oile  Fheidhlimearf/j 

9  Adubairt  mac  Morna  mor 
Garadh  na  ccath  nachar  chlodh 

as  granna  na  damannta  a  Fhinn 
beirthisi  ar  clannaib  caomhChuinn 

10  Nocha  deachaidh  ret  athair 
re  Cumhall  os  na  cathaib 

a  comeirge  a  ccoinne  Chuinn 
an  fear  fa  roireidh  eadroinn 

1 1  Fiafrcro/iais  Fionn  do  Gharadh 
ar  suidhe  dho  'na  fharradb 

os  tusa  do  bhi  ann 
cionnus  do  marbad/i  Cumhall 

12  Fiche  ced  do  bhi  'na  aghaidh 
ata  leamsa  do  mheabhair 

6  mhaidin  go  trathnona 
marbhadh   Cumhaill   chrodha 
is  6  trathnona  amach 
go  trath  eirghe  arna  mharach 

13  Ced  ar  'aghaidh  ced  ar  a  a  chul 
ced  ar  aghaidh  a  dha  shul 

ced  ar  gach  aidhe  da  chorp  cain 
ced  ar  gach  laim  da  lamhaiph 

10a  ret  athair.  MS  has  re  tathair.  13a  a  a,  sic  MS. 

13d  </ach  has  been  written  above  the  line  with  sign  to  insert. 


LXVI]  BUANAIRE   FINN  339 

7  «  'T  is  a  shame  for  you  to  have  brought 
thirty  battalions  against  Cumhall  the  High 
Prince.  Though  the  men  of  Meath  encount- 
ered him  well,  you  did  not  ward  off  his 
single  hand. 

8  «  Had  it  not  been  for  the  men  of  Munster 
and  the  Connachtmen  of  the  warriors,  a 
spear's  rivet  he  would  not  have  given  to  any 
one   of  the  rest  of  Feidhlimidh's  house.  » 

9  Then  said  the  son  of  great  Morna,  Garadh 
of  the  battles  who  was  not  ov  rcome, 
«  Ugly  are  the  .  .  .  ,  Fionn,  that  you 
give  to  the  race  of  comelv  Conn. 


!->' 


10  a  Your  father  did  not  succeed,  Cumhall, 
head  of  the  battalions,  when  he  rose  against 
Conn, the  man  who  was  very  mild  among  us 

11  Fionn    asked    Garadh,    having    sat    down 
along  with   him,  «  Since  you  were  there 
how  was  Cumhall  killed  ?  » 


12  «  Two  thousand  were  against  him  (I  re- 
member it).  From  morning  till  evening  the 
slaying  of  valiant  Cumhall  lasted,  and  from 
evening  on  to  rising  time  next  day. 


13  «  A  hundred  before  him,  a  hundred  behind 
him,  a  hundred  before  his  two  eyes,  a 
hundred  for  every  joint  of  his  goodly 
body,  a  hundred  for  each  hand  of  his  hands. 


340  DU  AN  A  IRE  FINN 

14  Ceithre  ced  urn  an  Liath  Luachra 
tainic  o  iarihor  Cruachna 

do  marbh  Criomtann  Cas  gan  ceilg 
re  cloidhiom  glas  mar  glaisleirg 

15  Naoi  bfichit  do  macaibh  riogh 
do  thuit  le  Bodhmainn  go  fior 

fuarus  imsmomh  an  uilc  mhoir 
6  inghin  daithghil  Trenmhoir 

16  Da  died  deg  curaidh  catha 
do  bhi  urn  Chonn  chedchatha 

do  tuit  sa  Cnucha  chriiaidh 

le  laim    Cumhaill    cioidMomchruaidh 

17  Conn  7  Goll  da  laim  dheis 
&  a'   Liath   a   Liiachras 

fir  Eirionn  a  ccro  catha 
i  ttimcioll  an  ardflatha 

18  Do  bhiomuirne.  se  fir  dheg 

do  chlandaift/i  Morna  is  ni  breg 

do  shaithiomar  sleadh  gach  fir 
a    ccorp    Cumhaill    caithmhilid/i 

19  Cionnus  do  freagair  se  sin 
's  na  beir  beim  ar  in  milidh 

beannacM  duit  's  na  can  acht  coir 
gemadh    fuath    leat    ckmna  Trenmoir 

20  Da  bheim  fan  bheim  on  fhior 
6  Chumhall  on  chaithmhilidh 

do  budh  commaoin  a  chara 
i  ccommaoin  gach  aonghona 


[LXVI 


10a  deg.  The  t  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  .\ls, 
20b  u.  -MS  has  6n  with  the  n  deleted. 


LXVI]  DUANAIRE   FINN  341 

14  «  Four  hundred,  led  by  the  Grey  Man  of 
Luachair,  who  had  come  from  the  west  of 
Cruaehain,  did  Criomhthann  Cas  the  guile- 
less slay  with  a  sword  that  gleamed  like 
a  green  hillside. 

15  «  Nine  score  kings'  sons  fell  by  Bodhmann 
in  truth  :  the  white-coloured  daughter  of 
Trenmhor  grieved  me  by  that  great  dam- 
age. 

16  «  Twelve  hundred  battle  warriors  led  by 
Conn  of  the  Hundred  Battles  fell  on  cruel 
Cnucha  by  the  hand  of  hard-sworded 
Cumhall. 

17  «  Conn  and  Goll  were  at  his  right  and  the 
Grey  Man  from  Luachair  :  the  men  of 
Ireland  were  in  a  battle  phalanx  around 
the  High  Prince. 

18  «  We  were  sixteen  men  of  the  House  of 
Morna  (and  it  is  no  lie)  :  we  thrust  every 
man  a  spear  into  the  body  of  Cumhall  the 
champion.  » 

19  «  How  answered  he  that  (and  slander  not 
the  champion)?  A  blessing  to  you,  speak 
but  justice,  though  you  hate  the  race  of 
Trenmhor.  » 

4 

20  «  Two  blows  for  one  gave  the  man,  Cumh- 
all, the  champion.  The  striker's1 
friend  wa>  the  payment  paid  for  each 
single  wound. 


1  Literally    '  his  '. 


342  DUANAIRE   FINN 

121    Da  leigmis  codladh  ttri  ttrath 
do  Cumall  ger  mor  re  a  radh 

ni  rachadh  neach  slan  da  thoigh 
6  aonlaim  Cumhaill  chrecA/aigh 

[88  a]   22   As  olc  linne  do  mhucha 

do  cuireapair  cath  ("nucha 

go  mbeithmis  fein  ar  an  magh 
ag'cur  air  ha    ccolamhnach 

23  As  maith  dhuitsi  do  mucha 
do  tucamar  cath  Cniicha 

do  beanfaidhe  dhiot  do  ceann 
mar  do  beanadh  do  Chumhall 

24  Do  dioghail  tusa  a  hathair 

a  Fhinn  mhoir  os  na  cathoiph 
as  benefit  do  catlia  cruaidhe 
orainn  fan  iJanha  hratiiaine 

25  Do  marbhais  in    Liath  Luachra 
fear  comhluinn  c?rf  ger  uathm«r 

sgel  mor  a  nEirinn  uile 
's  a  thuitim  1c  lienduine 

26  Da  marhainnsi  Goll  glan 
&  clannmaicne  a  atlior 

nir  eruic  liom  e  am  athair 

's  a'  Liath  6  Charn  fFionnaehair 

27  Digheoladsa   'nois  mh'athair 

ni  ceileahlisa  ortsa  c  a  Gharaidh 
ni  sgarfaightmr  m'fioclisa  rihh 
go  soithe  sibh  go  dith  einfhir 


ILXVI 


22b  Cn.'cha.  There  is  a  blot  between  the  u  and  the  ch. 
26a  Goll.  .MS  has  gloll  with  the  first  /  deleted. 
266  claim- maicne  is  written  as  two  words  in  MS. 


LXV1]  DUANAIRE  FINN  343 

21  «  Had  we  given  three  days'  sleep  to  Cumhall 
(though  he  was  a  great  man  to  tel!  of),  no 
one  would  have  escaped  home  safe  from 
the  single  hand  of  wounding  Cumhall.  » 

22  «  We  are  grieved  at  your  .  .  .  — 
You  fought  the  battle  of  Cnucha  —  so 
that  we  ourselvesrmight  have  been  on  the 
plain  slaughtering    your  Column-men. » 

23  «  Your  .  .  .  is  a  good  thing  for 
you  —  We  fought  the  battle  of  Cnucha  — 
Your  head1  would  have  been  cut  off  as 
Cumhall's  was  cut  off. 

24  «  You  have  avenged  your  father,  great 
Fionn  who  rule  the  battalions  :  your 
cruel  battles  against  us  throughout  green- 
cloaked  Banbha  are  authentic. 

25  «  You  killed  the  Grey  Man  of  Luachair 
who  could  fight  a  hundred,  though  he 
inspired  dread.  His  falling  by  a  single  pers- 
on was  a  great  tale  in  all  Ireland.  » 

26  «  Had  I  killed  bright  Goll  and  his  father's 
descendants  and  the  Grey  Man  from  Cam 
Fionnachair,  I  should  deem  it  no  price 
for  my  father. 

27  «  I  shall  now  avenge  my  father  (I  will  not 
hide  it  from  you,  Garadh).  My  wrath  shall 
not  be  withdrawn  from  you  till  it  reach 
you,  even  to  the  destruction  of  every(?) 
single  man.  » 


.",11 


DUANAIRE    FINN 


JLXV1 


28  Adupairt  Cormac  ag  an  61 
aitheascc  nar  bhinn  re  a  shlogh 

do-ghebhairsi  comhrac  sleadh 
a  Fhinn  &  treig  Garaidh 

29  Ann  sin  a  dub  flirt  Osgar 
aitheasg  fa  borb  a  bhrosgar 

ata  fear  do  comraic  astoigh 

fead   do  bheith   Fionn   a   fFrangcoiWi 

30  Rangas  in  guthsin  Cairbre 
mac  righ  na  hEirionn  airde 

ta  fear  do  comhraicsi  dba  chloinn 
gion  go  mbeith  Cormac  i  n-Eirinn 

31  Mur  do-ehiialus  Osgar  aigh 
&  Cairbre.  ag   iomarbhaidh 

dhaibh  nior  diocbra  ga  nighe 
cor  nach  ffiorfa  an  fhaisdini 

32  Raidhimsi  re  Ciothruaidh  cain 
mflc  in  Chaogaid  mar  do  dbligh 

gabh  an  diiain  cbeirdide  dhaibh 
ni  huair  feirge  no  iomarbatflTi 


33   Do  eirigh  Ciothruaidh  caomh  cas 
gabhais  a  dhuain  shaoirsheanchuis 

ler  chomhchoisg  uile  na  sluaigh 
liaisle  na  BanJ)a  a  n-enuair 


34   Do  eisdiodflr  na  sluaigh  uile 
's  do  eisd  Cormac  ciilbhuidhe    ■ 

no  gur  gabh  Ciothruaidh  a  dhuain 
ar  slios  an  toighe  thaobhruaidh 

30c  This  line  originally  ended  with  astigh  {cf.  29  c)  :  astigh  was    then  deleted 
and  dha    chloinn  added  on.  30d  z  n-Eirinn.  MS  lias  inr  with  a  stroke  over 

the  /•.  The  same  contraction  occurs  in  Pt.  I,  xiv  16(7.  31  c.  MS  has  ndinge 

with  «  no  nighe  »  written  above  as  a  correction.  34a  MS  has  uile  na 

sluaigh  with  sign  to  transpose.  3  1  d  MS  has  iaoighe  with  the  a  deleted. 


LXVI]  DUANAIRE   FINN  345 

J8  Cormac  in  the  midst  of  the  drinking  said 
(a  speech  that  his  host  did  not  relish), 
«  You  shall  receive  combat  of  spears,  O 
Fionn.  Deal  no  more  with  Garadh.  » 

29  It  was  then  that  Osgar  said  (a  speech  that 
rang  out  rudely),  «  There  is  a  man  to  do 
combat  with  you  in  this  house,  [even] 
while  Fionn  would  be  in  France.  » 

30  That  word  reached  Cairbre,  son  of  the  king 
of  high  Ireland,  «  There  is  a  man  to  do 
combat  with  you  among  his  sons,  though 
Cormac  were  not  in  Ireland. » 

31  When  I  heard  bold  Osgar  and  Cairbre 
quarrelling  .  .  .so  that  he  shall 
not  bring  the  forecast  true. 

32  I  say  to  good  Ciothruaidh,  son  of  the 
Caogad,  as  was  his  due, «  Sing  that  artful 
song  to  them  :  it  is  no  time  for  wrath 
and  conflict. » 

33  Comely  curly  Ciothruaidh  arose  :  he  sang 
his  song  of  noble  history  by  which  he 
checked  on  the  instant  all  the  noble  hosts 
of  Banbha. 

34  All  the  hosts  listened,  and  yellow-haired 
Cormac  listened,  until  Ciothruaidh  had 
sung  his  song  by  the  flank  of  the  side- 
strong   house. 


346 


DUANATRE   FINN 


[LXVI 


35  Mo-ghenar  do  ghabh  an  duain 
ler  comhchoisg  uile  na  sliiaigh 

is  gan  bheith  d'faill  ar  in  dail 
acid  a  n-airm  uile  do  ghahdil 

36  Bronntar  ar  Ciothriiaidh  chedach 
uainn  d'airgead  7  d'edach 

ba  bedail  dho  feifl  's  da  cbloinn 
a  fi'uair  se  d'edail  eadroinn 


'M   Gan  codhladh  duinn  is  daiph 
idir  fear  is  mac  is  mhna 

each  uile  i  cceann  a  cheile 
ar  eagla  na  coimeirghe 

;>8   Arna  marach  dhuinn  is  dhaibh 
do  roinnsiomar  iomarbhaidh 
do   seamsamar  ar   ngaigne 
's  do  ceanglamor  comhairle 

'.V.)   Se  fir  dheg  dhuinn  ar  foghail 

do  clannoib  Baoisgne  bldthbhonaifffi 
[<S8bJ        tre  iomarbhaidh  Fhinn  eangbaidh 
is  Cormaic  6  chlaoinTeamhraiaA 

10  Do  an  againn  claim  Mhorna 
do  ah  clann  Guill  gan  dogra 

do  an  clann  Ronain  go  nim 
's  do  imgeadar  ar  ccomhaghaidh 

11  Breatnuighis  Faolan  go  nimh 
creach  do  dhenum  an  lasin 

nir  leig  misi  an  creach 

go  spreidis  sluaigh  na  Teamhrach 

37c  MS  has  ceann  deleted  before  each. 

38c  seamsamar.  The  ea  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 

'Mb  biJthbhonaigh.  MS  has  blgbhon  with  a  dotted  stroke  over  the  n  (bh  = 
a  dotted  b),  the  g  being  deleted  and  having  a  dotted  t  and  an  accent  written 
above  the  line  between  it  and  the  l. 

40d  imgeadar.  The  first  two  letters  arc  badly  formed :  they  may  not  be  im. 


LXVI]  DU  ANA  IRE   FINN  347 

35  Happy  for  him  who  sang  the  song  by  which 
he  restrained  all  the  host, when  there  was 
no  way  of  settling  the  affair(?)  but  that 
they  should  seize  all  their  weapons. 

36  So  much  silver  and  clothing  is  bestowed  by 
us  on  Ciothruaidh  of  the  hundreds  [that] 
what  he  got  of  wealth  among  us  was  a  fort- 
une for  himself  and  his  children. 

37  No  sleep  for  us  or  for  them,  for  man  or  boy 
or  women  :  every  one  was  standing  before 
the  other  (  V)  for  fear  of  the  outbreak. 


38  On  the  morrow  we  and  they  distributed 
contention  .  .  .  and  we  fixed 
on  a  counsel. 


39  Sixteen  men  were  we  on  foray,  of  the  House 
of  Baoisgne  .  .  .  ,  by  reason  of  the 
quarrel  of  fierce  Fionn  and  Cormac  from 
sloping  Tara. 

40  The  House  of  Morna  stayed  with  us,  and 
the  House  of  Goll  without  sadness,  and  the 
House  of  Ronan  of  fierceness,  and  they 
went  .     .     . 

11  Fierce  Faolan  thought  to  make  a  cattle- 
raid  on  that  day.  I  did  not  permit  the  raid 
till  the  hosts  of  Tara  should  be  scattered  ( ?). 


