VAN HAMEL

320

E DONATIONE

A. G. van HAMEL

PROFESSORIS ORDINARII INnbsp;ACADEMIAnbsp;RHENO-TRAIECTINAnbsp;1923-1946

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SCOTTISH GAELIC TEXTS VOLUME ONE

SCOTTISH VERSE

FROM

THE BOOK OF THE DEAN OF LISMORE

V

SCOTTISH VERSE EROM

THE BOOK OF THE DEAN OF LISMORE

Edited by

WILLIAM J. WATSON LL.D., Litt.D. Gelt.

Professor of Celtic in the University of Edinburgh

Published by Oliver amp; Boyd for the SCOTTISH GAELIC TEXTS SOCIETYnbsp;Edinburgh

1937

Instituut voor

Keltische taal — en letterkunde der Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht

Instituut voor

Keltische taal —en letierkuiHie der Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY OLIVER AND BOYD LTD., EDINBURGH

PREFACE

The manuscript known as the Book of the Dean of Lismore is the oldest collection of Gaelic poetry which we possessnbsp;in Scotland, having been written over four hundred yearsnbsp;ago. As mentioned in the Introduction, it contains poemsnbsp;both by Scottish and by Irish authors ; all the poems thatnbsp;follow are by Scottish poets or relate to Scotland. Amongnbsp;some omissions I regret that of a poem by Eoin Macnbsp;Mhuirich, who is repeatedly referred to in vol. xii of thenbsp;Exchequer Rolls, under the designation of carminista,nbsp;as occupying lands in Kintyre. The text of this poemnbsp;(given by M'Lauchlan, p. 82) proved too difficult tonbsp;reconstruct with certainty. Other poems are omitted asnbsp;unsuitable or of trifling interest.

The earliest poem relating to Scotland dates from A.D. 1310; of the others none is later than about 1520.nbsp;The material is thus of the greatest importance historically,nbsp;especially as it reflects the native culture at a period whennbsp;it was as yet, in the main, untouched by influences fromnbsp;the south. It is notable that among the authors of thesenbsp;poems we find not only professional poets, but also others,nbsp;including members of the ruling family of Argyll and thenbsp;chief of the Macnabs. To the initiative of the latter, itnbsp;appears, we owe the formation of the MS. collection. Thenbsp;Earl of Argyll himself, who fell at Flodden, is referred tonbsp;as a competent critic. This MS. collection, representingnbsp;but a part of Gaelic Scotland, may safely be taken as annbsp;index of conditions throughout the Gaelic area.

With few exceptions the original text of the poems here edited has been published before ; what is here attemptednbsp;is to reconstruct the poems as the poets wrote them, withnbsp;careful reference to the rules of the various metres and tonbsp;the language employed, which is common to Scotland andnbsp;Ireland. Owing to the peculiarities of the manuscript.

PREFACE

described in the Introduction, this is a matter of great difficulty. Where reconstruction was doubtful, I havenbsp;preferred to leave gaps rather than give hazardous readings.nbsp;In such cases the MS. text is printed at the foot of the page.

My warm thanks are due to Professor Osborn Bergin, who kindly read most of the poems in typescript and madenbsp;valuable suggestions. My son, J. Carmichael Watson,nbsp;Lecturer in Celtic in the University of Glasgow, has givennbsp;invaluable help in revising the whole work, preparing it fornbsp;the press, and adding the Indexes.

I feel that an apology is due to the members of the Scottish Gaelic Texts Society for delay in the publicationnbsp;of this, their first volume. Thanks are due to the printersnbsp;for their speed and accuracy.

W. J. W.

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Index of First Lines .

Index of Authors

Text and Translation

Notes

Appendix

Glossarial Index Index of Persons, Etc.nbsp;Index of Placesnbsp;List of Members

INTRODUCTION

The manuscript known as the Book of the Dean of Lismore (MS.) is a rather small paper quarto of approximatelynbsp;311 pages. In 1911 it was rebound “ in dark crimsonnbsp;niger morocco with leather doublures and an interlacingnbsp;pattern on boards and spine, worked in blind with smallnbsp;gilt circles ; leather thong clasps ; each leaf inlaid in anbsp;paper mount.” Its previous cover is described by Professornbsp;Mackinnon in his Catalogue of Gaelic Manuscripts, p. 225.

At the foot of p. 27 of the MS. is wTitten, upside down, the inscription “ Lliber Domim Jacobi MacGregor Decaninbsp;Lismorenjfj,” “ The Book of Sir James MacGregor, Deannbsp;of Lismore,” of which a facsimile appears in M'Lauchlan’snbsp;edition, p. xcvi. On p. 144 there is a genealogy of thenbsp;MacGregor chiefs, ending with the statement, “ andnbsp;Luncan, servitor, son of Dugall, son of John Riabhachnbsp;(‘ the Grizzled ’)gt; wrote this from the history-books ofnbsp;the kings and great men {ro-dhaoine), A.D. 1512 ” (originalnbsp;fraelic and Latin in M'Lauchlan’s edition, p. 126). Anbsp;Latin obituary and chronicle contained in the MS. isnbsp;carried down to the year 1529 or thereby, the last entrynbsp;being dated 1532, while the entry preceding is dated 1529.nbsp;The obituary has been printed with an introduction andnbsp;notes by Mr Donald Gregory in Archceologica Scotica,nbsp;hi., 318-328 (1831).

A separate manuscript, known as the Chronicle of Fortingall, was written by the curate of Fortingall, whosenbsp;curacy there began in 1532. The first part of this Chroniclenbsp;is much the same as that in the Dean’s Book ; its lastnbsp;entry is for 25th April 1579. The whole has been printednbsp;with introductory notes in the Black Book of Taymotith,nbsp;PP. 109-148 (1855). Both Chronicles are given in English

INTRODUCTION

translation in Mr Duncan Campbell’s Book of Garth and Fortingall, pp. 284-326 (1888). The latter Chronicle isnbsp;hereafter called the Chronicle of Fortingall, the former thenbsp;MS. Chronicle.

The history of the MS. is unknown until, at some time in the eighteenth century, it became the property of thenbsp;Highland Society of London; on 5th January 1903, itnbsp;was deposited in the Advocates’ Library, Edinburgh, nownbsp;the National Library of Scotland, where it now lies. Thenbsp;following is an outline of the work of the various scholarsnbsp;who have studied the MS. and its contents.

II

In 1805 three poems from the MS. were printed in the Highland Society Committee’s Report on the Authenticitynbsp;of Ossian (pp. 93, 95, 102), and a fragment of a fourthnbsp;(p. 141), all “ Ossianic.”

The Highland Society soon thereafter instructed the distinguished scholar, Ewen MacLachlan, to examine andnbsp;report upon this MS. and others, which he duly did. Henbsp;also made two transcripts of almost all the Gaelic portion,nbsp;one of which (EM.) is now in the National Library, andnbsp;the other in the Library of Aberdeen University, by whichnbsp;it was acquired from the heirs of the Rev. J. Walkernbsp;MacIntyre, parish minister of Kilmonivaig. Ewennbsp;MacLachlan’s transcriptions are the more helpful thatnbsp;parts of the MS. now more or less illegible were not illegiblenbsp;to him.

About 1900 a transcript of the whole MS. was made by the Rev. Walter MacLeod, at the instance and cost ofnbsp;the late Miss Amy Frances Yule of Tarradale, Ross-shire,nbsp;a descendant of Sir Roderick Murchison. Mr MacLeodnbsp;was selected as a master of the handwriting of the period.nbsp;His copy is in the National Library (WM.).

In 1862 the Rev. Thomas M'Lauchlan of Edinburgh (M‘L.) published about seventy poems from the MS., withnbsp;an attempt at a transliteration or reconstruction in normalnbsp;spelling, an English version, and an introduction and

INTRODUCTION

additional notes contributed by William F. Skene. Dr M'Lauchlan’s transcriptions are fairly good, thoughnbsp;by no means perfect; the rest of his work is of little value.nbsp;His readings of Ossianic ballads were revised by Mr Donaldnbsp;Macpherson of the Advocates’ Library, an able Gaelicnbsp;scholar, who also wrote fair transcripts of these ballads.

The Rev. Dr Alexander Cameron of Brodick made a close study of the MS., and his work was printed after hisnbsp;death in Reliquiae Celticce, i., 2-109 (1892) (RC.). Thisnbsp;contains fifty of the poems which had been printed bynbsp;M'Lauchlan, including all the heroic ballads, and, innbsp;addition, some half-dozen poems not previously printed.nbsp;Dr Cameron had the advantage of consulting Ewennbsp;MacLachlan’s transcript and Macpherson’s marked copynbsp;of M'Lauchlan’s printed text; and, in proof of his ownnbsp;care, I have been told by one who knew him well that if,nbsp;on arriving from Arran at the Library, he found the lightnbsp;unsatisfactory, he would do no work, and would, if necessary,nbsp;return to Arran. His transcripts are as a rule accuratenbsp;and reliable. He also gives some reconstructions, lessnbsp;reliable,' and some translations.

A description of the MS. was published by Professor Mackinnon in his Catalogue, pp. 225-238 (1912).

For some years before his death in 1920 the late E. C. Quiggin, of Cambridge University, worked at an editionnbsp;of the poems omitted by M'Lauchlan and Cameron. Atnbsp;the time of his death the first part of his work, consistingnbsp;of 76 poems previously unpublished, was already printednbsp;in page form. The second part was to contain a transliteration or reconstruction in normal spelling, but of thisnbsp;only two poems appear to have been printed. After hisnbsp;death the type was dispersed, and it appears that only twonbsp;copies of the first part are now in existence.

For the information contained in the last paragraph I am indebted to Professor T. F. O’Rahilly’s paper innbsp;Scottish Gaelic Studies, vol. iv., part i, pp. 31 ff., entitlednbsp;Indexes to the Book of the Dean of Lismore.” Thisnbsp;rnost useful paper contains two indexes, one of initial lines,nbsp;¦with references to the MS., M'Lauchlan, and Rel. Celt.,

xiv nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;INTRODUCTION

the other of authors (a) Scottish, (d) Irish. The former index contains 178 items ; the latter gives the names ofnbsp;44 Scottish and 21 Irish authors, with references to thenbsp;companion index.

