CELT document G800012

The Glenmasan Manuscript

Unknown author

Edited by Donald Mackinnon

The Glenmasan Manuscript

 p.12

1.

[1]  1Do comoradh fled mor-cháin mor-adbal la Conchobar mac Fachtna Fhataigh agus la maithi Ulad ar chena an Emain min alainn Macha. Et1 tangatar maithi 2 an chuigid cohi {} d'insaidi 3 na fledi sin. Agus4 ro dailed orrtha co rabatar co subach sobrach so-menmnach uile iat. Agus ro eirgset a lucht ciuil agus oirfide5 agus ealadhna 6 do gabail an drecht agus an duan agus an duchonn, agus a geg n-genealach7 agus a craob goibnesa fiadib.

[2] Is iad so anmanna na b-filed robatar oc ond fleid sin .i. Cathbad mac Congail Clairingnech mic 8 Rugraide, agus Genann Gruadh-t-solus mac Cathbaid, agus Genand Glundub mac Cathbaid, agus Genann Gadh mac Cathbaid agus Seancha mor mac Ailella mic Athgno mic Fhir {} mic Glad mic Rosa, mic Ruaid, agus Fercertne fili mac Aongusa Beldeirg mic F{} filed mic Gl{} mic Rosa mic Ruaid. Agus is amlaid do caitis 9 fes na h Emna .i. 10 adaig airithi a comair gach ain fir do teglach Concobair. Agus is é lín teglaig Conchobair .i. cuig ar tri fichit ar tri cet. Agus desigetar11 and an adaig12 sin no gur togaib Concobar a ard-guth rig os aird agus is ed13 ro raid: “As 14 ail damsa a fiarfaige dibsi, a oga”,  p.14 bar15 Concobar, “an b-facabar riam teglach budh crodha ina sib pfen16 an Erinn, na an Alpain, na san domun mor in gach inad ar cuimgebad co cathair Muirne Molfaige.” “Ni fhacamar am,” ar siát, “agus ni h-aitnid duinn ma ta.” “Ma sed,” ar Conchobar, “an aichnid dibh uiresbaidh is in domun oraibh.” “Ni h-aichnid itir,” a aird-ri, “bhar iatsom.”

[3] “Is aichnid damhsa, a oga,” bar eisin, “aon uireasbaidh  2oraibh .i. tri coinnle gaisgid nan Gaideal do beth in ar b-fegmais 17 .i. tri maca 18 Uisnig .i. Naisi 19 agus Aindle agus Ardan do beith dár sechna tre bithin mna san domun, agus gurab adhbar20 aird-ri Erenn ar ghail agus ar ghaisged Naisi mac Uisnig agus gur cosain nert a laime fén treab ar leth Alpan do.” 21

[4] “A ri-milid,” ar síat, “da lamais-ne sin do rad, is fada o dermais e, oir doigh is mic rig coigcrichi 22 iatsan, agus do coisendais coiged Ulad re gach coiged eile an Erinn gen co h-eirset Ullta eile leó, doigh is cuingeda ar calmacht iatt, agus as leomain ar nert agus ar niaachas23 an triar sin.” “Ma sed,” ar Conchobar, “cuirter fesa agus techta ar a cenn cu cricha Alban go Loch Eitche agus go Daingen mac n-Uisneich an Albain.” “Cia rachas ris sin?” ar cách co coitchenn. “Do fhetar-sa,” ar Conchobar, “gurab do freitighib 24 Naeisi techt an Eirinn ar sith acht le tri .i. Cuculainn25 mac Subaltaim, agus  p.16 Conall mac Aimirgin, agus Fergus mac Rosa, agus aithneochat-sa cia don triar sin le na b' andsa mé.”

[5] Agus ruc Conall les ar fod foleth, agus do fhiafraig de, “Cred do gentar, a ri-chuingidh an betha,” ar Conchobar, da chuiridar ar cenn mac n-Uisneich thu agus a milled ar t'inchaib agus ar t'einech, ni 26 nach fobraim?

[6] “Ni bas aen duine do ticfad de sin,” ar Conall, “acht gach aon ar am berainn do Ulltaib, ní roichfet nech uaimsi a b{} dib gan bás agus eg agus oiged27 d'imirt air.” “Is fir sin,” ar Conchobar, “a Conaill, a nois tuigim-si nach inmain letsa mé.” Agus do chuir se Conall uada, agus tugad Cuchulainn da indsaige, agus do fhiafraig an cetna de. “Do berim-se do m' breithir,” ar Cuchulainn, “da sirdea-sa{} gus an India no sirther tu soir nach gebaind-si comha 28 sa cruinde 29 uaid, acht do toitim fein fa'n gnim sin.” “Is fir sin, a Cu, nach lemsa bh-f{} agus a nois modaighim-si 30 ni fhuath agadsa.” Agus do chuir sin Cuchulainn uadha agus tug ad Fergus da indsaige, agus do fhiafraig31 an cetna de.  3 Agus as ed adubairt Fergus fris: “Ni gellaim-si 32 dul fa t'fhuil, ”ar Fergus, “agus gidhed cena ni b-fuil Ulltach ar am beruinn nach b-fuiged bas agus oiged lim.”

[7] “Is tusa racas ar cend Clainni Uisnig, a rí-milid,” ar Conchobar, “agus glúais romat a marach,” ar sé, “oir is let ticfaid, agus gab iar techt an oir duit co dún Borraig mic Andti agus tabair do briathar damsa mar as taosga 33 ticfair an Erinn nach lecfer oirisim na comnaidhe doibh co tigid co h-Emuin Macha an oidchi sin.”

 p.104

[8] Tangatar rompa as dech iar sin, agus do innis Fergus a dol fen a slanaidecht clainni h-Uisnig agus do chuaid a lán 34 eile do maithib an coigid mailli ris is na slante sin. Agus rugatar as an adaig sin. 35

[9] Agus do aigill 36 Conchobar Borrach mac Annti, agus do fiarfaig de: “An b-fuil fled agat damsa?” ar Conchobar. “Ata co demin,” ar Borrach, “agus do b” eidir lem a dénam, agus ni h-edir lem a h-iumcar co h-Eamain Macha cugatsa. 37 “Ma sed ale,” ar Conchobar, “tabair d'F ergus h-í, uair is dá gesaib fled d'obad.” Agus do geall Borrach sin. Agus rugatar as an adaig sin gan bedh 38 gan baogal.

[10] Agus do eirigh Fergus co moch ar na marach agus ni rug leis do sluagaib na do shocraide acht a dias mac fen .i. Illann Finn agus Buinne Borb Ruad39 agus Cuillend gilla na h-Ibraige agus an Iubrach. 40 Agus do gluaisetar rompo co daingen mac n-Uisnig agus co Loch n-Eitci. Agus is amlaid do batar mic Uisnig agus tri finbogha 41 fairsinge acu, agus in both an dendáis fulachtadh dib sin ni h-innte do caitdis, agus an both a caithdis ni h-innti do collaidis. Agus do leig Fergus glaodh mór is in cuan co clos fo imcen na crich fa coimnesa doibh. Agus is amlaid do bi Náisi agus Derdri42 ann sin, agus in Cennchaom Conchobair etarra ag a h-imirt .i.  p.106 fithchell 43 in righ. Agus adubairt Naisi: “Do cluinim glaedh Ereannaigh,” ar se. Agus do cuala Derdri in glaodh agus do aitin gur bí glaodh Fergusa í, agus do cel orrtha. Agus do leig Fergus and ara glaedh, agus adubairt Naisi: “Atcluinim glaedh eile agus is glaedh Erennaigh í.” “Ní h-ed,” ar Derdri, “ni h-inann glaodh Erennaigh agus glaodh Albannaigh.” 44 Agus do leig Fergus an tres glaodh agus do aitnetar mic  4Uisnig gur bhí glaedh Fergusa do bi ann. Agus adubairt Naisi re h-Ardan dol ar cend Fergusa.

[11] Agus do aithin Derdri Fergus ag legen na céd glaeidhi, 45 agus do innis do Naisi gur aithin in céd glaed do rinne Fergus. “Cred fár celis í, a ingen?” ar Naisi. “Aisling atconnarc a réir,” ar Derdri, “.i. tri h-eoin do techt chuigainn a h-Eamain Macha agus tri bolgama meala ina m-bel leó, agus do fagbatar na tri bolgama sin againne, agus rugatar tri bolgama d'ar b-fuil leó” “Cred in breth 46 ata agad do'n aisling sin, a ingen?” ar Naisi. “Ata,” ar sí, “Fergus do teacht cugainn a teachtairecht as ar tir dhuthchais fen lé sith, óir ni millsi mil na teachtaireacht sithi; agus is iat na tri bolgama fola rugad uainn .i. sibhse récas leis, agus feallfa oraibh.”

[12] Agus ba h-olc leósun sin do radha disi. Agus adubairt Naisi re h-Ardán dol ar cenn Fergusa. Do cuaid imorro, agus mar ráinic íat do toirbir teora 47 póca doibh co dicra deghthairise, agus ruc leis co daingen mac n-Uisnig iat, ait a raibi Naisi agus Derdri. Agus do toirbretar teora poca co dil agus go dicra d'Fergus agus da macaib. Agus fiafraigeatar sgela Erenn agus choigid Ulad co sonnradhach. 48 “Is siat sgela is ferr againn,” ar Fergus, “Conchobar do m'cur fen ar bur cenn-si, agus mo cur a slanaigecht agus a coraigecht air im beth diles tairise dib, agus ata mo briathar oram fa mo  p.108 slanaigecht do comall.” “Ni h-inndula 49 daibhsi ann sud,” ar Derdri, “daigh is mo bhur tigerntas fen an Albain ina tigernas Concobair an Erinn.” “Is ferr duthchas50 ina gach ní,” ar Fergus, “uair ni h-aibinn do neoch maithes da méd, muna fhaice a duthchas.” “Is fír sin,” ar Naisi, “doigh is annsa lem pen Ére ina Alba ge mad mó do maith Alban do gebhainn.” “Is daingen dáibse mo briathar-sa agus mo shlánaighecht,” ar Fergus. “Is daingen ceana,” ar Naisi, “agus rachmaid-ni letsa.”

[13] Agus ni do deoin Derdri an dubhradar ann sin, agus do bi 'g a toirmesc impo. Tug Fergus fen a briathar doibh, ge mad  5iát 51 fir Erenn uile da feallfad orthasan na bud dín sgeith na cloidhme na catbairr doib, acht52 co m-beredh-san forra. “Is fir sin,” ar Naisi, “agus rachmaid-ne letsa co h-Emain Macha.” Tucatar as an adaig53 sin co tanic an maidin moch-sholus ar ná marach. Agus do eirigh Naisi agus Fergus agus do deisigetar54 in Ibrach, agus tangatar rompo ar fud mara agus morfhairge no co rangatar co dún Borraig mic Andti.

[14] Agus do dech Derdri ar a h-éise ar crichaib Alban, agus is ed adubairt: “Mo cen duit, a tir ut thoir,” ar sí, “agus is fada 55 lim taib do chuan56 agus do chalad agus do muighe minsgotacha min-ailli agus do tolcha taeb-uaine taitnemacha d'fagbail. Agus is beg rangamar a les a comarli sin do denam.” Agus ro chan an laid:

  1. Inmain tír an tir út thoir,
    Alba con a h-ingantaib;
    Nocha ticfuinn eisdi ille
    Mana tísainn le Naisi.
  2. Inmain Dun Fidhgha is Dun Finn,
    Inmain in Dun os a cinn,
    Inmain Inis Draigen de,
    Is inmain Dun Suibnei.
  3.  p.110
  4. Caill Cuan!
    Gus a tiged Ainnle, mo nuar!
    Fa gair lim do bi in tan,
    Is 57 Naíse an oirear Alban.
  5. Glend Laidh!
    Do collainn fan m-boirinn caoim;
    Iasg is sieng 58 is saill bruic,
    Fa hí mo cuid an Glend Laigh.
  6. Glend Masain!
    Ard a crimh, geal a gasáin;
    Do nimais collad corrach
    Os inbir59 mungaich Masain.
  7. Glend Eitci!
    Ann do togbhus mo cet tig;
    Alainn a fidh iar n-eirghe
    Buaile grene 60 glend Eitchi.
  8. Glend Urchain!
    Ba h-ed in glend direch drom-chain; 61
    Nocha n-uallcha fer a aoisi
    Ná Naisi an Glenn Urchain.
  9. Glend Daruadh!
    Mo chen62 gach fer da na dúal;
    Is binn guth cuaich ar craib cruim
    Ar in m-binn63 ós Glinn Daruadh.
  10. Inmain Draigen is tn traigh,
    Inmain a uisge in ghainimh glain:
    Nocha ticfuinn eisde an oir
    Mana tisuinn le m'inmain. 64
    Inmain.

 p.112

[15] As a h-aitle sin 65 tangatar d'innsaige Dúne Borraig, agus do toirbir Borrach teora poga do macaib Uisnig agus do  6fer failti re Fergus con a macaib. Agus is ed adubairt Borrach: “Ata fled agamsa duitsi, a Fergais,” ar sé, “agus as geis doitsi fled d'fhagbail no co tairsidh í” Agus o t'chuala Fergus sin do rindeadh rothnuall 66 corcra de.

[16] “Is olc do rinnis, a Bhorraig,” ar Fergus, “mo chur fo gesaib agus Conchobar do tabairt mo breithir oram fá macaib Uisnig do breith go h-Emain an lá do ticfaidis an Eirinn.” “Cuirim-si fó gessaib tu,” ar Borrach, “.i. gesa nach fuilngid fír-laeich ort mana tísair do caithem na fledi sin.”

[17] Agus do fiafraig Fergus do Naéisi cidh do ghenadh se ime sin. “Do gena,” ar Derdri, “madh ferr letsa mic Uisnig do treigen ocus an fhled do caithim; acht chena as mór an cennach 67 fledi a treigen.” “Ní tréigeb-sa iat,” ar Fergus, “dóigh cuirfed mo da mac leo .i. Illann Find agus Buinne Borb Ruad, go h-Emain Macha, agus mo bríathar fein fós,” ar Fergus. “Is lór a fheabas,” 68 ar Naéisi, “óir ní nech eile do chosain sinde riam a cath na a comrug acht sind fein.”

[18] Agus do gluais Naeise maille re feirg do láthair. Agus do len Derdri é, agus Aindle agus Ardan agus da mac Fergusa. Agus ni do deoin Derdrenn do rinned an comhairle sin. Agus do fhagbadh Fergus go dubhach do-bronach. Acht aon ni chena, do bi deimin le Fergus dá m-béidis coig oll-coigid Eirenn agus a comhairle leg le ceile, nach tísadh dib a comairci sin do milled.

[19] Sgela mac n-Uisnig. Do gluaisedar rompa agus do ráidh Derdri friu: “Do beraind comairle maith daeib, gen go derntar oram í.” “Carsat comairle sin, a ingen?” ar Naéisi. “Eirgem go h-inis Cuilenn cr{} 69 etar Eirinn agus Albain, agus anam ann go caithe Fergus a fhleid; agus as comhall breithir d'Fergus sin, agus as medughadh fada flaithemnais daibsi.” “Is radh  p.114 uilcc rinde fein,” ar Illann Find agus ar Buinne Borb Ruad. “Ni h-edir linne an comairle sin do denam,” ar siad, “gen go beith feabas bar lamh fein maille frind agus briathar Fergusa agaib, ni fellfide foraib.” “Mairg tanaic les in m-breitir sin,” ar Derdri, “an tan do treig Fergus sind ar fhleidh.” Agus do bi ag toirrsi agus acc mifridhe móir im techt an Eirinn ar breitir Fergusa. Agus atbert and:

     7
  1. Mairg tanac le bretir mir 70
    Fergusa mic Roich ro mhir; 71
    Ni dingen aithméla de,
    Uch! is acher72 mo cride.
  2. Mo cridi na caeb cumadh
    Ata a nocht, fa mór pudhar73;
    Mo nuár! a maca maithi,
    Tangatar bar tiugh 74-laithi.
  3. Na h-abair, a Derdri dían,
    A ben is ailli na in grín,
    Ticfa Fergus fortill n-gail
    Cugainn nar: cuingénaigh. 75
  4. Fárir! is fada lim duib,
    A maca ailli Uisnig,
    Techt a h-Albain nan damh n-derg,
    Fada bus buan a bith-mairg.
    Mairg.

[20] A h-aithle na laidi 76 sin tangatar rompa co Finncarn na Foraire ar Sliab Fuait, agus do tuit a collud ar Derdri ann sin, agus do fagbatar í gan fis doib. Agus do airig Naisi sin agus impodais ar a cenn co leic. Agus si sin uáir do bí sisi ac eirge as a collud. Agus adubairt Naisi: “Cred far anais ann so, a rigan?” ar sé “Collud do rónas,” ar Derdri, “agus tarfas fis agus aisling dam ann.” “Ca h-aisling sin,” ar Naisi. “Do connarc,” ar Derdri, “cen cenn ar cechtar agaibsi, agus cen cenn ar Illann Find, agus a cenn fen ar  p.116 Buinne m-Borb Ruad, agus gan a congnam linni.” Agus do roine na roinn:

  1. Truagh an taidbsi tarfas dam,
    A cetrar féta 77 finn glan,
    Gan cenn uaib ar cechtar de,
    Gan cungnam fir le cele.
  2. Nocha can do bel acht olc,
    A ainnear alainn edrocht,
    Léig uait, 78 a bel tana mall,
    Ar Gallaib mara Manann.
  3. Do b'ferr lim olc da gach duine,
    Do raidh Derdri gan duibhi,
    Na bar n-olc-sa, a triar min,
    Ler sires muir is moir-tir. 79
  4. Do ciu-sa a cenn ar Bhuinne
    O se a saegal is uille, 80
    Nocha lemsa, a nocht nach truag
    A cenn ar Bhuinne m-Borb Ruad.
    Truagh.

[21] As a h-aitle sin tangatar rompo go h-Ardna Sailech re raiter81 Ardmacha a n-iu. Is ann sin do raidh Deirdri: “Is fada lim in ni do cim a nois.i. do nell 82-sa, a Naisi, is in aér, agus is nell fola é, agus doberainn comarle daib, a maca Uisnig,” ar Derdri. “Carsat comairle sin, a rigan?” ar Naisi. “Dol co Dun Dealgain mara b-fuil Cuchulainn, agus beith ann sin no co tí Fergus, no techt ar comairce Conculainn go h-Eamain.” “Ni regmad a les an comarle sin do denam,” ar Naisi. Agus adubairt an ingen so:

     8
  1. A Naisi, fech ar do nell
    Do ciú sunn is in aér;
    Do ciú os Emain uaine
    Forr-nell fola for-rúaide.
  2.  p.118
  3. Ro-m-gabh bidgad res an nell
    Do cíu sunn is in aér,
    Samalta re c fola
    In nell uathmar imthana.
  4. Do berainn comairle duib,
    A maca ailli Uisnig,
    Gan dol co h-Emain a nocht
    Le b-fuil oraibh do gúasacht.
  5. Rachmad-ne go Dun Delgain
    Mar a b-fuil na cerda;
    Ticfam a marach an des,
    Maraon is a coimdes.
  6. Adubairt Naisi tre feirg
    Re D erdri n-gasta n-gruaidh-deirg,
    O nach b-fuil egla oirne,
    Ní dingnum do comarle.
  7. Do b'andam sin ríam roime,
    A ua 83 ríghda Rugraide,
    Gan ar m-beth ar én sgel de,
    Mise is tusa, a Naéisi.
  8. An lá tuc Manannán cuach
    Duinn, is an Cu ro luath, 84
    Ní bethea-sa am agaid de,
    Aderim rit, a Naisi.
  9. An la rucais let a mach
    Mise tar Es Ruaid romach85
    Ní bethea am agaid de,
    Aderim rit, a Naisi.
    A Naisi.

[22] A h-aithle na rann sin do gluaisetar rompo an athgairit 86 gacha sliged co facatar Emain Macha uathaib. “Ata comarda agamsa daibh,” ar Derdri, “ma ta Concobar ar ti 87 fheilli no fhinghaile do denam oraib.” “Ga comarda sin?” ar Naisi. “Da leicter sibsi sa tech a b-fuil Concobar agus  p.120 maithi Ulad nocha n-fuil Concobar ar tí uilc do denam rib. Ma do tigh na Craebruaide 88 cuirter sib agus Concobar a tigh na h-Emna, do dentar feall agus meabul foraib.”

[23] Agus rangatar rompa fo n-innus sin co dorus tighi na h-Émna, agus do iarratar foslugud rompa. Do fregair an doirrseóir agus do fiarfaig cia do bí ann. Do h-innised gur b'íad tri mic Uisnig do bí ann, agus da mac Fergusa, agus Derdri. Da h-innised sin do Conchobar agus tucad a lucht fedma agus fritheolma da innsaige, agus do fiafraig dibh cinnus do bí tech na Craobruaide im biadh no im dig. Adubratar-san da ticdis cuig catha 89 Ulad ann, co b-fuighdis a lór daothain bidh agus dighe. “Ma sed,” ar Conchobar, “berar mic Uisnig innte.” Agus adubrad sin re macaib Uisnig. Adubairt Deirdri: “A nois benais a digbail rib gan mo comarli-si  13do denamh,” ar si, “agus denam imtecht budesta.” “Ni dingnum,” ar Illann Find mac Fergusa, “agus adamar, a ingen, is mór an metacht agus an midlaochus do mothaigis orainn an tan adere sin, agus rachmáid co tech na Craobhruaide,” ar sé “Rachmaid co deimin,” ar Naisi.

[24] Agus do gluáisetar rompo co tech na Craobruaide, agus do cured lucht freasduil agus friteolma leó Agus do freaslaiged iat do biadaib saora so-m-blasda agus do deochaib millsi mesgamla, gur bad mesga medar-cháin mor-gothach gach aon dá lucht fedhma agus fritheolma. Acht aen ni chena, nír caithetar féin biad na linn re meirtnigi a n-aistir agus a n-imthechta, uair ni dernatar anadh no oirisem o do léicsetar Dun Borraig mic Andti co rangatar Emain.

[25] Is ann sin adubairt Naisi: “Tabhartar in Cendcaom Conchobair cugainn co n-dernmáis a h-imirt.” Tugad in Cendcaom cuctha, agus do suidiged a foirend furri. Agus do gab Naisi agus Derdri ag a frais-imirt. 90 Is i sin uair agus aimser adubairt Conchobar: “cia h-agaib, a óga, do gebainn da  p.122 fhis an mairenn a dealb no a denam fen ar Derdrinn? Agus má mairenn, ni b-fhuil d'fhine Adaim ben is ferr delb ína í.” “Racad fen and,” ar Leuarcham, 91agus do bera sgela cugadsa.”

[26] Is amlaid imorro do bí Leabarcam, agus ba h-annsa lé Naisi ina gach nech eile is in cruinne, uair ba minic le dol a crichaib an domain móir d'íarmoracht Naisi do breith sgel cuige agus uadha. Iar sin tanic Leauarcam roimpi co h-airm a raibi Naisi agus Deirdri. Agus is amlaid do batar agus an Cenncaom Conchobair etarra ga h-imirt. Agus do toirbir92 mac Uisnig agus Derdri do pfocaib co dil dicra deg-tairisi agus do caiestar frasa dér gur bo fliuic a h-ucht agus a h-urbruinne. Agus do labair ina diaigh sin agus adubairt: “Ni maith daibhsi, a maca inmaine,” ar si, “an ni 93 as doilghe rugad uadha riam do beth agaib agus sib ar a comus. Agus is da bar fis do cuired mise,” ar Leabharcam, “agus da fechain an mairend a delb no a denam fen ar Deirdri.  14Agus is fata lim fós an gnim do níter a nocht an Emain.i. feall agus meabul agus mí-coingeall 94 da denam oraibsi, a cairde gradhacha,” ar sí, “agus ni bia Eamuin aon oidchi co deredh an domain bus fer í iná nocht.” Agus do rinne an laid ann:

  1. Truag an mebul
    Do niter a nocht an Emuin,
    Agus o'n meabul a mach
    Bud h-i an Eamain irgalach. 95
  2. Triar brathar is ferr fo nim
    Dar imgidh ar talmain tigh,
    Doilech lim-sa mar ata,
    A marbad a los 96 en mna.
  3.  p.124
  4. Náisi agus Ardan comblaid,
    Ainnli bais-gel a m-brathair,
    Feall ar in dreim-si 'g a luadh,
    Nocha limsa nach lan-truag.
    Truag.

[27] As a h-aitle sin adubairt Lebarcham re macaib Fergusa doirsi tige na Craobhruaide agus a fuinneoga 97 do dúnad: “Agus da tistar chugaib, buaidh agus bennacht daib, agus cosnaid sib fen co maith agus bar comarche agus comarci Fergusa.”

[28] Agus tanic roimpi a mach as a h-aithle co dubach dobronach droch-mennmach co h-airm a raibhi Conchobar. Agus do fiafraig Conchobar sgela di. Is ann sin adubairt Leabarcham ag a fregra: “Ata droch sgela agam duit agus deg sgel.” “Cred iát sin?” ar rí Ulad. “Is maith na sgela,” ar Leabarcam, “in triar is ferr delb agus denam, is ferr luth agus lamach, is ferr gnim agus gaisged agus gnath-irgal an Erinn agus an Albain agus is in domun mor uile to techt cugatsa, agus bid imáin 98 enlethe agut festa an agaid b-fer n-Erenn o tait mic Uisnig libh. Agus is e sin sgel is ferr agam duit. Agus is e sin sgel is mesa agam, in ben do b'ferr delb agus denam is in domun ic imtecht uainn a h-Eamain, nach b-fuil a delb fen na denam fuirri.”

[29] O t'cuala Conchobar sin do chuaid a ed agus a aigidecht99 ar cul. 100 Agus do ibset dail no dó ana dhiaig sin. Agus do fiarfaig Conchobar a rís: “Cia racad dam da fios an mairenn a cruth no a delb no a denam fen ar Derdrinn?” Agus do fiafraig fo thri sol fuair a fregra.

[30] Is ann sin adubairt Conchobar re Tn-dorn 101 dol and. “A Tren-durinn,” 102 ar Conchobar, “in fedar tu cia do marb t'athair?” “Do fhetar,” ar se, “gurab e Naisi mac Uisnig do  p.126  15marb é” “Ma sed, eirsi da fios an mairenn a delb no a denam fein ar Derdrinn.” Agus do gluaís Tren-dorn roime, agus tánic do chum na bruighne, agus fúair na doirrsi agus na fuinneoga ar na n-íadhadh, agus do gab oman agus imegla é, agus is ed adubairt: “Ní conair 103 mic Uisnig d'innsaigid, atá ferg forra.” Agus fuair fuinneóg gan drud is in bruidin, agus do gab ag feguin Naeisi agus Derdrenn tres an fuinneóig. Agus do dech Derdri fair, oir as í bá cend-luáithi 104 ann. Agus do bruidigh 105 Naisi; agus do dech Naéisi an díaidh a dechsuna. Agus as amlaid do bí agus fer gonta 106 d'feraib na fichle aige; agus tuc urcar ághmar urmaisnech107 de go tarrla a suil an oglaich agus doronadh imlaéid 108 áinignech etarra and sin. Agus do chuaid a t-shuil ar a gruaid do'n óglach. Agus rainig co Conchobar, agus do innis sgela dó ó thús co deiredh, agus is ed adubairt: “As í súd ain ben as ferr delb and sa domun, agus ba rí an domuin Naisi da legar dó í.”

[31] Is and sin do eirigh Conchobar agus Ulltaigh agus tangadar timcell na bruighne agus do leigedar ílgairthe móra and sin, agus do chuirsiut teinnti agus tennala is in m-bruighin. Agus adclos sin do Derdrinn agus do clainn Fergusa, agus do fiafraigedar, “cia ata fa'n Craobruaid.” “Concubar agus Ulaid,” ar siat. “Agus comairci Fergusa fu,” ar Illann Finn. “Mo cubais,” 109 ar Conchobar, “ba mela duibsi agus do macaib Uisnig mo ben-sa agaib.” “As fír sin,” ar Derdri, “agus do fheall Fergus oraib, a Naeisi.” “Mo cubais,” ar Buinni Borb, “ni derna ocus ní dingnim-ne.”

[32] Is and sin tanic Buinne Borb a mach agus do marb trí caogait110 a muigh agus do báith na teinnti agus na teannala  p.128 agus do mhesg na sluagu do'n breisim 111 bratha sin. Atbert Conchobar, “cia do ní an mesgad-sa ar na sluagaib??” “Meisi, Buinni Borb mac Fergusa,” ar sé “Comadha uaimsi duit,” ar Conchobar. “Carsat comadha sin?” ar Buinne. “Tricha 112 cet,” ar Conchobar, “agus mo chogar113 agus mo comairle fein duit.” “Gébhatt,” ar Buinne. Agus do gab Buinne na comhadha sin, agus do rinded sliab an oidci sin do'n trichait cet unde114 Sliab Dal m-Buinde.

[33] Agus do chuala Derdri an comrad sin. “Mo chubais,” ar  16Derdri, “do thréicc Buinne sib, a maca Uisnig, agus as aithremail115 an mac úd.” “Dar mo breithir fein,” ar Illann Finn, “nocha treigeabh fen íat in cen maires an calad116 colg am laím.”

[34] Agus tánic Illann amach íar sin agus tuc tri luathchuarta a timcell na bruidni agus do marb tri cet a muigh. Agus tánic as tech co h-airm a m-bái Naisi agus sé ag imirt fichle agus Ainnle Garbh. Agus tuc Illann cuairt impa, agus adib 117 dhigh. Agus tug lochrann ar lasad leis a mach ar an b-fhaithchi, agus do gab ag slaide na sluag, agus nír lamsat techt timcell na bruidni. Do ba maith an mac do bi ann sin .i. Illann Finn mac Fergusa. Nir er118 nech riam im séd na im ilmáine, agus ni tarda tuarasdal o rígh dó, agus nír gab séd ríam acht ó Fergus namá.

[35] Is ann sin adubairt Conchobar: “Cait a b-fuil Fiacha ma mac?” ar Conchobar. “Sonna,” ar Fiacha. “Dar mo cubhas, is an aon oidchi rugad tusa agus Illann, agus as iat airm a athar ata aigesium, agus ber-si m'airm-si let, an  p.130 Orchain119 agus an Cosgrach120 agus a Foga 121 agus mo Colg, agus dena calma leo.”

[36] Is ann sin do innsaig cach a chele dib. Agus tanic Fiacha a cert-comlainn co h-Illann, agus do fiafraig Illann d'Fiacha: “Cid sin, a Fiacha?” ar se. “Comrac agus comlann do b'ail lem ritsa,” ar Fiacha. “Olc do rinnis,” ar Illann, “agus mic Uisnig ar mo comarce.” Do innsaigetar a cele, agus do ronsat comlann ficda, forniata, dana, dedla, deg-tapaid. Agus do fortamlaig Illann ar Fiacha, co tuc air luidhe for sgath a sgeith. 122 Agus do géis an sgiath agus do geisetar tri prim tonna Erenn ann sin, .i. Tonn Clidna agus Tonn Thuaithi agus Tonn Rugraide.

[37] Do bi Conall Cernach an Dun Sobairci an inbaid sin, agus do cuala torann tuinne Rugraide. “Is fír sin,” ar Conall, “ata Conchobar an eigin, agus ni cóir gan a innsaige.” Agus gabais a airm, agus tanic roime go h-Eamain. Agus fuair an comrac ar na srainiud ar Fiacha mac Conchobair, agus in Orchain ac buiriud agus ac beic foraigh a cáiniud a tigerna; agus nir lamsat Ulaid a tesargon. Agus tanic Conall do leth a cuil co h-Illann, agus saitis a sleg trit .i. an Culghlas Chonaill. “Cia do gon me?” ar Illann. “Mise Conall,” ar sé, “agus cia tusa?” “Mise Illann Finn mac Fergusa,” ar se; “agus is olc an gnim do ronais, agus mic Uisnig ar mo comairce.” “In fír sin?” ar Conall. “Is fír ón—”{} 123

 p.208

[38]   17

  1. Secht124 muca marbta, 125 miad n-gle; 126
    Secht n-dabcha, 127 secht n-aide; 128
    Fiad go cloinn o shoin a mach;
    Proinn no melad an aoinfhecht.
  2. 129

[39] “Do genam-ne comarle re'r maithibh uime sin,” ar Fergus. Tucad Cormac Conloinges 130 chuige iar sin, agus Uaitne Ucht-sholus mac Conaill Cernaig, agus Aongas mac Aonlaime Gaibe, agus Goibnenn mac Luirgnigh, agus na maithi ar chena. Agus tuc Fergus comus a comarle doib. Is si comarle tugatar dó na comhada do gabail agus an t-sith do denam. “Agus is ar mathaibh re Conchobar do furailetar sin,” ar Fergus. Agus do meallatar é amlaid sin. O do thuig Fergus an ni sin as ed atbert: “Faomaim-si {},” ar se, “agus da millter aen ni dib siut, ni bia mo charadrad-sa re Conchobar co brath in a diaigh. Agus do {} adar-si mi,” ar Fergus. Imtúsa sidha co n-uigi sin.

[40] Imthusa Fergusa imorro. Do gab sed én co feitmech {} forniata ar a comhadaib a Ciarraig131 a thuiseil {} ar aigthe impa. Rugatar as an bliadain {} go fiamach forgruamdha co tanic aimser cuarta timcill d'Fergus ar fut Ulad. Is i sin úair agus aimser do rigned turgnum fledi moire la Conchobar a n-Emain min-alainn Macha. Agus tug maithe an cuigid  p.210 uile cuige d'a tócaithemh. Agus do linad imdaide 132 agus oirenaige an tige acu. Agus do batar ac ól agus ac aibnes gur bat mór-gothach mesg-briatrach na maithi.

[41] Is ann sin tarla tegma tubaisdech agus an-shén urrlamh d'innsaige na bruidni 133 .i. triar oglach allmarda 134 do batar a teglach Conairi mic Etersgeoil fecht n-aill .i. Dubloingsech 135 mac Tribuait, agus Tribuait mac Ua Loingsigh, agus Durrthach h-ua Fhiaich. Agus do batar o re Conairi mic Etersgeoil mic Eogain a núas ar fud Erenn fo glére onóra in gach inad, agus ni lamthai diultadh136 rompa in gach tír a tegmadís. Tarla an adaig sin co h-Emuin iát. Agus ni raibe doirrseoracht an Emain fo'n am sin. Agus tangatar an buiden sin gan mothugadh is in bruidin, agus ni fuaratar lucht a freastail na a fritheolma na a fiadugthi re méd medracht agus meisge agus mi-ceille na fedna ro batar rompa is in dún. Agus do fechatar an tech in a timcell, agus atconncatar in  18n-imdaid n-alainn n-orda na n-aonntoma, agus do cuatar fen innti focetóir. Agus do togbatar a n-airm os a cennaib, agus do aitnigetar cach iat focetóir. Do luid socht mór ar Conchobar agus ar cach trid sin, uair ba nair leo a cur as in n-imdaid, agus fa mana mor-urbada a m-beth innti.

[42] Nir fada doib samlaid an uair do blosgustar Fergus is in b-faichthi. Agus tanic a nunn a n-Emain as a h-aitle agus Bricni 137 roime. Agus mar do connairc Bricne an triar oglach alainn allmarda sin do beith is in n-imdaid, do impó co furechair re Fergus agus do innis do a m-beth innti. Agus ba fiadnuise d'Fergus fen an ni sin. Tanic Fergus a mach ar  p.212 an faighthi agus do indis d'a maithibh138 an sár mór agus an mí-comhall gotha sin. “Is fir sin am,” ar Bricne mac Carbri, “as trom doluidh 139 do luamairecht ort, a Fhergais, uair dá n-gelldais Ulaid agus eisin Conchobar an giuil gennaigh do t-sil tlámain tuaithbhil duit ní coimeldais duit é. 140 Agus do marbad trí coindle gaisgid Gaidel a n-Emain ar t'einech agus ar do comarce. Agus ni uil cuid fáitbidh na fanamait a n-Ulltaib na a n-Emain na a n-Eirinn ar cena acht do coimidecht ar Conchobar ar m-brisiud do t-slanaighechta dó. Apair rim a nois, a ri-mílidh, gá leth do chuaid an clu mór agus an cumachta adbul engnama do rala indatsa, co nach fuil airemh idir ort im ghal na im gaisged.” Agus fa h-iat ráite a muindtire uile fri Fergus an ní sin. Do eirigh ferg mór agus dasacht adbal a Fergus de sin, agus do ceadaigh Fergus d'a muinntir gach olc dá fedfaidis do dhenam. Do sgailedar d'a saighdib sruib-gera agus d'á foghadaib faobracha, agus do benatar a cloidhmi clais-lethna coilg-dirge as a n-enntighibh bodbha. 141 Agus do imdhaigetar na h-echta agus do letnaigedar na ruaga agus do marbadar moran do macaib ríg agus rofhlatha agus d'uaislib Ulad ar cena ar an faigthi .i. cáoga macaomh fa Fhiacha mac Conchobair agus fa Daire mac Felimthi. Agus tarladar an días uasal ard-macam-sa chuca .i. Fiacha mac Conchobair agus Daire mac Fedlimthi agus do marb Dubthach iat 'n a n-dís.

[43]  19Is ann sin do riachtadar na filidh142 ar an b-fhaichthi .i. Cathbad caom-draí agus Genann Gruadh-solus mac Cathbaid agus Mesdeagha mac Aimerghin agus clanna Fercertne 143 ar chena. Agus fuaratar an macrad ar n-á mugugadh agus ar n-a mí-corugadh. Agus tangatar os cinn Daire mic  p.214 Fheidlimthi agus Fhiacha mic Conchobair, agus do rinnetar nuall gubha adhbal mór uáisdibh. Agus tucatar a n-aichthi ar Fergus, agus targatar dó imarcraid cruid agus comhada oir agus inmais. Agus targatar a aon rogha imdaide dó fa imdadaib egsamlaib an aird-righ. “Agus mana gabusa na comhada sin,” bar iatsan, “do'n chur 144-sa, ro-d-fia imghuin agus imresuin agus immbualadh.” Agus is cuma robatar ag a radh, agus atbertar na briathra-sa ann:

  1. Is tren ro timairged duinn
    O Conchobar aidble ruin,
    Co nach forgluaisit na fir
    Fuilit is na h-imdadaib.
  2. Da rabh an Emain uile
    Ragha sochraidi ar suide,
    Do gebusa sonda soin
    Fa imdaid caim Conchobair.
  3. Mona gaba cert no cóir,
    Ina comtha airgid no óir,
    Ro-d-fia deabaid gan t-sena
    O na feraibh for-tréna.
    Is.

[44] Tangadar na fileda rompa as a h-aithle, agus do innisedar d'Ulltaib agus do Conchobar na sgela sin. Ro eirgedar uaisle na h-Emhna agus curaidh145 na Craobruaide. A n-imtusa co n-uige sin.

[45] Imthusa Fergusa do berar os aird. 146 Do righni crecha agus airgni aidble agus echta imda. Agus as iad so ba h-uaisle do na h-echtaib sin .i. Fiacha Finn mac Conchobair agus Daire mac Feidlimthi, amail asbert Fergus:

  1. Fiacha Find mac Conchobair,
    As re t'laim-si do rochair;
    Bas Daire mic Fedlimthi,
    Ger bh' eisein, nir gnim sochar.

[46] Ro h-airged agus ro h-imlomrad agus ro loited leo o Raith móir o m-Breasail go dobur-lindtib Dabuill, agus o imlib na  p.216 h-Emna go Finncarn na Foraire. Agus atberait aroile gurab do'n ruathar sin do marb Dubthach Laighis agus Lennabair, dá ingin Eogain mic Durtachta an Dun Eogain. Agus as leis fós adrochair Moirenn muin-geal, ben Muinremair mic Eirginn, agus Eítni ceind-find cnes-solus, ben Eirrghe Echbeoil, gurab d'a forgell sin atbert Fergus nabriathra-sa:

  1. Muirenn muin-geal marbaisi,
    Ben Muinremair gan mheabul;
     20Ethne cinn-fhinn crechtnaidhis,
    Ben Errge, fa cruaidh deabaid.
  2. Laidis agus Lendabair,
    Is i do lam ro-d-cirre; 147
    Ethni finn a Berramain,
    Is tusa fos ro-s-mille.

[47] Rugatar na h-airgne sin leo, agus nir lamthai buain riu no soichin forro. Agus is i so slige a rugatar a creacha.i. a Sliab Fuaid agus a Fid Conaill. Agus rangatar rompa fo'n innus sin co h-Uisnigh min-alainn Míde. Agus do oirisetar ann an adaig sin. Agus do eirgetar mochrath148 ar na marach, agus ro cinnset comarle ca cuiged do cuigedaib Erenn a rachdáis. Do fiarfaig Fergus do Bricni mac 149 Cairbri mic Rosa no in co Finn mac Rosa do rachdais. Agus do batar araile dib ac a radh gur b'e Curi mac Daire triath is ferr enech do bui a n-Eirinn. Agus atbert Bricne na briathra-sa: “Ferr na gach cuiged Connachta. Ferr do rigaib Oilill. Mo do miledaib Medb, agus {} cend-port oirecuis Erenn Cruachan,” bar Bricne, “ar n{} agus geanmnaid a mna. Atfiala a fileda, agus is i m{} ocamaid do'n chur-sa.” Agus coma do bui ag a radh, 150 agus atbert an laid and:—

  1. Ca leth racmaid, cian ro clos,
    No bermaid ar coblach151 treas?
    In {}  152
    In budh thuaith no an budh dhes?
  2.  p.218
  3. An co Cairbri aidble treall?
    Go mac Rosa, rigda a renn?
    Da sia ar creach go Boinn linn,
    Grian-port a faicfeam Finn?
  4. Do gebha failti móir mais,
    A mic Rosa, acht go ria ris,
    A tig Conraoi fa fat fois,
    Da ris go Cathraig is aibnis.
  5. Mithigh153 duinne dol romuinn
    Tar gach ruba co rubain, 154
    Co tech Medba a fuil Oilill,
    Lucht ar fedma 's ar fulaing.
  6. Fagam in dingna ar atam,
    Do-m-ria Conchobar na creach,
    Do dechaid mar grísa cith,
    Is mithigh a find ca leth.
    Ca.

[48] Is ann sin adubairt Bricne na briathra-sa: “Is amlaid so ro fhagbatar ar sean daine 155 again .i. tagall an tuaisgirt agus bliadain a Laignibh agus medar-cuairt na Muman agus gnathcomnuidhi Connacht. Agus an tír a fetfam fen comnuidh do denam agus ar clann in ar n-diaigh, is aca anfamaid. Agus raed eile fos: Ni fuilit da rig ar aon cuiged an Erinn acht ar Connachtaib. Agus fos is as is usa duinn ar crecha agus ar cogad do denam. Agus is ri Erenn ar tothacht Medb,” ar Bricni,  9“agus aird-ri an cuigid gan amurus Oilill. Medb 156 cetamus {} dingna amhusach agus ollaman, eiges agus aird-fhiled an domuin ar cena. Indisim-si duid, a Fhergais,” bar Bricne, “gurab a Cruachain ata rogha curad agus cath-mhiled na cruinne, agus díghluim deg sluaigh an domuin. Agus {} eirghe mad anacuibde ritsa comsanad an a Connachta.”

[49] Is sí sin comairle ar a raghnighedar uile. “Ma si sin comairle ar a rao{} sib,” ar Fergus, “tiged Bricne romhaind co Cruachain, agus indisiudh d'Oilill agus do  p.220 Meidb misi cuctha agus an Dubloinges. 157 Agus indis fein m' aitesga umumsa.”

[50] Is and sin tainic Bricne reime co Cru achain. Agus ferais Medb agus Ailill failti fris. Agus toirbredar maithi na Cruachna teora póco dó etir fera agus mnáei, etir rig agus ruirech, etir bantracht agus macam. Agus ba158 failidh íad uile roime. Agus do fiarfaig Medb a sgela de. Agus do innis sgela Fergusa doib, agus atbert ria: “Bid a t'ri-si159 ar Erinn o tanic Fergus cugat. Agus coisgfidh se cogad Ulltach dit.” Bá failidh Medb de sin, agus is ed asbert: “Do gebha seoit agus maine uaimsi,” ar sí, “i. timthacht da tricat do tren-feraib agus do160 carpadaib, tri secht cumala161 do derg ór, agus fín do dail fair a Cruachain do grés.”

[51] Agus ni cian do batar ann an tan atconncatar Fergus cuctha. Agus ergis Medb in a agaid agus do toirbir poig dó. Agus tugatar na mná agus na filidh poca dó, agus do fersat fir-cain failti fris, agus fri Cormac Conloinges mac Conchobair, agus fri maithib Ulad ar chena. Do innis Bricne aitesga Medba agus a h-urigeall agus a comhada d'Fergus. Agus do aigill Medb fein é, agus atbert ris: “Do ber-sa coinnmed da fhichet cet catharmach duit ar Connachtaib, agus do bet fen a Cruachain do grés fiche cet curad, an egmuis do bhan agus t' fhiled agus t' ollaman.” “Do ba maith an t-uirigeall sin amh, a righan,” ar Fergus, “da fagmais faílti an aird-rig Oilella.” “Is ferr im biadh ocus im dig é ina mise,” ar Medb. Agus is cuma do búi g' a radh, agus atbert na roinn:— 162

  1. Mo chen, a Fhergais Emna,
    A flaith firen fír ferrda,
    Dá tisda lín budh lia alle,
    Ro-d-fia fia 163 agus failti.
  2.  p.222
  3.  10Coinnmed da fhichet cet cath,
    Do berthar duit re gleo n-gart;
    Do bet fen fiche cet cain,
    Gan tocht en oidci a Cruachain
  4. Do ba lan maith sin, a Medb,
    Gach ní raide-si co derb,
    Da fagmais-ne co greama
    Failti an aird-rig Ailella.
  5. Gen co failidh ritsa in ri,
    Is ferr anusa im gach ni;
    Is ferr do dail maine tra,
    Agus is caime chena.
    Mo chen.

[52] Cid tra acht do freaslaiged agus do fritheolad Fergus co cenn tri la agus tri 164 n-oidhchi mar sin a Cruachain. Do sgailed agus do coinnmed agus do coiriged uile iat. Agus tugad coinnmed da fhichet cet do muinntir Fergusa, agus e fen fiche cet curad a Cruachain tre bithu sír, a n-ingnais bán agus macam agus gillanraide, agus Bricni con a caogait do sgoil. 165 Go cenn raithi doib ar in glée sin, agus ni roibi onoir 'n a n-esbaidh. Sgela Fergusa co n-uig sin.

[53] Imthusa Conchobair agus Ulad do berar ós aird. Ar n-argain tuath Medba, agus ar n-imthecht Fergusa uatha, agus ar marbadh na macraidi agus cloinni Conchobair, do fiarfaiged aige d'a maithib agus d'á oirecht cá dighail budh dual doib is na h-olcaibh agus is na h-echtaib do rigne Fergus con a maithib an Eamain. Agus is si comarle do ronsat clann Fergusa do marbadh, neoch ro bui an Ulltaib dib. Agus ba h-iat so a n-anmanna.i. na tri h-Illann Emna, agus ba daltada do Chonchobar iad, agus na tri h-Aóngais airthir, agus na tri Cobthaigh coba, agus na tri Cairbri a Cuailgni, conad da mac dec sin batar ac Fergus; agus secht mic Dubhthaich ar aon riú. Ro marbad agus ro mugaiged iat uile.