348 


DUANAIRE   FINN 


fLXVl 


12   Gliiaismid  romhainn  6  Theamhair 
meirge  senta  ar  ar  sle&dhaibh 

's  nir  ffoiiann  linn  'nar  n-aghaidh 
ar  ccoimlion  do  Gaoidhealai&/i 

43  Teigmidne  go  hAongus  Og 
mac  in  Daghdha  na  nglanrod 

do  ceanglamar  as  Aongus  sith 
's  do  threigiomar  eissith 

1 1    Do-chuadhmar  ar  ciiairt  aigh 
ar  creich  go  Tesmhraigh  fodbhain 
na  se  fir  dhegsa  go  heachl 
is  Aongus  dar  ngiollac/if 

45  Ba  hiad  so  na  se  fir  dheg 
a  Chaoilte  's  ni  hiomarbreg 
eolach  misi    's  ni  fath  fann 
na  n-airiomh  is  na  n-anmann 

46  A  haon  misi  fein  b«fi/idhein 
a  dho  Osgar  go  micheill 

a  tri  Fear  Logha  go  mbuaidh 

a  ceathair  Cairioll  6  Corrbhriiain 

47  An  cuigeadh  A  odh  beag  ratha 
an  seisiodh  moc  Lughach 

an  seac/imiadh  Diarmai'd  go  ffios 
7  in  t-oc/i/madb  Daolghas 

48  A  naoi  m'athairsi  fein  Fionn 

a  deich  Fearrdhamhain  na  rionn 
a  baondeg  Colla  caomh  cas 
a  do  dheg  Raighne  roscgl^as 

i.s  /»  MS  has  g  deleted  before  the  dotted  cot  deich. 


LXVIj  DUANAIRE    FINN  349 

42  We  proceed  from  Tara,  charmed  banners 
on  our  spears  :  we  did  not  consider  an 
equal  number  of  the  Gaoidhil  too  many 
for  us. 

43  We  go  to  Aonghus  the  Young,  the  Dagh- 
dha's  son  of  the  clean  roads.  We  and 
Aonghus    made    peace  and  forsook  strife. 


44  We  went  on  a  daring  visit,  on  a  foray  to 
fair-sodded  Tara,  just  these  sixteen  men, 
and  Aonghus  guiding  us. 


45  These  were  the  sixteen  men,  my  Caoilte, 
and  it  is  no  falsehood.  I  am  learned  (and 
it  is  no  feeble  cause)  .     .     . 


46  I  my  very  self  was  number  one  :  two  was 
foolish  Osgar  :  three  Fear  Logha  the  vic- 
torious :  four  Cairioll  (')  Corrbhruain. 


47  The  fifth  was  Aodh  the  Little  .  .  .  : 
the  sixth  Mac  Lughach  :  the  seventh  wise 
Diarmaid ;   and  the  eighth  Daolghus. 


48  Number  nine  was  my  own  father  Fionn  : 
ten  Feardhamhain  of  the  pointed  weapons  : 
eleven  Colla,  comely,  ringleted :  twelve 
eye-grey  Raighne. 


350  DUANAIRE  FINN 

1(.)   A  tri  deg  Feargus  fionn  fial 

giolla  na  ccreach  's  na  ccaomhsgiath 
a  ceathair  deg  Faolan  mac  Finn 
's  a'  cuigead/l  deg   Iollann 


[LXVI 


50  A  se  deg  Goll  mac  Morna 
t>iolla    d'feiniWi    Cronnmhona 

feindidn  geal  in  ghaisgirf/i  grinn 
taistiollrtc/i  aoiniear  n-Eirinn 


fi1 


51  Suidhmidne  asttoigh  a  tTeamhair 
a  longport  na  n-ollanum 

ag  61  's  ag  imbezrt  ar  linn 

i  ttigh  mhoir  airdrigh  Eirionn 

52  Adupairt  airdrigh  Teamhra 
breithiomh  a  n-aois  ealadhna 

ata  tusa  a  laimh  a  Fhinn 
a  aonbharr  aigh  na  hEirionn 

53  Muna  leige  tu  dhiot  a  fhir 
sealg  Teamra  &  Tailltion 

Uisneach  Mhidhe  is  min  eiian 
Ealma  Laigea/j  na  morshiagh 
sealg  Eirionn  6  sin  amach 
no  tti  se  in  brath  breathach 

54  Adupai'rt  Osgar  eur/j/acli 

an  macamh  mear  moircrec/i/ach 
ni  gel)htar  is  misi  shin 
na  se  fir  deg  go  hiomlan 


55    Do  tairrngeamor  se  sgeana  deg 
i'irinne  so  is  ni  breg 

do  marbamar  fear  gach  fir 

do  muinntir  in  n'gh  i  tTeamhair 


LXVI]  DUANAIRE  FINN  35: 

49  Thirteen  fair  generous  Fearghus,  the  lad  of 
cattle-raids  and  comely  shields  :  fourteen 
Faolan  son  of  Fionn  ;  while  the  fifteenth 
was  Iollann. 

50  Number  sixteen  was  Goll  son  of  Morna,  a 
lad  of  the  Fiana  of  Crunnmhoin,  a  bright 
warrior  of  pleasant  valour,  the  visitor  of  the 
men  x  of  Ireland. 

51  We  sit  within  in  Tara  in  the  hostel  of  the 
learned  men,  drinking  and  plying  the  beer 
in  the  great  house  of  the  High  King  of 
Ireland. 

52  The  High  King  of  Tara,  judge  of  their 
men  of  learning,  said,  «You  are  a  prisoner, 
Fionn,  summit  of  valour  in  Ireland, 


53  «  Unless,  0  man,  you  yield  your  hunting 
rights  in  Tara  and  Taillte,  unless  you  yield 
Uisneach  of  Meath  of  the  smooth  harbours 
and  Almha  of  Leinster  of  the  great  hosts, 
and  your  hunting  rights  in  Ireland  from 
that  on  till  the  dooming  judgment  day. » 

54  Mighty  Osgar,  the  swift  much-wounding 
youth,  said,  «  As  long  as  I  am  whole  all 
these  sixteen  men  shall  not  be  captured ». 


55  We  drew  sixteen  knives  (This  is  truth  and 
no  lie)  :  we  slew  every  one  a  man  of  the 
king's  folk  in  Tara. 

1  Literally  '  single  men  '  ('  one- men  ')• 


352  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXV1 

56  Rangamar  doirsi  in  diiin 
gasraidh  oglach  narbh  aniir 

[89aJ        do-chuadbmar  ar  in  ffaichc  amach 
an  dream  aigeantac/z  uaihhreach 

57  Do  glacamar  deg  cced  bo 

i  tTeamraio/i  ger  mbor  in  ro 

suil  rangamar  Tailltean  na  mbrot 
rug  orainn  Cairbre  is  Cormac 

58  Tionoilit  anoir  's  aniar 
Cairbre  is  Cormac  ar  aonrian 

ni  faca  riamh  oireacn/ 

triatb  budh  tinne  toraidheac/i/ 

59  Gearr  do  bbadbmar  mar  soin 
go  ffacamar  sa  ffaiche  ffergloin 

fleasg ach  6g  deidgheal  donn 
euc/i/ach    urrunta    edtrom 

60   Sded  uaipreach  foliiaimhneac/i  faoi 
ag  an  oglaocb  go  n-iomad  ngnaoi 
cluasa  beaga  tar  a  ceann 
meadhon  seang  aradli  ettrom 

61  'S  e  tainic  cugainn  ann  soin 
Aongus  Og  an  broglia  l)bionngbloin 

siodbguidhe  do  Tuzxthaibh  De 
giolla  ar  nar  luidh  iomarbhe 

62  Feidm  do  gabb  Aongus  uainn 
an  lasin  re  hucht  in  tsluaigh 

an  creach  d'iomain  gan  fbeall 
no  diongmdi/  fear  nEireann 

57«  deg,  sic  MS  (tall  e).  59b  In  the  MS  /  has  been  deleted  before  sa. 

{Mb  bhionnghloin.  The  dot  printed  after  the  b  as  h  stands  over  the  follow- 
ing o  in  the  MS.  II  may  rather  be  a  punctum  delens,  or  perhaps  a  merely  accident- 
al mark. 


LXVI]  DUANAIRE  FINN  :.5°, 

56  We  reached  the  doors  of  the  fort,  a  band  of 
youths  who  were  not  ignoble  :  we  went  out 
upon  the  green,  a  proud,  spirited  group. 


57  We  took  ten  hundred  cows  in  Tara  (though 
it  was  a  great  excess).  Ere  we  reached 
Taillte  of  the  cloaks,  Cairbre  and  Cormac 
overtook  us. 

58  They  gather  from  east  and  from  west, 
Cairbre  and  Cormac  on  one  track.  Never 
had  I  seen  a  levy  of  lords  sturdier  in 
pursuit. 

59  We  were  but  a  short  time  thus  when  we 
saw  on  the  clean  and  grassy  green  a  young 
white-toothed  brown-haired  stripling,  bold, 
daring  and  light. 

60  The  warrior  of  the  very  pleasing  countenan- 
ce was  mounted  on  a  proud  rushing  steed. 
The  steed's  ears  were  small  above  its  head, 
its  middle  was  slender,  its  bridle  was  light. 

61  He  who  came  to  meet  us  then  was  Aonghus 
the  Young  of  the  bright  and  melodious 
Brugh,  a  fairyman  of  the  Tuatha  De,  a 
lad  on  whom  no  blame  was  ever  laid. 

62  A  service  which  Aonghus  undertook  for 
us  that  day  in  front  of  the  army  was  to 
drive  the  spoil  loyally  or  else  to  ward  off 
the  men  of  Ireland. 


354  DUANAIRE  FINN  .  [LXVl 

63    Gach  mart  do  cuirthi  don  creich 
do  cuireadh  Aonghus  fa  druim  a  eich 
gach  fear  da  marpthaoi  don  toir 
d'fadbflrf/i  Aongus  a  ccedoir 

64  Do  cuirsiom  se  siiaitheantais  dheg 
anairde  's  ni  hiomarbhreg 

ar  mbreith  don  toir  ar  Fhein  Fhinn 
ar  ndul  duinn  a  ccro  comb/inn 

65  Se  bannlamha  deg  do  srol 
nar  ghile  an  chailc  a  ccedoir 

os  cinnbheirt  Fhinn  na  fleadhol 
giolla  do  shiol  Eiriomhon 

66  Caorthann  fana  Ian  duille 
cum  a  mheas  go  mortruime 

do  bin  os  cinnbeirt  Osgair 

fear  churtha  na  ccruadhch osgair 

67  Geg   don   iubhar  bharrchas   bhlaith 
suaiteantus  Diarmada  dreachnair 

6  Duibhne  do  dhioladh  gach  drong 
fear  suirghe  fionnbhan  Eirionn 

68  A  ccrannoig  chinnbheirte  Guill 
mic  Morna  maith  do  fhulaing 

do  bhi  an  piobaire  's  a  piob  cain 
da  seinm  aige  san  iorgail 

69  A  ccinnbeirt  Fhaolain  mic  Finn 
bratach  sroil  go  ccrann  ndioghainn 

a  ccinnbeirt  Iollainn  go  ngail 
naoi  sleadha  liaine  on  iorghail 

63ft  Aonghus.  The  dot  over  the  (j,  printed  as  h,  may  be  an    accidental  mark. 
65c  The  //  of  jleadhdl  seems  to  have  been  written  over  other    (now  illegible) 
letters  as  a  correction. 


LXVI]  DUANAIRE  FINN  355 

63  Every  steer  that  was  parted  from  the  prey, 
Aonghus  used  to  lay  it  across  (  ?)  his  horse's 
back.  Every  man  that  was  slain  of  the  pur- 
suers, Aonghus  immediately  despoiled  him. 

64  We  raised  aloft  sixteen  emblems  (and  it 
is  no  lie)  when  the  pursuit  had  reached 
Fionn's  Fian  and  we  had  formed  a  battle 
phalanx. 

65  There  were  sixteen  cubits  of  satin,  than 
which  no  chalk  was  ever  (?)  whiter,above 
the  helmet  of  Fionn  of  the  drinking-feasts, 
a  lad  of  the  race  of  Eireamhon. 

66  A  rowan-tree  with  plenty  of  leaves  and  with 
its  very  weighty  fruit  was  above  Osgar's 
helmet,  the  man  who  won  hard  victories. 


67  A  branch  of  the  curly-topped  smooth 
yew  was  the  emblem  of  Diarmaid  of  the 
modest  counte  nance,  0  Duihhne  who  used 
to  reward  each  company,  the  wooer  of  the 
fair  women  of  Ireland. 

68  In  the  spike  (?)of  Goll  son  of  Morna's  hel- 
met (Well  did  he  endure)  was  a  piper  play- 
ing his  good  pipe  in  the  battle. 

60  In  the  helmet  of  Faolan  son  of  Fionn  was 
a  satin  flag  with  a  stout  shaft.  In  the 
helmet  of  valorous  Iollann  were  nine  green 
spears  from  the  (?)  battle. 


356 


DUANAIRE  FINN 


[LXVI 


70  A  ccinnbei'rt  Fhir  Lugha  a  hOil 
da  ghadhor  coimbhinne  cheoil 

mac  Lughach  faolan  do  ghail 

fiadh    'na  chinnbei'rt  cluiirr  chumhdai gh 

71  A  ccinnbdrt  Chairill  mic  Finn 
crann  dearg  go  nduille  ndioghainn 

crann  loinge  's  a  sheol  a  ccrois 
um  cinnbeirt  fein.  do-chonncos 


[89b] 


72  A  ccinnbei'rt  Aodh  bhig  mhic  Finn 
barr  teineadh  uirrthe  do  shaoilim 

do  cuir  eagla  ar  thoir  na  ccreach 
borb  a  ruaig  don    ts\  uagh  dhaoineach 

73  Ceithre   bannlamha    fichit   fire 

as  eadh  baoi  don  tsrol  dob  aoibhni 
suaitheantus  Raighne  mhic  Finn 
don  tsluagh  orrdairc  aoibhinn 

74  Da  bhannlaimh  deg  do  srol  dearg 

a  ccinnbei'rt  Chaoilte  na  moirchcalg 
a  ccinnbei'rt  Colla  caoim  choir 
da  chuirr  go  niamh  an  deargoir 

7.")   Fleasg  fhWeadh  don  or  cheard 
go  cceithre  ccrannoga  d'or  dhcarg 

os  cinnbeirt  Fhearguis  mic  Finn 
airdfile  Fhian  Eiriond 


76   Eire  gach  aonlaoich  ac/i/  e  fein 
do  chasnaoi  ghleghil  shoilleir 

a  ccinnbei'rt  Fearrdhambain  na  rosg  nglan 
fear  fa  hesgaidh  a  ndeahaidh 


70c  faolCrn,  sic  MS. 


71a  MS  has  Fiona  with  the  o  deleted. 


LXVI]  DUANAIRE  FINN  357 

70  In  the  helmet  of  Fear  Logha  from  Oil 
were  two  equally  tuneful  melodious  hounds. 
Mac  Lughach  who  was  full  of  valour  had 
a  deer  in  his  erect  decorated  helmet. 

71  In  the  helmet  of  Cairioll  son  of  Fionn  was 
a  red  tree  with  luxuriant  foliage.  A  ship's 
mast  with  sail  cross- wise  was  to  be  seen  in 
my  own  helmet. 

72  In  the  helmet  of  Aodh  the  Little  son  of 
Fionn  —  on  it  was  a  fiery  top  which  I 
think  (?)  terrified  the  rescuers  of  the  prey. 
The  numerous  host  found  his  rush  fierce. 

7'.)  Just  twenty -four  true  cubits  of  the  plea- 
santcst  satin  form  d  the  emblem  of  Rai- 
ghne  son  of  Fionn  lor  the  illustrious 
pleasant  host. 

74  Twelve  cubits  of  red  satin  were  there  in 
the  helmet  of  Caoilte  of  the  great  wiles. 
In  the  helmet  of  comely  righteous  Colla 
were  two   herons  gleaming   like  red  gold. 

75  A  poet's  wand  of  craftsmen's  gold  with  four 
pegs(?)  of  re  '.  gold  surmounted  the  helmet 
of  Fearghus  son  of  Fionn,  chief  poet  of 
the  Fiana  of  Ireland. 

76  There  were  enough  bright  shining  wood- 
shavings  (?)  to  weigh  down  any  warrior 
but  himself  in  the  helmet  of  Feardham- 
hain  of  the  bright  eyes,  a  man  who  was 
agile  in  battle. 


35 8  DUANAIR  E  F I N  X  [LXVI 

77  Tuganurirne  riiaig  chalma 
leanomar  filelorg  fhearrdha 

do  gabhamar  Cdrmac  na  n\nidh 
do  gonamw  Coirbre  cnisgheal 

78  Nocha  dearnamar  sith 

Ie  Cormac  fa  mor  ar  mbrigh 

no  go  raibh  fan  inbhior  thall 
a  ffiadhnui.se  fhear  nEirionn 

79  Mur  do-connai>c  Fionn  na  ifleadh 
Corm«c    thall    fan    innbhear 

do-chuaidh  fein  fan  chionn  oi'e 
caithmil/rf/j  aid  Almame 

80  Mar    do-connr«Yc    Faolan    fial 
an  t-ionnbhior  ar  flaith  na  fFian 

tug  in  buille  meafdha  mear 
gearrais  ar  dho  in  t-innhhior 

81  Gearrais  an  iris  ccaoim  ecuirr 
gearrais  in  coire  eaomhchruind 

do  cuir  in  cloidhiom  cain 

ar  fead  shear/?/  ttroighthe  a  ttalmam 

82  Do  leig  amach  ri   Eirionn 

giolla   breaghdha   liaismheirsheang 
is  tugadh  a  bhreath  fein  d'Fionn 
mo  sgela  dhuit  a  Thailghinn 

83  Do  thogsani  ann  sin  anairde 

ar  dhithceann  sinn  's  ar  marbadli 
's  do  euiriomr//-  ar  shleaghaip 
eed  do  eeannaibh  erodcorga 

81c  MS  lias  coire  deleted  with  «  no  cloidhiom  »  added  as  a  correction. 
82b  breaghdha  :  the  e'a  represents  a  tall  e  in  the  MS. 