Ill

To turn now to the persons concerned in the origin of the MS., I have already noted that the MacGregor genealogynbsp;at p. 144 of the MS. bears to have been written by Duncan,nbsp;son of Dugall, son of John Riabhach. The family tonbsp;which these men belonged had residence at Tulaich a'nbsp;Mhuilinn, hard by Fortingall in Perthshire, near the sitenbsp;of Glen Lyon House. Dugall, father of Duncan, andnbsp;styled by him Dubhghall Maol, “ Dugall the Bare,” isnbsp;several times mentioned in the MS. Chronicle and elsewherenbsp;as Dugall Johnson. In 1511 Dugall Jhonnesoun, notary,nbsp;and Dominus Jacobus Makgregoure, notary public, arenbsp;among the witnesses to the confirmation of a charter ofnbsp;Sir Robert Menzies {RMS). In the same year, at 22nd July,nbsp;the MS. Chronicle records the death of Katrina Neynnbsp;Donil vcClawe, alias Grant, wife of Dougall Johnesone, atnbsp;Tullychmollin ; she was buried in the choir of Inchaden,nbsp;on the south side of the altar. This lady was the mothernbsp;of the Dean of Lismore and his brother or brothers. Innbsp;1526 the pedestal of the cross at Inchaden was repaired bynbsp;Dugall Johnson (MS. Chronicle). Inchaden is Inchadney,nbsp;in Gaelic Innis Chailtnidh, the site of the old church atnbsp;Kenmore, at the apex of a small peninsula on the northnbsp;or left bank of the river Tay, just east of Taymouthnbsp;Castle. On ist October 1529 a stone cross was erected onnbsp;Larkmonemerkyth by Dugall Johnson on the great stonenbsp;called Clachur . . . (MS. Chronicle). Larkmonemerkythnbsp;represents Lairig Monadh Marcaich, “ Pass of the Rider’snbsp;(or Riding) Moor ; it is the high pass between Kenmorenbsp;and Gleann Cuaich, now called Lairig Mile Marcaich,nbsp;“ Pass of the Rider’s (or Riding) Mile,” and so styled fromnbsp;the long flat, suited for riding, between its steep extremities.nbsp;Dugall Johnson thus appears as a man of good positionnbsp;and public spirit. The date of his death is not recorded.

INTRODUCTION

It may be added that John Riabhach, Dugall s father, is styled “ McGewykar,” i.e. mac a’ Bhiocair, “ the Vicar’snbsp;son” (Chronicle of Fortingall, 1542)—rnost probably thenbsp;Vicar of Fortingall. A pool in the stream close by Tulatchnbsp;a' Mhuilinn is still known as Linn a! Bhiocair, “ the Vicar snbsp;Pool.”

Dugall MacGregor or Dugall Johnson had two sons, James and Duncan, already mentioned. James appearsnbsp;as notary public in 1511, along with his father. As Deannbsp;of Lismore he is on record in 1514 iOrigines Parochtales^nbsp;¦^ol. ii,, part i, p. 161). That he was also Vicar of Fortingallnbsp;and tenant of the church lands appears from the Latinnbsp;obituary record at 1551 in the Chronicle of Fortingall:

Death of the honourable and excellent man Sir James (MacGregor) . . . son of Dugall Johnson and Dean ofnbsp;Lismore . . , Vicar of Fortingall and firmarius of the saidnbsp;Church ... of good memory, on the eve of St Lucia thenbsp;Virgin at the hour of . . . afternoon ; and he was buriednbsp;on the day of St Lucia, namely ... in the year of thenbsp;Lord 155I) in the choir of Inchaden before. . . . Pray fornbsp;his soul Pater noster, Ave Maria . . . et ceteraquot; (the gapsnbsp;are due to defects in the manuscript). Dying in I55L henbsp;Was born most probably about 1480. His younger contemporary, John Carswell, Bishop of the Isles, who diednbsp;in 1572, appears to have been a student of St Andrewsnbsp;University in 1541 (M'Lauchlan’s ed. of the Liturgy,nbsp;p. xiii). If James MacGregor received a universitynbsp;education, as he surely did, the choice would lie betweennbsp;St Andrews and Glasgow, the latter of which was founded

in 1451.

His brother, Duncan MacGregor, was doubtless one of the scribes who wrote the MS. Flis description of himself,nbsp;at the end of the genealogy already mentioned, as deyrnbsp;oclych, i.e. (apparently) daor- óglach or “ servitor,” is somewhat puzzling ; it may refer to his work as amanuensis.nbsp;Poems of his preserved in the MS. indicate considerablenbsp;proficiency in the poetic art.

INTRODUCTION

IV

With regard to the origin of the poetic miscellany of which so large a part of the MS. consists, and a part ofnbsp;which is here edited, important light is, in my opinion,nbsp;afforded by the short poem addressed by Finlay Macnabnbsp;to Dugall son of John, i.e. to Dugall MacGregor, son ofnbsp;John Riabhach and father of James and Duncan MacGregor.nbsp;In this poem, printed on p. i, Finlay Macnab makes anbsp;proposal to compile a book of poetry, which he calls annbsp;Duanaire, the Song-book, a common enough term for anbsp;collection of this sort. He urges Dugall to undertake thenbsp;writing of the Duanaire ; he himself has already somenbsp;material to hand, got from packmen or from some particularnbsp;packman, and more may be expected from certain folknbsp;whom he calls na lorgdnaigh, wdth whom Dugall is wellnbsp;acquainted and has special influence. These I take tonbsp;have been the strolling bards, widely known in the Highlandsnbsp;as Cliar Sheanchain (see Celtic Review, iv., 8o), for whomnbsp;Fortingall and its neighbourhood would have been annbsp;ideal resort. In addition to them, all other sources, clericnbsp;and lay, are to be tapped.

Finlay Macnab was chief of that name, styled of Both Mheadhoin, Bovain, in Glen Dochart, at the head of Lochnbsp;Tay. In i486 the King confirmed a charter of Patricknbsp;Macnab, whereby he granted to his son and heir apparentnbsp;the lands of Bovane, Ardkelze-Estir and Doinch, in thenbsp;barony of Glen Dochart {RMSl). In 1502 Finlay Macnabnbsp;is styled “ de Bowan ” {RMS.). In 1511 Finlay Macnabnbsp;of Bowane, along with Dugall Johnsone, notary, andnbsp;Sir James MacGregor, notary public, witnessed the confirmation of the charter of Sir Robert Menzies alreadynbsp;mentioned. The charter is dated at the Isle of Loch Tay,nbsp;the seat of the ancient Priory at the lower end of the loch,nbsp;known now as Eilean nam Bannaomh, “ the Isle of thenbsp;female Saints.” Finlay Macnab’s death is recorded in thenbsp;MS. obituary at 13th April 1525.

In his poem Finlay Macnab mentions also a certain Gregor, on whom he calls to do his part in compiling the

INTRODUCTION

Duanaire. This may be Gregor Dugalson, who died at Carsdall (Carse of Dull, near Aberfeldy) in iS55inbsp;buried at Inchaden on 2nd May by a great assembly ofnbsp;men and women (Chronicle of Fortingall). In the Booknbsp;of Garth and Fortingall, p. 3®4j Duncan Campbellnbsp;conjectures, with probability, that he was the Gregornbsp;Dougallson who was expelled from Boalach (Taymouth)nbsp;by Colin Campbell of Glen Orchy in 1552 (Chronicle ofnbsp;Fortingall).

It is a reasonable inference that the Duanaire projected by the chief of Macnab has come down to us under thenbsp;name of the Book of the Dean of Lismore, compiled andnbsp;written under the care of James MacGregor and his poetnbsp;brother Duncan. Nothing would be more natural thannbsp;that Dugall MacGregor should have passed on to his twonbsp;scholarly sons a task involving so great labour.

The reference in the poem to Mac Cailein, the Earl of Argyll^ as a shrewd and competent critic of poetry isnbsp;specially interesting ; and incidentally suggests that hostilenbsp;relations between the MacGregors and the Campbells didnbsp;not preclude friendly intercourse between Dugall MacGregornbsp;and the Campbell chief.

V

The contents of the MS. have been described by Mackinnon and O’Rahilly, and it is unnecessary to repeatnbsp;the details already given by them. Four poems relate tonbsp;the earlier Cu Chulainn or Ulster cycle, twenty-four tonbsp;the later Ossianic or Fionn cycle ; the MS. text of all thesenbsp;has been printed by M‘Lauchlan. There is a fair amountnbsp;of religious or semi-religious poetry. Miscellaneous matternbsp;includes single quatrains, aphorisms, and a number ofnbsp;pieces which are more or less indecent. The Chroniclenbsp;of obits, etc., has been already mentioned. Of specialnbsp;interest for Scotland are the poems which deal with Scottishnbsp;ruling families or members of them. As might be expected,nbsp;the largest proportion of these relate to the MacGregors,nbsp;the oldest of which was composed before 1440. The othernbsp;Houses represented are those of MacDonald, Campbell of

b

INTRODUCTION

Argyll, MacDugall of Dunollie, MacLeod of Lewis, MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan, Stewart of Rannoch,nbsp;MacNeill of Gigha, and MacSween of Castle Sween innbsp;Knapdale. The poem concerning MacSween is the oldestnbsp;of those which relate to Scotland ; it was composed innbsp;1310, and is by far the most difficult to reconstruct—muchnbsp;of it I have found impossible.

Most of the Scottish poetry which can be dated was composed during the period of the writers of the MS.,nbsp;and may have been got directly from the authors. Whethernbsp;the writers consulted manuscripts or depended mainly onnbsp;oral sources is a difficult question.

As Dr Quiggin remarked in his Prolegomena, the poems here preserved relating to ruling families cover anbsp;limited area. In fact, however, there must have been,nbsp;all over the north and north-east from Sutherland southwards, and eastwards by Aberdeen, to say nothing ofnbsp;Galloway, a very large amount of early Gaelic poetry,nbsp;by trained professional bards and others, of which we havenbsp;no record. Further, it is to be understood that the poemsnbsp;collected in the MS. form only a part, probably a smallnbsp;part, of the total output of the area they represent. Theynbsp;are, however, a most valuable source of information asnbsp;to the culture of the period to which they belong. Thenbsp;art and practice of syllabic poetry was by no means confinednbsp;to the trained bards : nobles like Finlay Macnab andnbsp;members of the House of Argyll, as well as others of lessnbsp;note, contribute their share. This may be taken as annbsp;index of the native literary culture of the north and west,nbsp;which was shared by the highest and the lowest, and whichnbsp;is further indicated by the great collections made longnbsp;afterwards from the mouths of the people—J. F. Campbell’snbsp;Leabhar na Féinne and Popular Tales of the West Highlands,nbsp;J. Gregorson Campbell’s and J. MacDougall’s Waifs andnbsp;Strays of Celtic Tradition, and Alexander Carmichael’snbsp;Carmina Gadelica ; yet all these contain but a part of thenbsp;literary heritage of past centuries. That this heritage wasnbsp;to a large extent common to Scotland and Ireland is shownnbsp;by this MS., as well as by other sources.

