unknown
Edited by Danielle Malek
Táin Bó Regamon
1. Egerton 1782 Incipit Táin Bó Regamnai 1
Ro-buí dono 2 lóech amru la Connachtu. Regoman a ainm. Almo diáirmithe do cetraib les, ocus secht n-ingeno les. Ros-carsat sidi na secht Maine .i. secht maic Ailella ocus Medba .i. Mani Mingor ocus Mane Mórgor ocus Mani Aithremail ocus Mani Máthremail ocus Mani Condogaib-uili ocus 5 Mani Milbél ocus Mani Móepert, condot secht Mani samluith. Sect n-ingeno Regomuin dono .i. cethéora Donanda ocus téoro Dúnlaithi. Is díb atá Inbiur n-Donann ind íarthar Connacht 3 ocus 4 Áth ina n-Dúnlatho i m-Bréfne.
“Tíagar 5 húann co Ragoman,” ol Ailill, “co tucthar ní dún dá cethrib frissin n-égin fil fornn.” “Ro-fetamur a n-dobérad dún dia n-dorucmais dou .i. 10 na maccu ucut,” ol Medb. “Día tíastais do acolluim ina n-ingen do-bértais ascaid n-amra dún húathaib 6 do búaib blichtuib.”
Con-gartar dóib íarum ina Mane ocus ráiti Ailill friu. “Is ferr a dol,” ol Medb, “dég gairi.” “Regam-ne ém,” ol Mane Gor. “Is olcc ar láechdocht-ne immurgu ocus nís mór ar m-bríg, ar is rocáem ronn-ailed 7 ocus iss aindun 8 fria 15 dol 9 gu náimtiu ocus it maithi inn óig gusa tíagumm ocus nín relgeth do fogluimm aitherguib.”
Do-llotar as do iarum, secht fichit laech a llín, cu m-bátar inn íarthar Connacht [i n-]ocus 10 do crích Corccmodruad 11 Ninuis. “Tóet húathad 12 n-óoc húaib,” ol Mani Gor, “.i. tríar n-óc féni do acullaim ina n-ingen.”
Co comarnaicter frisna téora h-ingenuib i n-dorus in dúni. Dus-forsailgsit claidmi dóib fo cétóir. “Anmuin hi n-anmuin,” ol na h-ingena. “Tabraid 13 ar nd-trí-drinnrusc douin-ni,” ol ind ócc. 14 “Rob-bia,” ol in tríar ingen, “acht níp innili, ar ní cumcum-ni dúib.” “Is la suidi ém cich i n-dingnem,” 15 ol Mane. “Coich sib-si?” ol ind ingen. “Mani Gor mac Ailella ocus Medba.” “Cid 25 do-bar-hucco issin tír-si?” ol inn ingen. “Do brith bó ocus ingen,” ol sé. “Is amluit, 16 is comaduis a m-brith,” ol in ingen. “Ad-ágar namrugaid,” 17 ol sí, “atát óicc maithe ar bur ciunn.” “Bíth for n-itgi-si linn ocus dos-fuccfom,” ol sé. “Ba dútracht linn éim,” ol sí, “mad íar menmannuib conn-étsimis,” ol sí. “Cia for lin?” or sí. “Secht fichit láech,” ol séisium. “Anuith sunn gen conn-árladamair-ni 30 na h-ingeno aili,”ol sí. “Fob-sisimair-ne ém,” ol in ingen, “in mét con-mesamar.”
Tíaguit as iarum gusna h-ingenao aili ocus ad-gládatar. “Óicc dúib sunn a tírib Connacht,” ol sí, “.i. secht maic Ailella ocus Medba, da bur m-brith ocus do brith bar 18 m-bó lib.” “Ba hál 19 dún ém,” ol inn inginrad, “acht nammá at-águmar turbad fair laisna 20 h-ógo.” “Tóet as trá conn-árlaidid ina macco.” 35 “Atroglésim-ni.”