\ 


LXVI]  DUANA1RE  FINN  359 

77  We  made  a  bold  rout :  we  .  .  .  : 
we  eaptured  Cormac  of  the  feasts :  we 
wounded  skirt-white  Cairbre. 


78  We  made  no  peace  with  Cormac  (Our 
power  was  great)  till  he  was  there  under 
the  pointed  spit  in  the  presence  of  the  men 
of  Ireland. 

7(J  When  Fionn  of  the  feasts  saw  Cormac  there 
under  the  pointed  spit,  he  went  himself 
under  the  other  end,  the  high  champion 
of  Almhain. 

80  When  generous  Faolan  saw  the  pointed 
spit  on  the  prince  of  the  Fiana,  he  gave  a 
quick  swift  blow  and  cleft  in  two  the  point- 
ed spit. 

81  He  cleft  the  lovely  prominent  thong  :  he 
cleft  the  beautiful  round  caldron  :  he  sent 
the  goodly  sword  for  seven  feet's  length 
into  the  earth. 

82  He  freed  the  king  of  Ireland,  a  fine  lad  the 
fingers  of  whose  hand  were  slender,  and 
Fionn  was  given  his  own  will.  There  is 
my  account  for  you,  Adzehead. 

83  We  then  raised  aloft  all  we  had  beheaded 
and  all  who  had  been  slain,  and  we  placed 
on  spears  a  hundred  blood-red  heads. 


360 


DUANAIRE  FINN 


fLXVl 


84  Ag  sin  duit  ar  sgela 
gidh  be  bheith  aga  sena 

as  craobh  don  aoinbilesin  inn 
a  mhic  ingine  Cumhaill 

In  cuMain 


LXVI]  DUAXAIRE  FIXX  361 

84  That  is  my  a  count  for  you, whoever  may 
deny  it. We  are  a  branch  of  that  one  tree, 
0  son  of  Cumhall's  daughter. 


LXVII 

1  La  da  raibh  Padraic  a  nDiin 

psailm  ar  'uigh  \s  gan  e  ag  61 
tainic  go  tigh  Oisin  mic  Finn 
os  leis  fein  hu  binn  a  ghlor 

2  Dia  do  bheatha  a  sheanoir  shuairc 

cugad  ar  cuairt  tainic  s'nn 
a  laoch  mileata  fa  dearg  dreach 
fior  nar  er  neach  fa  ni 

3  Sgeala  is  inaith  learn  d'faghail  uait 

'iia  Cumhaill  fa  criiaidh  colg 
in  teann  is  mo  a  raibh  an  Fhian 
6  ataoir  riam  ar  a  lorg 

4  Aithrcsa  duit  a  dearbh 

a  chleirigh  uir  na  psalm  mbinn 
in  teann  is  mo  a  raibh  na  fir 

6  do  geinead[h]  Fiana  Fiana  Finn 

5  Dearmad  fleidhe  do-rinne  Fionn 

a  n-Almain  re   linn  na    aoch 
ar  chuid  don  Fhein  6  Druim  Dearg 
gur  eirigh  a  ffearg  's  a  ffioch 

0   Arna  ndearmad  fan  61 

in  dias  laocb  fa  doigh  linn 
tug  mac  Cronnchair  is  Aille.  ur 

freiteach  bliadhna  re  mur  Finn 

'.'xi  Sgeala,  MS  has  small  e  +a  ;  learn,  Ms  has  tall  e  (no  a). 
4a  Aithresa  :  the  c  =  tall  c.  Id  Fiana  Fiana,  sic  MS. 


LXVII 

1  One  day  when  Patrick  was  in  Down,  not 
drinking  but  intent  on  psalms,  he  came  to 
the  house  of  Oisin  son  of  Fionn,  for  he 
loved  the  sound  of  his  voice. 

2  «  (lod  bless  you,  pleasant  old  man,  I  have 
come  to  visit  you,  soldierly  hero  of  the 
red  face  who  in  truth  never  refused  anyone 
anything. 

'<>  «  I  should  like  to  have  an  account  from 
you,  grandson  of  Cumhall  whose  sword 
was  hard,  of  the  greatest  strait  in  which 
the  Fian  found  themselves,  since  you  are 
always  tracing  their  history.  » 

4  I  shall  recount,  all  particulars  concerning 
it,  generous  cleric  of  the  melodious  psalms, 
concerning  the  greatest  strait  in  which 
those  men  found  themselves  from  the  first 
days  of  Fionn's  Fiana. 

5  Once  in  Almhain  in  the  days  of  those  heroes 
Fionn  forgot  some  of  the  Fian  of  Druim 
Dearg  on  the  occasion  of  a  least,  so  that 
their  anger  and  wrath  were  aroused. 

(1    When  those  two  heroes    . 

had  been  forgotten  as  regards  the  drinking, 
they,  the  son  of  Cronnchar  and  Aille  the 
Generous,  forswore  Fionn's  walled  fort 
for  a  year. 


364 


DUANAIRE  FINN 


[LXVII 


7     Do-nid  gan  ogal  ;i  ttriall 

in  laochraid/i  far  bfedmar  sinn 
.^luaisis  in  da  fheindiaVi  gheal 

go  righ  Lochlann  na  sreath  slim 

8  Muinntearus  bliadhna  ris  in  righ 

don  dis  laoch  fa  dearg  dreach 
[90a]  do  mac  Cronnchair  na  sleadh  ger 
's  do  Aille  fein  nar  er  neach 

9  Ba  he  ri  Lochlann  's  a  sliiaigh 

fear   re   mberthaoi   biiaidh   gach   aigh 
Airrgeann  mac  Ancuir  na  long 
laoch  fa  maith  dorn  is  lamh 

10  Tuc  bean  ri  Lochlann  na'sgiath 

gradh  go  dian  nach  raibh  co  deas 
d'Aille  greadhnach  an  airm  gheir 
leo  sa  cheilg  go  ndearnad  feis 

11  Triallaid  do  leabaidh  in  riogh 

ag  sin  in  gniom  rer  doirteadh  fuil 
go  hAlmuin  Laigean  na  fFian 
tugadar  a  ttriall  6  mhuir 

12  Tionoilis  ri  Lochlann  a  sluagh 

an  cabhlac/j  cruaidh  do  bhi  go  deas 
ocht  righto  deg  san  hair 

as  e  tainic  dha  shliiagh  leis 

13  Glacaid  an  aibheis  go  hard 

co  hiath  Eirionn  na  n-arm  n-aigh 
go  h Almoin  Laighean  na  FFian 
tugsat  a  ttriall  6  traigh 


Id  MS  lias  LaiV/eaii  deleted  before  Lochlann.    There  is  a  dot  over  the  o  of  Loch' 

hum  as  we]  as  over  the  c  (=    rh). 


LXVIIj  DUANAIRE  FIXX  365 

7  Those  heroes  about  whom  we  were  jealous 
set  out  wrathfully  :  the  two  white  warriors 
went  off  to  the  king  of  Lochlainn  of  the 
smooth  ranks. 

8  For  a  year  the  two  red-faced  heroes  were 
members  of  the  king's  household,  the  son 
of  Cronnchar  of  the  sharp  spears  and  Aille 
himself  who  refused  no  one. 

9  The  king  of  Lochlainn  and  its  hosts  was  a 
man  who  used  to  win  victory  in  all  war- 
fare, Airrgheann  son  of  Ancar  of  the  ships, 
a  hero  whose  fist  and  hand  were  good. 

10  The  wife  of  the  king  of  Lochlainn  of  the 
shields  bore  violent  and  unseemly  love  to 
blithe  Aille  of  the  sharp  weapons,  and  so 
they  lay  with  one  another   deceitfully. 

11  They  go  to  the  king's  bed — There  is  the 
deed  for  which  blood  was  spilt — From  the 
sea  they  journeyed  to  Almhain  of  the 
Fiana    in  Leinster. 

12  The  king  of  Lochlainn  mustered  his  host, 
the  hardy  fleet  which  was  good  to  look  upon. 
Eighteen  kings  all  together,that  was  the 
portion  of  his  host  which  came  with  him. 

13  They  cross  the  deep  mightily  to  the  land 
of  Ireland  of  the  bold  weapons.To  Almhain 
of  the  Fiana  in  Leinster  they  made  their' 
way  from    the    beach. 


366  DUANAIRE  FINN 

14     Sgaoilid  a  bpuible  go  Math 

ri  Luclilann  's  a  sluagh  nar  tliim 
ar  na  tulchaiph  do  bhi  amuigh 

a  ngar  don  brugh  a  raibhe  Fionn 

to     Furailis  Fionn  cumha  mhor 

don  tsloghsin  tainic  a  ccein 
's  do  righ  Locblann  na  ccolg  st'an 
re  cheile  's  a  bean  fein 

16  Do  raidli  in  Locldannach  borb 

re  a  dhoigh  's  a  chor  a  gcein 
nach  gebhadh  comba  fan  grein 
is  Fionn  fein  do  beith  da  eis 

17  Deich   ccinnbn'rt  fieheat  don  Fhein 

is  Ail le  fein  ar  tus 
do  thuit  re  laim  Airrginn  mhoir 
sul  tainic  na  sloigh  a  ndliis 

18  Fiafrfn7//ris  Fionn  flaith  na  ccuach 

do  maithibh  uaisle  innsi  Fail 
cia  do  ghebhadh  Airrgheann  na  ttreas 
sul  do  rachmaois  leis  ar  sal 

19  Nir  beisd<w//z  sin  re  Goll 

sunn  catha  nar  cmread[h\  ar  gcul 
misi  is  Airrgheann  na  ttreas 

leigthear  eadrainn  cleas  hith 

20  Mac  Lughach  is  Osgar  lonn 

Fear  Reamor  crom  is  mac  Leg 
dot  dhidion  ar  bhuille  in  ri 

beirgac/ia  ttaofbh  dot  sgeith 


(LXVII 


2(1/)  Leg.  The  e  =  a  tall  e. 


20d  MS  has  f/ach  att&oibh. 


LXVII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  367 

14  The  king  of  Lochlainn  and  his  unfeeble 
host  spread  their  tents  quickly  on  the  hills 
without,  near  the  residence  where  Fionn 
was. 

15  Fionn  proposed  a  great  present  tor  that 
host  which  had  come  from  afar  and  for  the 
king  of  Lochlainn  of  the  ancient  swords, 
along  with  his  own  wife. 

16  The  fierce  Lochlannach  said,  regarding  his 
hope  of  (?)  sending  him  away, that  he  would 
accept  no  present  beneath  the  sun  if  Fionn 
himself  were  to  he  [left  living]  after  him. 

17  Thirty  helmets  of  the  Fian,  and  Aille  him- 
self first  of  all,  fell  by  the  hand  of  great 
Airrgheann  before  the  hosts  joined  battle. 


18  Fionn,  the  prince  who  owned  goblets, 
asked  the  lofty  nobles  of  Inis  Fail  who 
would  capture  Airrgheann  of  the  fights 
to  prevent  us  going  over  the  sea  with  him. 

19  Goll  did  not  listen  silently  to  that,  a  battle 
hero  who  was  never  repelled  :  «  I  and  Airr- 
gheann of  the  fights,  let  us  be  permitted 
to  try  together  feats  of  activity. » 

20  «  Mac  Lughach  and  wrathful  Osgar,  Fear 
Reamhar  the  bent  and  the  son  of  Liag, 
take  on  each  side  of  your  shield  to  pro- 
tect you  against  the  king's  blows.  » 

16  Lochlannach    =  Norseman,  Scandinavian. 
20  Fear  Reamhar  =  Fat  Man. 


368  DUANA 1 1  \  E  FINN  [LXVI I 

21  Eirchid  do  chosnamh  a  ttriath 

Airrgionn  fein   nar  caomh  ciall 
seacht  ccatha  dheas  is  tiiaith 

don  tsluagh  budh  fearr  tainic  riamh 

22  Mur  ndeachaidf/j  fear  dhiobh  faoi  chre 

no  sa  sbeire  re  luth  ein 
do  sluagh  righ  Lochk/nn  na  ccrioch 
nir  pill  aris  'na  thir  fein 

2:>     Da  ttugthaoi  comtrom  arm 

do  mac  Ancair  hudh  hard  ceim 
a  n-Eirinn  na  ngaisgeadac/i  ffial 
ni  mairfead/zdis  Fian  da  eis 

24  Cpsmaile  chomhraic  na  ffear 

ni  faicfe  me  go  tti  in  brath 
eeann  righ  Lochlann  na  sgieth  ndonn 
do  mhaoidh  doll  san  ochtmadh  la 

25  Do-bczrim  fo  anmuin  mo  righ 

gurb  e  ar  ndith  ar  tteac/i/  as 
fear  is  ceirtleith  na  fFian 

do  fagadh  san  tsliabh  ar  in  taobh  dheas 

26  Do  bhi  misi  fein  san  ruaig 

a  Padraic  bheirius  biiaidh  ar  each 
is  ge  go  ttainic  me  as 

ni  dearnadh  mo  leas  san  la 

La 


Iomlanachadh  in  line  do  leisce  a  bheith  folamh 
Misi  Aodh  do  sgriobh 


21d  tainic  riamh  has  been  deleted  by  a  later  hand  and  fiud  ghrtan  written  in 

the  margin. 
The  scribal  note  at  the  end  of  poem  LXVI  I  has  been  written  so  as  to  look  like 

a  line  of  verse. 


LXVII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  369 

21  They  arise  to  protect  their  lord,  Airrgheann 
himself  whose  sense  was  not  good,  seven 
hattalions,  south  and  north,  of  the  hest 
host  that  ever  was. 

22  Of  the  host  of  the  king  of  Lochlainn  of  the 
territories  not  one  returned  alive  to  his 
own  land,  unless  he  went  heneath  the  earth 
or  into  the  skies  with  the  activity  of  a  bird. 

23  Had  the  son  of  Ancar  who  advanced  lofti- 
ly been  granted  equality  in  respect  of  weap- 
ons, no  Fian  would  have  existed  after  him 
in  Ireland  of  the  generous  champions. 

24  A  combat  like  the  combat  of  those  men  I 
shall  not  see  till  the  end  of  time.  On  the 
eighth  day  Goll  had  the  head  of  the  king  of 
Lochlainn  of  the  brown  shields  to  boast  of. 

25  I  swear  by  the  soul  of  my  king  that  our  loss 
as  we  came  out  of  it  was  one  man  more  than 
a  fair  half  of  the  Fiana,  who  were  left  on 
the  mountain  on  the  southern  side. 

26  I  was  myself  in  the  rout,  0  Patrick  who 
conquer  everyone,  and  although  I  came  out 
of  it,  I  was  not  any  the  better  of  that   dav. 


A  filling  out  of  the  line  for  I  am  loath  that  it 
should  be  empty.  It  is  I,  Aodh,  who  have  written 
this. 


LXVTII 

[90bl    1  Dul)hach  sin  a  Bheann  Ghualann 

a  bheand  na  nuabharr  ccruthach 
a  n-aimsir  in  Tailgbinn 

dob  alainn  bheith  ar  do  mhullach 

2  Dob  iomdba  bean  7  giolla 

ar  do  lios  a  Bbeann  Ghualann 
ortsa  is  laoch  laidir 

a    beann    blathmhor    duire    bhuabhall 

3  Gotha  gadhar  id  gleanntoibh 

ar  mhucaibh  alta  da  ffiadhach 
gach  feindidh  da  ttigeadh  a  lath  air 
's  a  ccoin  aille  ar  iallach 

4  Dob  iomdha  do  chruite  ceoilbhinn 

os  leirgfinn  oirliath  ghlaise 
or  da  bhronnadh  an  uair  sin 

gabhail  dhuan  go  n-iomad  maisi 

5  Is  c  do-gheibheadh  6  gach  feindidh 

da  raibh  sa  fFein  an  uairsin 
tallonn  oir  gacha  miosa 

dob  e  ciosa  Daighre  dhuanaigh 

G    An  uairsin  a  Bheann  Ghualann 

nir  ffuath  linn  fad  thaobhaibh 
anocht  is  tearc  mo   charaid 
och  ni  mhairit  mo  ghaolta 

2n  MS  has  Do  bdlainn  with  bdlainn  deleted  and  biomdha  written  after  it. 
]/'  The  word-spacing  is  thai  of  the  MS. 