INTRODUCTION

VI

The MS. is written, not in ‘‘ Irish ” script, but in the ordinary hand of the period, such as is seen, for example,nbsp;in the Asloan MS. edited by Sir W. A. Craigie. Somenbsp;parts are now quite illegible, the outer edge of some leavesnbsp;has been frayed off, and some line-endings have beennbsp;rendered illegible in the process of mounting the leaves ,nbsp;but most of the writing is still easily legible to one familiarnbsp;with the hand. Instead of the normal or traditional spelling,nbsp;the Writers adopted a style evidently based on contemporarynbsp;Scots spelling, and by no means consistent with itself.nbsp;In addition to the letters of the ordinary Gaelic alphabetnbsp;they used k, q, v, w, y, 3 ; as, for example, in skrnve fornbsp;^griobhadh, skail for sgéal; quho for cha, cho\ quhoy fornbsp;chuaidh; reyve for ridfnh, dciyvin for deawhcin, swillsnbsp;for siubhal, gawl for gall, wen for bhean, gi wul for gonbsp;bhfuil, di wassew for do bhèasaibh ; iyr for oighre, dyverisnbsp;for daidhbhreas, oyone for Eoin, ygyche for adhaigh,nbsp;gin '^enn for gan ghean, di yroy for dd ghruaidh, ’^etve,nbsp;^eve for dhiobh, 50^ for dhóibh, ^loyr for ghlóir, etc. etc.nbsp;The writers used some symbols found in Irish spelling.nbsp;Some of which are also found in Scots. Thus lenition maynbsp;he indicated by a dot above a consonant (though in manynbsp;cases a dot above a consonant or a vowel has no apparentnbsp;'^se) ; a horizontal stroke above a letter may indicate nnbsp;Of m ; endings such as ir, ar may be indicated by annbsp;Upward curl or flourish attached to the end of a word.nbsp;Symbols like the two last mentioned are used freely in

This departure from Gaelic spelling o ten resu ® extreme difficulty in interpreting the underlying tex ,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;0

such interpretation, close and detailed study o t e text, comparison of variant spellings of the samenbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;’

and, where possible, comparison of the M • text w versions preserved in normal spelling elsewhere, are asnbsp;essential as accurate knowledge of the metres, of tnbsp;language, and of the Perthshire dialect of the cot isnbsp;Vernacular. None of these can be dispensed with.

XX nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;INTRODUCTION

It may be asked whether the writers of the MS. wrote in ignorance of the normal spelling as seen in contemporarynbsp;prose and poetry both in Scotland and in Ireland. Whilenbsp;there may be no certainty as to this, it may be noted thatnbsp;the Dean’s younger contemporary, John Carswell, innbsp;translating the Book of Common Prayer into Gaelic, withnbsp;considerable additions by himself (1567), uses normalnbsp;spelling with great accuracy, at the same time that henbsp;insists on his lack of the training of the schools : quot;danbsp;bfaghadh saói re healadhain locht sgriobhtha no deachtaidhnbsp;sa leabhar bheagsa, gabhadh se mo leithsgelsa, óir ninbsp;dhearrna mé saothar nd foghluim sa ngaoidheilg, achtnbsp;amhain mar gach nduine don pohal choitcheand,'' “if anbsp;professional scholar find a fault of writing or of style innbsp;this little book, let him have me excused, for I have madenbsp;no study nor learning in Gaelic, save only as any man ofnbsp;the common people’’ (ed. M'Lauchlan, p. 22 ; cf. pp. 13,nbsp;21, 224). We should think that the writers of the MS.nbsp;had opportunities for studying Gaelic at least as good asnbsp;had Carswell. Further, it is difficult, for me at least, tonbsp;understand how Duncan MacGregor could have composednbsp;the poem Aithris fhréimhe ruanaidh Eoin without a goodnbsp;knowledge of both spelling and metre, the latter practicallynbsp;implying the former.

VII

The writing of the MS. in what may, in a restricted sense, be called “ phonetic ’’ spelling, i.e. by an adaptationnbsp;to Gaelic of the contemporary methods of expressing thenbsp;sounds of Scots, has provided us with material for somenbsp;study of the pronunciation of the local vernacular at thatnbsp;time. Some individual points óf phonetics are mentionednbsp;below and in the notes. More than this, there are in thenbsp;text as it stands numerous features which belong, not tonbsp;the literary, but to the vernacular language, in regard tonbsp;lenition and eclipsis, grammar, morphology, and vocabulary ;nbsp;and the handling of these points is fundamental in editingnbsp;the material. It is of the utmost importance, in studying

INTRODUCTION

the Ms., to keep in view that most, not all, of the poems here printed were composed in literary, not colloquial,nbsp;Gaelic, and according to strict rules, with observance ofnbsp;rime and often of alliteration, and with a fixed number ofnbsp;syllables in each line. In the text, as we have it, all thisnbsp;is very much disguised ; so that to restore the text underlying the MS. is by no means always to restore the textnbsp;of the poet. The latter must be our aim. In realisingnbsp;this aim, each poem must be approached individually, andnbsp;receive the treatment appropriate to it ; the process ofnbsp;obliterating all non-classical features should not be a merelynbsp;niechanical one. There is, for example, no doubt in mynbsp;mind that Fionnlagh Ruadh must be permitted liberties ofnbsp;language and even of metre which we do not find in stricternbsp;Irish and Scottish bards ; it is possible, indeed, though Inbsp;do not think it likely, that my edition has removed vernacularnbsp;features which were present in his original. In such anbsp;poem as Dd urradh i n-iath Rtreann, on the other hand,nbsp;or its companion poem Ldmh aoinfhtr fhóirfeas i nÉirinn,nbsp;It must be recognised that versification and language arenbsp;alike strict, and that any considerable blemish in eithernbsp;casts more or less doubt upon the text.

In poems of strict technique, then, corruptions are quickly detected. In cases where the MS. text is fairlynbsp;clear, and yet cannot have been the poet’s text (there arenbsp;some such cases in the poem last mentioned), nothing isnbsp;gained by the editor’s re-writing the passage. The bestnbsp;course seems to be to print the text of the MS., drawingnbsp;attention to the difficulties it presents. In poems of thisnbsp;kind, on the other hand, the conventional character of thenbsp;phrasing is helpful, for one knows what to expect. Poemsnbsp;composed in strict ddn direach, however, are here in thenbsp;minority. On the whole, the Scottish bards representednbsp;in the MS. wrote with some little licence ; and the difficultynbsp;of reconstruction is increased by the fact that most of thenbsp;poems are in a sort of ógldchas, with fewer and looser rimesnbsp;than ddn direach would require, and with alliteration eithernbsp;irregular or absent.

INTRODUCTION

VIII

It may be useful here to give some examples of the vernacular which appear in the MS. text, and which arenbsp;to be amended in the restored text ; most of them occurnbsp;in the poems which follow.

(i) The verbal particle do (a) degenerates into a before a consonant, and (J)') is doubled in the form a dh' before anbsp;vowel or ƒ. This is common in the MS. ; e.g. 1. 914, MS.,nbsp;mark a ^yil represents mairg a dheadhail, as we shouldnbsp;say now “ a (dhealaicK),quot; but must be corrected to mairgnbsp;do dheadhail. L. 603, MS., Fa fer a '^awis ir geylenbsp;represents fa fior a ghabhais ar giall, for do ghabhais arnbsp;ngiall. L. 1321, MS., Each in nee seirrith ri sayidnbsp;represents each a ni siorruith ré saighid, for Ao-ni.

Here we may note also a grammatical feature. The special relative form of the verb which exists in the presentnbsp;and future indicative active, as an fear bhios, “ the mannbsp;who is,” an fear chuirfeas, “ the man who shall put,” isnbsp;in modern Gaelic regularly reinforced by the particle a,nbsp;for do : am fear a bhios or a bhitheas, am fear a chuireas.nbsp;Here do has been introduced into the relative present andnbsp;future, as it has in vernacular Irish, on the analogy of itsnbsp;use in relative as well as in independent clauses : na daoinenbsp;Ao-chunnaic mi, now a chunnaic, “ the men whom I saw ” ;nbsp;an fear do bhi, now a bha, “ the man who was.” Herenbsp;do, a has come to be regarded as a relative pronoun, so thatnbsp;its use with relative present and future, though historicallynbsp;wrong, is logical. This usage is very common in the MS.,nbsp;and it is clear that in the vast majority of instances thenbsp;scribe, not the poet, is responsible for its appearance ;nbsp;a few such are: 1. 1512, MS., a -^orfis geil er •^allew,nbsp;represents a AAdfhoirfeas Gaoidheil ar Ghallaibh, where thenbsp;poet wrote simply fhóirfeas. L. 1789, MS., is tow ^oirisnbsp;vor skei^ sin is tow reis doywnis aggin represents is tunbsp;dhfhóireas bho'r sgith sinn, is tu a ris dfhoghnas againn,nbsp;where we must write is tu fhóireas (ó'r sgis . . .), is tu . . .nbsp;fhoghnas. L. 169, kanbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;sporrane vegga ka '^earis no

snaydda, i.e. cia AAFiarras spordin bheaga, cia AAdiarras na

INTRODUCTION

sndthada. We may take it that this was originally da iarras.

In a few cases do or a in this position is metrically necessary: 1. 1230, MS., M^cregar a fronnis baa, i.e. Macnbsp;Grtogóir a bhronnas ba ; 1. 1232, MS., a law 3e// a ^ergisnbsp;gaa, i.e. a Idmh gheal a dheargas ga ; 1. 1228, MS., otdnbsp;law '^ill a skoltis skeaa, i.e. ód Idimh ghtl a sgoltas sgiathnbsp;(see note ad loci). These three instances are from thenbsp;same poem ; but cf. also the same author at 1. 1387, MS.,nbsp;di heiwit (sic legl), i.e. do thaobhaid. In one or two casesnbsp;I have written b^hitheas rather than a bhios, e.g. at 1. 1121.

(2) The preposition do fares in the same way : beforenbsp;the verbal noun, as at 1. 835, MS., gin mi ^il a heachtnbsp;as, for gan mo ghaol do theacht ar ais ; 1. 1107, MS.,

0 zeil, for do dhiol ¦, and frequently elsewhere. Here again reduplication is frequent, as is so notably the casenbsp;in the modern spoken language (do dKÉtnnn or a dh Étnnn,

“ to Ireland ”) ; e.g., RC., p. 58, 1. 30, a 3W ni mvr glarri^ grinn, i.e. a dUfkios na mur gcldrtha ngrinn, “ to visitnbsp;the goodly panelled walls (of Dun Dealgan) (but dyss atnbsp;1- 1208). Before a vowel or ƒ, where the MS. representsnbsp;dh', as it often does, I have usually written d', but notnbsp;always.