Do-togut 21 íarum a mórfesiur conda-orlaidsit 22 occon tiprait. Feruit fáilti friu. “Táet as,” ol síat, “ocus tucuith for cetra lib, ar fob-sisimuir-ne for ar n- einech.” Do-toegat na h-inginu leo íarum ocus tuccatar an ro-buí do cetri ocin dún leo gusna 23 Mane. “Rantar in cethern i ndé,” ol Mani Gor, “ocus rantar 40 na cetra, ar ní rucfiter 24 ar óen-chóe, gu comairsium for Áth m-Briuin.” 25 Do-gníth són.
Ni buí Regamon ann illá sin ina thír. Buí hi Corco Baiscinn. Égthir fon túaith. Tánuicc Regamuin foa. “Dob-eglaimith-si trá,” ol Mane Gor, “ocus lécith ina h-ingine reimib forsin áth 26 ocus ágad 27 na bá riunn do Don Crúachan 45 ocus aisnédit do Ailill ocus Meidb gabáil forn oc Áth Briúin.” 28
Do-lotar Connachta la h-Ailill ocus Meidb íarum do Áth Briuin do chobair a muinntiri. Do-génsiut maic Ailella ocus Medba íarum clíathu do sgiaith 29 ocus droigiun i m-bélaib ind átho fria Regomon, conade atá Áth Clíath hi crích Óacc m-Brethrui 30 hi túaiscirt críche h-Úa Fiatrach 31 Aidne. 50 Conndrecat ann íarum in dib slúaguib immond áth.
Do-gníther síd leo dono dég na maccaem foro-glúaissid in táin ocus dég na n-ingen. Anuit na h-ingeno la maccuib 32 Ailello ocus Medba ocus anuit secht fichit lualgach leo do bíathad fer n-hÉrinn fri himthinol tabarta na táno bó Cúailgne. Do-llécther na halmo olchena dia tig dorithissi.55
Finit.
2. YBL
Expansions of scribal contractions/abbreviations are in italic type. The Text Notes which appear at the end of this transcription note instances of sub- or suprascript additions, and provide comments on uncertain expansions. As length marks are not generally marked in the manuscript, they have been added here. Editorial additions are shown in square brackets. [Danielle Malek]
Láech-brugaid amra ro-baí 33 la Connachtaib i n-aimsir Ailella ocus Medba, Regamon a ainm. Alma imda lais do cheithrib cáem, cadhla 34 uile. Bádar immurgu secht n-ingena lais. Ro-charsad side secht maccu ocus Ailella ocus Medba 35 .i. na secht Maine .i. Maine Mórgar ocus Maine Mingar ocus Maine 5 Aithremail ocus Maine Máthremail ocus Maine Milbél ocus Maine Annai ocus Maine Móepert ocus Maine Condageb 36 -uile ocus is é side tuc cruth a máthar ocus a athar ocus a n-ordan díblínaib. It é secht n-ingena Regomon .i. téora Dunana 37 ocus cethéora Dunmeda ocus is dia n-anmandaib atá Inber n- Dunand i n-íarthar Connacht ocus Áth na n-Dumed i m-Bréfni.
10 Fecht and imusn-acallatar do Ailill ocus Medb ocus Fergus. “Tíagair úaindi,”ol Ailill, “co Regaman 38 co tucthar aiscid dún dia ceithri úad frisin 39 n-écin-si fil forn oc airbiathad fer n-Érend oc táin na m-bó a Cúailgni.” “Ro-fedar ínti badh maith do dul dó dian-tairgimis .i. na Maine fo bíth áinisa na n-ingen.”
Con-gairter a meic co h-Ailill. Ráiti friu. “Is buideach a dul is ferr,” ar 15 Medb, “dáig gaire.” “Ragthair ém dáig gairi,” ar Maine Mórgar. “Inge bid ferrde 40 in aiscid,” ar Maine Mingar. “Is olc ar láechdacht, is olc ar m-bríg, is aninand 41 fri techt i futhairbe .i. i crích nó i ferand co náimtiu. Is rocáem rorn-alt, nín relgid do foglaim aithergaib, 42 it maithi immurgu na h-óicc cosa tíagam.” 43
Berid beandachtain for Ailill ocus Meadb, ocus don-taircomlaid in fecht. Do-comlat ass, secht fichit láech a lín, co m-bádar a n-descert Connacht i focus do crích Corcmodruad i Nindus inn ocus don dún. “Téid úadhad úaidib do fis scél coon 44 lis,” ar Maine Mórgar, “do fis esimail na n-ingen.”
