Introduction
This Life is here printed from the only existing MS., Brussels, Royal Library, Nos. 2324–40, ff. 87r–98r. This is one of the O'Clery MSS., and is described in Bethada Náem nérenn, t. I, pp. XII ff. In the colophon attached to the Life, Michael O'Clery tells us that he transcribed it in the year 1634, from a copy made by Melaghlin O'Callannan in 1528, for the 'coarb', or successor, of Mac Creiche at Cell Maelodrain (Killoran, barony Owney and Arra, Co. Tipperary). With the exception of a few lines cited by O'Curry in his Manuscript Materials, pp. 630–2, and another short passage cited by Professor Macalister in his monograph on Inis Celtra, 1 p. 135, the Life has not been previously printed.
It cannot be said that it is a favourable specimen of Irish Hagiography. In the first place, the text is in places obviously corrupt, especially in the metrical portions; and, as no other MS. is known, the only remedy available is conjecture; and the translation is in several passages only tentative. In revising the translation I have had the valuable assistance of Miss Maud Joynt, whose Irish scholarship is as accurate as it is extensive; she has read the whole of the translation in manuscript, and made many valuable suggestions and corrections, as well as several excellent emendations of the text. 2 But there still remain passages which have resisted our combined efforts.
But, apart from textual corruption, the narrative is often confused and the sequence of events obscure. For example, at the end of paragraph 17, it looks as if a shorter version of the same incident had been conflated with the fuller account which precedes. In paragraph 1 the saint is made son of Pesslan (an obviously non-Irish name), and in paragraph 10 is said to have been a fosterling of St. Ailbe; but in paragraph 46 ad finem he seems to be made an actual son of an Ailbe, who is called the war dog of Sliab Crot. In paragraph 48 a p.8 a story seems implied which is not given in the prose narrative; but the translation is not quite certain.
Like some other Irish Lives, this Life is overloaded with dreary and prolix poems. I do not however think that the whole Life was originally metrical. The poems seem based on the prose narrative, not vice versa. On the other hand the writer has local knowledge; the details in paragraphs 2, 15, 16, 18, seem to suggest an eye witness.
The Life is utterly unhistorical, and the very existence of the hero of it extremely shadowy. This is indicated by the fact that we are never once told his real name. Mac Creiche, Son of plunder, is a mere nickname, derived from his alleged rescue of the prey taken from the Ciarraige by a plundering expedition of their neighbours the Eoganacht of Killarney. His previous name, we are told on this occasion, was Mac Croide Ailbe or Mac Ochta Ailbe, i.e. Son of Ailbe's heart or bosom; but this again is a mere nickname due to the tradition of his having been a favourite pupil of that saint. This relationship is mentioned also in the Life of Ailbe, most clearly in the recension of the Codex Salmanticensis, paragraph 37: 'Alio tempore exiit Albeus ad ciuitatem Ultani, ut ibi uisitaret alumpnum suum, scilicet Maccreky.' 3
Unfortunately, the Life of the master is itself so shadowy that it cannot confer any historical reality on the pupil. I have discussed the character of that Life in the Introduction to Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae, t. 1, pp. 28-31, 183. The view there advocated, that Ailbe is a saint of the fifth and sixth centuries, is consistent with the fact that Aed, son of Eochaid Tirmcharna, King of Connaught, one of the few historical characters occurring in the Life of Mac Creiche, was killed in 576 according to the Annals of Ulster (=577).
Another mention of Mac Creiche is found in the most apocryphal part of the Life of St. Enda of Aranmore, where he is one of a deputation of three sent from Aran to Rome to obtain a decision as to the abbacy of the island; 'Unanimi igitur consensu ... missi sunt tres uiri fide digni, scilicet Finnianus iunior, et Mac Crichi nomine, et Erlatheus.' 4 And here also, as in our Life, he is associated with Ailbe, and with Aran. 5 Enda also is probably a saint of the fifth and sixth centuries. On this view, association with Brendan of Clonfert 6 (ob. 577 or 583) is also possible. But indeed the length of life attributed to Mac Creiche, as to p.9 many other Irish saints, would suffice to cover a multitude of chronological sins.
But perhaps the most interesting mention of Mac Creiche is in the Life of St. Columba of Terryglass in Codex Salmanticensis, paragraph 15: 'Post hec exiit Columba in fines Connactorum... tenuitque alia loca circa stagnum nomine Dercderc... Apparuit ei angelus Domini dicens ei: Surge ad insulam Keltra. Inuenit ibi quendam uirum senem nomine Maccriche. Cui angelus dixit: Hanc insulam relinque sancto Columbe, et perge ad alium locum et esto monachus ei (? ibi)'. 7 We may notice in passing that this passage agrees with our Life in representing the saint as a very aged man. But a yet more interesting fact is that, as Professor Macalister has shown in his Monograph on the History and Antiquities of lnis Celtra 8 (in Lough Derg), pp. 132-6, there exists on that island a cell which answers almost exactly to the description of the hermitage given at the beginning of our Life, to which the Saint retired for his lenten penances. This hermitage and these ascetic practices of the Saint are alluded to in a passage which probably contains the earliest mention of him, the twenty-seventh stanza of Cuimmin of Connor's poem on the Saints of Ireland. It is there said:
A note appended to the poem identifies the author with Cuimine, bishop of Nendrum, whose death is placed both by the Four Masters and by the Annals of Ulster in 658 (=659). But the author himself in the last verse gives his name as Cuimmin of Connor, and it is possible that the identification of him with Cuimine of Nendrum may be due to a confusion; p.10 for the entry in the Annals of Ulster runs thus: Dimma niger epscop Condire, ⁊ Cummeni epscop Naendroma... mortui sunt; i.e. Dimma Dub, bishop of Connor, and Cuimine, bishop of Nendrum, died. But however this may be, the poem cannot possibly be as early as the seventh century; Dr. Stokes, the editor, would place it in the eleventh or twelfth.
As regards other characters mentioned in the Life of Cremthann or Crimthann, son of Cobthach, the plundering chief of the Eoganacht, with his numerous progeny, I can find no trace in the Annals, with the possible exception, pointed out to me by Miss Joynt, of Aed Bennain. In the Chron. Scotorum, s.a. 619, we have the death of 'Aed Bendan, airdri Muman, dond Eoganacht'. 10 That he is called over-king of Munster might be regarded as a fulfilment of Mac Creiche's prophecies about him in paragraph 25.
The least historical of all these characters is the alleged king of Corcumruad, Baeth-brónach (i.e. the foolishly sorrowful), 11 who had never smiled or laughed. Evidently he has been transplanted bodily from some folk-tale of a king who never smiled. We should have expected the saint to work some miracle which would rouse the melancholy monarch to merriment; but instead of this we have only the common-place issue of grants of land.
This shadowy character of Mac Creiche is further illustrated by the fact that, though Michael O'Clery copied his Life at great length, he and his associates found no place for him in their Martyrology of Donegal; though they cite this Life as an authority for Luchtigern at April 28th. Evidently they did not even know the date of his festival. 12
Mac Creiche is a very local saint; through his mother he is said to be connected with the Ciarraige (Kerry), but his father belongs to Corcumruad (in the wider sense); and the only mark, as far as I know, which Mac Creiche has left on the topography of Ireland, is the parish of Kilmacrehy in the barony of Corcumroe, Co. Clare; O'Clery however, in his colophon, speaks of a 'coarb' or successor, of Macrehy at Cell p.11 Maelodrain (Killoran, bar. Owney and Arra, Co. Tipperary), so that we may say perhaps that he belongs to the diocese of Killaloe.
Such interest as the Life has belongs to folk-lore, and not to history or hagiography. In the notes to the translation I have called attention to some points which are interesting from this point of view; and the story of the king who never smiled has been commented on above. One other point deserves notice: the curious idea that the pestilences which ravaged Ireland were embodied in various deadly monsters, which laid waste the land and were slain by the Saint's power. The destruction of two of these is described in the Life, the Crom Conaill and the Broicsech, the latter at great length. O'Curry 13 translates “broicsech” by Badger-monster, from brocc, a badger; and Mr. Westropp, cited by Professor Macalister, 14 shows that this conception of the monster still survives in local tradition, aided perhaps by a folk etymology which analyses “broicsige” the genitive of “broicsech” into “broic-sidhe” a broc-shee, or fairy badger (cf. banshee).
The hard bargains driven by the Saint with his admirers in return for his miraculous aid, is an unpleasant feature which this Life shares with other Lives of Irish Saints, notably that of St. Caillín in the Book of Fenagh. The statement in paragraph 42 that Mac Creiche was 'without love of gold or silver', is by no means borne out by the conduct of the Saint; while, if a suggestion which I have made for emending a corrupt passage in paragraph 32 of the Life is correct, we should find the Saint making the extremely business-like offer to return one per cent of his tribute in consideration of prompt payments. Miss Joynt indeed suggests that the Saint's name “Son of plunder” may have originated in this unlovely characteristic, and that the story of the raid may have been invented to conceal the real origin of the name.
I am inclined to hazard a yet bolder suggestion. It may have been noticed that in the passages cited from the Lives of St. Enda and St. Columba of Terryglas, the name is written Mac Criche, 15 not Mac Creiche. Mac Criche would mean Son of the Border; and if his original settlement was at Inis Celtra, we can well understand the reason of the name. p.12 So much is that island a border country, that in the last century it was twice transferred, first from Co. Clare to Co. Galway in 1849, and fifty years later, in 1899, from Galway back to Clare. 16
I have printed the Life in much the same way as other texts which I have edited. {...}. The divisions of chapters are those of the MS., but for convenience of reference I have broken up the text into shorter sections, the numbering of which runs continuously.
unknown
Edited by Charles Plummer
p.13Betha Meic Creiche
1.
Incipiunt pauca de mirabilibus Mheic Creche .i. Mac Creche mac Pesslain meic Erce o Chorcu Mruadh Ninois a chenél. Naoi fichit bliadhan a aés o laithe a ghene co laithe a écca. Ba h-e tosach a ratha co n-deachaid i n-ditreibh fil eter Formáoil .i. ainm ionaid ⁊ an Eidhneach i. abhann. Clúain h-&Í ainm in bhaile i raibhe-siumh acc tathuighi a ernaighte.
Is í métt in indelbh, ceitheora cloch .i. cloch rena druim, cloch cechtar a dha taobh, ⁊ cloch ara aghaid. Is annsin do thionnsccain Mac Creiche in corgus do dhenamh ar uamhan ⁊ ar eccla ifrinn. Ocus ni rucc leis isin ditreibh do bhiadh acht mad aen bhairghen namá, ⁊ ceithre gassa bioruir; ⁊ ní thoimhledh nach ní díobh acht día domhnaig nama. Ocus 'ar t-tairccsin an charguis leis, nír caith do biadh acht arán ⁊ anghlas domhnach cascc. Is annsin fuaratar a coibhnesta isin díthreibh é da éisi sin; ⁊ tuccadh isteach é; ⁊ do bí coimhétt air go fada iarsin.
2.
Do cuaidh dino fecht ele isin ditreibh cetna, ⁊ do an innte fri ré cethrachat oidhce ele cen biadh, cen digh, acht mad énní, no aithighedh elit chuicce, ⁊ do thailedh a h-ass bainne 'na h-óenar i m-ballan nó i b-poll cloiche do bí i n-ursain in dítreibh ina raibhe seision; amhail derbhus an rann so atá h-i c-cethnait Mheic Creiche:
p.14
Rann.
- No aithighedh an eilit
Isin nindelbh cloiche,
Do thailedh 'sa bhallán
A h-ass do Mhac Creche.- Ballán cloiche leision
'San díthrib co demhin,
Don clériuch fhíal fháilidh,
Air do tháiledh an eilit.
Ocus do imthigedh an eilit roimpe fona coilltibh asa h-aithle sin, co t-tigedh dorídhisi.
3.