(3) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The possessive do is sometimes in the MS. a, e.g. atnbsp;760, and at RC. p. 22, 1. 10, MS., sloneich in niss ca ther

® hee, i.e. sloinn a nis cia th'ar a thi, for ar do tht, say now who seeks thee out with hostile intent,” as the contextnbsp;shows ; RC. p. 44, 1. 2, MS., er a lawe a cleyrre chaye,nbsp;i-e. ar a Idimh a chleirigh chdidh, for ar do Idimh. Thisnbsp;pronunciation is common to-day. This do also is sometimes dh' before a vowel or ƒ, as at 1. 759; where I havenbsp;kept it so.

(4) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In literary Irish the verbal particle do and compoundsnbsp;of ro, such as nior, Ur, etc., aspirate the preterite active butnbsp;*aot the preterite passive: nior marbhadh sé, “ he was notnbsp;slain.” In modern Scottish Gaelic aspiration has spreadnbsp;to the passive ; cha do mharbhadh e, ‘‘he was not slain.”nbsp;Aspiration of the preterite passive after do, etc., is commonnbsp;in. the MS., showing that the usage was well established

INTRODUCTION

in the local vernacular at that time. E.g. 1. 953, MS., di willi letti, i.e. do mhilleadh leat, for the literary donbsp;milleadh \ RC., p. 62, 1. 21, MS., de churre ai gassythnbsp;vas, i.e. do chuireadh é gusan bhds, for do cuireadh ; 1. 872,nbsp;MS., vrskall nar '^alve roy^im, i.e. uirsgeal ndr dhealbhadhnbsp;romham, for ndr dealbhadh. The correct literary usagenbsp;is seen, e.g, at RC. p. 58, 1. i, MS., di marwe nd lowy* . . .nbsp;di marwa fayn brettin, i.e. do marbhadh mac Lughdhachnbsp;... do marbhadh fian Breatan, “ Lughaidh’s son wasnbsp;slain, slain was the warrior band of Britain.”

(5) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The plural 2nd imperative ending now general innbsp;Scottish Gaelic is -ibh, by sympathy with the correspondingnbsp;pronoun, sibh. The ending which this has displaced,nbsp;however, namely, -idh, still survives in certain dialects, asnbsp;in my own native dialect of Easter Ross, where we say,nbsp;e.g. cuiridh, “ put ye,” not cuiribh as in the west. It hasnbsp;been suggested that our -idh is merely a reduction of -ibh,nbsp;but this is not so ; our -ibh has a very different sound.nbsp;The -ibh ending, then, is found in the MS. : 1. 2299, MS.,nbsp;estew zeym dar maggarich, i.e. éistibh dhiom d’urnbsp;magaireacht, where éistibh is to be retained along with othernbsp;vernacular forms ; but the correct form is seen at RC.nbsp;p. 36, 1. 37, MS., Estith beg ma ^alew leith, i.e. éistidhnbsp;beag madh ail libh laoidh, “ hearken a little, if ye desirenbsp;a lay ” ; RC. p. 8, 1. 6, MS., Estith re astinny* Inn, i.e.nbsp;éistidh ré distineacht Fhinn, “ hearken to the prophecynbsp;of Fionn.” L. 1621, MS., toggew fert is for togaibh feart-,nbsp;elsewhere M.S., faikgew mir sin, is for fdgaibh (the literarynbsp;fdgbhaidK) mar sin.

(6) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A feature of modern Gaelic is the greatly extendednbsp;use of -an, -ean, in forming plural nominatives of nouns.nbsp;Such forms may be retained in such a poem as that onnbsp;p. 236; so 1. 2332, MS., mi chardin, .mo chairdean, andnbsp;at 1. 2337 ; but elsewhere they are out of place : 1. 2205,nbsp;MS., ni mnan is messd, i.e. bidh na mnathan as measa,nbsp;where metre requires mnd.

(7) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;We are familiar with the reduction of the prepositionnbsp;ag to d before a verbal noun beginning with a consonant.nbsp;This is not a feature of the literary language, but is

INTRODUCTION

exceedingly common in the MS. and must have been regular in speech. One example out of many will suffice : RC.nbsp;P- 4j h 20, MS., a mosklei*' hork is efeyg(}) i.e. a' mosgladhnbsp;thorc agus fiadh, “ arousing boars and stags.” Somenbsp;examples of the total omission of a' are ; RC. p. lo, 1. 19,nbsp;Ms., Mis danow chrawe, i.e. mise déanamh chrdbhaidh,nbsp;I practising devotion ” ; RC. p. 20, 1. 8, MS., wa nanbsp;scolt;^ nyn donn, i.e. bha 'na rèim sgoltadh na dtonn,nbsp;quot;which was cleaving the waves in her course ” ; RC.nbsp;P' 24, 1. 3, MS., Sowle ni farga gi dam, i.e. siubhal (fornbsp;^g siubhal) na fairrge go dian, “ traversing the sea innbsp;haste ” ; etc.

(8) In modern Scottish Gaelic the article in certain positions is pronounced and written not an but a' (beforenbsp;onited b, c, g, »?, p, in the nominative singular femininenbsp;and the genitive singular masculine, and after prepositionsnbsp;quot;whose modern form before the article ends in a consonant).nbsp;. ^he literary language an is written in full. Frequentnbsp;in the MS. are such forms as : RC. p. 62, 1. 12, a wan,nbsp;® bhean ; RC. p. 64, 1. 7, a fest, a’ phéist (as against 1. 21,nbsp;fest, an phéist) ; RC. p. 66, 1. 17, crw*' a khinn, cruthnbsp;^ chinn-, RC. p. 76, 1. 23, tanik neyn a wrot inn, tdinignbsp;'^'^ghean a' bhruit fhinn, “ the damsel of the white mantlenbsp;came, where the literary phrase would be inghean annbsp;bhruit.

^ (9) The nominative singular masculine of the article ore labials and ƒ, in literary usage an, is in our speechnbsp;; so RC. p. 78, 11. 3 and 5, ym brat, am brat, “ thenbsp;n^antle, ’ and very frequently ; but RC. p. 78, 1. 15, in brata,nbsp;brat; etc.

(lo) The conjunction dd n-, “ if,” is now with us nan V nanf^ and drops its initial n under no circumstances.nbsp;11° instance of nan in the MS., but there is somenbsp;ence that the word was pronounced a (sometimesnbsp;_ c ipsing) in common speech: 1. 250, MS., a bi -^ail less,

^ c. a badh (for dd mbadh) dil leis ; 1. 271, MS., a ghunym, nea ^nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mr dd gcluininn ; RC. p. 4, 1. 14, MS. a

in dofin, i.e. a n-iarradh (for dd n-iarradli) an ’ MC. p. 34, 1, 23, MS., a beine gin de bra, i.e. a

INTRODUCTION

beinn (for dd mbeinn) go dti brdth, “ if I were to be until doom come ” ; etc. When dd is represented by the MS.,nbsp;it is not always followed by eclipsis; RC. p. 34,1. 45, MS.,nbsp;di bi Iwme, i.e. dd badh, for dd mbadh, ddmadh ; so atnbsp;11. 1886, 1890, etc.

(11) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A conspicuous feature of the clipped Gaelic speechnbsp;of North Perthshire at the present day is the dropping ofnbsp;final -adh : a' lorn (for lomadh) nan caorach, “ clipping thenbsp;sheep.” Final -aidh, however, tends to remain ; thus innbsp;the place-name Fas, Foss, for Fasadh, older Fosadh, thenbsp;genitive of which is seen in Braigh Fasaidh, Brae of Foss.nbsp;This feature is evident in the MS.; 1. 897, MS., in ner,nbsp;i.e. a n-aor, for aoradh ; 1. 372, MS., do skolt, i.e. do sgolt,nbsp;for do sgoltadh ; 1. 421, MS., in ter, i.e. an t-earr, for annbsp;t-earradh ; RC. p. 18, 1. 9, MS., Ne raacha 5a gomor,nbsp;i.e. ni racha dhd gcommór, for commdradh, “ thou shaltnbsp;not proceed to equal them,” etc.

(12) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the literary Gaelic of the period the negativesnbsp;are ni, nocha, nocha n-. Both are found commonly in thenbsp;MS., but the writers make free use of cha, chan, which isnbsp;now our only negative, but does not occur in the oldernbsp;literature. In some instances this form is doubtless due tonbsp;the poets themselves, especially if they were not professionalnbsp;bards, and it is not always to be removed or altered. Thenbsp;poem by the Dean of Knoydart (p. 96) has cha thrice,nbsp;and neither ni nor nocha. Metre does not betray thenbsp;substitution by the writer of cha for ni, but cha for nochanbsp;is more easily detected, as at 1. 800. In this poem bynbsp;Giolla Coluim mac an Ollaimh (p. 82), cha, chan occurnbsp;ten times in the MS. text, ni, nior four times. In such anbsp;case cha is hardly to be obliterated, though Giolla Coluimnbsp;was a trained poet. In the uirsgéal or apologue whichnbsp;really formed part of the poem, but is placed separatelynbsp;in the MS., cha does not appear, while ni occurs thrice.

(13) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A feature of modern Scottish Gaelic, as opposednbsp;to the older language, is the lenition of an indefinite nounnbsp;in the genitive plural depending directly on another noun :nbsp;cuideachd fhdidhean, “ a company of prophets ” ; briathrannbsp;fhear Israeil, “ the words of the men of Israel.” In the

INTRODUCTION

Ms. such genitives are found both lenited and unlenited, the former rather more commonly : the modern usage wasnbsp;not yet established. A few examples of non-lenition innbsp;the MS. where our modern Gaelic would lenite are ; 1. 702,nbsp;(^omunn cliar •, 1. 1166, ri fial uasal Gaodhal ] 1. 1964,nbsp;féadail fileadh nd cUireach {cleirrych MS.) ; 1. 1972, urraimnbsp;ddmh ; 1. 2300, a shil bodach is searrach, etc. In somenbsp;place-names the old usage persists to-day; Innse Gall,nbsp;the Hebrides ; Dim Breatann, Dumbarton; Cruachannbsp;Beann, Cruachan of Peaks ; as contrasted with Stdhnbsp;Bhailhann, Schiehallion, as atl. 1755, and Earra-Ghaidheal,nbsp;Argyll (cf. Oirir Ghaoidheal at 11. 1031 and 1521).