LXVIII 

1  What  gloom !  Beann  Ghualann,  mountain 
of  the  fresh  shapely  peaks.  In  the  Adze- 
head's  time  it  was  lovely  to  be  on  your  sum- 
mit. 

2  Many  a  woman  and  lad  used  to  be  on  your 
lios,  Beann  Ghualann,  and  many  a  strong 
champion  upon  you,  flowery  cornel-groved 
mountain. 

3  Dogs'  voices  in  your  glens  following  wild 
pigs  and  pursuing  them !  All  the  champions 
who  used  to  arrive  there  with  their  beauteous 
hounds  on  leash ! 

4  Many  were  your  music-sweet  harps  above 
the  white  gold-grey  streamy  slope.  In  that 
time  there  was  bestowal  of  gold,  chanting 
of  poems  of  great  beauty. 

5  This  is  what  Daighre  of  the  Lays  got  from 
each  warrior  who  was  in  the  Fian  at  that 
time,  a  talent  of  gold  every  month  :  it 
was  his  tribute. 

C)  In  that  time,  Beann  Ghualann,  we  hated 
not  to  be  along  your  slopes.  Tonight  my 
friends  are  few.  Ah  me !  my  kinsmen  live 
no    more. 


'M2  DUANAIftE  FINN  [LXVIII 

7  Ag  eisdeac/i/  ret  ealtuin 

&  beathach   na   n-or  n-allta 
])cann  ar  ar  bheannaidh  in  Tailghionn 
dob  alainn  do  banntrar/?/ 

8  Tothain  do  choillteach  diamhra 

dob  iomdha  iara  ar  do  craxmaibh 
do  bhruic  ger  shaimh  a  sealga 

niorl)h  annamh  do  laoidh   e&llaidh 

9  Duinne  gerb  adbbhar  meanma 

ag  eisdeac/j/  re  labhra  h'iolar 
])a  liinn  gotlia  do  dhobhran 
&  comradh  do  sionnach 

10  Fa  binn  duallan  do  chonart 

is  h'uallghort  nirbh  annamh 
organ  do  dhamh  dilionn 

do  ceol  faoilionn  &  ealadh 

11  Do  mhonogasa  caomh  corcra 

biorar  fochla    &  gleoran 
re  triar  inghean  Cais  Cuailgne 
fa  binn  leosan  a  n-abhran 

12  Nuallan  do  chorr  san  oidhche 

cearca  fraoiche  do  shleibhe 
re  cheile  is  ceol  do  choinchionn 

dob  aoilthinn  bheith  da  n-eisdear/i/ 

13  Siansan  binne  do  smaolach 

as  mor  in  t-adbar  cumhadh 
is  maith  togbadh  bron  dot  bhannail 
is  feardin  do  crann  cluthmar 

la  ret  ealtuin.  MS  has  re  tealtuin. 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  373 

7  As  they  listened  to  your  bird-flock  and  the 
wild-bordered  birch-land  (A  hill  sanc- 
tified by  the  Adzehead's  presence !)  your 
womenfolk  were  lovely. 

8  The  martens  of  your  mysterious  woods! 
Many  were  the  squirrels  on  your  trees. 
Though  your  badger  hunts  were  pleasant, 
your  wild  fawns  were  not  few. 

9  Though  listening  to  the  chatter  of  your 
eagles  caused  our  spirits  to  rise,  sweet  too 
were  the  voices  of  your  otters  and  the  call- 
ing of  your  foxes. 

10  Melodious  was  the  cry  of  your  dog-packs 
Not  rare  was  your  .  .  .  ,  the  belling 
of  your  mighty  stags,  the  music  of  your 
seagulls  and  swans. 

1 1  Your  lovely  purple  bog-berries,  cress,  brook- 
lime  and  cuckoo-flower  !  The  three  daughters 
of  Cas  Cuailgne,  they  loved  their  song  (?). 


12  The  clamour  of  your  herons  at  night,  the 
grouse  of  your  moor  land,  along  with  the 
music  of  your  linnets  (?),  to  listen  to  them 
was  pleasant. 

13  The  sweet  singing  of  your  thrushes  (T  is 
a  great  cause  for   grief),    well  did  it  -  -  and 
the    ringdoves    of  your  sheltering  trees  - 
raise  sorrow  from  your  womenfolk. 


374  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXVIII 

14  Ag  eisdeac/i/  ret  fiadhach 

fa  binn  re  triath  na  hAlmhan 
do  budh  cluthmar  bheith  id  dhiamhroibh 
dob  iomdha  mialta  id  ghleanntaiWi 

15  Dob  iomdha  cnuasach  6d  choilltibh 

re  mnaibh  fionna  na  Feine 
do  chaora  fa  cnuas  cumhra 
do  shugha  is  do  smera 

16  Subha  craobh  &  talman 

cneamh  &  airnead  feithlionn 
fa  minic  do  ghairbhmeas 

a  n-aimsir  Fheine  Eirionn 

17  Ba  haoibhinn  h'inbhear  iasgach 

os  leirg  fherghloin  glaoithbinn 
•dnocht  atam   co   har  saidh 

do  chaitheas  m'aimsir  aoibhinn 

18  Is  cumhuin  learn  a  .thulach 

mac  Lughac/j  ort  is  Conan 
iad  ag  imirt  an  trathsin 

's  as  tainic  ar  n-orcradh 

19  Ni  raibh  feindidh  a  lathair 

's  as  tainic  ar  ndrochdhal 
nach  gcusdaidh  an  iiairsin 

an  dorn  busdleadh  ar   Conan 

[Ola]  20     Eirgis  Conan  'na  sheasamh 

is  beiris  alpadh  ar  'armoibh 
fa  hadhuathmar  an  uairsin 
Conan  fa  cruaidh  a  tteannta 

14a  ret  fiadhach.  MS  has  re  Ijiadhach. 

19d  This  line  preceded  by  «  no  »  has  been  wrilten  as  a  correction  beneath  a 
duplicate  of  2(W, 


LXVIIIj  DUANAIRE  FINN  375 

14  The  lord  of  Almhain  loved  to  listen  to  your 
hunting.  There  was  shelter  in  your  hidden 
recesses.  In  your  glens  the  hares  were  many. 


15  Your  woods  afforded  a  rich  harvest  to  the 
fair  women  of  the  Fian.  Your  berries,  your 
small  fruits  and  your  blackberries  formed 
a  fragrant  crop. 

16  Raspberries  and  strawberries,  cress  and 
sloes,  woodbine  —  Your  coarse  fruit  was 
plentiful  ( ?)  in  the  time  of  tbe  Fian  of  Ire- 
land. 

17  Your  fishy  estuary  was  pleasant  above  a 
grass-pure  call-sweet  slope.  Tonight  I  am 
aged  :  I  have  spent  my  pleasant  days. 


18  I  remember  Mac  Lughach  and  Conan  upon 
you,  0  hill.  They  were  playing  at  that  mom- 
ent. It  was  the  cause  of  our  fall. 


19  There  was  no  champion  present  (Our  ill 
luck  came  from  this)  but  heard  at  that  time 
the  blow  struck  upon  Conan. 


20  Conan  stood  up  and  clutched  at  his  arms. 
Very  dreadful  at  that  instant  was  Conan 
who  was  hardy  in  a  strait. 


376  DUANATRE  FINN  [LXVIII 

21  Do  raidh  Aodh  mac  Garaidh 

ger  leanam  nior  laoch  lonnda 
dar  do  laimhsi  a  mhic  Lughach 
bu  pudhar  dhuit  in  dornsa 

22  Ni  briathar  tug  mac  Lughach 

's  maith  is  cumhain  a  Padraic 
beag  mo  speis  id  leitheid 

nir  theithius  a   n-am  gabhaidh 

23  Eirgis  ann  sin  fearg  Aodh 

is  mairg  laoch  d'fan  rena  thoruinn 
an  briatar  tug  mac  Lughach 

car  mo  cubhais  do  chomhaill 

24  Tainic  mac  Dobair   dhamhaigh 

ann  sin  do  chabhair  im'c  Lughach 
is  fearg  Aodh  da  ffreasdol 
dob  i  an  iorgail  churadh 

25  Tainic  Goll  7  Garaidh 

Seinen  7  Fear  Faophair 
dcich  cced  do  clannaibh  Dubhain 
ann  sin  do  choime'd  Aodha 

26  Tainic  clanna  Neamhnaid 

\ucht  leanam na  clanna  Baoisgne 
da  sleidh  7  sgieth  uaine 

ar  gualainn  gacha  taoisigh 

27  Tainic   aicme   Da   Bhoirionn 

dob  iad  an  foirionn  crodha 
gerbh  iomdha  cleas  liithmar 

ag  congnam  re  clandai'6/i  Morao 

22a  Ni  :  sic  MS. 

25ft  Seinen,  The  e  of  the  last  syllabic  represents  a  small  c  in  the  MS. 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  377 

21  Aodh  son  of  Garaidh,  though  hut  a  child 
and  no  fierce  warrior,  said  : «  By  your  hand, 
Mac  Lughach,  this  hlow  will  turn  ill  for 
you. » 

22  The  word  Mac  Lughach  uttered  (Patrick, 
I  remember  it  well)  was,  « Little  do  I 
heed  such  as  you.  I  have  never  fled  in  time 
of  danger. » 

23  Then  was  Aodh's  anger  roused.  Woe  for  the 
champion  who  awaited  his  onset !  The  word 
Mac  Lughach  uttered,  by  my  conscience  he 
fulfilled  it. 

24  The  son  of  Dobhar  of  the  bardic  companies 
came  then  to  help  Mac  Lughach.  Aodh's 
anger  met  them.  That  was  a  heroes' 
battle. 

25  Then  came  Goll  and  Garaidh,  Seine n  and 
Fear  Faobhair  and  ten  hundred  of  the  house 
of  Dubhan  to  guard  Aodh. 


26  The  house  of  Neamhnann,  followers  of  the 
house  of  Baoisgne,  came.  On  every  captain's 
shoulder  were  two  spears  and  a  green  shield. 


27  The  race  of  Da  Bhoirionn  came.  They  were 
a  sturdy  band,  though  they  had  many  an 
active  feat  (?).  They  came  to  assist  the 
house  of  Morna. 


•> 


78  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXVIII 

28  Tainic  fa  mor  in  tamhail 

do  cabhair  clanna  Baoisgne 
fir  nar  threith  a  n-am  teannta 

dol)  iad  clanna  Duibh  Dhiorma 

29  Clanna  Coinbroin  re  blollann 

dream  nar  cumang  re  cliaraibh 
fiche  ced  do  sgiathaibh  geala 

d'fearuibh  nar  seachain  cliamhain 

30  Tainic  Corr  chosluath  chedghoineacn 

ar  colbna  chloinne  Morna 
buidhion  fa  niamdha  maisi 

fiche  ced  do  sgiethai&n  gorma 

31  Do-chiiaidh  misi  fein  Caoilte 

faris  o  mBaoisgne  mbreagha 
dhuinne  gerbh  ard  meanma 

fiche  ced  do  sgiethai'6/i  dearga 

32  Tigid  cugainn  do  lathair 

'na  mbrointiftn  n-agha  n-6rdha 
a  Dhia  is  mairg  chom  a  ttainic 
an  trathsin  clanna  Morna 

33  A  Padraic  a  chleir io/i  Fhodla 

do  thuit  re  cheile  sa  ffionnghleo 
deich  cced  taoiseach  ieindeadh 
ar  n-egnach  6  an  aonlo 

34  Ag  sin  duit  a  Padraic 

sgel  amhaidh   ar  an  imirt 
dorn  do  buailearfn  an  lasin 
's  as  tainic.  in  miUeadh 

2{)d  cliamh&in.MS  has  cliamhr&fn  with  the  r  deleted  (mh  =  doited  /?i-stroke 
over  the  first  a).  316  mbreughu.  IMS  rnbdgha  with  a  small  e  over  the  loop 
of  the  b  (uncertain  what  letter  the  accent  should  go  with  :  yh  =  dotted  </), 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  379 

2<S  There  came  (T  was  a  great  .  .  .  )  to 
assist  the  house  of  Baoisgne,  certain  men 
who  were  not  feeble  in  a  moment  of  diffic- 
ulty, the  house  of  Dubh  Diorma. 

2(.)  The  house  of  Conbhron,  a  group  who  were 
not  stingy  towards  poets, [sided] with  Iollann. 
They  numbered  twenty  hundred  white 
shields,  men  who  never  avoided      ... 

30  Corr  the  swift-footed,  wounder  of  hundreds, 
came  on  the  side  of  the  house  of  Morna.  [He 
brought]  a  band  who  were  bright  in  beauty, 
twenty  hundred  blue  shields. 

31  I  myself,  Caoilte,  went  alongside  the  fine 
grandson  of  Baoisgne,  though  our  courage 
was  high.  [My  band  numbered]  twenty 
hundred  red  shields. 

32  They  come  to  meet  us  in  brave  golden  masses. 
Woe  to  him,  0  God,  to  whom  the  house  of 
Morna  came  at  that  time. 


33  Patrick,  cleric  of  Ireland,  in  that  inter- 
necine strife  fell  ten  hundred  leaders  of 
warriors  .  .  .  whose  loss  we  had  to  lam- 
ent (?)  as  a  result  of  that  single  day. 

34  There,  Patrick,  you  have  a  .'  .  .  account 
of  the  game.  From  a  fist-blow  struck  on  that 
day  the  destruction  came. 


380  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXV1II 

35  Aitheac  mor  co  ccruit  n-iarnaigh 

san  aird  aniar  gac[ft]  ndireac/i 
tainic  chugainn  tar  guch  region 
nirbh  e  sin  in  fear  sitheach 

36  Ar  tteac/i/  ameasg  ar  ttionoil 

don  aitheach  romhor  adhbhal 
re  fuaim  a  cruite  gairbhe 

do  tuit  ar  n-airm  as  ar  lamaibh 

37  Ni  raibhe  neach  beo  'na  sheasamh 

ris  in  cheolsin  nar  mbaith  siansa 
dath  an  ghuail  ar  an  aitbeach 

is  dath  in  tsneac/i/a  ar  'fhiaclaifr/i 

[91  b]  38  Cuiris  e  fa  gheasoibh 

Conan  nar  maith  cialla 
fear  na  cruite  millte 

mura  n-innsc«rf  se  sgela 

39  Ge  do  chuiris  me  fo  gheasoibh 

as  me  ameasg  na  Feine 
a   Chonain   mhaoil  na  mallar/?/ 
bu  haithreac  duit  mo  sg^la 

40  Ni  gheillim  dom  chineadh 

do  hoileadh  me  sa  fFuarrdhaeht 
gebha  dhaoibh  an  aoire 

nach  sinnfeadh  Daighre  duanach 

41  (iabhais  diiain  do  Conan 

nior  1'forail  gan  bheith  seitreach 
gach  a  raibh  dhiobh  'na  ccaomhthach 
do-chuadar  a  lathair  eg  a 

384  mura  n-innsmd,  MS  has  mur  aninnsead, 
40d  MS  has  Daoif/hrc  wilh  the  o  deleted, 


LXVIII]  DU  ANA  IRE  FINN  381 

35  A  great  giant  with  an  iron  harp  appeared 
in  the  western  quarter,  coming  stra'ght 
towards  us  over  every  district.  He  was  no 
peaceful  man. 

36  When  the  huge  enormous  giant  had  come 
among  our  gathering,  at  the  sound  of  his 
rude  harp  our  weapons  fell  from  our  hands. 


37  By  reason  of  that  ill-sounding  music  not  a 
living  person  remained  standing.  The  giant 
was  the  colour  of  coal  and  his  teeth  the 
colour  of  snow. 

38  Conan, who  was  not  wise, put  the  man  of  the 
destructive  harp  under  geasa  if  he  would 
not  give  an  account  [of  himself]. 


39  «  Though  you  have  put  me  under  geasa  in 
the  midst  of  the  Fian,  Conan  Maol  of  the 
oaths,  the  account  I  give  will  be  a  source 
of  sorrow  to  you. 

40  «  I  yield  not  to  my  folk.  I  was  reared  in  the 
Cold  Land.  I  shall  chant  you  an  air  (?)  such 
as  Daighre  of  the  Lays  could  not  play. » 


41  He  chanted  a  lay  to  Conan.  One  must  needs 
cease  to  be  strong.  All  of  those  who  were  in 
their  company  went  into  the  presence  of 
death. 