La da raibhe an cleirech ag gabhail a psalm isin ditreibh, dochonnairc an t-ócclach ag faiccsin an duine naoimh dó bedgais, ⁊ ní ro labhair. Ocus do fhiarfaigh an cléirech de cuich é. “Becedhán m' ainm,” ar sé, “⁊ ag feghain m' ferainn ataim; ⁊ naisccim mo chodach fortsa.” “Na len dím trá,” ar in clerech, “⁊ beir bennachtain; ⁊ nacham fhorgaire do neoch ele.” Ocus do ghabh soiscéla ⁊ urnaighthe.
Imtighis an t-ócclach, ⁊ mar do bi ann, 17 in diberg chuicce, trí nonbhair doibh. Ocus do fhiarfaigh dhíobh can asa t-tangattar. “Tangamar o Ghlionn Geimhin, ⁊ na Glasanaighar n-anmanna.” Dorala cuca in t-ócclach, ⁊ ba sé a ainm-side .i. Bécedan. Ocus do bhadar ga ghuin 'ga oirleach co fada; ⁊ dar leo do bhensat a chenn do 'ar na ghuin doibh uile. 87v Ro shaer Dia ⁊ urnaighthe an cleirigh naoimh e; ⁊ ba sop sescca bái i n-áit chinn an ócclaigh acasomh. Imtighis an t-ócclach slán úatha.
Fiarfaighit na díbérccaigh: “Cid rod ainic, a occlaigh?” “Rom ainíc,” ar se, “cele Dé, dorad soiscelu rium ó cianaibh re c-comrac ribhsi damh.” “Cait i f-fuil an clerech naomh sin?” ar an díbeircc. “Cidh rob áil libhsi uadh?” ar Becedhan. “Rop áil linn a riaruccadh, ⁊ ríar Dé úadhasan ó so co brath, ar dhaigh an anacail ⁊ na miorbhuiled doroine fortsa.”
Doníad sídh re 'roile .i. na díberccaigh ⁊ Béicedán. “As maith tarla daoibhsi dhe,” ar in t-ócclach, “doghebhtáoi sídh Dé co brath don sccel sin.” Téid an t-ócclach gusan indeilbh i raibhe in clerech ógh ainglidhi acc psalm-ghabhail a psalm. Bendachais an t-ócclach ⁊ an díbeircc dó; ⁊ sléchtuid uile dó. “Do ríar féin deit, a chlerigh,” ar siatt. “Gabhaim uaibh,” ar Mac Creiche. Cuirit uatha a n-airm uile; ⁊ edhbrait a c-cuirp ⁊ a n-anmanna do Dia ⁊ do Mhac Creiche. Edbraidh tra Bécedan a tír ⁊ a talamh do Mhac Creichi .i. Cill Meic Creiche na coilledh; ⁊ is ar ferann an ócclaigh sin ro suidhighedh Ceall t-Senbotha aníu.
4.
Iomtúsa na n-Glasanach, do-rónad laighedha ⁊ fiodhbhadha p.15 doibhsein da n-armaibh féin; ⁊ docuiredh cresa iarainn a c-comarda cimidheachta ⁊ crabaidh impa; ⁊ gabhait acc réidhiuccadh na coilledh, ⁊ do-ronsat cluain mór ann imedhon na coilledh .i. na díberccaigh ⁊ Béicedan; ⁊ Ceall t-Senbotha ainm an bhaile sin go bráth. Ocus as íad na díbergaigh .i. na Glasanaigh ⁊ Becedán céd-manaigh docuiredh fa úir na cille, mar ata isin cethnait Mheic Creiche:
Rann.
- Do shaoilsiot gur marbhsat
An fer maoidhmeach m-bresta;
A chenn—clú gan imnedh—
Fa fhód simhneach sescca.- Sléchtaid do Mhac Creche
In dibeircc co díamhair,
For gach sét gan rassadh
Dona cresaibh iarnaibh.
5.
Is annsin do chuaid Mac Creiche ⁊ Mainchín siar co h-Inis Locha Ratha Maigi, fobíth fa mac dó Mainchín, ⁊ ba h-é ro baist é, ⁊ ba leis do légh, ⁊ ba h-e dob anmcara dó. Dochúatar trá siar co h-Inis Fidhe; ⁊ forfhorcongair Mac Creiche for Mainchin glas do chor fora chosaibh; ⁊ dochuir Mainchín glas air, mar 88r adubhairt ris. “Tabhair an eochair dam anois,” ar Mac Creiche. Tucc Maincin an eochair dó. Tucc Mac Creiche urchor don eochair i m-bel na fairrgi, ⁊ tucc a bhreithir nach fúicfedh an inis co t-tíosadh an eochair cetna d'foslaccadh an ghlais báoi fair.
6.
Is annsin tainic Ailbhe o Imliuch Iubhair do dhol i n-árainn; ⁊ tainicc co Fid-inis, áit i raibhe Mac Creiche. Ocus nírb ésin a ched-ainm, acht Mac Croidhe Ailbhe; Mac Creiche dano a ainm an tan tucc aisecc na creiche a túaidh ó h-Aódh mac Eachach. Ciodh tra acht do iarr Ailbhe ar Mhac Creiche techt lais dochum n-áirne; ⁊ do innis Mac Creiche d' Ailbhe amhail do bi an glas air, ⁊ an leth docuiredh an eochair.
Ro ansat in oidhce sin maraon le Mac Creiche; ⁊ tucc p.16 Dia a c-cuid leth ar leth doibh. Ocus dochuaidh Ailbhe an oidhce arna marach ar cenn uiscce gusan tioprait 18 isin aill ata leth túaid don inis, co f-facaidh an téiccne 'san tiopraitt. Tucc leis é don tigh, ⁊ ro gherr ⁊ ro chosgair é; ⁊ frith an eochair imedhón an bhradáin. Sléchtais Mac Creiche do Ailbhe imon firt sin do dhenamh fair; ⁊ oscclais Ailbhe do Mhac Creiche, ⁊ téid Mac Creiche lais dochum n-Airne.
7.
Tuccadh trá Fidh-inis ó Mhac Creiche do Mhainchin, fobith ba derbh-dalta do Mhac Creiche Mainchín; ⁊ ba mac raith é; ⁊ as leis dochúaid go Roimh an toiscc da t-tuccatar an Finn-faoideach d'altoir moir na Roma leo. Ocus nírbh áil do Mhainchin anadh da n-éis 'san m-baile, acht munbadh frithi recht le Mac Creichi é.
8.
Is annsin docúadar na clerigh síar co Clúain Dírair .i. co longport Baoth Bronaigh .i. rí Corcu Mhruadh an tan sin; fer na ro thibh gen gaire riamh eisidhe. “In lór teighim-si libh?” ar Maincin. “As lór,” ar Mac Creiche. “In bhadh nár dúinn athcomharc?” ar Maincin. “Cred an t-athcomharc?” ar Mac Creche. “Ninsa. Iomaire arbha da bhar n-oirchill-si.” “As ced limsa amh,” ar Mac Creiche. Deisid Mac Creiche h-i c-cionn na faithce, ⁊ dochúaid Máinchín isin dún anonn do agallaimh Báoth Brónaigh, do chuinghidh iomaire arbha air do oirchill ar Mhac Creiche ampersir; ar Ailbe ag toidheacht doibh ar c-cúl a h-áraind. “Rod bia iomaire úaimsi duit,” ar Baoth Bronach.
88v Is annsin do bátar meithel Bháoth Bronaigh ag búain ghuirt arbha do bí i n-dorus an dúnaidh. Gabaidh dano Maincin ag búain a iomaire, ⁊ Mac Creiche 'na suidhe a c-cionn an iomaire. Tainic glés mór fleachaid ⁊ gaoithe chuca, go rucc arbhar Bhaoth Bronaigh 'chum an mhara uile, ar mhéd na doininne. Tiaghait an meithel uile don dún acht na cléirigh namá. Ro bái Mainchín ag buáin a iomaire, ⁊ na cleirigh 'na suidhe 'ga fheghadh; ⁊ nír flechadh ball da n-édach na da c-corpaibh, acht as í an ghrían alainn etrocht as mó ro chuir orra, amhail adeir an rann so ata a c-cethnait Mheic Creiche: p.17
Rann
- Ba fleochad gan meabhail
Do meithil Bhaoith Brónaigh,
Rosfucc leth a arbha
Dochum romra .i. romhara ronaigh.- Ba grian gletech grethlach
Doradach—ni clethe—
Ba h-edrocht, ba h-adbal
Air arbhar Mheic Creiche.
Is annsin tra ro edhbair Báoth Brónach é féin ⁊ a chlann ⁊ a dhun, ⁊ a tír do Mhac Creiche ⁊ do Ailbhe, gan neach da cloinn nó da shliocht do breith dochum eccailsi ele co brath, amhail ata 'sa rann:
Rann.
- Do edhbair Baoth Bronach
An edhbairt nach clethe,
Clúain Dirair, tailc fotha,
Co brath do Mhac Creche.
Is í an ceall aníu áit a raibhe an dún; is í an reilecc áit a rabhatar na cléirigh 'na suidhe; is é an t-iomaire áit forsatá an chros mor eter an chill ⁊ an muir ⁊ tracht Ailbhe.
Is annsin dorad Mac Creiche Sliabh Gainimh othá Fothribhe Senáin aníar co Fertais Muine Muirpighi soir, eter an chill ⁊ muir, cona targa muir fo thír annsin go bráth, ⁊ co nach roibh omhan no gráin mara ar nech da méra innte co brath. As asan b-port sin dochúaidh Ailbhe do Thir Thairngire i n-dáil am moirsheisir ro fháidh dá mhuinntir isin f-fairrge síar. As acc Suidhe Ailbhe do bí Mac Creche ⁊ Ailbhe on tráth gó chéle ar cind na tuinne; ⁊ ní thainic an tonn seach an ionad a rabhatar, ⁊ ni tharga go bráth. Is annsin forfáccaibh Ailbhe .i. na muirter do mhuir an cill isin purt sin co brath.
Is ann dano forfáccaibh Ailbhe briathra ⁊ faccbála do chomharba Mheic Creche .i. na raghadh do rinn ghona comharba Mheic Creiche gen bhes Ailbhe for nimh. “Monúar trá,” ar Mac Creiche re h-Ailbhe, “as dursan sccaradh do bheith ettrainn ar talmain. 89r O ro chaithes-sa mh' óicci it choimhittecht, p.18 co ros caithinn mo shendacht.” “Rod-bia-sae logh do coimhittecht”, ar Ailbe, “acht as aonta ar talmain duin, ⁊ bidh áonta ar nimh duinn. Roichedh trá itche uait resiu sccaram; cret as ail duit?” ar Ailbhe. “As ail damh”, ar Mac Creiche, “uair am aosmhar, ⁊ am críon, ⁊ co t-tardar áos dom chomharbaibh im dhíaidh da gach aon da n-dingne mo reir dhiobh.” “Guidhfet sa mo Thigerna,” ar Ailbhe, “⁊ da f-faghbhar sa sin, rod-bia-sae.” Is annsin do ghuid Ailbhe a Thigerna, ⁊ fúair a itche. Ocus do raidh Ailbhe re Mac Creiche: “Fuarus sa itche om Thigerna, ⁊ rot bia uaimsi.” Is annsin ro ghuidh Mac Creiche an itche co h-Ailbhe, co t-tarda áos da comharbaibh 'na dhíaidh. Is annsin forfaccaib Ailbhe do chomharbaibh Mheic Creichenemh ⁊ áois.
Is annsin fos forfáccaibh Ailbhe gach itche fíre guidhfes nech isin purt sin ag tracht Ailbhe, ⁊ gurab acc ulaid Ailbhe nó Mheic Creiche guidhes, doberthar dó a itche. Is ass dano raghass moirseiser do mhuintir Ailbhe ⁊ Meic Creiche do Thír Thairngire. Is ann dano raghus Ailbhe cona mhancaibh dochum Tíre Tairrngire dia laithe bratha. Mór tra a ruithen ⁊ a mhiorbhuile in t-suidhe sin fil isin tracht. Bennachais tra Ailbhe recles ⁊ tempul nuaidhe an bhaile sin; ar ba h-e aird-easpocc Muman an tan sin é, ⁊ ba h-epscop Mac Creiche fós.
9.