(14) I shall now mention some of the many indications which the MS. affords of the vernacular pronunciation atnbsp;the time, as opposed to the literary pronunciation, whichnbsp;Would be that of the bard himself and with which the poemsnbsp;should be read now.

As in some dialects of the present day, so in that of the Fortingall district at that time, medial dh and gh mustnbsp;often had the sound of bh. In north Perthshire now onenbsp;hoars such pronunciations as mu dheibhinn for mu dheidhinn,nbsp;We in Easter Ross say diabhaidh, truabhan for diadhaidh,nbsp;Buaghan. Many instances could be furnished from namesnbsp;of places, such as Buail-fhiodhaid, anglicised as Belivat ;

Buighean in Sutherland and na Ruigheanan in Easter ^oss, both anglicised Rhives ; Ceann-ruighe, Kinrive.nbsp;The Fernaig MS. has numerous instances such as sevilnbsp;for saoghal (yf. Fraser, SGS. i., 50). The change fromnbsp;Sb-, dh to bh, though not excessively common in the MS.,nbsp;oan be illustrated : RC. p. 10, 1. 14, MS., Innis downe anbsp;phadrik 7iohor a leyvin, i.e. innis duinn a Phddraig inbsp;'^onóir do Uibhinn (for Uighinn), “ tell us, O Patrick, innbsp;,,°nour of thy learning ” (which also illustrates a for do,nbsp;1.28, MS. , ga leyve, i.e. g'a Uibheadh (for UigheadK)nbsp;to be read” ; 1. 1361, MS., connir a hayvin, i.e. conair anbsp;^^éibhznn, for conair théighinn, “a road I should go.”

o

was confined to certain words.

Notable is the spelling of the parts of ceanglaim, I bind .

INTRODUCTION

RC. p. 58, 1. 34, MS., cayvelir connil laa conleich, ceanglar Conall Ie Conlaoch, “ Conall is bound by Conlaoch ” ;nbsp;RC. p. 60, 1. I, MS., Cayd dar sloygh di cawlei* less, céadnbsp;d'ar sluagh do ceangladh leis, “ a hundred of our host werenbsp;bound by him ” ; RC. p. 28, 1. 4, MS., Chaywill tre nenournbsp;gi moy, cheangail tri naoinear {naonbhar) go mbuaidh,nbsp;“he bound thrice nine men victoriously’’ ; ibid., 1. 5, MS.,nbsp;caywill ni dre cheill, ceangal na dtri chaol {gcaol), “ thenbsp;binding of the three slender parts.” These are instructivenbsp;instances of the treatment of the consonant group, -ng-. Thenbsp;process has been (i) dropping of the n, though the precedingnbsp;vowel may remain more or less nasal; (2) g becomes lenited ;nbsp;(3) becomes bh. In my own native Gaelic, the first twonbsp;stages of the process may be said to be regular : ceangalnbsp;is ceaghal or ceoghal, plural, ceaghlaichean, ceoghlaichean,nbsp;“ rafters of a house,” in all of which ea, eo is but slightlynbsp;nasal ; long, “ ship,” is logh, with vowel as in Englishnbsp;how, and with no trace of nasalisation. So teanga, “ tongue,”nbsp;is teighiy) ; iongnadh, “ wonder,” is ioghnadh, with strongnbsp;initial palatalisation ; langanaich, “ belling of a stag,” isnbsp;laigheanaich ; mang, “ fawn,” is meagh, with strongnbsp;palatalisation {Coire nani Meagh, “ Corrie of the Fawns ”) ;nbsp;and iongna, “ nail,” is ighinn. Only in one instance,nbsp;however, do we change gh to bh, viz., in seangan, “ ant,”nbsp;which is seabhan, devoid of nasalisation, and exact parallelnbsp;to MS. caywill. Some of the pronunciations given abovenbsp;are peculiar to Ross-shire ; others are not ; and it may benbsp;noted that de-nasalisation is complete only in some cases.nbsp;In our Norse place-names, on the other hand, -ng- standsnbsp;firm ; Langail, Langwell, “ Long-field,” where the -ng- isnbsp;sounded as in “ anger.”

A further example is dn Chonghail, Connel of Lome, mentioned thrice in the MS. : 1. 1737, MS., a gonnil, inbsp;gConghail', 1. I794) MS., vone chonnil, bhdn (o’n) Chonghail',nbsp;1. 1658, MS., fan gonvill, fan gConbhail. Here the pronunciation with -bh- is indicated but once, but that thenbsp;spelling is no aecident is shown by “ the feray of Gonwellnbsp;in Lome” (Macfarlane’s Geographical Collections, ii., 514).nbsp;Further, Ardconnel on the Gare Loch (Roseneath) is in

INTRODUCTION

1351, nearly two hundred years before the date of the MS., spelled Ardenaconvell, i.e. Aird na Conbhail (ConghaiV).

We are familiar with the pronunciation of cnoc as croc, gnlomh as griomh, etc., with nasalisation. In Perthshirenbsp;Clach Mhic Reill, Tom Mhic Reill (Tomcrail), and Batanbsp;Mhic Reill mean “ MacNeill’s Stone,” “ Mound,” andnbsp;“ Boat (Ferry) ” respectively. So in the MS. we have :nbsp;RC. p. 36, 1. 15, MS., gin draw ior gan tnuth ; 1. 164, MS.,nbsp;0 cret for a cnead; 1. 2004, MS., 0: ^reyve for a ghniomh ;nbsp;RC. p. 78, 1. 5, MS., zoo wrei, i.e. bho mhraoi for ó mhnaoi;nbsp;RC. p. 62, 1. 21, MS., re mrave for ré mndibhbut RC.nbsp;p. 78, 1. II, MS., dym zt)neisi, dom mhnaoi-se ¦, and innbsp;the poem ascribed to Gerald Earl of Desmond (M‘L.,nbsp;P' 78), where mndibh occurs often, the spelling is mnazve,nbsp;and le h-aonmhnaoi is lay heine zvnei^.

The adjectival ending -amhail is in modern Scottish Gaelic shortened to -ail, usually spelt -eil after a slendernbsp;Consonant : cairdeamhail, modern ScG. cairdeil. In thenbsp;poetry preserved in the MS. the full form is as a rulenbsp;required by metre, but the spelling indicates the modernnbsp;pronunciation; 1. 1550, MS., carduel, cairdhmheil, nownbsp;cairdeiT, 1. 2303, IAS., fullul, apparently for/Mf/cawAa//,nbsp;folamhail, but representing a pronunciation fuileil, whichnbsp;should perhaps be written ; RC. p. 24, 1. 6, MS., tortoyl fornbsp;ioirteil, the form required by the metre ; etc.

The word ceannphort, “ leader,” was then pronounced ^eannard, as now: 1. 2405, MS., kennort, 1. 1351, MS.,nbsp;kennord (riming gleannphort, MS., quot;^lan phorf).

The word longphort, “ ship-station, encampment, residence, hut, enclosure of stones around a fire for open-air

The

416,

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the pulpit pronunciation of diabhal, “ devil.” The sound of the ending -mhor, -mhar is shown in such spellings asnbsp;lenor, lenour for lionmhor, breor for brioghnihor, with nonbsp;trace of -mh-. Deichneabhar, “ ten persons,” is deachnornbsp;(RC. p. 84, 11. 13, 14), deychnor (ibid., 1. 16), our modernnbsp;deichnear—which in this case is required by the metre.

From the verb do-bheirim, the spelling of the imperative as hoithir indicates the common modern pronunciationnbsp;thobhair, where the spirant bh is not pronounced, but thenbsp;word is still two syllables : this is exactly what the MS. th, *nbsp;indicates here and often elsewhere. At 1. 213, MS., doy^rnbsp;probably represents disyllabic dtabhair, though metrenbsp;requires dtoir. So at RC. p. 7, 1. 41, MS., Meichall isnbsp;mwr nf dey dynx hoyrt fene er in laa, Michéal is Muirenbsp;¦ {is') Mac Dé dom thabhairt féin ar an ld, “May Michaelnbsp;and Mary and God’s son conduct me on that day.” Monosyllabic thoirt is spelt hort (1. 732).

From the substantive verb, we meet occasionally the form feilim, etc., instead of the more ordinary fuilim,nbsp;corresponding to modern feil in bhfeil, bheil. A goodnbsp;instance is at RC. p. 80, 1. 2, MS., Cut da ny'mich chanbsp;chellwm gin ga' wellwm gi calmi, Cuid dd n-imtheachtnbsp;cha cheilim gion go bhfeilim go calma, where the rime withnbsp;ceilim is decisive.

An early example of the word nic, contracted from ni mhic, is found at p. 199 of the MS. in the line a mhare neknbsp;gille quot;^ivynni, a Mhdiri nic Ghille Dhuinn, “ thou Marynbsp;daughter of Mac Gille Dhuinn,” where, too, it is the poet’snbsp;word, not the scribe’s. At 1. 354, where the scribe hasnbsp;ne v'clymont, metre requires inghean Mhic {Laghmainri).

The preposition Ó, “ from,” was regularly bho, as now.

The intrusion of a final t, very common in certain of the Isles, especially after s (e.g. a nist for a nis, a rithist fornbsp;a rithis, fhathast for fhathas, solust for solus), is seen innbsp;dyne loyt is dyne rynilt, Clann Leoid agus Clann Raghnailtnbsp;(for Raghnaill) (1. 2321). (The normal Gaelic developmentnbsp;from the Norse form is Raghnall; it is not a case of thenbsp;Norse d having survived.) In Mid Ross I was familiar withnbsp;Raghalt for Raghnall, Ronald.

INTRODUCTION

The negative prefix neamh- was pronounced, as now, neo- : so at 1. 454, MS., noe’^ann for neamh-ghann, andnbsp;regularly.

Attention is drawn in the notes to the spelling at 1. 2315, i.e. Mac-a-phi, for -Mac Duibh-Shithe, which isnbsp;demanded by the metre ; and to that at 1. 601, a v^awee,nbsp;i-e. a Mhic-a-Bhi, for a Mhic Dhé Bhi.

At 1. 354, MS., ne vquot;clymont, we have the form which survives as MacClymont, for MacLagh^nainn, Lament.

The poems are sometimes useful in regard to names of places. When Fionnlagh Ruadh, for example, chargesnbsp;Allan with cred elly^ nd royb sin lygh er fenand in glennbsp;gar (1. 1282), he establishes two facts : that the saint ofnbsp;Rn Garry is Fiondn, and that the name of the glen isnbsp;e-ann Garadh. Garadh is sometimes inflected in thenbsp;genitive as Garaidh, but wrongly. In connection with (ii)nbsp;^ ove. We may note that the Perthshire Glen Garry is

^gularly Gleann Gar now, while Bridge of Garry is Drochaid Ghar.