[54] Do clos fo Érinn uile an sgél sin, agus rainic a deimin co Cruachain, go h-airm a raibe Fergus agus Dubthach agus  p.224 maithe an Dubloinges ar chena. Do luid socht mór ar Fergus agus ar Dubthach agus ar na maithib ar chena do'n sgel sin. Agus do gabustar Fergus ac egaine a cloinni fein agus cloinni Dubthaich, agus adbert na briathra-sa:—

  1. Do ba maith mo macrad
    Co ru-s-mill Mac Nesa,
    Na tri h-Illann Emna,
    Robsat ferrda a frasa.
  2. Na tri h-Aongais oirrthir,
    Na tri Cobthaigh cobha,
    Na tri Cairpri a Cuailgne,
    Tig ri m' n-gruaidni a n-gona.
  3. Accus166 secht mic Dubthaich
    Daéil Ulad, dál n-aithe,
    Robsat curaidh cródha,
    Robsat mora maithe.
    Maith.

[55] Do fiafraig Dubthach d'Fergus ga dighal do berad ar  11Ulltaib an a chloinn167 do marbadh. “Gach dighal is ferr do fetfa-sa do tabairt innta. Do ber-sa lat ocono 168 congnam fen cuigi,” ol Fergus; “agus tinoilter an Dubloinges chugainn,” ar se. “Mad riu sin bus ail letsa fuirech, ni digela do cloinn caidche,” ar Dubthach. “Agus rachat-sa do dighail mo cloinni fen,” ar sé. “Agus do budh coir duitse agus do t' muinntir na h-echta ut do dighail, uair is trit fen tanic an denam.” Agus do erigh Dubthach iar sin agus tarraid a arm, agus ro gab a sgi ath sgenma, 169 agus do imigh co luath do do'n lathair. Agus nir len gilla na oglaoch e.

[56] Ba gnath-bes do Dubthach an dail sin, uair an t-slige am bidhís cetri h-oll-choigid Erenn ac dol no ac techt, do bidh Dubthach a ghnath rompo no in a n-diaigh ac denam fogla agus foreigni. Agus tucastar roime h-e gan cetugadh gan comarle do nech eile no co ranic crich Ulad. Agus do rigni  p.226 fogla mora agus diberga aidble orra. Agus ro marb cruid 170 agus cetra imda. Agus do loisg atha agus muilli 171 an cuigid co coitceann. Agus atberait aroile gurab do'n ruathar sin do mharb se na righna do raidhsemar romaind. Do impo roime go cosgrach commaidhmech go Cruachain, agus do indis a sgela agus a echta agus a aithesa doib. Agus bá failidh iadsan uile de sin.

[57] Is si sin uair agus aimser do bui toichestal adbal mor ag Oilill agus ag Meidb agus ag Fergus do dul ar creich agus ar sluaiged a cuiged Conchobair. Tangatar rompo as a h-aitle sin go h-eochair-imlib Oirgiall, agus do crechad agus do h-urad agus do h-airged an crich go lom agus go leir leó. Agus rugadar Oirgialla orra agus aird-ri feramail Fernmuige res na sluaghaib .i. Eogan mac Durtacht. Agus tugatar cath cepcha 172 etarra and, áit a n-dorchair Eogan mac Durtacht do laim Fergusa mic Roigh. Agus atorchair Garadh glond beimnech mac Aonlaime Gaibe la Muiredhach menn mac Oillella Finn. Agus atorchradar moran ann nach airimter ann so.

[58]  12Ro brised an cath forru {} a iar sin, agus ní roichenn rim ná airem ar a {} i Ull {} ann. Do togladar dun Eogain mic Durtacht, agus tugadar a indmus agus a edala leo. Agus tangadar rompa go cosgrach cathbuadhach commaidmech a Connachtuib. Agus as i sin díghuil as {} da tug Fergus ar Ulltaib an diguil a mac. Tangadar rompa as a h-aitle go h-airm a raibe Medb agus Oilill, agus do badar ag maidemh na n-echt do ronsatt. Agus ba maith le Connachtaib uile sin.

[59] Acht aon ni. Rugadar as an bliadain sin a Connachtuib gan tacha óir na airgid na innmusa, gan tacha bidh na lenda {} innti; agus gach maithes da raibe a Cruachain {} re Fergus. Do cind toile a h-aig{} amh re Meidb do'n airdmhilidh, d'Fergus. R{} Fergus do Meidb gach ní ro  p.228 ba toil d'á menmain do denam, go raibe re bliadna aice gan fhis{} gur toirrcedh Medb do'n char sin.

[60] Laithe n-aon do rala d'Oilill techt a Cruachain a mach co faca an craeb cuill ar boguib 173 do leth taib na Cruachna. Indsaighis Oilill í, agus fechais laim ria, agus aitnighis acetoir a raibi and .i. Fergus agus Medb a coimriachtain re aroile. Agus as amlaid do bi Fergus agus a cloideam 'n a t-shesam re craib do leth a droma. Dercais Oilill ar an cloideam agus gabais 'n a laim e. Agus ticc as a indtich bodba, agus fobraís Fergus do marbadh and sin, ar a einech do coll do. Acht áon ní chena, as amlaid do bí Oilill agus na teora buada 'n a comleanmain do gres .i. gan neóid, 174 gan éd, gan omun. Impois uatha iar sin agus tic cloidem Fergusa a laim Nera mic Niaduil. Agus cuiris cloidem croind a truaill cloidme Fergusa, agus tugustar d'a breithir nach tibrad a cloideam fein dó no go tísad do ló an mór catha, airm a comticfaidis ceitri cúicidh Erenn a cath mor Tana bo Cuailgne ar gáirigh agus ar ilgáirigh. 175

[61]  21Cid 176 tra acht fa trom an doluidh do Connachtaib iat fris in re sin, an ingnais a m-ban agus a macam agus an gillannraide. Agus fa mo an doluidh do Meidb enech Fergusa do freagra na gach ni dib sin, uair gach ni do geallais Fergus as i Medb uile do icad ar a t-shon.

 p.296

[62] Aon d'oidche da n-dernad fled mor-cain ag Oilill agus ag Meidb agus ag Tuathaibh Taiden, 177 agus ro cóirged ri-thech na Cruachna aca. Agus ba h-e so suidiugadh ri-thighe na Cruachna o rainic Fergus cuca .i. do t-shuided Medb ar tosach ar an slis ríghda. Agus do t-suided Fergus ar a gualainn deis, agus Corbmac Conloingeisi ar gualainn Fergusa, agus an Dubloinges o Cormac go h-iar-cur. Do t-suided Oilill ar gualainn sgeith178 Medba, agus Conodhar mac Cecht ar a laim-si dhein, agus maithe cuigid Olnecmacht 179 o Conodhar go h-ursuinn, agus Cet san fhocla feinnedh, agus Ferdiadh san imdaid eile ar a agaid, agus an Gamanrad180 uada sein o iar-shlis go slis rigda. Fraoch mac Fidhaigh ar an slis rigda agus na secht Maine 181 'n a uar timchell, agus clanna Fidhaigh uada go h-iar-shlis, agus Gamain ruadh na Reeadh, agus Gamain cos re colptha tenn, 182 agus Gamain trasgarta triochat, agus Gamain cosnuma cethorchat, agus Gamain slechtaigte sesgat, agus Gamain níth-marbta nóchat, agus Gamain seng na Sidgaile 183 san fhochla fheinned an imdaid na h-ursand. Eochaidh Rond agus Dail n-Druithne agus teglach mic Cecht san fhocla fheinned is an iar-shlis ar a n-agaid. Agus na  p.298 h-Ollamain fa Bricne, an imdaid Medba no bidis .i. Neide agus Lugaid agus Ferbaoth agus Diangus drai agus Ferchu Echtach agus Loingsech Locha Ce 'n a ur timchell. An imdaid rithbaic 184 ar a agaid, na dailemain agus Belcu Brefne con a shecht macuib agus Neara mac Níaduil agus Dungus a brathair con a teglach. Finnabair ingen Oilella agus caoga ingen an imdaid ordha ceithri cern ar agaid na rigraide ar laoch-lar 185 na bruighne. Menma b-fer n-Eirenn ar a fairgsin agus ar a feguin. Conidh e suidiugadh tighe Oillella agus Medba co n-uige sin.

[63]  22Ar n-egar agus ar n-ordugadh an tighe fo'n innus sin, do gabhatar ac ol agus ac aibnes gur bad mesga medar-cain mor-gothach na maithi. Is si sin uair agus aimser tarla caines comhraid agus aines imagmalla etir Fergus agus Bricne. “An cumain letsa, a anam a Fhergais,” ol Bricne, “na tuarastail do geallais do t' muinntir ac techt a h-Ulltaib duit .i. tri fichit carpat co sgiathaib co n-armaib co n-echradaib? Agus do geallais tri cet írna 186 n-derg-óir do mnaib do teglaigh, amail do berthea gacha bliadhna eile.” “Ni fuil sin agamsa doib, a Bhricni,” bar Fergus, “agus ni fhetaim a fagbail, uair is mor doluidh an cuigid sin uainn chena. Agus is dochur freastal ar fednach re h-imat ar teglaigh agus ar tigerna, ar n-imat ar triath agus ar taisech, ar ruirech agus ar rig-damna, ar macám agus ar m-banntracht. Agus ni cuingebdais na cetri cuigid eile ata an Eirinn sinn amlaid so. Agus ni fedmar ar n-a cobar uile d'iarraidh orrtha.” “Truag sin, a Fhergais,” ar Bricne. “Is mór an sgith lim duitse gan tuarasdal do muinntire d' íc. Agus dar lim ni fuil d' feidm agat o tangais a Connachtaib acht buidechus Medba do genam ar son a tabarta duit d'innmus agus d'arradaib.” 187 Agus is cuma ro búi ac a radha, agus atbert an laid:—  p.300

  1. Truag sin, a Fhergais Emna,
    Do maoladh do mor menma,
    Buidechus Medba, miad n-gal,
    Ar a tug duit d'innarrad.
  2. Do radaisi bhrethir moir,
    Nach beddis bliadain do shlogh,
    Gan tri fichit carbad cain
    Co n-armaib co n-ilsgiathaib.
  3. Nach bedis mná do tige,
    Gid ad linmar re luide,
    Nirsat uaithe tigh in oil,
    Gan tri cet irna n-derg óir.
  4. Ni fhuil a bheg 188 a d' laim a nocht
    Do fheiter cach is at olc;
    Ataói-si fo thacha de,
    Nocha n-fuil fatha is truaige.
    Truag sin.

[64] Do lonnaiged Fergus do'n imagallaim sin Bricni. Agus rugatar as an adaig fo'n innus sin co moch degail 189 na maidni ar na marach. Is ann sin do eirigh Bricne con a tri caoga do sgoil, agus tanic mar a raibe Medb agus do búi ag denam a comarli fria. “Cred is ail let, a Ollamain?” bar Medb. “Is ail lem on,” ar Bricne, “dol d'iarraidh edala agus innmais ar  23maithibh na Gamannraidi.” “Ceadaighim-si sin duit,” ar Medb, “agus as and sin do gebair-si an maith as mó menma agus tidlucadh agus enech an Eirinn.” Tanic roime san faighte agus do rala Fergus dó “Cred sin, a Ollamain?” bar Fergus. “Is áil limsa dol d'iarraidh an tuarastail do gellaisi do t' muinntir” “Is ail limsa do dul ann sin ón,” bhar Fergus.

[65] Ranaic Bricne roime a Cruachain siar. Agus is i so sligi do dechaid Bricne con a buidhnibh .i. Lam sgeith re Raith Find Cáim re raiter Raith Cind Fáolaidh190 a n-íu, agus tar Beola Fasraisi re n-abartar Beola Coilledh, 191 agus tar Crich Cuirc ris in abartar Crich Airtich, agus tar Sliab na Fairgsena ris a raiter Sliab Lugha, agus tar iartar criche Lugna mic  p.302 Firtir ris a n-abartar Crich iartair Coraind, agus tar Colba Criche Céin ris a n-abartar Crich Galeng, agus tar Sál Srotha Deirg ris a n-abarthar Merbruinne na Muaidhe, agus laim re Loch Con, agus re Loch Cuilinn, agus d' innsaige Dunaid Atha Fén, go h-airm a raibe Ailill Finn mac Domnaill Dualbuide.

[66] Ar torachtain doib ar an faighte do conncus an buidhen álainn egsamail, agus do fóchdadh sgela dib focetóir. Agus do indisedar gur b' e Bricne mac Carbri do bi and, Ollam Connacht agus na Cruachna agus Eirenn ar chena. Mar do clos sin, do eirgedar lucht an baile etir mnai agus fera agus macam agus Oilill Finn fein agus a theglach rompa, d' fertain failte re Bricni agus ré a muinntir. Agus do h-imchradh h-e ar guaillibh amhas agus óglach no go rainig ar belaib Oilella Finn sa m-bruigin. Eirgis Oilill 'n a agaid, agus maithe na Gamannraidi ro badar ann. Agus do thoirbhredar teóra póca dó, agus do chuired ar gualainn Oilella Finn na t-shuidhe h-e. Agus do fiafraighed sgela na Cruachna de agus Oilella agus Medba agus Fergusa. Agus do indis Bricne dóibsin sin uile. Agus do cóirgedh tighe leptha do muinntir Bricni. Do freastladh agus do frithoiledh do ghainne gacha dighe agus gacha deigh-bídh an oidche sin íat.

[67]  24Is ann sin do coraigedh tech an righ fen. Agus tugad maithi na Gamannraide a sdech agus do suidigedh in a n-inadhaibh dúcusa do reir a n-uaisle agus a n-onóra íat. Agus ba h-íat so lucht-tighe Oilealla Finn do gres, acht ge áirmiter drong dib a tigh na Cruachna ac Oilill agus ac Meidb.i. Ferdía mac Damáin mic Dáire, in milidh mor calma, agus ba cet Ferdiadh in a timchell; Fraoch mac Fidhaigh con a trí cet Fraoch in a timchell; Goll Oilech192 agus Goll Acla 193 con a trí cet Goll in a timchell; secht cet Breislenn im na secht m-Breislennaibh Brefne; Ferderg mac Dolair con a tri cet curad comanmannaibh in a timchell;  p.304 Gamain na Sidhgaile con a tri cet Gaman in a timchell; agus Duban mac an gamna con a tri cet Duban in a timchell; agus Dartadh na Dibheirge 194 con a tri cet Dartadh in a timchell. Agus atberait araile co raibe in coibeis eile ann nochar inann anmanda doib.

[68] Do h-egradh agus do h-ordaigedh an tech n-ola amlaid sin ag Oilill an oidche sin. Agus do cuiredh techta ar cenn Bricni, agus do h-imarcharadh co h-uasal onorach é is in m--bruighin. Agus do shuid ar gualainn Oilella Finn, agus do cuiredh a sgol sa n-imdaid ar a agaid. Agus tugadh núa gacha bidh agus sen gacha dighe is in m-bruidin. Agus do dailedh orrta ann sin fín finn ar na flaithibh, agus sen mid etrom imarsaid ar na h-uaislibh, agus brogoid ar na brugadaib, agus cuirm ar cach co coitchend o shoin a mach. 195

[69] Agus an úair ro ba lór-dhaothainech gach triath agus gach tren-fher do tomaltas, do eirigh urtogbail aigenta is na h-oglachaib re dasadaide na n-deochanna. Do fiafraigadar do Bricni an raibhe dúan no aircheatal no ealadha aige do mac rig na Gamannraidi .i. do Oilill Finn, mac Domnaill Dualbuide. Do innis Bricne co raibe, agus do leigetar secha sin re treall. Nír maith leis in n-Gamannraid a fad co cualatar ealadha Bricni, agus do fiafraigetar and ara fecht agus an tres fecht. Eimiltiged uile iat ann sin.

[70] Adubairt Bricne 'n a diaig sin re muinntir eirge agus an naoi-thétach do tabairt chuige. Do eirgetar uile in a timchell, agus tugatar an naoi-thedach 'n a laim ar an uaithni 196 n-deirg-óir, do leth ochra na h-imdaide. Agus do glac Bricne í ar sin, agus do gab a cliar 197 mailli fris in duan do rigni ar cepóig 198 do'n ríg .i. do Oilill Finn, mac  p.306 Domnaill Dualbhuide. Agus is so an duan do gabais ann:— 199

     25
  1. Ailim Ailill, amra an tríath,
    Bidh am tre each as a íath;
    Do-m-roicheadh cul comlúth marc,
    A 200 n-eirsed ort le gart n-glan.
  2. Caoga colg do béra dun,
    Caoga fuan find fuince run, 201
    Colg do m co n-tailde ar fín
    On rig co n-tugsam ar mír. 202
  3. Ailim lin a leithid luisg, 203
    Ro rompa ruisc, borb a bla,
    Ar ar feraib, romra 204 rian,
    Re feraib fián, garb a ga.
    Ailim. 205
  4. Ailim-si mac Domnaill Dail,
    Imper Irrais i leabáidh,
    An seghlann as saor mor losg, 206
    Is sosd re h-irgalaib ail.
    Ailim Oilill amra.

 p.308

[71] Do moladar an Gamanrad uile an duan sin, agus adubradar nach cualadar riam duan budh fherr ana sin. “Acht ata ní chena, ata locht againd uirthe,” ar an Gamanrad; “ní thuigmíd ciall na duaine sin.” “Do ghen-sa a ciall daeibh,” ar Bricne:—

  1. Ailim Ailill, amra an triath, 207
    Bid am tre ech as a iath
; inand sin agus tri h-eich do tabairt do gach aon duine da táinic limsa, agus carpad finndruine for gach tre each dib sin, agus da t-sleig for gach carbatt; agus caoga colg im colg n-égsamail Domnaill Dualbuide, rí na Gamannraide, a athair fein, do tabairt damsa, uair as e and ara cloideamh no an tres cloideamh as ferr an Eirinn e. 208

[72] “Ailim lin a leithid luiscc”: inand sin agus, “Ailim Ailill con a ler 209 loecraide.”

[73] “Re rompa ruisg, borb a bla”: .i. re fairgsin a ruisg an rig-fhlatha; “borb a bla” .i. mor a baile, agus imda a milidh.

[74] “Ailill Finn mac Domnaill Dail”: .i. Imper Irrais agus Imper iartair na h-Eorpa.

[75] ““An seglann is saor mor losg”: .i. saor a cómdalaib210 agus is losg a cathaib agus a comlandaib. Agus as i sin ciall na duaine-si,” ar Bricne.

[76] “Ní cualamar riam duan as ferr ina sin,” ar an Gamonrad; “agus as ferr a ciall ana ar iarrais uile.” Agus tugad a breth fein do Bricni and sin, amail do t-sirestair sa duain. Agus do bi tri la agus teora h-oidhce san baile.

[77] Aen do lo da tarrla comrad itir Bricni agus Oilill. “Ni  p.310 faicmid locht ar in tech-sa,” ar Bricne, “acht gan rigain do dingmala a t' caomthachta, a Oilill.” “Ata, amh, agamsa,” ar Oilill, “Flidais Fholtcháin ingen Oilella Duibh mic Fhind, agus ata sí tíar an dunadh Ratha Morgáin, ar n-dol síar d' fechain na Maile Flidaise.” “Cred h-í sen fén?” ar Bricne. “Ninsa,” ar Oilill, “bó co m-buaidh m-blechta agus lachta agus lan toraid .i. bo sin ó tabrad saith tri cet fer an áon oidche, re taib bhan agus macám.”

[78] “An tugaise dúan let do'n rigain, a Bricni?” ar maithi na Gamannraidi. “Tugas co deimin,” ar Bricne. “Mo chubus am,” ar fer dib sin, “mana tuctha, do bad olc do turas d'innsaide na Gamannraidi, agus ní bad mana édala inte.” Ro gab Bricne duan na rigna do Oilill agus do maithibh na Gamannraidi ann sin. “Is maith an duan sin,” ar Oilill, “agus do cinneochmáis-ne h-í, mana shailmis ben na duaine fén d'a cennach. Agus cuirfigher eólaigh romadsa co h-airm a b-fuil Flidais, agus geallaim-se duitse nach ba bhuidighe d' aon duine an Erinn tú ina di.”

[79] Tanic an maidin ar ná marach d'a n-innsaidhe, agus ro gab Bricne lam ar imtecht. Acht ata ní chena. Re h-ed na tri lá agus na tri n-oidche sin do búi is in baile, nír fagbais días cumainn na caratraid aca nach derna innlach agus etarchosaid etarra go raibe run marbta a céile acu. Do fagbais Bricne an baile iar sin; agus do cuiredh eolaigh roime no go ránic co Dún Mórgain os maol-sleib Leitriach.

[80] Ar torrachtain doibh ann, do clos Bricne mac Carbri do beith ar in faichthi. Do eirgetar mná agus macáim an baile agus a bhanntracht agus a bhannail a mach a n-agaid Bricni d'fertain fáilte fris. Agus do imarchuiredh co h-uasal onorach h-é le teglach na rigna is in m-baile a nunn. Agus do éirigh Flidais in a agaid, agus do toirbhir teora poga dó, agus do fer failti michra muinntremail ré n-a sgoil. Do coirgead tech oireda óla acu an adaig sin. Agus tucad Bricne ar gualainn Fhlidaise, agus do suidigedh banntracht na rigna ar slis rig na bruidni gus an n-ursainn iartharaigh do'n tigh. Agus tugad sgol Bricni ar a n-agaid a nunn. Agus do caitset  27a prainn agus a tomaltus, agus do batar ac ol agus ac  p.312 aines211 {} daib an banntracht a {} agus na n-ainner. Do fiafraigh ben do'n banntracht an raibhi dan ag Bricni do Flidais. “Ata imorro,” ar Bricne. “Mata, gab do dán,” ar siat. Do iadatar a sgol in a timcheall iar sin, agus do gabais an dúan, amail do gabdáis do grés. Agus is i so an duan do gabais ann:—

  1. O Cruachain co n-tangamar
    Co h-Irrus iarthar Elga,
    Sgela do fes in gach dún
    Ar múr Fhlidais na ferba.
  2. Flidais ainner Oilella,
    Mo chen comainm a séitchi,
    Seglann Domnaill Dualbuide,
    Fo ainner nocho-m-treicfe.
  3. A luidseamar a h-Emain,
    Ar n-deabaid ní slicht uathad;
    Dala Fergusa fichtib gnim,
    An lin lodmar co Cruachain.
    O Cruachain.

[81] Do moladar uile an duan sin, agus adubratar nach cualatar riam duan budh fherr ina í. Agus tugad a breath fen do Bricni ar an duain sin do shedaib agus d'innmasaib o Flidais, mnai Oilella Finn. Agus ro bui co cenn sechtmaini i tig Flidaise. Acht ata ni chena. Ger linmar do mnaib agus do 212 {} teglach Flidaise, nir fagbais Bricne dias cumainn na caratraid acu nach tuc debaid agus imresain agus misgus d'a chéile futha ger maith iturra roime sin, tre etarcosaid213 {} dia rabatar ann.

[82] Fiafraigis Flidais: “Cinnus fer Fergus, a Bricni?” ar si. “Cidh ima fiafraige sin?” ar Bricne; “oir ge mad amlaid do beinn-sí 214 agus secht cinn oram, agus secht m-beóil gacha cinn, agus secht tenga gacha beoil, agus secht solabartha  p.314 suad gacha tengadh, ni tairsed lím a tesmolta fi.” 215 {} “Uair ni fhaca-sa do láochaib an talmain fer a baramla. Agus ni cuala roime riam acht Lug Lamfhada a cath Muige Tuiredh, agus Ercoil mac Aimpitreóinis ri-milidh nan Grég, agus Echtair mac Prím ri-milidh nan Troigianach. Agus do berim-se do m' cubus gur a ferr Fergus do láochaib na gach laoch dib sin im goil agus im gaisged, im cruth agus im chéill agus im cinel, i ménmain agus im allad agus im tidlacadh óir agus innmais. Agus fos ní uil do rigib an domuin ri as ferr fa tuarastal d' oglachaib ina é. Uair is e do beir gacha samna deich cet ar fhichit cet 216 carbad, agus deich cet ar fhichit cet sgiath, agus deich cet ar fhichit cet cloideam,  28agus 217 deich cet ar fhichit cet órdai, agus deich cet 218 ar fhichit cet o, agus deich cet ar fichit cet errad ildathach do na deich cet ar fhichit cet mac rig agus ruirech agus righdamna, curad agus cath-miled agus lath n-gaile clainni Rugraide ata ina fharrad ann. Is e do beir an tuarasdal nach tug ri roime ríam do mnaib amus agus oglaoch agus mhac rig agus ruireach, curad agus cath-miled agus lath gaile agus gaisgid Oilella agus Medba.”

[83] Atait in a fharrad deich cet ar fhichit cet irna derg-oir 219 {} dena {} imdenma, agus errad egsamla d'a fearaib. Acht ata ni chena as iat so {} n {} do {} agus im á gnimrada {} a cath {} bail secht cet cath-miledh {} ac {} cath {} do bid an Emain do biath {} gn {} sechtmad aidchi co mnaib agus co macamhaib {} a mnaib {} agus na h-Emna ar a {} a dubairt an senchaid an sen rann: N {} a cath cas a c. at fed an senchus. S {} tacfía {} an trom {} Agus ni eile fos, secht mna as a {} lana {} tanic co Cruachan no co b-fuair a da {} agus secht {} o cobar {} dil nonmar o cobar aitat {} nir ghal {} cath {} riam ris.

 p.20

[84] “Do beirim-si brethir fir,” ar Bricne, “gur bris Fergus triochat cath. B'ann dib cath Inbhir Tuaighe for Niall Niamhglonnach 220 mac Rosa ruaid car{} a n-dorchair Ruir{} ruaid ferda an cathmilidh, agus cath {} eile Cairn Eolairg a n-dorchair Camallichta an ban gaisgedach, agus cath mor Cairn Eolairg dú a n-dorchair Bolg mac Builg mic Eolairg agus Eolarg mac Edh{} da chaogat, agus cath Inbir Loinne a torchair Finn mac Innadmair, rig Temra. Agus is e do bris cath Maistin ar clannaib Rosa co coitcenn; agus cath Mullach dub Rosa for clannaib Rosa fos; agus cath Mana for Conchobar agus for Ulltaib; agus cath cepcha for clannaib Durtacht ait atorchair Eogan mac Durtacht; agus cath Luachra for clannaib Degad; agus cath Duine da Beann; agus cath Boirche; agus moran eile nach airmighter ann so do cathaib, gurab do derbadh na cath sin agus na tuarasdal.” 221 adubairt an senchaid na raind-se:

     29
  1. Fo fer Fergus fichtib tor,
    Do bris cath ar Conchobar;
    Ni fhaca laoch lith n-gaili,
    Do roised ó Rugraide.
  2. Mo na gach mac mac Rosa;
    Fo gach glac glac Fergusa;
    Fochla do rigaib mac Rosa,
    Ag fogail airgid is óir.
  3.  p.22
  4. Tri cet carpat do beir,
    Co n-arnaib co n-ilsgiathaib,
    Co n-deig-cealtaib {}
    A tuarastlaib a oglach.
  5. Do berim da m-brethir fis?,
    Agus ni ticfa tairis,
    Deich catha fichet {}
    Gur bris Fergus a n-Eirinn.
  6. Cath Luachra for clannaib Degad,
    Sochaidi tuc fo mheabul;
    Cath Maisdin for clannaib Rosa,
    Is cath mor Mullach dub Rosa.
  7. Cath Boirche an treas deroir;
    Cath Inbir Loinne for Bre{};
    {} os aird
    Agus cath Cairge Eolairg.
  8. {} san {} mac Ro
    {} cet irna derg-oir;
    Ni dar {} gnath,
    Do mnaib amus is oglach.
  9. {} ar enech ni ar a gruaidh,
    Do tisad fo era uaid;
    {} ni dubairt go,
    O'n lo{} arm fen fo.
    Fo.

[85] “Is briathar damsa,” ar Bricne, “nach b-fuil locht do{} Fergus {} acht gan rige n-Ulad aigi agus gan rigain a dingbala fos.” “Is amlaid atu-sa, a Bricni,” ar Flidais, {} “for talmain oram acht gan oir? mo dingmala {} agam.” “Dar m-breithir am,” ar Bricne, “ni fhaca {} cele budh ferr ina do cele Oilill Finn.” “Dimain, a Bricne,” ar Flidais, “ni gabthar uaidsi sin, oir tuca-sa grad dermar d'Fergus, agus ar imtechta imgesa? nach b-f{} ortsa acht mana chuirer Fergus fo gesaib fa techt do m' breith-si leis o'n Gamanraid d'ais no dligi.”

[86] Ba fergach Bricne de sin agus is ed adubairt: “Mor amrath an fhir d' a tucais an grad sin. Agus ni raibhe ben  p.24 riamh aigi nach tibrad misgus dó. Agus ni fuair ben a dingbala, acht cuidiugadh Medba re med a lathra ferrda. Agus red eile fos aidhblighes a anagh .i. tri coinnle gaisgid Gaidel do marbadh ar a comairce an Emain Macha. Agus ar na righibh nochar eirigh grian tar uillinn laochmuir re rige. Agus a rigan,” ar Bricne, “do siresa an domun o cathair Murni Molfaige 222 a tuaiscirt an domuin co ruigi so, agus ni fhaca eturru sin fer budh ferr ina Oilill Finn.”

[87] “Dímáin duitsi sin, a Bricni,” ar Flidais, “agus ni gabthar sin úaid. Agus do gebair roighni shed Erenn do cinn mo comarli-si do denam, a Bricni. Agus oirdeochad-sa d'Fergus mar do ghena, oir do chuala-sa go fuilid fir Eirenn ac dul ar aon sluaiged ar cend tana bo Cuailgni an Ulltaib. Agus tiged-san d'iarradh faighdhe ech agus airm agus eididh ar an n-Gamannraid, agus rachad-sa leis. Agus gid tri deich cet do deig feraib tig-se, ro-d-bia ainder a dingbala da gach ain fer aca. Agus berad-sa an m-boin maeil as ferr fuil an Eirinn; agus da roised mh' airgeda lim agus an Mael Flidaise, berad as an galad 223 fir Eirenn gacha sechtmad aidche.” Agus cuma do bi 'g a radh, agus atbert an laid t-surgi 224-si:

  1. A Bricni, eirigh uaim ar n-uair
    And sa rod go Cruachain cruaidh
    Cuir naoi n-gesa 225 for mac Roigh
    Mana ti let achetoir.
  2. Gid tri deich cet ro-d-fái ille,
    Fergus úareid {} rugraide?
    Ro-d-fia ainder gach fer dib,
    Agus fáeifed{} le a rig?
  3. Dá ría lim mo bo 's mo tain,
    Biathf{} le Flidais
    Gid ar sluaiget beid coidche,
    Gacha sechtmad n-oidche.
  4.  p.26
  5. An aos o thair, aidble main,
    A fileda? {} a samain?
    Dingebad dib, tólaib gal,
    Dithisd is {}
  6. A ingen as mór an gnim,
    Do bere do laim {}
    {} ríg {} calma,
    Do treigen ar rid{}
  7. Is e sin mo ceile cóir,
    An fer re n-abar 226 mac Roigh,
    A ben dingmala de,
    Nochar {}nge, a Bricne.
    A Bricne.

[88] Is ann sin do ghluais Bricne as an baile a mach? agus ni ruc Ollam o banntracht riam edail {}, ocus rainic roime go dunadh Atha Fen. Agus o d'conncatar lucht an baile h-e, do eirghedar uile 'n a agaid, agus do fersad fir-cain failte fris, agus do toirbretar poga imdha dó, agus do fiafraigedh de nar buidech do Flidais é. Adubairt Bricne gur buidech. Agus do bi an adaig sin an dunadh Atha Fen. Agus do eirigh co moch ar na marach agus do iarr a thidluctha agus a elmha leis. Agus do seoladh tre caogait oglach leis .i. fer in gach carpat finndruine da raib aigi, agus ba tanas de sluagh lanmóir a linmarecht. Agus tinmais celeabrad do maithib Oilella Finn agus do fen. Agus do innis d'Oilill co ticfa Fergus d'a agallaim, agus d'iarraidh faigdhe ech agus eididh ar an n-Gamannraid.

[89] Is si so sligi do deochatar .i. tar cend Conlocha agus tar sal Srotha Deirg agus a crich Breis mic Ealathan re raiter tír Fiachrach Mide, agus tar traig Ruis airgid ris a raiter traig Eothaile, agus tar Srath nan Druad ris a raiter Srath an Fhérain, agus a magh Coraind ingine Fail mic Fidhga ris in abartar Clar mic Aire an Choraind clann Uaine, agus laim re maolan cinn t-Seinnsleibi ris in abartar Ceis caom alainn Coraind, agus tar Sruth Fainglinn ris in abartar Buill.

 p.28

[90] Is ann sin do impodset teglach Oilella uatha, agus tanic Bricne roime go Cruachain. Agus adconncadar an imirce adbal mor ellmha d'á n-indsaige, agus ba h-ingnad mor leo uile sin. Ocus do t-shailedar gur b' é Cet no Conadar mac Cecht agus crechi a h-Ulltaib aca bái and. Tanic Bricne roime a Cruachain a nonn, agus do feradh failti fris, agus do fiafraigedh de cúich na crecha mora do bí aige. “Ní h-ed am,” ar Bricne, “fuil agam acht m'edail-si o'n Gamanraid sin .i. o Oilill Finn agus o na maithib ar chena.”

[91] “Cindus tech tech Oilella Finn?” ar Medb re Bricni. “Is se tech as ferr gus a ranag-sa riam h-e. Agus fos ni fhaca tech bad commaith ris,” ar Bricne, “o'n lo do t-sires an doman ar aon re Fergus.” Agus ba fergach Medb de sin .i. fa tech sa doman do chur tar a tech fein. “Do neimdligis, 227 a Bricni,” bar Medb, “imarbaidh do cur a m' cenn.” “Ni cuirim-si ón imarbaid a t' chenn,” ar Bricne. “Acht aon ní: as é tech Oilella Finn tech as lía ollamain agus anrath 228 agus oblóir 229 agus eistrecht 230 mna agus macaim agus mindaéine; 231 curaidh agus coraidh 232 agus cath-milidh agus cliath bernadha catha. 233 Agus fledi feraind agus brugaidh bailtead. 234 Oir atáid an urdailsi do churaidhibh comanmannaib ann .i. tri cet Ferdiad im Ferdiadh mac Damhain, agus tri cet Fraech im Fraech mac Fidaigh, agus tri cet Goll im Goll Oilech agus Acla, agus trí cet Gamuin im Gamuin na Sidgaile, agus tri cet Duban im Duban mac an gamna, agus trí cet Dartadh im Dartadh na  p.30 Dibeirge, agus tri cet Fosgamuin fa tri Fosgamnaib Irrais, agus trí cet Breislend fa shecht m-Breislendaib Bhrefne. Agus do berim-si do m' breithir, a Meadb, go fuilid an urdail sin eile ann nocha d' inann anmanda doib.” Ba báidh le Meidb, acht ger fuath le an Gamanraid, an moladh sin do tabairt ar a h-oclachaib fein. Agus do gab Bricne ac tabairt tesmolta tige Oilella Finn os aird, agus adbert in laid:—

     32
  1. Lod-sa cuairt a Cruachain Aéi,
    Indeosat daeib, ar áon caci:
    Fó an flaith ranag ann gan fois;
    Fo an ceile d' an comadhus.
  2. Ranac go Dun Atha Fen,
    Turchanas 235 ann ilar sgel,
    Go h-Oilill Finn Íarrus cath,
    Go mac rig nan Domnannach.
  3. Mó gach sluag sluag an duine
    Aille a fir, aobdha a ruine;
    Fuiled tri cet fa ocht and
    Do curadhaib comanmannaibh.
  4. Tri cet Ferdiad ann re h-ágh
    Ima Ferdiad mac Damain;
    Tri cet Fraech fuiled a stigh
    Far aon re Fraech mac Fidaigh.
  5. Tri cet Gamuin, gleo n-gaile,
    Fa Gamuin na Sidgaile;
    Tri cet Duban, dreimne glac,
    Fa Duban in a deg mac.
  6. Tri cet Fosgamuin, radh fhuis,
    Fa trí Fosgamnaibh Irruis;
    Tri cet Goll go n-grinne n-ga,
    Fa Gold Oilech is Acla.
  7. Tri cet Dartadh doib malle,
    Fá Dartadh na Dibeirge;
    Tri cet Breislenn, baigh imné,
    Fa t-secht Breslennaibh Brefni.
  8.  p.32
  9. Mo gach gair cloistecht re n-gair,
    Lucht a teglaig go trom-grain; 236
    Fuil a coimlin eile ann
    Nocha d'inann a anmann.
  10. Ni fhaca an Eirinn, rádh fois,
    Tegduis maith mar a tegduis,
    Tech Oilella co n-imat n-ga
    Tech linmar gus a lod-sa.
    Lod-sa.

[92] “Is fir duitsi gurab maith tech Oilella Finn,” ar Meadb, “agus gid edh as ferr mo tech-sa go mór ana sé. Is ferr gaisged mo laoch agus mo lath n-gaile. Is lia mh” urradha 237 agus mo deóraid. Is lia mo macaim agus mo bandtracht. Is lía mo t-sheóid agus mo maeine. Is lia mo chruid agus mo chetra. Is uaisli mo mhiledha agus as mó a feidm. Is lia mh' aos ciuil agus oirfide agus eladha. Is lia m' ollamain agus m' obloire agus mh' eistrechta. 238 Is lia mo mogaid agus m' echlacha urlair. 239 Is lia mo banntracht agus mo bancuire. Is ferr m' istada 240 agus m' adbara fleda a muigh, genmotha ri-thech na Cruachna. Uair ní uil an Eirinn tech t-samlaiges na cudromaighes ris ar a med agus ar a caime agus ar a cumdach; ar imad a urrsgair 241 agus a imdadh agus a fhuinneóg; ar imad a oir agus a indmais agus a leg logmar.

 p.100

[93] Uair is ann sein atáid tri caogait prim-imdadh fa m' imdaid caim, cruth-alainn, cumdach-ghloin-si fodeisin, con a ceitheora uaithne orda, co n-geim do lícc loinnerda logmair a cenn gacha h-uaithni dib sein, go n-ceithri cumdaightib egsamlaib  33impa o maidin go fesgar. Agus an tan bertar a cumdaighte do cennaib na n-uaithne soillsighit co coitcenn do cach. In a tuillim-si fein caoga curad maille frim im Fergus agus im Cormac Conloinges mac Conchobair. Agus in a fuilleann Finnabair agus Cainner derg con a caogait ingen maille ríu, a n-egmais ar n-ollamhan agus ar n-eices.

[94] “Nocha gellaim-si am,” ar Bricme, “imarbáidh do dhenam ritsa. Acht aon ni chena: Is se tech Oilella aon tech as ferr an Eirinn. Is si so tuarascbail an tighe sin: tri caogait primh-imdaidh and, agus tri caogait fo-lepa fa 'n prim-leabáidh, agus urlar alainn umhaidhe co nach roicheann sal na sir-otrach. Ceithri cathaire 242 deg im a doirsib. Imdaid an Oilella sin: tri caogait oclach innte fa m-bi cathbharr ordha, agus tri caogait ri-ingen innte fa m-bí cumdach oir, agus tri caogait rí-macam, a fegmais fhiled agus ollaman. Caoga en a timchell na lepta sin, go cennaib airgid en-gil uile, agus co cluim 243 alaind orda ar a cend, go slabradaib sreth-geala solusgemhna iter gach da em dib acht éin. Uball cairche 244 orda ar cenn gacha slabraid dib sin, co m-ba binnigter re tedaib menn-chrot 245 a lamaib suadh ac a sír-sinm binn-fogur na n-uball coirchi 246 sin an tan co n-fagluaisenn gaoth tar feige  p.102 no tar forles 247 no tar fuinneoga an tighi sin. Clar 248 d'airged agus d' finndruine re druim Oilella gurab é is fege do 'n bruigin sin ar n-dol trithi suas. Caoga cathbharr óir im á aindrib agus im á ingenaib. Tri caogait cathbharr rig ann fós a timchell Oilella Finn.” Agus is cuma ro bui ac a radh, agus atbert an laid ann:—

  1. Amra an tech tech Oilella,
    Tangamar as co buidech,
    A b-fuil imad fian iar fír,
    Imath rig, imat ruirech.
  2. Tri caogait and d'imdaidibh
    Co m-benait re fraigh fithe,
    An gach imdaid dib fo leth,
    Caoga gan cleith adehithe.
  3. Imdaidh alainn Oilella,
    Aibind feis in a fachraibh,
    Go fraighidh caim credumha,
    Co n-uaithnib óir deirg dath caéin.
  4. A h-ichtar na h-imdaide
    D' airget ro gheal fa 'n ruire,
    A medhon do chreduma,
    A h-uachtar do 'n ór buide.
  5. Imtighid fa 'n imdaid sin
    A h-eoin tre bithe betha;
    Binne gach ceol chanaid slogh
    Eistecht re glor a n-greatha.
  6. Cristal agus carrmhogal,
    Na ceithri uaithnib orda;
    Is caoga shudrall n-gloine
    Im an imdaid suairc slogda.
  7.  34Caoga slabrad sainighthe
    D' ór tire sicir salmda, 249 p.104
    Nocha breg ader mo bel,
    Ar gach dá en san adbha.
  8. Urlar alainn umaide
    Impe as gach aird do thegaim;
    Secht fichit fer fri comlonn
    Fa 'n righ as lucht do leabaidh.
  9. Clár d'airged as d'findruine
    Re druim Oilella atmeide,
    Is an imdaid a cath colg,
    Co m-benadar re fraig feige.
  10. Trí caogait coradh comola,
    O rig-damnaib co flaithib;
    Tri caogait coradh frith dala,
    O macamaib co maithib.
  11. Caoga bleidi 250 bán-airgid
    Re comol medha mescda;
    Caoga niam-lann 251 umaidhe,
    Caoga cúach, caoga easgra
  12. Tri caogait cathbarr órdaide
    Im aindrib is an adba,
    Is tri caogait cathbarr righ,
    Is e a fhir gurab amra.
    Amra.

[95] Adubhradar maithe fer n-Erenn uile nach cualadar riam tuaruscbail tighe bud fherr in a sin. Do leigedar secha iar sin an imarbaid. Ba h-aithrech le Meidb imarbaidh do dhenam re Bricni. Uair do bí d' á neimnighe agus d' a dálaighe 252 fuair sí imarbaidh úada gur fer si failte fri Bricni. “Moide do bearmáis edail duit,” bar isi, “a fheabus adeire maith.”

[96] Do coraigeadh teach mór na Cruachna iar sin, agus do t-shuidh Meadb agus A ilill agus Fergus agus Cormac agus na maithe ar chena. Do t-shuidedar na h-ollamain, agus do  p.106 t-shuid Bricne ar belaib Fergusa. Agus an uair do batar cach co subhach, adubairt Bricne: “Ac súd, a Fhergais, na tri caogait carpat co n-echaib agus co sciathaib, agus tri cet brat cumdaigh, agus na tri deich cet irna derg óir do ghellais do mnaib do theglaig do chum cumdaich ecsamla edaich na cath-miled.” “Ro-t-fhia buaid agus bennacht, a Bricni,” bar Fergus; “as mor an tidhlacadh sin agus as adbal an tigernus.” Et tucadar tres eile oil agus aibnesa, agus tarrla coir comraid ider Bricni agus Fergus agus Cormac agus Dubthach agus Aongus mac Aonlaime Gaibe. “Ba beg a fis duitsi, a mo popa 253 a Ferguis, mesi ac suirgi duit,” ar Bricni. “Ga baegal 254 fuarais dam a nosa, a Bricni?” bar Fergus. Cuma do bí 'g a rádh, agus adubhradar na roind etarra and sin:—

  1.  35Beg a fis duit a nosa,
    A Ferguis móir mic Rosa,
    Misi ac denam do dala
    Ris na rignaib roc go málla. 255
  2. Ader rit, a mic Cairbri,
    Ge tagraisi co h-arnaidh,
    Robsat badhaig na tirte, 256
    Gid at garb na fíadnaisi.
  3. Dano pill ar do gnuis gloin,
    Geis ort is troig mná troguin; 257
    Mana thuga let o a tigh
    Rigain Oilella echtaigh.
  4. Na h-abair, a fhir dana,
    An t-aithesg nach inrádha;
    Ní fúighmís de re 'r linn lá
    Ar n-inadh a Conachta.
  5.  p.108
  6. Do chuir258 do gaisged ar cul
    On ló tangais o d' dun;
    Do sgail do gnim is do gráin, 259
    Do chuaid do brig acht becán. 260
    Beg.

[97] Ac a cloistecht sin do dubairt mac Carbri Ceinnléith, tuc Dubthach261 cuinnscleo d'á cois uad am Bricni go tarla druim an ollaman can airisim sa rí-theinid ro moir, gur bo tenn-obair d' aos fedma an tighe a thárrachtain gan a dhódh agus a drum-losgadh.

[98] Ro eirich geoin mór sa m-bruighin de sin. Agus tarradar moran do na h-Ulltachaib an arma, agus do regradar Túatha Táiden an t-uatbas. Do thogaib Medb a cend iar sin, agus do fhiafraigh co h-obann: “Cred fa rababhair 262 do'n ollaman, a Ullta?” ar sí “An ní as minic tanic ris,” ar Dubthach, “a thenga luath labhar fein.” Ba h-olc mor le Fergus an ni sin .i. Bricne d' esonorugadh 'n a fhiadhnaisi. Agus ro t-shainn263 Dubthach d'indsaigid, agus nir léigedar an Dubloinges dó. Ro ghabustar Meadb agus Oilill a coiriugadh caich co coitcenn fá Bricne d' esonorughadh 'n a fiadnaisi. Ro ba maith le aib agus le macamhuib na Cruachna uile an esonoir adbal sin d' fhaghail do Bricni, agus as ed adubradar nách fuair olc riam bel bud oirchisi d' a fhaghail ana in bel sin; uair ni raibe a Cruachain, do med an grada d' aroile, dias nach cuired run marbtha agus míchóraigte a ceile etarra.