Téit Maine Mingar tríur co comarnaic fri téora ingenaib 45 díb ocin 25 tibraid. Do-fúaslaiced claidbiu dóib fo cétóir. “Anmain i n-anmain,” ar inn ingen. 46 “Tabair mo trí-lánfocull dam-sa,” ar Maine. “Amal no n-aseca do thenga rod-bia acht beatha,” ar an ingen, “ar ní cumgam-ni h-éside dáib.” “Is la sodhain,” ar Maine, “cech i m-bem.” 47 “Cia thúsu?” ar sísi. “Maine Mingar mac 48 Ailella ocus Medba,” ar sé. “Fo chen ón,” ar sí. “Cid nod-bar-tuc isin crích?” ar 30 sí. “Do breth bó ocus 49 ” ar Maine. “Is cóir a m-breith imalle,” ar sí. “Adágar ní bus urthidir, aní ad-fíadar; ad maithi ina hóicc cosa tángid-si.” “Bad lind beith for n-itgi-si,” or sé. “At-gégmais chitus mád íar menmannrad con-étsimis.” “Cia bar lín?” ar sí. “Secht fichit láech,” ar sé, “dún sunn.” “Anaid sund,” ar sí, “co n-árladhamar 50 na h-ingena aile.” “Fob-sisimar-ni,” ar na 35 h-ingina, “nach cumang con-ísamar.”
Tíagaid úaidib cusna hingena n-aile. 51 As-pertatar fri suideib: “Do-bar- ruachtadar óic sund a tírib Connacht for menmarca fodésin, secht meic Ailella ocus Medba.” “Cid dia tudchadar?” “Do brith bó ocus ban.” “Ba hedh ad-gegmis-ni 52 aní sin mad dia fedmais.” 53 “Ad-ágar óccu dia tairmesc nó dia terbaid,” or 40 sí. “Taít ass co n-árlasar inní.” “Ad-glaasmar-ni.”
Do-tíagad na secht n-ingena cusin tibraid. Feraid fáilti fria 54 Maine. “Taít as,” ar sé, “ocus tucaid bar ceitri lib-si. Bid maith ón sin. Fob-sisimar-ni for ar n-eneach, ocus for ar snádhadh,” ar sé. “A ingena Regomun,” ar na h-óicc. Do-immargid na h-ingena a m-bú ocus a muccu ocus a curchu arná raib 45 ráthugud 55 foraib. Do-sethet íarum co ráncadar costad a chéle. 56 Feraid na h-ingena fáilti fria 57 macco Ailella ocus Medba ocus ima-sisedar dóib. “Randtar in almu sa i ndé,” ar Maine Mórgar, “ocus in slóg, is romór for áen-cháe uile íad; ocus comraicium i n-Áth Briuin.” Do-gníther samlaid.
Ní baí in ríg Ragaman 58 and in lá sin. Is and baí a crích Corco Baiscinn 50 i n-dáil fri Firu Bolg. Éigthir fon túaith dia n-éis. Fo-sagar do Ragaman in scél. Luid side for a n-íarair cona slóg. Do-roich in tóir uili for Maine Mórgar, ocus gabsad comach éccomlaind for suidiu. “Do-thegmaid didiu uili a n-áen inad,” for Maine, “ocus agar nech úaidib cusna bú ar ceand na n-ócc; ocus agat na hingena na bú forsin n-áth co Crúachnaib; ocus aisnéidet do Ailill ocus do 55 Meidb an écomlonn a filim sund.” Ro-soiched na h-ingena co Crúachain, ocus ad-fíadad scéla uile. “Ro-gabad,” ar síad, “fort maccaib-siu oc Áth Briuin ocus as-bertadar techt na fóirithin.”