Loch Hourn appears at 1. 1292, MS., leggit derri di eddr selli is sowyrnni, Uigid deireadh do mhuirnenbsp;. Agz/g is Subhairne. The metre being deibhidhe,nbsp;nothing is more certain than that the word riming withnbsp;has three syllables ; and the nature of its final

o syllables is also certain. The loch lies between steep and high

mountains ; Coire Shubh or Coire Shuth is at ead. Its name is a compound of subh, “berry,” or,nbsp;Pnr aps more likely, of suth, “ fruit, produce,” and bearna,nbsp;“nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nxact parallel is A’ Mhorbhairm, Morvern,

^na-gap,” and the phonetics are strictly according to

re nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;appears once (1. 1747), and the metre (Séadnd)

li^uires Inbhir Ntse, which may or may not be a poetic nrty , the name now is always Inbhir Nis.nbsp;in lU Toilbhe, anglicised as Loch Tulla, appears twicenbsp;(¦ oirbli)^^nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;^987) ; at 1. 1744 appears sruth Toilbh

in nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;some words used by these poets seem to be

or at any rate in wide and general use, only in

xxxii nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;INTRODUCTION

Scottish Gaelic. Of such I have noted monadh, “ mountain, mountain moor,” Welsh mynydd; dileab, “ legacy ” ;nbsp;pailt, “ plentiful ” ; bagaidie), “ cluster ” ; Welsh bagad,nbsp;Latin bacca; piuthar, “ sister,” formed from Old Irishnbsp;siur, aspirated^ur. It may be noted that the poets tend tonbsp;use the forms matk and flath in preference to maith andnbsp;flaith, more usual in Irish. Both the latter forms existnbsp;in Scottish Gaelic, and where rime permits one may choosenbsp;to use them ; but math, flath seem to be regular when rimenbsp;is decisive. Such cases are collected in the glossarial index.

These notes are, of course, far from exhaustive ; they are intended but to outline the points in regard to whichnbsp;the spelling of the MS., difficult and exasperating as it is,nbsp;can be made to furnish valuable information. Each ofnbsp;the points treated might be investigated more fully, andnbsp;doubtless many others besides. Enough has been saidnbsp;to show that between the vernacular of that period andnbsp;the literary language there was a very considerable difference,nbsp;while in many important respects the former differed notnbsp;at all from the spoken Gaelic of our own time.

IX

I shall close this Introduction with some remarks on Fortingall and its neighbourhood. The River Lyon, afternbsp;a varied course of about thirty miles emerges from the deep,nbsp;rugged and narrow Pass of Lyon, and flows smoothlynbsp;along the level flat of the Vale of Fortingall, and thencenbsp;to its junction with the Tay at Rinn Lioinhunn, Point ofnbsp;Lyon, some five miles farther down. The Vale itself,nbsp;about a mile and a half long and half as wide, is boundednbsp;on the north by high grassy bluffs of limestone, and onnbsp;the south by the heathery and wooded slopes of Cnocnbsp;Druiminn^ Drummond Hill, which separates it fromnbsp;Loch Tay. Fortingall, in Gaelic Fartairchill, on recordnbsp;as Forterkil, etc., means “ Fort Church,” with reference

^ Druiminn is an old dative-locative of druim, “ ridge.” It has no sort of connection with the hero Fionn, as asserted by W. F. Skene,nbsp;Book of the Dean of Lismore, p. ii.

INTRODUCTION

a circular fort, an Dim Geal, situated high up on the bluff a little way north-east of the church ; and the church,nbsp;as often, has given its name to the parish. These circularnbsp;forts, with walls about eight feet thick, internal diameternbsp;approximately fifty feet, and one narrow entrance, arenbsp;characteristic of western Perthshire, and are representednbsp;also by

some outliers in Argyll. In Gaelic such a fort is '^^steal, plural caistealan, “ castle ” ; in southern Perthshirenbsp;cy have apparently left the name Keir, for Welsh caer,nbsp;fort.” Their distribution coincides with the boundsnbsp;assigned to the ancient tribe of the Verturiones^ “ Fort-A whence the later Gaelic district-name Fortriu,nbsp;genitive Fortrenn. These “ castles ” ^ are traditionallynbsp;connected with the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill, whose chiefnbsp;residence was an Dim Geal, “ the White Fort ” :

“ Bha da chaisteal deug aig Fionn

an Cromghleann dubh nan clach ” ;

Fionn had twelve castles in the dark bent glen of stones ” (ne. Glen Lyon).

Fortingall is rich in prehistoric remains. At the western V fbe Vale is Dail an Fhraoich, “ the Heather Dale,”nbsp;a fine example of an ancient tomb ® with commemorativenbsp;'^'ng stone, now recumbent, and cupmarked, as arenbsp;rnany other stones in the neighbourhood. A little to thenbsp;datnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Roman Camp,” an earthwork of uncertain

hff li 4 doubtless ancient, surrounded by a deep broad In a field before the church are three groups of

derived by Rhys from Early Celtic vertera, “ fort,” Irishnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The gaelicised Fortriu was perhaps influenced by

mighty.” Fortar, corresponding to Welsh formnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;fhe same irregularity of vowel ; but some old record

2*S nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;^ \ Fertigil, Fertirgill, Fertirkil (RMS., vol. ii., index),

in Lorn^ Circular Forts in North Perthshire ” and “ Circular Forts ofnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;North Perthshire,” in Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries

/ ^^oUand, vol. xlvii. and vol. i., Fifth Series.

with a ^ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;consists of three rings, separated by slight hollows,

cigar-sh'quot;*''!f^^ depression. The width across is 43 ft. The stone is Le^^tt,’nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;®nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;3 ft. broad, and 2 ft. thick,

wide nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ditch, 120 ft., breadth 87 ft.; ditch about 50 ft.

f'-om hp to hp ; entrance faces due east.

INTRODUCTION

standing stones. On the opposite side of the Lyon is Tigh-Neimhidh^ anglicised Duneaves, the English pluralnbsp;form being due to the presence of Tigh Neimhidh Ghearrnbsp;to the west; in each name Neimhidh represents Earlynbsp;Celtic nemeton, a sacred place of meeting and of judgment.^nbsp;The famous yew tree at the west end of the church, whichnbsp;in Pennant’s time (1772) measured fifty-six feet around,nbsp;and whose remains are still vigorous, is judged to be onenbsp;of the oldest trees in Europe, probably about two thousandnbsp;years old. In view of its nearness to the Nemeton andnbsp;the well-known reverence for such trees in pagan times,nbsp;we are probably safe in regarding it as a sacred tribal tree,nbsp;and in supposing that on the introduction of Christianitynbsp;its site determined the site of the church ; and also thatnbsp;the Nemeton became church land. Similarly, St Patricknbsp;is recorded to have founded a church hard by the “ Treenbsp;of Tortiu ” (iuxta Bile Torten), close to the spot wherenbsp;later stood the monastery of Ard Brecain in Meath : thenbsp;ancient pagan site was taken over by the Christiannbsp;church.

Below Duneaves on the right bank of Lyon was Cladh Chiarain, St Ciaran’s cemetery. St Ciaran’s Chapel stoodnbsp;on the left side of the road leading to the farmhouse ofnbsp;Borland ; and between the site of the chapel and the publicnbsp;road by the side of Loch Tay is Dail Chiarain, St Ciaran’snbsp;Meadow. Below Cladh Chiarain a ford on the Lyonnbsp;opposite Drumcharrie is named Ath Bhreanaidh or Athnbsp;Bhranaidh, a name which is to be taken along with Cillnbsp;Ach-Bhreanaidh in Strath Brora, Sutherland, both probablynbsp;commemorating St Brendan. Dail Mo Choid on Duneavesnbsp;Farm commemorates Coeddi or Ceti, Bishop of Iona, whonbsp;died in 712. His fair, Fèill Mo Choid, was held atnbsp;Fortingall on the first Tuesday of August (O.S.) or onnbsp;20th August (N.S.), when Iambs were sold. Anothernbsp;market of the same name, or an offshoot of the same market,nbsp;was held at Coshieville (Cois a' Bhile'), a few miles east ofnbsp;Fortingall, on 9th August (O.S.). These fairs ceasednbsp;between 1880 and 1890.

See CPNS., p. 244 fif.

INTRODUCTION

Ath Mo Ghriam, the ford on the river below Bridge of Lyon, and Clach Mo Luchaig are of doubtful explanation.nbsp;The latter is a tall standing stone in a garden at the roadsidenbsp;'West of Fortingall Hotel, to which, as local tradition has it,nbsp;scolds were fastened by iron pins, traces of which are visiblenbsp;still. The name can have no connection with Mo Luag,nbsp;the saint of Lismore, as has been suggested.

The hamlet of Fortingall proper is immediately west the church, and is called Baile a Chlachain or Clachannbsp;^artairchill, “ the Kirktown of Fortingall.” West of it,nbsp;^gain, is Baile a’ Mhuilinn, “ Milltown,” on the burnnbsp;A lit Dobhar. A small height just beyond the burn, nearnbsp;the site of Glen Lyon House, is Tulaich a! Mhuilinn,nbsp;“ the Height of the Mill ” ; and here, according to traditionnbsp;and written record, was the home of the MacGregors withnbsp;whom We are concerned.

^-\lt;r nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;, -v;quot; gt;:*?'-quot;'nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;' -- *

; ,:!, ., nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;-i-'.. 'jf:-:.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;•nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;.^ -nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;’¦ 'nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;’ V-T-i Itl

INDEX OF AUTHORS

461

SCOTTISH VERSE

FROM

THE BOOK OF THE DEAN OF LISMORE

FIÜNNLAGH MAC AN ABA

1. AUCTOR HUIUS FIONNLAGH MAC AN ABA

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;DuanaIRE na sracaire,

damadh ail libh a sgriobhadh, fuaras féin don phacairenbsp;ni' da bhféadtar a h'onadh.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Giodh iomdha na h-andaoinenbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;5

ar tl' millidh na tuatha, cha nfhaghthar ’na chomaoin-senbsp;aon réad san domhan uatha.

Do bhéasaibh na lorganach,

gion go mbeith uatha acht mile, an teach ’ga mbia a gcomhdhail-sean,nbsp;cha ruig iad é go h-oidhche.

5. Cha bhia mé ’ga sloinneadh-san, cha nfhuil agam da seanchasnbsp;acht a mbeith san choinfheasgarnbsp;agus na coin ’na leanmhain.

A Dhubhghaill, a chompanach, a mheic Eoin na lann h'omhtha,nbsp;’ga bhfuil iul na lorganach,nbsp;déan an Duanaire sgn'obhadh.