[99] Do leicetar secha sin an oidce sin. Agus o tainic an maiden ar na marach do eirich Fergus agus an Dubloinges agus do goiredar Bricne cuca ar fód foleith, agus do fiafraigedar de: “cinnus ata an dail-si re ceile?” “Ader-sa rit,” ar Bricne, “amail adubairt Flidhais fritsa .i. dul d' íarraidh  p.110  36fhaigde 264 ech agus arm agus eidedh ar an n-Gamannraid, agus co ticfa sisi let con a h-airgedaib agus gus an m-buin mail as dech fuil an Eirinn, agus do bera deich cet ar fhichit cet ban dingbalaib rig agus ruirech a coinni do teglaig-si .i. ben a coinne gach aein fir dib; agus da tora lib, beraid as a n-galad265 fir Erenn gacha sechtmad oidchi, iter feraib agus mnaib agus macámaib agus min-dáinib gach n-oidche. Agus denaid bar comarle uime sin,” bar Bricne. “Agus da n-dechthai ann bid mana mor-gliad agus bid adbar urbadha é. Agus do gebtái imghuin urlam agus imbualadh aithesech o curadaib clisde 266 coimdeasa agus o greidib gadhamla gaisgid na Gamannraidi.” “Ni b-fuil ann sin,” ar Fergus, “acht mar nach bethea-sa fen itir a Gamannraid, a Bricni.” “Ni biú, a ard-fhlaith,” ar Bricne, “uair ni h-insibair me; agus is cora midluca co h-Emain.” “Ni ba fír sin, a Bricni,” ar Fergus, “uair mana tí tu do t' deoin linn ticfair do t' ainndeoin, a los t' fuilt agus t” finnfaid. 267 “Rachat-sa ann,” ar Bricne, “agus bit aithrech lim.” Agus is cuma do bui ag a radh, agus ro can in laid agus do fregair Fergus:—

  1. Sgel agam duit, a Fhergais fhéil,
    A mhic reid Roigh, nocha sgél reidh,
    Tuc Flidais duit, bid mana n-glonn,
    Is aidbsech lim, gradh taibsech trom.
  2. Da n-ana a bus do cuir si ort,
    Mad mesa let, nai n-gesa a nocht.
    Rachat-sa siar, do berí lém,
    Beg a thor lem dol ar a ceand.
  3. Mad slan an fer atconnarc thiar,
    Da n-eirge a ferg, bad derg an sliabh.
    “Do bér-sa test,” ar Oilill Finn,
    “Nar curta ar lear 268 fer ós a cinn”.
  4.  p.112
  5. Sluag Cruachna atcim, gid imdha dib,
    Bid beg bar grain dar láim an righ;
    A lucht-sa a nall, da n-dechtaéi síar
    Do ficfa rib clesa fir. 269
  6. A lucht-sa a nall, gid dimbaig lim,
    Ruaicfedid coinbruin 270 os bar cinn;
    Beid lama an uir; bed bana beoil;
    Iarrfaigter áir; biathfaidter eoin.
  7. Domnall sa sloigh, da m-beri oirb,
    Fuicfide faidb, nocha b' asbrainn 271 soirb;
    Da ti Fermenn mac Dara Deirg,
    Do bera asbrainn; mairb ar ín leirg.
  8. Goll Acla a n-íar, da tis a slógh,
    Seolfaid a airm, bed mairb co leor;
    Ni rach-sa lib, ni biú-sa treas;
    Anfad a bus, bad é mo les.
  9. A Bricni baeith, do ficfa leam,
    Ar sgáth mo sgeith, a cleith ced rend.
    Atu-sa a nois a n-galar trom
    Adlaic mé, a fhir, do m' tig a nunn.
  10.  37Tair lim do d' deoin, a Bricni binn,
    No ticfa a nos, a los do cinn.
    Rachat-sa let, bud mana der;
    Bud olc mo diol, bud fir an sgel.
    Sgel agam duit.

[100] Is i comarle ar ar h-oirised aca techt ris na tosgaib sin. Agus tangatur a Cruachain a nunn as a h-aitle, agus do suidh Oilill agus Dubthach do chum na fichle agus do batar ac a h-imirt re h-athaid. Is sí sin úair agus aimser tanic Fergus d' agallaim Oilella agus Medba. Agus do gab cet acu fa imtecht d'iarraidh faigdhi airm agus eididh ar an n-Gamannraid. Agus fuaratar ced ré thinech o Oilill agus o Meidb. Agus do fiafraigetar do Dubthach nar mithigh leis imthecht leo. “Tigid romainn,” ar Dubthach, “agus inisid damsa gá h-inad a m-beithi a nocht.” “Ata a fhis sin agam sa,” bar  p.114 Medb, “a tig Modho Minadhmadadh m'ollaman cerda-sa 272 an dúnad Atha Deirg ar dub-abainn Brea, re raiter Ath s mō ar Suca.” 273

[101] Do gluaisetar rompa an Dubloinges agus Fergus no co rangatar co dúnad Atha Deirg. Agus do eirigh Moda Minadmadadh in a coinne, agus do toirbir póca d' Fergus agus do Cormac Conloinges, agus do fer failti re maithibh a Dubloinges o sin a mach. Do freslad agus do fritheolad iad as a h-aitle, uair do bui fled mór urlam incaithmi aige do Oilill agus do Meidb. Uair ba rath mor in righ-bruiden 274 sin, agus fa h-e prim-cerd an cuigid é fós. Agus do batar ann fós treidhe ar a n-eimigter cerd .i. foridhi renn, agus cáor comraic, agus feth tar faobar; agus do batar aige treigi ar a n-imigter brugaid .i. coire ansgoich, agus mo chen re gach n-daim, agus gan diultadh ré nech. Agus do batar ann co trath fuinidh do ló. A n-imthús co n-uigi sin.

[102] Imthusa Dubthaich do berar os aird. Tanic an trath nóna cuige a Cruachain, agus rugad an cluithi fair agus do leiged gair mór fanamait uime. Agus do eirigh co deinmnedach, agus do fiarfaig d'a gilla a n-geibti na h-eich no i n-innilti an carpad. “Is ed á meigin,” ar in gilla. Agus tugad na h-eich do chum Dubthaich. Agus do luid in a  p.116 carbad, agus tanic roime co dúnad Atha Deirg. Agus o t' conncatar gillannrad an Dubloingis Dubthach do mallaigetar do. Toirrlingis Dubthach as a carbad, agus tanic a sdech a raibi Fergus. Agus atrachtatar cach roime.

[103]  38Imthusa ghilla Dubthaich. Do dech in a timchell, agus do batar eich na Dubloingsi ar sgor, agus eich Fergusa ar sgor, agus eich an cerdha ar sgor eile. Agus tug gilli Dubthaich a agaid ar gillaib na Dubloingsi agus do gairetar na gillai dó, agus nir leigetar é fén ina a eich cuca. Tug a agaid ar gillaib Fergusa, agus nír leigset cuca é. Agus tuc a agaid ar gillaib an cerda fos. “Fort do choll dúabais,” 275 ar siat, “da n-gabtái an domanan uile frit mar do gabad so, ni fuigbidtea inad do cinn ann.” Agus do sir in gilli an baile fo tri, agus ni fúair inadh a sguirfe a eich na tech leptha na biadh na tomaltus. Agus o nach b-fuair, tanic ar agaid a tigerna a muigh, agus is ed isbert: “Is gilli droch tigerna ata mar atu-sa a nocht, gan biadh, gan dig, gan leabaid.”

[104] Do eirigh Dubthach in a shuide o t' cúala an comrad sin agus atbert: “Cidh duitse, a Moda,” ar sé, “gan biadh gan digh gan tech leptha do tabairt do m' gilla.” “Na tighi leptha,” bar Moda, “ni fhuil aen tech agamsa dib ach an t-aon tech a sa m-bíatar cach co coitcenn, agus ni bia do gilla-sa na gilla oglaeich eile do tigh leptha ann. Dala an bidh,” bar Modha, “mad beg ré d' gilla-sa saith ein fhir, do geba saith náonmar.” Ro ba lonn le Dubthach an freagra sin, agus tarla corruighi etarra. Agus do sai nn276 Dubthach eirghe, agus nír leiged do. O do cúaidh aire caich do Dubthach do eirigh agus tuc béin cloidme do Modha co n-derna da ordain277 de.

[105] Do eirigh Fergus fái sin, agus do eirgetar an Dubloinges d'indsaige Fergusa, agus do congbatar h-é. Agus ni fúair Fergus riám ni do cuirfe a cend Modha do marbadh do Dubthach. Agus rugatar as an oidchi sin co h-anbúainech co tanic an maiden ar na márach cuca. Agus ro eirigh Fergus  p.118 ann sin agus tanic ós cinn Modha Minadhmadadh agus ro gab ag á égaine go h-adbal, agus is ed isbert: “Is truagh an gnim do rinnis, a Dubthaich,” ar se, “agus is olc do gnim an Emain dár marbuis Fiacha mac Concobair agus Daire mac Feidlimthi. Agus olc na h-echta eile do rónus .i. Laidis agus Lennabair da ingin Eogain nic Durtacht, agus Moirenn muingheal ben Munnremair mic Eirginn, 278 agus Eitni Cinnfhinn ben Eirrgi Echbeóil. 279 Agus ni h-engnam tuc ort in gním sin do denam.” Agus is cuma ro bui ag á radh, agus atbert an laid ann:—

  1.  39A Dubthaich, do fheallais oirn,
    Cian do raduis fo meabal;
    Acht gid olc do gním a nocht,
    Ro b' olc do gním an Emain.
  2. Fiacha Finn mac Conchobair,
    Is re d' laim-si do rochair;
    Bás Daire mic Feidhlimthi,
    Ger b'eiséin, nír gním sochar.
  3. Moirenn moingeal marbaisi,
    Ben Muinremair gan mebal;
    Eitne ceinnfinn crechtnaigis,
    Ben Eirrgi, fa cruaidh debaid.
  4. Láighis agus Lennabair,
    As i do lámh ro-t-cirre;
    Edain fhinn a Berramain,
    As tusa fos rs-s-mille.
  5. Taet let Moda Minadhmad,
    Mór-cerd Medba gan bine
    Ge doghne-se echta uill,
    Ni h-e cruaidhe do craide.
  6. Dít tánic ar n-indarbadh,
    Gen co tic dit ar furthain;
    Do millis flaithes Ferguis, 280
    Tren a ndernais, a Dubthaich.
    A Dubthaich.

 p.120

[106] Robatar amlaid sin an oidhche sin. Agus ro eirgetar is in maidin ar ná marach co h-imsnsnin ach egaintech. Agus atracht Fergus fén co dobrónach, agus ro gab ac aithbir imaithbhir281 co mór ar a maithib, agus atbert: “Ni fhuigem inadh no onóir a Connachtaib d'eis an gnima-sa do rónamar.”

[107] Rangatar na sgela sin co Cruachain. Do h-iachtadh agus do h-eigmed acu ac á cloistecht sin. Do eirigh Medb agus do tinoil a teglach. Agus ro greis na Mainedha co mór, agus do cuir techta ar cenn Ceit agus clainni Mágach, agus adubairt friu eirge agus an Dubloinges do lenmain co digháir agus a dígail forro an t-ain 282 echt do rónsat. Eirgis Oilill agus gabais ag á fasdód, agus is ed adubairt: “Ní dingentar an comarli sin itir agamsa,” bar Oilill. “Ní muirbfidter ar n-deoraid 'na n-ain 283 echtaib; agus ni thuitfid ar comaigthig 'n a cintaib; agus ní mo ath-chuirfimid tigerna foghla agus echtráinn Eorpa ré aimsir in ar n-agaid.” Do sguiredh do leanmain Fergusa acu íar sin.

 p.202

[108] Imtúsa Fergusa do berar ós aird. As a h-aitle sin do rónsat comarli cred do géndáis. Agus is i comarli do ronsat glúasacht rompa síar. Agus rangatar an adaig sin co tech Airne mic Duib Dochlaidh co dúnad Locha nan Airne. Agus do eirigh Airni mac Duib agus a secht n-derbraithri .i. na h-Airne o'n abar 284 Loch nan Airne, agus do feratar failti fri Fergus co michair muinntreamail. Agus do coirged tech an brugaid acu. Agus tugad Fergus is in bruigin ar sin agus Cormac Conloinges agus na maithi ár chena. Agus  40ro coirged in tech co sesgar sodhamail, agus do cuired Fergus 'n a shuide. Agus do suidh Airne mac Duib Dochlaidh ar gualainn Fergusa. Agus do suid Cormac Conloinges ar a gualainn séin. Agus do suidetar na secht n-Airne .i. braithri in brugaid ar gualainn Cormaic. Agus do suidetar na secht laich ba ferrda do'n Dubloinges. Agus do suid Breac agus Nainnesg dá mac an brugaid is in fhochla fheinned ar an agaid. Agus do suidh Uaithni Ucht-sholus mac Conaill Cernaig agus Goibninn mac Luirgnigh in a farrad. Agus do línad gach ré 285 n-imdaid do maithib Fergusa agus do maithib na n-Airne. Do freasladh agus do fritheoladh íad do mid agus d' fion agus d' feóil agus do roignib gacha bidh ar chena. Agus ro dáiled ar na deg laéchaib na deocha sin gur bo subach saithech na sochaide co rabatar ar merugadh meisgi agus mí-cheilli.

[109] Agus ránic co h-am luide do na laéchaib. Agus do dergad a imdaid d' Fergus, agus do dergad a n-imdaidi do na h-ard-maithib uile. Agus do ling gach aon in a imdaid dib ar sin, agus do fagbad Dubthach in a aonar ar in n-urlár. Agus do fiafraig Dubthach: “Ca b-fuil mo leabaidh-si?” ar sé “Fiafraig do t' maithib fen,” ar Airne. Ag a cloistecht sin do Dubthach, do gab a comfuacadh imresna for Airne.  p.204 Agus do cuala Fergus forniatacht a fregra thug na curaidh, agus mar do cúala do eirigh tre naire do digail a droch glóir ar Dubthach. Agus do eirgetar an Dubloinges d' anacal Dubthaich ar Fergus. Agus do eirgetar bannala agus beg-nertaigh an baile co buadhnasach. Do cualatar sluagh an dúnaidh uile an t-uathbas sin, agus do eirgetar an einfhecht d' innsaige na bruigni .i. muinntir Fergusa agus muinntir Airne fai sin. Agus do reidiged in righ-bhruigen leó agus do h-ainced Dubthach. Agus tánic Cormac Conloinges agus Airne mac Duib Dochlaidh a mach do fechain na slúagh, agus do b' obair doib an eiterdealugadh re cheile. Agus atorchar da trichait do muinntir na miled sin iter a muigh agus a tigh. 286 Agus do cúaidh cach dib a mesg a muinntiri, agus do batar co h-anbfosnech ansadail co tanic lá con a lán shoillsi.

[110] Agus ro eirigh Fergus co fír-moch agus ro tinoil a maithe uile d'a innsaidhi. Agus tanic ar in faichthi agus ro celeabair do na h-Airnib co h-ainíardha. Agus ro choirigh tosach agus deredh ar a deg laóchaib. Agus ro fagbadar an tír co tinnesnech,  41agus nír anatar do 'n réim sin agus do 'n ruathar no co rangatar co dúnad Atha Fen, agus do cuiretar Bricne rompa gus an m-baili.

[111] Agus rainic sed éin co h-airm a raibhi Oilill Finn agus do h-aitniged é. Agus do eirgetar cach uile in a agaid, agus do fersat fír-chain failti fris. Agus do toirbiretar poga imda dó, agus do fhiafraigetar sgela de. Agus adubairt Oilill: “Imarcharidh Bricne dam is in dúnad a nunn.” Do h-imchradh Bricne is in m-baile iar sin. Do h-esrad agus do h-ur-luachrad grianana arda uraibne agus tighe lepta logmara doib, agus adubrad ríu dul d'a tighib lepta d'a frestal agus d'a fritholam. “Ní racham ider,” ar Bricne, “uair ata dail coindme as mó agus as uaisle aná máid-ne 287 chugaib .i. Fergus mac Roigh  p.206 tanic do t' agallaim-si, agus do denam a coraighechta rit, agus d' iarraidh fóirithnech airm agus eidigh ortsa agus ar an nGamhanraid, uair ni uil an Eirinn uile áo n-egmais Oilella agus Medba en cara as ferr leis aige ana thusa.” “Mo chen a techt agus a thorachtain,” bar Oilill. “Dogebtar eich agus eididh agus arm gaisgid do 'n turus sin tanic; agus do geptar coimeirge na Gamanraide ar gach toiscc agus ar gach turas bas ail leis.” Agus ba failidh iat roim Fergus. “Ga fad uaid atá Fergus?” ar Oilill. “As fagus,” ar Bricne. Do chuaidh Oilill, agus do reidiged bruiden ríga ro mór aige fa comair Fergusa mic Roigh.

[112] Agus an uair tairnic an bruiden d'esradh agus d'ullmugadh adubairt Oilill re Bricne: “Denam a stech agus denam ar n-dithad.” 288 Do chuadar and; agus tuccad chuca nua gacha bídh agus sen gacha saor dighe gur bo subach so-labhartach saobh-ciallach iad. O do eirigh aigned an ollaman re dimsaighe na dighe agus re h-udmaille an anrath, agus ro chuirestar méd agus meince na sruamand sein meda aigned Bricne for búaidris. Agus do crom Bricne ar Oilill, agus as ed so adubairt: “Maith am, a Oilill, an fedrais an toiscc ima tainicc Fergus do 'n baile-si?” “Ni fedar am,” bar Oilill. “Ar cenn  42do mna-sa tánic,” bar Bricne, “d' a breith leis ar aithed agus ar elodh.” “An b-fuil cuid disi fén ann sin, a ollam?” bar Oilill. “Ata co deimin,” bar Bricne, “uair is í do cuir fo ghesaib é, mana tísad ar a cenn d' a breith leis ar áis no ar eigin o 'n Gamanraid. Agus do gheall co m-beradh lé an m-boin mail as dech fuil an Eirinn uile agus a h-airgedha ar chena. Agus do geall co m-biathfad fir Erenn gacha sechtmad oidchi ar sluaiged mór Tána bo Cuailgni.” “Do ba ferr limsa na bad í sin a toisg,” bar Oilill. Ro leicset secha sin, agus ro batar ac ól as a h-aitle.

[113] Imtusa Fergusa do berar ós aird. Do cóirigh a muinntir, 289  p.208 agus do rigni tri buidhne aidble osgardha arm-comarthacha, agus tri coraigthi troma triath-mora toirtemla, agus tri dirmada data dimóra do-aisneisi do'n Dubloinges. An cet corugadh do na curadaib .i. fiche cet cath-miled fa Cormac Conloinges mac Conchobair do roignib na rigdamna a fine rígda Rugraide, co sgiathaib donn-corcra dath-ailli dímóra dianarda, agus co m-brataib comarthacha comdatha, agus co n-inaraib cumta crunn-blaithi cimas-milla, agus co sguirdibh saidbri slim-geala snath-cáola, agus co cloidmib caol-glasa com arthacha cruaidh-géra, agus co slegaib slinngera snas-míne sith-rinnaigthi, agus co luirechaib lerg-dluithi lán-milla lepar-daingni lasamna, agus co muincedaib maisecha mong-dualacha maoth-sroill, agus co cennataib socra so-cuma solus-gemnacha.

[114] A n-urradha agus a n-uaisli agus a n-ard-flaithi a timceall Fergusa, an aird-righ. Agus is amlaid ro batar co sgiathaib órdha eng-blaithi uáinega ar clé láim gacha curad, agus co sleagaib fhada fraoch-búana fuilecha, agus co cloidmib seda soinemla sith-ridhni ar a sliastaib, agus co m-brataib uaine eochar-blaithi oir-cimsacha umpa, agus co casánaibh grésmílla geal-airgeda is na brataib ós a m-bruinnib, agus co minnaib ro cúanna bricht-rinnta rig-maisecha ar foradh gacha flatha.

[115] A sruithi agus a sinnser agus a so-comarlig, a forbfir agus a forus-ogláich ar dered na Dubloingsi. A n-amus agus a n-armainn árrachta agus a n-es-urradha290 is in m-buidin  43n-deigennigh dibh. Daigh is ámlaid ro batar sén co m-brataib gorma gabaltacha impu, agus co slegaib comfada cinn-géra colg-rinnaighthi, agus co sgíathaib buidi ball-corcra breachtnaichthi, agus co cloidhmib troma taib-lethna toirtemla ar na trén-feraib, agus co comarthaib imdaib egsamlaib uaistibh.

[116] Rangatar rompo fó 'n innus sin co dúnad Atha Fén. Agus o t' connairc lucht an baile an slúag sénta solus-mór so-mothaige sin d'a n-innsaige do chuatar ar fuinneógaib agus ar foradhmúraib an dúnaid d'á fairgsin agus d'a fechain. Agus ba cetfadach cach dibh re h-égsamlacht an innill.

 p.210

[117] Ranic Fergus ar an faichthi fai sin. Agus o t' conncatar an Gamandrad íat, ro eirgetar a mach a timcell Oilella Finn, agus ro feratar uile fáilti fri Fergus. Agus do cuired a tig leptha íat, úair do bí bruigen mór ar n-á corugadh acu fa comair na Dubloingsi fén. Agus do cuired iatsan innti, agus do togatar a n-airm agus a n-il-faobra ar aidlennaib innti.

[118] Is ann sin tugad maithi na Gamandraidi do cúm Oilella Finn. Agus ro fhiárfaig dibh cá h-ordugadh do bertai ar Fergus, in a tig leptha do bíad no 'n a tig Oilella Finn fén. “Is córa sin d'íarfaige de fén agus d'a maithibh,” bar íadson, “ina dínne.” “Do fiafraiged sin dibh,” ar Oilill. “Is i rogha bermaid,” ar síad, “Fergus agus a maithi do beith a n-aein thig agus 291 Oilill Finn agus maithi na Gamandraidi, innus co m-bía Fergus agus Oilill re coimhéd ar comaind agus ar caratraid.” Ro cuired techta ar a cenn íar sin, agus tugad a sdech íat. Is amlaid so do suidiged iat .i. días do maithib Fergusa im gach n-áin fer do maithib Oilella Finn, agus dias do maithib Oilella Finn im gach n-aoin fer do maithib Fergusa re fritheolam a feirge agus a fúasmada da tegmad coméirghe no esáonta no imresuin etarra, ár bo biáid séin da teallach cruaís agus cothaighthe Leithi Cuinn 292 i in Gamannrad Irruis Domnann agus damrad dibeirgi clainni Rugrade.

[119] Do fiarfaig Oilill Finn d'Fergus in d'én táib do beidís, no cach dib a mesg a maithi fen. “Is ed is ferr do 'n fáilti a tairise,” ar Fergus. Do cuaid Oilill in a imdaid iar sin, agus  44ro suid a n-inad righ innte, agus do orduigh Fergus in a farrad. Agus ni h-ed sin do clecht Fergus co n-uigi sin, úair ni lamthái rí do radh re nech is in n-oirecht a m-biadh acht a radh fri Fergus. Agus nir lamthai suidi roime a n-inad ríam in ba dual do righ suide nó go tánic go tech Oilella Finn, ri sed éin uaibhrech allata na Gamannraidi. Agus nír miadh  p.212 leis nech eile do cur in a inad. Fergus, imorro, do cuaid is in n-inadh do h-ordaiged dó, úair nir miadh leis tachar im inadh fri h-Oilill, or do budh deimin leis a dímíadh do dígail air fádeoigh.

[120] Acht ata ní chena. Do gabatar ac ól agus ac aibnes no co tarrla cáine comraid iter Oilill agus Fergus, gur fiafraigh Oilill d' Fergus cid ím a tangas a n-Irrus Domnann do 'n dul-sa. “Tanac d'iarraidh faigdhe airm agus eididh ortsa agus ar an n-Gamannraid, agus do denam mo cumainn ribsi uile.” “Ni h-í sin toisg do cualamar-ne do bheith agat,” ar Oilill, “agus aderait nir ceili-si ar duine ríam ni dá fíarfochadh dít.” “Cred da b-fuil agatsa sin ale?” bar Fergus. “Is ed do cualas ám,” ar Oilill, “gurab ar cenn mo mná-sa tangais, d'a breith let ar áis nó ar eigin.” “Ni ceilim-si sin ortsa,” ar Fergus. “Do budh ferr a cleith itir,” ar Oilill; “agus ac so, mar do déna tusa sin, a Fergais,” bar Oilill, “na cluined nech uaitsi an comradh sin. Agus eirich co moch a márach co h-Ath an Cluithi re Dún an air, agus th' ara carbaid let ann. Agus rachat-sa ann agus m' ara carpaid. Agus gid b'é úaind tí ass, bid an ben aigi.” “A dénam amlaid sin,” ar Fergus. A n-imtnusa co n-uigi sin.

[121] Imthusa Bricni do berar ós aird. O'n úair do cuaidh a ced meisgi de do gab ag fechain an tighi 'n a timchell. Agus atconnairc rúamnadh na fergi a n-agaid Oilella agus Fergusa. Tanic ealla aithrechais dó im a n-derna, agus tanic as a tich a mach roime. Agus atconairc an baile ac a linadh a n-oir agus a n-iar, a n-es agus a thuaith do córaighthib catha agus do sluaghaib fó'n arm gaisgid. Agus o t' connairc Bricne sin tanic a sdech, agus do fiarfaig do Oilill cred na córaighthi catha agus na socraide sár-móra slúaigecht ranic sa ic linad an baile. “Mo muinntir-sa agus mo teglach sin,” ar Oilill  45Finn, “agus do cummoradh áonaig na Samna 293 a marach  p.214 tegaid.” Agus tánic Bricne a mach a rís agus do condaic buidhen mór a n-des gach n- direch 294 .i. buiden dorcha dimhór dlúth-egairte, agus bruit donna uile impo agus cimsa airgit 'n a n-ur-timcell, agus léinte loar 295 lethna uile impa, agus cloidhme glas-lethna gorma 'n a lamhaib ar luamhain, agus slega midher-gera móra go m-balc 296 lan lamhaib laeich an gach lebar-crannaib dib, agus scéith donna dos-lethna dimóra leu, agus gilla feta foistinech fir-mór a tús na deg buidne sin co fo rsmacht úadha ortha uile. Do aithin Ailill iad, agus do righnedar an laoidh ann:—

  1. Fuil buigen sunna do'n dun,
    Ni h-úada tí aghaid ar cúl,
    Co m-brataib donna datha,
    Co sciathaib a comdatha.
  2. Dáine duba co nert níadh
    Co léintib gela ri grían;
    Dáine móra co n-deilb n-duibh,
    Do dechadar do'n mor muir.
  3. Cloidmhe glasa a lámhaib leó,
    Trén con bebsadar 297 do'n gleó;
    Slega mergidhe móra,
    Fir díregra dimora.
  4. Is aithind sunna na slóigh,
    Na fir sin co menmain móir;
    Aongas mac Echtaigh a nall
    Agus meic oglaeich298 Arann.
  5. Ni ríu nach doiligh deabaid;
    Ní h-urusa a n-imdegail;
    Nocha teithid re n-a n-guin,
    Co m-ba lán an fer d'á fuil.
    Fuil.

[122] Is ann sin tanic Bricne a mach, agus do d'fhech an fhaighti 'n a timcell. Agus adconnairc buidhin móir ar a h-imell  p.216 'n a suide, agus samail da chet laoch a línmaire; cet dib co m-brataib corcra cortharacha comdatha, agus cet eile go m-brataib uaine egsamla ill-dathacha impa, agus fer finn-cas foistinech feichemanta, maisech min-corcra maol-tengthach etarra an eiter-medon. Do aithin Oilill iad, agus do rignedar an laid ann:—

  1. Ata buiden ar an muigh,
    As an foil iad ré a féghain;
    Samail da chet a lín sin,
    Go n-armaib, go n-ilsciathaib.
  2. Cet dib go m-brataib corcra
    D' feraib aille admolta;
    Cet dib co m-brataib uaine,
    D' feraip finda fír-uaille.
  3. Ata ain fer sa buidin
    As aille di feraib fuinidh; 299
    Laoch mór co finne n-erla 300
    As co m-binne n-urlabra.
  4. Is se sin Muiredhach mor,
    Mac Oilella, lín a t-shloig,
    Nocha teithend se re a lá,
    Dáigh ro fhedar mar ata.
    Ata.

[123] A h-aitle na laide sin tainic Bricne a rís ar an faighte agus  46do dech uime. A gus ba h-ingnad leis an lear 301 slúaig agus na córaighthi catha atconnairc ac techt do'n baile. Agus tanic a sdech, agus atbert fri h-Oilill: “Ata buiden mór a nois is in slíabh a n-iar, agus samail cethri cet curad a coimlín, agus coiger doinn-fher derrsgaithech deg láoch a tosech an dírma co n-deig cealt taisich im gach triath dibh; fer direch datharmach donn-ruadh ar deredh na drong-buidhni; agus fer ceinn-lethan cas-mongach ciuin-bríathrach cnes-sholus an etar-medhon na cath-miled ac a cudhnodh.” “Do ber misi aithni ar in m-buidin eile sin,” ar Oilill. Agus is cuma do  p.218 bui ag a rádh, agus atbert Bricne an laid agus ro fregair Oilill h-é:—

  1. Buiden eile sunn sa sliabh,
    Ni 'n a n-oir tegaid acht a n-iar,
    Na slóig is sotla ar gach seilg,
    In a m-broin 302 corcra cro-derg.
  2. Atait ar tús na buidhni
    Cuiger laoch, lonn a luibhni;
    Atá ar deredh treall o'n t-slúagh
    Gilli garb direch donn-ruadh.
  3. Ata ar medhon na miled
    Gilla mor seng narsínedh,
    Duine do réidiugh' gach recht,
    Fa'n Eirinn uile an t-oirecht.
  4. An Gamannrad sin uile,
    Fa Gamain na Sidgaile;
    Fer is mó righi 's reabh
    Agus is caoime buiden.
    Buiden eile sunn.

[124] Is ann sin tanic Bricne ar in b-faicthi a ris, agus do gabh ac feithem da gach taeib in a timcell. Agus atconnairc na dirmadha data dímóra, agus na toinnti 303 trom-sluaig, agus na buidni brat-caoma, agus na h-oirechta aidble osgardha. Agus do gab egla adbal mór é, agus tanic a sdech a ris. “Sgela let a Bricne?” ar Oilill. “Ata, imorro,” ar Bricne, “uair no co n-airmither gainem mara 304 agus duilli feadha agus drucht for fér agus fér for faichthi, ni h-airemthar sluagh agus socraide catha, agus cetherna curad agus cath-miled an rig, agus es-urradha ar faichthi an dunaid-si a trath-sa.” “Mo muinntir-sa sin,” ar Oilill Finn, “ac techt do commoradh an áonaigh-se a marach.”

 p.220

[125] Agus tanic Bricne a rís a mach, agus atconnairc buiden a n-íar-des is in b-faichthi. Agus is í so a tuarasgbail, amail atbert Bricne:—

  1. Atát sunn buiden brogdha,
    D' feraib deg dealba dorrda;
    Glan a lí 305
    Cethri cet is trí cethrair.
  2. Sgiath corcra ar clé gach curadh
    Do na triathaib nar tubadh;
    Atat i minnaib na flatha
    Bruitne 306 uaine áon-datha.
  3. Fer dub a tús na fednach,
    Cethri cet triath a teglach,
    Dá dath for cuingid na cuan,
    Cnes geal, gnuis corcra mar crúan. 307
  4.  47
  5. Is íad sin clanna Find
    Is mó dho lúaidus linbir 308
    A coimidecht Fraoich na radh 309
    Eirgid na treoin mar atat.
    Atat.

[126] Tanic Bricne ar an b-faichthi, agus do gabustar ag fechain cethra airde an talman in a tímcell. Agus ni fhaca aird dip nach raibi sluagh no socraidi ac techt do'n baile. Agus atchonnairc buiden adbal mór a thúaith gach n-dír ech di feraib dorcha dímora, agus bruitne310 endatha uile impe, agus sgeith donna díanarda ar formnaib na fer-óglaoch. Agus nocha tánic amail a samla ar méd na ar miletacht is in faichthi. Agus is cuma do búi ac tabairt a tuarasgbala, agus atbert an laid:—

  1. Is sí so buiden is mó,
    Is fir is ní h-imargó;
    Nocha tánic sunn co se,
    Buiden amail a lethide.
  2.  p.222
  3. Atat sa droing ar tosaigh,
    Ceithre ced feinnidh fosaidh;
    Atat sa droing fa dheredh,
    Ceithre ced gan cláon temeal.
  4. Atát ceithre ced eile
    D'feraib nía móra nime
    Ar n-eidedh gach fir eolaigh
    Sa m-buidin móir medónaigh.
  5. Sgiath ar cúl gacha curad
    Do sgiathaib breaca brugach, 311
    Ata cairthe tróm nach treith
    A n-gústal312 gacha geil-sgeith.
  6. As iat sin na fir a thuaith
    Ó oir-imlib Esa Ruaidh,
    Aedh agus Aongus co m-bloid,
    Da degh mac Cornáin chos duibh.
  7. Buiden leis a mó a menma
    Tic amail a saine samla;
    Nocha n-fuil is calma a cli,
    Aderim-si ribhisí.
    As si.

 p.300

[127] Et tánic Bricne a mach a rís, agus do búi ac fechain na faichthi 'n a timcell. Agus atconnairc buiden an-aithnidh ingantach ac tichtain313 a thuaith ar lorg na cet buidhne, agus samail da chet laoch a línmare. Agus ni raibi laoch gan laigin dibh, na cath-milid gan cloich commoir a cobraid a sgeith, agus ain fher ard-mór osgardha amulcach a n- eidermedón na n-ánrad agus folt cas clechtach croch-buide fair. Tánic Bricne a sdech, agus do innis do Oilill na sgela sin agus adubratar an laid etarra ann:—

  1. A fhir d'féchus na buidni,
    Seall orra ar ái do ruibhni, 314
    Ma ro-d-aithni innis dam,
    Cia an buiden mor-sa sa magh. 315
  2. Abar rím, a Bhricni bhúain,
    Erradh suunradach an t-sluaig,
    Co n-inniser duit ule
    Tuarasgbail gach en duine.
  3. Baramail da chet láoch lonn,
    Mo do dáinibh na gach drong;
    Derg a sgeith is buidi a fuilt,
    Agus is a thuaith tegait.
  4. Go n-a dá chet laighni lethna
    Mar tisdáis an dail debtha,
    Co n-da chet líag-nertaib nia
     48A n-gustalaib a crom-sgíath.
  5. Ogláoch amulcach menn mór,
    In fer sin fá suidh an slóg
    Gebaid tairis ós telaig
    Folt cas cruthach caoim slemain.
  6.  p.302
  7. Is síat na fir sin, aderi,
    An macrad o Muigh Eme;
    In fer mór, miad gan ceilg,
    Fermenn mac Dara dreach Deirg.
  8. Is mairg re curid a n-gleó,
    Gibé h-uair gabait angó, 316
    Is mogénar fer am n-dib
    Les an gabait airm, a fhir.
    A fhir.

[128] Imthusa Ailella Finn imorro. Do gab ag suarcus ar Fergus, agus as ed adbert ris: “Cid ima tangais do'n tir-si a Fhergais?” ar Ailill. “Do cúalais cena,” bar Fergus. “Ma sed ni tibra-sa mo t-sheoid ar mh' aimles,” ar Oilill. “Ni caithim fein do biad-sa no do deoch,” ar Fergus, “oir ni ghonaim-si duine317 sa biad chaithim do gres.” Agus do eirig Fergus a mach. Agus adubairt Ailill do guth beg re Fergus: “Na cluined an Gamanrad sin. Agus tarra moch-trath ar Ath an Cluiche, agus na cluined duine sin acht ara do carbaid. Agus ní cluinfe duine uaimse h-e acht ara mo carbaid. Agus denam comracc, agus gipe uain tí ass, bíd an ben aige.” Ránic Fergus a mach agus lenais Dubthach agus Aongus h-e re cách. Agus do fhiafraighedar fa lana feirge de, agus ni b' áil leisen a indisin doib. Agus do gab tenn forra gan a indisin do neoch eile. Agus do indis doib as a h-aitle. Agus  p.304 do iarr Dubthach a legen fein do chum an comraic sin re h-Oilill. Adubairt Fergus nar fer dingmala dó itir eisium agus gur leic tairis comrac etorra do dhenam an an comroinn sin; agus adubradar an laid ann as a h-aitle:—

  1. A Fhergais a n-anfa-sa
    Re gach n-decair n-dein n-doghraing?
    Ca fáth im a rachá-sa
    Romamsa do chum an comlainn?
  2. Ní thicc dibh afrithaileam,
    Nocha n-uil an bhar línuib,
    Tuccaid oraib a íniccin,
    Ní thánic dib a dhíguil.
  3. Ailill Finn an flath ruire,
    Flath Irruis íarthair Banba,
    Nocha comlann comadhais
    A cenn rig Ulad amra.
  4. Teilgfed-sa an sleg slinnger-si,
    Co h-Oilill Átha Fernais,
    Nocha n-uil laoch ri m' lamha
    Madh dá n-an-sa a Fhergais.
    A Fhergais.

[129] Acus ránic Fergus d'a tigh-lepta iar sin, agus rucadar as an adhaig sin. Agus do eirigh Fergus co moch ar na márach, agus do dhúisigh a ghilla. Agus do gab sein a eich agus do  49innill an carpad. Agus ger moch ranic, fuair Oilill ar an Ath. Agus tugatar achmusán agarb ainíarmartach d' a n-arm aib tren-gera treathan-luatha teilcti an agaid a cheile. Agus do fritheoiletar na h-ogláich co h-aithnidh na h-arma, co nach raibe fargamh no fuilechadh ar na flaithibh, agus do t-shoillsich an lá ar na laechibh.

[130] Agus do mhothaich Dubthach agus Aonghus Fergus d 'imtecht uatha agus do ghabhadar an arma, agus tangadar do chum an Átha. Agus fúaradar na curaidh a comlann ar an Áth, agus tucadar fargam gach áin fir 318 ar Oilill, agus tucastar Oilill fargamh ar gach áin fer dib sen. Et do mhothaigh Cormac Conloinges mac Concubair agus Uáitne Ucht-sholus mac Conuill Cernaig Fergus d' imtecht a mach. Agus tánic  p.306 Cormac agus Uaithne a mach rompa. Agus do connaic na curaidh a comlann, agus o d'connaic, ro indsaigh íad. Agus tucc Cormac forgam ar Oilill, agus tuc Uáithne forgamh eile fair; agus do ghon Oilill gach ain fer acasan. Is and sin tanic Birrderg mac Ruaidh agus Edar mac Eogáith agus Fiacha mac Fireaba a mach, agus tucadar forgamh gach áin fir ar Oilill, agus tug Oilill trom-ghuin ar gach trein-fer dib sin. Is ann sin tanic Gobhnend mac Luirgnigh agus Suanach mac Salgabann, comhalta Cormaic, agus Lugaid Laimdercc mac D{} agus Sith{} mac Edghait co h-inath na h-imresna, agus tugadar forgam gach ain fir ar Oilill, agus do ghon Oilill gach ain fer acasan. “Cid duitsi, a gilla Oilella,” ar gilla Fergusa, “gan a indisin do t' mathaib 319 trena san eicin adbal a fuil?” “Is briathar damsa am,” ar an gilla, “an cein bus cudroma a comrac nach indeósa sgela o cach dib.”

[131] Cid tra acht o dered oidche co h-ard trath-nona do bi doib ar in luinni sin, co clos fó'n longport ledgaire na cloideam 'gá comtócbail agus tinnt{} na colg ris na cathbarraib, agus sithe na sleg ris na sian-gaothaib. Agus adclos a pupall clainni Fidhaigh na fuasnada sin. Atrachtadar sein co dígáir dasachtach agus co fraochda forníata agus co menmnach micheillidh  50co clos a fuaim agus a fothrom a nellaib nimhe agus co cuasaib crand agus carrac garba greagan gailbech gúasachtach gresedacht buan greghan na Gamandraidi ac éirge, agus olbacht320 na n-ánradh ac a n-eidedh agus meall-gal na macradh ac a moch-dusgadh, muisec na min-daeine ac mall-asgnám, cresnugthi agus comairleda na fer-cuinged agus na forusogláoch ac tennad na trén-fer agus ac greasacht na gillannrad agus ac laind na luath-chos do tarrachtain an mer-tresa agus do digail a n-ancraidi ar an Dubloinges. Agus tangatar rompa co ro dían in a n-doiredib dluth crann-gera díanarda duaibsecha, agus in a m-buidnib roda rían-garba recht-búana, agus in a  p.308 ceithernaib clisdi crann-ruadha comartacha co rangatar co h-inadh na h-imresna agus co lathar an laoch-bhúailti.

[132] Is ann sin do eirgetar an Dubloinges co díghair, agus co badba baoth égciallach, agus co fraocha foistinech, co n-dernatar mainner aghmar aithesach fhaobar-cruaidh ogalborb ainntreannda, agus leibenn lethan-cruaidh laoch-niata lorg-remar laoch-lonnach, agus buaile birech barr-derg brathaigméil breac-dhathach bán-corcra. Tangatar rompa fo'n réim sin in a cipi dluith-mer do-ríartha doiger-mor do-oconeta, 321 agus in a toindte togdha toirtemla tuaith-echtach tholg-ainntreannda, gur gabatar lathair fhairsing imbúailti ar uilinn oirrtheraigh an Atha, gur gáirset agus an Gamandrad co cómnart agus co curata d' a cheile, co clos co nellaib a n-ilach, co n-ar bó leir soillse os na slogaib an comairet ro batar na frasa fír-móra foga ac ferthain, agus na bera barrgéra brath-neimnecha bodba ar luamain os na láochaib.

[133] Agus do cromad na cliatha crann-remra catha ac na curadhaib, gur lubad agus gur loinn-brised na crainn ris na cath-sgiathaib, agus gur beicetar na fraighi ris na fuasnadaib, agus gur gairided na luirigh ag á luath-gerradh, agus gur loinntesgadh na laich tres na laoch-bruinnibh, agus gur ledradh na cinn tres na clogataib, agus gur aimréidighit fuilt do na fíar-lannaib, agus gur dalladh suile do na sruithlinntib fola fichidi forruaide ac tuitim co for-lethan ar na fairgsinaib. Agus do chuaid in cath in a comlannaib agus in a cendairc fo chetóir, co clos co fada o na fednachaib sin cathus na cath-miled, 322 agus  51fedmenna na feinned, agus ruathar na righ-damna, agus torann na triath, agus brosgar na m-buiden ag a m-báolugadh, agus claidream na ceithernacha clódh a cernaib an catha; meall-ghal agus menmnannrad na macrad agus na maothoglaoch; atmarecht na tren-fer ac a tesgadh; imarcaid na n-úasal ar na h-ur-íslib; ard-ghotha na n-uasal-rígh agus na n-oirecht agus na n-armann ac tennad in tresa agus ac greasacht na gliadh agus ac laind na laoch.

[134] Cid tra acht o rangatar a fedhmanna catha ar cach ro  p.310 gabh Fergus agus Aóngus agus Dubthach ac túargain a sgeith ar Oilill a áonar, agus do gab Oilill ac tuargain a tri sgíath orrason. Sgibis Fergus ar cúlaib, agus crothais an cráoisech catha, agus gonais Oilill fochetóir fó cumus. Craithis Oilill an manáois móir-lethan o h-innsma go h-urloinn gur gonastar Fergus co fortamail. Agus gonais Dubthach agus Aongus Oilill, agus gonuis Oilill iadsum co h-amnas 323 gur bo cósair cró na curaidh ó na craoisechaib.

[135] Agus o do cualatar an Gamannrad na tri béimenda bodbha sin ar aon sgéith Oilella Finn co foillsechdha, do freagratar grinne fraochdha forníata do Gamannraid Irruis íad .i. Ghamain seng na Sidgaile con a dá Gamain mar aon ris. Agus tuairged a triar brathar do tri béimennaib brath-aidble a sgiath co h-ainíarmartach ar Fergus. Fregrais Fergus co fraechda fedmannta sin. Tangatar triar tren-fer toirtemla do'n Gamannraid cetna cu cath, agus tucatar tri beimenna aidble osgarda do'n aird-rig co cúalatar na maithi uile íat.

[136] Cid tra acht ro b' adhbar uathbais agus uiregla 324 do lucht an catha sin eístecht re buaidersaidh na m-badb agus na m-brais n-én na h-ealtan325 agus na h-énlaithi, agus re nuallguba na con agus na cuanart ac urnuidhi áir agus abaige, re selgairecht na sideng, agus re h-eitealaigh na h-énlaithi aérda ac toirnem ar na trochbuidhnibh. Bá h-imda ám ré h-ed na n-athgairit ann sin feinnidh frasgonta, agus curaidh crechtnaigthe, agus laochrad laim-gerrtha, agus triath ar tuisledaigh, agus taisech tróm-gonta, agus mail ar mertnige, agus brugaid broinn-tesgda, agus forb-fir fiar-gerrtha, agus buidhne brat-corcra, agus cinn co comarthach, agus suile saobdalla,  52agus beoil ar m-bán-glasadh, agus suile saob, agus bruinne ag bolgfannaig, agus cosa ar cam-lúainn, agus troigthi truaillgerrtha, gur bo torann toghdha tuaithbil tubaistech triathgonta troch-digbálach, agur gur bá cath-buaile coimnert cletharmach  p.312 crann-brisde colg-shnithe clogat-gerrtha, agus gur ba céide corcra colg-brisde corp-línmar cnes-oslaicte cubar-bolgach cru-línmar na faighte da n-éis ó n-imláidib, gur imdaigedar na h-echta, agus gur aimréidhigedar an fhaigthe re h-imad na cráeisech agus na cloideam agus na cath-sciath agus na coland cros-gerrtha comarthach agus na sláod-ócláoch sínte sec-marb agus na miled mormenmnach mudhaigte agus na n-gilla n-éidechi n-atbregda; gur cuired ár na Gamhanraide san gleo sin, agus co n-dorcradur dronga di-áirmhide do'n Dubloinges .i. deich cet ar n-a comairemh.

[137] Cidh tra acht o d'connairc Fergus a muinntir g' a marbadh agus g' a mughugadh agus an Gamhanrad ac tocht tairsib, do gabustar ac tócbail a menman rig-mileta os aird .i. ac telgadh na trom-cloideam, agus ac trascradh na trein-fer, agus ac fabhairt na foga, 326 agus ac corcradh na crann, agus ac tregdadh na triath, agus a comroinn na corp, agus ac meirrdíth na m-buidhen, agus ac scoltadh na sciath, agus ac broghadh na m-beimenn, agus ac urtógbail a ferge; oir mas fhir do na sgelaigib ni eirged fercc Fergusa no co roichedh a fhadhbrann d'a fhuil. Sínis laim d' a cloideam .i. do'n Caladcolg, agus ní fhuair 'n a truaill ider h-e. Is amlaid ámh tarla sin .i. aon do lo ro búi a coimriachtain re Meidbh re taib craibe cuill a Cruachain, agus fuair Ailill íad amlaid sin. Agus do ben an Calad-colg as a thruaill, agus do cuir cloideam crainn co n-imcoimed 'n a inad. 327 Agus ó d' connairc Fergus an ní sin bá dóich leiss gur mheabhal do ronsat Connachtaich air. Agus do fhócair do Bricni imthecht, agus a rádha re Cormac Connloinges an cath d' facbail, agus a fédfa d'a muinntir do breith leis. “Agus ni ber-sa troigh techid re m' re no re m' reimes.” Rainicc Bricne d'indsaige Ulad agus ro ráidh a theachtairecht riu. Rainicc Cormac as an cath o  53d' connairc nert na Gamanraide ag tocht tairsib, agus tuc sgiath tar lorg 328 d' á muinntir.

 p.10

[138] Imtusa Fergusa imorro. Do gab fein agus Dubthach agus Aongus ac túargain a sciath ar Oilill. Agus o d' connairc Gamain na Sidgaile sin do indsaigh iad. Agus tucc forgamh co forníata ar Fergus, agus tug Fergus forgamh go h-ainíarmartach fairsim. Tainicc Gold Oilech agus Gold Acla chuca, agus tugadar forgam gach ain fhir ar Fergus, agus tug Fergus guin digla ar gach n-aein fer dib sin. Is ann sin tanaicc Aod mac Echtaich agus Aongus mac Echtaich chuca, ocus tucadar forgamh gacha fir a sceith Fergusa, agus tucasdar Fergus 329 forgomh ar gach áoin h-fer 330 dib sin. Is and sin tanaic Duban mac an Gamna d' á saighidh; agus o ráinic tucastar guin digla ar Fergus, agus tug Fergus a cumain fochetóir dósum. Is ann sin tangatar na secht m-Breislenna a Breifni fochetóir d'á rochtain; agus tucatar forgom gacha fir ar Fergus, agus tuc Fergus cumain a gona da gach deig fer dibsim.