Dos-cumlad Connachta ma 59 Ailill ocus Meidb ocus Fergus ocus loinges Ulad do Áth Briuin do cobair a muntiri. Do-rigénset immurgu meic Ailella 60 co-léic clíatha do sciach ocus do draigen i m-béol ind átha fri Recoman cona muintir 60 , coná rochtadar 61 dul darsin n-áth, co tánic Oilill cona slúag; conid de atá Áth Cliath Medraidi i crích n-Óc Bethra 62 i túaiscirt hÚa Fiachrach Aidne iter Connachta ocus Corcumruad. Con-recad and a slúagaib uilib.
Do-gníthir síd dála eturru fo dáig ina mac cáem foro-glúaiset ina cetra, 65 ocus fo dáig na n-ingen cáem do-lotar leo, ima coméracht in imirgi. Do-berar aisic na h-imirgi do Regamon; ocus anait na h-ingena la maccu 63 Ailella; ocus for-fácbaid secht fichit lulgach leo do íarraig na n-ingen, ocus do bíathad fer n-Érenn fri tinól na tána bó Cúailnge; conid Táin Bó Regamon in scél sa ocus remscél do scélaib Tána Bó Cúailnge hé. 70 Finit amen. 64
3. TRANSLATION (YBL)
This [is the] Táin Bó Regamon
In producing a modern English translation of Táin Bó Regamon, it has been one of my objectives to maintain wherever possible the narrative style of the medieval Irish text. I have therefore provided, for the most part, a literal translation of the text. Retained, for instance, is the variation in verbal tense between coordinate clauses, which is so characteristic of early Irish narratives. As Hildegard Tristram has argued [Tense and Time in Early Irish Narrative. Innsbruck: Institut für Sprachwissenschaft der Universität Innsbruck, 1983], these changes are as much an indicator of stylistic method as they are a linguistic feature. Where the Irish text has repetitive phraseology, I have reproduced this repetition in translation. Nevertheless, in order to maintain the readability of the translation, it has sometimes been necessary to substitute idiomatic English for the Irish. In these instances, the editorial additions are noted in square brackets. Verbal nouns, which are more common in Irish than in English, are usually translated with the English –ing ending, except where such a translation obscures the meaning of the Irish text or where the infinitive form seems the more appropriate translation. In order to minimise confusion, the spelling of the name Regamon has been normalised. I have chosen not to translate personal, place or population names here; a fuller discussion of these can be found in the glossary, and in the Explanatory Notes. Lastly, I note that I have based this translation on the text of Táin Bó Regamon contained in the Yellow Book of Lecan. This is the fullest extant account of that narrative; the other MSS. vary in terms of style only, and add nothing new in terms of content. The number preceding each stanza corresponds to the line number of the printed Irish in the transcription of YBL in this thesis. [Michelle Malek.]
There was a famous warrior and hospitaller among the men of Connacht in the time of Ailill and Medb — Regamon his name. He had many herds of cattle, all fine and excellent. Furthermore, he had seven daughters. They fell in love with the seven sons of Ailill and Medb, that is, the seven Maines: namely Maine Mórgar, and Maine Mingar, and Maine Aithremail, and Maine Máthremail, and Maine Milbél, and Maine Annai, and Maine Móepert, and Maine Condageb-uile; and it is this last who brought together the beauty of form and the dignity of his mother and his father. These are the seven daughters of Regamon: the three Dunana, and the four Dunmeda; and it is from their names there is the estuary of the Dunana in the west of Connacht and the ford of the Dumeda in Breifne.
On one occasion, Ailill and Medb and Fergus converse together. “Let someone be sent from us to Regamon,” said Ailill, “so that a gift from his herd may be brought to us from him because of this difficulty which is upon us in maintaining the men of Ireland in driving off the cattle of Cúailnge.” “I know who would be good to go if we asked, that is, the Maines, because of the beauty of the daughters.”
His sons are summoned to Ailill. He puts it to them. “Victorious is their going,” said Medb, “and all the better on account of filial duty.” “Indeed, it will be going for the sake of duty,” said Maine Mórgar. “Yet it will be the better [for] the gift,” said Maine Mingar. “Inadequate is our valour; inadequate is our strength; it is the same as going into an open field (that is, to the boundaries) or out into the country against enemies. Too soft has been our upbringing; training in arms has not been not allowed us; besides, the warriors to whom we go are formidable.”