7. Sgrlobh go fiosach flreólach a seanchas is a gcaithréim ;nbsp;na beir duan ar mhi'sheoladhnbsp;go a léigheadh go Mac Cailéin.

4. Ataa ossil a’nossil agki na chotti killi

Is ta wessew wea ray ayskrey (r doubtful) ga jeyg cha chlwni (chlwnt® RC) sinni (fynn, fynni ? RC) MS.]

25

FINI.AY MACNAE

The Author of this is Finlay Macnab

I. As to the Song-book of the Pillagers, should you be pleased to write it, I myself have got from the packman somewhat that may go to fill it.

2. Though many are the evil men who are set on spoiling the folk, not one thing in the world is got from themnbsp;in return for it.

3- It is a custom of the strollers, though they should have but a mile to go, that they will not reach until nightfallnbsp;the house which they make their tryst.

S- I shall not name their ancestry, I have naught of their story, save their being in the evening with the dogsnbsp;in their train.

6. Thou Dugall, my comrade, son of John of polished blades, thou who hast the guidance of the strollers,nbsp;do thou write the Song-book.

7- Write expertly, learnedly, their lore and their tuneful works ; bring unto MacCailein no poem lackingnbsp;artistry to be read.

FIONNLAGH MAC AN ABA

8. Cuimhnigh féin an comunn-sa, a Ghriogóir, mar do-chualais,nbsp;go bhfuil agam oradsa

do chuid do chur san Duanair.

9. Na biodh annsan domhan-sa do shagart na do thuathachnbsp;’ga bhfuil nl ’na gcomhghar-sannbsp;nach cuirthear é san Duanair.

FINLAY MACNAB nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;S

Remember thou too, Gregor, this partnership, even as thou hast heard, that thou owest it to me to put thynbsp;share in the Song-book.

9- Let there not be in this world one single priest nor layman who has aught by him that is not put in the Song-book.

BLIND ARTHUR

The Author of this is Blind Arthur Mac Gurcaigh (?)

I. Tryst of a fleet against Castle Sween, welcome is the adventure in Inis Fail; horsemen travelling thenbsp;billows, brown barks are being cleansed for them.

2. Tall men are arraying the fleet, which swiftly holds its course on the sea’s bare surface : no hand lacks a trimnbsp;warspear, in battle of targes, polished and comely.

3- Of quilted hauberks is arrayed the barks’ forefront innbsp;form of jewels, of warriors with brown-faced girdles ;nbsp;Norsemen and nobles are they.

4- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Of swords with gold and ivory setting is the forefront of the

brown-sailed barks ; [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] a rank of bright-

pointed spears, shields hang from the long sides of the ships.

5- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Behind shields on dappled cutters is a gleaming pile of

stones of gold ; [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;], fair hat and collar hang

on the sides of the yards right sharp and strong.

6. A strong wild wind blows on the shoulders of the swift barks, while they are being loaded by the shore ; anbsp;stout rank [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] of blades, a set of shields lean

by the barks’ planks.

65

ARTUR DALL

7. Mna fionn[- ] i ngrian na loingse,nbsp;leaptha arda ag ighnibh mall ;nbsp;pillni bhreaca dhaibh ’ga ndéarghadhnbsp;leaptha ag mnaibh ré h-éanlaighe arm.

8. Pillni bhreaca shróill is shionnaith,nbsp;is é sin luachair na long ;

[ ,. _ ]

dul sroill chorcair ós gach cronn.

9. Go lamhainn chruaidh, go gcrios codad,nbsp;’nar gcarbh sios [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;]

na seoid [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] ann gan iomard

do chliaraibh chlann bhflonnard bhFail.

10. Nuair chualas urdhal an fhéinnidh,nbsp;gair na ndos ’ga gcur ré ceird,nbsp;na seoid óir ó Eirinn aca

don bhroin mhéirsheing dhathta dheirg.

13. lomdha fear loinne is fear luirigh, iomdha fear luath go leim laith,nbsp;ré sugh mong na fairge [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;],

ré h-airde long mbeannchorr mblaith.

14. Cia so Ié seóltar an cabhlach

ar Chaisléan Suibhne Sliabh Truim ? fear sreangach nach seachnann saighde,nbsp;leathchrann sgorach codad cruinn.

7a. findmy* RC.]

8a. wraki* royl is ty’noll MS.]

8c. Byve hwneny* sy* roir ho* RC, apparently rightlyl\

9b. gyn chur la clair RC.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;9c. Na said durrit RC.]

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ne low lea long 5ane loigew y’ bai* na nach is nid boe

Gin ocht gy’ von dew gy’ wroneny* snee el ter’gy’ lomy* lo . . .

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ne heilssy* loa carve 5ai (?) garrow (? garrew) in lane dy’nos hynty*

voy

Ag ryne’ oir er vardow ra hard 5owe (? 5oive) carve coyne’ RC.] I3cd. ra sowe monjone farg far jone’ ra hard in long RC.]

BLIND ARTHUR nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;9

7- Fair[- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] ladies sit in the floor of the ships ; there

are high-placed beds for stately damsels ; speckled cushions are arranged for them, couches for thenbsp;dames where each may lie alone.

8. Speckled cushions of satin and of sendal, these are the strewings of the ships ; [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;],

a loop of purple satin adorns each mast-top.

9- With steel gauntlet, with firm girdle, down into our ship [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] the heroes [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] without reproach,

of the ranks of the bright tall children of Ireland.

lo. When was heard the warrior’s muster, the trumpets’ cry summoning them to ply their art, they had withnbsp;them the golden heroes from Ireland, to form thenbsp;slim-fingered, bright, ruddy-cheeked band.

13- Many a man with blade and many a man with corslet, many a swift man with hero’s leap, meets the swellnbsp;of the ocean’s mane [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] against the lofty,

peaked, smooth ships.

H- Who is this who sails the fleet towards the Castle of Sween of Sliabh Truim ? It is a sinewy man whonbsp;shuns not shafts, a hard, shapely, piercing lance.

10 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ARTUR UALL

15. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Eoin Mac Suibhne seol na loingse

ar druim an chuain, cruaiclh an ceann ;

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;95

]•

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gaoth gach ndireach dhóibh ’na ndeaghaidh,

siuil bhreaca dhóibh iona mbolgaibh, uan ag teacht go bordaibh bare.

17. Gabhais aon-acarsaid aoibhinnnbsp;i n-ucht Chnapadail, cuairt [

]•

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Linne ag ballachaibh Alban

fearthar failte ré ucht slim ; alainn sin an corcra connlan

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] lomlan linn.

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Failte ag srothaibh Sleibhe Monaidh

ré Mac Suibhne Sléibhe Mis ; teagaid tainte d’iasg na n-inbhear,nbsp;dailtear [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] ris.

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Léigid géaga a ngluine futha,

fearaid failte rér bhflaith ceoil ;

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] slainte coll gach calaidh,

trom a bhfailte i n-aghaidh Eoin.

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Teagaid aos ealadhan Alban,

fearaid failte ar onchoin Mis ; lucht cainte [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;],

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] failte Ó reannaibh ris.

I5cd. Cryne y‘ long deine chor in nard dervit tone in varg RC.] i6b. ag keil akky* dery* (? deiry*) trai . . . RC.]

17b. cort kw . . . RC.]

I7cd. Nawra vartew done nyt-dalvy* lakryi crandnyi lowy* . . . RC.] i8d. sillyi drochty* RC.]nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I9d. daltyr mir rask rindlan riss MS.]

21C. myr venour MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;2id. dychnir M‘L. ; doubtful?^

22. Gray* wee ymirwae aiie ettryth feine in (?) na’ choil Anny* mir doesyth dey hr (hir WM.) mir hai tullyth hanyth oyne MS.]

BLIND ARTHUR nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ii

IS- John MacSween it is who heads this fleet on the sea’s surface, a hardy leader ; [

]•

16. They have a straight stern-wind behind them, [

], their dappled sails are bulging, foam rises to vessels’ sides.

17- He has taken a goodly anchorage hard by Knapdale

[

].

18. Let us at Alba’s walls hail and welcome his comely breast; splendid is that brilliant band [

]•

19- The streams of Sliabh Monaidh welcome MacSween of Sliabh Mis ; shoals of the fishes of the estuariesnbsp;come (to meet him), [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] is dealt to him.

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Branches bow down their knees, they welcome our

prince, the theme of music; the hazel of every harbour [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;], mighty the welcome with

which they meet John.

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Alba’s men of learning come, they welcome the valiant

hero of Mis ; [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;]

they give him welcome from points of spears.

ARTUR DALL

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Do-m'd each i gCaislean Shuibhnenbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;125

fa sheabhag Chruachan chroinn bhuirb suidhe fa thiomchall na sgor-soin,

fionnchlann Mhuighe losghloin Luirg.

24. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A dha shleigh thollas taobh namhad,

mar neimh nathrach goin a chrann ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;130

caolchlaidheamh ó ghreis ui Ghuaire, maolaighthear leis guaille Gall.

27. Aon-chlaidheamh as fhearr san Eoruip, is é as leabhra leanas maidhm ;nbsp;cia sgiath san domhan nach diongbhannnbsp;triath gan omhan [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] ?

28. Eoin mac Suibhne na sleagh gcodad, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;145

Ié cholg tana teasgach [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;],

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] an sgiath breaedhonn,

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] triath deacair an dal.

Dal chabhlaigh.

23a. dy‘neid MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;23b. chroihn MS.]

23d. fynvar neve luslane lurk M‘L., apparently rightly 24a. teve MS.]nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;24b. na*ry* MS.]

25. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cellar mitt oil v’soyne ra solss in nad clwk dy* choym

Is feyr na‘ deine din clok in cawor sie deine doltnych valklang ver (.¦^ vor)

26. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Nor nach deine dai Iwry* thrawre er skai chottone na skadon

(skadom WM.).

Gavis rachlin sleme5ir scarrych mevor claWan calm cor MS.]

27b. lewry* MS.]

27d. trea* gyn noyn dyne carm (c certain ; possibly a letter between c and a) MS. ; erin WM. ; errin EM.]

28b. teskbych vawle M‘L. ; ? teskfyeh, ? teskvych MS.]

28c. Sar na* skai* wai skai brak done MS.]

28d. taris treach dekhorn dawle M‘L., MS.]

BLIND ARTHUR

23. In Castle Sween, under the hawk of Cruacha of savage spear, they all sit around these encampments, the fair children of the plain of Lorg, brightnbsp;with herbs.