Ceilebrait da cele ainnside .i. Ailbhe ⁊ Mac Creiche; ⁊ téid Ailbhe i n-árainn da oilithre; ⁊ anaiss Mac Creiche ag tórrumha a reicles, ar ba núa-ghabhail dó é. Is annsin tangatar techta ó Chiarraighe ar cend Mheic Creiche, co n-dechsadh do dhiongmháil plaighi diobh, ar bá díobh a mhathair. Ocus ba h-í an phláigh ishin .i. an Chrom Chonnaill ro bhái ag forbhaisi forra. Téid Mac Creiche amach ar bháidh; ⁊ ro bátar Ciarraighe uile h-i Maigh Uladh ara chinn. Eirghit uile roimhe ⁊ cuirit fior-cháoin failte fris. Gabhthar Mac Creiche asa charpat, ⁊ do ghabh soiscéla ⁊ urnaighthe impa, ⁊ doroine procept breithre Dé doibh, ⁊ do troisccetar uile .i. Mac Creiche ⁊ Ciarraighe in oidhce sin, ⁊ dorónadh urd aifrinn doibh arabharach.
Is annsin tangatar tri meic Cuilcinn .i. tri meic bráthar mathar Mheic Creiche ro bái thoir acc Ráith Muine. Ag techt anoir doibh rucc an Crom Connuill orra, ⁊ do 89v thuitsettar le a t-triúr brathar. Tuarccaibh Mac Creiche an Finnfaidech a n-airde acc faiccsin a bhraithrech marbh. Nír cían doibh ann co n-acatar saighnen tenedh do nimh chucu, ⁊ tuitidh arin c-Cruim c-Cuinnill, go n-derna min ⁊ luaith di ar bélaib an t-slúaigh. Slechtaitt uile tresan firt sin do Mhac Creiche. Conid desin atá Fert Cloinne Cuilcinne ⁊ na Cruime Connaill ar Moigh Uladh.
10.
Is annsin tra dolottar tri meic Cremhthainn meic Cobhthaigh andes ar creich co Rinn Ruis Altraighe Chind Bera, ⁊ go ruccsat duine-ghabháil do dhaoinibh ⁊ do cethraibh im trí macaibh Meallain meic Maoile Dóid meic Scellain d'Alltraighe Chind Bhera. Docúas o Chiarraighe a n-diaigh na creiche, ⁊ ruccadh soiscéla Mheic Creiche ⁊ in Findfaidech ann, dus gomadh feirde an uradhall. Ocus ni frith uradhall maith ann on righ gusa rangus budhdhes. Iompaid na techta andes, ⁊ ní fhuaratar fregra maith. “Cidh tucc sibh libh do lesaib?” ar Mac Creiche. “Ni thuccsam linn acht roinn ar n-innile arar m-belaibh, ⁊ cuibhrech ar n-daoine.” “In tucc sibh derbh n-aithiscc libh?” ar Mac Creiche. “Tuccsam,” ar na teachta. “Madh áil fuasccladh na f-fer ruccadh budhdes, ise aithesc deidhenach tuccsam linn, bó gacha scciatraighi h-i c-Ciarraighe, ⁊ uinge gacha mná, ⁊ bith-ghíall coimhidechta dogrés.”
Is annsin dolotar Ciarraighe i n-iomaccallaimh, ⁊ asedh tuccsat asa n-iomaccallaimh, a m-bennachta do thabhairt fora n-gar-mac .i. for Mhac Creiche, uar ba h-e a mac gar é. Ocus dano ro bái imadhall dó ann .i. an trath tainicc in crech, ba h-and ro bói-siumh ara cind is Tír dá Madh Neimhedh. “Ragat ar bhar m-bennachtain-si ann,” ar Mac Creiche, “gibé ní chinnes Día dhe.” Luidh Mac Creiche a n-diaidh na creiche co h-Aiced n-Aiscinn, ⁊ co Lios n-Airthir; ⁊ ro bhatar Eoganacht uile ara chinn and im Criomthann mac Cobhthaigh cona macaibh.
Luidh Mac Creiche ina chairríne co lár an oirechtais, ⁊ p.20 bennaighis dona h-ógaibh, ⁊ iomchomhaircis doibh an fath fa t-tainicc. “Créd an fath?” ar íadsan. “Tanacc sa a n-diaidh na gabhala ⁊ na creiche, ⁊ d'iarmhoirecht mh'imdercctha ⁊ mo náire chugaib, ⁊ is am adlobar ⁊ is am truagh; ⁊ bidh ferr daoibhsi mo bhennachtain d'faghbáil, ina an chaingen chuingim do chongmháil accaibh.” Ocus ba fír dósomh sin, uair naoi fichit bliadhan a aois an tan dochuaidh dochum nimhe; ⁊ ba taichil mi-lethair do chongbhadh a charpat iochtarach o'raile, an tan no biodh ag ceileabhradh, nó ag agallaimh dhuine. Secht fichit bliadhan immorro ba slan dó, an tan doluidh d'accallaimh Criomhtain meic Cobhthaigh .i. rí Eoghanachta Locha Lein.
Ocus do ráidh Mac Creiche: “Masa maith let, a Criomhtain, as mithigh aithescc do thabairt dhúinn immon ní 'ma t-tangamar.” “As mor mo dhoimhenma 90r friot, a cleirigh,” ar Criomhtann, “.i. athchuinghidh form in aésa élódha ro bhatar ag foghail ar m-ferann.” Asbert an clerech: “Ní mór, uair as ar Dhía condeghar.” Ba h-ann asbert Aodh Damhain: “Ní ba becc lasna h-ogaibh enfher don ghabhail duitsi .” “Cia asbert so?” ol Mac Creiche. “Aodh Damhain,” ar Mainchin. Asbert Mac Creiche: “Asedh on rod bia somh o Día, an ní ro miodair dhamhsa .i. enfher.” Ro fergaighedh Aodh Damhain lasodhain, ⁊ ro ladh a socht.
Ba h-ann asbert Aodh Furarain: “Ní furail don cleriuch leth na gabhala, oir as ar Dhía chuinges.” “Cia asbert so?” ol Mac Creiche. “Aodh Fururain,” for a dhalta. “Ron-bia-somh uaimsi dano ⁊ o Dhía leth feibhe ⁊ airmide na tire-si, ⁊ na tuaithe, gidh imresnach doib.” Is airesin immorro ro cheis menma Criomhthainn do Aodh Bennáin, ar ba dili lais na gach mac ele. Atracht Aodh Bennáin 'na shesamh, ⁊ asbert: “Madh co réir in cléirigh, a ócca,” ar se, “tabhraidh dó in ghabhail uile fuil accaibh.” “Cia asbert so?” ar Mac Creiche. “Aodh Bennáin,” ar Mainchín. “As cian co tainic an mac sin,” ar Mac Creiche. “Ron-bia-somh uaimsi ⁊ o Dhía lan-fhebhus ⁊ airmhittin in tíre-si , ⁊ na tuaithe dogres, ⁊ dá mhac ⁊ dá úa.”
Is annsin dochuaidh Criomthann mac Cobhthaigh ⁊ p.21 a mheic i n-iomaccallaimh .i. gan neach do ghairm chuca da t-tairisibh. “Cidh doghentáoi, a ócca,” bhar Criomhthann, “frisan sruith-shenoir-si tainic chuccaibh? Acht ní thainic, ⁊ ní thiocfa fer a chomháosa do chuinghi chaingne for nech. Is airdhala do neoch frisa cinnenn ardaigh a áoisi namá. Dénaidh comhairle,” a Criomtann, “⁊ tabhraidh an t-oireacht uile chuccaibh,” ol sé. Tuccadh chuca an t-oirecht uile.
“Da n-derntaoi ormsa,” ar Aodh Bennáin, “uair nach tosach flaithemhnais, ⁊ nach deiredh, díumusa, ní fethfed mallacht an t-srotha-shenorach úd libh, ardháigh na gabhala fuil accaibh sunn, uair mairidh, ⁊ icaidh fech, ⁊ fáccbaidh bennachtain; ⁊ ni fhuil muir ettrainn ⁊ an baile asa t-tuccadh an ghabhail-si; ⁊ da f-fesmáis, ní ricfeamais in m-baile i r-raibhe, dáigh ba sruith-neimhedh gibe h-ionadh i m-beith; ⁊ dano tangattar a sccéla asin tír i raibhe resíu tainicc chuccainn. Bermaid fein immorro breath forainn,” for Aodh Bennáin, “⁊ más do mhuinntir Dé dó, as lan-imderccadh don chléiriuch a ruccsam chuicce; uair ro fhedamar isin tír a n-dechamar a beith arar cinn ann. Ocus cidh a leith dáonnachta no beith, atád tri braithre a mathar aguibh sunn a c-cimidhecht, co na f-fuil do maith ar 90v talmain aca. Ocus dénaidh-si comairle maith a fecht so,” ar Aodh Bennain.
“Dogenmais”, ar Criomhthann, “muna beith do bron Aodha Damháin.” “As olc mo mhenma”, a Aodh Damhain. “Ocus tabhraidh-si reir n-Dé, ⁊ mo réir-si,” ar Mac Creiche, “rod-bia-som maith doridhisi.” “As becc leis an t-aon-chomharba do thairngiri-si dó.” “In edhón doghní diomdhach acuinn de?” ar Mac Creche. “Isedh,” ar Criomhtan. “Ron-biad-sa lána”, ar Mac Creiche, “foighéonaigh il-mhile dono accan áon-chomharba sin, ⁊ co m-bia format caich fris.” Is annsin immorro do-radadh do Mac Creiche in ghabhail, eter dhuine ⁊ ceithre, go n-aisiocc iomlán, ⁊ cona bith-réir féin dó go bráth.
Is annsin ro ainmnighestair Criomhtan cona macaibh lógh a imdhergtha ⁊ a bhennachtan don cleiriuch .i. do Mac Creiche .i. gach ní do oirdeochad féin forra. “Berat amh”, for Mac Creiche. “Cáocca ionar lachtna, ⁊ caocca orc méith, p.22 ⁊ cáocca samhascc fria bíath; ⁊ etghadh na sruithi gach ionbhaidh rachtair om chomharba sa got comharba sa.” “Rot-bia-sa sin, ⁊ cidh ní budh mó do íarrtha ina sin do ghebhtha é, ⁊ inní do iarrais, do ghebhair th'oíghríar úainne uimi co brath,” ar Criomhthan cona macaibh.“Rot-bia-sa dano cot macaibh mo théora bennachtan sa .i. bennachta flaithemhnais gan díbhe; ⁊ bennacht inme gan urdiobhadh; ⁊ bennacht eccna co n-airmittin. Rot-bia-sa na teora bennachta sin tar cend beith do réir mo comharba sa tar m'éisi.”
Tuccadh ó Aódh Bennáin mac Criomhtain in n-gabhail. Tuccadh ó Máol Dúin mac Aodha Bennáin inn gabhail so. Tuccadh ó Fhoircheallach mac Aodha Foirinn in gabháil so fós. Tuccadh ó Chuimine mac Aodha Bennain in n-gabháil-si. Tuccadh o Chonghal mac Maoile Duin meic Aodha Bennain fós. Tuccadh ó Chairpre mac Condinisc meic Foircheallaigh meic Aodha in ghabhail so. Tuccadh o Aodh mac Conuing meic Cuimine in ghabhail so. Tuccadh o Aodh Alláin mac Cairpre do shiol Aodha Furinn in n-gabáil so fós. Tuccadh ó Maol Anfaidh mac Cuimine in gabhail-si. Tuccadh o Choin Fhoinghealta mac Cairpre do shiol Aodha Furinn in gabáil so. Tuccadh o Maol Dúin mac Aodha meic Conaing in cháin cédna sa fós. Da righ décc a h-Eoghanacht Locha Léin sin.
11.
Is annsin tainic Mac Creiche andes ⁊ tri braithre a mathar lais, gusan uile ionnmus ruccadh leo budhdes. Ocus dorinne fiort amhra ag techt andes dia m-batar braithre a máthar go h-íotmar anffann a h-aithle a c-cuibhrigh, 91r ⁊ do ghabh íota mór íad ag dol o Raith Muighi siar. Do thórainn Mac Creiche in talamh co t-táinic uiscce aníos ass; ⁊ do dhiolsat a n-íotaidh uile de. Ocus doronsat caisiol imon topar, ⁊ ata in topar sin ar Maigh Uladh; ⁊ ícaidh gach n-galar ⁊ gach urchoid gusa t-tabharthar a uiscce.