[139] Cid tra acht tangatar an Gamanradh uile fó'n innus sin d' á saigidh, no co 331 tanic Fraoch mac Fidaigh fadeoigh. Agus o ránic sid éin d'a n-innsaige nir léigestar guin na forgom do tabairt do na feraib ar Fergus. Agus do fhúagair do'n Gamanraid a ghabail. Agus do h-iadadh in a tímchell iar sin, agus tugadh slabraid agus glais agus géibinn acu fair. Do crapladh agus do cuibhrigedh an rig-milidh co ro chalma fo'n n-innus sin; agus do gabadh aca Aóngus agus Dubhthach. O tairnic imorro Fergus agus Aóngus agus Dubthach do gabail doib, do fuagair cath do'n Gamanraid Cormac agus an Dubloinges do leanmain.

[140] O d' conairc Bricne Fergus do gabail, agus Dubthach agus Aongus, agus a muinntir do marbadh, do chuaid a aigned as a inadh. Agus do critnaigetar a chosa fái; agus do meirbligetar a meóir; agus do lúathaig a craoidhi; agus do cláonadh a cetfadha; agus do saobadh a radarc. Agus do tógaib a edach co h-ur-édtrom uime agus do gluáis co  p.12 leidmech do lathar. Agus do imid roime co h-etrom etarbúasach do'n raen? ós fhid agus ós fhér agus os usciu. Agus nír sguir do'n ruathar sin co ranic co Cruachain Ratha Aíe. Agus is amlaid ro buí Meadb ocus Oilill ar a cinn in a thig oir-egarthi óla. Agus ó ranic ro léicestar marb gan anmain ar fíar-thárrsna an urláir é. Ro fiafraig Meadb agus Oilill  54sgéla de. Agus do innis co h-uathbásach an Dubloinges do marbadh, agus Fergus agus Dubthach agus Aongus do gabail. “Agus ni mairenn mac mná na fir da n-decha ar in toisg ud d' Ulltaib acht mise a m' aonar,” ar Bricne. “Cía dho lemad na gnimartha sin do génam,” bar Meadb, “agus cia dá ticfa a marbadh-san re méd a menman, agus re h-imad a cath agus a curad?” “Ní fhacu-sa ann ám,” bar eisium, “acht mad teglach an righ, agus ni fhaca riam teglach righ budh beódana no budh línmare in aid. Agus muna treictea-sa sinn, a Meadb,” ar Bricne, “ni cuimgeochdais fir Domnann na in Gamanrad ní duinn.” Agus is cuma ro batar 'g a radh, agus adubratar an laid:—

  1. Amlaid sin, a Bricne búain,
    Ga leth rugais do ceim cruaidh? 332
    Suaill nach ar bánadh do beoil
    Do-s-fáinic mana moir-sgél.
  2. Do-m-fáinic sgéla gábaid;
    Tuc sinni co h-ansadhail;
    Do faothsat Ulaid uile
    Fá hui Rosa Rugraide.
  3. Cia do lémadh, cia do lam,
    Cia do righni an t-imbualadh?
    Ar imat bur cath combloid,
    Ciá da ticfa bur traothad?
  4. Ní fhaca-sa ann co fír,
    Amáin acht teglach an righ;
    Nocha fhaca ríam co se
    Teglach righ bud linmare.
  5. Thusa do déonaigh an feall,
    Aderait sin rit, a Meadb,
    Mana bethea-sa 'g ár m-brath,
    Ni lemdaís drong Domnannach.
  6.  p.14
  7. Do berim-si briathar fir,
    A fiadnaise na cuig righ,
    Nar furailes an gléo grinn,
    Agus nar furáil Oilill.
  8. Mana tú do rinne in feall,
    Cur na catha cenn a ceaun;
    Tógaib do brigh is do bladh
    Is fobair an go imamlaid.
    Dó.

[141] Cid tra acht bá h-aithméla mór le h-Oilill agus le Meadb in sgél sin do chloisdin. Agus ro tinoiletar maithi ceitri n-oll-coiged n-Érenn cuca, úair do batar sen a Cruachain fá'n ám sin, ar n-á tochradh d' Oilill agus do Meidb chuca do dul ar cenn Tána bo Cuailgni an Ulltaib. Agus fa h-íat so na h-ard-maithi do batar ann sin .i. Lugaid mac Conráoi, agus Eochaid mac Fínngin mic Luchta, agus Eochaid Gusmar mac Tigernaigh Thédbannaigh mic Degaidh, agus Eochaid Faobar a brathair, agus Lugaid mac Nóis, agus Loch mac na Feibis, agus Aongus mac Mesgeadra mic righ Laigen, agus Mac Nía mac Finn mic Rosa, agus Aongus mac Echach Aíncinn, agus Illann Finn 333 mac Fergusa, agus Conodar mac Cecht, agus maithi Dáldruithne, Eochaid Rond agus fir Craoibe, 334 Mac  55Magach agus fir Muide Máoin, agus fir Remhaind, agus fir Caille Anchosnamai mic Umhóir, agus fir Erna, na Mainedha, agus Tuatha Taeiden.

[142] Tucadh na maithe sin uili go h-Oilill agus go Meidbh, agus do indeis Meadb doib an Gamannrad do sharugadh, agus Ferchus con a muinntir do marbadh ar a h-eniuch fein. Agus do cuindigh sí ar maithib Erenn techt m araen ria do dighail a h-einich ar an Gamanraid. Agus ro gabsud-sum do laim do ticfadís ar in turas sin. Agus ba maith leo techt ann; uair bá deimin lé curadaib agus le cath-mileduib go fasfa bladh agus allud agus oirrdercus doib do dul ann. Uair bá derbh  p.16 leu nach gebadh aen tuath becc is an domhan riu féin ar a n-immat, agus ar feabhus a laech agus a lath n-gaile. Agus do aiccill Medb Lugaid mac Conráei ar sin, agus ro sir cungnam agus comairli fair, agus do raid in laid:—

  1. A Lugaid! 335
    Comairli damh go cubaid;
    Do milled Fergus, farír!
    Is gnimh do-m-ber fa pudhar.
  2. A Meadb muadh! 336
    Nocha maith nech gan a luadh;
    Nocho mo is maith nech gan nert,
    Or as soich gach recht go duadh.
  3. Tóccaib do dail go deimin,
    Mar as cóir mar as cubaid;
    Tair-si romhainn da dígail,
    Tógaibh do gnima, a Lugaid.
    A Lugaid.

[143] Is ann sein ro eirich Meadb, agus ro gairmestar co marc 337 for tuathaib Táeiden. Agus ro ergetar na sluaigh in a córaightib 'n a diaidh. Agus ba h-amlaid so do córaighid na catha sin .i. Lugaid mac Conraei agus Eochaid Gusmar mac Tigernaigh Tedbandaigh re clandaib Deccadh ann; 338 Lugaid mac Nóis agus Loch mac na Feibis agus Eogan Finn mac Fíngin re cúigedh Eachach mic Luchta ann; Mac Niádh mac Finn mic Rossa agus Eochaid Faebar agus Eachaid Ainchend mac Eachach re cuiged n-Gailian 339 ann; Aengas mac Misgedra re feraib Laigen ann fos.

[144] Ar cinnedh a comarli, agus ar n-ordugadh a n-uidegha agus a n-imthechta doib, do gluaisiutar rompa. Agus is h-i so slighe do dechaid Meadb con a maithib agus con a marc-sluagaib .i. tar mín muighei Aéi, agus tar oirter Sleibhi  p.18 Treblainde, agus tar mullach Cruad-luachrai, agus tar Dubabuind m-Breaa, agus tar iartar cineoil Forcaill, agus tar Moin  56Coindedha agus tar Sein-slighte Sencháin, agus a n-descert Forannáin, agus tar Ath n-Dub-glaise ris i n-abar Athamhnas, agus tar cend Crúad-droma, gur gabadar sosad agus longport a cinn Lacha hí Artair, ris a n-abartar Loch na n-Airnedh a n-íu. Agus ro gabadar a coiseda agus a rútadha 340 'n a coinde agus 'n a comdail tar coilltib Ciarraige, agus tar athgairdib criche airthir Uchtlethain co rancadar cus an maighin a raibe Meadb agus Oilill agus na cuigedha ar chena. Agus ro ghabadar long-port an dúnadh Airne mic Fhir Dochla an oidche sin. Agus as amlaid do bí an bruiden sin agus a sluagh fein ar n-a fágbail. Agus nir folmaiged in á fuiregaib itir í, oir do úaradar-san biadh agus deoch go dingmhala innte. Agus do t-shuidedar na sloigh ar sin do chum na trom-fledhi sin d'á trom-caitheamh. Agus ní rucadar a buidhe ris in m-brugaid. Agus ro badar co sesgar sódhamail as sin go h-oidci.

[145] Et mar táinic an adaig sin d'á n-indsaige, ro thinóiledar a mic agus a muinntir a timcell Airne. Agus ro badar selad ó na slúaghaib; agus ro comairligedh aca dol fá eirr do na h-ard-shluagaib, agus a n-egoir agus a n-indarbadh do diguil orra. Agus rangadar co h-imell an long-puirt, agus ro marbsat tri caogait curad cath-armach do muinntir Medba. Agus do chuadar fein co h-imlán as a h-aithle. Agus do éirich gádh mór agús gúasacht sa long-port de sin; agus do h-innised d'Oilill agus do Meidb na sgela sin. Agus adbert Meadb co n-díghéla co deimin iad; agus adubairt fos gur maith do dhíguil Airne a aeigidhecht orra; agus atbert an laid and:—

  1. Is se an biad con ainfeile,
    Tug damsa Dub na n-Airne;
    A reidhe-san aimreidhe,
    Ro-s-alt oraind a ghairbe.
  2. Tri caogait d'ar sluagaib-ne,
    Do marbsat, mor an pudar;
    Leosan ge do rocradar,
    Is limsa is cian bus cumhan.
  3.  p.20
  4. Báidim-si is raidim-si,
    Toingim fa m'arm budhdeisin, 341
    Uáthaib sen ní rachaim-ni,
    Co m-beram geall gach seiser.
    Is.

[146] As a h-aitle sin do cuir Medb na Maineda con a muinntir agus a teglach fein re h-agaid Airne, agus d' fhaire agus d'feitheam na sluag. Ro ghreis agus ro thegcoiscc na Maineda co maith ar sin. Agus ro fhagaibset an baile, agus do chuadar  57d' imfhairgsi ar Airne; uair do bi séin con a muinnter ac deabaid agus ac forbaisi ar na flaithibh. Do cumruic doib agus do na Mainedib, agus do cuiredh ár mor etorra. Agus atorchrutar deich cet curad cath-armach do muintir na Mainedh ann; agus atorchair Airni mac Duib Dochlaich con a muinntir uili ann ar maidin, 342 acht madh dá mac an brugaid .i. Brec agus Nainnesc, neoch do chuaid a maidm agus a teichedh o na tren-feruib. Tanic Meadb agus Oilill agus na maithe ar chena os a cinn, agus ro-s-gabh Medbh og a moladh go mor, agus ag buidechus go na Mainib, agus do raid an laeidh:—

  1. Fuil sunn comartha curad,
    Ar baigh re h-ogaib Ulad;
    Airne mac Duib dil{}h roinn,
    Fuil sunn a cend dá comhroinn.
  2. In cluin Oilill amra an ghein,
    Coscar mhór ag na Mainibh?
    Cumrac re laech, linibh gal,
    Nir bhord na éidedh an toradh.
  3. Do toit linn Airne d 'ar n-ágh;
    Do marbsam deich cet comlan;
    Ferrdha gach comlan ro chuir,
    Ge toirrsech an fod a fuil.
    Fuil.

[147] Ro cluided 343 a fert agus a lia agus a lidhe acu ar sin, agus fert a braitriuch. Agus do cuiredh a cinn agus a cossa is in loch, gorub Loch nan Airnedh a ainm ó sin ille. 344 Agus ro batar-sum ag fechain an Locha agus na bruidni; agus ro  p.22 bui Meadb ag indisin scela an rig-brugaid ro bái ann, agus ac tabairt a tesmolta os aird. Agus as cuma do baei 'g a rádh, ogus atbert an laid ann:—

  1. Tech Airne! 345
    Gidh adile lucht a airmhe;
    As úathad do fhider sin,
    Acht mana b-fuil a aithne?.
  2. Caoga coire and for tein;
    Caoga dabhach ann fri fleid;
    Neoch ro soiched ann fri froigh,
    Cetrar ar ceithre cetaib.
  3. Da mac an rígh dildáis cesd,
    Brec maraon agus Nainnesg;
    Comlan caogad cechtarde,
    An uair ba h-am irgaile.
  4. Is í mo theisd ar an m-bruigin,
    Ar tech Airni an mór muirir,
    Nach decha re m' linn a stech
    Duine inn nach bíadh buidhech.
    Tech.

[148] Ro gluaisedar rompa ar sin can anad can airiseam co rancadar co h-oirter Mothra, agus tar iartar Muige Sanais, agus laim re Loch-na-Cerdcha, gur gabsad sosad agus long-port ac dunadh Nochta, ingine Deirg mic Dolair. Agus ro fhógair Nochta comlonn ar feraib Eirenn. Agus as e comlonn ro  58fhógair orra .i. coimrith co mullach Cnuic na Faircsina ris a raiter Nemthainn h-ua n-Amalgaidh a n-íu. Do rithetar ría ar sin. Agus gach fer as a téiged a rith acu do impodh ris, agus do beired béim cloidme do co teilced a cenn d'á colainn. Agus ro marb náei nonbar dib amlaid sin .i. Eogan Gar mac Oilella con a maithib. Agus do cuinnigh Meadb ar Lugaid mac Conráoi Nochta do dingbail dibh. Agus ro reth Lugaid ría co rangadar co h-eter-medon an chnuic, agus do chuaid as Nochta and sin. Agus o do chuaid, ro impo Lugaid ría, agus tuc beim di co tobhacht a cenn d'a colainn. Agus ruc leis ar amus Medba h-e. Agus bá maith le Meidb an gním  p.24 sin; agus ro gab ag molad Luigdech, agus do rinde an laeidh:—

  1. Búaidh n-gnímha sin, a Lugaid!
    Mo cen láoch imarulam;
    Cidh esbaid dunn díth ar fer,
    Ro sella trí naí nonbar.
  2. Tri noí nónbar fer feine
    Ruc uáinn an ard n or shleibe;
    Ní thoracht nech dib ar cul,
    O ingin Deirg co n-dub-run.
  3. Fuilet san carn o'n cnuc síar,
    Collna na fer fedh nach cían;
    Fuil nónbar laoch 'n a buide,
    Os a cinn 'n a comnuide.
  4. An ben ro marbh Eogan Gar,
    Mac Oilella, nai nonbair,
    A Lugaid, co leth an t-shluaig,
    Mar do thuit let as lan-buaidh.
    Buaidh.

[149] Do ba maith le Lugaid na tesmolta sin tucc Medb fair. Agus ro imdighset as sin ar na marach ar amus dúnaidh Oilella Finn go h-Ath Fén.

 p.114

[150] Agus do ronsat secht catha cródha commora dib. 346 Agus ro chóirigh co h-uáthmar áightighe alad-breca iad,—do sciathaib corcra comdatha, agus do sciathaib eochar-bláithe uainegda, agus do sciathaib dubha dlúth-uáite 347 dínarda, agus do sgiathaib ballacha boird-righni breac-buide, agus do sgiathaib bileacha bord-cruaidhi brechtnaigthi; agus do cloidmib eal-górma 348 iárann-glasa or-cumdaigthi, agus do cloidmib caél-glasa creat-blaithi 349 comartacha, agus do cloidhmib troma taeib-lethna toirtemla; agus do shlegaib crann-rémra cruata 350 coig-rinni, agus do shlegaib ailli innealta or-crái, 351 agus do slegaib faidi foinnmhidhe faobhar-géra; agus do luirechaibh treabraidhe352 tre-dualacha; agus do cathbarraib cáema cumdaigthi; agus do cath-chlesaib 353 curad; agus do loirg-ferstaib  59catha; agus do corránib clis; agus do gonbuinnib gaiscid,— gur uo lor caeimhe agus ailli a n-innillid354 agus a n-ecuisc ar n-imut 355 a tlacht n-ildhathach n-eacsamla do gorm agus do corcar, d'uaine agus do buide agus do bric agus do cinel gacha dathai étaigh ar cena; ar n-a cumduch d' ór agus d' aircet agus do gemuib cristail agus carrmhogail, gur uo lór do grain agus do groidbidhgadh a faicsin re h-alt na h-uairi sin, re h-imat a n-arm n-áithgher n-ilfhaobrach, agus a mergeth m-bratach-mór mall-corcrai n-uathmar n-ilbrec n-anaithnidh, agus re culgaire na carbad, agus re toichim na trom-sochraide, agus re sesseilb na sochraide an mor-sluaigh ar chena.

[151] Et ni cian do batar ann in tan do riacht Torna trén cucu,  p.116 .i. milid mor calma do muinntir Oilella Find h-e. Agus ro fogair comlonn orra. Agus ro fhuabuirset sé h-aithigh dib é do comlonn ris, .i. Torn agus Maol, da aithiuch coire Luigdech mic Conraei; Merón agus Midhna, da aithiuch coire Oilella agus Medba; Ruibne agus Rodan, da aithech coiri Find mic Rosai. Et do fuapratar an seser aithiuch an comlann an agaidh Torna go borb dicheillidhi dásachtach, ancheillidh aitechdha, d' á n-aeielaib356 troma trebarnacha, 357 agus d' a sleguib crann-remra cenn-lethna, agus d' a cloidhmib mora mergidhe. Agus ro fuarabair Torna an comlann co h-athlamh urmuisnech agus go talchar troigh-escaidh a n-agaid na n-aithech. Agus ru-s-timcill íat amail timceallas seabhac enlaith an aeiér. Agus do rinde brich 358 bec dib, agus do ben a sé cinn dib fochetóir. Agus ro gab do na sluagaib fo comair as a h-aitli, agus do imer a ferc orrta. Agus ro iadhutar-som uime sium, agus do ronsat guin galann 359 dei. Agus ro claeidedh a fert agus ro gniad a gubha. Agus do righned dumha dimór os a cinn, conad duma Torna fos ainm an inaidh d' á eis.

[152] Rangatar fir Erenn rompa ar sin go h-Ath Fein, agus ro gabsad sosadh agus longport acu ann. Do ruacht Goll Oilech d' á n-indsuigid con a shecht macuib agus con a tri cet curad  60comanmonn, agus do breth ár ar na sluagaib fochetoir. Agus ro marb cet fer n-armach n-incomlann 360 dib fo'n n-innus sin. Agus do cuir dunad Oilella Finn ar comairci Luigdech mic Conraoí co na cloisgdis an Dubloinges h-é co m-beith imlán ar cinn Oilella Finn. Agus do roinnetar fir Erenn ar a do iad 361 im an dunadh sin, .i. Lugaid mac Conraí co leth b-fer n-Erenn uime; Meadb con a sluagaib is in leith araill. Agus  p.118 ro gab Goll Oilech cloch-treas bodba doib co maidin, con nár leig codlad no cumsanad doib. Agus do marb da ech Medba, conadh Ech Oilech ainm an inaid sin d'a n-éis.

[153] Rangatar as sin ar na mharach co Tulaig an Fhemdala 362 agus Goll Oilech con a maithib g' a marbadh agus g' a n-dithlaitriugadh. Agus ro gabad longport ar leth ac Lugaid mac Conraí an oidhchi sin ag Abainn na h-Imeirce, agus Meadb ag Tulaig Líag. Agus do riacht Fermenn agus a athaír, .i. Dara Derg, ar amus na Muimnech agus Luigdeach mic Conraoí, tricha cet a lin. Agus dorat Fermenn cloch-treas bodba d' feraibh Muman co nár léig biad na deoch na suan na sír-collad do na sluagaib an oidche sin. Agus an t-oiregar cloch do gab Goll Oilech ar na sluagaib tuc Dara Derg agus a mac a samail do brosgar doib fo'n cuma cetna. Agus ro marb sluag di-airmigthi dib i n-imairech na h-oidce sin. Agus tugad ainm ar an tulaig a raibh Meadb an oidchi sin, .i. Tulach Líag, o na líagaib fedma ro teilgdís ar a cheile; agus Raith Ruadh ainm na ratha, o na collnaib derga agus o na sruith-linntibh fola for-ruaidhi do doirtedh innti. Agus rugatar as co h-anbuaínech an oidchi sin.

[154] Agus ro gluaisetar rompa ar ná marach. Agus rugatar morán do'n Gamannraid orra ann séin, agus nír léigset imtecht fada doib, uair do marbsat caoga fer n-armach n-incomlann n-ard-comarthach dibh an lá sin im Legan laoch-milidh con a muinntir, conad uad ainmnigter sruth Leagain. Agus do gabatar longport ac Tulaig na Dála an oidci sin. Agus is aire derar Tulach na Dála ria o comdail ceithri n-oll-choiged n-Erenn innti.

[155] Agus ro sgarastar Goll Oilech an adaig sin re feraib Erenn, agus do cuaidh co Dun Flidaise, ait a raib Oilill Finn agus  61Fergus. Uáir rugatar Fergus leó a h-aithle a gabala a cath Atha Fen 363 co dunad Flidaisi. Do cenglad do tuiridh ro mhoir an rig-toighe h-e a b-fhíadnaise Flidaisi, agus do taisbentaei a congnamh ferrdha gach aen la ar cedlongad do'n rígain. Agus ba doilghe le Fergus an forran sin iná aon  p.120 t-éigen a raibe. Agus do bidis macrad agus min-daeine an mor-longpuirt ag fochuidmed agus ag fanamad fáein agus ag gairfechiub 364 dó da gach taeib i n-a timchell. Agus ranaic Goll Ailech as tech a raibhe Oilill Finn agus Fergus fo'n réim sin, agus do indis doib ceitri cuigid Erenn do techt i n-a crich. Agus do fiarfaig Oilill Finn do Goll Oilech cia do maithibh fher n-Erenn do bi and sin. Agus do indis do iat, agus do raid an laeid ann:—

  1. Fuilit sunn oig do maigin,
    Do muigh Aí innlit daig fir,
    Fuil secht catha ceann a ceann,
    Cethar n-oll-cuiged n-Eirenn.
  2. Im Oilill im Meidb do'n muig;
    Na Maicni 365 im na secht Mainib;
    Im Lugaid mac Con na cath;
    Is im secht macaib Mágach.
  3. Im Aongus mac Missgedra,
    Sluag Gailián, glaine a n-dealua,
    Im Aongus mac mic Rosa,
    Im Illann 366 mac Fergusa.
  4. Im Eochaid Gusmar do'n muig,
    Mac Tigernaigh Tedbandaigh,
    Im Eochaid Faobhar, troig tenn,
    Is im Eochaid n-Aíncend.
  5. Im Lugaid mac Nóis a n-deas,
    Im Loch mór mac Moda Feibis,
    Im Lugaid Conraeí ribh,
    Im Eogan Finn mac Fingin.
  6. Fuil ann Cormac Conloinges,
    Tri deich cet ar n-a coimes,
    Loingni Ulad acht mad beg,
    Sunn da bar fis do fuilet.
    Fuilit.

[156] A h-aithle na laidhi sin do denam do Goll Oilech ro impó uatha a n-íar ar amus b-fer n-Erenn, agus dorad ghliaidh n-gairb doibh co n-torcradatar sochaide dib a n-oidchi sin.  p.122 Agus do imighset fir Erenn o Tulaig na Dála ar ná marach. Agus do druidset an Gamannrad riú ar sin co nar leigset imtecht no anadh doib, acht a m-beith amal bid ba a m-buailid agus tesbhach367 ag a forrach. Is é sin timceall tucsat an Gamannrad ar feraib Erenn. Agus do teilg Fermenn mac Dara Deirg sleagh ar amus Medba is in cath. Agus do toirinn Meadb a ceann roimpe, gur ben an t-sleagh a Cainnir n-deirg ingin Oilella agus Medba, gur tregdastar a craidhi 'n a cliab, agus gur fhágbad gan anmain h-í. Agus tugad an ingen as  62a carbad air sin, agus do gabastar Meadb lam ar a fert do claide, agus do rindi an laidh:—

  1. Claidfid fert Cainnire,
    Fuil sund sa duma ar n-á dith;
    Oir Fermenn mac Dara Deirg
    Do teilc an t-sleg diá ro-d-bí.
  2. Cainner derg ingen Oilella
    Agus Medba, is i ro bith,
    Ac duma an sgáil
    Ar bhaid ré h-ogaib Emna.
  3. Cele Lugdech mic Conraí
    Re secht laithib, lith n-gaili;
    Togthar a lia os a lecht,
    Dentar a fert do claide.
    Claiter.

[157] Do claided fert na h-ingine leó iar sin re taeb na h-abann, conad Cainnear ainm na h-abann agus Glenn Cainneire ainm in ghlenna. Agus do ridhned guba mór agus toirrsi ag an t-slúag os a cinn, agus is beg nar marb Lugaid mac Conraí d' a cuma.

[158] Do gluáisetar fir Erenn rompa ar sin co rangatar tar Glenn Cainneire siár ar sodain, agus co Glenn Mugaigthi, ait ar mugaigedh morán do maithib b-fer n-Erenn, agus tar Glenn Calraidi, ait a n-dorchar Callraide mac Birraighe maile. Agus nír sguiretar an Gamannrad dib ris in ré sin ac a marbadh agus ac a mugudadh co n-dorchar morán d' á maithib leó im tri cáintibh Oilella agus Medba, .i. Grís agus  p.124 R{} agus Ruicne an anamanna, agus im na tri glamaib gaili a comgai. Agus do lodar a séin tar Muincinn iarthar siárthar co cathraig Ratha Morgain, ris a n-abar Dun Flidaisi foltcaime, ar in sliab ós Loch Leitriach. Agus ro gabatar fir Erenn dunadh agus longport a timceall Ratha Morgain a n-es agus a thuaith.

[159] Imthúsa Medba. Tugad maithi an mór-sluaig i n-a pupall .i. Lugaid mac Conraí agus Aongus mac Misgedra agus Lugaid mac Nóis agus Loch mór mac Moda Feibis. Do cumad comarle ag na maithib sin, uair do gab oman agus eagla uile iat ar b-faicsin dunaid Oilella Finn. Agus adubratar da m-beddis maithi na Gamannraidi ar aén ré raibhi is in dúnadh nach fetfadís fir Erenn ni doibh. “Ata liumsa comarle daib,” ar Meadb: “curthar fesa agus techta uaímse d' á n-indsoige, agus taircter comhada mora doib, .i. d'Fhirdiadh mac Damhain agus do Cet mac Magach agus do Fraech mac Fidaigh agus do Aonghus mac Echtaigh. Agus is iad so na comadha, .i. righe na Gamanraidhi dá gach aein fher dib fo leith, agus feis a Cruachain do grés, agus cairdes mo  63shliasda-sa fos.” 368 Idubratar maithi b-fer n-Erenn gor maith an comarli sin. “Cia dó racha leis in techtairecht sin?” ar cach. “Cía no racha ann,” ar Meadb, “acht Carra liath, an bain-echlach?”

[160] Agus ranic Carra liath roimpi co dúnad Fraoich mic Fidaigh, agus do innis dó na tosga im á tanic. Agus do fáem Fraoch na comtha sin focetóir. Agus ranic in echlach roimpe co dúnadh Firdiad, agus do can na comtha cetna fris. Agus do fáom Ferdiad uili iát. Cid tra acht nír fagbad taísech nonbar do'n Gamanraid gan agallaim, agus do gheall rige na Gamanraidi da gach áen fo leith do na laechaib, agus do gellatar-sun uile comall do Meidb. Agus do treiged Oilill Finn acu fo'n innus sin. Agus ní feider nech acu na comtha sin do  p.126 gealladh do neoch eile acht do fén. Agus ranic an echlach roimpi co h-airm a raib Meadb agus maithi b-fer n-Erenn.

[161] Imthúsa Oilella Finn. O t' connairc fir Erenn a timcell a dúnaidh tugad a teglach agus a comarlidi cuigi. Agus is í comarli do cinnedh aca techta do cur ar cenn na Gamanraidi agus a radh riu la do gabail ris in t-sluag. Agus tugad a dá prim echlach cuige, .i. Engán as a dún agus Edar as a glinn. 369 Agus do cuirestar iad fo thechta co Ros Inbir-dá-égonn370 ris a n-abar Es Ruaidh, co da mac Curnáin cos-duib, .i. 371 co h-Aengus agus co h-Aedh; co macraid muigi h-Eine, agus co miledaib muige cetne; gus na secht m-Breislennaib Breifne con a tri cetaib curad comanmann etar slíabh agus muir; co Cornan cos-dub; co Druimn {}sligech; co Dartadh na Díbeirge con a macaib, .i. gus na da Ruadh, agus co h-Íatha mac n-Edarbha, agus co Dun Ceinn-cunga codha, agus co h-Aínchinn codha ingen Guill Oilech; co B{}rad{}muigi h-Oilech, agus co h-aés grada Oilella Finn o loch co fairgi agus o neimthinn co dún; co secht macaib Ailella Finn con a secht cetaib curad coimlenmana, agus co Gamain na Sidgaile co Dún-cinn-t-sléibi con a cet Gamain ré greasacht, agus co Duban mac an gamna co Dun-draighin; gus na secht Fosgamnaib Irruis im Gamain Ruadh na Rée, co Dún-dá-os; gus na seacht n-Echaid Ímrinn, co Dun-an-aéinfhir, agus gus na secht n-Dartada Ailella  64Finn, co Dun Inbir-da-es; co h-Eadarbha mac Nuatha372 co dún; co h-Ilar Nuatha mac n-Eadarba go ghlenn. Agus do imgedar iár sin.

[162] Et ro ladh Eangán an prím echlach eile siár-des ar ceann na blóidhi do búi budh des do'n Gamanraid,—co h-Aedh mac  p.128 Echtaigh co Dun-coirr-sleibi; co Cairbri na 373 comhlann mac Dubthaich co Dun-croim-glinne; co Muredach meann mac Oilella Finn co dúnadh Sleibi-móir, fris a n-abar Maigh-shlíab; co Fídhach folt-ruadh co dúnadh Leitriach; co Moncha co Moidhghlinn; co h-Áongas mac Echtaigh co h-Árainn; co Ros mac Rogamna co Boirinn iárthar; co h-Uada n-echtach mac Roigh co Boirinn airthir; co Rod mac Rosa co slíab Rod; co Mongach milidh co h-Inbir, agus co h-Aongas mac Ailella Finn co Dun-gleóire, agus co secht macaibh Ibra chaein 374 go Glenn-esa-cain; co Failbe Ros mac Duib-da-tonn co Ros n-air; co Fraoch mac Fidaigh co Port Eoruis; co h-Edarua mac Nuatha agus co dá ingin Eadarbha co Glenn-coibidh; co Béc co Boirinn; agus co h-Illann mac n-Echtaig co Leitir Finn; co Genann mac Faobar co Leitir n-Genaind; co Ruadh na Rée co Dun-osra, ris an abar Cruach Padraig; co Cobthach Cinn-t-sáile co Dun-airthir; co Conn 375 Cimidh; co Modha Mighnél; co Caeí caéin-bhrethach mac Fidaigh co Leitir Caéin; co h-Eó agha mac Fidaigh co Dun-mag-rois; co h-Uamna ingin Fidaigh co Dun Inbir-da-tonn; co secht maca Ibra agus co h-a caill 376; co Goll Acla; gus na secht n-Dubaib a h-Inis Caéin iarthar; gus na secht Teimen a h-Inis Caéin airthir; gus na secht n-Árconaib a h-Oilén Muighi mín; gus na secht n-Arconaib o Inis an Sgáil; gus na secht Finnaib ó Inis Finnáin; co h-Eitni n-ó derg co Dun Treathna; go Thuaidh go Leitir-m-Belaigh; go Fiachra Finn mac Faobhar co Dún Fiachra; co tri Fosgámnaib Irruis co Dún-mór; co Fer-n-derg mac n-Dolair co Dún-derg; co Dubhthach n-dubhdha co Dun-an-aeinfir; co Domnall n-Dualbuide co righ na Gamanraidi co Dún Tuaithi; co Fer-n-diadh mac n-Damain co Dún-na-cenn; co Guás agus co Gosa co  65dá mac Firdhiadh; co Flann Fada mac Fidaigh co cathraig Crunn-sléibe; co Muincenn milidh co Dún-os-loch; co Daire n-Derg co Dun Daire; co Gulbann n-glais; co Findchan na fert; co Dartadh na Dibeirge.

 p.130

[163] Is siad so maithi na Gamanraidi a neoch do h-áirmed dib ar Tanaig bó Flidaise. Agus nír h-áirmed ann sin acht a maithi agus a mór-uaisle, a triatha agus a tren-fhir, a coimside agus a comairlide. Is airi sin do rinne Ailill mac Fhirda-loch in fili an snaithe forcetail-si, .i. mac mathar 377 do Cet mac Mágach esen, conadh eadh aspert:—

  1. Comlai, a Engain, imtigh uaim,
    Agus toirchi let ar sluag;
    Dena dunn, digrais an modh,
    Tinol agus toichestol.
  2. Ataid sunna sluag, dar lem,
    Cetri n-oll-coicid n-Erenn,
    Im Oilill, im Meidb do'n Muig,
    Im Oengas lonn, im Luchaid.
  3. Um na Mainibh, mor a cath;
    Is im secht macuib Magach;
    Tri deich cet Galian go m-bladh,
    Im secht righ do Domnannchaib.
  4. Fuilit francamhus 378 Medbha,
    Mor feidm fuilit a femda;
    Fuilit tri deich cet fo shecht,
    Do sluag Ulad a n-aein fhecht.
  5. Fuilmid-ni sunn doib mar doigh,
    Innis let do'n Gamanroid,
    Mad cian ar n-urnuidhi sunn,
    Sinn araba i n-anforlonn.
  6. Eirg co Dun-corr-sleibhi cain,
    Tabair let Oedh mac Échtaigh;
    Go Dun-croim-glinni gan coll,
    Taphair Cairbri na comlonn.
  7. Eirc go dunadh Sleibi-moir,
    Go Muiredhach milid sloig;
    Eirg go Dun Letach re luad,
    Tabair let Fidac folt rúadh.
  8.  p.132
  9. Aigill re n-dula ar an linn,
    Muncha mac Moda ó Moiglin;
    Roich síar go h-Arainn ar sin,
    Tabair let Oedh mac Echtaigh.
  10. Go Boirinn iarthar na mara,
    Go Ros ruadh mac Rogamna;
    Go Boirinn airthir go n-agh
    Go h-Ugha n-echtach n-imlan
  11. Go Rod mac Rosa go a sliab,
    Nach imfarcchi go roichian;
    Tadhaill a Sonnach ar sin,
    Tabair let Mongach milid.
  12. Oengus mac Ailella Finn,
    Tuc lat ó Dun-gleóiri grinn;
    Erigh go Druim-essa-caein
    Co secht macaib Ibra chaein.
  13. Go Failbhe Ros go Ros n-air,
    Mac Duib-da-tonn taod 'n ar n-dáil
    Erg go Port Eorais ar sin,
    Tabair let Fraoch mac Fidaigh.
  14. Eirc gu Dun Cinn-cunga cain
    Go h-Edtarbha mac Nuatha;
    Aiccill Eabha an gaisced grinn;
    Tabair let Beg a Boirinn.
  15. Roich go Leitir, lith go n-gail,
    A fuil Genonn mac Faobar;
    Go Gamain Rúadh na Réi riam,
    Go Dun-da-os os ri sliab.
  16.  66Go Cobthach caom Cinn-t-saile,
    Co Dun-oirtir go n-aine;
    Go Conn Cimedh cetaib cured,
    Roich go Moda Midh {} 379
  17. Go Dun-mag-rois, miadh gan ail,
    Go h-Eo n-adha mac Fidaigh;
    Go Dun Inbir-da-thonn tra
    Go h-Uamna ingin Iubra.
  18.  p.134
  19. Go secht macuib Iubra uill,
    As an uam a h-a cuill; 380
    Go Goll Acla, garg a gal,
    Go ceitri cetuib curad.
  20. Eirc co h-íarthar Insi Caein,
    Tuc let na tri Duib a Daeil;
    A h-Ines Caein oirrthir ain,
    Na secht Téimin gan trom-grain.
  21. Na secht n-Archoin con a m-brich,
    Tuc a h-Oilen Muichi mín;
    Na secht n-Árcoin Innsi an Scail;
    Na secht Finn Innsi Finnain.
  22. Go Dun Treathna go Trethna,
    Go h-Ethne n-ó derc n-echdha;
    Go Cern{} go Tuaidh d' á tich,
    Tuc let an da ban Tuatha.
  23. Roich gó a Dún, garg a ghal,
    Go Fiachra Finn faebar-glan;
    Eirg go Dún-mór ní mad fuis,
    Go tri Fosghamnaib Irruis.
  24. Roich go Fer-n-derg co a Dun,
    Go mac n-Dolair, aidble rúin;
    Go Dun-an-aeinfhir thall tra,
    Ait ata Dubthach dubgá.
  25. O Dun Tuathí 381 gan tuile
    Tuc let Domnall Dúalbuide;
    Innis do'n rig go méd n-glonn,
    Misi sunn a n-anforlond.
  26. Roich go Dun-na-cenn gan cradh,
    Tuc let Ferdiadh mac Damain;
    Tegad a dá mac a mach,
    Guás is Gosa gabaltach.
  27. Go cathraig Crund-sléibi caein,
    Go Flann fada mac Fidaigh;
    Go Muincinn an milid mer,
    Go Dun-ós-loch no-s-láiter.
  28.  p.136
  29. Eirg go Dubán méd n-gail,
    Mac an gamna a Dún-draigin,
    Do-m-roiched an laoch alle,
    Go lin slóig is socraide.
  30. Go Daire n-derg, co 382 a Dun;
    Go Gulbann n-glais, 383 tairbe a run;
    Go Finnchan na fert malle;
    Go Dartadh na Dibheirge.
  31. Tri cet fer le gach aon dibh
    Do churadaib re coimrím 384;
    Abar riu sin rad gan gaei;
    Eirg ar a ceann is comlaí.
    Comlai.

[164] Imtusa Engain. Ro imthig sen roimhe d'innsuige na Gamanraidi in gach inadh a m-batar, .i. o Drobais a tuaidh go Boirinn iarthar budh des, agus o Léim Conculainn go Ros-da-rochoilledh ris in abartar Luimnech, agus go sliab Liath-chos mic Luibnigh, fris an abartar sliab na h-Esairge adfhuaire, agus go portuib diamra dath-ailli dluth-coilltecha Daimhinnsi, agus o beinn oibinn osgach-buain aird-radharcaich Echlapra go portuib tarcartacha 385 tonn-gorma traicht-geala Toirinnsi a tuaiscert muighe crich-lethain cetne, oir bá e sin  67crich agus caeim-fherann na Gamanraidi. A n-imtusa go n-uige sin.

 p.198

[165] Dala b-fer n-Erenn. O rangatar Dun Fliduisi ro gabadh sosad agus longport aca ann. Is ann sin do deónaigetar cetri trein-fhir thogaidhe trom-gnimach do muinntir morcalma Meadba dol do denam echt agus aitius ar in Gamanraid. Agus ba h-iat a n-anmanda, .i. Carra mac Charra Chongna agus Mongach Milidh agus Letriach Laimdherg agus Cuillend curad garb. Agus fa h-iat so na treín-fhir ro togsat do chómrac cuca, .i. Carra mac Carra Congna do dol go Dun Coirrsleibhi go h-Aed mac Echtaig, agus Mongach Milidh co Dún Letriach, co h-airm ar raibe Muredach mend mac Oilella Finn, agus Cuillend coscrach go Dún Flainn mic Fidaigh go Leitir, agus Letriach Láimderg co Dún-os-Loch co Muincend Milidh.

[166] Cid tra acht bá h-e cet fer innister gnimartha ann so, .i. Carra mac Carra Congna. Ranic sein go dunad Aedha mic Echtaigh, agus tarla Aed mac Echtaig dó. Agus ro gab sein ag acallaim in fir moir, agus adubairt an laidh ann:—

  1. A 386 fhir tanic ar mo múr,
    Canas a tutchas do m' dún,
    Cia do comainm, tólaib tor,
    Dena go luath do slonnadh.
  2. Ainm teglaich rom torba tra,
    Carra mac Carra Congna,
    Is aire tanac ó m' thoig
    D' iarraidh Aedha mic Echtaigh.
  3. Ro fhágbus Meadb, mór a buaidh,
    Ac Dun Flidais', lin a slúagh,
    Ac forbus ar Oilill ann,
    'S ar ogaib Irruis Domnann.
  4.  p.200
  5. Mairg tanic o tinol mór,
    'S do sgar ré socraide sloig;
    An toisg tuc tú ó d' thig,
    Is let bus aithrech, a fhir.
    A fhir.

[167] Ahaitli na laide sin ro comraicset in da churaidh sin. Agus do ronsat comrac crodha curata cumfhuacdha aindfercach ainíarda, gor brisiter a sceith agus gor cám-lubtar a cloidme is in comlainn. Acht ata ní chena: ro fortamlaigh Óedh mac Echtaigh an t-airsid ar Carra mac Carra Congna gor ben a cenn de is in comlainn ar sin.

[168] Do chuaidh Mongach do cuingid comraic ar Muiredach menn mac Oilella Finn, agus do raidh Muiredach nach erfad am comrac an deg fer, agus do ronsat an laeidh iar tain:—

  1. A fhir moir is mo d' feruibh,
    Ni d' érfa tu im debaid;
    Cid ad seghainn, slicht amne,
    Ni-d-fia cor na comairci?
  2.  68Da n-dernta mo thoisg a stoigh,
    Ro-d-fia maitheam anacail,
    A radh re Muiredach menn
    Comrac re 387 Mongach Mailcenn.
  3. Is misi Muiredach mor,
    Lem an dun-sa con a slogh;
    Maithem ort ni sirfi sinn,
    Ni targa aein fer etraind.
  4. A Mongaigh is mor do grain,
    Ni ma tangais i m' dáil,
    Do bhadha bhid badh fir baeith
    A derim rit is fir.
    A fhir.
Do ronsat iar sin comlonn fergach fortamail fedhmannda, agus urrlin ogla fhaebar-cruaidh ainiarmartach, agus debaid dichra di-fregra do-eistechta, gur ba lír fuil agus feoil tesga ar  p.202 na feraib, go torchair Mongach le Muiredach is in móirgliaidh, agus do ben a cenn d' á cholainn.

[169] Do chuaid Letriach, laech-mihidh do muinntir Medba, ar amus Muincinn milidh, .i. búachaill na Maili Flidaisi. Agus is ed ba menmarc do Letriach co m-berad an Maol Fhlidhaise con a búachaill leis; úair do commaidh re muinntir go m-beradh leis h-í. Agus tanic a timchell na h-alma co h-ainhíardha. Agus eirgis Muinceinn do'n milidh, agus ro aguill e, agus abert an laeid:—

  1. A fhir do ní an reim curad,
    Mor do laechaib do rubadh;
    Mh' ealua fuil is in choill,
    Ni bera let gan comroinn.
  2. A áthaig fuil ag na buaib,
    Uathad duit in diaigh in buair;
    In b-fuil agad, tolaib tor,
    Do muinntir acht tu a t' aenar?
  3. Atú-sa sunn, slicht imne,
    Ag ingaire na Maile;
    Nocha n-fuil laech, lith gan choll,
    Ro-s-bera uaim gan comlond.
  4. “Ni troitfinn rit fa t' alma,”
    Orsat milidh mor calma,
    “Da n-imthighe ród do d'thig”
    “'S da fagtha th” alma, a fhir.
    A fhir.
Adubairt Letriach re Muincenn an Máel Fhlidaisi do dilsiugadh agus co tibrad fein maithem n-anacail dó. Nír bó miad lé Múincend an ni sin, .i. aon laoch is in doman do breith a ealua agus a innile uadha d' a ainndeoin. Agus do cuatar achetoir a crislaigthibh a sgiath, agus a m-bolgánaib 388 a sleg rinn-gér ro fhada, agus a n-urrdornaib a cloideam cruaidh-ger clais-lethan. Agus do rónsat in dá cathmílidh sin comlond calma curata, gur cám-lubtar a cloidme is na clar-sgiathaib, agus do sníetar 389 na slegha ris na sír-sháitaib, agus do  p.204 cromatar a cinn ris na colg-beimennaib, agus gur corcrait a  69cinn do na cath-fersdib, 390 agus gur tesgait a táib trés na tromlúirechaib, gur dibad an airm fá na h-anradaib as a h-aithle. Agus do siniter a lamha tar laech-formnaibh a chele. Agus tucatar treas confaid agus coingleca, mell-gaile agus mullacraide, 391 gur cuiretar snadmanna curad ar na corpaib, gur sínetar a n-asnadha agus a n-airbech, 392 gur lubatar a tosaige go troigthib 393, agus gur geinetar srotha doirbe der-troma dluthallais a h-aightib na n-anrad, agus a formnaib na fer-oclach, agus a taobaib na trein-miled do'n treas sin. Cid tra acht ro tráethad agus ro trascrad agus ro troim-legad Muincinn do'n mell-gail sin. Ro cúradh 394 agus ro cengladh agus ro cuibhrigedh in curaidh do'n caingin sin. Agus ro tógaibh Letriach ar a formna é as a h-aithli. Agus ro gab ic áisc agus ag acullaim fair, ag fochuidmead agus ag fanamhad faei. Agus adubairt go m-bérad a fiadhnaise Medba an milidh. Agus ro raid-sium co n-dingned re h-aimsir 'n a fecmuis. “Nocha i d' lain-ched legfiter,” uar Letriach. Agus adrubatar an laeid ann:—
  1. Tarr, a Muincinn, suas
    Go luath air mo muin;
    Da m-berar tu soir
    Beidídh broin fa t' fhuil.
  2. Conair beri mi,
    A Letriach go lúas?
    Ro budh ferr lim tís,
    Gid oibhni dam túas.
  3. Do cífi tu Meadb
    Is Oilill an ri;
    Cus a n-iug re m' ré,
    Ita me ar do thí. 395
  4.  p.206
  5. Berud-sa tu lem
    Go beraib noi rend;
    Dergfuider do cru; 396
    Teilcfeat tu 'na cend.
  6. Ac sin duid do dil;
    Olc do t' din do sbairn;
    Fann a nocht do treoir,
    Beid eoin ar do tárr.
    Tarr a Muincinn.
A h-aitli na laeide-sin ro gluais Leitriach go lan-dedla do lathair, agus Muincinn milidh ar a mhuin.