He bids farewell to Ailill and Medb, and assembled the expedition. They set out, seven score warriors their full strength, until they were in the south of Connacht near to the boundary of the Corcmodruad in Nindus, in the vicinity of the fort. “Let a small number of them go to find out news at the stronghold,” said Maine Mórgar, “and find out the disposition of the girls.”
Maine Mingar goes as one of three and he encountered three of the girls at the spring. They immediately draw swords on them. “Mercy!” said the girl. “Give my three full demands,” said Maine. “Whatever your tongue may demand, you shall have it, except food-supplies,” said the girl, “since we cannot give you that.” “That is just what we are here for,” said Maine. “Who are you?” said she. “Maine Mingar, son of Ailill and Medb,” said he. “Greetings then!” said she. “What has brought you into this territory?” said she. “To take cows and women,” said Maine. “Taking them together is proper,” said she. “Nevertheless, I fear [whenever] anything is done, that it is made known; the warriors to whom you have come are formidable.” “Let us have your good will,” said he. “If it were according to our own inclination, we would go with you.” “What is your full strength?” said she. “Seven score warriors [are] with us here,” said he. “Wait here,” said she, “so that we may speak to the other girls.” “We shall assist you,” said the girls, “[with] whatever power we can.”
They go from them to the other girls. They spoke to them: “Young warriors from the lands of Connacht have come to you here, your own darlings, the seven sons of Ailill and Medb.” “Why have they come?” “To take cows and women.” “It would be that we would choose, if only we were sure.” “I fear [for] the young warriors — a hindering of them or a cutting-off,” said she. “Come away so that you may speak to them.” “We will speak [with them].”
The seven girls come to the spring. They greet Maine. “Come away,” said he “and bring your cattle with you. That will be good then. We make an undertaking [for] you upon our honour, and upon our protection,” said he. “O daughters of Regamon!,” said the warriors. The girls muster their cows, and their pigs and their sheep so that there might not be [any] observation of them. Then they make their way until they reached the meeting place of their companions. The girls greet the seven sons of Ailill and Medb, and they stood together with them. “Let this herd be divided in two, and the host” said Maine Mórgar, “they are all too much together; and let us meet at Áth Briuin.” It is done like that.
King Regamon was not there that day. He was in the territory of the Corco Baiscinn at a meeting with the Fir Bolg. The alarm is raised after them in the territory. The news is told to Regamon. He goes in pursuit with his host. The whole pursuing party falls upon Maine Mórgar, and they thereby sustained an overpowering assault. “All gather then in one place,” said Maine, “and let someone from them be sent with the cows in front of the warriors; and let the girls drive the cows across the ford to Crúachu; and tell Ailill and Medb the plight in which we are here.” The girls arrive at Crúachu, and they tell the whole story. “There has been an attack upon your sons at Áth Briuin,” said they, “and they asked for a party for their assistance.”
The men of Connacht set out under Ailill and Medb and Fergus and the exiled warriors of the Ulaid to Áth Briuin to assist their people. Now, in the meantime, the sons of Ailill had made hurdles of whitethorn and of blackthorn in the approach of the ford against Regamon and his host, so that they [had] not accomplished a crossing over the ford, so that Ailill came with his host: so that it is from that there is Áth Clíath Medraidi in the territory of Óc Bethra in the north of Úa Fiachrach Aidne, between the men of Connacht and the Corcmodruad. They meet there with all their forces.
Peace was made between them because of the fine boys who had driven the cattle, and because of the beautiful girls who had gone with them, on account of which the herd departed. A restitution of the herd is made to Regamon; and the girls stay with the sons of Ailill; and seven score milch-cows were left with them for seeking the daughters, and for supplying the men of Ireland at the gathering of the táin bó Cúailnge: so that this story is Táin Bó Regamon, and it is a fore-tale to the stories of the Táin Bó Cúailnge.
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Title (uniform): Táin Bó Regamon
Author: unknown
Editor: Danielle Malek
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Electronic edition compiled (based on Danielle Malek's edition) by: Beatrix Färber
Funded by: University College, Cork, School of History
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1. First draft.
Extent: 4900 words
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Publisher: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College, Cork
Address: College Road, Cork, Ireland — http://www.ucc.ie/celt
Date: 2016
Distributor: CELT online at University College, Cork, Ireland.