Do battar immorro Ciarraighe a c-comhdháil a Muigh Uladh ara chind, ⁊ tuccsat bennachta dó arin fert dorighne doibh .i. an Chrom Chonnuill do diongbáil díbh ag dúl budhdhes; ⁊ a creach ⁊ fuaslaccadh na c-cimedh doibh asin cacht irrabatar, gur thoirbhir doibh i n-áen-dáil uile iad. Is annsin, dorattsat Ciarraighi a p.23 m-bennachta uile dó i n-én-dáil, uair ba saor gar in mac doibh é, ⁊ dorinne deigh-les doibh im gach ní már ghuidhettar é. Doratt somh bennacht doibhsiumh dano, ⁊ dorad doibh cocain a chille, cetmad uadh doibh budhdéin an céin nach beith aga tairbert badeisin. Atracht somh dia maithribh ara ghaire doibh.
Is annsin dochúatar Ciarraighe i n-iomaccallaimh for leth seach in clerech, dus ciodh doghendais fris. As fair deisid ag Ciarraighe im edbairt dia coibhdelaigh .i. do Mhac Creiche, óir bá sodhaltach fríu, ⁊ ba duthrachtach doibh, i n-diaigh dorat cocáin a cille ⁊ a bennachtan dia maithribh re taobh sochar doibh budhdéin, cibe bus maith díbh rot saorfa. Ise foircend doradatar for Mhac Creiche asa n-aon-dáil .i. trí fichit bó somhaoineach uatha gacha tres bliadhna, no, dámadh rogha leo, screpall gacha deisi uatha gacha tres bliadhna. Fáccbaidh Mac Creiche na faccbhala so do Chiarraighe .i. nert ina feraibh, ⁊ buaidh c-comraic ⁊ gaisccidh orra, ⁊ buaidh ana ⁊ bleachta ina fond.
12.
Ceilebraidh Mac Creche doibh, ⁊ fáccbaidh a bithbennacht suthain diles marsin ag muinter a mathar; ⁊ issedh docuaidh Mac Creiche ass sin go h-Imleach Iubhair dochum Ailbhe, ar ba h-e mac cridhe Ailbi e. Ocus ni cian do bái ann, co f-facaidh aigi techta a Tuadh-Mumain ⁊ a Corcumrúadh ar co t-tiosadh da n-accallaimh co Carn Meic Tail; ⁊ ruccadh dano beannachtain d' Ailbhe ar impide fair imthecht ann. “As lescc lem sin,” ar Mac Creiche,“ ⁊ gidh lescc, raghat.” Bá h-adhlobhar ⁊ ba trogh, ⁊ ba críon annsin e, ardáigh a áoisi immorro. Gidhedh tánic Mac Creiche ⁊ Mainchin rompa amuigh o Imleach Iubhair go rangatar Inis Tóma Fionnlocha co Luchthigern, ⁊ anaidh annsin ó shatharn co mairt.
Ocus atcuaid Mac Creiche do Luchthighern in ní ima atrácht; 91v ⁊ ro fhorcongair Mac Creiche for Luchtigern techt frisan les cetna .i. do guidhe na cáirde; ⁊ do raidh nar bó córa dósomh les Tuadh-Muman do denamh ina do Luchtigern. p.24 “As fír sin,” ar Luchtigern, “⁊ rachat sa let.” “Ca lion tiucfae?” ar Mac Creiche. “Ní thiucfae lim acht en-fher.” “Cidh on?” ar Mac Creiche. “Amain,” ar Luchtigern, “cidh seanadh mór dobertha sa let, dobhérainn-si senadh mór ele lim. Ocus osa én-fer tugais-si let, berat sa fer ele lim.” Do ghluaisetar a c-cetrar rompa go rangattar Carn Meic Táil, ⁊ doberar Tuadh-Muma ⁊ Corcu Mruad ara cinn an tan sin, ⁊ tucsat a m-bennacht uile dona cleircibh ar thecht do ghuidhe cáirde doibh imon m-boromha ar Aodh mac Eachdach .i. ar righ Connacht.
“In rachaim ne rompa?” ar Luchtigern. “Ní racham,” ar Mac Creiche, “co raibhe in gabhail i n-urlaimhe cugainn.” Is annsin ron geis doibhsin dul budhtuaidh gusin m-boroimhe uile. “Da c-creididh sibh uaimsi,” bhar Mac Creiche, “as decair damh imthecht; is am adhlobhar, ⁊ is am críon in méiti is um sruithiu dhe.” “Do bhennacht dobhera furtacht dona h-occaibh,” ar cách. “As fír sin,” ar Mac Creiche. “Rachat sa cibe ní dobéra Día dhamh and. In mair an cairrine, a Mhainchín?” ar Mac Creiche. “Mairidh ámh,” ar Mainchín. “Nom-berar asso,” ar Mac Creiche, “conam raltair im chairrín. Ocus berar dano,” ar sé, “in gabáil eter ceitriu, ⁊ edach, ⁊ duine, co t-taisbentar ann uile in gabáil. Maith tra, a Chorcu Mruadh, in fuil i n-Eirinn fer sheacht m-blíadhan ar ocht fichtibh forsa tarta imthecht, acht meisi am aénar namá?”
Is annsin ro ládh in carpat riasna ceithribh. “Suidhighidh trá, a Chorcu Mruadh, bar m-bú cona m-bradaibh tairsiu, ⁊ dosléiccidh im deadhaid, ⁊ tabraidh soisccéla imaibh; ⁊ tiucfam úile dibhlínaibh isin maighin cédna gan tesbaidh duibhsi, ⁊ an cháin d'aisecc dúinne.” Ro gabh an carpat riasna ceithribh otá sin co Magh n-Aói; ⁊ ní deachaidh bó díobh don chonair, anonn nach anall, acht i n-deadhaid an charpait uile dóibh, ⁊ ní ro la bhrad asin t-suidiugudh doradadh forra fon ceduair. In tráth no bidís na clerigh ag ceilebhradh, no andáis na ceithre ina tost; in trath no imtighdís na clerigh, no imtighdís na cethra; in bhail i n-andais na cleirigh fri h-oidhce, no ticcedh Mainchín 92r ⁊ in Find-faidech Mheic Creiche fora mhuin, ⁊ bachall p.25 Luichtighern ina laimh timcell na c-cethra. No luighdis na cethra'na n-aenar co madain, ⁊ no ghealtatais go trath teirt arabhárach, cen no bídis na clerigh ag ceilebradh aifrinn. In tan no theighedh Mac Creiche ina charpat i c-cenn na conaire, do ergittis na cethra uile ina lorcc line i n-deadhaid in charpaitt.
Isi sin abairt doghnittis go rangatar Magh n-Aói budh tuaidh. Mor tra do fertoibh doronsat co rangatar co crich Maighe h-Aói. Is annsin ro batar draoithe Aodha meic Eachdach ara cinn do fromadh anfis na c-clerech; ⁊ doratsat na draoithe snechta dona cleircibh, co nar fhetsat imthecht ann. “Diongbaidh sud,” ar na cleirigh. “Ní dhingébham,” ar na draoithe. Ro h-sénsat na cleirigh é, co n-derna grían áilghen doibh. Imtigit na clerigh an lá sin coidhce. Doratsat dano na draoithe ceo taran tír on trath go aroile, co na cuimhgedh nech dibh imthecht ann idir. Tallsat na cleirigh an céo doridhisi. Is annsin asbertatar na clerigh frisna druidibh: “Ciodh nach dionghbhaithi an snechta út, ⁊ in céo, amhail tuccsabair íatt?” “Ní chuirfem,” ar iadsomh. “Gurab olc daoibh bhar n-draoidhecht oníu co brath,” ar Mac Creiche.
Is annsin do fhágsat in bhraitt ar Maigh ái, ⁊ docuatar féin d'accallaimh in righ. Nir léiccedh isin dún íad, ⁊ ní fhuaratar freccra maith amach. Iompáid na clerigh dochum a muintire arís, ⁊ fáoisiot in oidhce sin arin moigh, gan digh, gan bíadh. Gabaidh tart mor Mac Creiche. “Masa maith le Dia,” ar sé, “gidh iomdha deoch an righ, na rab mó mo thart sa ina a thart resiu tí lá.” Ro bás acc ól ⁊ acc aoibhnes agan righ co trath luighe. Ocus dochúatar da leaptoibh asa h-aithle. Muscclaiss an rí asa chodladh, ⁊ geibidh tart ⁊ tiormach mor é; ⁊ ni frith díol a iotadh dó i r-Raith Cruachan. Tícc an la faoisin. Gabhtar a eachradh don righ, ⁊ teid do riaruccadh na c-cleirech. Bennachais doibh. “As bennaighthe thusa,” ar Mac Creche, “acht co t-tuccair dúinne gach caingen chuinghemaid.” “Tabhair deoch damh, a clérigh,” ar sé. Do thórainn Mac Creche in talamh, ⁊ ro mhuidh sruaimh uiscce ass; ⁊ as tiopra Mhec Creche a h-ainm fos ar Muigh Crúachan. Líontar cúach Aodha meic Eachdach de, ⁊ coisccidh a íotu.
Sléchtaidh áodh dó ainnséin, ⁊ do ráidh: “Dobheirim-si p.26 duit,” ar se, “gach ni chuinghe don cur sin.” “Gabaim,” ar Mac Creiche, “acht nach iarrthar an cháin cédna co bráth.” “Ní h-iarrfaidher co brath,” 92v ar an rí. Ruccadh isin dún iad iarsin. Ocus ro bái aen mac agan righ, ⁊ nír labhair se riamh o ruccadh é; ⁊ mar doconnairc se Mac Creiche, do éirigh'na shesamh, ⁊ do fher fior-caóin failte fris. Bennachais Mac Creiche é, ⁊ dorad soiscéla uime; ⁊ ní raibhe i n-Erinn duine budh ferr innsccne inás; ⁊ ba h-e a ainm: Úada Balbh. Ba fáoilidh cách uile'ma a urlabhra do bheith acc mac an righ. Is annsin do edbair Aodh mac Eachdach uaidh féin cona mhac, ⁊ ó gach aon ghebhus righi Connacht co bráth, seacht c-cumhála uatha, screpall gach aóin o Shíol Muiredhaigh ⁊ cloinne Taidhg. Do fhaccaibh Mac Creiche doibhsiumh da chionn sin ordán, gal, eneach ⁊ borrfadh ina rioghaibh, ⁊ lacht ina m-búaibh, ⁊ ith ina f-fonn. Ocus gach úair nach coimhéltar an cháin-si do Mhac Creiche, do fháccaibh doibh a f-forba 'na díllechtaigh, ⁊ iad fein 'na loingseachaibh.
13.
Ceileabraidh doibh, ⁊ tucc cúach Aodha meic Eachach leis a tuaidh, ⁊ faccbaidh bennachtain aca. Ocus ata isna rannaibh so síos derbhadh an sccéoil ⁊ na n-gniomh. Cáin shíl Muirethaig ⁊ cloinne Taidg in cháin-si.