[170] Agus tuc Muincinn d' a úidh agus d' a aire ar sin nach raibhe lucht a cumairci d'á cairdibh 'n a comfocus, ná lin a fhostoid d' a urradhuib in a fiadhnaise. Agus do tuic fos go firinnech go fuighbedh fein go tenn a traethad, madh do roiched le Leitriach a luath-imchar. Agus nir cian ranic Leitriach do'n lathair sin an uair tuc Muinchenn milidh  70clisiud sprancdha sbindamail 397 go calma curata d'a ballaib uadha is na cenglaib agus is na cruadh-cuibhrigib bui fair, go raibi luamairecht a lam agus cothugadh a chos ar comus do'n curaidh. Agus ar rochtain na talman co tenn d' a troigthib, ro iadastar a da doít-righ degh-lamaig a muidh tar rigthib an rígh-miled go ro calma, co n-ár leig impodh na cothugadh na caraighecht na clesamnacht do'n curaidh, acht ro chuir a glun a filliud398 a coisi, agus ro leg tar a ais síar an saer-milidh co raibi faén fo tharrsna fáei. Agus ro cocraidh agus ro cengail co calma an cath-milidh, agus adubairt iar sin co tibrad cumaéin a imchuir do'n áirsigh. Do fiarfaig Letriach gá conair gus a n-ímarcuirfed h-é. “Nocha d'fis Oilella na Meadbha imarcuirfet-sa thú,” ar Muincenn, “acht síar co  p.208 bordaibh an dub-loich-sa 399 do t' dían-badudh, indus co m-bad uait sluinnfider an loch-sa co lán-deimin, uair ni ticfair d'iarraidh buáir co bráth a rís.” Agus adubratar in láid:—

  1. Glúais a Letriach oromsa,
    Ro-d-fia cumaein th' imarchuir;
    Do gebar do corachadh,
    Ma do ronus a imarchor.
  2. Ca slighe téigi-se,
    A Muiucinn, gan míniugadh?
    Nocha d'fis do curad-sa,
    Imatsa co lithidur.
  3. Táidherad go teicemadh,
    Gu fréceruinn t' fhiarfoigedh,
    Fo imlibh an lacha-sa
    Rachad-sa do t' dian-oidedh.
  4. Do gebha do deg-báthadh
    Fa tonnaib na turlach-sa 400;
    As uáidsi go loim-deimin 401
    Sluinnfider an dub-loch-sa.
  5. Do icfa do crechairecht,
    A Letriach, re d' lethan cluáis,
    Ar cinn buair tre tachar báes,
    A truaigh credh, ro trethan gluáis.
    Gluais.

[171] A h-aitli na laeidhe sin togbais Muincinn Letriach go h-ard ar a formna, agus ráinic reime go bord an locha go láin-dian. Agus ro gab Letriach go lan-prap 402 ind a dí láimh, agus ro dibraich is in loch an ri-milid, gor báithetar dobur-linnti duaibhsecha an dub-locha an deg fer, conad uad ainmnigter an loch re lenmain. Agus ro h-imthigh Muincinn roime iar sin, agus ro coraig a elmha agus a indili go h-urmaisnech.

 p.210

[172] Is ann sin rainic reme Cuilenn, cath-milidh do muinntir Medba agus Oilella, d'fuaccar comraig agus comloind ar Flann  71Fhoda mac Fidaigh. Agus ránic reime go dunadh Flainn, agus ro ingantaichsed lucht an dunaidh a indiull agus a écusc agus a forgruamdhacht. Ro fiarfaig an doirrseoir sgela, de .i. ca h-inadh gus a m-bui a tosca agus a turas. Agus ro indesium gurab d'fuagar comraig tánic ar Flann Fada mac Fidaigh. “Agus erich-si, a doirseoir,” ar se, “agus indes do Flann aein fer 403 sunn ag iarraidh comraig fair.” “Ca h-ainm-si?” ar an doirseoir. “Cuilenn m' ainm-si,” uar eisium, “agus as dam ata an dán Flann Fada do marbadh. As aire sin tanuc d'fhuacar comraig agus comloind fair.” Agus do ráid an laeidh ann:—

  1. A doirrseoir ud dunaid Flainn,
    Nech sunn ag iarraidh comloinn,
    Treín-fer do muinntir Meadbha,
    Indeis tall do t' tigerna.
  2. A óglaich an gotha gairb,
    Abair rimsa caidheth'ainm,
    Go n-inniser tall a sticch
    Do Flann Fhoda mac Fhidhaigh.
  3. Misi Cuillenn cruaid mogha,
    Is mi marbus Flann Fada;
    Marbuim ced a lo gaili,
    Nocha breg, a doirrsiri.
    A doirrseoir.

[173] Ar sin do erigh Flann Fada a mach a coinde Cuilinn agus adbert fris: “A Cuilinn,” ar sé, “má ata do nirt nó do níaachas 404 indad frithoil mo comlann-sa.” “Frithoilfet ch ena,” bhar Cuilenn. Agus ro fersad comrac dicra dur-croidech. Ro gab cach dib ag tuarcain a sceith ar a ceile, go clos go nellaib nime brisc-bruan a m-bocóidedh 405 'g a m-brisiud do  p.212 bailc-beimennuib na prím-curadh. Ro tógaib Flann Fada mac Fidaigh an laim n-duaibsich n-denmaich deis, agus do rad béim do'n loirg-fersaid íarnaidi ro bui 'n a laim ar amas cinn Cuilinn cruad-gairb. Do bert Cuilenn toirnedh agus trén-claenad ar a cenn, agus togbáis an scíath go h-urard ar a formna, go tarla an loirg-fersad lethan lan-mór sin a cobraid a sceith agus a mullach na maéili 406 do Cuilenn, gur scoilt an sgíath con a sceimhlibh, agus co n-derna cilar 407 combrúighte d' a cend, co n-ar fágaib urrdail airni dia incinn a n-én inadh, co n-dorchair Cuillenn do'n cruadh-béim sin. Agus tuc beim cloidme dó as a h-aithli, go tobhacht a cend d'á colainn.

[174] Is ann sin ro comairlicestar milidh mor calma, agus airsid imgonda, agus tuaircne trén catha d' uaislib Erenn, .i. Uaithne Uchd-sholas mac Conaill Cernaig dul d'íarraidh echta agus áithesa ar an Gamanraid. Agus as edh ro imráid aige dol d' innrud agus d'arcain dunaidh agus deg longpuirt Fraich  72mic Fhidhaigh. Agus ba fiadhnaise d'Oilill agus do Meidb an ní sin. Agus rainic-sium reime d'indsuige criche agus caimh-ferainn cloinde fraech linmaire 408 Fidaigh. Agus ro gab crech mor, agus do rinne échta imda ortha. Agus rucatar cáoca macaem do macaemhaib cloindi Fidaigh fair, agus do gab-sum 'g a fobairt go forgruamdha foisdinech. Agus an tan ro bo tressi dó 'g a marbadh agus 'g a mudhaghad, as ann rucastar an féinnid fortamail forlann-crúaidh fair .i. Fraech mac Fidaigh. And ro aigill iad ar sin, agus ro fiarfaig ar torrachtain do cia do bui ann. “Uaithni Uchtsolus mac Conuill Cernaig,” bhar eisium. “Mac carad damsa sin,” bhár Fraech, “agus do ronsum cadach agus caradrad 409 fecht n-aill. Agus tuca-sa do m' breithir nach gonfainn Conall na nech dia cloinn go brath, agus tuc sesium mar an cétna rimsa. Agus o tarla mar tarla mar sin sinn, fagaib-si  p.214 na h-elmha agus na h-innili agumsa, agus na marb an macrad ni bus mó.” Agus do ráid an laid and:—

  1. Trec, a Uaithne, an imairec,
    Agus an re comairli;
    Imda na laoich ar lín n-gal,
    Is na ben re ro gairbhe.
  2. Sad mac coidi is comhalta,
    Adfiadhut fir nar tubadh;
    Ni imeor ort mo cles n-áidh,
    Ar baigh re h-ógaib Ulad.
  3. A mic Conaill coscaraidh,
    Fagaib m'elbha is m' éide;
    Rugsad ort ar sloig ma sech,
    Fuil sunn nech da n-ab treicthe.
    Trec.
Et ni derna Uaithni ar Fhráech ina ar a cinedh an comairli sin, no go n-dechaid fo'n macraid, agus gor cuir ár adbal mor orrta. Agus do gab Fraech a ris 'g á comhairlechadh agus 'g á acallaim. “Scuir do gnim catha do m' muinntir,” ar se, “oir ticfaid m' ferc-sa friut, agus ferc na fine ferrsidhe fir-beodha-sa do craidhe-si im á crechaib, agus do mudaighis 'm á macraid. Agus treic an cennairc ar a fuile, agus maithfidher dit a n-dernas a m' eniuch-sa agus a n-enech clainni Fidaigh.” Do frecair Uaithni é, agus as edh adubairt: “Ni coisceph-sa mo coscar no mo crodhacht, agus ní millfe mo baigh no mo breithir re h-Oilill agus re Meidb agus re ceitri h-ollchuigedaib Erenn.” Ro ling fo'n macraid agus do marb íad. Do lonnuiged an milidh mor calma Fraech fris as a h-aithli, agus ro fer gliadh n-gairb ris con n-orcair Uaithni  73do'n n-imaireg.

 p.294

[175] Imthusa Medba agus Oilella agus cethri n-oll-coiged n-Erenn. Do batar a timchell dúnaid Oilella Finn co cend seacht m-bliadan 410 agus comrac seisir gach laei acu and 'g a fechain fris in ré sin. Agus is siad do búi ac dénam an comraic sin tri mic Oilella Finn .i. Cairbre agus Aed agus Amalgaidh a n-anmanda. Is íad don bui 'n a n-agaid and sin .i. Gaeíar mac Birrdeirg mic Ruaidh, agus Loiched mac Ithair mic Ruaidh, agus Aidgeall mac Aéngusa mic Aénlaime Gaibhe a n-anmanna an trir eile. Agus do feratar comlann crodha cetfadhach comlámach dluith-mer dicra do-meta clisde colg-luath crois-gerrtha ferg-buán fuilech fras-gonta. Agus 411 tainig an sechtmadh la doib ar sin. Ro batar fir Erenn ag a feichem fris in re sin, agus adubratar uili nach facutar riam comrac seisir bud ferr ínas. Agus do gab Oilill agus Meadb agus maithi fer n-Erenn ac a moladh. Agus adubhairt Meadb na briathra-sa ann:—

  1. Adciam comlann comadais,
    Comrac seisir na selga,
    Tri mic Oilella as an dun,
    Is an triur ro-s-b-fherrda.
  2. Gaeíar mac Birdeircc mic Ruaidh,
    Is Cairbri crom clesnadha;
    Loichet mac Ithair do céin,
    Agus Aed fo beimnagha.
  3. Mac Aengais mic Aenlaime,
    Aidgell midisel fiadha,
    Agus Amhalgaidh muadh menn412
    Cenn a cenu ro-das-ciama.
    Adciam.
 p.296 Cid tra acht ro gabutar an seser saer-mhiled sotla sonngruamdha sed-bregda sin do roignib na righdamna malairt agus mell-gal agus moch-rebadh, tuarcain agus trascradh agus taeb-ledradh, etaim agus imguin agus esorgain fri aroile, con n-orcratar an seser saer-miled sin comtuitim is an cathláthair catha.

[176] Is ann sin tancutar tri mic Tigernaig Tedbennuig mic Degad .i. na tri h-Eochaidh 413 imrinn d' fuagar comraic agus comlainn ar tri h-Oengusaib Baghna. Agus o rancutar go h-oen inadh ro ceis gach cuingidh ar a ceili dib. Agus ro gabsat na trén-fir ag tomuighium urlabra ar aroili, agus ro gabustar Meadb ac gresacht mac Ticchernaig, agus do raid an laeid ann:—

  1. I tri maca Tighernaig,
    Denaid comlonn go calma;
    Gurab fobairt feramail
    Ar tri h-Oengusaib Badhna.
  2.  74Fobraidh comloinn comadhais
    Re cloinn Oilella nirdha, 414
    Oir comtrom laeich laighe gnim
    Do macuib rig is righna.
  3. Tri h-Eochaidh tri h-Oengasa,
    Co n-slaidhe cach a ceili;
    Mar atad is comlonn caemh
    Taeb re taebh na treidi. 415
    A tri.
Ro fuabrutar ar sin an comlann go h-athlum aghmar imetrom. Agus ro timcill cach dib a ceili ag rochtain baegail beime for aroile sech bileduib na m-báin-scíath agus sech bernuib a m-brec-lúirech co n-orcratar comtuitim in a seser co nach terno fer a m-bethaid acu.

[177] Is and sin ro foccratar na tri Breslenna Bréifne comrac ar feruib Erenn, agus do fregratar na tri Glais 416 Airccidhe iad .i. tri mic Nuada Necht iad sidhe .i. tri coinnle gaisgid  p.298 Tuath Taiden an triar sin, agus tri bronn-daltada d' Oilill agus do Meidb iat fós. Agus nir bo comaéis a comrac .i. na tri macaim oga ecgiallidhi ainiarmartacha a cend na tri curad crodha comcalma. Acht ata ní chena: ro fortámlaig na tri trein-fir agus na tri h-arcoin irgaile a n-egcomlann orrtha .i. na tri Breislenna Brefni ar na tri macaib ailli oirrderca sin an aird-rí .i. ar na tri Glasaib Aircide co n-orcratar na triur leu. Agus fa h-olc le Meidb agus la h-Oilill an gnim sin. Agus ro b' aithrech lé an turas tanuic uile uime sin. Agus do róine na roinn and:—

  1. Am aithrech do m' comarle,
    Gan anad is cúis cuma;
    g Mo tri dalta ni lith lem,
    h A cur a cenn tri curad.
  2. At baetha mo bagha-sa,
    A Oilill, noco rubais;
    Aided tri mic Núaat Neacht,
    Nocha sén techt an turasa.
  3. Bás na tri n-Glas n-Gairgide,
    Dim da tisadh a taithlech;
    Tri Breislenna do cur 'n a ceann
    Nocha lem nach aithrech.
    Am aithrech.

[178] Scela ceitri n-oll-cuiged n-Erenn ni h-íad indisder sunn a nosa, acht sgela Oilella Finn agus Fergusa mic Róich san dún tall. Asbert Oilill: “As baoth an turas tanic Meadb chugamsa,” ar sé; “óir gen go bedh do lucht dénma calmachta agamsa acht a b-fuil sa dún-sa ni cuimgeochdáis fir Erenn a togail orom co brath.” Eistis ris la sodain. Agus teit Oilill con a teglach ar múr na cathrach do fhechuin sloig b-fer n-Erenn, agus ni raibi is in dúnad d'a n-éis acht Flidais agus  75Fergus con a banntracht. Agus is ed do can Fergus: “A  p.300 Flidais,” ar se, “do cualatar fir Erenn an grad tugamar-ne d'a cele, agus gid ann so fágbar-sa tusa, ni bia fón miad cetna ann co brath. Agus cinnus is cóir duinne do denam uime sin.” “Do fhedar-sa am,” ar Flidais, “an ni do dénam; óir ata fled mór fo comair Oilella agamsa, agus dailfidear forgla na fledi sin fairsium no gomma mesga mí-ceillidh an mor-milidh agus co n-eirge aignedh 417 an ard-flatha. Agus ó d'cífir-si mar sin é, abair-si gurab olc tiagait fir Erenn ar an dunadh-sa. Agus adera-son, “In fearrde do rachdaís air thusa do beith 'na farradh?” Agus abair-si da m-beit nert do lam leo gurab cían o rachdais fair. Agus do bera mi-ciall agus mor-aignedh airsim do leigean a mach o d'cluinfi an comrad sin.”

[179] Is an sin tanic Oilill is in rig-tech ro mór, agus do athcuir Flidais in fraech418 fledi fir-móire sin fair. Do h-eacrad a n-tech n-ola do lathaib gaili na Gamanraidi, agus do suid Oilill eturra air slis rig na bruigne, agus do suid Flidais con a banntracht ar in slis eile ar a n-agaid, agus do suid Fergus is in focla feinned, agus Dubthach agus Aéngus ina fharrad. Agus o tairnic egar agus ordughadh in tigi mar sin do dailed in fled forro gur bad mesga medar-glorach419 na maithi. Is si sin uair agus aimser rangatar techta Flidaisi agus Fergusa d' innsaige b-fer n-Erenn da rad riú an dunad d'innsaige go talchar troigh-esgaidh d'a togail go tinnesnech, agus tri gáirthe groid-bidgacha do tabairt fó'n m-baile co cluinned Oilill iád.

[180] Is ann sin do eirgetar fir Erenn d'innsaige an dúnaid, agus do radsat tri trom-gáire trén-aidble a timchell an duin. Is ann sin do raid Fergus: “Is egruaidh anarachta tiagait cetri h-oll-coiged Erenn ar in dúnad,” ar Fergus. Tógbuis Oilill a cenn agus fechais fair. Atbert Fergus a rís: “Atconnarc fén aen cethearn is ferr do rachad fair inaid.” “Cía an  p.302 ceithern iad sein?” ar Oilill. “An ceithern ro bamar fein,” ar Fergus, “for innarbadh dar airgsemar cathair Muirne Molfaige,  76agus dar gabsumar cathracha na h-Uarda ar chena.” 420 “Dar liumsa,” bar Oilill, “is i do cetfaid-si da m-bethtea-sa fein eturra co racha sib léth ar in dun-sa.” “Do m' chubais amh,” bhar Fergas, “da m-beinn-si do rer mo coisi iter feruib Erenn a muig do brisfinne do dun-sa fada uadha, agus do beithea fein a fegmais do cinn agus do coscair acamsa.” “Do berim do m' breithir,” ar Oilill Finn, “co foisgeolat-sa ditsa ar amus b-fer n-Erenn go finnar in ba fir sin.” Ro eirigh Oilill Finn iar sin, agus do foslaic a glais ogus a géibinn d'Fergus agus do Dubthach agus d'Aongus mac Aenlaime Gaibi, agus do cuatar a mach as in dúnad ar amus b-fer n-Erenn.

[181] Mar do conncatar fir Erenn Fergus cuca as in dún a mach, ro eirgetar uile eirge athlam aéin- fhir co dian disgir deinmneadach a crislaigibh a sgiath agus ar bolganaib421 a sleg sleman-ruadh slinn-ger, agus ar urdornaib a cloideam m-balc m-béimennach. Agus ro gabatar a n-errada catha impa .i. a luirecha treabraidhe tré-dualacha agus a cathbairr áilli ilgemnacha, agus do ronsat tri catha crodha commora dib. Agus do eirgetar uile agus do gabatar a n-erradha catha impa, agus do chomarlig an sluagh uile dul do togail an dúnaidh ar Oilill b-Finn agus a marbadh fein agus Flidais do breith uada.

[182] Is ann sin tanic Fergus d'innsaige b-fer n-Erenn agus tanic ro fersat uile failti ris, agus do fotachtad sgela an baili as a tanic de. “Do fagbusa ann,” bar eisin, “an t-ain fir is mo menma agus meisnech agus mor-aigned agus is tarcaisnighi ar sluagaib agus ar socraidib da faca roime riám. Agus do grendaig misi agus sibse, a firu Erenn, im a dun do togail d'a ainndeoin.” Agus do batar a muinntir fein sech cach co failtech re Fergus. Agus ro aigill Bricne go buanasach  p.304 e, agus do bhi ag aithbir imaithbir ar in airsig. Agus adubairt nar fedagh reime sin riam lamugadh an laech-miledh. Agus adubairt Fergus gur b'e a beith gan cloideam do ro crapaill e maille re h-imarcraid airsedh 'g a forrach.

[183] Agus do raidsed an laeid ann:—

  1. Andum let, a Ferghais,
    Gan n-uaill is gan n-ermais,
    Truag nach ég do delbus
    Síu ro-t-faicfeadh nech;
     77Atai a h-aithle h-aisder
    Ar sgeit do gnim n-gaisgid;
    Is doiligh lim t' faicsin,
    Do claoclo do drech.
  2. Truagh sin, a mic Carbri,
    Imat na n-arm n-adbal,
    Is na b-fer co m-marbadh,
    Do budh lór do brath; 422
    Fuaim na sgiath da sgaradh,
    Nochar min an madar, 423
    Suaill nar bris an talam,
    Mo comrac ar ath. 424
  3. Mo tachar gan cloideam,
    O do bris mo doiger,
    Ro bo garb a n-oirer,
    Ni celim 's na ceil;
    Mo beth gan ní i m' lama,
    Fa borba na baga,
    Fa garba 425 ina dala,
    Ro ba lór do nim.
  4. C' áit a m-bui-si, a Dubthaich?
    'S a Aengais buirb bruthmair?
    Ba días go lith luchair,
    Gus an trén tall; p.306
    Do biad fuil tar faebar,
    Ba cath libh bar n-aenar, 426
    Gus a n-iu nir baogal,
    Acht a m-beith sib and. 427
    Anam.

[184] Ba h-í imorro comarle b-fer n-Erenn, o t' conncatar Fergus chuca, an dúnad d'fagbail agus gan buain re h-imlaidi na Gamannraidi. Ro toingestar Fergus fo 'n a arm n-gaisgid, gid iad fir Erenn uili do fhuicfed an dun, nach rachadh fein uad no go n-decha ar áis no ar eigin fair. Agus do guidestar Meadb agus maith i b-fer n-Erenn fa anad aigi d' innrad agus d'argain dúnaid Oilella Finn, uair ba nair i leis an tarcustal tuc Oilill fair. Agus do bi do cumactaib Meadba ar feraib Erenn gur b'égean doib anmain a fochair Fergusa. Do comarligetar fir Erenn uile an dúnad d' innsaigid is in maidin ar na marach. Agus do eirgetar cethri h-oll-coigid Erenn ann sin agus an Dubloinges mar áen riú. Agus do greis Oilill agus Meadb agus Fergus iatt m commór ar sin, agus tugsat a n-aichthi a n-ainfheacht ar an dúnad. Agus do sinned n a sduic agus a sdorgana 428 leó a comfogar in catha, agus do togbatar gáir adbal uathbhasach ós aird. O d'cuala Oilill Finn na gáirthe sin ro eirigh go h-athlam agus ro greis a teglach agus ro coraigh a cath agus ro furail na doirrsi d'foslugadh. Agus fa h-ingnad le feraib Erenn an ní sin .i. doirrsi na cathrach d'foslugadh d'Oilill. Agus gid é Oilill Finn ann, ba h-ingnad agus fa h-amaras leis  78catha agus cliatha na cethearna, curaidh agus coraidh agus cath-milidh na n-ánrad agus na n-es-urradha d'anad 'n a agaid re h-alt na h-úaire sin, ge mad linmar doib.  p.308 Cid tra acht ba garb in gáir, agus ba borb an breislech, agus fa h-adbal an imesargain, agus ba toga an torann-chles, agus ba laémda an laech-tuargain ro gabsat gasrad na Gamannraidi agus teglach Oilella Finn ar feraib Erenn, co n-dorcradar sochaide dib leth ar leth.

[185] Imthusa Oilella Finn dno. Ni gabtai ris a cath na a comlonn in gach conair a tabrad a agaid con n-dorcradar dronga di-airmidhi leis. Agus do cuir derg 429 ar ceatra n-ollcoiged n-Erenn is in lo sin. Agus do srainetar uili im trath nóna tar an sreib catha íatt. Agus tanic roime is in cathraig a nonn as a h-aitle go m-buaid g-cosgair agus g-commaidmi o feraib Erenn uile leis. Agus ro dunsat an baile iar sin. Agus ro suidset do chom na flede, agus ro gabsat ac ól agus ac aibnes go tanic lá con a lán shoillsi cuca. Cid tra acht co ceann se laithi doib amlaid sin. Agus ni roib Oilill aon la ris an re sin gan maidm catha reime. Agus gidh é an seachtmad lá, ro curadar an cath ar feraib Erenn con n-dorcradar secht cet430 gacha cuigid do ceithri cuigedaib Erenn leis in ló sin. Agus do rochratar na secht cet ro batar in a fochair-sim uile, acht madh secht fichit esbadacha. Agus tanic roime is in baile a nunn trath nóna. Agus do leanad iat co dorus an baile. Agus ro dunsat an baile d' a n-éis. Agus do cuir sen a cath-bert catha d' á cnes. Agus do chuaid a comarle agus a muinntir fochetoir. Agus as ed atbert riu: “Do tregset an Gamanraid uile sinn,” ar se, “ar imdiull Meadba agus ar indlach Fergusa agus ar edarcosaidib Oilella agus ar cumadaib mor derlactecha na Mained. Agus is demin go tuiteabh-sa do'n dula so ar sluaiged Tana bo Fliduisi. Uair do gellutar mo draithe damsa go madh le Meadb agus le h-Oilill agus le Fergus do tuitfinn, agus go mad a fotha mo mna do toitfinn. C' ait  79a b-fuil Dub Dogair, mo gilla grado?” ar sé. “Eirg ar amas na Gamannraidi, agus tabair achmusan doib. Agus  p.310 abair re Fer n-Diad mac Damain gurab amain dilus dó na comtha breige ar ar treig a tigerna. Agus abair re Fraoch mac Fidaigh mar an cetna. Agus abair re Domnall n-Dualbuide o nach eirgeann an Gamannraid uile leis na benad re mor sluagaib Meadba na re fornert Fergusa na re fichmuireacht ainiarmurtaig Oilella.” Agus is cuma do bui a cur an gilla uad agus atbert na roinn-si sís:—

  1. Eirg dam, a Duib Dogair,
    Re cur in catha, ar conair,
    Agus ber dam do briathraib
    Re feraib iárthar domuin.
  2. Tub re fer na dúnad,
    An fer fial ic ar faemadh,
    Mar a-m-leig an flaith ferrda
    Go h-ogaib Emna a m' aénar.
  3. Tub dam re Fraoch mac Fidaigh,
    Ris in laech ag na fledaib,
    Lecht a flatha ar na foidibh,
    Leis na h-ogaib a h-Eamuin.
  4. Raid re Domnall gan dolma,
    Re fer na forlonn ferrda,
    Na h-eirgeadh in rí ruithnech
    A lenmain mor crech Meadba.
  5. Da raga o Dun glan Gleoire,
    Aengus mo mac caem connla,
    Do rada in fer saer suthach,
    'S do icfa Dubthach Dubgha.
  6. Do ticfa fos, da finnad,
    Cairbre ó Dun glan garb Rois,
    Ni bad uáiti go h-Ailill
    Eochaid a Boirinn barr-glais.
  7. Gus a nois nír treicset
    A n-engnam is a n-einech;
    Do sílius dil mo decrai
    Do Goll Ecla agus Ailech.
  8.  p.312
  9. Berat mo chorp achetóir
    Na h-uaisle go h-Ard-railech;
    Tegaid in 431 cenn mo cosgair
    Drong do na drongaib daigfer.
  10. Saiter leo sís 'n a sesam
    Mo cholg is mo cráisech;
    Togbaid mo lia os ma luide,
    Feraid mo cluichi caintech.
  11. Claiter leosan m' fert fódmaigh,
    Na milidh gus an moir ferg,
    Agus tabraid go tuachail,
    M' aiged ar Cruachain cró derg.
    Eirg.
Do imigh Dub Dogair leis in teachtairecht sin agus do geall co ticfa trath éirghe do ló ar na márach d' innsaidi Oilella da b-fagbad comeirge na Gamannraidi leis. Agus ranic roime agus do gab ac grisad gach aein gus a ranic do'n Gamannraid. Imtúsa an gilla con n-uigi sin.

[186] Imtusa Oilella Finn do berar ós aird. Ar n-imthecht do'n gilla uadh, tugad armair d'a muinntir cuige agus atbert riú: “Cuirid-si an cath go cruaidh a márach, a mhuinntir inmuin,”  80ar Oilill, “oir is deimin co saitfe Meadb a sgiath an dorus bur n-dúnaid, agus saidhfid Fergus agus Oilill agus Cormac Conlongius agus na Maine agus mac Magach agus Lugaid mac Conraeí agus Lugaid mac Nóis agus Loth na Feibis agus Aengus mac Misgedra agus Eogan Finn mac Fíngin; agus brisfidear bur m-baile, agus murfaigear bur múir, agus marfider sib p-fein, agus berthar úaib bur seóit agus bur máine.” “Truag am sin, a rí,” bar íadsan, “is uathad duinn re cur an catha sin .i. aén tríar testa do dá chet.” 432 “O nach b-fuil sib acht sin,” bhar eisen, “do gebtaí uile bás. Agus ni h-ég do neoch agus beodacht agus cosgar do dénam. Agus  p.314 cosnaid sib p-fen agus bur tigerna.” “Mona tísad do droch comarle-si rinn agus cealga do mna, ni leigfemis Fergus a mach agus ni lemdais cethri h-oll-coigid Erenn ní duinn. Agus tangatar cealga do mna-sa agus Meadba 'n ar timceall. Agus do treigset an Gamannraid tú fos agus sinne. Ní rigi-se a les lam do gabail forainn, óir in céin maires aen duine againn, ni benfa guin na forgom tarainn fritsa o feraib Erenn uile.” “Berid bennachtain,” bar eisim, “agus mo mallacht ar an muinntir do treig mé. Uair dá m-beinn-si agus Fraoch agus Ferdiad agus Dubthach Dubda agus Ferderg mac Dolair ogus Gamain na Sidgaile, ni fetfadaís cetri h-oll-coigid Erenn ar traothad.” Agus is cuma do búi ag a radh agus atbert an laid:—

  1. A oga, cuirid an cath
    Do béra Meadb a márach;
    Saithfid a sgíath in ar mur;
    Brisfid roimpe bur ri-dún.
  2. A rí-damna, a mor-ruire,
    I mic Domnaill Dualbuide,
    Is uathad duinn re gnim n-gal,
    Triar testa do da 433 chet curaidh.
  3. Ta taí tríar testa do chet,
    Derb lim racthaí uile d'eg;
    Ní h-ég do neoch do ní maith;
    Cuirid cath, cosnaid bur flaith.
  4. Is forlonn do chet curad
    Galeóin is ogbaid Ulad,
    Medb is Lugaid gan len,
    Ailill is Fergus, fir trén.
  5. Ca forlond do niam, do ní,
    A Oilill oig, a aird-ri;
    Doigh do faethsinne go fír,
    Taoth-sa linn ar coimlín.
  6.  p.316
  7. A g-cein maires ain fer uainn,
    A Ailill echtaig arm-ruaidh,
    Ní a-t-roicheat ruamna 434 rann
    Cethri n-oll-coigid n-Erenn.
  8. Ticfa Domnall forrach niad,
    Fúaigeoraid cath, cuirfid gliaidh.
    Doilge lim na bás im bel,
    In teannta i m-bia in flaith for-trén.
  9.  81Da m-beinn-si Fraoch 's Ferdiad,
    Agus Dubthach Dubgha dían,
    Agus Ferderg mac Dolair,
    An cath ro bad raén romainn.
  10. Madh dán damthai fír fer
    Agus coimlin sluag is sleg;
    Gid línmar do Meidb do'n muig
    Ro bad anad d'a h-ógaib.
  11. Ro-m-treigset tré tnuth Medba
    An Gamannraid fír-chalma;
    Nir fagbat gaisged na gail
    Nech dar tréiginn da h-ogaib.
    A oga.

 p.10

[187] A haitle na laidi sin rugatar as 435 an adaig sin go h-aitmélach, gan ol gan aibhnes gan urgairdiugadh menman na aigeanta. Agus do ronsat aitber imaithber go h-adbal ar Oilill fa Fergus do leigean a mach as a láim. Tanic an maiden ar ná marach fa'n comhrad cuca. Agus do eirgeatar go h-athlam urmaisnech, agus tarraid gach deg fer a n-arma agus a n-ededh aca. Agus do iadatar uile fá'n aird-rig fa Oilill Finn. Agus do gab Oilill ag a n-agallaim, agus is ed so adubairt riú: “Do fedar-sa am,” bar eisin, “go lingfid fir Erenn an baili-si a n-iug oraib, uair ni fuilmaid-ni lin a cosnuma friu, o do treigset an Gamannrad sinn. Agus tanic tar a aimglicus fein agus tar imdeall Fergusa 436 'n a timcheall. Agus tuigim-si fein gurab co ruigi in laithi a n-iug do rala an conach i m'coimidecht.” Agus do greis a mic agus a moirteglach imcalma do denam. “Agus foslaigid doirrsi na cathrach,” ar se, “agus lenidh misi, agus do gén sligi do reiduigadh romhaib. Agus gach aen da soicfe tre sin cath uaib, na thinntod for cul, uair ni-m-túalaing-si bur n-anacal. Agus is deimin gurab oramsa biás menma b-fer n-Erenn a n-iugh. Agus mad tennta bunaid damsa, a deg muinntir, agus gan fir Fergusa na comlann aein-fir do damail dam, do cuires mo techtairi ar cend Certáin Cerda, agus adubairt ris mo long do tabairt i m'aircis go cuán Cuili Certáin o'n cathraig sairdes ann so. Agus is ri sin aderar Cuan Traga Cinn Certain a n-íu.” O tairnic do Oilill Finn an comrad do crichnugadh, dofuagair d'at eglach eirge athlam urmaisnech  p.12  82eigiallidhi do denam agus ruathar cetfadhach croidemail, agus brosgur bunn-luath barrann braithremail do tabairt gus na doirrsib, agus na comlada do leagadh fó cosaib, agus na cinn do crómad gus na 437 cuigiachaib, agus na h-aigenta d'airdiugadh ris in eigen, agus na cloidmi do comtoirnem ar na corpaib, agus na slega do sith-brisedh ris na cathsgiathaib, agus comtromad saegail ris na sluag-buidnib. Cid tra acht do eirgetar an teglach go tinnesnech re greasachtaib aidbli ainniuide Ailella. Agus do rinnetar leibenn lethann loirg-remar lasamna, agus mainner gaibtech gráinemail ger-armach a timcell Oilella Finn d'a anacal. Inimthusa co n-uigi sin.

[188] Imthusa Meadba agus Ailella do berar os aird, agus fer n-Erenn ar chena. Ar rochtain d'Fergus cuca agus ar tocht sgel na Gamandraidi le techtaib nach éireocadais 'n a n-agaid agus nach cuingeondais le h-Oilill, do cinnetar-son a comarle, agus do cuatar a pupall Meadba agus Ailella. Agus ba h-iát so na h-uaisle agus na h-ardmaithi do dechatar ann .i. Fergus mac Roigh agus Cormac Conloingius agus maithi an Dubloingsi ar chena; na Maine agus Mac Magach mic Cecht, agus Dal-n-druith438 ni Gáileóin agus Thuatha Taiten; Lugaid mac Conrái, agus Lugaid mac Nóis, agus Loth mac na Feibis, agus Eogan Finn mac Fíngin mic Luchta, agus Aongus mac Misgedra, agus Mac Niad mic Finn mic Rosa, agus ard-maithi Erenn ar chena. Agus is ed adubratar an múr do milledh, agus an daingen do dían-brisedh, agus an cathair do coimleagadh, agus Ailill con a teglach do traothadh, agus gan rí do'n cinel cetna do commoradh caidhche, agus gan fer do'n Gamannraid do gnath-lesugadh do grés, agus Flidais con a buár do breith as, agus an Mael  p.14 Fhlidais con a h-almaib. Batar sochaide do Connachtaib leis ar bidgadh na briathra sin gen gur fedatar mór-gotha Meadba do traothadh.

[189] Is ann sin do éirigh Fergus mac Roigh con a buidnibh agus do fuagair do na cuigedaib comméirge. Agus do greis co digáir Connachta sech cach. Agus do tuing fa na breithir nach fuicfed an baile nó go tuitdis a raibi ann úile,  83no co tuiti-sium con a curadaib ag á cosnom. Agus do fuagair do na cuigedaib coiméirge athlam egiallaidhi ainntréannda do denam cum na cathrach d'a coimmbrisedh.

[190] O d'connaire Aillill Finn na fednacha fir-mora fíamhacha, agus na doireda dluith mera dímora doinn-merged, agus na coírighthi crann-ruada ceinn-gera caismertacha, agus na séisi sesmacha sonn-cruaide serb-raitecha, do ceangail a comarle dí comriachtain. Agus do eirigh a aignedh ris in anforlonn; agus do ruithnigh a gruaidh mar gnath-corcuir; agus do greis a teglach agus a tusmidi. Do cuimnigh a egóir agus a anfolaid. Do cuartaigh na curaidh agus na cath-milidh, agus do timcil agus a dlúth-chathair. 439 Do díchair na sluaig agus na sochaide. Do coimmesg 440 na h-óig agus na h-ard-ghaisgedaigh. Agus do aimréidigh an faichti agus an urlann impa, gur fagaib in a sreathaib agus in a slaed-buidnib in a n-oirnnib agus in a n-asglannaib, gur ba coirighthi sgith-roinnti sgaintecha agus gur ba trochbuidne taeb-tolla tuath-rebta tanaigti, n-aihealta eitci ainmecha err-luatha do fagaib co h-ansodach da éis ar in feórainn. Do sgailed agus do sgannrad, do deglad agus do deiliged in buiden brathar sin re cheile co nar fhagadh 441 seiser re soigid, na coiger re comlund, na cetrair re comarli, na aen trir a n-áen inad, na desi gan delugadh dib, gur  p.16 h-iadadar buaile báis ar na buidnib, gur mugaigedar a fortaillín 442 do na fednachaib, agus co n-drorcradatar is in anforlonn sin acht Oilill con a macaib.

[191] Agus gid eiseín ann, do ba troid ré beithir a basrúaga, agus ba díachar ar cuanartaib a coingleca, agus ro bá tanugadh ar trédaib a trom-deabaid, agus ro ba biathadh ar badbaib a brosgur, agus ro ba mana athuisi ar uáislibh a innsaiged. Rugastar secht ruathair troma teann-garba tarcusnecha tairrsib co n-drorcradar secht cet curad in gach cuigid d'a coimriachtain con a cloinn. Do fegastar Oilill uadha ann séin ar cetrai h-airdib in t-sleibi, agus  84ar na fegain do, ni fhaca cath na cuir na cath-buiden gan beth 'n a mor lenmain ag a fuagradh. Agus tugastar d'a uidh a teglach do traothad agus a maicni do merdith agus a carait do comduitim. Do samail imtecht uatha as a h-aitle, uair do rinne oiris an oidce roime sin fa loing do tabairt in a aircis co Cend Traga Cuili Túrsgair. Agus adubairt re Certán beth ag a urnaidhi ann, agus da mad caraidh dóson do innsochadh é.

[192] Cid trá acht o d'connairc Fergus Oilill ar in udmhailli sin, an uaiti tren-fer agus tuaircnedh ar ná dílsiugadh d'a thuathaib agus d'a treab-aicmi. Ba h-í a indamail ann sin leoman uasal Afraca fa coiméigmid cuánarta agus caithmilidh, sreata agus sluag-buidni, agus nach lamthar do lamugadh re med a allaid agus a engnuma agus i fergi agus a ainntreanndachta co n-dilsigit é as a h-aithle ar a egla agus ar a egsamlaght.

[193] Do togaib Oilill a chenn os a cath-sgiath agus tugastar tadall d'a rosg ar na righ-buidnib. Agus ni faca en duine d'a teglach gan tuitim. Agus atchuala gáir cosgair a muinnteri tareis a marbta, agus ba h-olc leisin sin gen gur  p.18 fed a fóirithin. Agus do cuir a cloidheam go tinnesnech 'n a truaill, agus do toirinn a sgíath ar leirg a droma go dírech, agus tarraid a arm dibraici 'n a des laim, agus tug a agaid síar gach n-direch.

[194] Adrachtatar in sluag uile 'n a lenmain. Agus do greis Fergus an Dubloingis go digáir. Agus rugatar lucht cosgair agus cath-garma an t-slúaigh fair ann sin. Agus nir lamsat tairgsin do na buáin ris. Agus gach ain fer do bered air, do rinn ruaga do gonad no do marbadh é. Agus do ímgedh roime as a h-aitle. Ranic Oilill roime fo'n réim sin ar toradh a engnuma agus a eisimail no go ranic co Cenn Tragha Tursguir re raiter Traigh Cinn Certain a n-iugh. Is ann sin rugastar Fergus air. Agus ruc Certan an long mach for cul, o d'connairc Oilill agus fir Erenn uile d'a innsaige. Atberait araile co mad 443 d'fuath Oilella do berad an long uadh, óir do lígadh a ben roime sin air.

[195]  85Imtusa Fergusa agus maithe b-fer n-Erenn: rancadar go Cenn Trágha Turscair. Agus imtusa Oilella Finn dno. O'n ló rug a ócclaoch fein a long úadha tuc a aighedh ar feraibh Eirenn. Agus do aigill Fergus h-e: “Olc do coimlis do briathar, a Oilill,” ar Fergus; “agus as imcian an teithead tangais. Agus fuirich a nois re comrac aein fir.” Agus is cuma do bí 'g a rádh, agus adbert na briathra-sa: —

  1. 444An an inad imresna,
    A ching iarthair fuinn Elga?
    Tabram treas ar troim cloidmed;
    Sgandram sgéith dar sgáth lannaib.
    Cuimnig seadh na sein breithri tugais ag Áth Fhinncarbaid.
    Nír cóir duit, a deg dhuine, do briathar do báoglugadh.
    Togda an teithead tanagais. p.20
    Garbh ruathar do ríghdamnadh uaisle Galian;
    Géoghnabair an raéi Muimnech mughaigte
    Díth ar Meadhb shluag;
    Máidsebair Clanda Róigh atruithenta
    O lo catha caeirtannain.
    Briathra borb ro báighi-se;
    Gellais doib mo di-cennadh,
    Lía fíadhain na faighthi-si;
    Misi laoch do locraighthe;
    Eirigh is na h-an.
    An an inad.

[196] Fregrais Ailill go foistin féithemanta na briathra doirbhe dur-misgnecha do-resduil fúachda fích-buana fír-aindegdha sin. Agus cuma do bí 'g a rádh agus adbert na briathra-sa:—

  1. Anfad rit, a rígh amais;
    Damh duinn comlond cudrama;
    Coisg edh cach á cungantaib.
    Tabraim treas ar trom-shlaidhe;
    Do choisg dam an Dubloinges,
    Olc fírinne a fer chuinged,
    Sruth robharta o Rugraide.
    Tonn Tursgair mo thúarasgbail;
    Terc milidh mo midhemhnais;
    Dingbhaim cath a cath-irgail;
    Tráettar lim do luamhairecht;
    Tainig crich do caith-reime;
    Cian o tái for tolg buáidris timcell Banba bar achairde;
    Cíamhair do clú a d'cúigedhach;
    Olc do treimsi a d'trom-fhlaitheas;
    Misgnech Emhna Ardmachae;
    Taistel túath ar tirm loinges;
    Congmhail chuanart;
    Coimidecht codlad fada a finn-bruignib;
    Dingbhail Meidhbe ar merdrechus;
    Fuigell faitbidh fanamhaid;
    Guidhe bandal ban righan.
    Anfad.

 p.22

[197]  86Is and sin do eirgedar an dá chairthi gan crithnugadh, agus an da beithir gan baeglugadh, agus an da omna gan fheódhugadh, agus an da língcne re léirdigail, agus an da bile buadha buan-lethna barr-thoirtecha, agus an dá eó tosacha dighainne adconncas os fhidhbadhib Erenn .i. Oilill Finn agus Fergus mac Roigh. Is and sin cuimnighis Fergus a anfolta agus a egcoir agus gacha n-dernadar an Gamanrad ris o thús go deredh. Ar sin do gabhadar an dá cath-milidh sin a claidhmed agus a cruadh-airlech a ceile re ré cían agus re treimsi fada co n-ar bo soirbh a Tsir-dheghail no a sir-fhegadh re h-aidhble a neime agus a naimdenais agus re borb-ledarthaighe a m-beimeann.

[198] Acht ata ni chena: do rochair Oilill Finn do luathbéimennaibh brodla báoth-lonna fuachda forranacha Fergusa. Agus díchennais Fergus ar an lathair sin é. Agus adrochradar a ceithri mic fichet araon ris, agus secht cet d'á theglach fós a timcell an dunaid agus ar a traig 'g a thesargain, im Gharb mac Ceit mic Maghach, agus im na secht n-Echadhaib Irrais, agus im na secht m-Breislennaibh Brefni, agus im na h-Aongusaib Badhna, agus im an caogait n-Domnannach, agus im shochaide eile nach airimter maille friu, oir ba treisi tromlach ceithri n-oll cuiged n-Eirenn an aid sein.

 p.24

[199] Ra gluais Fergus reimi ar sin d'indsaigidh Rátha Morgain agus cend Oilella Finn ar imcar aige. Agus as amlaid fuair Flidais con a banntracht agus si a fochair Meadba agus Oilella ar an faighthe. Agus do furail Fergus cend Ailella Finn do léicean a fiadnaise Fhlidaise ar lar. Agus do ghab ag suarcus uirthi as a h-aithle agus adubairt ria: “Ag sin sed surgi agam dhuit, a ríghan,” ar se.

[200] Agus nocha dechaidh ar maith aicesi sin d'fhaghail; uair ge do gradhaig si Mac Rosa reimhe do gab aithrechus h-í, agus tainicc claechladh aigenta di 'g a fhaigsin 'g á mharbadh impe fein. Agus do ghabustar Flidais con a  87finn-banntracht ag der-cháined Ailella ann sin, agus ag tabairt a tesmolta, agus ag innisin a air, 445{} agus a thidlaiced go coitcenn do cach. Agus do aithin Flidais do'n bhanntracht an cend do lesugadh, agus atbert and:—

  1. Lesaighter lib cend and righ,
    Ailill go n-imad n-gnim;
    Nochar thimcilsit renna
    Cenn amar cenn Ailella.
  2. Do ber teist ar mac n-Domhnaill,
    Ge rab a cenn 'g a comroinn,
    Acht go faghdáis a láma,
    D' Eirinn do ba dhingmala.
  3. Do ber teist ar mac n-Domnaill,
    Ge rab a cenn 'g a comroinn,
    Nach raibe riam d'uaite slogh
    Gan fichid cet a comól.
  4. Do ber teist ar mac n-Domnaill,
    Ga rab a cenn 'g a comroinn,
    Nach geba Cruachain d'á éis
    Rí budh tualaing a aisnés.
  5.  p.26
  6. Do ber teist ar mac n-Domnaill,
    Ge rab a cenn g' a comroinn,
    Nochar thogaib sgiath a troid,
    Láoch budh fraechda re a namoid.
  7. Is si sin an teist fíre,
    O'n lo do gab riam ríghe,
    Nír ér duine im brat na im bíadh,
    Ni tug do dhuine di-míadh.
  8. Nír cóir do Bricni a nimais;
    Gan ceann ard-milidh Irrais:
    O a corp an trath tugadh,
    Do niamad do lesugadh.
  9. Lesaigter, a banntracht binn,
    An cenn-sa do bí ar Ailill;
    Da fuair sib áib an churadh,
    As dú daib a lesugadh.
    Lesaighter.
A h-aithle na laide sin do coirgead cend Oilella Finn; agus do cuir Flidaus filidh agus eicis d'á Aindlucadh go h-airm a raibe corp Oilella Finn. Agus do claidheadh fert forra an ein inad ann sin.

 p.104

2. Toraigecht tana bo Flidaise ann so. 446

[201] Cid tra acht do toglad agus do h- airged dun Oilella Finn. Agus do roindsed an sluagh a tri íad as a h-aithle sin .i. a trian fa Meidb d'a mor-coiméd, agus an trian eile fá Fergus go Moin Duine h-Aengain ar cenn na Maile Flidaise, agus an trian eile fa Lugaid mac Conroí ar cenn na tána co Glenn Mughaidhi áit ar mughaiged moran do mhaithib fer n-Eirenn les in n-Gamhanraid.