CELT document ID: G301004
Availability: Available with prior consent of the CELT programme for purposes of academic research and teaching only.
Availability: Hardcopy copyright lies with the editor, Danielle Malek (University of Sydney).
Notes statement
We are very grateful to Danielle Malek for donating this material to CELT.
Source description
Manuscript sources
- London, British Library, Egerton 1782.
- Dublin, Trinity College Library, Yellow Book of Lecan. For details see Robert Atkinson (ed.), The Yellow Book of Lecan, a collection of pieces, prose and verse, in the Irish language in part compiled at the end of the fourteenth century, published from the original manuscript in the library of Trinity College, Dublin by the Royal Irish Academy with an Introduction, Analysis of contents and Index (Dublin 1896) 61. See also T. K. Abbott (ed.), Catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Trinity College, Dublin (Dublin 1900), MS H.2.16 (1318) pp. 328–37.
Edition
- Ernst Windisch, (ed and tr), 'Táin bó Regamna', in: Irische Texte mit Wörterbuch, 4 vols, vol. 2:2 (Leipzig 1887) 224–238; 'Nachträge', 255–56.
- Táin Bó Regamna. Johan Corthals (ed), Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Vienna (1987). Philosophisch-Historische Klasse no. 478, Keltische KommissionVeröffentlichung Nr. 5.
Literature
- Rudolf Thurneysen, Die irische Helden- und Königsage bis zum siebzehnten Jahrhundert, Teil I, Halle (Saale) 1921, Kap. 20 (306–309).
- Rudolf Thurneysen, Zu irischen Handschriften und Litteraturdenkmälern [I], Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Philologisch-Historische Klasse 14.2 (Berlin 1912) 92–95.
- English Translation (based on Windisch's edition) by A. H. Leahy, Heroic Romances of Ireland, vol. 2, Irish Saga Library 2 (London 1906) 83–99.
- Hildegard Tristram, Tense and Time in Early Irish Narrative (Innsbruck 1983).
The edition used in the digital edition
Malek, Danielle, ed. (2002). Táin Bó Regamon. 1st ed. One volume. vi + 89 pp. Sydney: University of Sydney.
You can add this reference to your bibliographic database by copying or downloading the following:
@book{G301004,
title = {Táin Bó Regamon},
editor = {Danielle Malek},
edition = {1},
note = {One volume. vi + 89 pp.},
publisher = {University of Sydney},
address = {Sydney },
date = {2002}
}
Encoding description
Project description: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
Sampling declarations
The present text represents an extract of the volume. It includes a critical edition of the two manuscripts, and translation of the longer manuscript. Commentary and glossary are omitted.
Editorial declarations
Correction: Text has been checked and proofread twice. All corrections and supplied text are tagged.
Quotation: Direct speech is tagged q.
Hyphenation: Hyphens have been inserted after mutated words with h- in anlaut and after nasalisation. When a hyphenated word (hard or soft) crosses a page break, the break is marked after the completion of the hyphenated word.
Segmentation: check, too div0=the textgroup; div1=the individual saga, div2=the section (Irish text and English translation); paragraphs are marked; page-breaks mare marked pb n=""; the editor's line-breaks are marked every five lines by lb n="".
Interpretation: Names are not tagged.
Reference declaration
A canonical reference to a location in this text should be made using “section”, eg section 1.
Profile description
Creation: By (an) unknown Irish monastic author(s). The story belongs to the later Old Irish period. c. 800-900
Language usage
- The text is in Old Irish. (ga)
- One word is in Latin. (la)
- Opener, editorial notes and translation are in English. (en)
Keywords: saga; prose; Ulster Cycle; Remscél; medieval
Revision description
(Most recent first)
- 2016-08-04: Whole file and TEI header revised; parsed and validated. HTML and SGML files created. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
- 2008-10-04: Header modified; keywords added. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
- 2005-08-04T15:48:15+0100: Converted to XML (ed. Peter Flynn)
- 2004-03-26: Additions made to header; markup revised, quotes marked up; file parsed. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
- 2004-03-22: Text edition donated to CELT. (donation Danielle Malek, Sydney)