- Arsin tánicc cuca
Aod Foirinn for eneach,
Ba fó feacht adrala:
Do bith-radh na c-cleirech.- Ann raidhis Mac Creiche
Breithir fri mac n-Eachach:
'Ron bit uait —is sochlach —
Cairde cen nach sechnadh.'- 'Tucc digh damh, a cleirigh',
p.27
Ar an rígh co m-buadhaibh;
'Lan an chuacháin chais-ghil
Is aisgidh a c-Crúachain.'- Dorórainn Mac Creiche
An talamh co bruach,
Co ro mhuidh sruaimh gnoach
Dar bá lán an cuach.- Is tiopra Meic Creiche
A h-ainm cain cech trátha,
For Moigh Cruachan canair
Maraidh co dé m-bratha.- Adrobaid ri Cruachan
A digh —rádh nach clethe —
Adregh co nirt flatha
Slechtais do Mhac Creiche.- 'Dam beir-si dom reir-si,'
Ar Mac Creiche creisin,
'Tabar co léir liamhain
Gach iarraidh ros feisir.'- 'Rod bia sa gan meabail,'
Ar in rí saér sobhail,
'Ber let dot chill credhail
An m-boromha bladhaigh.'- 'Berthar,' ar Mac Creiche,
'Madh co m-briatraibh fatha,
Acht co m-aitter damhsa
Do chís co lá bratha.'- 'Edhberat sa duitsi
Om chloinn —clu go m-buadhaibh —
Gach rí raghus reomhaibh
Secht cumhala uadhaibh.'- 'Dober sa dot cloinn-si
p.28
Muna tisat friomsa,
Ordan ⁊ galus
Cen marus in lín sa.'- Docomlai Mac Creiche
Cen seirc óir na airgaitt,
Dobert on ri ro-maith
Da ghabhair a charpait.- Ba h-annsin do maithedh
Do naomh na m-buar m-breathach,
Ocus tuc a erredh
'S cuach áodha meic Eachach.- Maithed do Mhac Creiche
Fecht dia t-tucc in cúach,
Ósin co brath m-beoach
Cís Corcumodruad.- 'Mata frisstai do clann sa
Frim muinntir gan melacht,
A forba bidh dillecht,
Bit loingsigh co len-alt.- Madh fir fheibh atralaid
93r
Mo ríara gan dermat,
Bidh leo a righe ramhach
Cen ba beo ar nemh nemhdach.'- Ann asbert Aodh eolach
Frisin seng sáor suanach:
'Do riar gan gniomh glorach
Dos-m-ber co brath m-búadach.'- Ba iarsin ro cechaing
In sétt sochla subhach,
Mac Creiche, ar n-gnath-bla,
Go mathra i Moigh Uladh.- Ba h-annsin dorighne
p.29
In firt fiadh in tuaith sin,
Marbhais an c-Crom c-Connail
Ro bái ag brondadh an t-slúaigh sin.- Dáilis breithir m-buadhaigh
Dia maithibh —miadh sobhail —:
'Méraidh —bidh feart deimhin —
For nert co diaid domhain.'- Dobert doibh iar suidhe
Sochla sét adnaiscer,
Buaidh comraic fri gala
Ana ocus gaisccedh.- Do iodbratar a n-iodbairt:
Dia n-gairmter garm chialldu,
Tri fichit bó m-búadha
Uatha gacha bliadhna;- No madh rogha leosomh
(Uair as togha almsan),
Sgreapall gan coll geisi
Gacha deisi dosan.- Gabtha la h-Aodh m-Bennain
Ocus la h-Aodh Furain,
Trí braithre a mathar
A slabhradh iar fhodháil.- Docomhlai cen thurbaidh
Mac Creiche go n-glan-bail
D'fuasccladh gan urbhaidh
An trír asin t-slabhradh.- Fofuair failte an clerech
La h-Aodh m-Bennain m-buidhnech
Im tri braitribh a mathar
Gabsatar i c-cuibhriuch.- Maithis dó Aodh Bennain
p.30
Leth an trir fri thorainn
Ro sae mo drecc ferainn
Ro lá a ordail Aodh Foirinn.- For Aodh m-Bennain m-buadhach:
Dobhert bennacht foibhind;
Dorairngert gan dibhe
Righe a Aodh Fhoiriond.- Ann dobert Mac Creiche
A r-righi —cain comaigh —
Do shiol Aodha Bennain;
Ba h-aithescc saor sobhail.- Ceachaing an ri rúanaidh
In rith —réim co n-déini —
Aodh Foirinn fiadh fianaibh
Do riarad in clerigh.- Forosslicc Mac Creiche
In triar, fer fial fosaidh,
Meni saitir nip e sil
An glais iarna dia c-cosaibh.- Slechtais do Mac Creiche
In rí ruanaidh roisgneach,
Do Aodh Furinn ro costadh
Ana ocus gaisccedh.- And ro guidh Aodh Forinn,
Ar nach tairledh osnadh,
Co tallad ara dine
A r-righe cith cosnamh.- Leo fa saint a iodbairt
An días aurtaig uaile,
Tri cáeccat —cem ciallda —
Gacha bliadhna buaine.- Caecca ionar lachtna,
p.31
Cáecca lend find fuidre,
Cáecca samhusc samhraidh,
As amhlaidh adruidhle.- Na trí cáeccait a séd sa
Turnectdar gan fuirech
Don cléirech caidh corach,
Conid n-derna buidheach.- Dorighne firt amra
I n-Ard Brasg i Certain,
Iar m-baithius co m-balc-boil
Loichini meic Nechtain.- Do dhermait Mac Creche
A chuachan gan aithis,
áit i m-bái ara bélaibh
Acc denamh in bhaithis.- Ba h-ann badid cuman
In cuachán m-ban n-etrocht,
Nad bi ann, cidh alicc,
Tan tánicc Clúain Dirair.- O doluidh fo a bharainn
In cuach fa turuind
Tairnic torcbail n-gréne
Iath Léime Conculainn.- Co t-tainic Cluain Dirair
Ard-neimhedh nad mer on,
Ba turim ina deghaid
Cacha m-bái ina medhon.- Dorighne Mac Creiche
Mor d'fertaibh —cain comhal —
Dosgéna bidh adhas
Cen mharus in domhan.- Ba troiscctech, ba credhnach,
p.33
Ba credhlach, ro-n-airlech,
Ba diulsadach, ba tuidhlech,
Ba h-uiblech, ba h-ainglech.- Is oirdnidhe an cathair,
Cluain Dírair, is toirthech,
Is dilgidach, is duineach,
Is muinech, is mainbhthech.- Dún toicthech co toraibh,
Saire na cech duine;
Is ann ata an baile
For lár árda Ruide.- Ro ghabh Conall cednaigh
Mac Creiche dia n-adram;
Conairge da urgnaigh
Fri nemh ocus talmain.- Taithmeach an Righ uasun,
93v
As uasal a adhradh,
For bith cé bia cuimhnech,
Taot ainm n-De form labhradh.- Taod ainm n-De form labradh,
Is adha nach clethe,
Co n-dernar in bedach
Cetal do Mhac Creche.- Acta Meic Creiche agia
Adiuuent nos egregia;
Simus post exilia
In eterna memoria.- 'Is fír co rum carus sa
Mo chis is mo cháin;
Mo rí féin 'gum toghu sa
'Gum breith as bhar laimh.- Me Mac Creiche comramhach,
Isedh raiter rium, p.33
'Ar n-dol don bith oll-bhladach
Ni lemtar mo mhind.- Dá c-congbhat cáin comramhaigh
Gach nech darab dual,
Coingebat co h-oll-bhladach
Iad arin m-bioth m-búan.- Budh mé an uil-pheist ledartach
Da c-cloiser an gleo,
Bed sa ríu co freccartach,
Da millit mo scéo;- Da millit mo chana sa
Fermhachaigh na t-treabh,
Rachat sa fá a n-árus san,
Is gerrfad a seal.- As dúin ticc a moradh san,
Da m-bett rim co h-ál,
Da m-bett rim co tenn
Ní budh tenn a n-dál.- As mé Mac Creiche caidh
Ase m'ainm tre coir;
Gabaim dom Ri gan dalbh
Caocca psalm gach nóin.- Me mac ochta Ailbhe,
Luaidhith mé gach noin.
Goirit leis 'gum iomrádh
Ina lebhran cóir.- Fa h-e sin mo degh-athair
Archú ó Sleibh Crot,
Fa mac é dom shen-athair,
Do righ 'ga m-biodh mor b-port.- Broindgheal ocus Brig
Ocus Mainesc uain, p.34
Tri h-inghena righ
Is Fiachra go m-brigh m-buain;- Tri romheic in righ,
Roth, is Eogan án,
Ocus Aongus oll,
Do mháoid tonn is tragh.- Clanna na t-trí m-bán
Do mhaoidhes ar nuair,
Mac meisi do Brigh díbh
Is Ailbhe dín ar slúaigh.- Mac do Mainesc bháin
Cainneach, dan dúal dámh;
Mathair Brenainn muaidh
Broinngheal an t-súain t-sáimh.- Brenainn dorad damh
Ar Ciarraighe cáin,
Céd-láogh gacha bó,
Ruisne ro on crain.- Fermacaidh 'com réir
Oníu co tí m-brath;
Me do choisc in phéist
Doibh fa réidh an dáil.- Baothan as gach tred
Gach caorach,'s gach bó,
Is ó gach cadhla in cháin
Is ó gach cráin, ni gó.- Do dligh Brenainn bán
Do Chonnachtaibh coir
Da ceallaibh co tenn
Is do chenn an t-sloigh.- Tegmaid cuiccer náomh
p.35
Leis 'sa tír budh tuaidh,
Do bhámar laimh ris
In gach lis ar n-úair.- Adhbal dúinne ann
In dún in ghil ghaircc,
Ticc slúagh Mhurchaid buirb
Fúinn fa Thulchoibh Taidg.- Dob adhbal in creach,
Eallach cloinne Taidg,
Doradsat leo ar liubhra,
Fir fa h-iomdha maircc.- Atbert Brenainn bán:
'A mheic ochta cáidh,
Cidh ma léicci ar c-creich
Do breith asar laimh?'- Eirghim-si annsin súas
Is tóccbaim mo láimh,
&Íslighim síl Murchaid,
Fir na n-urcar n-aigh.- Doním líga cloch
Da feraibh co léir,
Is impaidim in creich
Ina n-dreich budhdéin.- Ot connairc an slogh
Meisi ar c-clodh na láoch,
Edhbrait damh a t-tír,
Eter mín is fráoch.- Doraidhsiot clann Taidg
94r
Aithesc rim ba h-ois:
'Ge mac ochta as-breth,
Tú as Mac Creiche anois.- Beir let uainne cáin,
p.36
A cléirigh cáidh cáimh,
Beth fa chíos do mhinn
As maith linn, a naoimh.'- A n-airgit 'sa n-ionnmus,
A séoda os gach dinn,
Lucht dar chongnam chóir,
Is é ór mo mhinn.- Doradsat damh chain,
Siol Muiredaigh mir,
Cáocca uinge d'ór
Ona slogh rom dligh.'
14.
Firta amhra oirdherca doronadh la Mac Creiche .i. da t-tangatar tedmanna mora i n-Erinn uile, ⁊ tangatar h-i c-Cáoille in Chosnamha, re n-abur Tuadh-Mumha, seach gach tír .i. an ghríbh ingnech, ⁊ an bhuidhe Connuill, ⁊ in bolccsighi, ⁊ in gerrghar, ⁊ in b roicseach Locha Broicsighi la cenél Fermaic .i. pést isi déni, osí nertmar, naimhdighi, neimh-meirtnech cona bruth bíastaidhe fuirre; ⁊ ro lá ara móra forsan tír a c-comhcoitcinne, ⁊ an úair do eirgedh fon tír fon samhla sin, ba samhalta re caecca each acc torann-bhualadh tragha a torann-cles fon tír; ⁊ ba h-edh doghnidh-si; a cráos cíocrach confadhach for comhoslaccadh amail choin cuthaigh, ⁊ doleigedh buinne lethan lan-aidbsech d'anáil ghairbh geinntlidhi tar compur a craois, ⁊ a carpait ar comhlasadh; ⁊ gach uile duine re m-benadh in anál neimhe sin, ⁊ gach ainmidhe, dothéighdís d'écc anabaidh obann uile, eter crodh ⁊ duine, gur dilaithrigh an tír uile acht madh begán da maithibh, ⁊ do fhaccbatar an tír uile a h-urmhor dhibh asa h-aithle; ⁊ ba h-e mét a n-esbadh .i. sescca eter fhior ⁊ mhnáoi gach láoi.