[202] Is ann sin do chuala Domnall Dualbuidhe an cath do chur, agus a mac do marbadh con a maithib, agus a dhún do thoghail, a shéoid 447 agus a mhaine agus a mna do breth úadha d'feruib Eirenn. Agus do ghab ag égaine a mic agus acc tabairt a tesmolta, agus adubairt:

  1.  88Mór an béd bás Ailella,
    Aird-ri iartair na h-Elga;
    Sochaide do cuir a snim,
    Bá maith a gnim a tennta.
  2. Bá cóir Eiri iath-lethan
    Aige idar righ as ruirech;
    A seóid is a h-ilmaine,
    Do iméradh gan fhuirech.
  3.  p.106
  4. Maith tech an rígh ro-damaigh,
    Maith a teglach gan time;
    Imda cúaich as copana,
    Sair siar ar fhud a thighi.
  5. Ceithri cet as ceirt fhiche 448
    Do cathaib nochar adhmall;
    Is ed do nídh a fulang,
    d An nech do b' inand anmann.
  6. 'S do bí a choibheis eile ann,
    Nach ad inand comanmand
    {}
    {}
  7. Maith a rath 's a ríghe sen,
    A shochraide 's a t-shar shlogh;
    An fer sin nochar meblach,
    A theaglach do ba lan-mór.
    Mor.

[203] Dala Fergusa immorro. Rainic reime gan fhuirech agus áodairedha agus eolaigh o Fhlidais leis ar cenn na Maile d'á moch-dúscadh. Agus do gabsat rompa laim re Loch Létriach nó go rangadar gus an fothair fír-domain in ar cuired an Maol d'a mór-coimed con a mór-thanaidh, 449 do t-shechna na sluag agus ar teichedh na trom-shochraide. Agus do chuir Fergus a muinntir úadha do tinol na tana go tindesnech, agus do cruinnighset na h-almha agus na h-indile go h-athlam. Agus fuaradar an Maol Flidaise 'n a luide. Agus do badar 'g a fhulairemh uirre éirghe do dhenam. Agus nir fhaomh si eirgi ortha. Agus targadar a rís go ro dicra, agus nír eirigh si ortha. Agus do badar an tres fecht 'g a fuabairt, agus nír fhedsad a cur do lathair a leptachais. Agus tainic Fergus d'a h-indsaigid and sin, oir do b'ingnad leis 450 sódh na sochraide os a cind 'n a comnaidhe. Agus mar do cuala a córughadh, do fhiafraigh  p.108 d'a h-aithentaib a h-ordughadh. Agus adrubadar nach facadar macsamhla na sádhailechta sin do dhenamh riam di, agus do ba doigh leo gur bí cuma a tigerna do bi 'g a traothad. Ro-dus-tarraid Fergus í, agus tainic co h-ainiardha d'a h-indsaigid . Agus tuc tulgadh d'urlaind a airm innte no co tainicc a h-osnad egcomlainn eisde. Agus buailiss a  89rís gan fhuirech í, agus ni lugha do closs isi ann sin. Agus buailis an treas feacht go fergach í, agus ni fuair fregra fuirechair uaithi. Acht áen ni chena: tug Fergus naí mbeimenna troma toirrsecha ar tinnenus d'a tó-dúsgadh, co clos fa ceithri h-airdib Erenn uili a h-eigen agus a h-osna géimnech ag a h-ainndeónachadh re h-úaman a h-imána co h-essadail d'a h-íul agus d'a h-orlepthib fir-aithenta fein, co nach raibi cend bruighne no baile do gleire na Gamhanraide nach cúala an cumha, agus nach tug aithne ar oighidh Ailella Find. Ar an adhbhar sin gurab e sin toicheastal as treisi do tinoil iad do díghail Aillella Finn. Do fhogair Fergus a h-airlech and sin o nar fháomh an adba sin d'fhagbail fair, no gur gairedar 451 na filidh h-e. Agus adubairt Bricne co n-eireochadh air fein gan fuirech. Agus gellais Fergus comhadha dósan ar a dúscad. Agus atbert and:—

  1. 452Eírich, a ferb ingantach,
    A Maol Flidais lacht milis;
    Fágaib Irrus aiten-gharbh;
    Óir nír b'ingilt incaithme,
    Duitsi riam an ruag bendach,
    Acht mad adhradh Ailill,
    Do bregadh do bo thaintedh,
    An cein do fuair airechas.
    O nach mair an milidh sin,
    Do fuair tu do turcairte. p.110
    Na bi fesda a fuair-sleiphtib;
    Eirg romainn sa rím-slighidh, 453
    Go ría Cruachain cladh-uaine.
    Uair tic ainder Ailella
    Lind d'ar tigh do'n turus-a;
    Uair más fhír as aon toicthe,
    Tusa agus si a sith-broghaib.
    Canfad-sa do comhadha,
    O Fhergus do'n dula-sa:
    Ro-t-fía magh n-Aéi an Fhinn-bennaigh, 454
    Re caithem re cuartugadh cuibde ritsa,
    A rí-tulcha a mhachaidh fá d' mor-táintib.
    Anaiarcuil 455 anaibhind d'adhradh tareis Ailella.
    Mas egail let lú a thoing 456 d'fhagbail d'armaib,
    Na fuirigh re fergugadh deigh mic Rosa,
    Acht rim eirig.

[204] Da eirig as a h-adba gan fuirech ann sin re briathraib  90Bricni. Agus do timcill an Dubloinges an tain go tinnesnach, agus do cuirset rompa iat laim re Loch Letriach agus d'innsaige Glenna maol-tulcha Mughaighthi a comdail Medba agus Oilella agus maithe chostaidh an caomh-sluaig.

[205] Dala Luigdech mic Conroi agus trín t-shluag fer n-Erenn. Do airgset sein deiscert Irrais co leir o Leitir Fhidhaig co Glenn Mudhaige. Agus do uair sen tennta anbail im na h-airgnib sin. Oir rugasdar Muredach Menn mac Oilella Finn agus Clanna Fhind agus gleire na Gamanraide o Cruachan Oighle uile forra. Agus do mharbsat moran do maithib a muintere im Shencan m-Beg agus im Shencan Mór agus im dha boaire do muinntir Meadba, agus ní tugsad acht tuairsena 457 bega do na h-édalaib uatha a cenn fher n-Eirenn.

[206] Do gabsat fir Eirenn aon longport ann sin. Agus lenais Muredhach Mend Lugaid mac Conroí go lár longpuirt fer n-Eirenn an adaig sin, agus do gab ac forbaisi go maidin ar  p.112 an mor-sluag. Agus as i an adaig sin do marb airfidech Ailella agus Meadba .i. Legan Droí. Agus as amhlaid so do uair sen a{} 458, uair as and do bi a luighe agus a lepthachus ider imdaid Ailella agus Meadba sa mor-pupall. Agus do chuala Muredhach e a fir-dered aidce, agus sé a cantain ciuil agus airdfide d'Oilill agus do Meidb agus timpan 459 álainn órdhaidhe aige. Agus do aithin Muiredhach Mend gurab a pupall Meadba agus Oilella do bi. Agus cuiris laimh fá'n or-shleigh co h-athlamh, agus leigis d'indsaige an pupaill go soighnenta an sleig, go n-dechaid an craisich tres an aidhbh-ciúil agus tré ucht-bruinne an oirfidich gur fhágadh gan anmain san inad sin. Agus do eirich Meadb go moch d'á midemhain, agus badar cach uile 'g a egaine. Agus do chuir a bás go mór ar Meidb. Agus do fhurail a fert do claide, agus adbert and:—

  1. Leagan Droí!
    Sochaide bias ig a caí;
    Do gellus do ig techt ar cel,
    Go roicfed a teg aroi.
  2. Farir! ni roicfe go brath,
    Legan tar cach d'a thigh fein;
    Ar n-airfidech is ar n-droí,
    Do nimáis ar sai do reir.
  3. Ar a cothram do'n or derg,
    Ní treigfinn fer na cerd n-glan;
     91Ló co n-oidce fa cra ruadh,
    Agus uir ar a gruad n-geal.
  4. O tanic Muradach Meann,
    Do loit-se co teann an t-saí;
    Minic do gabais dam dán
    D'o b'é mo grad Légan Draí
    Legan Drai.

[207] Imtusa Ceit moir mic Magach do berar os aird. Do an sedéin tareis b-fer n-Erenn is in ármaig ac adlacadh a mac  p.114 agus a dalta. Agus mar tairnic dó a b-fert 460 do cláidi, da gluais roime ar lorg b-fer n-Erenn. Agus is i búaidris cumoil ar ar cinn beith ag airrlech fer n-Erenn gan anad ar athaib agus ar asraisib 461 Irruis. Tarrlatar do triar miled morchalma do muinntir Meadba .i. Eígnec Beg agus Eignec Mor agus Siadal mac Sirtachtair. Agus do drorcratar a triúr le Cet. Agus adered Cet gurab a richt na tóra do marbadh uili iat. Agus do bid ag greasacht na Gamannraidi a n-iarmoracht fer n-Erenn d'a n-óirrlech gur trían trasgarta agus toraigechta do na sluagaib uile h-é 'n aenar.

[208] Is ann sin do eirigh Domnall Dualbhuidhi con degbuidhnib o Dún Tuaithi sin toraigecht da digail an aird-rig Ailella Finn ar áirsedaib Erenn. Agus do cuir fis ar gach leith do greasacht na Gamannraidi in a lenmain do dígail Oilella Finn ortha. Agus nir furigh féin re fregartaib acht ránic in a réim theann thóraigechta d'innsaige b-fer n-Erenn gan furech nó co rangatar co h-airm a raibi Oilill agus Fergus agus Meadb agus maithi b-fer n-Erenn ar chena, agus siád in a cathaib coirighti ar toigecht d' Fergus agus do maithib Erenn con a airgnib agus con a edalaib leo d' a n-innsaige agus an Máel Fhlidais aca. Agus do sáil Meadb nach fuigbed a lorgairecht na a lenmain ac fagbail an tiri 462 do'n turas sin, o dorochair Oilill Finn 'na áenar, agus d'éis an daingin do gabustar ar an Gamannraid.

[209] Dála na Gamannraidi: Nochar congbatar a combuide ris na cathaib o d'cúalatar tasg a tigerna gan éirge d'á digail ortha. Agus ranic Domnall Dúalbuide re cach con a cuanairt cuctha. Agus ro leigestar aonchu 463 echtach fhír-néimnecha anaichnid d'a n-innsaige con a caéga do conaib confadacha calma 'n a coimidecht. Agus do mesg sein co soinnib 464 ar na  92sluagaib gur b'eigin d'feraib Eirenn a n'-aighthi d'impódh a  p.116 n-ainfhecht ortha re med an greama gáibthigh gúasachtaigh do chuirsit na h-oncoin orra. Is amhlaidh do badar agus teglach Domnaill go deinmnedach ig a n-díth agus ig a n-dícennad gach laech do ledraidís d'óccaib Eirenn. Ránic Fergus agus a Dubloinges d'edrain fer n-Erenn ortha, nó gur comrac dó agus do na conuib acetoir. Agus is amlaid tanic Fergus in a charpat chuca, agus rugastar onchú duaibsech derlaigtech Domnaill sithe 465 dícra deg-thapaidh d'innsaige Fergusa ar n-á fhaigsin sa charpat. Agus eirghis Fergus go fuirechair d'á fregra agus Fergarb .i. ara Fergusa, re h-aighidh. Agus lingis chuca sa charpat gan fhéghadh d'a n-armaib. Agus mar do togaib Fergus a lam le a arma d'á indsuigid, geisid an carbat faei, o nar fulaing nert an trir trein-calma a n-enfecht fair, gor brisiter a rotha agus a fersde agus a fuilnge 466 a n-oeinfecht. Mar nach fuair Fergus inad comnert cothaighte is in carpat ro lingestar lé a arma as. Agus mar do b'ail le laecraid a lenmain tucastar an ónchú fabairt fuacdha fichmar fir-neimnech d'á fastoigib ar Fer-n-garb, go tarla cael a cholla in a cráos fíaclach co coimnert, gur sgarustar a chend re coluinn. Agus mar nach fuair Fergus in a farrad saithis ar na h-echaib d'a n-airlech, no gur fagsat a n-anam re h-athgairit aige. Suaill nar maidm d' feraib Erenn o t' conncatar Fergus d'fagbail a carbait gan cotugadh. Ro marbsat muinntir Domnaill agus na dobur-coin agus cet tinol gaisgedach na Gammannraide morán leis in maeladh sin do muinntir Meadba agus Oilella agus Fergusa, co tugsat esbada agus áinigin 467 imdha orrtha. Ba náir le Fergus an filled sin, agus impoduis a ris do chum an carbait combruiti do fagais d'a eisi. Agus atconnairc a ara agus a echrada ar n-a n-athcoma do coin Domnaill. Agus rug fein fairgsi buada uirte, agus do  93cuirestar a laim fa'n manais d'a mugugadh, co tuc urch-ar  p.118 athlam urmaisnech d'a h-innsaigid, co n-dechaid an cráisech tré n-a cend, cor cuirestar a talmain trithi ar n-a tredad, cor fágad a h-anmain is in inad sin.

[210] Ro impo Fergus in lucht deabta agus imgona uatha uili gur comairlighed aca ann sin a n-aisder agus a n-uideadha a lorg agus a{} 468. Agus tugatar an agaid uile rompa d'fagbail Irruis Dómnann gan dícheall. Do gab Fergus agus an Dubloinges deredh ar feruib Erenn. Nir cian rangatar ar an reim sin in tan atconncatar merge Domnaill ar derg-lasadh i n-a n-deghaidh. Agus rainicc an Gamhanraidh a n-en inadh 'n a ur-thimcheall in a chorthibh crithneach caoirnemneach do dighail Oilella Finn ar feraib Eirenn. Agus gressis Fergus in Dubhloingis co defreach a n-agaid Domnaill. Et tucsat an Dubloinges glun re gliaid do'n Gamunraid nach roiched feidm tendta na toraidhechta ar feraib Erenn úatha do coimet einigh Fergusa. Agus tucsat a n-aighte le ceili ar Domhnall gur caithset cath craisich do'n cet frais ris in cathmilid. Agus ro co n-gaib-sium a sgiath gan scuchadh a h-áin inadh ré n-agaid, go tarla an cath-manáis gan melladh is in moir-sgeith. Agus do fregradar teglach an trén-righ an tidhlucadh sin, no gor caithsed ní do nách ráinic áirim d'á n-armuib ris na h-Ulltachaibh.

[211] De fuagair Fergus uada ann sin o guth mor d'á mileduib gan airm gun il-faebra do caithim re ceili, acht a legen dosan agus do Domnall cotugadh calma do denamh ar in laithir sin re ceili, o 's ann lesin do toit mac Domnaill. Ro sguirsit a muinntir an uair sin ar Fergus, agus do b'egen do'n Gamhanraid sgur do'n debaid ar Domnall. Do reidiged laithir fairsing imbualta d'on laechraid sin ar go festaéis fein comlann a ceile, oir ba maith le Fergus feidm dana dur-neimneach Domnaill do dingbad d' feraibh Erenn do'n dula sin, agus ba dícra le Domnall fobairt oirlich Fergusa do digail Oilella Finn fair. Ro caithset a cath-airm comfhuacdha re a ceili mar budh clechtad do na curadhaib, agus nir dercsad na h-airm ortha re  94deirrideacht a n-eididh agus a n-uacht-comdaig. 469 Agus ro  p.120 druidset na cath-milid sin re ceili. Do cómdluthset a comlann, agus do tuairgset cinn agus sgeith agus cathbairr a ceili co coimdicra, co cualatar cetir h-oll-choigid Erenn uile co coitcend a comtúargain. Agus ro impódar fir Erenn an aighthi ortha d'a mór-hechain, agus do batar gléire na Gamannraidi, a neoch tanic do cúm na tóraighechta d o na tren-feruib, do leith eile an comlainn 'g a coimfeithem, or do bui aca a n-urdálta nach inntóbadh cechtar dib do'n deabaid sin, ré dicracht a n-dían-buille, agus re h-imfhaicsi a n-urlaidi, agus ré h-aidble a n-esgairdis, agus re fortamlaigi a fedmann. Ro caithset féin co fraocha fír-nemnech friuchaigbech fuabartach na h-airdheana co coitcenn re ceili, co n-ár fagaibsit sgiath gan sgailedh, na luirech gan ledradh, na cathbarr gan claenadh do'n coigeadal sin. Agus nir sguirsit do'n sgainnir gur sgithiged a lama do'n lúamarecht, agus a cosa d'a cothugadh. Agus ger mór na fheadma ro caithset na caith-milid sin re ceili, ni tanic cáor fhola a corp cechtair dib. Agus ro aithnighetar gur tuirrsech fir Erenn ac a n-imfurech, agus fós do gab aith-sgís agus eimealtas iat fén, o nár cumaing cechtar dibh cirred470 no crechtnugadh aroili, no gor sgarsat leth ar leth comslán o'n comrac sin.

 p.202

[212] Ro gabh ingantus adbal mór fir Erenn ann sin fa'n dias tren-fer sin do dealugud re ceili. Agus do ghluaisetar rompa gan furech do slíab Dúine Engain agus do Glenn Cruaichi, agus an Gamannrad uili in a n-díaigh ag an n-dian-márbadh, co tucatar ár adhbal ortha. Is ámlaid so do uidh 471 an Gamannrad .i. a marbdáis d'feraibh Erenn, a cinn d' imchur agus a colla d'fagbail, no co rangatar an gleann ar gabatar fir Erenn longport. Agus nír luaithi iadsom and ina in tóir rompa agus 'n a n-deagaid ic a n-día n-airlech, co n-dern sat cruach do cennaib fer n-Erenn ann, conad uadh ainmuigter Crúach na Ceann. Agus do badar ann an adaigh sin co h-anbúainech.

[213] Do eirgeatar rompo co moch ar na márach, agus rucustar Merán mílidh ortha ann sin. Agus do cumaisg séin co  95luthgáirech ar na láochaibh, no co n-dorchair leis moran d'a mileduib im Leagan mac Lusg{} 472.i. oglaoch maith do muinntir Oilella agus Meadba, conadh uadh Sruth Leagain. Do imgetar a séin co h-anbuainech co slis Sleibe Fínd, agus rugustar Caillderg mac Lilaigh órtha ann sin. Agus do saith sein co h-ainfethach inntib, mar nach beith do tóir órtha acht é fein 'n a aonar, uair ni tarrla d'feraib Erenn chuigi tren triath nach teighed. Agus ro éirigh Buinne Béimendach, fer comlainn catha do muinntir Oilella agus Medba, d'á frestal agus d'a fritolam. Agus do fersat comlonn a fiadnuise fer n-Erenn ar an urlaind sin co n-dorchair Buinde Beimennach do laim mic Lilaich ar an lathar sin.

[214] Do imgedar fir Eirenn as sein, agus nír ansat do'n uidhe sin no gur gabsad longport an Glind da Arand an adaig  p.204 sin. Ro ba crechtach, cró-linntech, combrúite, forgla fer n-Erenn an adaig sin o gliáidh na Gamhanraide, co nach raibe nert na árrachtus a n-en duin d'feraib Eirenn acht madh Fergus a aonar. Do badar amlaid sin an adaig sin. Agus do eirgedar go moch ar na marach, ar cengal agus ar corugadh a crecht agus a cned go leir d'a legaib. Agus do gluaisedar a fednacha rompa go foill, agus siad fein i n-a cathaib córaighte 'n a n-degaidh 'g a n-diden. Uair gach tulach tar a teighdís, ar tinol agus ar timsugadh do maithib na Gamhanraide as gach aird d'a n-innsaigid ar n-gabhail báidhe agus borrfaid agus aithrechais doib, co nach raibe fer codach ain fir 473 d'a sochraide o Inbir Luimnigh go Drobais 474 nách do 475 inntó a craide d'aithi agus d'fír-dígail Oilella Finn ar fheraib Erenn.

[215] Do cualatar fir Erenn sin agus do gab faitches agus imecla uili iat. Agus is becc n-aister na n-imtechta ránic leu an la sin, re med in gnima do gabsat an Gamunrad dib, cor gabsut longport a cenn tuaiscert Conlacha an adaigh sin. Agus do cuiretar Cormac Conloinges agus Lugaid mac Conraei agus moran do maithibh Erenn do cuartugud na conari tar a tancutar as tír, agus da fisrugud an raibi tinol no toichestal ar a cenn uar tarachta and. 476 Do cuired do gnim forra an adhaig sin gur b'egin doib an Mael Flidaise do cengal do cairthi an dorus pupaill Meadba an adhaig sin. Agus tancutar an lucht fisraigthi d' a n-indsuige go moch ar na  96maruch, agus do indesiter gleri na Gamunraidi uili ar grianan 477 cinn Connlocha, agus ro cuir sin a socht uili iad.

[216] Do cuatar a comairli; agus do h-ordaighed aca aigthi a crech agus a coraighthed ar a conair i raibi coimed oc na curadaibh, ar daig go m-bad and do beith a cruinniugud agus a comtinol uili re an aigid sin, co fagdaeis ath 478 agus uaicnes  p.206 ar imthecht a conair eili uatha sin. Do batar fed an caem-laei c' aidci ar an corugud sin agus debaid agus imresuin acusum orra, co nar legsit sligi na conair ar a comus, ar techt do na maithib uile a n-aon inadh re a n-agaid. Is amlaid do badur agus siad comullamh ar cenn na h-oidhche aile do chum elóid ar a cul go crích m-Breis as in m-báogal sin. Do shuidhedar mar nach bíadh dail imtechta aca; agus gabadar an Gamhanrad longport a n-inadh aile an conair mar dóig le a triathaib a toighecht. Agus ro badar leth ar leth a coimfhethem a ceile ar an corugud sin no go tainic an adaigh d'á n-indsaige. Amar do éirigh an adaig ar feraib Eirenn ro fhagaibsit an longport sin acht madh Fergus agus na furaireda do an ag diden an deiridh and, no go rangadar a n-annrai agus a n-edala agus a lucht othrais leosan go léir. Do gluais Fergus go foill feithmech con a deg-buidnib i n-a n-degaidh.

[217] Ní cian rangadar ar an reim sin an uair 479 tugsat an Gamanrad aithne ar an ordugud sin, agus do cuirset a lucht feithme os aird an elodh-san. Ro eirgetar an Gamanrad go gaibtech a n-iarmóracht fer n-Erenn and sin. Agus ni rucsat a beg ar a m-buidnib re a m-baeglugadh-san go rancatar go Mag m-Broin. Agus rucsat moran d'á maithib ann sin ortha, gur cuirsed ár adbal ar féraib Erenn in neoch dorad bron agus tursi d'a triathaib, conad uadh ainmnigter an t-inad sin .i. Mag m-Broin.

[218] Dala fer n-Erenn: Do cuatar d'innsoige Srotha Deirg i n-a dirmadaib. Agus nír furgedar re deriud a muinntire gan leim a n-ainfhecht is an abainn, gur baidheg agus gur baeglaigedh uimer anba d'á mnaib agus d'á min-dainib, conach rainic acu gan fostad do'n abainn acht mad a treoin  97agus a tuaircne480 catha, a n-ard-churada agus a n-echrada. Agus nir airmedar na h-esbada sin o ranic an Maél Fhlidaise leó

[219] Dala Fergusa: Do éirig a n-deagaidh an t-sluaig, agus an Dubloinges 'n a timcell. Agus tarla a fír-dered an atha íat a  p.208 gabail ris in n-Gamhanraid, no go facatar trómlach in tinoil i n-a coirigtib cucu. Agus nir leged d'Fercus fuirech 'g a faircsin gan gluasacht reme a n-degaid fer n-Erenn tar in ath. Rancutar fir Erenn tar bel an átha, agus is bec ar ar luaithi iad ina in Gamunrad do leith eli. Tucsat leth ar leth gair mor maidmech d'aroli timchell in atha, or do batar fir Erenn oc maidim techta d'a n-aindeoin uathasum, agus do batar-sum ag maidhim ar marbsat d'feruib Erenn. Do airmetar fir Erenn a sluag agus a socraidi and sin, agus ni rainic acht secht catha do na curadhaib leu tar Ath Lecon is in lo sin a cend crichi Bres ris in m-broscur sin. Agus nir gluais deridh a laech do'n laithir sin, an uair do gabutar in Gamanrad an greim cetna do na curadhaib re h-aithmela a techta tar bernaib baegail o m-buidnib.

[220] Agus ro gabastar Meadb mesnech anbail uirthe o t'conairc rian conni reide oc na rigib. Agus do gab ag conngbail derid ar na deg-feraib. Do gabatar an Gamunrad ac tennad na tora go talchur do rochtain Meadba d'a mughucudh. Agus ni dechaid sin ar metacht na ar midlachas do Meidb, acht do congaib lorg go setrech ar na sluagaib no gor cuiretar-san feidm anbail uirthi, co nach fuair d'aitim 481 no d'uaicnes o na h-ogaibh fedh a fuail do tabairt do tairisim, no gur guidestar Meadb maithi fer n-Erenn fa anumain aici no co tucais a fual. Agus tucatar maithi fer n-Erenn a n-aighti orthasan agus do fostatar tre cleth catha iad. Agus do toirling Medb gan furech ann sin; agus dorad a fual go fercach foregnech gur uó leca lomma lan-redi an laithir, agus gor dibraic a fer agus a tuind do'n talmain gach conair dar cuartaig, gor uó Lecan ainm an feraind agus in inaid d'a ési. Agus do chuaidh si i n-a carpat go h-athlamh ann sin, agus do indsaigh go sonairt a mesc na miled, agus do cuir illorc go cobsaidh in a h-inadh.

[221] Do gluaisetar fir Erenn gan fuirech and sin, agus do  98gabutar an Gamanrad go dicrai i n-a n-degaid. Rucastar Domnall Dualbuide ortha and sin. Agus do gabastar faitches  p.210 mór maithi fer n-Erenn ac a faircsin, uair do iadatar an Gamannrad uile uime ar na fagbail i n-inaid imshlaidi agus imbuailti doibh. Agus mar do conncatar fir Erenn Domnall ac dluthugadh na deabtha, ro batar uile ag aithfir imaitbir ar Fergus fá'n comrac do rinne roime ris. Agus o d'cuala Fergus na fuigli sin ro gabh naire mór h-e fa gan Domnall do dingbadh do na deig-feraib, agus do guidh Fergus in Dubloinges go dícra imchalma do denam do dingbadh Domnaill. Agus ro cenglatar uili en comarle i n-a agaid, agus do badar ar ti atha 482 d'fagbail air. Do luathaig Domnall in deabaid ac dol tar Ath na Feinned, agus do leic Fergus 'n a coinne sin h-e. Agus do feradar comloind re 'roile ar ur an Atha, co nach ruc aon duine d'feraib Erenn ar a n-edrain no go rabadar ag tuargain sciath a ceile san comrac. Agus do indsaig teglach Domnaill agus teglach Fergusa d'foiridhin a triath agus a tigerna. Agus do dinginadar na teglaigh sin fein a ceile sin comruc no go n-drochair cach dib comthoitim is in cath-irgal. Do gab Fergus agus Domnall ag furrach a ceile sa comloind a fiadnaise fer n-Erenn, co nar cuimgedar a charaid fedhm no fóiridhin le fer dib, go n-drochair Domnall do beimmenaib fortamla Fergusa. Agus ni mo ana do cum láir rainig an milidh an uair do b'eigin d'Fergus agus d' feraib Erenn a fhagbail gan fhadbadh483 is in inad ar thuit.

[222] Agus do gluaisedar ar lorg na tana d'a toraigecht, agus ni uaradar an sluag riam roime eigen bud aidble ana in t-eigen fuaradar o'n tóraidh a traigh Ruis airgid uaithib. Agus gid eadh do fuilngetar gach echt agus gech esbaid do fuarutar no go tainic ur-dhubadh na h-oidchi d' a n-innsoige. Agus do gabsat longport a tuaiscert crichi Corainn go h-anbuainech an adaig sin, cor egen doib an Mael Flidaise do cengal do coirthi cloichi, gurab Tulach na Maili ainm na tulcha sin o soin ille. Do batar an Gamunrad 'n a timcell go tainic la  p.212 con a lan soillsi ar na sluagaib, gur uó comcumusc catha d'a  99curadaib ar techt an laei con a lán soillsi, gor bo suaill nar 484 bo reim madhma d'a mor-sluagaib is in maighin sin, co nach rainic leo an Mael do taifnech do'n cairthi d'ar cenglad h-i.

[223] Agus tuc Muireadach Mend mac Oilella aircis ar tossach na tren-sluag, gu fuair boegal ar Flidais con a banntracht and. Agus tocbais les h-i gan fuirech. Agus do leg na sluaigh seocha no co rainic go lar longpuirt fer n-Erenn no go fuair an Mael Flidaise a cengal do'n chairthi. Agus scaeiles gan fuirech di. Agus do cuir fesa d'innsoige na Gamunraidi d'a scur do'n scaindir agus d'a toirmesc do'n toruigecht. Agus da indis doib amail fuair Flidais agus in Mael Flidaise con a tanaidh. Do anadar an Gamunrad d'a n-oirlech ann sin, agus do toirnetar do'n tograim. Agus do imgidetar maithi fer n-Erenn agus Medb go Cruachain.

[224] Do impo Muiredach Mend agus maithi na Gamunraidi agus Flidais con a bandtracht agus gon a bo-taintib siar rompo a fritheing na conaire cetna, no go rancatar go h-airm a n-dorchar Domnall Dualbuidi. Is amlaid fuaratar é agus drem d'a tairisib agus d'a fhir-muinntir 'n a fochair 'g a imcoimet. Agus do gabutar longport in a uir-timcell uili an adhaig sin. Agus do claeidhedar fert fodbaidh os a cinn go moch ar na maruch. Agus do rindi Muiredach Mend marbna do co n-dubairt:—

  1. Truag toisc Domnaill Dualbuide
    O Dun Tuaithi gan treisi;
    As i a toraidhécht ar tain
    Darat a dail gan desi.
  2. Nir dligh Domnall dánugud,
    Ar Dubloinges mor Medba;
    A thoitim as garb an gnim,
    Is meste a dil a n-derna.
  3. Nir an rinn Triath trén Irruis,
    Go tucmaeis les la baga;
    Mairc righ nar an re a fhedhnaibh,
    Re n-dol a n-debaid dana.
  4.  p.214
  5. T{} de Ailill re a athair,
    Ar na eguib tarfas {}
    Go fuigbed bas {}
    Gan tlas re h-occaibh.
  6. Oilill Find fer Flidaise,
    Ge fuair bas tre reim n-uaban,
    Mo ar s indsa Domnall do dith,
    Tre fich ocus tre uabar;
  7. Mairc da tarla in turas sin,
    Da n-dorchar milid muaidi;
    A beth gan anmain sin ar,
    Nocha n-e an tain gan truaighe.
    Truag.

[225] Mar tairnic doib fert an cathmilidh do claeide agus a  100cairthe {} do tocbail, do gluaisiter rompa co h-athlam ann sein co rangatar co h-Ath Leacan is in lo sin. Ro gabsat longport go h-ath-scith ann sin. Agus tancutar tar an echtuib agus tar an esbadaib, agus tar sgelaib na tana agus na toraigechta, conad air do raid an fili na roinn-si 485:—

  1. Sunn tucad an debaid donn,
    Ro ba glonn os grenuic grinn;
    Ro ba ger grinn gibhis gann,
    Im tain bo flann Flidaise finn.
  2. Maith an Mael, fa mor a bann,
    Ba lor a lann os gach linn;
    Biatadh caoga mac madh n-glond,
    La tri cet laech lond dia linn.
  3. Ar tri do rannsat an sluagh;
    Sgaeilsit im an m-buar na mal;
    Trian im Laignib con a li;
    Trian Ulad do bi re h-agh.
  4. Trian im Connachtaib ar sin,
    Do bo trom ar tuil na fir;
    Ge do luaidhetar luadh fer
    Fuarutar sluagh mer ag muir.
  5.  p.216
  6. Tarlaic an m-bo h-i forlar;
    Do tuit mor mal im an m-buar;
    Tarcatar di cuma tri;
    Nir erigh si fa an sluagh.
  7. Ann sin tainic Fergus fein,
    Dregan nem bras fa mor aibh;
    Do orrderc tes agus thuaith,
    Ro ses mar do buail an Maeil.
  8. Buailes Fergus an m-boin maeil,
    Cuma tri a fiadnaise in t-sluaigh,
    Gur clos a geminn sa geis,
    An er, tes, ocus thuaidh.
  9. Rigtech conglann is lam tren,
    Ro ba ger an forland fial;
    Cerbsat colna fa cra ruad
    Do'n t-sluagh tar abuinn a n-iar.
  10. Da rith cu Domnaill do a dun,
    Go caoga con dur 'n a diaid;
    Brisis carbat ran in righ;
    Marbais a ara fir fial.
  11. Gonais Fergas an soidh seing,
    Do'n ga grinn do luid tre cenn;
    Ar in achad os in glinn,
    Marbais eich Mic Róaigh ann.
  12. Ann sin tanic Domnall drol,
    Ocus ba forlonn an rail;
    Tucsat-san ar aein nert sin,
    Cet urcar a n-oeinfhecht air.
  13. Dobert Fergus oll-glonn úais
    Re Domnall n-glonnmar n-gris;
    Coiscet na sluaigh gan bres beim as;
    Tabraim gan tlas tres 'n ar n-dis.
  14. Do cumruicsitar ar in rai,
    Ar ba cumnart a n-gal n-gai;
    Ingnad gan fuil ar a clí,
    Ni frit guin ar cechtar n-aei.
  15. Amar do rubadh go trom,
    Agus do tubadh go tenn,
    Agus do budh luath, dar linn,
    Is in glinn a Cruaich na Cenn.
  16.  p.218
  17. Do rith Meran tres in cath,
    Tanic sruthán tre n-a cruth;
    Do cluith cléth caeil, garb in crith,
    Do marb Leghan ar in sruth.
  18. Dorochair Bóinni do beinn,
    Agus nochar foil a gluinn;
    Ar slis sleibi fidaig Finn
    Taet do laim mic Liluich luinn.
  19. Do luaidset luag n-agha n-aill,
    Os {}l ara luind;
    Gabsat longport n-glan oll
    Is in glinn os Aruind uill.
  20.  101Gabsat longport ar n-a fios,
    Ar in slis os tonn-port des;
    Cuirsit slogh ba fuigiull fis
    Re slis Locha Cuilidh cais.
  21. Robsat echtach na tuir triuin,
    Robsat crechtach uir an uaigh;
    B'uathmar an gnim do Mac Roich,
    Ba coir, ba cruthmar, ba cruaidh.
  22. {}
    {}
    Ar aen mag fa rit ar aen,
    Bedh 'n a aenar d'eis an t-sluaigh.
  23. Lotar ar n-elod ar n-dail,
    Rob imerghe gle mór gluair;
    Do lotar tre gredun n-gaid,
    Tar Ath Lecon, tar an Muaidh.
  24. Secht catha lin an t-sloigh ann,
    Im Fergus mac Roich ruscum;
    Doradsat debaid nar gann,
    Do na feraib nar fhann sund.
    Sunn.

[226] Do rigsat an Gamunrad Muiretuch mend an inad a athar ann sin. Agus aderaid aroili eolaigh go raibi Flidais re h-athaid aicci ann sin, co n-dechaid a Loch Letrech fa diamhair di cleth, agus an Mael Flidaise léi. Agus ni fesa riam ó sin ale. Gurub h-i Táin bo Flidaise con a Toruighecht go ruici sin. Finit. Amen.

Document details

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Title statement

Title (uniform): The Glenmasan Manuscript

Editor: Donald Mackinnon

Responsibility statement

Electronic edition compiled by: Ruth Murphy

Funded by: The HEA via the LDT Project and PRTLI4

Edition statement

1. First draft, revised and corrected.

Extent: 56,000 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: 2009

Distributor: CELT online at University College, Cork, Ireland.

CELT document ID: G800012

Availability: Available with prior consent of the CELT programme for purposes of academic research and teaching only.

Source description

Manuscript source

  • Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, MS 72.2.3. (olim Advocates Library, MS. 53, Scottish Collection), 15th century, vellum, 27 leaves, of whom 25 folios are fully written upon, in 101 consecutively numbered columns; the outer two leaves cover the MS. (For details see Donald Mackinnon, A Descriptive Catalogue of Gaelic Manuscripts in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Scotland (Edinburgh 1912) 158–62.)

Editions and Translations of the materials in the Glenmasan MS

  1. Donald Smith, a translation of one page of Deirdre's Farewell to Scotland, from p. 3. col. 1, starting: 'Inmain tir an tir ud thoir' into English, Report of the Highland Society of Scotland, appointed to inquire into the nature and authenticity of the poems of Ossian. Drawn up, according to the directions of the comittee, by Henry Mackenzie, Esq., its convener or chairman. With a copious appendix, containing some of the principal documents on which the report is founded. (Edinburgh 1805) Appendix 298 (Gaelic version), 299 (English translation).
  2. Theophilus O'Flanagan, Deirdri, or, the Lamentable Fate of the Sons of Usnach, an ancient dramatic Irish tale, one of the three tragic stories of Erin; literally translated into English, from an original Gaelic manuscript, with notes and observations: to which is annexed the old historic facts on which the story is founded, Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Dublin 1 (Dublin 1808).
  3. Eugene O'Curry, The 'Tri Thruaighe na Scéalaigheachta' (i.e. the 'Three Most Sorrowful Tales') of Erinn; 'The Exile of the Children of Uisneach' [edited from the 'Yellow Book of Lecan' col. 749-53 in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin], Atlantis 3 (1862) 377–422.
  4. William Mackay, Legends of Glen-Urquhart (Sgeulachdan Ghlinn-Urchudainn), Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness 1 (1871–72) 43–53: 47–48.
  5. John Francis Campbell (ed.), Leabhar na Féinne: Heroic Gaelic ballads collected in Scotland chiefly from 1512 to 1871, copied from old manuscripts preserved at Edinburgh and elsewhere, and from rare books, and orally collected since 1859 [...] (London 1872).
  6. Whitley Stokes, The Death of the Sons of Uisneach, Irische Texte 2 (Leipzig 1887) 109–84 [Text of Oided mac nUisnig from the Glen Masáin MSS. Edinburgh, NLS, with introduction, English translation, and notes. Corrigenda in 3, 283].
  7. Alexander Cameron, Deirdre and the Sons of Uisneach [ed. from Edinburgh MS. 56 with transl. and notes; also text of the Glenmasan MS.], Reliquiae Celticae 2 (1894) 421–74.
  8. Ernst Windisch, Táin Bó Flidais, Irische Texte: Zweite Serie Lepizig 1887, 206–23 [LL, Eg. 1782 and LU] 255 [glosses from H 3.18].
  9. Dugald Mitchell (ed.), The Book of Highland Verse: An (English) Anthology Consisting of (a) Translations from Gaelic, (b) English verse relating to the Highlands, (London 1912). [The Lay of Deirdre in the Glenmasan MS. Translation by W.F. Skene] 22–23.

Further reading

  1. Robert Angus Smith, Loch Etive and the Sons of Uisnach (London 1879; new edition London 1885).
  2. Thomas Bailey Saunders, The Life and Letters of James Macpherson (London/New York 1894, repr. 1969, 2005).
  3. Tom Peete P. Cross, 'The Celtic Elements in the Lays of "Lanval" and "Graelent", Modern Philology 12/10 (April 1915) 585–644.
  4. Rudolf Thurneysen, Die irische Helden- und Königsage bis zum siebzehnten Jahrhundert, (Halle/Saale 1921) 327ff., 334ff.
  5. Eamon M. Greenwood, Characterisation and narrative intent in the Book of Leinster version of Táin bó Cúailnge, Medieval Insular Literature Between the Oral and the Written; II: Continuity of Transmission, ed. Hildegard L. C. Tristram, ScriptOralia 97 (Tübingen: Narr 1997).
  6. Peter Robinson, 'Oidhead Chloinne hUisneach (The Violent Death of the Children of Uisneach)', Medium Aevum 67, 1998.
  7. Mary Brockington, 'Discovery in the Morrois: Antecedents and Analogues', The Modern Language Review 93/1 (Jan. 1998) 1–15.

The edition used in the digital edition

‘The Glenmasan Manuscript’ (1908). In: The Celtic Review‍. Ed. by Professor Mackinnon (consulting) and Miss E. C. Carmichael (acting). Vol. 1: 3–16; 104–130; 208–228; 296–314. Vol.2: 20–32; 100–120; 202–222; 300–312. Vol. 3: 10–24; 114–136; 198–214; 294–316. Vol. 4: 10–26; 104–120; 202–218.