382  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXVIII 

42  Togbhais  leis  airm  na  Feine 

ger  lor  a'  mheidsin  d'eire 
nir  fag  ga  no  lann  faobhrar/i 
ag  laoch  ann  no  ag  giolla 

43  Sdiren  mac  in  Ghairbh  Ghluim'aa 

nior  ffeas  dhuinne  san  domha/i 
feadh  miosa  dhuinn  gan  lathar 
fagbais  a  Ian  go  boghar 

44  Teid  teaca/aire  go  mac  Morna 

6   Fhionn    na  gcaomhchorn  ccumdaigh 
a  triall  as  Eirinn  iathghloin 

d'iarraid/z  mzc  in   Gairbh   GhluiniaA 

45  Tigid  a  cceann  na  miosa 

clanna  Baoisgne  go  trenmhear 
naoi  ffichit  ced  ar  in  ccnocsa 
cia  ta  anocht  gan  enfhear 

40    Do-rinne  Goll  is  mac  Cumhaill 
sith  do  comall  an  iiairsin 
is  tugadar  a  lamha 

ann  a  laim  Daighre  dhiianaigh 

47    Gluaismid  ann  a  n-einf eacht 

in  dream  nar  threith  a  congnamh 
as  sin  go  Traigh  na  tTreinfhear 
fa  buidhean  leidmeach  lutlimar 

AS    As  sin  duinn  don  Fbuarrdac/i/ 

as  mairg  do-chuaio'a  'nar  tz/rus 
dhuinn  fa  hadbar  egnaigh 

mar  raibhe  Edbhar  is  Ludar 

426  MS  has  m  deleted  before  I6r. 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  383 

42  He  bore  off  the  weapons  of  the  Fian,  though 
that  was  load  enough.  He  left  no  spear  or 
edged  sword  to  warrior  there  or  servant. 


43  Sdiren  son  of  the  Garbh  Gluineach,  we  knew 
not  whether  he  existed  ( ?).  For  a  month 
we  were  without  vigour.  He  left  many  deaf. 

44  A  messenger  goes  to  the  son  of  Morna  from 
Fionn  of  the  beauteous  decorated  drinking- 
horns,  that  he  should  go  from  bright-landed 
Ireland  to  seek  the  son  of  the  Garbh  Gluin- 
each. 

45  When  the  month  was  ended  the  house  of 
Baoisgne  come  stoutly  and  swiftly  .There  we- 
re nine  score  of  hundreds  on  this  hill,  though 
not  one  man  is  on  it  tonight. 

46  Goll  and  the  son  of  Cumhall  concluded  peace 
at  that  time,  and  they  laid  their  hands  there 
in  the  hand  of  Daighre  of  the  Lays. 


47  Thereupon  we,  a  group  who  were  not  weak 
in  aiding,  set  out  together  thence  for 
Traigh  na  dTreinfhear.  We  were  a  vigor- 
ous  active  band. 

48  Thence    we   passed  over  to  the  Cold  Land. 
Woe  for  those  who  went  on  our  journey ! 
The    land  where  were  Edbhar    and  Ludar 
was  a  cause  of  complaint  to  us. 


384  DUANA1RE   FINN  [LXVII1 

49  Tigid  chugainn  dar  ffechain 

buidhean  nach  eisdfcatf[/i]  diiana 
Troitheasdal  is  Crom  na  Cairrge 

is  Troiglen  on  (ihleann  LJathmar 

50  Tri  mic  Crom  na  Cairrge 

fir  nach  ttiiipradh  cairde  chatha 
dob  adhbar  dithe  dar  ndaoinibh 
beit  fa  lamail)h  in  triar  athach 

51  As  iad  anmanna  in  triairsin 

na  taoisigh  nar  ghlan  gnee 
ger  chuimseach  iad  a  ccathaibh 
Sithire  Sitre  7  Seitre 

52  Tainic  cugainn  buidhean  dhordha 

a  ccomrac  ba  mor  baoghal 
tri  fichit  fear  co  luirgn  ife/i 

tainic  fuirne  mic  Faobhair 

53  Tainic  Aitheach  in  Corrain 

nior  fforail  ar  ml)eitli  daoineach 
buidhean   ar  dath   na   ndeamhan 

deich  cced  aitheach  nar  ffaodhbha 

54  Ar  tteac/j/  don  Garbh  ghliiineach 

cugainn  's  a  luireach  croicinn 
ensuil  a  cclar  'edain 

is  deich  da  dhenam  'na  aice 

55  Dob  fearr  leinne  a  Padraic 

's  a  ^tainic  linn  dar  Feinnibh 
an  mheidsin  do  sluagh  hi'midh 
go  mbeithmis  uile  a  n-Eirinn 

albynee.  MS  i/ne  t>.  53d  ff&odhbha,     sic    MS. 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  385 

49  They  come  to  us  to  look  at  us,  a  band  who 
would  not  heed  poems,  Troitheasdal  and 
Crom  na  Cairrge  and  Troighlen  from  the 
Dread  Glen. 

50  The  three  sons  of  Crom  na  Cairrge,  men  who 
would  give  no  respite  in  battle  :  to  be  beneath 
the  hands  of  those  three  giants  was  a  cause 
of  destruction  to  our  men. 

51  The  names  of  those  three,  those  leaders  who 
though  powerful  in  battles  were  not  clean 
of  face,  were  Sithire,  Sitre  and  Seitre. 


52  A  grim  crowd  approached  us  (To  fight  them 
entailed  many  dangers).  The  bands  of  the 
son  of  Faobhar  approached,  three  score 
men  with  clubs. 

53  The  Giant  of  the  Reapinghook  came  (We 
must  needs  be  numerous)  with  a  band 
coloured  like  demons,  a  thousand  uncomely 
giants. 

54  When  the  Garbh  Gluineach  came  towards 
us  with  his  corselet  of  skin,  with  one  eye 
in  his  forehead  and  ten  being  made  bes- 
ide him  (?), 

55  We,  0  Patrick,  and  those  of  our  Fiana  who 
had  come  with  us,  that  amount  of  the  west- 
ern host,  would  have  preferred  to  be  all  in 
Ireland. 


386  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXV1II 

[92  a]  ^6  Do-chuadhmar  do  chur  in  catha 
na  haith  igh  is  Fian  Eirionn 
sa  maidin  arna   mharach 

dol)  docair  airiom  a  gceimionn 

57  Teid  do  cosg  Crom  na  Cairrge 

fa  meanma  curadh 
ar  a  sgath  fa  dion  dhuinne 

a  lamh  ar  ccrila  nir  cuireadh 

58  Do  raidh  Osgar  mac  Oisin 

coisgfe  misi  mac  Faobhair 
annsa  maidin  arna  mharach 

re  neart  mo  laime  am  aonar 

59  Do  raidh  Diarmm'd  6  Duihhne 

fear  fa  cuimhneach  a  n-am  catha 
Traoillen  on  Gleann  LJathmor 
coisgfeadsa  a  n-am  tachair 

60  Do  raidh  triur  mac  in  Cearda 

nir  glor  nar  calma  in  trathsin 
tri  mic  Crom  na  Cairrge 

coisgfe  sinne  a  n-uair  ghabhaidh 

61  Do  raidh  Sinen  mac  Morna 

's  an  fear  dordha  Conan 

dias  mac  in  Ghairbh  Ghluiniff/l 

a  ccosg  dhuinne  ni  furail 

62  Do  raidh  Aodh  mac  Garaidh 

nirhh  e  in  t-athus  nar  chiiimhneach 
an  t-6igfhear  fa  hard  meanma 

coisgfeadsa  in  Garbh  Gluineach 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  387 

56  We,  the  giants  and  the  Fian  of  Ireland, 
went  to  fight  the  battle  next  morning.  It 
was  hard  to  count  their  steps. 


57  Goll  goes  to  check  Crom  na  Cairrge.  It 
showed  a  hero's  spirit.  We  were  sheltered 
when  he  protected  us.  His  hand  never 
received  a  set-back. 

58  Osgar  son  of  Oisin  said, «  I  shall  restrain  the 
son  of  Faobhar  tomorrow  morning,  alone, 
by  the  strength  of  my  hand.  » 


59  Diarmaid  O  Duibhne,  a  man  who  was 
thoughtful  (?)  in  time  of  battle  said,  «  Tra- 
oillen  from  the  Dread  Glen,  I  shall  check  him 
in  the  time  of  conflict ». 

60  The  three  sons  of  the  Smith  said  (It  was  a 
brave  word  at  such  a  moment),  «  We  shall 
check  the  three  sons  of  Crom  na  Cairrge 
in  the  hour  of  danger.  » 

61  Seinen,  son  of  Morna,  and  the  grim  man, 
Conan,  said,  « We  must  check  the  two 
sons  of  the  Garbh  Gluineach. » 


62  Aodh  son  of  Garaidh  (That  was  a  memorable 
(?)  triumph),  the  high-spirited  young  man, 
said,«  I  shall  check  the  Garbh  Gluineach. » 


:<„S8  DUANAIRE  FINN  \hXVUl 

{)?>     Gabhais  re  comhrac  Luduir 

mac  Lughac/i  na  n-arm  ffapbhrac/i 
do  comhrac  risin  ffearsin 

is  mairg  rachad/i  'na  aonor 

64  Troitheasdol  ger  laoch  londa 

san  a  luirefhearsaid  chatha 
gabhais  Art  og  mac  Morna 

rena  comhrac  a  n-am  tachair 

I 

65  Coisgfeam  ar  clann  Neamhnaid 

&  gearrfam  a  saoghal 
tri  fichit  fear  co  luirgm'M 

do  mhuinntir  foirne  mi'c  Faobair 

66  Coisccfiom  Aitheach  in  Chorrain 

do  raidh  Barran  mac  Morno 
7  coisgfiom  a  mhuinntir 

buidhean  go  ndeilb  ndordha 

67  A  Padraic  a  chara  anma 

fearg  na  laoch  oir  do  eirigh 
dob  iomdha  sgieth  da  sgoltadh 
ann  7  osnadh  feindidh 

68  Dob  e  dal  Crom  na  Cairrge 

is  Guill  meanmnaiV//}  mic  Morno 
nach  dearnairf/i  dias  san  domhan 
a  commaith  sin  do  comhrac 

69  Tuitis  Crom  na  Cairrge 

re  neart  laime  Ghuill  fhao])hraia/i 
faoi  sgeith  Iollainn  sa  tachar 

dol)  iomdha  fear  dar  laocliraiW/i 


i)4b  gan,  sic  MS. 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  389 

63  Mac  Lughach  of  the  edged  weapons  went  to 
fight  Ludar.  Woe  for  him  who  should  ad- 
vance alone  to  fight  that  man  ! 


64  Troitheasdal  (though  with  [  ?]  his  battle 
club  he  was  a  fierce  warrior)  young  Art 
son  of  Morna  went  to  fight  in  the  time  of 
conflict. 

65  «  We  »,  said  the  descendants  of  Neamhnann, 
«  shall  restrain  three  score  men  with  clubs 
of  those  belonging  to  the  son  of  Faobhar's 
band,  and  we  shall  cut  short  their  lives.  » 

66  «  We  shall  check  the  Giant  of  the  Reaping- 
hook,  »  said  Barran  son  of  Morna,  «  and 
we  shall  check  his  people,  a  band  of  grim 
appearance. » 

67  Patrick,  friend  of  my  soul,  when  the  heroes' 
wrath  had  arisen,  many  were  the  shields 
being  split  there  and  many  the  warriors' 
sighs. 

68  Crom  na  Cairrge  and  spirited  Goll  son  of 
Morna' s  behaviour  was  such  that  no  two  in 
the  world  ever  fought  so  good  a  fight. 


69  Crom  na  Cairrge,  fell  by  the  strength  of 
weaponed  Goll's  hand.  Many  a  man  of  our 
champions  was  shielded  by  Iollann  in  the 
fray. 


390  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXVIII 

70  Do  thuit  re  hOsgar  amhra 

ger  chalma  in  tear  mac  Faobuir 
minic  do  fhoir  sinn  6  bhaoghal 
an  lamhsin  nar  claoidh  f«d7i 

71  Traoithlen  on  Ghleann  Uathmar 

's  an  fear  6  Luacliair  DheaghaidA 
darb  ainm  M«c  I  Dhuibhne 
dias  rer  doilghe  deabhaidh 

72  Tainic  ann  sin  a  shaogbal 

Traoillen  ger  laoch  londa 
re  cleasaibb  goile  I  Dhuibhne 
leannan  suirge  na  Fodhla 

[92  b|     73  Ba  maith  comhrac  in  Ghairbh  Ghluiniffft 
is  Aodh  liithmair  na  ngerlann 
is  fa  tearc  a  samhail 

san  chathsin  Fheine  Eirionn 

74  Ba  maith  Goll  is  Garaidh 

Seinen  is  Fear  Foghla 
Osgar  is  Diarmaid  deidgheal 

is   Aodh    echtsLch  mac  Morna 

75  Ni  raibhe  neach  dhiobh  a  nguasac/^ 

ina  feind/rtV?   nasal  armach 
nach  deachaidh  Goll  da  ehabhair 
's  maith  is  cumain  a  Padraic 

7(i     Tigeadh  'cabhair  chloinne  Morna 
mar  luas  aidh  orrdfltrc  allaid/j 
's  do  cabhair  chloinne  Baoisgne 

mar  sitheadh  gaoithe  Enrraigh 

70n  In  the  MS  re  is  followed  by  a  second  re  deleted. 

lid  This  line  preceded  by  «  no  »  has  been  written  as  a    correction  above  a  du- 
plicate of  T2d  (leannan  and  Fodla  appearing  for  leannan  and  Fodhla), 


LXVIII]  DUANATRE  FINN  391 

70  The  son  of  Faobhar,  though  he  was  a  brave 
man,  fell  by  wondrous  Osgar.  That  hand 
which  was  never  overcome  rescued  us  often 
from  danger. 

71  Traoillen  from  the  Dread  (den  and  the  man 
from  Luachair  Dheadhaidh, whose  name  was 
Mac  I  Dhuibhne,  were  two  with  whom  it 
was   difficult  to  contend. 

72  His  life  finished  then  for  Traoillen,  though 
he  was  a  fierce  warrior,  by  reason  of  the 
battle  feats  of  O  Duibhne,  the  greatest  woo- 
ing   lover  in  Ireland. 

73  The  fight  between  the  Garbh  Gluineach 
and  active  Aodh  of  the  sharp  swords  was 
good,  and  there  were  few  like  them  in  that 
battle  of  the  Fian  of  Ireland. 

74  Goll  and  Garaidh  were  good,  Seinen  and  Fear 
Foghla,  Osgar  and  white-toothed  Diarmaid 
and  deedful  Aodh  son  of  Morna. 


75  Not  one  of  them,  nor  any  noble  armed  cham- 
pion, was  in  danger  but  Goll  went  to  his 
help.  I  remember  it  w  ell,  Patrick. 


76  He  used  to  come  to  the  help  of  the  house 
of  Morna  with  the  swiftness  of  a  noble 
wild  stag,  and  to  the  help  of  the  house  of 
Baoisgne  like  a  blast  of  spr  ing  wind. 


392  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXVIII 

77  A  Padraig  a  chleirigh  Fodhla 

an  ttainig  riamh  iongnadb 
no  in  Garbh  do  chlaoidh  rc  hAodlia 
7  laghad  a  aoise 

78  Ar  ttuitim  don  cuigear  calma 

don  tsluagh  gharbhsin   na   n-aitcac/i 
A  Padraic  dob  iomdha  feindt'rf  h] 
a  n-eigean  san  tachar 

79  Tainic  cugainn  aongruag ach 

an  trath  ba  cruaidhe  dar  H\athaibh 
's  a  emit  carthanach  cheoilbhinn 
leis  ar  teoruinn   na  faithche 

80  Go  n-asaibh  airgid  fhinnghil 

fa  colpaip  seimhe  soillsi 
co  lor  do  chlochaibh  bi'iadba 

Itroga  cuanna  don  or  j)ronnta 

81  Leine  don  tsleamhuin  sioda 

go  ndeilbh  griolibdha  7  naithrcach 
do  bhi  fo  chneas  in  gruagaigh 
ionar  siiaithnirfA   sodhathach 

82  Fleasg  oir  arna  heagar 

fana  fholt  fada  fionncbas 
cloidheamh  ordbuirn  co  ndealtaife^ 
is  brat  corcra  fana  caombchneas 

83  As  dar  gcabbair  tainic  cbugainn 

an  fcarsin  go  cculaidh  roigrinn 
an  ceol  do  shinn  in  gruagw/j 
ni  cualamar  a  coimhbinn 

78</  n-eigean.  The  ea  represents  a  tall  c  in  the  MS. 
80rf  pronnta,  sic  MS.  81a  Wordspacing  as  in  MS. 

82c /idea//aibh.  MS  has  ndeallt  with  the  second  I  deleted  and  a  dotted  stroke 
over  the   /, 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  39 

77  Patrick,  cleric  of  Fodla,  did  any  miracle 
ever  occur  other  than  the  defeat  of  the 
Garbh  by  Aodh,  when  one  thinks  how  few 
were  his  years  ? 

78  After  those  five  hrave  warriors  of  that  rude 
host  of  giants  had  fallen,  there  were  many 
champions,  Patrick,  in  hard  case  in  the  fray. 


79  A  single  gruagach  approached  us  when  it  was 
going  hardest  with  our  princes,  carrying 
with  him,  on  the  edge  of  the  lawn,  his 
friendly  music-sweet  harp. 