Ocus 'arsin tuccadh a n-erlamha dúthche cuca .i. Maoldala, ⁊ Mac Aiblen, ⁊ Blathmac, ⁊ naoimh an tír uile, ⁊ trí nonbair do sruithibh ⁊ do shenoiribh ar áon lá gach fer dhibhsin, ⁊ do bhátar an tír uile i n-aoin-ionad ar cionn na naemh-erlamh. Ocus acca f-faicsin do chách do thóccbatar gáire truagha troim-neimhelacha, ⁊ do gabhatar ag guidhe ⁊ ag gruaidh-imderccadh na naoimh-erlamh uasal. Ocus assedh asbert Blathmac:“As truaigh na trom-ghaire mora so.” “As fir ón,” ol na cleirigh. Is annsin dorala don peist beith i n-deiredh na n-imirgedh acc imirt a fercce forra. Gabhais eccla ⁊ uathbas mor na cleirigh, p.37 ⁊ asedh doronsat, a c-cluicc ⁊ a c-ceolána do bhuain, ⁊ tuairgnech mór da minnaibh ⁊ da m-bachlaibh, ⁊ dogháirsiot an tír leó, feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh; ⁊ ba loinnitte an peist sin, ⁊ ba h-adhnair leisna cleircibh ettualang na criche.
Ocus isedh asbert Blathmac: “Dénam trosccadh uile re Dia,” ar se, “ar co f-foillsigedh dúinn cia día f-fuil a n-dán ar f-furtacht ⁊ ar f-foiridhin.” Ba h-amlaidh sin doronsat, eter fhir ⁊ mnáoi .i. trosccadh i n-doigh a f-furtachta leisna cleircibh. Ocus do ghabhsat na clerigh ag binn-gabháil a psalm, ⁊ ag edarguidhe Iosa ima aisnéis doibh cia da t-tiucfadh a b-furtacht ⁊ a f-foiridhin. Ocus ruccsat as co n-dechaid da t-trian na h-oidhce tharsa; ⁊ do batar na sluaigh co h-imsniomach ar eccla in lái le h-uathbás na piasta, oir as amhlaidh do ticcedh an phéist sin asin loch la breic-néll na 94v maidne; ⁊ do ghabhadh 'ga n-diothlaitriucchadh go t-téigedh a buidhe taran n-gréin, ⁊ dotéigedh isin loch cetna doridhisi isin trian deidhenach don lo.
Doronsat na cleirigh a n-iarmeirghe, ⁊ do codlatar na clérigh a h-aithle a n-iarmeirghe. Ocus tainic Victor aingel co Blathmac ina (no trena) codladh, ⁊ asedh asbert: Pax uobis .i. sidh Dé amaille fribh; ⁊ do tadhbas do Blathmac in t-árcaingel uasal, ⁊ do fhiarfaigh sccela de. Isedh asbert fris: “In f-fuil a n-dán dúinn furtacht na foirithin d'faghbail co brath?” “Atá,” ol in t-aingel, “.i. éirgidh go mac ochta Ailbhe; ⁊ as dó do dheonaigh Dia bhar f-furtacht ⁊ bhar f-foiridhin.” “Cáit ina bfuil an mac diongmhála Dé sin?” ol Blathmac. “Acc bruach Locha Léin,” ol in t-aingeal. “Cidh as coimet don crích,” ol Blathmac, “co toire in t-eccnaidhe?” “Ninsa,” ol in t-aingel. “Canfad sa siansán ina cluais; contuilfe ina suán ré téora lá ⁊ teora n-oidhce.” “Ni h-edh amáin,” ol Blathmac, “acht co toire tar sruth Sionna anall namá.” “Biaidh,” ol an t-aingel, “amhail as dech lat.” Ocus fogní an t-aingel amail asbert o tús co deiredh; co ros tafainn roimhe in m-broicsigh gusin loch, gur chan claiscetal ainglecdha, go ro lá an phéist ina súan. Ocus ro ela an t-aingel uaithe asa h-aithle.
Ocus muscclais Blathmac asa h-aithle, ⁊ do eirigh an lá. Ocus otconncatar cách an lá cona lán-soillsi, teccait an tuath gusna p.38 cleircibh ar coimtheiched la h-úaman na piasta. Ocus ticc Blathmac go forbhailidh re c-cách; ⁊ fiarfaigit scela dhe; ⁊ innisedh doibh o tús go deiredh, ⁊ atbert na briathra sa ann:
- Do tadbas damh aingel Iosa
Osna dronga;
Aingil in righ as daingenam
Gniomh saor sochla.- Victor aingel, h-é domfánaicc
Co tlacht nemhdha,
H-ésin do dhéoin Dé gan diomdha
Diocras deamhna.- Atbert frimsa aingel &Íosa
Dáil co n-deimhne,
Dol damh go mac sochla saidbre
Ochta Ailbhe.- 'Eirghidh co Mac Creiche craibhdech,'
Ol in t-aingel,
'Le gloine a rún, ase bhar n-dún,
Is bhar n-daingen.'- Do gheall go c-coisccfedh an piasta,
Gidh dail dodhaing,
Co tíosadh Mac Creiche caraim
Tar an Sionainn.- Tainicc d'ar f-furtacht,ó Iosa,
Ar gach n-ard-chás,
Victor aingel, damh dioblás
é do tadbás.
Do.
Asa h-aithle sin atbert Blathmac fri cách: “Eirghidh, a mhuintir ionmhuin go Mac Creiche, oir as dó do dheonaigh Dia bhar b-furtacht ⁊ bhar f-foiridhin, ⁊ ni dúinne.” “Cionnus rachmait ne annsin?” for na maithe. “Eirghedh bar n-uaisle p.39 ⁊ bhar n-ard-mháithe ann,” bhar Blathmac; “⁊ eirgidh fa dháoirchíos fhoghnamha dó féin ⁊ da mhanchaibh tara éis, ar bhar saoradh on péist, ⁊ tabhraidh cáin dó gacha tres bliadhna, feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh.” “In t-tiucfai-si linn?” ol na flaithe. “Rachat amh,” ar Blathmac.
15.
Ocus asa h-aithle sin do gabadh a n-eich ána osccardha dóibh, ⁊ do ghluaisettar da chéd décc líon a c-cuidechtan; ⁊ Blathmac cona tri caectaibh do shruithibh ⁊ do shenoiribh, maráon ris. Ocus do fáccbatar Maoldala ⁊ Mac Aiblen ⁊ na naoimh ar céna ac coimhét an tíre. Ocus 'arsin do ghluaisetar an dirim degh-sluagh co tric tinneasnach do tharrachtain a t-tíre gan milledh neithe budh mo; ⁊ rangatar tar sruth Sionna anonn, ⁊ h-i c-crích Ciarraighe Luachra, ⁊ assin 95r go bruach Locha Léin. Ocus toirlingedh Blathmac asa carpat acc faiccsin Meic Creiche, ⁊ toirlingit cách uile ar chena, ⁊ imtighit an magh ara n-gluinibh i n-docum an cleirigh; ⁊ ferais Mac Creiche failte re Blathmac, ⁊ fóchtais Mac Creiche scéla dhe; ⁊ innisidh dó gurab dia iarraidh-siomh táinic fein, ⁊ na maithe sin, dia sáoradh on eiccendáil i r-rabatar, ⁊ día f-furtacht.
Ocus ba h-amhlaidh baoi-siumh an tan sin 'ar c-cur na criche uile fa dháoir-chios dúr-fhognamha dó féin ⁊ da mhancaibh co brath; ⁊ adubratar cach uile amail adubairt Blathmac. Ocus as amhlaidh bái Mac Creiche; ní bái ina fharradh acht Mainchín namá, ⁊ an Finnfaidech. Ocus do ghabhsat ag cáoines iomaccallmha, ⁊ acc gealladh máoine ⁊ mór mhaithesa dó ara f-furtacht. “Cidh as rátha damhsa risan n-gealladh sin?” ar Mac Creiche. “An tuath forsan ecclais, ⁊ an ecclas foran tuaith,” ar Blathmac, “⁊ cách uile 'gut bith-réir; ⁊ do cháin do chomhalladh duit gacha tres bliadhna, ⁊ da screpall béo bith-beo for gach teallach, ⁊ cíos do cluicc gacha bliadhna.”
16.
Ocus tiomairccit an tír iarsin ina t-timcell, ⁊ ceileabhrais Mac Creiche don tír; ⁊ beirid bennachtain úatha, ⁊ fáccbaidh bennachtain aca; ⁊ gluaisit a f-frithing na conaire cedna tara n-ais, go riachtatar bruach na Sionna sriobh-aille, ⁊ tangatar tar sruth anall. Ocus ó tangatar, muscclais an pheist, ⁊ léiccis fon tír í p.40 asa h-aithle. Ocus teichit an tír uile reimpe co riachtatar co coraidh Cille Subhulaigh, ⁊ tiagait uile tar in c-coraidh anonn. Ocus rainicc Mac Creiche chuca isin tres lo; ⁊ ase uair ⁊ aimser sin, ⁊ an peist ina n-deiredh aga n-athcuma, ⁊ gáire troma truag-neimhéleacha agna sluaghaibh reimpe, ⁊ in uair ba troma na tromghairthe, atchíad an t-sochraitte sloigh da n-ionnsaigedh .i. Mac Creiche craibhdech, ⁊ sléchtuit uile dó, feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh; ⁊ imtiaghait an magh ara n-gluinibh i n-docum Mhec Creiche, ⁊ tiomnaid iad féin dó, i n-dáoir-cíos foghnamha, ⁊ da mhancaibh thara éis.
Ocus ní cían do bátar ann go f-facatar aeghairedha na n-eide ⁊ na n-innile chuca, ⁊ in peist ina n-diaidh, ⁊ teichit cach uile ar cúlaibh an clérigh; ⁊ ticc an peist isin c-coraidh co f-feircc móir ⁊ co luinne; ⁊ do theilccedh caora teinedh tara craos ciocrach, confadhach, gur gabh omhan mor an clerech, ⁊ bái Mainchín ina dhiaigh, ⁊ in Finnfaidhech aicce. Ocus adubairt an cleirech: “Atroich mo chlocc damh, a Mhanchin,” ar Mac Creiche; ⁊ cuirit na sluaigh cechtardha a n-gnúsi fri lár, ⁊ atbert Mac Creiche na briathra sa:
- Mac Creiche
- Do neimh ar c-cul go c-cuire Crist,
95v
A fuil fat rún gurab é nos íc;
Do neimh ar cúl co c-cuire Día,
Nar leícce form do neimh ni as sia.- A bhroicseach borb, na druid aníos,
Anal mo chluicc im cend do cráis;
A bhroicsech balbh, gidh garbh an dáil,
Meisi dod choscc, a h-ucht Criost cáidh.- Moirsheiser árchaingel
Asin cathraigh cáim
Do dheoin Dé an dúilemhain
Dod dhiochur dím.- Cetrar sáor súisccélaid
p.41
Turnfaid sin do thréoir,
Matha is Mairc 'na m-buidhin tréin,
Lúcas ocus éoin.- Aitcim-si na naomha
Aitcim na h-ogha,
Aitcim-si na h-uile
Gurb at cuire cródha.- Aitchim-si dom fhurtacht
Naoimh in bhetha buain,
Combet sin lem guidhe
Uile thes is tuaidh.- Aitchim si dom furtacht
Crist, cathbarr cáich,
Rí an richid, Rí nimhe,
Rinn-bhile os ráith.- Día mór diochra díolgadhach
Mac Muire, na ceil,
Iarraim, áilim, athchuinghim
Co c-coisgi do nimh.
Do.
Asa h-aithle sin aithiarrais Mac Creiche in clocc, ⁊ tucc Mainchin dó é, ⁊ benais an clocc co lonn, gur bedhg an pheist, ⁊ gur eirigh for a cosaibh deiridh, gur bo mó ná dois-bhile bairrleabur buadha, no cloictheach ar cnoc h-í; gur bo h-urgrain mór a h-iomat griobh ⁊ ingen eiste, ⁊ gabhais omhan mór an cléirech acc faiccsin na péiste. Et orauit secundo ad Deum, eleuatis manibus et flexis genibus, dicens: “Deus pius, Pater omnipotens, author misericors, Deus uerus, unus, solus et trinus, miserere mei, Domine, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam, quia Tu es Pater meus potentisimus, et Deus meus pius, Tu es uictoria mea magna. Tibi comendo me totum, et líbera mé, Dominé, ab ista uerme mortifera et a uénéno brócside quia Te adorabo, Te laudabo, ad Te uadam et in Te requiescam, qui uiuis et regnas in scecula sceculorum. Amen.”.