You can add this reference to your bibliographic database by copying or downloading the following:

@article{G800012,
  editor 	 = {Donald Mackinnon},
  title 	 = {The Glenmasan Manuscript},
  journal 	 = {The Celtic Review},
  editor 	 = {Professor Mackinnon (consulting) and Miss E. C. Carmichael (acting)},
  address 	 = {Edinburgh},
  publisher 	 = {Norman Macleod},
  date 	 = {1904},
  date 	 = {1905},
  date 	 = {1906},
  date 	 = {1907},
  date 	 = {1908},
  note 	 = {Vol. 1: 3–16; 104–130; 208–228; 296–314. Vol.2: 20–32; 100–120; 202–222; 300–312. Vol. 3: 10–24; 114–136; 198–214; 294–316. Vol. 4: 10–26; 104–120; 202–218}
}

 G800012.bib

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Creation: c. 1490-1500

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  • The text is in Middle Irish. (ga)
  • Some words are in Latin. (la)
  • English appears in the notes. (en)

Keywords: saga; prose; poetry; medieval; Ulster Cycle; rémscél; Sons of Uisnech; Oided mac nUisnig; The cause of the exile of Fergus mac Roig; Fochonn loingse Fergusa maic Roig; Táin Bó Flidais; Toraigecht Tána Bó Flidaise; The pursuit of Fliadais's cows

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(Most recent first)

  1. 2009-11-12: File modified; some more encoding added; bibliographic details finished; footnotes proofed. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
  2. 2009-11-03: Header created; file parsed; new wordcount made. (ed. Beatrix Färber)
  3. 2008-08-06: File proof-read (2); encoding added (including footnotes) and modified in line with CELT practice; bibliographic detail researched. (ed. Ruth Murphy)
  4. 2006-06: File proof-read (1). (ed. Hilary Lavelle)
  5. 2005-05-26: Text scanned. (data capture Data Capture Company)

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T800012: The Glenmasan Manuscript (in English Translation)

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  1. et, “and”. The Latin word, not infrequent in several Gaelic Mss., is somewhat rare in this. It is found only at the beginning of a sentence. 🢀

  2. maithi and maithe, now maithean, from maith, “good”. Used in this MS. usually with the meaning, as now, of “nobles”, but also as “worthies”. Bricne, e.g., is accompanied by maithi🢀

  3. The usual spelling is the more correct inssaige. But d and g, as well as dh and gh, frequently interchange. The word is used most frequently, as now, as a nominal preposition governing the gen., and meaning “to”, “towards”. The verb innsaigim “I attack” is also used. So the living idiom, thug e ionnsaidh air, “he attacked him.” When used as prep., innsaige is hardly ever declined. As a verbal noun the word is declined: da innsaige, “to him”, but da innsaigid, “to attack him”. 🢀

  4. MS ⁊. Here extended agus in preference to the older ocus🢀

  5. Airfideadh, oirfideadh, is frequently used by Alexander Macdonald. 🢀

  6. In Scottish Gaelic (S.G.) the oblique case, ealdhain, ealain, has become the nom. The present meaning is “skill”, “handiness”, with a suggestion of the artistic sense, as in the phrase ceaird is ealain. Ewen M'Lachlan has ealaidh ghaoil, “a love ditty”, a reminiscence of the old meaning. 🢀

  7. MS. very indistinct. n=genealach should be the correct reading. Cf. goibneasa for coibnesa in the following phrase, due to influence of n from the gen. pl. of the preceding word. 🢀

  8. mic: O.G. maic, later meic, now mic. The word appears usually contracted mc-. But the gen. sing. and nom. pl. are occaionally written in full as meic, mic🢀

  9. Lit. “consume”. Cf. modern idioms: caitheadh na cloiche, “putting the stone”; caitheadh a chodach, “wasting his means”; caitheamh and tinneas-c. “consumption”. 🢀

  10. .i.: the script for Old Gaelic (O.G.) idon, Modern Gaelic (Mod. G.) eadhon: “to wit”, “namely”, “i.e.” It is doubtful how the writer of the MS. would extend the mark, not improbably in the modern form. Dr. Cameron (A.C.) writes idon. Being invariably used, the mark is left here unextended. 🢀

  11. The verb is desaigim, modern deasaich, “prepare”, “make ready”, in dialect “bake” from deas, “ready”, etc. 🢀

  12. MS. ag. But see afaig written out in full, supra. 🢀

  13. ed: the 3rd pers. pron. neut. sing., Mod. G. eadh, still used in idiom differently from è: An Romanach thu? Seadh. “Are you a Roman? Yes.” Cha'n eadh. “No.” An e Romanach a tha annad? 'Sè. “Are you a Roman? Yes.” Cha'n è. “No”. 🢀

  14. as, the relative form: is and as are frequently confused in the MS. In Mod. G. as had unfortunately been disused, having been replaced by is, and recently by the still more objectionable form a's🢀

  15. bar: oldest form ol; later ar, or, for. In this MS. ol occurs one or twice, but the common forms are ar, bar, bhar, uar=“inquit,” “says”. Here translated, to suit the context, “said”. The frequent use of ar se, “says he”, accounts for the modern form arsa (in dialect osa). 🢀

  16. sib pfen for sibh fein: the clash of bh and f has produced the p. In S.G. the sound is siu péin, occasionally si pé🢀

  17. fegmais, egmais. Two words of different origin by kindred meaning are egmais and ingnais; in S.G. eugmhais and aonàis or iunais. In the MS. both are construed with the prep. in, an, “in”. In S.G. both are usually construed with as, “I cannot do without it.” In this passage, instead of sayig the “the three lights of valour,” etc., are in ar bfegmais-ne, I should write, “we are as eugmhais 'the three lights of valour'.” 🢀

  18. maca for meic or mic, the correct pl. form 🢀

  19. Naisi (in S.G. Naoise), the prevailing form in nom. case. Used here in extending contractions. 🢀

  20. adhbar, aobhar, “cause”, still used in S.G. in the same meaning as here, “making”, “material”: aobhar brigis e.g. is the quantity of cloth needed to make a pair of trousers. 🢀

  21. treab ar leth Alpan: W.S. translates “a district and a half of Scotland.” But “district and a half” would in G. idiom be treab co leith, now treabh gu leth. Treabh is disued in the sense of “holding” or “possession”, but survives in treabhadh, “ploughing”, treabhair, “houses”. The phrase clearly means “a possession on the 'side; or 'slope' of Scotland.” 🢀

  22. coigcrichi: “border district,” whence S.G. coigreach, “stranger”, “one from a border district”. 🢀

  23. niaachas for niathas, an abstract from nia, “hero”; niata, “bold”, “heoric”. Cf. brāch for bràth. Erin go bràch, “Ireland for ever”. 🢀

  24. freitighib, here used in the sense of geis or geas, “a prohibition”, “tabu”. In S.G. frith means “incantation”, “augury”. Cf. M'Alpine's Dict.; Carmina Gadelica, ii. 158, 281; Norse, frett; Scotch, freit. “freitighib, dat. pl. of fritech=freth-dech” (W.S.). 🢀

  25. In old lore Cuchulainn, Conall Cernach, and Naisi were cousins, the sons of three sisters who were the daughters of Cathbad, Conchobar's famous Druid, and by the oldest accounts that monarch's father. 🢀

  26. MS. very indistinct. Stokes (W.S.) reads ni, A.C. mar🢀

  27. oiged, in O.G. aided, in later MSS. oidheadh, oigheadh, “death by violence.” 🢀

  28. comha, pl. comhada, comtha: “bribes,” “gifts”, “terms”, “conditions”. S.G. cumha, pl. cumhachan🢀

  29. cruinne, “the round”, “the globe”. Later, frequently cruinee-cé🢀

  30. In Mod. G. as also in this MS. mothaicheam-sa, “I perceive”. 🢀

  31. fiarfaigim, fiafraigim a living form in Kintyre. S.G. feòraich. O.G. iarfaigim🢀

  32. Fergus's reply is ambiguous. Strictly construed, the sentence means: “I do not promise to take your blood”. MS. ii., quoted by W.S. removes the ambiguity: gelluimsi gan dol fád fhuilsi, “I promise not to attack your blood (or life).” 🢀

  33. mar as taosga: taosg, noun and verb, now means “quantity of liquid”, “pour out”, etc. The idiomatic use here exemplified is unknown to me. 🢀

  34. lán. W.S. reads shlán, and translates, “his other warranty went to the worthies of the province all along with him in those warranties.” The exact force of the phrase is doubtful. 🢀

  35. MS. ag. Rugatar (occas. tugadar) as an adaig sin. W.S. translates “they bore away that night.” The phrase is of frequent occurrence in the MS., and is usually followed, as immediately below, by such a sentence as: Agus do eirigh F. co moch ar na marach. The meaning must be, “that night passed.” It is so translated there, varied, according to the context, by “they 'passed' or 'rested' that night.” 🢀

  36. aigill: adgladur, “I address one.” The verbal noun accaldam survives in S.G. agallamh: cf. Wm. Ross, 'G éisdeachd agallaidh do bheòil🢀

  37. agus: this idiomatic use is not uncommon still. Cf. note on is, p. 110. 🢀

  38. bedh. Notwithstanding the aspiration of d the word is béd now beud, “hurt, harm”. Cf. beud no baoghal, Gaelic Society of Inverness (G.S.I.) Transactions, xiii. 251. 🢀

  39. Illann the Fair and Buinne Rude-Red. So W.S. Buinne, “a drop”, “current”, is frequent in the popular tales in the sense of handsome young man or maid. Also buinne-fala with same meaning. 🢀

  40. iùbhrach, “yew-wood”, was evidently in use in the sense of “barge”, “yacht”, for which the S.G. term now is birlinn, a loan from the Norse. In the Tale of the Hero of the Red Shield the name of the boat was An iùbhrach bhallach, “the speckled barge” (Campbell's Tales, ii. p. 456). The word is used with the same meaning by several modern authors. Was yew a favourite wood in old times with boat-builders? 🢀

  41. MS. finbogha for fianbotha, “hunting-booths”. 🢀

  42. Derdri and Deirdri frequently stand for accus. as well as nom. case. But the old. gen. Derdrenn, accus. and dat. Derdrinn, appear one or twice. 🢀

  43. fithchell: a game of the nature of draughts or chess. The board on which it was played was fithchell: the “men” collectively were foirenn, fairenn, “group”, “crew”, and individually fear, fir, “man”, “men”. Draught-boards, like weapons, had distinctive names. Conchobar's “board” which the exiles of Uisnech had appropriated, was called cenncaom “fair head”, “dear head”. 🢀

  44. It is interesting to note thus early the recognition of a difference in dialect between Ulster and Argyllshire. 🢀

  45. glaodh, also glaedh, now masc. is here a fem. noun. 🢀

  46. breth, “judgment”, the word is current use for “interpretation” of dreams. 🢀

  47. teora, the old fem., is common throughout the MS., although tri oidchi “three nights”, is also found. Teora póga became a sterotyped phrase with reciters after the meaning of teora was forgotten. Cf. na tri tiura phòg (G.S.I., xiii. 248). 🢀

  48. S.G. gu sonraichte🢀

  49. inndula: ion, “fit”, “meet”, and dol, “going”: “not a fortunate journey for you (to go) thither.” 🢀

  50. The reply of this first exile of Erin is characteristic. Cf. the saying attributed to Columcille:—Ferr ecc ind Eirind cen ail; Ina sir betha ind Alpuin. Better death in spotless Erin; Than perpetual life in Alba.—(Vita Columbæ, ed. Reeves, pp. 266-7). 🢀

  51. iát, now iadh, “surround”, “unite”. 🢀

  52. acht, “but”. In S.G. frequently, as here, meaning “provided that”, “if only”. 🢀

  53. MS. ag 🢀

  54. deasaigim, “make ready”, v. p. 13 🢀

  55. fada “long”, “far”, here and elsewhere used metaphorically “sad”, “sorry”. 🢀

  56. cuan. In S.G. the word now means “high sea”, “ocean”. But as late as Carsewell's day at least, the old meaning of “bay”, “haven”, was retained, a fact overlooked by Carsewell's editor and translator: do chuim chuain agus chaluidh, “to haven and harbour” (Carsewell's Liturgy, p. 241), the same combination as here. 🢀

  57. is, O.G. os, is used frequntly as the equivalent of agus “and”; and probably the mark ⁊ ought to be sometimes extended by is rather than by agus. The two words are used somewhat differently in S.G.—is expresses pure sequence: fear is bean, “vir feminaque”, “man and woman”; but fear agus bean, “a man and a woman also”. Further, is frequently conveys the idea of “seeing that”, “inasmuch as”: Tha mi sgith, 's mi leam fhìn, “I am weary, being alone”. This construction has passed into Scotch: Leig leam 's gun mi gu maith, “Let me alane, and me nae weel.” For similar construction in O.G. v. Strachan in Gaelic Journal, xiv. 444, s.v. os. 🢀

  58. sieng, now sithionn, “venison”. Elsewhere in MS. written sideng🢀

  59. inber, now inbhear. In S.G. masc. and fem. of old neut.: “delta at river mouth”, usually verdant. Mungach (cf. muing, “mane”) now disused, and replaced by molach, “shaggy”, “grassy”. 🢀

  60. buaile greine: an obscure phrase. W.S. renders “cattlefold of the sun”. In Gaelic rural economy buaile was an enclosed place, and, at milking-time, the scene of joyous activity. So the metaphor might be apt. In local phrase tha buaile mu'n ghréin means “there is a ring round the sun”. 🢀

  61. If Glenn Urchain is Glenorchy, the description of “straight” and “gentle ridge” is singularly apt. 🢀

  62. mo chen, now mo chion, cf. Mo chion air an ainnir, “my darling, the maid”. dual, “right” by blood or inheritance, as here, connects with dù, dùthaich, dùthchas. A different word dual means “lock of hair”, “strand of rope”. 🢀

  63. Beann of old, as here, “precipice”, now in S.G. beinn, “high hill”, “mountain”. 🢀

  64. The topography of this fervent lay, thought not fully identified in detail, shows that the author was familiar with the west of Argyllshire, from Loch Etive to Cowall, and fully appreciated the beauties of the landscape. 🢀

  65. as a h-aithle sin, now disused in S.G. and replaced by 'na dheigh sin🢀

  66. rothnuall. MS. lvi. adds o bhonn gu bathais. LL. 76. b. 20 has do ringni rothnuall corcra o mullach co talmain. The precise meaning of rothnuall is unknown, but the import of the sentence is manifest: “F. blushed red all over”. 🢀

  67. cennach. Cf. the S.G. phrase: Is ceannach air an ubh an glog, “the cluck is fair value for the egg”. 🢀

  68. Cf. the S.G. phrase: 's e luathas fheabhas. “the sooner the better”. 🢀

  69. An Irish variant gives Rachlainn, “Raithlin”, for Inis Cuilenn, an island not otherwise identified. 🢀

  70. mir seems in both lines to be the same word, the acc. and gen. of mear, “merry” “wanton”, “excited”. 🢀

  71. mir seems in both lines to be the same word, the acc. and gen. of mear, “merry” “wanton”, “excited”. 🢀

  72. acher, from L. acer, disused in S.G. 🢀

  73. pudhar, from L. pudor, “shame”. Also pudhar, from English “power”. 🢀

  74. tiugh, “end”, “last”, disused in S.G. 🢀

  75. So MS. W.S. suggests naroncungenair, and translates, “that we be not slain together”. 🢀

  76. laid, “lay”. The word is usually contracted in MS. When written in full it is commonly laid in nom., occasionally laeidh. In S.G. the word is spelled laoidh, and is now restricted in meaning to “hymn”. The Scottish “Paraphrases” are Gaelicised laoidhean🢀

  77. feta. Cf. Duan Albannach (Chron. of Picts and Scots, p. 57—Ed. Skene), where the word is rendered “well-skilled”. A eolcha Alban uile, A shluagh feuta folt bhuidhe. O all ye learned of Alba, Ye well-skilled host of yellow hair. 🢀

  78. leig uait: lit. “let from you”, i.e. in angry speech, “rail at”, “vent your wrath upon”. 🢀

  79. moir tir and tir-mor, compunds framed when tìr was still neuter, and meaning, to an islander, “mainland”; to a mainlander, “continent”. 🢀

  80. uille, superl. of oll, “great”; disused in S.G. 🢀

  81. In MS. the first r extended re is clear; the second, extended raiter, looks more like .i. than r. But the meaning is clear, and the forms r. r. for re raiter, res a raiter occur later. 🢀

  82. nell, modern neul, is evidently used metaphorically. Cf. such phrases as neul a' bhàis, “the hue of death”; neul na brice, “traces of smallpox”. Was it from such a lay as this that Macpherson got the suggestion for his thickly inhabited cloud-land? 🢀

  83. ua. In S.G. ogha, “grandchild”, “descendant”; in Irish surnames, O'. So Carsewell wrote Ua n-Duibhne, “O'Duibhne”, as the Gaelic surname of the Earl of Argyll (Liturgy, p. 24). The patrynomic of the head of the family is Mac-Cailein🢀

  84. luath. W.S. reads buan, “enduring”. 🢀

  85. MS. lvi. has ramhach, and possibly the word means “of many oars”. 🢀

  86. athgairit, now athghoirid, still used in the same sense. Ghabh iad an athghoirid, “they took the short cut”. 🢀

  87. ar ti, “on the line of”, “intends to”; feille now foille, gen. of feall, “deceit”; fingal “the slaying of a near relation”, disused in S.G. 🢀

  88. Craobruad, gen. craobruaide, dat. craobruaid, usually translated “Red branch”. But the formation is not craobh subst. + ruadh adj. qualifying. Craob is the qualifying epithet, and ruad is a fem. subst. Whatever the meaning, the house of Craobruad was one of the three great houses of Emain, the other two being Teité Brec and Craeb Derg (O'Curry, Mann. and Cust. ii. 10). 🢀

  89. cath, (1) fight, battle; (2) battalion. Used here in latter sense. 🢀

  90. frais-imirt. I take fras here to be intensive, as in fras-shileadh, etc.: “playing diligently, intently”. 🢀

  91. Levercham is spoken of as Conchobar's old nurse. In the LL. and MS. lvi. versions of this tale, she is associated with the tutor and nurse in rearing Deirdre, the reason assigned in LL. being “that she could not be gainsaid, for she was a ban-chainte or woman satirist” (Windisch, Irische Texte mit Wörterbuch, pp. 71, 411). 🢀

  92. The context shows that the meaning of the clause must be, “She gave kisses {} to the sons of Uisnech and Deirdre”, and that the text ought to run, do toirbir póca do macaib Uisnig agus do Derdrinn🢀

  93. i.e. Deirdre. 🢀

  94. mi-coingeall. In S.G., coingheall means “loan”. In the Islay charter, Macdonald gives lands to Mackay, air chunnrag agas air chonghioll that the latter and his heirs should give Macdonald and his heirs four fat cows yearly or forty-two marks in lieu thereof. In this passage the word means “obligation”. Hence we may take mi-coingeall to mean, as W.S. suggested, “breach of trust”. 🢀

  95. In S.G. iorghuilleach🢀

  96. los: used with various shades of meaning of which this is one, e.g. air a los, “on his or its account”. The more common meaning is “purpose”: tha e los falbh, “he purposes going”. One hears also such idioms as: los nach geill iad, “so that they yield not”; dol a los a' chruidh, “going to seek the cows”; bidh e dol air mo los, “I shall lose by it”; fhuair iad an lost, “they got their fill”. Los, “tail, end, point”, is not, so far as known to me, in use in S.G. 🢀

  97. fuinneog, now uinneag, from Norse vindauga. Senister, from Latin fenestra, was also in use. No native word for “window” has been preserved, if ever there was one. Did not the Gael have windows until after the time when they began to borrow words from Latin? 🢀

  98. imáin, now iomain, “driving”: used in Scotland specially for driving the ball in the game of shinty, the ball being ball-iomanach, the stick caman, and a goal leth-bhàir, two goals make a bàir🢀

  99. aigidect: an obscure word which W.S. suggested may connect with Latin acetum🢀

  100. ar cul, now air chùl. Chuir mi air chùl e, “I cast it behind me”. C's jealousy disappeared but for a very short time. 🢀

  101. Trén-dorn, “mighty fist”. W.S. reads dol and as Doland, a proper name, which may be the correct reading. 🢀

  102. durinn: read duirn🢀

  103. conair, “way”, perhaps in mistake for coir, “right”, “just”, “safe”. 🢀

  104. cend-luaithi, “head-quickest”, i.e. “wide-awake”, “alert”. 🢀

  105. bruidigh. The common word in S.G. for “nudge” is bruid, bruideadh🢀

  106. gonta, in S.G. gointe, “sorely wounded”, “pursued by fairies” or “furies”. Here “killed” in the play, therefore a “dead man” of the “draught men”. 🢀

  107. urmaisnech, in S.G. eirmseach, “well-aimed”. 🢀

  108. imlaéid, in S.G. iomlaid, “exchange”, the exchange in this case consisting in the fer gonta taking the place of the eye, and the eye being protruded on Mighty-fist's cheek. Is áinignech an and ignech from inga “nail”? ìneach and ìneachail are met with in S.G. 🢀

  109. cubas, S.G. cogais🢀

  110. tri caogait: fifty is, except in two or three instances, represented by .l. When written in full, the nominative is caoga, caega, caocha. In S.G. the word survives in the oblique form caogad, the survival being due probably to the term having been used on the title-page of the first Gaelic Psalm Book printed—an ceud chaogad do Shalmaibh Dhaibhidh, “the first fifty of the Psalms of David.” The little volume, printed in 1659, is now very rare, and is still known by the name An Caogad🢀

  111. breisim. In S.G. braiseam denotes a violent outburst of passion. W.S. takes bratha to have the force of an intensive, qualifying breisim🢀

  112. Tricha, “thirty”, as well as cethorcha, “forty”, sesca, “sixty”, etc., are all, caogad alone excepted, unknown in S.G. now. In the Barra version tricha cet is transformed into drochaid, “bridge” (G.S.I., xiii. 254). 🢀

  113. cogar, in S.G. cagar, “whisper”. Buinne was to enjoy the “whisper of the throne”. 🢀

  114. MS. is un or im. W.S. reads unde, which makes the meaning clear. A.C. reads imorro which may be correct, although the sentence is made clumsy thereby. The meaning is that the tricha cet gifted to Buinne was, through God's miracle, as MS. lvi. has it, converted into a sliab that night, and that its name is in consequence Sliab Dal m-Buinne, i.e. the Sliabh or “moorland” of Buinne's Dal or “division”. 🢀

  115. aithremail is not much in use in S.G., and in this sense not at all. We say mac mar an t-athair, “like father like son”. 🢀

  116. calad: The name of Fergus's sword, “the hard”, which figures later on in the MS. 🢀

  117. íb, S.G., ibh, “to drink”, hardly in use now though known. 🢀

  118. W.S. writes ni rer, rer being the redupl. perf. of renim. I prefer nor ér. ér, now eur, verb and noun, means “refuse”, “refusal”. 🢀

  119. Orchain: W.S. translates Bright-rim and derives ór from Latin ora🢀

  120. Cosgrach, “victorious”. 🢀

  121. Foga, “gapped spear”. Fagha is in S.G. applied to an industrial implement not unlike a Lochaber axe with the pointed end removed. MS. lvi. has, instead of Foga, an bogha bearnach, which A.C. renders “the notched bow”. Is not bogha for Fogha🢀

  122. sgath a sgeith, “on the shadow of his shield” (W.S.). MS. lvi. has ar sgáith a sgeithe, which A.C. translates “the shelter of his shield.” In either case Fiacha would not necessarily be in such peril as to cause the shield to roar, But if Fiacha lay across the sgàth, i.e. the “edge” of the shield, things would be different. 🢀

  123. The gap in the MS., consisting probably of two leaves, would narrate the murder of the sons of Uisnech, the fate of Deirdre, and the ravages committed by Fergus and his party immediately thereafter. The fifth folio, as now bound, opens with a quatrain containing terms of peace offered to Fergus on behalf of Conchobar. 🢀

  124. MS. Ses. But in future this and similar contractions regarding which there can be no possible doubt are extended and printed in ordinary type. 🢀

  125. In the Islay Charter ionmharbhtha, “fit for killing”, is the term used: ceithre ba ionmharbhtha, “four fat cows”. 🢀

  126. miad n-gle. It is difficult to express the exact force of this cheville, as of many others in Gaelic verse. Miad of old meant “honour”, and glé usually meant “bright”, “clear”. Nowadays miadh and miadhail is a “a thing greatly to be desired”, and glé is commonly an intensive prefix meaning “very”, “sufficient”. 🢀

  127. dabhach: the word still in common use for a large vat. A dabhach of land was probably the extent which a dabhach-ful of grain would sow. 🢀

  128. adh, more commonly agh, now a “heifer”, or “hind”, although the word is still masc. an t-agh. Of old adh, agh was frequently used instead of damh=“ox”, “stag”. 🢀

  129. The verb meal, “enjoy” is common in current speech: meal do naigheachd, “enjoy your news”, is the usual Gaelic phrase for “I congratulate you.” Proinn from Lat. prandium, “meal”, “victuals”. The children were to have food which they could enjoy—suitable food. 🢀

  130. For the epithet Conloinges v. Irische Texte (Irische Texte), iii. (2), p. 402, where the Coir Anmann states that Cormac was one of the guarantors of the sons of Uisnech. He was slain at Dá Choca's Hostel when going to assume the sovereignty of Ulster to which he was elected after his father's death. Cf. Revue Celtique (Rc.) xxi. 390. Aongas mac Aonlaime Gaibe is no doubt Oengus mac Lama Gabaid, who figures in Scel mucci mic Dáthó (Irische Texte, i. 101). 🢀

  131. Or, ac iarraidh “a-seeking” {}  🢀

  132. imdae, imda, “couch”, “bed”, “bedroom”, “room”. In the MS. the word is declined: nom. and acc. sing. imdaid, gen. sing. and nom. pl. imdaide, gen. pl. imdadh, imdaidh, dat. pl. imdadaib. oirenaige, pl. of oirinech, or airinech, usually “facing”, “frontage”. Coupled as here with imdaide, the word must be taken with a corresponding meaning. If imdaide means “rooms”, the oirenaige must be the spaces outside these rooms; if the former be translated “couches”, the latter would mean “front seats” or “benches”. 🢀

  133. bruiden, frequently spelled bruigen, “a hostel”. Six “royal” hostels are spoken of. Cf. Rc. xxi. 314, 396-7. 🢀

  134. allmarda: all + muir, “over sea”, “foreign”. Cf. eilthirech: eile + tìr “other-lander”, “pilgrim”. The allmharach appears frequently in popular Highland Tale. 🢀

  135. In Togail Bruidni Da Derga (Rc. xxii. 181) Dubloinges, Trebuait, and Curnach (our Durrthach) are said to be from Pictland. 🢀

  136. Where the verbal noun is written in full, the old nom. sing. -ud, -ad is usually, as in the modern language, -adh, with gen. sing. and nom. pl. commonly -thi, -the🢀

  137. Bricne and Bricni, the only forms of this name in the MS., are written almost indifferently, although there is a slight preference for Bricne in the nom. and Bricne in the nom. and Bricni in the oblique cases. In older MSS. Bricriu, gen. Bricrend, Bricrenn is the more common form. The epithet nemthenga, occastionally biltenga, “venomous tongue”, is frequently attached. In this MS. Bricne is described as “the Ollamh of Connaught, of Cruachan, and of all Ireland.” The other poets who formed part of the Dubloinges are named later. 🢀

  138. The contracted form m stands for maithe and muinntir, with a preference for t over m. when the former is meant. 🢀

  139. The MS. can read do luidh; but doluidh, “burden”, “loss”, “damage”, is probably meant. Cf. the modern phrase, Is beag an doluidh, “no matter”. 🢀

  140. Was the “promise” a stereotyped expression for an insignificant offer? The phrase is obscure to me. Conchobar is written in contracted form on the margin. 🢀

  141. bodbha connects with Badb the old war goddess. Baobh in S.G. is a “sorceress”, a “fury”, from which the adjectives baobhaidh and baoibheil, “savage”, “terrible”. In Irish Gaelic (I.G.), as also in this M.S. and others, badb, badhbh also means a “scallcrow”. 🢀

  142. The nom. pl. is written fileda elsewhere. 🢀

  143. Fercertne was the unsuccessful competitor for the office of chief-poet; Neide, son of the late chief-poet Adhna, having vindicated his claim to his father's chair. The Agallamh an dà shuadh is given in LL. 186 et seq. Neide afterwards abdicated in Fercertne's favour, and became for a time a pupil of the latter. He was one of the poets who attached themselves to Fergus. 🢀

  144. cur or car, with different shades of meaning: “case”, “eventuality”, “emergency”, “occasion”, “time”. 🢀

  145. Later in the MS. the nom. pl. is written in full curaidh🢀

  146. os aird, “on high”, “clearly”. Frequently, as here, the phrase is used idiomatically in antithesis to co n-uigi sin (S.G. gu ruige sin) “thus far”, in the sense of “now”, “as follows”. 🢀

  147. Observe the frequent use of the infixed pronoun in the verse passages. 🢀

  148. MS. rather indistinct. 🢀

  149. MS. Mac o C. But v supra. 🢀

  150. The common phrase in this MS., frequent also in others, when the speaker turns from prose to verse. 🢀

  151. Cf. coblaigib, “bass strings” (of harp), Rc. xx. p. 164. 🢀

  152. The line is obscure. The MS. reads ī sain soir ni gimsuaill🢀

  153. mithigh: the common word in S.G. for “full time”: Is mithich a bhi bogadh nan gad, “it is full time to be steeping the withes”, i.e. “to prepare for a journey”. 🢀

  154. It would look as if rubaī was a name for the palace at Cruachan. 🢀

  155. Or, “old men”. 🢀

  156. Here commences fol. 3 as bound, and there is obviously no break between it and the preceding (fol. 5). 🢀

  157. “Black exile”. Fergus's followers, consisting of 3000 men according to some accounts, of 1500 according to others, were collectively spoken of as Dubloinges, a word, like Cruachan, construed in this MS. sometimes masc. sometimes fem. 🢀

  158. The illegible space in the MS. would suggest a longer word than ba, e.g. robotar, or do batar🢀

  159. MS. atrisi. The use of the particle of emphasis -si, if my interpretation is correct, is unusual. 🢀

  160. The modern language requires the repitition of the preposition (do) before carpadaib, if sixty chariots are meant. 🢀

  161. cumal: originally “a female slave”. Afterwards the money value of such, which was fixed at three cows. Later a recognised standard in exchange. 🢀

  162. roinn for the older and more correct ranna🢀

  163. fia. Cf. fiad, “welcome”, fiadughadh, “welcoming” (S.G. fiadhachadh, “invitation”. With fia agus failti, cf. S.G. failte 's furan, “welcome and hearty greeting”. 🢀

  164. tri used instead of the usual teora before a fem. noun. But even in LU. (udi) tri n-aidche is met with (v. Irische Texte, i. p. 257). 🢀

  165. Later in the MS. Bricne's “school” is said to consist of “three fifties”. 🢀

  166. MS. indistinct. 🢀

  167. MS. indistinct. 🢀

  168. The clause seems defective. Fergus does not specify whom Dubthach is to bring with him. 🢀

  169. sgenma: a rare word. In the older form scenmdha it appears, as here, as an epithet of a shield in Agallamh na Senórach, or “Colloquy of the elders” (Irische Texte, iv. p. 56), and is translated (Silva Gadelica, ii. 151) “ubiquitous”. O'Reilly has subst. sgeinm and adj. sgeinmeach, sgeinmeile with meaning “active”, “agile”. In S.G. we have sgoinn, adj. sgoinneil, meaning “care”, “neat”, “tidy”; also adj. sgeinneil, “well-finished”, etc. 🢀

  170. crud, now crodh, is a collective noun, usually restricted to cattle of the cow kind, while cethra, “quadrupeds”, is cattle generally, including horses, etc. crud is frequently used generally for “wealth”, “goods”, etc. 🢀

  171. muilli for muilni, pl. of muilenn, “mill”. Cf. guaille, uille for guailne, uilne🢀

  172. cepcha, “stiff”, “stubborn”, not a common word. From cepp (ceap) “block” = Lat. cippus. Cf. ceapach, “Keppoch”. A different word is ceap, “catch in the air”, whence probably cepoc, ceapag (v. infra). 🢀

  173. bog, with its many derivatives, is extensively used in S.G. and I.G. (1) in the sense of “soft”, “moist”, and (2) as here with meaning of “shaking”, “wagging”,: Tha an cù a' bogadh earbaill, “The dog is wagging his tail”; 'g am biodh a stiùir air bhogadan, “whose tail would be wagging”. 🢀

  174. neóid: a rare word; glossed gainne, “scarcity”, in LU. 5b. In LL. 53b, Meave says that her husband must be a man cen néoit cen ét cen omon, the phrase used here, and proceeds: Dia m-bad neóit in fer gam beind ni bad chomadas dún beith maroen, fobith am maith-sea im rath ocus tidnacul, “if my husband were néoit we would not be a well matched couple, for I am liberal in giving and bestowing”. The gainne of LU. must therefore be taken in the sense of “near-handedness”, “penuriousness”. Cf. Archiv. für Celtische Lexicographie (Arch. Celt. Lex.), i. 5. 🢀

  175. Gairech and Ilgairech, the two hills where the final battle was fought. Cf. Cath Ruis na Ríg (Rr.), Dublin, 1892, pp. 60, 76. From gáir, gáireach, “a shout”, “shouting”. For the form ar gáirigh agus ar ilgáirigh cf. for áthaib ocus ilathaib, “over fords and many fords”, Irische Texte, i. p. 257. The prefix im was also used in the same way. Later in this MS. we find once or twice ag aithbir imaithbir, “greatly reproaching”, “upbraiding”. 🢀

  176. Here begins fol. 6 and there may possibly be a gap between it and what precedes. Henceforward the MS. reads continuously. 🢀

  177. O'Flaherty (Ogygia iii. chap xi.) says that the three principal tribes of Connaught were the Gamhanraidh, the Fir Craibi, and Tuathe Taidhen. These last, of whom little is recorded, seem to have lived in the neighbourhood of Cruachan. The name is found only in the gen., Taiden; the nom. would be Taidiu. Does it connect with taid, “thief”, taidhe, “theft”? the other tribes mentioned by O'Flaherty are spoken of later. 🢀

  178. sgéith: lit, “the shield shoulder”. lám sgéith appears later on. For a similar use of sgiath, v. Rc. xxii. 425. 🢀

  179. An old name for Connaught. For explanation of name v. Irische Texte, iii (2), p. 324. 🢀

  180. Gamanrad: A people of whom one hears, outside of this MS., very little, although their principal champions, such as Ferdiad and Fraoch mac Fidhaigh, are well known. The writer of this saga lays stress on the might and wealth and numbers of these people. Their territory is described later on. In another passage the Gamhanraidh of Iorrus Domnann and the troops of Clann Rugraide are said to be the foremost of the chivalry of Leth Cuinn. The people, or a portion of them, were under the jursidiction of Connaught, but their chiefs seemed to consider themselves practically independent. The name is collective. An individual is Gamain, while a chief is named Duban mac an gamna. In old and modern Gaelic gam(h)uin, gen. gam(h)na, is a “stirk”. As the S.G. phrase has it: oidhche Shamhna theirear gamhna ris na laoigh, “on Martinmas-eve calves are called stirks.” The Gamhanraidh may without much risk of error be called the “the stirk-folk”. They were a pre-Gaeilc people of the Fir-bolg race. 🢀

  181. The seven Maines were sons of Oilill and Meave. Their individual names are given in Irische Texte, iii (2), p. 382, and elsewhere. 🢀

  182. The translation of this phrase is conjectural. In S.G. we say of one who goes straight, without deviation or interruption, to his goal, that he arrived cois air chalb. The idea seems to be “sure” or “swift-footed”; “good trackers”. 🢀

  183. The word is used as a territorial name. But sidgal is evidently sid (sith) + gal, “keen” or “swift valour”. 🢀

  184. I take the word to be frith-bac, which may be rendered “off-recess”. 🢀

  185. laoch-lár appears several times in Agallamh na Senorach in the older speaking laech lár. The literal meaning is “hero-floor”. From the context one would infer that Finnabair's imdaid was in the middle of the banquet-hall. 🢀

  186. irna is a word of frequent occurrence but of uncertain connotation. In the modern language (S.G. and I.G.) a word iorna, iarna is in common use, meaning a “skein” or “hank” of yarn. It is evidently a different word from this, being the English word yarn borrowed. 🢀

  187. The Dictionaries gave arradh with the meaning of “merchandise”, “ornament”; while O'Clery (Rc. v. 11) has ionn arradh .i. tuarastal, “wages”. 🢀

  188. The idiom is common. Cha'n 'eil a bheag a m' laimh, “There is not (even) a little (i.e. there is nothing) in my hand.” 🢀

  189. degail: possibly for delaig, S.G. dealaich, “separate” (cf. Irische Texte, iv. p. 304). But degail rather joins with dedol and dedail, “twilight”, “break of day” (cf. Windisch, Irische Texte mit Wörterbuch). Elsewhere for deglad in this MS. YBL reads dedlad🢀

  190. The extension here given in italics is conjectural. I have not met with the name elsewhere. 🢀

  191. The extension here given in italics is conjectural. I have not met with the name elsewhere. 🢀

  192. Goll Oilech: Oilech is written in full only once, although the name appears frequently. It is somewhat uncertain whether Goll Oilech and Goll Acla may not be one and the same person. Goll Oilech often appears alone, but a common form is Goll Oilech ⁊ Acla. Here the repetition of Goll before Acla and the non-aspiration of t in timchell point to two persons. 🢀

  193. Goll Oilech: Oilech is written in full only once, although the name appears frequently. It is somewhat uncertain whether Goll Oilech and Goll Acla may not be one and the same person. Goll Oilech often appears alone, but a common form is Goll Oilech ⁊ Acla. here the repitition of Goll before Acla and the non-aspiration of t in timchell point to two persons. 🢀

  194. diberg is a common noun meaning “plundering”, “robbery”. But in this MS. the epithet is always attached to the chief Dartadh, and is evidently treated, like Gamain na Sidgaile, as if it were a territorial designation. 🢀

  195. The supply of different kinds of food and drink at table according to the rank of the guests continued among the Scottish Gael until very recent times. In the banquet given by Fergus M'Ivor in honour of Edward Waverley (Waverley, cap. xx.), Scott merely puts in more elegant form an account of the practice followed by Simon, Lord Lovat, in 1745, which was printed in an Edinburgh newspaper a few years before Sir Walter wrote. 🢀

  196. uaithne appears in S.G. as fuaithne, pl. fuaithntean, meaning in different localities “warping pin”, “post of loom”, “stilt of plough”, etc. 🢀

  197. The explicit statement that Bricne sang to the accompaniment of the harp, and that his cliar sang with him, is interesting. So at Dun Morgan (infra), his sgol join the poet in singing the song in honour of queen Flidais. Cf. Vita Columbae (V.C.), Lib. i. cap. 42 (written 691-3 A.D.), where the brethren say to Columba: “Why did you not ask the poet Cronan, before he went away, to sing us a song with accompaniment (modulabiliter), according to the rules of his profession?” 🢀

  198. cepóc: O'Curry (Man. and Cust., iii. p. 371) quotes the following passage in illustration of the meaning of this word: “Aidbsi ainm in chiúil, no in cronáin do gnidis urmhor bhfer n-Erenn in tan sin; ocus Cepóg a ainm ac feraib Alban, amail atpert in file Albanach:— “Ferr moladh righ Lóicce, Do denum ar Chepóicce.”” “Aidbsi” was the name of the music or cronán which the greater part of the men of Erin used to perform at this time; and cepóc is its name with the men of Alba, as the Alban poet said:—“Better to praise the King of Lóc, By performing our Cepóc.” Elsewhere the word is glossed focal Albannach, “a Scottish Gaelic word”. The verb ceapaim, ceap, is common both in I.G. and S.G. In the former the usual meaning is “catch”, “think”, “fancy”; in the latter, “catch in the air”, and is not improbably a loan from that language. Ceapag is used in S.G. to denote, not a kind of music, but “a catch”, “a quatrain”, “an impromptu” in verse. The term is so used by Rob Donn, the Sutherland poet, and by his editor, Dr. Mackay (v. pp. 200, 344, ed. 1829). And in the lines quotes above by O'Curry, denum ar chepóicce, as in Bricne's phrase here, do rigni ar cepóig, the meaning is not to sing to a cepóc air, but to compose in cepóc manner. In the tale of Tochmarc Luaine (Rc. xxiv. 282, 284), cepóc occurs, but in a different construction: ro haghadh a cepoc, dogen a cepóic sunna (not ar cepoig). W.S. translates “death-chant”. It would thus appear that the word was used to denote a certain kind of music as well as a certain kind of verse. In Tochmarc Luaine, the cepóc was in honour of the dead. But such was not always the case. Cf. the tale of MacDáthó's Pig (Irische Texte, i. p. 106), where Ferloga asks to be taken to Emain Macha, in order that the women and maidens of Ulster shall sing their cepóc around him every evening, and say, “Ferloga my darling”. 🢀

  199. Bricne's song is composed in language so largely technical and bardic that his audience could not understand it. Even with the aid of the author's copious commentary some of it is still unintelligible to me. 🢀

  200. Or, o🢀

  201. fuince run: a difficult phrase. fuince may connect with fuan, like finn, as an adj. fuinechta is met with attached to fuamain and to bantracht (v. Windisch, Irische Texte mit Wörterbuch), and in both cases coupled, as here, with find, “fair”, “white”. The meaning is evidently “bright”, “pure”, possibly, as Windisch suggests, from fo-nighim, “I wash”. Rún in the old language is “mystery”, “secret”. In the modern language, both in I.G. and S.G., the more common meaning is “purpose”, “intention”, “affection”, “love”. Thus in S.G. to express “mystery”, the adj. dìomhair, “secret”, is added, rùn-dìomhair (v. 1 Cor. ii. 7; Eph. i. 9). But the older meaning still survives, as in the well-known saying: Cha sgeul rùin e, 's fios aig triùir air, “It is no longer a secret, if three persons know of it.” The next line is also obscure to me. 🢀

  202. The MS. reads már, but the rhyme requires mír, “bit”, “fragment”, “part”. For the meaning given here, cf. d'á n-dáilid fileadha mír ós mnáibh, “to whom poets allot the supremacy over women”, quoted by Dinneen (Din.) in his Irish-English Dictionary, s.v. mír🢀

  203. losc, losg, “lame”, is well known. Here the word is used as noun and adj. with the meaning of “hero”, “valorous”. 🢀

  204. romra: ro + muir, “great sea”, “tempestuous sea”. In Adamnan's Life the Solway Firth is called Tracht Romra, “tempestuous strand”, a fit epithet. Cf. V. C. xlv. 🢀

  205. The repetition of ailim, the first word, suggests that the song originally ended here, and the last quatrain was afterwards added. 🢀

  206. losc, losg, “lame”, is well known. Here the word is used as noun and adj. with the meaning of “hero”, “valorous”. 🢀

  207. Bricne's commentary, it will be observed, covers not merely the two lines quoted, but the first two quatrains. 🢀

  208. In the modern language the phrase means “the second best or the third best”. But in the older language the idiom frequently carries as I have rendered it, without differentiating order of merit. 🢀

  209. Later in the MS. we find lear sluaigh, “a sea”, i.e. “a multitude of people”. So in the modern language, lear mór daoine, “a great number of people” (Din. s.v. lear). Cf. the Shakespearean phrase, “sea of troubles”. 🢀

  210. comlandaib being written in full in dat. pl., necessitates a similar extension of comdalaib and cathaib🢀

  211. A small portion of the lower corner of columns 26 and 27 has been cut off since the MS. was written, and a sentence or two thereby rendered unintelligible. 🢀

  212. A few words are undecipherable. 🢀

  213. A few words are undecipherable. 🢀

  214. Cf. Caoilte's eulogy on Fionn, Irische Texte, iv. pp. 211, 261:—“A tainig do sluagh Banba. itir righ is righdamna, Ferr Find innáit sin uile. cathmilid ard Almaine.” “Is mor in teist sin, a anam”, a Patraic. “Ni mór”, ar Cáilte, “uair da mbeitís secht tengtha im cind ⁊ secht solabarta súadh cecha tengad dib ní táirsid uaim leth na trian a maithesa fecht d'indisin ar Find.” “Better than all that have come of Banba's host, both kings and crown princes is Find, the high battle-soldier of Allen.” “Great is that testimony, my soul”, said Patrick. “It is not (too) great”, rejoined Cailte, “for were there seven tongues in my head, and seven sages' eloquence in each tongue, not half nor a third of his excellence would be uttered by me as to Find”. 🢀

  215. A few words are undecipherable. 🢀

  216. Here, as frequently elsewhere in this MS. as in others, the numbers are written for the most part in numerals, x. for “ten”, xx. for “twenty”, etc. 🢀

  217. Corner of MS. clipped, v. note 1 page 312, supra. 🢀

  218. MS. 7x. c. 7x. c. 🢀

  219. From this point to near the foot of col. 28 the MS. is apart from detached words and phrases, undecipherable. Cols. 29 and 30 also contain several lines and portions of lines which cannot be read. The MS. has evidently been in this condition for a long time. A careful reader of the past went over the whole of it, and covered several lines and phrases with fresh ink, showing that these were being illegible in his day. The columns before us were not thus dealt with; they were evidently undecipherable in this scribe's time as now. Careful photographs of these pages have been taken, and by their aid a few additional words have been read. It has not been thought necessary to offer a translation of detached phrases. 🢀

  220. The Martial Career of Conghal Cláiringhnech (quoted here as Cc.), recently published by the Irish Text Society (vol. v.), throws some light on this chapter in the early career of Fergus. Fergus attached himself to the party of Conghal in the year in which the former “first took possession of his territory”, and shared in all his adventures until the latter was enthroned monarch of Ireland. Their people destroyed Dun da Beann, the seat of Niall Niamhghlonnach, in the absence of its lord, and took his wife Craobh, daughter of Durtacht, and sister of Eogan, prisoner. The lady, preferring death to captivity, threw herself into the Bann and was drowned. Afterwards they fought and slew Niall himself at Aonach Tuaighe, no doubt the Inb(er Tuaighe) of our MS. The name of the father of Finn, slain at Inver Loinne, is practically illegible. But there is enough to show that Innadmar, otherwise Findatmar, monarch of Ireland in his day, and father of the reigning high king, Lughaidh Luaighne, is meant. Cath Boirche may be the battle fought against Boirche Casurlach (Cc. 168, 172) after the return of Fergus and Conghal from Norway. The Mourne Mountains were of old called Beanna Boirche. Cath Mana was fought against Conchobar at a later period, no doubt after Fergus's revolt in consequence of the murder of the sons of Uisnech. The “stubborn fight” with Eogan son of Durtacht, where Eogan was slain, has already been described (v. supra, vol. i. p. 226), Cárn Eolairg, or Carraig Eolairg, is said to have been in the neighbourhood of Derry. Maistiu is now Mullaghmast, co. Kildare. 🢀

  221. Cf. O'Don. Supp. tuarastal 🢀

  222. V. supra, vol. i. p. 14. Later in the MS. Fergus refers to his adventures in Uardha (the cold land), where this cathair was situated. A detailed account of this expedition is given in Cc. p. 112 et seq. 🢀

  223. The same phrase occurs later. I have not seen the word galad elsewhere. But the meaning is evidently as I have ventured to render it. 🢀

  224. Literally “courting lay”. In modern S.G. oran gaoíl, “love-song”, would be the phrase used. 🢀

  225. In his report to Fergus (infra), Bricne mentions one or two of the nine taboos that Flidais laid upon him. 🢀

  226. The usual phrases are re n-abrar, ris a n-abartar, re ráiter, ris a ráiter. But this form also occurs in this MS. and elsewhere. Cf. Cc., p. 30 n., et aliis. 🢀

  227. I have not met with this compound elsewhere. But is is evidently dligim with the negative neb-, neph-, nem-, neamh-, S.G. neo-, prefixed. The Dictionaries, Highland Society's (H.S.D.), for example, give the adjective neo-dhligheach, “unlawful”, but not the verb. 🢀

  228. anrath, older anruth, the name of the bard next in rank to the ollam or rig-bard who was the highest (Irische Texte, iii (l), p. 5). After the convention of Druim Ceta (575 A.D.) the retinue (cleir) of the anruth was reduced to twelve. Bricne, usually described as ollamh, is, in this manscuript, also spoken of as anrath🢀

  229. obloir, “a jester”, now in S.G. and I.G. amhlair, “fool”, “boor”, “blockhead”. 🢀

  230. eistrecht: the exact meaning of the word is uncertain. In The Laws, vol. i. p. 138, essrechta maccru, “toys of children”, include camana, “hurley” or “shinty” sticks; liathroiti, “balls”; and Inboca, “hoops”. Perhaps here the word may be translated “playthings”. Immediately below, the context would suggest “dwarfs” as the better rendering of the word. 🢀

  231. min-daeine: “little folks”, “children”, as distinct from maccaim, “youths”, “boys”. Cf. S.G. meanbh-chrodh, “sheep”, “goats”, in contrast with crodh, “cows”, “cattle”. 🢀

  232. coraidh, preserved in I.G. na coraidhe (Din.); marked long (córaidh) in Dr. Kuno Meyer's Contributions to Irish Lexicography (Kuno Meyer). Here and elsewhere in this MS. the vowel is evidently short, suggestive of similar root with curaidh, if not indeed the same word with change of vowel. 🢀

  233. cliath bernadha catha: an uncommon phrase. Cf. in chliath-bern chét LL. 61a 22 (Kuno Meyer). Cliath, “hurdle”, “wattle”, is applied to men in close battle array; bé(a)rn is “gap”, “breach”. The exact force of the phrase is doubtful, perhaps “picked men to pierce the enemy's lines”, or “to defend a pass”, “fit to stand in battle's gap” (O'Gr. Cat., p. 408). 🢀

  234. fledi feraind agus brugaidh bailtead: cf. infra (p. 32), the corresponding phrase, m' istada agus m'adbara fleda a muigh, used by Meave to magnify the resources of her own district. Baile is of the dental declension still—pl. bailte(an). But I have not met the form bailtead (gen. pl.) elsewhere. 🢀

  235. tair-chanim and ter-chanim, “I prophesy”, are common forms; tin-cantain and tinchetal in the sense of “repetition”, “incantation”, are also met with. Here this compound of canim evidently means simply to “tell” or “repeat”. 🢀

  236. grain in the old and modern usage carries the idea of “horror”, “disgust”. But in this MS. the word is frequently used where such an idea cannot be intended. Cf. infra, among many instances. Do sgail do gnim is do gráin, applied to Fergus, where the idea conveyed must be complimentary. Cf. Cc., p. 14, úruath agus grain Righ fair, rendered, “the fearfulness and majesty of a king are his”. In this particular passage g could stand for gan, “without”, as well as for go, “with”, and yield equally good idiom. But to characterise a household as not in a special degree abominable would surely be very faint praise. 🢀

  237. mo, “my”, before vowels frequently, as here, becomes not m' but mh. So in the old language th' athir for t'athair, “thy father”. Urradh, “man of substance”, “guarantor”, as opposed to deoraid, “dependent”, “pilgrim”, “weakling”. Later urradha are linked with naisli and ard-fhlaithi. Cf. S.G. urra, urras, urrainn, etc. 🢀

  238. eistrecht: the exact meaning of the word is uncertain. In The Laws, vol. i. p. 138, essrechta maccru, “toys of children”, include camana, “hurley” or “shinty” sticks; liathroiti, “balls”; and Inboca, “hoops”. Perhaps here the word may be translated “playthings”. Immediately below, the context would suggest “dwarfs” as the better rendering of the word. 🢀

  239. echlach, “messenger”, is common but e. urlair, “floor messenger”, is not so. Finn's counsel to MacLugach (Ag. l. 586) has the line:— Da trian de mAlne re mindibh is re h-echlachuib urlair, which is translated: “Two thirds of thy gentleness be shown to women and to creepers on the floor” (i.e. children). In our passage, where the term is coupled with mogaid, “slaves”, the meaning may be, “little ones who fetched and carried within the palace.” 🢀

  240. istada: a rather uncommon word, preserved perhaps in I.G. iosta, “apartment”, “inn” (Din.). Of old the word meant “wealth” and the place where treasure was kept; i flatha, “away and soverance of a chief”. Cf. Irische Texte, iii (l), p. 280. V. supra, p. 29, note 8. 🢀

  241. Cf. auricor, “area”, “yard”, O'Donovan's Supplement to O'Reilly's Dictionary (O'D. Sup.). 🢀

  242. In I.G. the native word cath(a)ir (Welsh caer), “city”, “stronghold”, “capital”, and the borrowed word cathair (= cathedra), “chair”, are distinguished, the latter being written cathaoir (Din.). In S.G. both words, although distinct in usage, are written and declined in the same way. Cathedra, through French, has become in English chair, and this again has been borrowed in the North Highlands as seidhir🢀

  243. cluim (Welsh pluf) from Latin pluma. In the North Highlands clóimh is the common word for olann “wool”. In I.G. clúmh, with derivatives, survives in the original sense of “feathers”, “down”, “plumage” (Din.). So in S.G. (v. H.S.D.) clóimh, clóimhteach, etc. 🢀

  244. cairche, coirchi: more commonly cairche ciúil, “a musical instrument of some kind.” Cf. Ag. 6592-4 et aliis; Irische Texte, iv. p. 328. But the word is also used in the sense of melody, e.g. grith cairchi na cathbarr ic a crothad (Kuno Meyer). 🢀

  245. menn-chrot, lit. “kid-harp”. The simile was common in describing sweet sounds. Cf. Irische Texte, iv. p. 330: “ocus binnithir re tétaib menncrott il-lámaib súadh oc a sírseinm bindfogur gotha in macaim ocus a irlabra”. 🢀