80  He  wore  gaiters  (?)  of  white  and  gleaming 
silver  with  plenty  of  precious  stones  ar- 
ound(?)  his  smooth  shining  calves.  He  had 
neat  shoes  of  proven  (?)  gold. 

81  A  shirt  of  smooth  silk  with  imagery  of 
griffons  and  of  serpents  was  about  the 
wizard's  skin.  He  wore  a  distinguished 
pleasantly  coloured   tunic. 

82  An  ordered  band  of  gold  was  about  his  long 
fair  curly  hair.  He  had  a  gold-hilted  sword 
with  .  .  .  and  a  purple  cloak  around 
his  fair  skin. 

83  That  man  with  the  very  pleasant  clothes 
had  come  to  us  to  help  us.  We  had  heard 
no  music  so  sweet  as  that  which  the  gruagach 
played. 


o 


;;94  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXVTTT 

84  Teid  uainn  ameasg  na  n-aitheach 

an  fear  gradhach  gruamdha 
is  eu[i]ris  iad  'na  ccoWadh 

na  troithe  6  thir  na  FuarrdhacM 

85  Fearais  doghairceo   eadroinn 

's  na  fir  nar  chuimseach  cialla 
cuiris  iad  ar  seachmall 

as  na  ffacadar  na  Fiana 

86  Truagh  misi  ag  denam  crab  aidh 

's  me  ag  caoineadfi  c.loinnc  Baoisgne 
's  da  mbiainn  a  tttis  mo  shlainte 
go  ttreigfinn  crabhaidh  choidhchi 

87  Na  habair  sin  a  Chaoilte 

da  ffaicthea   aoibbneas   nimhe 
ni  thiubhratba  h'aire  d'Fienaibh 
ina  d'iarsma  do  chloinne 

88  Da  ffaictba  triath  na  bAlmha 

ina  oig  Eamna  go  n-aille 
'na  luidhc  a  leapthaft  [h]  sealga 

id  meanmtrin  ni  bhiadh  crahadh 

89  Olc  in  rial!  a  seanoir 

rachaid  roshlogh  na  cruinne 
ni  ffuil  neach  diobh  na  d'iarsma 

nach  biaidh  fa  breitli  Rigb  na  n-uile 

[93  a]  90    A  Padraic  casbail  Eirionn 

is  truagh  \ucht  na  gceimionn  ccalma 
do  breitli  uaimse  don  tsaoghal 
's  me  am  aonar  ag  crabhadh 

■sir-  cu[i]ris  (      cis  with  u  written  over  the  c)  has  been  written  above  the  line 
with  si^n  to  insert. 

85r  In  the  MS  iad  follows  ar  seachmall  with  sif<n  to  transpose. 

85d  as  na  ffacadar,  sic  MS. 

88a  ffaictha.  The  mark  of  aspiration  in  the  MS  is  over  the  c  rather  than  the  t. 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  395 

84  The  lovable  gloomy  man  goes  from  us  among 
the  giants  and  lulled  them  to  sleep,  those 
monsters  (?)  from  the  Land  of  Coldness. 


85  He  produced  a  dark  mist  between  us  and 
the  men  who  had  no  control  over  their  wits. 
He  set  them  wandering  so  that  they  did  not 
see  the  Fian. 

8(i  Alas  !  that  I  should  be  practising  piety  while 
lamenting  the  house  of  Baoisgne,  for  if  I 
were  in  the  prime  of  my  health  I  should 
abandon  piety  for  good  and  all. 

87  «  Say  not  that,  Caoilte.Were  you  to  see  the 
joy  of  Heaven  you  would  pay  no  heed  to 
Fiana  or  the  remnants  of  your  kin. » 


88  Were  you  to  see  the  lord  of  Almha  or  the 
beauteous  warriors  of  Eamhain  lying  in 
hunting  beds,  piety  would  have  no  place 
in  your  thoughts. 

89  «  That  is  bad  reasoning,  old  man.  The  great 
host  of  the  world  will  go.  There  is  no  one 
of  them,  .  .  .  but  will  come  under  the 
judgment  of  the  King  of  all.  » 

90  Patrick,  apostle  of  Ireland,  it  is  sad  that 
those  brave-stepping  folk  should  be  snatched 
from  me  out  of  the  world  and  that  I  should 
be  left  alone  with  my  piety. 


:m  DUANAIREFINN  [LXVIII 

91  Aithris  sgela  in  gruagaigh 

's  ar  mair  d'liaisleibh  na  Feine 
is  dena  caoineas  a  Chaoilte 
is  Linn  Horn  ni  dot  sgeiaibh 

92  Tangam«r  gan  ar  liiathbharc 

tar  eis  uathbhais  in  catha 
fa  gairid  linn  in  saile 

co  criocaibh  aillc  Breatan 

93  Ba  maith  in  liaigh  in  gruagw/j 

a  Padraic  uasail  a  erlaimh 
tug  duinne  go  deimhin 

luibhe  leighis  ar  ccrechta 

94  (iluaismid  6  criochaife/i  Breatan 

co  bruachaift/z  Saxan  saoire 
a  Patraic  do-ni  na  fearta 

is  ann  fa  tearca  ar  ndaoine 

95  Ar  tteac/j/  go  cricb  Saxan 

ni  fhacamar  in  gruagacb 
do  fhoir  sinn  6  ghaphadh 
I  so  in  treas  adhbhar  liathmar 

96  Teid  uainn  d'iarraid/j  feasa 

iear  freasdail  gaclm  deaglisbluaigb 
fuaraniflr  6  gach  tcaghlach 

sgela  an  uairsin  fa  deagbbuaidli 

«)7    Aongus  Og  ar  Fionn  femdidh 
car  mar  e  riamb  ni  fhaca 
's  e  do  fhoir  sinn  o  ghuasac/i* 

as  tir  uathmair  na  n-aith eac[h] 

92a  gan,  sic  MS.  93c  The  e  of  deimhin  is  an  a  converted  into  a  tall  c. 

946  br  +  the  beginning  of  a  tall  e  has  been  deleted  before  saxan. 
95d  Wordspacing  as  in  MS.  96a  df  has  been  deleted  before  d'l'arraidh. 

976  ni  has  been  inserted  in  the  MS  alter  the  rest  of  the  line  had  been  written. 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  397 

91  «  Tell  about  the  gruagach  and  those  who 
still  lived  of  the  Fian  nobles,  thus  doing  me 
a  kindness,  Caoilte,  for  I  love  to  hear  some- 
thing of  your  stories.  » 

92  We  came  with  (?)  our  swift  vessel  after  the 
terror  of  that  night  (We  thought  the  sea- 
passage  short)  to  the  lovely  territories  of 
Britain. 

93  The  gruagach  was  a  good  leech,  noble  Pa- 
trick, our  patron.  He  gave  us,  for  certain, 
herbs  to  heal  our  wounds. 


94  We  go  from  the  lands  of  Britain  to  the  shores 
of  noble  Saxonland.  Patrick,  worker  of 
miracles,  there  our  people  were  few. 


95  When  we  arrived  in  the  land  of  the  Saxons 
we  did  not  see  the  gruagach  who  had  saved 
us  from  danger  and  from  the  battle  (*?)..  . 


96  The  man  who  gave  battle  to  every  good 
host  goes  from  us  to  seek  for  information. 
We  received  from  every  household  at  that 
time  accounts  of  his  good  victory. 

97  « Aonghus  Og, »  said  Fionn  the  warrior, 
«  never  did  I  see  a  friend  (?)  like  him.  It  is 
he  who  rescued  us  from  peril,  [and  brought 
us]  from  the  dread  land  of  the  giants. 


398  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXVIII 

98  Ta  a  ttaisgirtVi  a  mBrugh  Boinne 

bar  cculaigh  comhluinn  7  (hatha 
ta  thai!  san  mBrugh  dheidgheil 

bar  n-airm  ghera  is  bar  sleadha 

99  Gabhmaid  cuan  a  mBcinn  Edair 

ag  dul  d'fechain  ar  n-arma 
tar  eis  Saxana  d'imteacht 

fa  l)uidhean  chlistc  chalma 

100  Tangamar  go  Brugh  Boinne 

gusan  ccuraidh  6g  uasal 
Aongus  Og  mac  in  Daghda 
fuaramar  failti  an  uairsin 

101  Tri  hoidhche  a  mBrugh  Boinne 

fa  maith  ar  sogh  gan  easbaidh 
fuaramar   uile  ar   n-arma 

tainic  meanma  dar  fflathaiM 

102  Da  c[h]ed  bo  6  Gholl  ghaibhtheach 

do  mac  in  Daghdha  dreachuir 
urad  oile  6  mac  Cumai// 

dias  nar  cumhang  fo  creachai&[/i] 

103  Go  ffoirfeadh  sinne  as  gach  amhgar 

dob  e  geallar/a  Aongui.s  in  Brogha 
ar  gcabhair  as  gach  eigion 

a  Dhia  is  mo-genar  ag  a  raibhe 

104  Gluaismid  ar  enshlighe 

\uchl  churtha  ghleo  gaibhtheach 
anois  is  adbar  osnadli 

na  fir  do  cosnadh  laithreach 

99c  MS  has  Saxanach  with  the  ch  (=-=  dotted  c)  deleted. 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  399 

98  «  In  Brugh  Boinne  your  suits  of  battle 
and  conflict  are  laid  by.  There  in  the.  ivory- 
white  Brugh  are  your  sharp  weapons  and 
your  spears.  » 

99  We  land  at  Beann  fidair  to  go  to  see  our 
weapons,  after  the  Saxons  had  gone.We(?) 
were  a  clever  brave  crowd. 


100  We  came  to  Brugh  Boinne,  to  the  young 
noble  warrior,  Aonghus  the  Young,  son  of 
the  Daghdha.  We  were  given  welcome  on 
that  occasion. 

101  [We  were]  three  nights  in  Brugh  Boinne. 
Our  entertainment  was  good  and  noth- 
ing was  lacking  to  it.  We  all  got  our  weap- 
ons. Courage  came  to  our  princes. 

102  Perilous  Goll  gave  two  hundred  cows  to 
the  fresh-faced  Daghdha's  son  ;  Mac  Cumh- 
aill  as  many  again.  They  were  two  who 
were  not  stingy  in  distributing   spoils. 

103  The  promise  given  by  Aonghus  of  the  Brugh 
was  to  rescue  us  in  every  strait,  to  help  us 
out  of  every  hardship.  O  God,  happy  the 
man  on  whose  side  he  was ! 

104  We  go  on  one  path,  we  the  fighters  of 
perilous  battles.  Now  those  men  who 
defended  the  field  of  combat  are  a  reason 
for   sighs. 


400  DUANAIRE  FINN  |LXVIII 

105  Tug  me  seal  co  seitreach 

do  ffada  mo  leim  a  tTeamhrai^/j 
do  imidh  niamh  mo  crotha 
anocht  ataim  go  harsaidh 

10G  As  me  Caoilte  am  aonar 

ni  hiongnad  mo  bheit  co  cumthacA 
Fionn  is  Osgar  is  Diarmcnd 

's  'na  ndeaghaz7/[/j]  ataim  go  dubach 

DuBach 


Da  ffagainn  ni  budh  mo  ina  a  ffuarus  do 
sgribhebhuinn  iad  A  n-Oisdin.  in.  6.  Augustus 
1627 


LXVIII]  DUANAIRE  FINN  401 

105  I  passed  a  period  in  full  vigour.  My  leap 
in  Tara  was  long.  The  beauty  of  my  form 
has  departed.  I  am  old  tonight. 


106  I  am  Caoilte,  all  alone.  No  wonder  that  I 
am  mournful.  Since  Fionn,  Osgar  and  Diar- 
maid  have  gone,  I  have  been  in  gloom. 


Could  I  find  more  than  I  have  found  I  would 
write  them.  Ostend,  the  6th  of  August,  1627. 


LXIX 

[03b]    1     Cumain  Horn  an  imirt 

do  bhi  ag  flaith  na  fFian 
re  cbeile  's  a  mac 

fa  an  iubharsa  thiar 

2  Suidhid   um  an  n-iubhar 

idir  olc  is  maith 
ag  fraisimirt  na  fichille 
Oisin  's  a'  flaith 

3  Suidhim  fein  and 

agus  mo  dhias  mac 
ar  gualuinn   dheis  Find 
nocar  linn  narbh  ait 

4  Is  diom  gorthaidhi  Caoilti 

mac  Cronncuir  mic  Ronain 
i  ttigh  Floinn  do  baisdearf/i 

me  le  mac  Muirne  na  mordhaimh 

5  Do  cuireadh  in  cedchluithi 

ar  Oisin  le  Fionn 
o  ataim  da  innisin 

is  maith  is  cumhain  Horn 

(i     Ar  in  dara  cluithe 

tainic  in  t-olc  braith 

as  aim  do  leig  Diarmaid 

an  chaor  as  a  laimh 

2b  maith.  II  is  doubtful  whether  there  is  not  a  murk  of  aspiration  over    the  m 
in  the  MS.  2c  fraisimirt.  MS  frais  imirt  (two  words). 


LXIX 

1  I  remember  the  game  which  the  prince  of 
the  Fiana  and  his  son  played  together,  be- 
neath this  western  yew. 


2     They  sit  around  the  yew,  both  good  and 
bad.  .  .  playing  chess,  Oisin  and  the  prince. 


3  I  myself  sit  there  with  my  two  sons,  by 
Fionn's  right  shoulder.  We  found  it  indeed 
pleasant. 


4  It  is  I  who  used  to  be  called  Caoilte,  son  of 
Cronnchar,  son  of  Ronan.  In  the  house  of 
Flann  was  I  named  l  by  2  the  son  of 
Muirne  of  the  great  bardic  companies. 

5  Fionn  won  the  first  game  against  Oisin, 
since  I  am  telling  the  tale.  Well  do  I  re- 
member. 


6  During  the  second  game  the  terrible  evil 
occurred.  It  was  then  Diarmaid  dropped  the 
berrv  from  his  hand. 


1  Or    perhaps  '  baptized  '.  2  Or  '  along  with  \ 


404  1)1 'AN  A I  UK  FINN  [LXIX 

7  Mar  do-connairc  Oisin 

an  chaor  ar  in  cclar 
togbus  i  go  prap 

as  cuirios  fear  'na  ha  it 

8  Do  haithn/riom  in  chaor 

an  uairsin  le  Fionn 
adnbhairt  se  go  faobhrach 
ata  neoch  os  ar  ccionn 

9  Aduhairt  Fionn  fialghasta 

laoch  curata  cnismhin 
teagusc   direach  Diarmada 
is  imbirt  athlamh  Oisin 

10  Ni  imeora  in  fichiollsa 

feasda  eidcir  na  Fianuibh 
go  bfaghar  don  duladhso 

a'   neoch  ataoim  d'iarraid/i 

11  Aduhairt  Osgar  deaghthapaid/i 

mflc   Oisin  fheil   iiir 
cia  dona  fearuibhsi 

neoch    ina    ffuil    do    dhuil 

12  Adul)hairt   rifheinidh    Almhan 

fear  diolta  na  ndamh 
na  cuir  misi  ar  mearachadh 
acht  ge  mait  do  lamb 

13  Aduhairt  Osgar  deaghthapaiVM 

da  freagra  gan  daoirsi 
damsa  na  tabhair  tathaoir 

trem  bheith   do  chlandtai6/j  Baoisgne 


LXIX]  DUANAIRE  FINN  405 

7     When  Oisin  saw  the  herry  on  the  board  he 
lifted  it  quickly  and  put  a  man  in  its  place. 


8  The  berry  was  recognized  at  that  moment 
by  Fionn.  He  said  sharply,  «  There  is  some- 
one above  us.  » 


9  Excellent  generous  Fionn,  a  soldierly 
smooth-skinned  warrior,  said,  «  Diarmaid's 
accurate  instruction  and  Oisin's  nimble 
play  — 

10  «  I  shall  not  play  this  chess-game  any  more 
among  the  Fiana  till  I  find  on  this  occasion 
the  man  I  am  looking  for ». 


1 1  Very  active  Osgar,  the  son  of  generous  noble 
Oisin,said,  «Which  of  these  is  the  man  whom 
you   desire?  » 


12  The  warrior  chief  of  Almha,  a  rewarder  of 
bards,  said,  «  Do  not  set  me  mad,  even 
though  your  prowess  is  good.  » 


13  Very  active  Osgar  said  answering  him 
like  a  freeman,  «  Insult  me  hot,  for  I  am  of 
the  house  of  Baoisgne.  » 


406  IH'ANAIRE  FINN  [LXIX 

14  Is  ann  sin  adubairt  Faolan 

mac  do  bhi  ag  Fionn 
as  robhorb  linn  a  Osgair 
do  labbrns  tri  linn 

15  Ge  romor  thusa 

is  ge  borb  do  raite 
ni  thiubhrainn  enni 
ar  eagla  do  laimhe 

10     Ge  mor  sibsi  as  t'atbair 

is  bar  ccatba  gan  time 
berad  Horn  0  Duibhne 

6  chlannuibh  Baoisg[n]e  uile 

17     As  mor  in  briatar  enlaoigb 

do  raidli  Goll  na  mbeimionn 
go    mberadh   laocb    da   n-aimdheoin 
6  thionol  hfear  nEirionn 

[94a]  18    Tusa  Horn  nir  brostai^/jius 

a  Goill  na  ccosgor  lanmbor 
na  enneach  dom  freagra 

ac/}/  clann  bagarrtoc/j  Trenmhoir 

19  Os  mor  sin  adubbrais 

a  fhir  na  c'comlann  ndeacraeb 
dena  do  dhiol  urlaidhc 

Ian   ccuimrt^r/je   do  glacuis 

20  An  coimirce  a  ndeaebusa 

a  ffiadbnuiic  ffear  nEirionn 
ni  heaguil  damb  duine 
a  buain  diom  ar  eigin 

18a  broslmghius  :  ]\IS  bvoostaighius  with  the  second   o  deleted. 