Ocus asa h-aithle na h-edarguidhe sin don cleirech is amhlaidh do bi an pheist ina sesamh an fedh do bái Mac Creiche ag denamh na h-oraitte. Ocus léiccidh isin c-coraidh í asa h-aithle go f-feircc aduathmair urgranna ioggnathaigh, gur bo comhmor do theilccedh a caóra teinedh tara craos cíocrach confadach, ⁊ tar p.42 tollaibh a sróna; ⁊ do thoccaibh a bruth piastaidhe fuirre, gur bho fordhercc a driuch, go m-báoi fordhrucht fola fordeircce for gach n-áen ruainne ina curp ótá a h-ó gó a h-erball. Uch tra, as maircc do Mhac Creiche do bái ara cionn isin choraidh, muna beith in fír Dia forordha trena chumachtaibh da coscc. Ocus 'arsin edarghuidhis Mac Creiche an Tigerna go tinnesnach ima thesarccain ar neimh an ainmidhe urbhadhaigh, ⁊ asedh asbert: “A chinn mo chomairle, a Choimdhe cumhachtaigh, a triath, a tigerna, a oide, a anmcara, a mheic na mór-óighe, diongaibh diomh an onchoin-si, amhail as dech liom, a Rí ⁊ a Ruiri, co nach cuiri sí im cend.”
Asa h-aithle sin tuairgis Mac Creiche in clocc fecht fo trí, ⁊ an peist ag siubal 'na coraidh go céim dhíoghainn, ⁊ a cráos ar comhlosccadh, 96r ⁊ an treas fecht do sceinn cáor theinedh asin c-clocc h-i c-cráos na péisti, ⁊ lasaidh a cráos foran b-péist. Ó do mothaigh in pheist a compur ar comhlasadh, do ionntó isin c-coraidh go sgredghail ⁊ go sgréchad adhuathmair, ⁊ do eirghettar na slúaigh cechtardha, ⁊ do toccbatar gáire comhmóra coitcionna cathaiseacha comhmaidhme. Ocus do len Mac Creiche in phést, ⁊ a trosdán cam cos-caol ina laimh, ⁊ gabhais for tiomáin na piasta dia trostán, ⁊ ticc Mac Creiche a n-diaidh na piasta, ⁊ Maoldala, ⁊ Mac Aiblén, ⁊ Blathmac, ⁊ naoimh an tíre archena i n-diaidh Mheic Creiche; ⁊ an tir uile arcena, feraibh, macaib, mnaibh, i n-diaidh na c-clerech; ⁊ il-ghretha ⁊ iol-gaire mora agna sluaghaibh i n-díaidh na péiste. Ocus do ghabhatar rompa fon ionnus sin, go riachtatar an loch; ⁊ rucc léim isin loch, ⁊ dochúaid fho domhain an locha. Do thoccbatar na sluaigh ⁊ na cleiricch comhgháire móra ag altachad bith-buidhechais do Dhía, mar do coisccedh díobh an pheist.
Ocus ní cían do battar ann, co facatar in loch ag maidm ina bhuinneadhaibh borb-ruadha tar bordaibh in locha; ⁊ asa h-aithle sin eirghis an pheist ar lár in locha ara cosaibh a c-certairde fón chéd-ionnus. Asa h-aithle sin toccbaitt na sluaigh gáire móra ag aithcéodh ⁊ ag imdherccadh an cléirigh; ⁊ gabhais adhnaire mór Mac Creiche imon péist d'aitheirge, ⁊ bedhgais a croidhe ina cliabh, ⁊ fechais aran firmamint, ⁊ edarghuidhis ina inntinn &Íosa, ⁊ fechais ina thimcell fecht n-aill, ⁊ ní fhuair ní da t-tuairccfedh p.43 no da t-teilgfedh an phéist acht enní; ní bái nech ina comhfoccus in tan sin acht Mainchin amháin. Ocus scairtis Mainchín for Mhac Creiche, o't-connairc na sluaigh cechtardha 'ar t-teiched. Is annsin tucc Mac Creiche a lamh for cenn-cumhdach a choroine .i. cumdach édaigh lachtna bái occa amhail barráin, ⁊ tuc urchor ar ammus na piasta gur gabh cumhdach coroine in chriostaidhe ar coimhlethadh, ⁊ an barráin ag bioth-tromugadh foran b-peist, co ro taidbredh doibh uile h-é ina cochall iarainn aithleghtha ag coimhlethadh iman b-péist, go f-facatar cách a c-coitcinne an pheist ag cromadh ina cam-lúbaibh fon m-barráin, co rucc leis co fudhomhain an locha, gan aitheirge go bruinne bratha ⁊ bethad.
Ocus tóccbhait na slúaigh cechtardha iol-ghairthe móra ag tabairt tesmolta for Mhac Creiche, feraibh, macaibh, mnáibh; ⁊ léiccit na clerigh a n-glúine fri lár, ⁊ doronsat a c-codach ⁊ a n-áentaidh re Mac Creiche, ⁊ tuccatar iad féin i n-daoir-chios foghnamha dó féin, ⁊ da mhanchoibh. Ocus asa h-aithle sin doní Mac Creiche altachad buidhe do Dhía imna miorbuilibh mora sin .i. an broicsech do bádudh, ⁊ atbert:
- Mac Creiche
- Atlochar sa dom Rí ruanaidh,
A flaith neimh-iaith n-ellaigh,
Mar do láis —loisgeadh go m-búadaibh —
An bhroicseach fa mhelaibh.- Atlochar sa don flaith cedna,
Óir as raith a rúna;
Co t-toire in loch a lera,
Ni léiccfe í for c-cúla.- A sliabh dercc-óir uas glan-alla,
A senmoir gan gubha,
Atlochar don Rí adrala
Nacam frith rem tubha.
17.
96vAsa h-aithle sin tangatar an tír uile ar druim uas ur an locha don dara leth, ⁊ na clérigh don leith araill. Ocus bennachais Mac Creiche iarsin an tír, feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh, ⁊ tiomairccther a crudh ⁊ a cana as gach aird da p.44 ionnsaigidh; ⁊ an fer diolmhain ag na biodh acht a arm, do beiredh dósomh a bhreth féin de; ⁊ teccar each ⁊ erredh a c-cind chomairle .i. a t-tríath ⁊ a t-tigerna chuicce, maille le cách. “Faccaibh fágbala forsan tír,” ar Blathmac, ⁊ ar na maithe. “Cidh dom fia sa asa los?” ar Mac Creiche. “Do cháin do comhallnadh frit mhancaibh ⁊ friot féin, ⁊ tiomthacmung tigerna, eter each ⁊ erredh, feibh atchí anois,” ol na maithe. “Fáccbhaim-si buaidh taoisigh forsan tir,” ol Mac Creiche, “⁊ alladh riogh, ⁊ buaidh rioghna ⁊ rechtaire, ⁊ buaidh c-cleirigh.”
“Faccaibh tuilledh,” ol na maithe. “Cidh doghebh sa ar a shon sin?” ol Mac Creiche. “Doghebair céid-ghein gacha h-eallaigh.” “Faccbhaim ioth ⁊ bliocht in bhar t-tír, ⁊ mes for bhar c-coilltibh, ⁊ toradh in bhar t-talmain.” “Faccaibh tuilledh,” ol na maithe. “Cidh bhias damhsa ar a son sin?” ar Mac Creiche. “Biaidh,” ol na maithe, “cíos do cluic gacha bliadhna.” “Faccbaim-si buaidh n-gaisccidh for bhar laochaibh, ⁊ iomarcraidh gacha tíre accaibh. Fáccbhaim gach teidhm trom-ghalair thiocfus in bhar t-tír, díneach mo cluicc ⁊ urnaighte mo mháor da díochur eiste; ⁊ an triath no an tanaiste bhes ann, a mheth no a écc, muna eirghitt ríasan c-clocc sa, ⁊ a meth nó a écc gibe nech don tír chuirfes tar a glún suas le gó nó le h-éitheach é go brath.”
“Ocus faccbhaim daoibh'na agaidh sin gan beith ní bús úaite ina an líon tángabhair im dhochom sa madh dia c-comhaillti na cána so.” Ocus atbert:
- Mac Creiche
- Trí cét fo trí thangabhair,
D'feraibh arm-ghlana uaille;
Cén comhailltí mo chána,
Ni bheithi ní bhús úaite.
“Faccbaim ní ele daoibh, an t-eallach forsa m-bia mo screapall, gan teidhm trom-ghalair do thecht chuca go brath, ⁊ gan marb anabaidh do breith asan tegh i m-bia mo sgreapall. Faccbaim daoibh an uair nach comhaillfithe mo chana, ⁊ nach riarfithe mo mionna, na h-uile tedhmanna ⁊ galra agh dail foraibh dogres, ⁊ demhan misccnech miorúnach ettraibh do gnath, gomadh fealltach fionghalach cach uaibh 'má cele; ⁊ gach uair atchífidhe p.45 mo clocc sa, gomadh oil, ⁊ gomadh athais da bhur f-fine a fhaicsin gan a cháin do chomall fris. Faccbaim ní ele fós, trí fáoidhe mo cluicc romhaibh a c-cath, ⁊ bidh maidm romhaibh ar gach leth, da c-comhaillti mo chána.”
18.
Do mholatar cách a c-coitcinne gur maith gach ní da n-dubairt an t-eccnaidhe. Ocus atbert Blathmac gur mor na míorbuile ⁊ na ferta doronadh annsin. “As fír éiccin,” ol Mac Creiche, “úair bidh Druim na f-Ferta ainm an droma sa óníu go bráth, ⁊ bidh é Loch m-Broicsidhe in loch sa thios go bráth.” Ocus doronsat na cleirigh a c-codach ⁊ a n-áontaidh re 'roile; ⁊ doroine Mac Creiche ulaidh ⁊ adradh, ⁊ tuccadh a chána ⁊ a chumhala go 97r Mac Creiche; ⁊ do gabh acc ceilebradh don tír, ⁊ acc techt tar a chánaibh; ⁊ isedh asbert: “Maith an turus tangamar don tir-si da cabair; ⁊ bidh maith doibhsiumh é, dia c-coimhlit mo chana sa rim fein, ⁊ rém comharbaibh tar éis a chele go brath, ⁊ bidh olc muna coimhlit.”