  246. cairche, coirchi: more commonly cairche ciúil, “a musical instrument of some kind.” Cf. Ag. 6592-4 et aliis; Irische Texte, iv. p. 328. But the word is also used in the sense of melody, e.g. grith cairchi na cathbarr ic a crothad (Kuno Meyer). 🢀

  247. forles = air + leus. The word has survived in S.G. meaning “chimney”, and especially the smoke-hole in the roof of a thatched cottage. 🢀

  248. In the form clàraidh the word survives in S.G. meaning “wooden partition”, ùrlar cláraidh again is “a deal floor”. In the sense of “board”, “table”, “lid”, “level surface”, clàr is in common use. In dialect clàr is with as a verb: clàr e orm e, “he persisted in attributing it to me.” 🢀

  249. The gold of Ophir, no doubt. Sicir usually means “wise”, “sure”, and connects with, if not a loan from, the Scottish siccar, itself probably from L. securus. Salmda is an adjective from salm, the Gaelic form of psalmus, “pslam”. 🢀

  250. Cf. Ag. 122: bleidhidha búis ⁊ bánóir: “goblets of crystal and pale gold”.  🢀

  251. From the context lann must mean some kind of vessel, O'Reilly gives “gridiron” as one of the many meanings of the word. Cf. Windisch, Irische Texte mit Wörterbuch x. v. 🢀

  252. dálaighe. The offered rendering is suggested by the context. 🢀

  253. popa: Used very frequently, expressive of affection and familiarity. In the North Highlands (N.H.) bobag, boban, bobaidh are used as familiar and affectionate terms to boys, step-fathers and fathers. Cf. Macdonald's well-known chorus:— Ho ro mo bhobag an dram🢀

  254. baegal, baoghal, common as noun and verb: “danger”, “hazard”; “to endanger” “belie”. 🢀

  255. I take málla to be the S.G. málda🢀

  256. badhaig might stand for baghaig (bágach), “warlike”. But gid in the next line suggests an antithesis between badhaig and garb. I take the word to be formed from báid, in S.G. báidh, “affection”, “kindliness”. The pl. tirte is not common; but cf. Bid tere flaithi na thirthe, “the nobles of these lands are few.” 🢀

  257. Among the geasa which Beinda, daughter of the King of Lochlann, imposed on Conghal Clairingech and his followers was troigh mhna troghuin which is rendered, “pangs of a woman in childbirth”, a reference, no doubt, to the nóinden or “couvade” of the Ulstermen; v. Cc. pp. 112-13 note 6. In the MS. troguin joins to the next line. 🢀

  258. or, chuaid 🢀

  259. Cf. p. 32 note 1 🢀

  260. becán: beagan like móran is, in S.G., now construed as a noun governing the gen. I should write: Chaidh do bhrigh ach beag as. But for this usage of the word, cf. Silva Gadelica p. 248: do bi Iubdán í n-Emain co cenn bliadna acht becan: “I was almost a whole year in Emain”. 🢀

  261. I infer that it was Dubthach who kicked Bricne from his quarrelsome disposition, and from the fact that it was he who immediately afterwards explained to Meave the cause of Bricne's disgrace. 🢀

  262. For the form and idiom cf. Cc. 114. Cred fa rabhabhair do bhar n-ollamh? “Why were you angry with your O.?” In this usage, the substantive verb construes in I.G. with the preps. do and le, in S.G. with ri, e.g. cia bhi leat? “Who was annoying you?” Cf. S.G. có bha ríut? Bheir mise air, “Who annoyed you? I will make him”. 🢀

  263. In two other passages later the same form occurs, and in the same sense “he strongly desired”. From this verb comes saint, sant, S.G. sannt “greed”, “covetousness” whence the denominative santaigim, S.G. sanntaich, “covet”. 🢀

  264. faighde, foighde, “aid”, “subsidy”. The word survives in S.G. faoighe (fo + guidhe), and until quite recently the practice,—a genteel sort of begging. The word was also used for the present received: a dol air f., “going round for contributions”; f. chlóimh, eórna, etc. “the contributions received, in wool, barley” etc. The practice gave rise to many familiar sayings. Cf. the Scottish thigging (Jamieson's Scot. Dict. s.v. thig). 🢀

  265. Cf. supra, p. 26 note 2. 🢀

  266. clisde from cle(a)s “feat” now, in S.G. more commonly “trick”, “prank”. In I.G. clis is a noun meaning “a start”, “a surprise”. In S.G. clis is an adj. “active”, “quick”; na fir chlise, “aurora borealis”. 🢀

  267. In the mod. language folt, falt is the fair of the head; fionnadh (finnfad), hair on the body, and especially the hair and fur of animals. 🢀

  268. To be sent adrift on the sea was a not uncommon punishment, v. Trip., Life (W.S.) pp. clxxiv, 222, 288; Cáin Adamnain (Kuno Meyer) p. 43. 🢀

  269. MS. adds d. 🢀

  270. The words may read coinbrain. Is the meaning “dog-ravens”? A proper name Conbran is met with. 🢀

  271. asbrainn I have not met with, unless the word equates with the modern spáirn, uspàirn, “great effort”. 🢀

  272. cerd, now ceard, cognate with Latin cerdo, “craftsman”. In older Gaelic literature, the general meaning is “artist”, “artificer”, and especially a worker in metals, “brazier”, “jeweller” although the term is not infrequently applied to a poet and muscian. It is in the latter sense chiefly that the term is used in Welsh: cerdd, “an artist”; pen-cerdd, “the chief performer”, e.g. on the harp. On Gaelic ground the former idea was always predominant; and in process of time, through the decay of native industries in metals, the ceard became the patcher of post and pans, “a tinker”. The word was borrowed into Lowland Scotch, and has yielded the surname “Caird”. Here Moda Minadhmadadh is described as ollamh cerda or “head of the guild”, and prim-cerd or chief cerd of the whole province. He is also a brugaid or “hospitaller”. Perhaps maer, maor, “steward” might cover his various offices. 🢀

  273. The Suca or “Suck” is a river in co. Roscommon, v. O'Grady's Catalogue of Irish MSS. (O'Gr. Cat), p. 367. 🢀

  274. In this MS., as elsewhere bruidem, bruigen frequently means “a mansion”, “a castle”, as well as “a hostel”, or public place of entertainment. The old writers mention six rig-bruidens or royal hostels as existing in Ireland at this time. These were Bruiden dá Choca, “in a district which belongs to Meave and Ailill”; Bruiden dá Ger, or Bruiden mic Cecht da ren, in Connaught (Brefny); Bruiden Brúadaig, in Ulster; Bruiden Forgaill Manach (whose daughter, Eimhir, was the wife of Cuchulainn), beside Lusk; Bruiden dá Derga (Berga) in the east of Leinster; and Bruiden mic dá thó, also in Leinster. The definite number six may have been fixed upon, as W.S. suggests, to correspond with the six cities of refuge of the Hebrews, to which the bruidens of the Gael bore some analogy. All the bruidens, we are told, were asylums of the “red hand”—(Ba coimeirque laíme deirce nach bruiden (Rc. xxi. 314). The writer of this MS. would uphold the importance of the bruiden of Moda Minadhmadadh, and he gives details which add somewhat to our knowledge of the old Gaelic life. Two of the rules of the road which the brugaid or hospitaller observed,—“welcome to all”, “refusal to none”,—need no explanation; they are in vogue now. Coire ansgoich, as here written, coire ansguith elsewhere, “the irremovable caldron”, is no doubt the caire ainric, “the never dry” or “ever full caldron” of The Laws. In each bruiden a caldron (or caldrons) stood which was never empty. Every guest, as he entered, had the privilege of thrusting a flesh fork into this caldron once. What he took up he might eat. But if he took nothing, he had not a second chance: In fer do theiged iar sin t-shligi, do berad in n-ail is in coire, ocus na tabrad don' chet gabhail, iss ed no ithed. Mani thucad ní do'n chét todall, ni berad a n-aill. (Irische Texte i 96). The function of the cerd in Moda's hostelry is new to me. He deals not with feasting, but with fighting. But the rendering I give of the cerd's triad is largely conjectural. The phrases were evidently technical and of definite meaning. 🢀

  275. duabais: the opposing word suabais is oftener met with, whereas in adjective form duaibsech is much more common than suaibsech. Cf. Fair a chol ocus a dhuabais, “upon itself be the evil that it brings” (S. G., p. 242); ort do choll duaphis, a Chonghail, “on yourself be your dire ruin, Congal” (Cc. p. 242). Also, ort do choll uathbháis, a Chonghail, “on you is your dire destruction” (Cc. p. 96). 🢀

  276. v. supra p. 109 note 6. 🢀

  277. ordu, now in I.G. orda, disused in S.G. “a piece”, “a fragment”. 🢀

  278. Elsewhere Munremar is described as son of Gerrchend. Cf. Rc. xxii. 196. 🢀

  279. Cf. supra, vol. i. pp. 214, 216. 🢀

  280. Ferguis for Fergues to suit the metre. In the modern language the name, like several others, has changed from the u to the o declension. 🢀

  281. aithbir, occasionally written aithfir, “reproach”. The phrase ac aithbir imaíthbir was not uncommon, the meaning being strengthened, “greatly reproaching”. 🢀

  282. This idiomatic use of aon is not unknown in S.G. B' esan an t-aon duine means not that he was the only man, but that he was the one beyond all others. Cf. Binn iad aon duine de Chumhal, “They made one man of Cumhal, i.e. they made him king” (Dr. Henderson's edition of Fled Bricrend, p. 148). Cf. also MS. v 10a, Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, where in a hymn attributed in the Brussels copy to St. Columba, Holy Scripture is spoken of as aen na leabar, “the one, (i.e. the best) of the books”. 🢀

  283. This idiomative use of aon is not unknown in S.G. B' esan an t-aon duine means not that he was the only man, but that he was the one beyond all others. Cf. Binn iad aon duine de Chumhal, “They made one man of Cumhal, i.e. they made him king” (Dr. Henderson's edition of Fled Bricrend, p. 148). Cf. also MS. v 10a, Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, where in a hymn attributed in the Brussels copy to St. Columba, Holy Scripture is spoken of as aen na leabar, “the one, (i.e. the best) of the books”. 🢀

  284. abar, for the more common abrar, v. supra. p. 26. Later in the MS. Meave and her army visit this bruiden, and the origin of the name Loch nan Airne is there explained. 🢀

  285. For this idiom, cf. Silva Gadelica, p. 330, Rc. xxiv. 74; Sráinnis in miolchú for in leomain cach re fecht i tosach, “At first the greyhound beat the lion every other time”; and I.G. gach 're lá, “on alternate days” (Din. i.v re). 🢀

  286. a muigh agus a tigh. Nowadays we use the article invariably with tigh, tech, but not with mach (mag), muigh: a mach 's a steach, a muigh 's a stigh; a steach for i(u) si(n) tech, i(n) si(n) tigh respectively. We still retain the accusative forms a mach, a steach after verbs of motion, while the dative forms a muigh, a stigh indicate rest: chaidh e mach, but tha e muigh; thaining e steach, but tha e stigh🢀

  287. maid-ne: the form is not now used independently, being replaced by sinn, sinne. Even in the verb it is being discarded over the greater part of the Highlands of Scotland. For bhuaileamaid iad, etc., the common form in the North Highlands is bhuaileadh sinn iad🢀

  288. dithad: in S.G. diot, and used in N.H. (North Highlands) for “meal”, “dinner”. Evidently, like English diet, a loan from L. diata🢀

  289. This is the first of several rhetorical passages in this MS., too common in other Gaelic compositions, old and modern. They are restricted for the most part to descriptions of armies, fights, horses, chariots, the arming of famous warriors, and the personal appearance of favourite heroes and heroines. While such passages testify to the copiousness of the language and to the great command over the Gaelic vocabulary which many native authors undoubtedly possessed, they not infrequently mar the literary beauty of many of these Sagas and detract from their historical value. One is not certain that the epithets were in all cases selected for their aptness in accurate description as much as for their merit in securing sonorous and above all, alliterative combinations. 🢀

  290. co-urradha, the opposite of urradha. The same epithet occurs later. 🢀

  291. In S.G. I would write an aon tigh ri O.F. agus ri maithibh na G., “in the same house with (and) O.F. and the chiefs of the G.” 🢀

  292. The reader will remember that the descriptive name Leith Cuinn was unknown until Conn Cetchathach, who lived, according to the traditional chronology, in the second century, and Mogh Nuaghat divided Ireland between them, the northern part being known as Leith Cuinn and the southern as Leith Mogha. The boundary was, roughly, from Dublin to Galway Bay. 🢀

  293. The manner in which the Ultonians used to celebrate the Hallowmas Fair is described in Serglige Conculaind “The Sickbed of Cuchulainn” (Irische Texte, i 205:—Oenach dognithe la Ultu cecha bliadhna .i. tri lá ria Samfuin ocus tri laa iarma ocus lathe ne Samna feisne. Iss ed cret no bitis Ulaid in sin im Maig Murthemni cofertain óenaig na samna cech bliadna, ocus ní rabe is in bith ní dognethe in n-eret sin leis acht cluchi ocus ceti ocus unius ocus aibinnius ocus longad ocus tomnilt. “The Ultonians used to hold a fair every year, viz. three days before Hallowmas and three days after, as well as on Hallowmas Day. During that time the Ultonians would be on the Plain of Murthemne holding the Hallowmas Fair each year, and during that time they did nothing whatever except engaging in games and entertainments and amusements and enjoyment and eating and drinking.” Then follow some of the ceremonies observed on the occasion. 🢀

  294. An idiom not now used in S.G. Cf. a thuaith gach n-direach infra, p. 220. 🢀

  295. loar; cf. leug lothar (lomhar) nam buadhan, “brilliant jewel of virtues” (Ranald Macdonald, p. 287): lothar, “wardrobe”, etc. (Dinn). For lomar, from “wool”, cf. casla .i. casló, .i. olann chas (O'Clery). 🢀

  296. The sentence is awkward at the best, and possibly corrupt. The MS. reads ⁊mb alel (possibly bald) an etc. 🢀

  297. The unusual form appears to be based on the somewhat uncommon verb beba, bebais, bebat, “die”, v. Kuno Meyer, Contrib.Kuno Meyer, iv. 🢀

  298. I take meic here as qualifying oglaeich, “young warriors”, not as governing oglaoch, which would mean “sons of warriors”. 🢀

  299. Lit., “the men of the west”; fuin, fuined, fuinim, “end”, specially applied to “sunset”, “close of day”, hence “west”. 🢀

  300. Cf. airla, “hair” (Kuno Meyer). Urla, “lock of hair”, “beard” is the current form. 🢀

  301. Vide vol. i. p. 308, n.3. 🢀

  302. The word is not uncommon in the sense of “multitude”, “crowd”. In the meaning of some article of raiment broin is unknown to me. But cf. S.G. broinrag, broinaigach, “rags”, “tatters”. 🢀

  303. toinnti, later toindte, evidently “multitudes”, “ranks”. In S.G. the verb toinn (N. toinna, Eng. twine) means “twist”, “twine”:—Freamh ar naduir toinnte dluth, Mu gach duil sa' chruinne-ché;—(Fear Ciuil p. 10) 🢀

  304. The simile is, in whole or in part, not uncommon. Cf. the well-known quatrains in which Dugald Buchanan endeavours to convey an idea of eternity:—“Ged dh' airmhinn uile realta rneimh, Gach fear is duilleach riamh a dh' fhis, Mar ris gach brann ata sa' chuan, 'S gach gaineamh chuartaichenn an traigh. 'S ged chuirinn mile bliadhna seach, As leth gach aoin diubh sod gu léir, Cha d' imich seach de 'n t-siorr anbad mhóir, Ach mar go 'n tonnicheadh i 'n dé.” 🢀

  305. MS reads fastsor 🢀

  306. Here the word probably means “spikelets” a diminutive from brot “spik-” “goad”. But immediately below the same form, similarly contracted, must surely mean “short mantles”, a diminutive from brot, brat, “a covering”, “a mantle”. 🢀

  307. Rendered “red enamel” by Whitley Stokes. O'Davoren writes: Cruan .i. gne dos tsencerdacht (ut est), a n-all cruain .i. in derg, ocus creduma .i. in buidhe, maithne .i. buidhe ocus uaine ocus geal. Cruan, i.e. a kind of ancient art work, ut est, “the bridle of enamel”, i.e. the red (sort), and creduma, i.e. the yellow, (and) maithne, i.e. “yellow and green and white”. Cf. Arch. Celt. Lex., ii. p. 257. 🢀

  308. MS. reads rather linbar or liubar. 🢀

  309. For Gamhain ruadh na Recadh (later Rec, vide vol. i p. 296. Here it would be possible to translate “F. of the sayings, or maxims.” 🢀

  310. Here the word probably means “spikelets” a diminutive from brot “spik-” “goad”. But immediately below the same form, similarly contracted, must surely mean “short mantles”, a diminutive from brot, brat, “a covering”, “a mantle”. 🢀

  311. MS reads brug. Possibly for brogach “mighty”. 🢀

  312. custal .i. trusdaladh (O'Clery), not trusaladh O'Reilly, truisealadh (H.S.D.) “tucking up clothes”, “trussing”. In the old literature frequently associated with leinte, “smocks”: e.g. leni {} fri gelchnes i caustal go glunib dó, “a smock kilted up to the knees next his white skin.” Cf. T.B.C. s.v. caustal, custal. The stones were evidently strapped to the shields in some way. 🢀

  313. , which perhaps is an anticipation of the verbal noun in the modern language tighinn🢀

  314. Verses attributed to Ossian and found in LL. fol. 161b, and the Advocates Library MS. xxxviii. p. 154, give ruibne and luibne, both glossed. LL. glosses ruibne by sgiath, “shield”, and luibne by sleg, “spear”. The Edinburgh MS. reverses matters, glossing ruibne by sleagh and luibne by sgiath. O'Reilly has ruibhne (1) “a lance” , (2) “a numerous host”. From ae, “cause, knowledge, science”, developed the phrase araí, used in the various shades of meaning: “on account of”, “in spite of”, “nevertheless”. The exact force of the phrase here is to me uncertain. 🢀

  315. MS. i (nearly illegible.) 🢀

  316. angó, an uncommon word, “alas”! (Kuno Meyer). The meaning here is evidently “wrath”, “anger” (an, intensive, + “deceit”?). 🢀

  317. MS reads do followed by what looks like gonatt duine scraped out. The repetition of the incident is interesting (cf. supra, p. 212), for the version now given is in some respects like those of LL. LU. and Egerton (Brit. Mus.), printed by Prof. Windisch in Irische Texte, ii p. 208 et seq. Here follows the corresponding passage from LL. Fergus and his party arrive at the palace of Ailill the Fair:—Ferthair failte friu. “Cid fris-tudchabair?” ol Ailill Find. “Co ro anam celide lat-su”, ol Fergus, “dóig ata debaid dunn ri Aillill mac Matach” Magach. “Ni anfa-su lim-sa em”, ol Ailill Find. “Mad nech imorro dot muntir, no ainfed. Daig adfiastar dam-sa not chara mo ben”. “Etar ascaid di chethra din dúnn. Atá eicem mór forn.” “Ní béra-su ascaid uaim-se” ol Ailill, “dia n-ana chelide lemm.” Doberar dam co tinniu dóib cona dú dí chormaim dia feiss. “Ni chathiub-sa do biad-su ám” ol Fergus, “uaire na biur th'ascaid.” “Assind liuss duit dín”, ol Ailill. “Rot bia són”, ol Fergus, “ni gebchar forbarí fort.” Dos-cumlat ass iarum. “Tairceth fer i n-áth”, ol Fergus, “fochetóir i n-dorus ind liss.” “Ní éraibcher ocus ni erbbaibther dom inchaib-se ém”, ol Ailill. “Ragat-sa féin”, ol se. “Cia uamm rigas ar a chind ind fhir, a Dubthaig?” ol Fergus. “Ragat-sa ar a chind cid me”, ol Dubthach. Dothét, Dubthach iarum issin n-áth ar a chind. Benaid Dubthach sleig tríit co n-dechaid tria di shlíasait. Dolleci-seom dana gai do Dubthach co m-bert erand triít. They were welcomed. “What has brought you thither?” asked Ailill the Fair. “To stay with you,” replied Fergus, “for we are at feud with Ailill son of Magach.” “Neither you nor any of your people shall stay with me”, said Ailill, “for I have been told that you are in love with my wife.” “Give us some of your cattle then, for we are in great straits.” “You shall have no gift from me, nor shall you stay here,” said Ailill. An ox and bacon with a due supply of ale were given them for food. “I shall not eat your food”, said Fergus, “not having received your gift.” “Out of the castle you go”, said Ailill. “That will be to your advantage”, said Fergus, “for you will be safe from attack.” They went forth thereafter. At the gate of the castle Fergus added, “Let a champion appear at the ford forthwith.” “You will not be baulked, not shall my honour be entrusted to another,” said Ailill. “I shall be there myself”. “Who from our party will meet the man, Dubthach?” asked Fergus. “I shall go myself,” said Dubthach. Dubthach thereafter went to meet him at the ford. Dubthach struck him (Ailill) with a spear which went through his two thighs. Ailill hurled a lance at Dubthach which went through his body, shaft and all. 🢀

  318. The MS reads fer, but the correct form fir is written in full in corresponding passages later. 🢀

  319. In the dialogue of the two attendants several words are indistinct in the MS. and the reading offered is to some extent conjectural. 🢀

  320. MS olbī or albī. Possibly for ollbach (allbach) “wild shout”. Cf. bach .i. greis no dasacht (O'Davoren), and oll, “great”, “vast”. The reading is clear, but the word is obscure to me. 🢀

  321. The reading is clear, the word is unknown to me. 🢀

  322. The phrase, word for word, is used by the Four Masters (F.M.) 1504. Cf. Kuno Meyer, Contrib. s.v. cathas🢀

  323. In the modern language ealt, ealta, is of the n-declension. Cf. D.B. M'Intyre: “Bha eoin in t-sléibhe 'n an ealtainn glé ghloin.”🢀

  324. uirghioll in I.G. and S.G. is “speech”, “talk”, “eloquence”. Alliteration probably decided the use of the word here. To the survivors, no doubt, the scene would be the subject of talk and comment. 🢀

  325. Cf. vol. i. p 107, where sieng, S.G. sithionn, means, as now, “venison”. Sideng here is evidently the same word, but the meaning must be “birds of prey”. 🢀

  326. The plural is frequently fogada🢀

  327. Cf. vol. i. p .228, where the incident is related in detail. 🢀

  328. Lit., “shield over track”, the common phrase for “covering a retreat.” 🢀

  329. MS. indistinct. 🢀

  330. Evidently a phonetic script for the literary form aoin fher🢀

  331. Lit., “until”. But here, and frequently elsewhere, the meaning is as I have rendered it. 🢀

  332. Cf. S.G. cia as a thug thu a' choiseachd🢀

  333. It will be remembered that in the early chapters of the tale, Illann Finn accompanied his father to Scotland in quest of the sons of Usnech and Deirdre, and on his return to Emain Macha was slain by Conall Cernach. Subsequently Fergus bewails the slaughter of three Illanns, sons of his. But while of old, as now, brothers had, not infrequently, the same name, the epithets by which they were known were different. There might have been several Illanns, sons of Fergus, but surely only one Illann Finn. Cf. vol. i. pp. 104, 130, 225. 🢀

  334. For this tribe, v. vol. i. p. 296, note 1. 🢀

  335. The lines are defective, as the first lines of a quatrain in this meter not infrequently are. Written in full they would read:— A Lugaid! ó a Lugaid! A Meadb muadh! ón a Meadb muadh!🢀

  336. The lines are defective, as the first lines of a quatrain in this meter not infrequently are. Written in full they would read:— A Lugaid! ó a Lugaid! A Meadb muadh! ón a Meadb muadh!🢀

  337. The reading is clear. The phrase is singularly like the English “to horse”. Marc is now obsolete; but the word survives in the compounds marc-shluagh, “cavalry”, marc-lann, “stable”, “horse-pound”; and in the derivatives marcaiche, “rider”, marcachd, “riding”, marcachd-shin, “spindrift”, marcachd-shith, “fairy riding”. For the last of these, cf. Carmina Gadelica, vol. ii. pp. 303, 327. 🢀

  338. With this idiomatic use of ann, cf. Cha d' thubhairt mise sin ann, “I did not say that at all.” 🢀

  339. Gailian frequently equates with Leinster. Here the territories of the two tribes are distinguished. 🢀

  340. Cf. O'Reilly rúta: “herd, rout, tribe” 🢀

  341. Cf. the practice among the Scottish Gael of swearing on the dirk. 🢀

  342. Or, “on the spot”; maidin may stand for maigin🢀

  343. MS. cluicd with letter scraped out. 🢀

  344. Cf. supra, vol. ii. p. 203, note 1. 🢀

  345. Add ó tech Airne, and cf. supra, p. 16, note 1. 🢀

  346. Here, as in parallel descriptive passages, it is difficult to translate literally, the selection of the Gaelic epithet being regulated by sound as much as by sense. 🢀

  347. úaite, evidently for fuaighte, “sewn”, dluth causing aspiration and disappearance of f, and gh similarly dropping the semi-phonetic spelling. 🢀

  348. The reading is clear, but I have not met with c(a)l or c(a)ll as a suitable epithet to qualify gorm. H.S.D. gives callaidhe, “white”, with the vague reference “MSS”. 🢀

  349. creat I take to be cret, “frame of chariot”, “shell of boat”, “trunk of body”, “tree”, etc., but I have not seen the word applied to sword. 🢀

  350. MS. can read curata, “heroic”, but evidently, to judge from the context, an adj. formed from cruaid, “steel”, is meant. 🢀

  351. crai, gen. of cró, “pen”, “socket”, “eye of needle”, etc. 🢀

  352. trebraid, a word of somewhat uncertain connotation; “skilfully made” (R.R., p. 80), “braided” (T.B.C., p. 218). Cf. trebarnacha, infra n. 12. 🢀

  353. cath-chles, lit. “battle-feat”, but, from the context, here the weapon by which the feat was accomplished. 🢀

  354. inneall and innill are still in use in this sense; O'Reilly gives innealladh, “implements”, evidently the form used here. 🢀

  355. MS. imnut which I take to be for imad, now iomadh, noun and adj.: “multitude”, “many a”. 🢀

  356. aeiel: The reading is clear, but the word is obscure to me. The general practice of the author in enumerating weapons is to put shields before spear and sword. 🢀

  357. V. n. 7, supra. 🢀

  358. brich: later, p. 134, the same word occurs, but with different shade of meaning,—“na secht n-archoin con a m-brích”. I take the word as a dialectal form of brigh. In this MS. ch appears not infrequently for gh. 🢀

  359. galand .i. gaisgeadh (O'Clery). The phrase guin galann occurs in several passages, and was evidently a technical expression, cf. R.R., p. 80; Irische Texte, iii (2) p. 510; T.B.C., p. 636. In MS. viii (Scottish Collection) it is stated that when the Thebans got possession of the dead body of Tydeus do rindsed guin galand amal no beith beo, “they made a g.g., as though he were alive.” In Cath Mhuighe Leana, p. 142, O'Curry translates do ronead guin ghalann de, “made him a victim of spears and lances” and adds in a note: “The original word galann or gal-lann means “a deed of lances” and is applied only to such a feat as is here described; guin galann then, signifies death by such means. This is the ancient Welsh Gallanus or homicide.” 🢀

  360. incomlann = in- now, ion- “fit for”, + comlann; hence “stout warriors”. 🢀

  361. iad I take to be a noun of which iadaim “surround”, “close”, is the verb. The modern verbal noun is iadhadh🢀

  362. The extension of this and several other names which I have not met with elsewhere is conjectural. Here m may read in. 🢀

  363. V. supra, p. 10 🢀

  364. O'Reilly has gairfic, “a dimple on the cheek”. 🢀

  365. MS. reads ma maicni: I take maicni to be a tribal name. Cf. Conmaicne (Kuno Meyer). 🢀

  366. V. supra, p. 14 🢀

  367. tesbhach, now teasach, from teas “heat”. The word is common in the Southern Highlands in this sense: tha an crodh air theasàch, said of cattle when they run under rocks or into sea or lake for shelter from the heat of the sun. In N.H. teasach is the usual word for “fever”. 🢀

  368. Lit. “thigh-alliance”. It will be remembered that at a later date, as recorded in T.B.C. p. 15, the unscrupulous Meave instructed MacRoth, her messenger, to offer, among other favours, her cairdes sliasta to Dáre of Cualgne for the loan of the famous bull, the Dond Cualgne. Nor will it be forgotten that she likewise promised the hand of her daughter Findabair to each warrior who would undertake to fight Cuchulainn at the Ford. 🢀

  369. The mustering of the Gamhanraidh detailed here first in prose and afterwards, after the manner of Gaelic Sagas, repeated in verse, contains several anomalies which a parallel version, if we possessed one, might help to remove. But the description, as it stands, is important, as well as of great interest. An Irish scholar, familiar with the north-west of Ireland, could no doubt identify several places named here which are unknown to me. Corr-shleibhe is usually Anglicised “Curlew Hill”, and Cruach (a stack-like hill) Phadraig, “Croagh Patrick”. The translations offered of several of the topographical terms may not in every case be correct. On Gaelic ground ros occurs in place-names with two meanings, “wood”, and “large broad promontory”. In the latter sense, cf. for Scotland the Ross of Mull and the Ross of North Knapdale. I have rendered invariably by “two”. Possibly this was the original meaning, but the word is used often in our names where the “two” idea seems quite unsuitable. For the prevalence and use of in Gaelic topography cf. a valuable paper by the Rev. T. Olden, D.D. (Proc. R.I.A., 3rd ser., vol. iv., No.5). 🢀

  370. Cf. the Ossianic Ballads Book of the Dean of Lismore, pp. 14, 46, Gaelic Text: “Aig Eas-Ruaidh nan eagan mall”. “Dá eagan Eas Mhic Bhadhairn” (VcMowrn). 🢀

  371. ⁊ = agus, “and”, but in error clearly for .i. = “that is”, “viz.” 🢀

  372. Here and elsewhere it is doubtful whether one should read Nuatha or n-Uatha🢀

  373. MS reads an, but cf. corresponding passage in verse below, p. 130. 🢀

  374. MS reads chinn, but cf. corresponding passage in verse below, p. 132. 🢀

  375. MS reads choin, but cf. corresponding passage in verse below, p. 132. 🢀

  376. The reading is clear, but v. below, p. 134, n.1. Probably the phrase in both cases may be a proper name: go h-Acaill, “to Achill”. 🢀

  377. The MS. m m I take to be for mac mathar. This means that the poet and Cet son of Magach were sons of the same mother. 🢀

  378. The reading is clear but the phrase is obscure to me. 🢀

  379. MS. gives midhusg. In the corresponding prose passage (p. 128) the reading mighnel is quite clear. 🢀

  380. The reading is cuill, v. supra p. 129, n.4. 🢀

  381. MS. nath. But the king's seat is elsewhere always Dun Tuaithi🢀

  382. MS. adds no in or “in” 🢀

  383. MS. indistinct. 🢀

  384. MS. indistinct. 🢀

  385. O'Reilly gives turchar and turchairt, “wealth”, “abundance”. 🢀

  386. Professor Mackinnon includes the more important variants from the parallel version in Y.B.L., p. 331 in the text. These are not included in this edition. 🢀

  387. In MS. re is written on the top margin. 🢀

  388. The Y.B.L., p. 331 variant bolgsenaib shows the word to be that now written buillsgean, meaning “the centre of”. Cf. for S.G. Ps. xlvi. 2 (metr.); Ossian (ed. 1818, p. 7); John Morrison, i. p. 165. 🢀

  389. I take the word to be the modern snaidheadh, “hacking”, “whittling”; in S.G. specially applied to cutting and carving of stones and wood. 🢀

  390. Now fearsaid, and meaning “spindle” both in S.G. and I.G. In topography, the word is applied to “a sandbank formed near the mouth of a river,” whence Joyce (i. 348) derives Belfast (Bel-feirsde). So in Lochaber (Beauties of Gaelic Poetry, p. 17):—“'S ann a bha cuid de m' shinnaribh, Eadar an Innse 's an Fhearsaid.” 🢀

  391. mullacrad. The word is obscure to me. A collective from mullach🢀

  392. airbech: evidently a by-form of airbe, “ribs”, “fence”, “phalanx” (Kuno Meyer). 🢀

  393. Alliteration no doubt caused the use of tosach, now toiseach, in this phrase for ceann. Why not, however, gur lubatar a cinn gu cosaib🢀

  394. Still in use but rather in the sense of mental distress, “torture”. 🢀

  395. Nowadays one would write air do thòir; but for this use of cf. vol. i., p. 118, n.5. 🢀

  396. Is cru for cró “pen” etc., metaphorically applied to Muincenn's bed of torture? cró is masc., and one would expect chend in the next line. It would be a bold metaphor to say that his blood (cró) or even his raw flesh (crú) would be made red, and the following line would, by such rendering, lose point. 🢀

  397. clisiud sprancdha sbindamail: a graphic phrase—clisiud is the verbal noun of clisim, cf. S.G. clis, “quick”; sprancdha is not in use now, but the first John of Ardnamurchan, from whom that sept of the Macdonalds was called Clann Iain, MacIan's, was known as John Sprangach because of his activity; spionnadh, “strength” is common both in I.G. and S.G., but the adj. spionnamhail, retained in I.G. has been disused in S.G. 🢀

  398. This feat in wrestling is known in some districts as cas bhacain🢀

  399. MS. loingus, corrected to loich-sa. 🢀

  400. turlach from tur, “dry” and loch, “lake”, is not in use in S.G. We have túrlach, quite a different word, meaning “a large fire” as in the couplet:—“Shéidinn sop is dheanainn túrlach, Loisginn Apuinn mhic Iain Stiubhart.” 🢀

  401. Cf. S.G. lom-làn, “full to the brim”. 🢀

  402. prap. From prap, “sudden”, came the I.G. phrase “le praib na súl,” S.G. am briobadh na sùl, “in the twinkling of the eyes”. 🢀

  403. I take aen (aon), “one” here to mean not “one man”, but a “man of renown”, a not uncommon idiom. 🢀

  404. Cf. vol. i. p. 14. 🢀

  405. bocóid is strictly a spot, a stud or boss of a shield, frequently as here “a shield”. In Gaelic tale the adj. bucaideach occurs,—a sgiath bhucaideach, bhacaideach, bharrachaol air a laimh chlì (West Highland Tales, ii. 459). Bucaideach is evidently from bocóid, while bacaideach is only a variant with change of vowel, “his embossed (embossed) tapering shield on his left hand.” 🢀

  406. maoil, “temple”, from maol, “blunt”, “bald”. Cf. Theid a' chluas thoirt o'n mhaoil, Cuairtear nan Gleann, ii. 119. 🢀

  407. I have not met cilar elsewhere. But Dineen has cíolrach, a collective noun, “shreds”, “fragments”, evidently formed upon this cilar. The context leaves no doubt as to the meaning. Mr Kenneth Macleod draws my attention to the Gaelic saying, Bu mhaith cilear na ceille, “A modicum of sense would be beneficial”, illustrating the meaning of cilar🢀

  408. A rather remarkable phrase. Strictly construed fraech qualifies linmaire. Cf. infra fraech fledi firmoire🢀

  409. cadach and caradradh are not now in use in S.G. 🢀

  410. no la written over bliadan. Y.B.L. has vii la ⁊ secht n-oidche🢀

  411. The nine lines followig this are manifestly written in a different hand. 🢀

  412. So Y.B.L. Glenmasan has menn muadh which is unrhythmical. 🢀

  413. imrinn, imrinde. An adjective of uncertain meaning, rendered “deadly point” (S.G., ii. 127); cf. T.B.C. voc. s.v. 🢀

  414. The reading nirdha is fairly clear in both MSS. 🢀

  415. Lit. the two triads. Y.B.L. reads the three triads, which must be a mistake. 🢀

  416. The epithet glas “gray”, probably suggests the youth of the lads. Cf. S.G. glasghille, glas-ghiullan, “a raw, growing lad”. V. supra, p. 260 n. 3, corra-ghille glas where glas = “young”. 🢀

  417. MS anign, with no a written over an. 🢀

  418. Cf. supra, p. 213 n. 3. 🢀

  419. The reading in Glenmasan is not quite clear, but the variant in Y.B.L. puts the meaning beyond doubt. 🢀

  420. Cf. vol. i p. 14; ii. 24, 106; and especially Cc., p. 112 et seq where the adventures of Fergus and his companions in Uarda, “cold-land”, are told in greater detail. 🢀

  421. Cf. The Y.B.L., p. 331 variant bolgsenaib shows the word to be that now written buillsgean, meaning “the centre of”. Cf. for S.G. Ps. xlvi. 2 (metr.); Ossian (ed. 1818, p. 7); John Morrison, i. p. 165. 🢀

  422. ath shows that brath must be bráth, although the a is not marked long in either case. 🢀

  423. madar, in Y.B.L. magar is the modern maghar “fish fry”, “bait to fish with” and in S.G. specially the artificial fly used in catching fish. In the old as in the modern language the negative form of expression frequently, as here, strengthens the assertion positively. “It was no small fry” conveys that the encounter was of the fiercest. 🢀

  424. ath shows that brath must be bráth, although the a is not marked long in either case. 🢀

  425. An old reviser of the MS. corrected garb into garba, but forgot at the same time to change ina to na, and thus left the line with a superfluous syllable. 🢀

  426. This line is omitted in the Glenmassan MS. 🢀

  427. Cf. Supra, p. 10. It will be remembered that Dubthach and Angus were with Fergus in the fight at the ford. But they were separated from him when Fraoch son of Fidach gave the order to capture the hero, and immediately afterwards his two companions. 🢀

  428. O'Curry would identify the Sdoc with the Buccina of the Romans and the Sdorgan (Sdurgan) with the Lituus. Cf. Mann. and Cust., iii p. 336 et seq. Keating (Three Shafts, Book. iii. cap. xviii. 1) commenting on Matt. ix. 23 enumerates the “minstrels” who were in Jairus's house as Storganaidhe, “storgan players”, oirfidich, “musicians” and piobaire, “pipers”. Sdoc and sdorgan were trumpets of some kind, but while the former is frequently spoken of, the latter is mentioned, so far as hiththerto known, in only one or two passages. 🢀

  429. The reading dg is clear in both MSS., i.e. derg, “red”, “blood”, metaphorically used for ár, “slaughter”. Cf. the modern Cha do dhearg e air, “He made no impression on him”; “he did not draw blood”. 🢀

  430. Or catha, “battalions”. 🢀

  431. is written over in🢀

  432. In the corresponding verse passage da is repeated, to the injury of the line. But in the two succeeding quatrains, only one hundred warriors are given, thus agreeing with Y.B.L. which without doubt gives the correct reading. 🢀

  433. Underlined, i.e. deleted, in different ink in MS. 🢀

  434. ruamna, for which Y.B.L. gives ruagadh “chase”, “pursuit” is not often met with, and the meaning is not clearly established. Cf. rí ruamna buden (Serglige Conculaind, 34). 🢀

  435. as: Omitted in text and written over the line in the MS. 🢀

  436. Fergus: so MS. But Flidaisi, as in Y.B.L., is the correct reading. 🢀

  437. Here a word is rubbed out and gus na written over the line. 🢀

  438. Dal: used here and elsewhere in the old Literature, like Corcru and the suffixes -raige and -acht, etc., in the sense of “race”, “tribe”, “descendants”. Cf. Eriu iii (1) p. 43 et seq. 🢀

  439. dluth is written above the line. 🢀

  440. Above the last m is wrtten over the line no t' or t.' 🢀

  441. fhagadh: partly rubbed out in MS. 🢀

  442. ftaillin. fortill as adj. is not uncommon. I have not elsewhere met this form. 🢀

  443. MS. safii: cf. vol. ii. pp. 109, 116, where the same form occurs, and is there extended sainn. The word is samail (and so written in Y.B.L.) used as a verb “compare”; hence “give one's mind to”, “decide”, “resolve”. 🢀

  444. This is the first of three Runs, or Retorics, of the Saga, the second being Ailill's response. There are no marks in either MS. to indicate the breaks in the Run. 🢀

  445. A word beginning with a is scraped out in MS. Y.B.L. supplies ard-maithesa🢀

  446. The Táin bó Flidaise, as given in this MS., ends here. It is seen to be quite different from the Táin bó Flidais, which at one time formed one of the remscela of the Táin bó Cúalgne, and which is printed by Professor Windisch from LL. and Eg. in Irische Texte, vol. ii, p. 208 et seq. What follows in this MS. is the Toraigheacht or “pursuit” by the Gamhanraidh for the recovery of the Tain. It will be observed that the title Toraigheact Tana bo Flidaise is not given in Y.B.L. Tain is “driving”, “raid”, especially of cattle, occasionally as below (p. 107, n. 2) and also in the modern language, used for “herds” simply. Tóir, tóraigheacht (S.G. tòrachd) is the pursuit for the recovery by the proper owners of the creach or booty. The words figure largely in Gaelic literature. In the Fernaig MS. e.g. we are told that when Death is the Raider, a tòir is hopeless. And even the Almighty is spoken of as Ceannard sluaigh le'm pillear tòir, “the Commander of a host by whom the pursuit is driven back.” (v. Trans. of the Gael. Soc. of Inverness, vol. xi. pp. 322, 331). I.G. Tòiridhe, “pursuer”, yields the English “tory”. 🢀

  447. sét, seud, pl. seòit, “a jewel” frequently denotes “cow”, “cows”, which is very probably the meaning here. In S.G. dialect a sheòid is a common greeting to a gay, gallant fellow. 🢀

  448. Ceirt (Y.B.L. ceart) can hardly be for ceithir, “four”. Ceart fhiche, I take to be a full score. 🢀

  449. V. n. 1, supra, p. 104. 🢀

  450. Sódh, for which Y.B.L. has seól in the transferred meaning of “method”, “way”. The modern saod (O.G. sét “journey”, “road”) is frequently used in the same sense. Dí (an) saod a th' ort, “In what trim are you?” can be replaced by Dé 'n seòl a th' ort? So Tha mi gu soadail, “I am in good form.” Sógh, occasionally written sódh, means in O.G. as well as in Mod. G. “luxury”. 🢀

  451. One should expect here aoiredear, “satirize” rather than gairedar, “laugh at”. But even the laugh of the poets would be unbearable to Fergus. 🢀

  452. This is the third and last retoric or run of the tale. Glenmassan marks the “breaks” or lines in a number of cases by a period. The archaic diction of the runs is a constant feature, but different from the purposely obscure diction which the bards sometimes used, as in Bricne's song (vol. i. p. 306), when the satirist meant to puzzle the Gamhanraidh. 🢀

  453. I take rím here to be for prím, as in T.B.C. (v. rim echlach) and elsewhere. 🢀

  454. The Finn-bennach, “white-horn”, is no doubt Oilill of Cruachan's famous bull which figures so conspicuously in the Táin Bó Cúalgne. A white horn nowadays is rather a demerit with cattle fanciers. 🢀

  455. I have not met the word elsewhere. 🢀

  456. Perhaps lúa thoing; in either case an expression obscure to me. Cf. S.G. spadag, “a mild thrust”, in dialect “a hasty swear”. 🢀

  457. tuairsena: the word is unknown to me, but the context suggests the meaning. 🢀

  458. The word is illegible in the MS. 🢀

  459. For notices of timpan in Gaelic literature, cf. Mann. and Cust., vol. iii. p. 359. et seq. O'Curry regards the timpan a stringed instrument, a species of the cruit or “harp”. The word is sometimes translated “lute”. Cf. Irische Texte, vol. iv timpanach, “lute player”. 🢀

  460. The b is written above the line. 🢀

  461. asraisib: the translation “passes” is conjectural. 🢀

  462. The reader will note that here, as in one or two other places in the MS., tir is still neuter. 🢀

  463. aonchu and below onchu, dobur-chu. Onchu is frequently translated “leopard”: dobur-chu, “water-dog”, is generally rendered “otter”. The dim. of dobur, dobhran was the common name for the otter, to judge by the topography, in the West Highlands in the past. Nowadays the name is usually beist-dubh or beist-donn. For the use by the Gael of the great wolf-hound in war, cf. vol. iii. p. 153 et seq. 🢀

  464. Soinnib. Cf. T.B.C., p. 587, dochodaisin co soindim sogenda remond isin teach🢀

  465. Sithe, S.G. sitheadh, “a shooting, darting motion”. The three quickest of such in the sea were, in Gaelic phrase, those of the lobster, the mackrel, and the seal: sitheadh giomaich, sitheadh rionnaich, sitheadh ròin; and it would seem that the lobster could out-distance the seal; ach giomach beag nan casa cama, an rudha dh' aindeoin thar an róin, “but the little lobster with its crooked claws will pass the point, in spite of him, before the seal.” 🢀

  466. The word I have not elsewhere seen, the meaning here is not in doubt. 🢀

  467. áinigin evidently an with intensive force and éigin: hence “outrage”. Cf. ainiccin, supra, vol. ii. p. 304. 🢀

  468. Word scraped out in MS. 🢀

  469. Over o is written no u 'or u'. 🢀

  470. ciorram is the form preserved in S.G. Cf. na daoine ciurramach, St. Luke xiv. 13. 🢀

  471. uidh is used a verb but rarely. I do not remember another instance. 🢀

  472. The MS. is indistinct, and I have not met with this name elsewhere. 🢀

  473. lit. “one man's portioner”. Evidently a technical phrase to indicate the amount of property, or the social status, of an individual. 🢀

  474. “From the Estuary of Luimnech to the river Drowes”. For a detailed description of the boundaries of the territory of the Gamhanraidh, cf vol. iii. p. 136. 🢀

  475. MS. indistinct. 🢀

  476. The idiom is doubtful to me. 🢀

  477. grianan, “a sunny spot”. Hence in mansions “a bower” and in rural landscape “a green, dry plot,” on which e.g. to spread peats for drying, “a bleaching green” and so forth. Grianan Deirdri is still preserved as a local name on Loch Etive side. 🢀

  478. ath for fàth, “cause”, “occasion”, “opportunity”. 🢀

  479. R (in large capital) on margin of MS. 🢀

  480. tuarigne and tuairgneach are still in use in the sense of “commander” “champion” (cf. O'Reilly, Dinneen.) 🢀

  481. aitim, with the meaning of “race”, “people”, is found in S.G., especially in the Psalms. Cf. also Mar bu dual o t'aiteam dhuit (W. Ross, p. 6). Dinneen has áiteamh, “act of persuading”, “evidence”, “proof”. 🢀

  482. atha for fatha, v. note 9, supra. In S.G. we say fàth a ghabhail air, rather than fàth fhaghail or fhaotainn air🢀

  483. fadb, I.G. fadhbh, S.G. faobh, “spoil”, “booty” is common. The verb, as here, fadbaim, in S.G. faobhaich, “to despoil”, “to strip off armour”, is also in use. Cf. 1 Chron. x. 8, 9: a dh'fhaobhachadh nam marbh; an uair a dh'fhaobhach iad e; and Uist Bards, p. 127:— A chinn aobhair a' chonais, 'S tric a dh'fhaobhaich na sporain. 🢀

  484. The MS. becomes very indistinct here, and difficult to read. Both text and translation are so far uncertain. 🢀

  485. The following lay is, if possible, still more obscure. A later scribe made a very helpless attempt on the margin of column 101 to give a legible version. There is a half quatrain awanting, while several words, such as grenuic, drol (in the sense evidently meant here) and others, are unknown to me. 🢀

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