LXIX]  DUANAIRE  FINN  407 

14  Then  Faolan,  a  son  of  Fionn's,  said,  «  We 
think  that  you  speak  too  rudely  to  us, 
Os<;ar. 


15  «  Though  you  are  very  great  and  though 
your  words  are  rude,  I  would  yield  nothing 
for  fear  of  your  hand. » 


16  «  Though  you  and  your  father  and  your 
stout  battalions  are  great,  I  shall  carry  O 
Duihhne  off  from  the  whole  house  of  Baois- 
gne. » 

17  «  That  is  a  great  word  for  a  single  warrior, » 
said  Goll  of  the  blows,  «  that  he  would  carry 
off  a  warrior  from  the  gathered  men  of 
Ireland  in  their  despite.  » 

18  «  I  have  not  provoked  you  against  me, 
Goll  of  the  full-great  victories  ;  nor  have  I 
provoked  anyone  to  reply  to  me,  except  the 
threatening  house  of  Trenmhor. » 

19  «  Since  you  have  spoken  thus,  0  man  of  the 
troublesome  battles,  do  your  due  share  of 
smiting  in  the  matter  of  this  safe  conduct 
you   have   undertaken. » 

20  «  The  safe  conduct  I  have  undertaken  in 
the  presence  of  the  men  of  Ireland,  there 
is  no  fear  as  far  as  I  am  concerned  that 
anyone  will  force  me  to  forgo  it. 


408  DUANAIRE  FINN  [LXIX 

21  Tarra  anuas  a  Diarmoid 

is  gabhuim  thu  do  laim 
do  cosnumh  ar  Fhaolan 
is  air  Fianaibh  Fail 

22  Ann  sin  tainic  Diarmuid 

cugainn  is  niorbh  e  ar  leas 
dob  iomdha  laoch  againne 
do  dicheannaafi  san  treas 

23  Tiaguid    mo    clannsa 

agus  Faolan  mac  Find 
do  dhenam  na  hmlaidhi 
ro  hudh  lanolc  linn 

24  Ni  fhaca  is  ni  chuala 

urlaid/ie  hudh  treine 
na  claim  Fhinn  is  Osgair 
ag  gearrarf/j  corp  a  cheile 

25  Ann  sin  adubairt  Conan 

do  chuimhniughad/i  na  fala 
■     leig   do   chlannrt/M  Baoisgne 

cuirp  a  ceile  do  gearr«d[/i] 

26  Ag  so  in  t-uirsgel  lire 

dhuit  a  chleinV///  chaigh 
in  trath  fa  raibhe  imreasain 
ideir  Fianaibh  Fail 

27  A  ttimcioll  na  himirta 

do  bhi  ag  iob^/r  drol 
is  di  tainic  ar  ttuitimne 
Fiana  Finn  gan  on 

CuMHain 


LXIX]  DUANAIRE  FINN  409 

21  «  Come  down,  Diarmaid,  I  undertake  to 
protect  you  against  Faolan  and  pgainst 
the  Fiana  of  Ireland.  » 


22  Then  Diarmaid  came  to  us,  and  it  was  not 
for  our  good.  Many  a  warrior  among  us 
was  beheaded  in  the  fray. 


23     My  sons  and  Faolan,  Fionn's  son,  go  to  lay 
about  them.  We  thought  it  a  great  evil. 


24  I  never  saw  nor  heard  of  a  stouter  smiting 
than  when  the  families  of  Fionn  and  Osgar 
were  hewing  one  another's  bodies. 


25  Then  Conan,  that  he  might  revive  the  mem- 
ory of  the  feud,  said,  «  Let  the  house  of 
Baoisgne  hew  one  another's  bodies.  » 


2(>  Here,  holy  cleric,  you  have  the  true  relation 
of  the  occasion  on  which  there  was  strife 
between  the  Fiana  of  Ireland, 


27  Concerning  the  game  played  beside  the 
firm  (?)  yew.  From  that  game  came  our 
downfall,  the  downfall  of  Fionn's  flawless 
Fiana. 


The  text  of  Duanaire  Finn  ends  with  this  poem.  For  an  account  of  entries 
in  other  hands  on  fol.  94a-94&  see  Pt.  I,  p.  xvin,  11.  13-18  ;  p.  xxi,  11.  29-35  <ef. 
also  Rev.  Paul  Walsh  :  Gleanings  from  Irish  Manuscripts,  pp.  86-87). 


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established  for  the  remuneration  of  Editors  for  their  arduous  work. 

Note   Address. 

All  communications  should  be  addressed  to  the  Hon.   Secretary,  Irish 
Texts  Society,  cjo  National  Bank  Ltd.,  Charing  Cross,  London,  S.W.I . 


IRISH  TEXTS  SOCIETY 


The  Twenty-eighth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Irish  Texts  Society 
was  held  on  Saturday,  29th  January,  1927,  in  the  library  of  the 
Irish  Literary  Society,  London. 

Mr.  Robin  Flower,  D.Litt.,  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Council, 
presided. 

The  Minutes  of  the  last  Annual  Meeting,  held  on  the  30th  January, 
1926,  were  taken  as  read.     The  Honorary  Secretary  read  the 

TWENTY-EIGHTH  ANNUAL  REPORT 

The  Council  are  glad  to  announce  that  the  much  delayed  volume 
containing  the  translation  of  the  Poems  of  Tadhg  Dall  0  Huiginn 
was  distributed  to  members  in  July,  1926.  The  volume,  like 
its  predecessor,  containing  the  text  of  the  poems,  has  been 
exceedingly  well  received. 

Miss  Winifred  Wulff's  edition  of  Rosa  Anglica,  a  translation  of 
part  of  John  of  Gaddesden's  Text  Book  of  Mediaeval  Medicine 
(Vo.  25),  is  now  nearing  completion.  The  introduction  deals 
with  Irish  Medical  Manuscripts  and  there  will  be  a  glossary 
of  the  terms  used  in  mediaeval  medicine.  The  work  contains 
chapters  on  various  diseases  and  is  a  valuable  piece  of  modern 
Irish  writing. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  Dr.  Standish  Hayes  O'Grady  left,  practi- 
cally completed,  an  interesting  historical  tract,  known  as  the 
Triumphs  of  Turlough  (O'Brien)  [Caithreim  Toirdealbaigh)  or  Wars 
of  Thomond.  It  deals  with  the  wars  between  the  O'Briens  and 
de  Clares  from  the  twelfth  to  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century, 
and  fills  a  gap  in  the  history  of  Munster,  as  no  other  known  tract 
goes  over  exactly  the  same  ground.  It  was  written  by  Sean 
MacRory  MacGrath,  chief  poet  of  the  Dalcais,  in  1459. 

The  work  was  to  have  been  published  by  the  Cambridge 
University  Press,  and  a  number  of  copies  had  been  printed  off  at 
the  time  of  Dr.  O'Grady's  death.  The  Council  of  the  Society  have 
taken  over  the  publication  of  the  work  (text  and  translation)  and 
have  purchased  the  copyright  and  sheets,  and  both  volumes  (Vols. 
26  and  27)  will  shortly  be  ready  for  distribution. 


Mr.  Robin  Flower  has  in  preparation  The  Great  Blasket,  a  collec- 
tion of  tales  dealing  with  the  life  of  the  Great  Blasket  Island,  Co. 
Kerry,  in  the  nineteenth  century.  A  number  of  poems  are  in- 
cluded, with  stories  illustrating  their  subjects. 

The  volume  will  be  followed  by  the  same  editor's  collection  of 
mediae  val  translations  into  Irish  chiefly  of  new  Testament 
Apocrypha,  including  versions  in  Irish  of  the  "  Harrowing  of  Hell  " 
and  of  the  "  Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin." 

The  following  new  members  have  joined  the  Society  : — 

Life   Member. 

J.  D.  Hackett,  New  York,  U.S.A.  (formerly  an  ordinary  member). 

Ordinary  Members. 


Cork  County  Carnegie  Library. 
Aodh   de    Blacam,    Dublin. 
Miss  M.    Doyle,    London. 
Rev.  M.   J.   Houlihan,   Mass.   U.S.A. 
Shane    Leslie,    London. 
T.   McGreevy,   London. 
Liam   Mag    Floinn,    Waterford. 
James  McNeill,   High  Commissioner, 
London. 


Sean    O    Briain,    Cork. 

Peadar  O  Dubhda,  Dun  Dealgan. 

Domhnall    O    Rioghbhardain,     Oran 

Mor,  Co.  Galway. 
Maire   Bean   Phleimionn,    Sil   Eiligh, 

Co.    Wicklow. 
Arthur  Probstian,   London. 
Lady  Thompson,  London. 


The  following  members  have  resigned  : — 

Col.  J.  Grove  White,  c.m.g.,  d.l.,  Doneraile  ;  H.  H.  MacWilliam, 
M.B.,  Liverpool ;  Rev.  J.  B.  McGovern,  Manchester. 

The  Council  regret  to  announce  the  deaths  of  F.  J.  Bigger, 
Belfast  ;  Sir  Charles  Brett,  Belfast ;  The  Right  Hon.  M.  F.  Cox, 
Dublin  ;  The  Rev.  A.  O'Rourke,  Manchester. 

On  the  proposal  of  Dr.  Crone,  seconded  by  Dr.  England,  the 
report  was  adopted. 

The  financial  statement  and  balance  sheet  were  presented  by 
and  adopted  on  the  proposal  of  Dr.  England,  seconded  by  Mr.  M.  C. 
Lynch. 

The  re-election  of  the  out-going  members  of  the  Council — Mr. 
Robin  Flower,  Mr.  M.  J.  Fitzgerald  and  Mr.  A.  M.  Freeman — was 
carried  on  the  proposal  of  Dr.  Crone,  seconded  by  Dr.  England  and 
supported  by  The  Rev.  T.  O'Sullivan. 

The  re-election  of  Professor  Douglas  Hyde  as  President  of  the 
Society,  of  Miss  Eleanor  Hull  and  Mr.  T.  D.  FitzGerald  as  Joint 
Honorary  Secretaries,  and  of  Dr.  England  as  Hon.  Treasurer,  was 
carried  unanimously  on  the  proposal  of  Mr.  James  Buckley,  seconded 
by  The  Rev.  T.  O'Sullivan. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr.  R.  W.  Farrell, 
F.L.A.A.,  for  auditing  the  accounts,  and  his  appointment  as  auditor 
for  1927  was  confirmed,  on  the  proposal  of  Mr.  T.  D.  FitzGerald, 
seconded  by  Dr.  England. 

The  re-appointment  of  the  Consultative  Committee  was  con- 
firmed. 


The  printing  of  the  list  of  the  names  and  addresses  of  members 
is  suspended  this  year,  but  members  are  requested  to  send  notice 
of  any  change  of  address  to  the  Hon.  Sec,  Irish  Texts  Society, 
c/o  National  Bank,  Ltd.,  Charing  Cross,  London,  S.W.i,  to  avoid 
loss  of  books  and  notices. 

The  Rev.  P.  S.  Dinneen's  new  and  enlarged  edition  of  the  Society's 
Irish-English  Dictionary  is  now  (Nov.  1927)  ready  and  is  pub- 
lished by  the  Educational  Company  of  Ireland,  Ltd.,  89  Talbot 
Street,  Dublin  (price  12/6  ;  post  free  13/-). 

In  offering  their  congratulations  to  the  Editor  and  to  his 
assistants  on  the  completion  of  their  long  and  arduous  task,  and  in 
thanking  them  for  the  courage  and  ardour  which  they  have  brought 
to  bear  upon  it,  the  Council  of  the  Society  desire  at  the  same  time 
to  acknowledge  the  goodwill  shown  towards  the  undertaking  by 
the  Government  of  Saorstat  Eireann  in  voting,  in  the  year  1924, 
the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  towards  the  cost  of  the  work. 
Without  this  help,  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  the  publishers 
to  have  offered  the  work  to  the  public  at  the  small  price  of  12s.  6d. 
net.  The  Council  also  wish  to  acknowledge  the  friendly  help  of  a 
number  of  individuals  and  others  who  have  subscribed  to  the  loan 
and  donation  funds.  A  full  list  of  names  will  be  published  in  the 
report  of  the  Society  for  the  year  1927. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  preface  to  the  Dictionary  will 
be    of    interest : — 

"  The  first  edition  of  the  Dictionary  appeared,  under  the  same 
editorship,  in  1904.  The  stereotype  plates  of  that  edition  having 
been  destroyed  in  the  Dublin  fires  in  1916,  the  preparation  of  the 
present  edition  began  the  following  year.  In  this  edition,  a  page 
equal  in  capacity  to  about  i2/5  pages  of  the  first  edition,  has  been 
employed,  and  the  total  number  of  pages  amounts  to  1340,  as  against 
some  820  pages  of  the  first  edition.  By  this  means  and  by  com- 
pression and  word  grouping,  space  has  been  found  for  about  2.\ 
times  the  amount  of  matter  contained  in  the  first  edition. 

"As  a  complete  re-casting  of  the  book  did  not  appear  advisable, 
it  seemed  best  to  follow  the  style  and  arrangement  of  the  original 
work,  but  the  present  edition  is  practically  a  new  work.  The 
materials  for  the  work  have  been  drawn  from  the  living  language 
of  Irish-speaking  Ireland  as  well  as  from  the  written  remains  of 
the   modern   literature. 

"  Early  modern  Irish  has  been  given  special  attention  ;  and 
occasional  incursions  have  been  made  into  still  earlier  strata  of 
the  language  when  it  seemed  profitable  to  do  so.  Recently-minted 
words  and  forms  have  been  but  sparingly  admitted  though  homage 
is  paid  to  the  growth  of  the  language  as  revealed  in  current 
literature.  The  orthography  adopted  is  generally  that  of  the 
traditional    usage,    with    certain    accepted   modifications,   and   is 


practically  identical  with  that  employed  in  the  first  edition.  Be- 
sides the  numerous  tales,  tracts,  poems,  etc.,  that  have  been 
explored  in  the  preparation  of  this  work,  it  has  been  computed  that 
about  300  vocabularies,  earlier  and  modern,  printed  and  in  MS., 
have  been  searched  for  the  greater  part  of  the  book. 

"  An  effort  has  been  made  to  secure  as  much  representative 
provincial  Irish  in  word  and  phrase  as  possible.  Even  from  those 
counties  and  districts  in  which  the  tide  of  Irish  has  ebbed,  words 
and  phrases  have  been  obtained.  It  will  thus  appear  that  no 
corner  of  Ireland  has  been  left  unexplored  though  it  is  not  pretended 
that  nothing  has  been  left  for  other  workers  to  glean. 

"  The  work  contains  paradigms  of  the  irregular  verbs  and  a  very 
useful  section  on  aids  to  pronunciation." 


• 


IRISH  TEXTS  SOCIETY.— FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  1926. 

INCOME  AND   EXPENDITURE  ACCOUNT  FOR  YEAR   1926. 


Expenditure 

Receipts. 

£ 

s 

d 

1 

s 

d 

To   Printing   and   Bind- 

By Subscriptions  : — 

ing — Annual  Volume 

195 

8 

9 

Ordinary 

283 

17 

6 

Dictionary — Author's 

Life  ... 

13 

0 

0 

corrections  (part) 

69 

10 

3 

„  Sales    of  smaller  Dic- 

Annual Report 

19 

0 

0 

tionary,  1925 

80 

6 

0 

Sundries 

14 

11 

11 

,,  Receipts  from  Distri- 

„ Editorial  Expenses  : — 

butors 

6 

10 

4 

Annual   Volume 

20 

0 

0 

,,  Interest     on     Invest- 

„ Insurance 

6 

2 

8 

ments 

103 

0 

0 

,,  Salary 

50 

0 

0 

,,  Editorial   Fund — 

,  Income  Tax  and  Sun- 

Donations 

2 

15 

11 

dries 

19 

1 

6 

,,  New  Dictionary  : — 

„  Postage  &  Stationery 

16 

12 

5 

Loans,  1926 

4 

12 

0 

Donations,  1926    ... 

1 

13 

6 

Balance 

85 

7 

9 

£495 

15 

3 

£495 

15 

3 

BALANCE  ! 