Ocus atbert an laoidh ann:
- Mac Creiche
- Maith an turus tangamar
Do dhéoin coimsigh cáimh,
Do chobair shluaigh Fhermhacach
As gach tír do thir.- Broicseach aga sluccadh san
Uille na gach olc,
Uil-peist uathmar anaithnidh
Nír fétadh a coscc.- Maoldala is Mac Aiblen
Is Blatmac as cáidh corp,
Ocus náoimh in tíre so
Nír fhétsat dibhsi a coscc.- Do raidhset na naoimh
p.46
A n-aithesc go grod:
'Fáccbaidh uile an tír;
Ni thicc dhinn a coscc.'- Fiarfaighit flaithe Fermacach
Do Bhlathmac blaith-bán:
'Re furtacht in m-bia ar súil
No an f-fuil duin a n-dán?'- 'Eirgidh co mac ochta Ailbhe,'
Ar Blathmac co m-brigh,
'As esin gan breicc
Diongbhus an plaigh díbh.- As dó do deonaigh Día
Do ched choimsigh cáimh,
Gach teidhm is gach tres
Do chor as bhar t-tír.'- Tiacchait flaithe Fermacach
Dom iarraidh budhdhes,
Da f-furtacht da f-foiridin;
Turus dob é ar les.- Fuaratar me ar clar-mhaghaibh
Ar brú Locha Léin;
Damhsa, mar búdh lan-mhanaigh,
Do shlechtsat go léir.- Adubhratar uile,
An sluagh féta finn:
'Do breth dheit, a naoimh-cléirigh,
Tar is cabair sinn.'- Do ghellsat damh uile,
Feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh,
Sgreapall gacha duine,
Is beith uile fam' cáin.- Teccar damh Día a rathachus,
p.47
Orra as fír an fath,
Imon m-breith neoch do fhaccbus sa
Do comhall go brath.- Ticcim-si leo anall
Tar Sionainn na sreabh,
Teccait —óir as fír —
'Sa tir leth ar leth.- Teccait uile an tír
Cugainn inar n-dáil,
Ocus slechtait damh,
Feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh.- Ticc an peist 'na n-diaid
'Sa choraidh gan cosg,
Ticcit ar mo chul,
Is geibhim mo clocc.- Aitcim Iosa oll
Go ro coiscc an peist,
Ticc caor asin clocc
Go n-deachaid 'na cráos.- Lasaidh a brú bailc,
Ar ba glan in rún,
Gan bréicc, is na ceil,
Téid a neimh ar cúl.- Tionntaidh tara h-ais
Gusan loch budhdein
Mar rainic a bruach,
Beiridh 'na lar léim.- Téid fan loch budhdéin,
Tic cathir 'na sproc,
Donít an sluagh uile
Altuccadh buidhe a coiscc.- Ticc 'sa loch arís
p.48
'Na sesamh, fa grain,
Eighit uile an sluagh;
Uch, fa truagh an gháir.- An fad do bí an peist
'Na sesamh mar sin,
Fa furtacht domria
Aitchim Dia do nimh.- Ticcim urcor dhi,
Oir fa luinne lem,
Do chumhdach mo chinn
Cuiridh é fa a cend.- Gabhais fós 'ga h-iombathadh
Mo bharrain —réim raith —
Ba réil do chach uile
'Na choire mhór maith.- Dingis ina cam-lubaibh
Isin loch co léir,
Gan eirghe fá cách
Go t-ti bráth don peist.- Slechtait damh na slúaigh,
Feraibh, macaibh, mnaibh;
Teccait damh co léir
Mo breath féin do cháin.- Teccar damh annsin
On t-sluag féta fhinn
Cáin gacha treas bliadhna
Ar riaradh mo mhinn.- A each is a erredh
Ro dam fia sa on flaith;
Rot fia sa ón anos
Asa los gach maith.- Mo screapall bec bith-beo
p.49
Damh do dhéonaigh Día,
Ni berar marbh anabaidh
Asin tigh i m-bia.- Pinginn cíos mo cleirigh
Nech tucus on Róimh,
'Sa h-íc do réir riaghla
Gacha bliadhna doibh.- Faccbhaim buaidh tigerna
Foran tír búdhdéin,
Buaidh rioghna, buaid rechtaire,
Cén rabhat dom réir.- 97vBuaidh riogh, buaidh rechtaire,
Búaidh c-cleirigh h-i c-cill;
Búaidh maisi, búaidh marcaidhechta,
Búaidh óla gach linn.- Faccbaim ith is bliocht
Isin tír-si attáim;
Faccbaim mes is mor-toradh
Cén coimhlit mo cháin.- Faccbaim-si buaidh n-gaisccidh
Da laochaibh gan fhell;
Cen coimhlit mo cháin
Ní berthar a n-geall.- Urnaighthe mo mháoir,
Dínech mo cluicc cáidh,
Síad dibh ar gach m-beirn
Diongbus teidm is pláigh.- Trí fáidhe mo cluicc
Romhaibh h-i c-cath cruaidh,
Acht go c-coimhle a gheis,
Bérthái leis gach búaidh.- Céd-laogh, ced-úan, céd-mennán,
p.50
Céd-arc crána a cró,
Dlighim do shlúagh Fermacach,
Aderim ní gó.- Faccbaim-si da righ
Eirghe roimh mo clocc;
A meth fan treidhe
Muna eirghe go grod.- Gach plaigh, is gach galar,
'S gach teidhm uathmar án,
Dingebat da c-cetraibh
Gen coimhlit mo cháin.- Da f-feraibh, da mnaibh,
Da n-iarsma budhdéin
Dingebhat na plagha sa,
Gén rabat dom réir.- Gach nech diobh dom riara sa
Beid ar deis Dé bí,
Rachait uile ar nemh,
Eter fher is mhnáoi.- Da c-congbat cáin comhramaigh
Gach aon díbh da n-dual,
Cuingeobhat go h-oll-bladach
Iad ar in m-bith m-buan.- Bidh me an uil-peist ledartach,
Da n-dernait rim gó;
Bed sa riu go freccartach,
Da millit mo scéo.- Atlochar do Día;
An péist, as garb rún,
Oír as damh as ced
Gan a techt ar c-cúl.- Atlochar do Dhia
p.51
Mo bharráin co bráth,
Mar do ládh fan pést,
Conar léicc fo cách.- Ger bó h-édach lachtna
Mo bharráin —réim raith —
Ata 'mun peist gan brón
'Na choire mór maith.- Gach aon don tír toccbus
Mo clocc co reim raith
Osa glún le gó
Fáccbhaim-si dó meth.- Mo secht fichit bliadhan
Co feil cainnel raith,
Atlochar do Dhía
Gach ar fiad sa maith.
Maith.
Conidh betha Meic Creiche co n-uicce-sin, 'arna scríobadh lasan m-brathair m-bocht Michel O Clérigh i c-conuent brathar Dúin na n-Gall, 11 Maij 1635, asan c-cóip do scríobh an bráthair cédna i c-conueint Innsi i t-Tuadh-Mumain a mí Iuin na bliadna-sa 1634, asan leabur do sccríobh Maoilechlainn O Callannáin h-i c-Cill Maoilodhrain do chomarba Mheic Creiche, an tan rob áois do Chriost 1528.
19.
62. Scél ele ar Mac Creiche annso
Ro bái araile fer i t-treabhlaid móir go h-ainmesardha on m-bolgaigh, Tómás ó Godáin a ainm, ⁊ ro benadh a urlabhra ⁊ a aithne de, ⁊ ní raibhe acht beccán dia anmain ann; ⁊ mar dorinnedh díneach dó le maic-cléirech Mheic Creiche; ⁊ 'arna tabairt don maic-cleirech cetna lena h-ól don easlán asan c-clocc sin Mheic Creiche, tainicc a urlabhra ⁊ a aithne do fócétóir; ⁊ ro maoidhedh le cách na miorbhuile sin. Conidh iarsin dorinne Tomás o Godáin .i. fer na bolccaighe in laid:
- Tomás O Godáin
- Mor na ferta sa dar lem
p.52
Doroine in terlamh oram,
Mac Creiche darab buan bloidh
Tucc mé o bhás go bethaid.- 98rCreidim don mionn sa rem táoibh
Táinicc a h-ucht an fhíor-naoimh;
Ní thicc credh daoine asteach
Ina m-bérthar a dhineach.- Tucc damhsa comairce raith
Mac Creiche na mionn mór-maith;
Dlighim fognamh dó seach cách
Ó nar dermait a ócclach.- A cluicc 'sa bachla cama
Arar h-eccradh óir lecca,
Cóir do chách uile, fir damh,
A miorbuile do mhaoidhemh.- A cháin ar fheraibh Muman
'S ar Chonnactaibh do bunadh,
Termonn do chléirchibh a ceall
Dlegar o fheraibh Erenn.- A miorbhuile gus aniugh
Do budh decair a n-airiomh,
Ata riamh le nert gan clodh
Ag denamh na b-fert f-fir-mór.- In laidh si le creidemh cóir
Gibe gebus 'na onóir,
Doghebha itche gan logh
Béraidh leis gach buaidh lán-mor.
Mor.
Asan leabhur cedna do sccriobadh.
Document details
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Title (uniform): Betha Meic Creiche
Author: unknown
Editor: Charles Plummer
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compiled by: Elva Johnston and Beatrix Färber
Funded by: University College, Cork and Professor Marianne Mcdonald via the CELT Project
Edition statement
2. Second draft, revised and enlarged.
Extent: 14265 words
Publication statement
Publisher: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a Project of University College, Cork
Address: College Road, Cork, Ireland — http:www.ucc.ie/celt
Date: 2005
Date: 2008
Distributor: CELT online at University College, Cork, Ireland.
CELT document ID: G201012
Availability: Available with prior consent of the CELT programme for purposes of academic research and teaching only.
Source description
Manuscript source
- Bruxelles, Bibliothèque Royale, O'Clery MS numbers 2324–4200, ff 87r–98r. For details see J. Van den Gheyn, Catalogue des manuscrits de la Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique, Bruxelles 1906–1948, (13 vols.); vol. V.
Editions and Translations
- Charles Plummer, Miscellanea Hagiographica Hibernica. Vitae adhuc ineditae sanctorum Mac Creiche, Naile, Cranat, ad fidem codicum manu scriptorum recognovit, prolegomenis, notis, indicibus, instruxit C. P. Accedit Catalogus Hagiographicus Hiberniae ab eodem pro tempore informatus. Societé des Bollandistes. Subsidia Hagiographica 15. (Bruxelles 1925).
The edition used in the digital edition
Plummer, Charles, ed. (1925). Miscellanea Hagiographica Hibernica. 1st ed. cxx + 271 pp. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes.
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@book{G201012,
title = {Miscellanea Hagiographica Hibernica},
editor = {Charles Plummer},
edition = {1},
note = {cxx + 271 pp.},
publisher = {Société des Bollandistes},
address = {Brussels},
date = {1925}
}
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Project description: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
Sampling declarations
The present text represents pages 7–52 of the volume. The editor's introduction (7–11) is prefixed to the second edition of this electronic text. An English translation is available in a separate file, T201012. Textual footnotes are integrated into the electronic edition.
Editorial declarations
Correction: Text has been thoroughly checked, proofread and parsed using NSGMLS. Corrections are tagged.
Normalization: The electronic texts represents the edited text. The editor's expansion of the notum for 'vero' as 'immorro' is retained throughout.
Quotation: Within prose sections, quotation marks are tagged q; double quotation marks are nested within single quotation marks. Within lines of poetry, quotation marks are represented by ' for technical reasons.
Hyphenation: Soft hyphens are silently removed. When a hyphenated word (hard or soft) crosses a page-break, the page-break is marked after the completion of the hyphenated word.
Segmentation: div0=the saint's life; div1=the individual chapter; div2=the editor's paragraph. Page-breaks are marked pb. Manuscript folio numbers are marked mls unit="folio" n="".
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Profile description
Creation: By one or more unknown authors in Irish monastic scriptoria. c. 1100–1200
Language usage
- The major part of the text is in Middle Irish and Early Modern Irish. (ga)
- A few passages are in Latin. (la)
- The introduction and some footnotes are in English. (en)
Keywords: religious; prose; medieval; Saint's Life
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(Most recent first)
- 2008-09-30: Keywords added; new wordcount made; file validated. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
- 2005-08-25: Normalised language codes and edited langUsage for XML conversion (ed. Julianne Nyhan)
- 2005-08-09T12:03:57+0100: Converted to XML (ed. Peter Flynn)
- 2005-04-21: Header updated; introduction inserted; file re-checked; markup modified; file re-parsed; new wordcount, html file created. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
- 2005-04-21: Introduction scanned, proofed, and marked up. (data capture Benjamin Hazard)
- 2001-07-25: Header modified; html file created. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
- 2001-05-18: Remaining names, dates, and numbers marked-up. (ed. Maxim Fomine)
- 2001-05-01: File parsed using NSGMLS. Header modified. Embedded poetry tagged. div2 elements rearranged in acordance with TEI. HTML file created. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
- 2000-10-02: Text converted to ASCII. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
- 2000-08-18: Quotes and personal names marked up. Header updated. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
- 1995-03-09: Structural mark-up and double proofing. More corrections entered in the text. (ed. Mavis Cournane)
- 1994-01-17: Mark-up of poetry, Latin, and editorial additions begun. The footnotes are beginning to be incorporated into the text. (ed. Elva B. Johnston)
- 1993-12-08: First proofing begun. Page-breaks and paragraphs marked. (ed. Elva B. Johnston)