SHEET  1926. 

Liabilities. 

Assets. 

£ 

s 

d 

£ 

s 

d 

Dictionary  Fund — Loans 

Investments  : — 

to  31st  Dec,  1926  ... 

768 

2 

0 

£1900    War   Loan  at 

Printing  and  Binding — 

100f             1,911 

17 

6 

Work  in  hand — 

£250    C.    N.    Rly.    at 

Dictionary,  including 

87                  217 

10 

0 

Author's  corrections, 

Sales    of    smaller    Dic- 

less amount  already 

tionary,  1926           ...       92 

2 

0 

paid 2,906 

9 

9 

Value    of    Stock    (Esti- 

Ordinary volumes 

460 

0 

0 

mate  at  cost,  less  de- 

Editorial Expenses  : — 

preciation)    ...         ...  1,152 

0 

0 

Dictionary  ... 

160 

0 

0 

Cash  : — 

Annual  Volumes     ... 

60 

0 

0 

Current  a/c  at  Bank...  1,074 

3 

10 

Income  Tax 

25 

0 

0 

In  hand          ...         ...         5 

0 

0 

Storage  of  Volumes  and 

rent 

5 

17 

0 

Balance      ...         ...       91 

16 

9 

Subscriptions     paid     in 

advance  for  volumes 

not    yet    ready    for 

press 

145 

19 

0 

Distribution  of  Volumes 

1926              — 

13 

2 

4 

£4 

,544 

10 

1 

£4,544 

10 

1 

(Signed)   T.  A.  ENGLAND,  Hon.  Treasurer. 

The  undersigned,  having  had  access  to  all  the  Books  and  Accounts 
of  the  Society,  and  having  examined  the  foregoing  statements  and  verified 
them  with  the  Books,  Deeds  and  Documents,  etc.,  relating  thereto, 
now  signs  the  same  as  found  to  be  correct. 

(Signed)  ROBERT  W.  FARRELL,  F.L.A.A., 
Certified  Accountant. 
22nd  January,   1927. 


8 

GENERAL  RULES 


:0:- 


Objects. 

1.- — The  Society  is  instituted  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the  publication 
of  Texts  in  the  Irish  Language,  accompanied  by  such  Introductions,  English 
Translations,  Glossaries  and  Notes  as  may  be  deemed  desirable. 


Constitution. 

2.- — -The  Society  shall  consist  of  a  President,  Vice-President,  an  Executive 
Council,  a  Consultative  Committee  and  Ordinary  and  Life  Members. 


Officers. 

3.- — The  Officers   of  the   Society   shall   be   the   President,   two   Honorary 
Secretaries  and  the  Honorary  Treasurer. 


Executive    Council. 


than  ten  other  Members,  to  whom  the  Executive  Council  may  add  by  co- 
optation  not  more  than  two  members,  who  shall  retire  annually. 


4. — The   entire   management   of   the   Society   shall    be   entrusted   to   the 
Executive  Council,  consisting  of  the  Officers  of  the  Society  and  not  more 

j-t j _n i\/r_-_li_ j._    i___    .li__    tt j.: /-> ;i „j,i    t,„    — 


5. — All  property  of  the  Society  shall  be  vested  in  the  Executive  Council, 
and  shall  be  disposed  of  as  they  shall  direct  by  a  two- thirds  majority. 

6. — Three  members  of  the  Executive  Council  shall  retire  each  year  by 
rotation  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting,  but  shall  be  eligible  for  re-election, 
the  Members  to  retire  being  selected  according  to  seniority  of  election,  or, 
in  case  of  equality,  by  lot.  The  Council  shall  have  power  to  co-opt  Members 
to  fill  up  casual  vacancies  occurring  throughout  the  year.  Any  Member 
of  Council  who  is  absent  from  five  consecutive  Ordinary  Meetings  of  the 
Council  to  which  he  (or  she)  has  been  duly  summoned,  shall  be  considered 
as  having  vacated  his  (or  her)  place  on  the  Council. 

Consultative  Committee. 

7. — The   Consultative   Committee,    or   individual   Members   thereof,   shall 
give  advice,  when  consulted  by  the  Executive  Council,  on  questions  relating 
to  the  publications  of  the  Society,  but  shall  not  be  responsible  for  the  manag'e- ' 
ment  of  the  business  of  the  Society. 

Members. 

8. — Members  may  be  elected  either  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting,  or 
from  time  to  time,  by  the  Executive  Council. 


Subscription. 

9. — The  Subscription  for  each  Member  of  the  Society  shall  be 
£1.  Is.  Od.  per  annum  (American  subscribers,  |5),  entitling  the  Member  to 
one  copy  (post  free)  of  the  volume  published  by  the  Society  for  the  year, 
and  giving  the  right  to  vote  on  all  questions  submitted  to  the  General 
Meeting  of  the  Society.  Regular  members,  whose  subscriptions  have 
been  paid  up  to  date,  may,  however,  fill  up  gaps  in  their  sets  of  back 
volumes,  prior  to  volume  22,  at  10/6  a  volume.  The  payment  of  a 
single  sum  of  £12  12s.  Od.  (Colonial  or  foreign  members  ^13  0s.  Od.,  American 
members  65  dollars)  entitles  to  life  membership.  Life  members  will  receive 
one  copy  of  each  volume  issued  subsequently  to  the  receipt  of  this  sum  by 
the  Society. 

10. — Subscriptions  shall  be  payable  in  advance  on  1st  January  in  each 
year. 

11. — Members  whose  Subscriptions  for  the  year  have  not  been  paid  are 

not  entitled  to  any  volume  published  by  the  Society  for  that  year,  and  any 
Member  whose  Subscription  for  the  current  year  remains  unpaid,  and  who 
receives  and  retains  any  publication  for  the  year,  shall  be  held  liable  for 
the  payment  of  the  full  published  price,  viz.  25/-  of  such  publication. 

12. — The  publications  of  the  Society  shall  not  be  sold  to  persons  other 
than  members,  except  at  the  advanced  price  of  25/-. 

13.— Members  whose  Subscriptions  are  in  arrear  shall  not  have  the  right 
of  voting  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting  of  the  Society. 

14. — Members  wishing  to  resign  must  give  notice  in  writing  to  the 
Honorary  Secretary,  before  the  end  of  the  year,  of  their  intention  to  do 
so  ;  otherwise  they  will  be  liable  for  their  subscriptions  for  the  ensuing 
year. 

Editorial   Fund. 

15. — A  fund  shall  be  opened  for  the  remuneration  of  Editors  for  then- 
work  in  preparing  Texts  for  publication.  All  subscriptions  and  donations 
to  this  fund  shall  be  purely  voluntary,  and  shall  not  be  applicable  to  other 
purposes  of  the  Society. 

Annual  General  Meeting. 

16. — A  General  Meeting  shall  be  held  each  year  in  the  month  of  January, 
or  as  soon  after  as  the  Executive  Council  shall  determine,  when  the  Council 
shall  submit  their  Report  and  the  Accounts  of  the  Society  for  the  preceding 
year,  and '  When  vacant  seats  on  the  Council  shall  be  filled  up,  and  the 
ordinary  business  of  a  General  Meeting  transacted. 

Audit. 
17. — The  Accounts  of  the  Society  shall  be  audited  each  year  by  an  auditor 
appointed  at  the  preceding  General  Meeting. 

Changes  in  these  Rules. 
18. — With  the  notice  summoning  the  General  Meeting,  the  Executive 
Council  shall  give  notice  of  any  change  proposed  by  them  in  these  Rules. 
Ordinary  Members  proposing  any  change  in  the  Rules  must  give  notice 
thereof  in  writing  to  the  Honorary  Secretary  seven  clear  days  before  the 
date  of  the  Annual  General  Meeting. 


LIST  OF  IRISH 
TEXTS  SOCIETY'S  PUBLICATIONS 

-a- 

(Out  of  print) 

(i.)  510LLA  an  f  1U5A.     [The  Lad  of  the  Ferrule] 

Q&CzpA  Ctoinne  TI15  na  n-1onuAi-oe.     [Adventures  of  the 
Children  of  the  King  of  Norway] 
Edited  by  PROFESSOR  DOUGLAS  HYDE,  D.Litt.,  LL.D. 


(Out  of  print) 


(2.)  ptet>  Onicnen-o     [The  Feast  of  Bricriu] 
(From   Leabhar   na   h-Uidhre). 
Edited  by  GEORGE  HENDERSON,  M.A.,  Ph.D. 


(Out  of  print)      See  Volume  3a  New  Edition. 

(3.)  "Optica  -Ao-OAsiin    tli    TUtaiUe       [The    Poems    of    Egan 
O'Rahilly] 
Edited,  chiefly  from  mss.  in  Maynooth  College,  by 

The  REV.    P.    S.    DINNEEN,    M.A.,    D.Litt. 


(Volume  for  1909)       (See  No.  3) 

(34)  "O .dried  Aot>d5dm  tli  HAtAitte     [New  Edition  of  the  Poems 
of  Egan  O'Rahilly] 

Revised  by  PROFESSOR  TADHG  O  DONNCHADHA  and 
The  REV.  P.  S.  DINNEEN,  M.A.,  D.Litt. 


(Volume  for  1901) 

(4.)  ■pofuir    "pedfd    dp    6ir»inn      [History    of     Ireland.        By 
Geoffrey  Keating.    Part  I.  '    (See  Vols.  8,  9,  15) 

Edited  by  the  late  DAVID  COMYN,  M.R.I.A. 


II 

{Volume  for   1902) 

(5.)  GAitfeim    C0115A1L    ClAit\in$m$      [The  Martial  Career  of 
Conghal    Clairinghneach]. 
Edited  by 
The  REV.   P.  M.  MacSWEENEY,  M.A. 


(Volume  for  1903) 

(6.)    Virgil's   .ZEneid,    the  Irish    Version,    from    the   Book   of 
Ballymote. 

Edited  by  The  Rev.  GEORGE  CALDER,  B.D.,  D.Litt. 


(Volume  for  1904) 

(7.)  "OuAnAi^e  firm.  The  Poem  Book  of  Finn.   [Ossianic  Poems]. 
Edited  by  PROFESSOR  JOHN  MacNEILL,  D.Litt. 


(Volume  for  1905) 

(8.)  pop  ay  "peatM  aj\  6ittinn  [History  of  Ireland].    By  Geoffrey 
Keating.      Part   II. 

Edited  by  The  REV.  P.  S.  DINNEEN,  M.A.,  D.Litt. 

(See  Vols.  4, 9,  and  15) 


(Volume  for  1906) 

(9.)  pofvAr  fe^r-a  a|\  6i|\inn  [History  of  Ireland].    By  Geoffrey 
Keating.    Part    III. 
Edited  by  The  REV.  P.  S.  DINNEEN,  M.A.,  D.Litt. 

(See  Vols.  4,  8,  and  15) 


(Volume  for   1907) 

(10.)  Two  Arthurian   Romances  [Gagc^a  TTlACAoirh   An   1olAin 
Aguf    eAdc^A    ah    TtlA-ottA    1tlAoit]      Adventures    of 
the  Eagle  Boy  and  Crop  Eared  Dog. 
Edited  by  PROFESSOR  R.  A.  S.  MACALISTER,  M.A..  D.Litt. 


12 

(Volume  for   1908) 


(n.)     Poems  of  David  O'Bruadair.     (Part  I.) 

Edited  by  The  REV.  J.  MacERLEAN,  S.J. 

(See  Vols.  13,  18) 


(Volume  for   1909 — see   3a   supra.) 


(Volume  for  1910) 

(12.)   Buile  Suibhne  Geilt,  A  Middle-Irish   Romance. 
Edited  by  J.   G.  O'KEEFFE. 


(Volume  for  1911) 

(13.)   Poems  by  David  O'Bruadair.     (Part   II.) 
Edited  by  The  REV.   J.  MacERLEAN,  S.J. 

(See  Vols.  11,  18) 


(Volume   for    1912 — Out   of  print) 

(14.)   An  Irish  Astronomical  Tract,  based  on  a  Mediaeval  Latin 
version  of  a  work  bv  Messahalah. 
Edited  by  the  late  MAURA  POWER,  M.A. 


(Volume  for   1913) 

(15.)  po|\Ai"  "peAfA  aj\  6ifitin  [History  of  Ireland].  By  GEOFFREY 
Keating.  Part  IV.  Containing  the  Genealogies, 
Synchronisms  and  an  index,  including  the  elucida- 
tion of  place  names  and  annotations  to  Parts  I.,  II., 
III.  (See  Vols.  4,  8,  9  supra.) 
Compiled  and  Edited  by  REV.  P.  S.  DINNEEN,  M.A.,  D.LiTT. 


(Volume  for  1914) 

(16.)    Life  of  St.  Declan  of  Ardmore  and  Life  of  St.  Mochuda 
of    Lismore. 
Edited  by  The  REV.  P.  POWER,  M.R.I.A. 


13 
{Volume  for   1915) 

(17.)    Poems  of  Turlogh  O'Carolan   and  additional  Poems. 
Edited  by  PROFESSOR  TOMAS  O'MAILLE,  M.A.,  Ph.D. 


(Volume  for   1916) 

(18.)    Poems  of  David  O'Bruadair.     (Part   III.) 
Edited  by  The  REV.  J.  MacERLEAN,  S.J. 

(See  Vols.  11,  13) 


(Volume  for   1917) 

(19.)   S-AttAlxAf  Seftmr   Tfloif   [The  Wars  of  Charlemagne] 
Edited  by  PROFESSOR  DOUGLAS  HYDE,  D.Litt,  LL.D., 


(Volume  for   1918) 

(20.)   lotnAfUJAj  nA  bpneA-o  [The  Contention  of  the  Bards]  Part  I. 
Edited  by  The  REV.  LAMBERT  McKENNA.  S.J.J  M.A. 


(Volume  for   1919) 

(21.)  1omAt\ti>A5  tia  typileAD   (Part  II.) 

Edited  by  The  REV.  LAMBERT  McKENNA,  S.J.,  M.A. 


(Volume  for   1920) 

(22.)    Poems  of  JZa-os  "OaU  O  tith^um   (Vol.  1.  Text.) 
Edited  by  ELEANOR  KNOTT. 


(Volume  for   1921) 

(23.)   Poems  of  Cat)5  X)aII  O  nil  151™  (Vol.  11.  Translation.) 
By  ELEANOR  KNOTT. 


*4 

(Volume  for   1922) 

^24.)   The  Pursuit  of  ^pu^ro  Spian-fotur-. 

Edited      from      a     Ms.     in     Trinity     College,      Dublin,     by 
CECILE  O'RAHILLY,  M.A. 


(Volume  for   1923) 

(25.)   Rosa  Anglica.     An   Early  Modern   Irish  Translation  of 
Part  of  John  of  Gaddesden's  Text-Book  of  Mediaeval 
Medicine. 
Edited  by  WINIFRED  P.  WULFF,  M.A.    (ready  early  in  1928). 


(Volume  for  1924) 

(26.)  CAicf6im  CoifOeAlt>Ai$  [The  Triumphs  of  Turlough]. 

Edited   by   DR.    STANDISH   HAYES   O'GRADY.     (Vol.    I.    Text). 
(ready  early  in  1928). 

(Volume  for  1925) 

(27.)  CAitfeiin  CoitvoeAUMij;  [The  Triumphs  of  Turlough]. 

Edited  by   DR.   STANDISH   HAYES   O'GRADY   (Vol.   II.,   Trans- 
lation),    (ready  early  in  1928). 

(Volume  for  1926) 

(28.)  The  Great  Blasket.  A  Collection  of  tales  told  by  ComAf 
O  CiAionicAinn  and  recorded  by  Robin  Flower,  D.Litt.,  with 
poems  by  Se^n  O  "Oumnfleitte  {in  preparation) . 


(Volume  for   1927) 

(29.)  The  Harrowing  of  Hell  and  other  New  Testament  Apocrypha. 
Edited  and  translated  irom  Irish  Manuscripts  of  the  15th 
century,  with  a  critical  study  of  the  sources  and  with  notes. 
By    ROBIN    FLOWER,    D.Litt.    (in    preparation). 

Other  Volumes  in  Preparation. 


The  revised  edition  of  the  Society's  Larger  Irish-English  Diction- 
ary (1340  pp.),  edited  by  Rev.  P.  S.  Dinneen,  M.A.  (price  12/6 
net ;  post  free  13/-)  can  now  be  purchased  from  The  Educational 
Company  of  Ireland,  Ltd.,  89  Talbot  Street,  Dublin.  The 
Smaller  Irish-English  Dictionary  (237  pp.)  by  the  same  editor, 
can  still  be  had  of  Messrs.  M.  H.  Gill  &  Son,  50  Upper  O'Connell 
Street,  Dublin,  and  of  Messrs.  Simpkin,  Marshall  &  Co.,  4 
Stationers'  Hall  Court,  London,  E.C.4  (price  3/-  net.). 


Duanaire  Finn 


Duanaire  Finn.pt. 2. 


PB 

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v.28 
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