24- His two spears that pierce the side of his foe, like the serpent’s venom is the wound of his lances ; thenbsp;slender sword, by dint of the onset of Guaire’s scion,nbsp;Saxons’ shoulders are bared by it.

27- The one sword that is best in Europe, the longest that follows up a rout; what shield in the world does henbsp;not repel, a lord without fear [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] ?

28. John MacSween of hard spears, with his slender hewing blade, [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] the brown and dappled

shield [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] hard the meeting.

DONNCHADH MAC CAII.ÉIN

III. A UGHDAR SO DONNCHADH MAC CAILÉIN, AN RIDIRE MATH

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ClA don phleid as ceann uidhe

Ó do theasta an deaghdhuine ? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;150

ta na deoir ar éis an fhir, an phléid gan treoir ré faicsin.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ta ’na dileacht giodh ole linnnbsp;an phléid ar n-éag do Lachlann ;

is béad sin ar lar gach lis, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;155

an phléid ar easbhaidh eólais.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ma theasta, ni chuala ménbsp;leithéid Lachlainn ar leimhenbsp;Ó chruthuigh Dia na daoine :

is cubhaidh a h-iargcaoine. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;160

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I gan mhathair gan athair,

an phléid bhocht ar anamhain ; ar n-éag Mheic an Bhreatnaigh bhinn,nbsp;a cnead-se créad nach caoinfinn ?

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Nocha nfheil duine ar domhannbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;165

do-ni an phléid do mhórughadh ;

ar n-éag Lachlainn is leamh linn : ole an sgéal soin i nEirinn.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cia iarras sporain bheaga ?

cia iarras na snathada ? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;170

cia iarras drochbhonn gan dealbh Ó theasta Lachlann leimhshearbh ?

3d. is cowe ee ear genyth MS.] 4b. er anffeine MS.]

4d. a cretsin MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;5b. do ne in pleyd a voeryLhin MS.]

6a. Ka 5earis {i.e. cia dh’iarras) MS. ; so throughout?\

DUNCAN SON OF COLiN

The Author of this is Duncan son of Colin, THE Good Knight

I. Whom does begging make its goal, now that the worthy man is dead ? Tears follow the man ; beggingnbsp;is seen helpless.

2. After Lachlann’s death begging, though sore we deem it, is an orphan ; it is a sad thing in the midst ofnbsp;every court, that begging knows not where to go.

3- If he is dead indeed, I have never heard of Lachlann’snbsp;like for forwardness, since God created men ; it isnbsp;meet that the same should be lamented.

4- Begging, poor thing, remains without mother ornbsp;father ; now that sweet-voiced Galbraith is dead,nbsp;surely 1 should lament its moan.

5- In the world there is not one man to exalt begging ;nbsp;Lachlann’s death we deem vexatious ; ill news isnbsp;that in Ireland.

6. Who now asks for little purses ? who asks for needles ? who asks for a bad coin without a stamp, sincenbsp;Lachlan, the forward, the sour, is dead ?

200

DUNCAN SON OF COLIN

7- Who asks for black shoes, or for buckles ? who asks for neck-cloths ? who now is our chief beggar andnbsp;our chief butt ?

8. Who asks for the loan of two shoes ? who asks for peacocks’ wings ? who asks a clasp for his belt ?nbsp;who disgusts each court ?

9- Who asks for old hats of shag ? who asks for reading-books ? who asks for dinner in the morning, and is late athirst ?

lo. Who asks for boots and spurs ? who asks for discarded frocks ? who asks for a butter-crock and meal ?nbsp;who asks for gleanings of rye ?

11 • Who asks for a spoon in a sporran ? who forages without shame ? Since the importunate Lachlann isnbsp;dead, who now is our cause of laughter ?

12. Who asks for young women’s shifts, after Lachlann of the old shoes ? After his death ’tis a sad plight:nbsp;who now asks for sandals ?

^3- Who now steals his lad’s wage ? who tells not the truth ? who is irksome in travelling by boat ? who asks fornbsp;old carding-combs ?

DONNCHADH MAC CAILEIN

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cia iarras cearc Ié h-uighe ?nbsp;cia iarras lion caolbhuidhe ?nbsp;cia iarras corrlach an choirc

i ndiaidh an dorriaigh airgid ?

15. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cia iarras prine gan cheann,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;205

fear leamh i gcomas coitcheann ?

gan oighre ar Lachlann da éis doilghe na a éag ré faisnéis.

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cia iarras dubhan is drobh ?

cia iarras doirse d’fhosgladh ? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;210

cia iarras binid gan bhrigh ? cia Ié sirthear gach aoinni ?

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cia nach dtoir peighinn do bhocht ?nbsp;cia iarras ni ar tarnocht ?

cia ghn'osas gach gruaidh ó’d-chi ? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;215

cia bhios go cruaidh um mhaicni ?

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cia iarras olann is im

chon a thighe d’éis Lachlainn ? cia iarras coiléara ban ?

cia lén mian solar sailleach ? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;220

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gér bhinn liom dan Domhnaill Duinn,

ni mholaim [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] Lachlainn ;

mar do mhill a déanamh dhomh,

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] linn an [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] so.

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cia iarras ar mnaibh óganbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;225

coin bheaga agus neasóga ?

cia iarras fursainn (?) ó’d-chi ? cia Ié dtrusar gach meinbhni ?

14b. leine MS.] ? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;15b. layf i« {two words) MS.]

17a. nach doy*r MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;lyd. v'^neith MS.]

19. {omitted by M‘L) : Vin Iwm dane donill dwen / ne vollwm i«wne Lochlyn / Mor di weill a danow Joith / ni feud linn'm larich soo.nbsp;fae5er MS.]

20c. furssin oyd keich MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;2od. ma«ve neith MS.]

DUNCAN SON OF COLIN

14- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Who asks for a hen with her eggs, or for fine yellow

linen ? who asks for the hinderings of the oats, after receiving a handful of silver ?

15- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Who asks for a headless pin, an importunate man whom

all may jest at ? That Lachlann leaves no heir behind him is sadder to tell even than his death.

16. Who asks for a hook and line ? who asks that doors be opened ? who asks for rennet that has lost itsnbsp;strength ? who seeks after each and every thing ?

17- Who gives not a penny to the poor, or asks somewhat from one who is stripped bare ? who brings a blushnbsp;to every cheek he sees ? who is hard upon children ?

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Who asks for wool and butter for his house now that

Lachlann is gone ? who asks for women’s collars ? who desires greasy victuals ?

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;[

•]

20. Who asks young wives for small dogs and ferrets ? who asks for a door-post (?) when he sees it ? whonbsp;collects every trifle ?

230

20 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;DONNCHADH MAC CAILÉIN

21. Cia iarras loiste go a bhrot ?nbsp;cia iarras triubhas tollbhocht ?nbsp;cia bhfos go tinn is é slan ?nbsp;cia iarras im ar bhrochan ?

22. Deacra linn na éag an fhirnbsp;gan a oighre da éis-sin,nbsp;d’eagal na pléide dhul d’éag,

’s nach feadar cia ni a coimhead.

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;[nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] an fhir

déanaidh, a dhaoine an domhain, rann gach neach do chur ’na cheann :nbsp;mallacht don fhear nach cuireann.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;240

24. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ma theasta Lachlann la Luain,nbsp;is subhach bhitheas gach duain ;nbsp;da éag is buidhe gach bioth,

is ni cuibhe giodh einchioth.

Cia don phléid.

22d. feadir MS.] 23a. Ne Jwme nine (ninwe ?) in ir MS.]

24a. lachlin lay Ion MS.]

24c. boeich WM. rightly\ Ka din pleydda MS.]

DUNCAN SON OF COLIN nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;21

21. Who asks a latchet for his cloak ? who asks for a wretched trouser full of holes ? who is sick whennbsp;he is well ? who asks for butter on porridge ?

22. Harder than the man’s death we deem it that he leaves no heir behind him, for fear that begging may dienbsp;out, since we know not who will preserve it.

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] of the man, do ye, all men the

world over, add each a verse : a curse on him who adds none.

^4- If Lachlann has died on Monday, glad is every song ; for his death every being is thankful ; not meet is anbsp;single tear.

DiOMDHACH MÉ

IV. A UGHDAR SO [MAC EACHAIG ?]

I. DiomdhaCH mé don ghaoith a ndeas,

Ó nach leigeann a steach Eoin ; is 1 arna bhreith a mach

ar dtoidheacht damh go Mac Leoid.

2c. Cha

4a. toyrriskail MS.]

5c. angnow is in MS.]

5d. re tylych morri* a vor c . . . (the rest illegible to me') MS. ; M‘L. reads chreith, EM. chr . . ., WM. cru. Morri may be readnbsp;marri*, or possibly marnri*, but unlikely l\

6b. nyn nar . . . MS.] 6d. a clw . . . MS.]

DIOMDHACH ME

The Author of this is [Mac Eachaig ?]

E I am displeased with the wind from the south, for it keeps John from land, now that it has borne himnbsp;forth when I have come to MacLeod.

2- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Janet’s son, white his sails, did he wish to come over

sea, it is not a wind from the south that would stay John, son of William, of swift steeds.

3- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Night or day I sleep not while I see not from this beach

in the north the good ship of white sail, the ship of the man by whom foes are routed.

4- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Here is the report given by all concerning William’s son

from the land of Skye : a lad firm-set, white-toothed, expert, a man who would refuse not store to any man.

5- It is now the eighth day since blue-eyed MacLeod’snbsp;heir, John, has gone from us ; alike is their prowessnbsp;and their might to the household of M . . .of greatnbsp;[ ]¦

h- A cordial man, who hides not treasure, such is the description of sharp-weaponed John ; a man who goesnbsp;the first into the encounter, a man who has spreadnbsp;his fame afar.

DIOMDHACH MÉ

7. Mac Uilliam dha ndailtear miodh, mac Seónaide ar sliocht an n'ogh :nbsp;da gcluininn a theacht a dtuaidh,

do bhiadh mo ghruaim ar ndol diom.

DIOMDHACH ME

?• Son of William, who dispenses mead, son of Janet of royal lineage; were I to hear of his comingnbsp;from the north, my gloom would then havenbsp;left me.

MAC GIOLLA FHIONNTOG

V. A UGHDAR SO MAC GIOLLA FHIONNTÓG AN FEAR DANA

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Buaidh thighearna ar thóiseachaibh

ata Ó thus a gcinidh ;

aireómhad da n-óigfhearaibh nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;275

gach aon ara mbraith fisidh.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cead tighearna an tire-se

Donnchadh Beag fa mor aigneadh, do fhag mar chuid dfleaba

ag Clainn Ghriogoir a ngaisgeadh. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;280

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Donnchadh mor da mi'leadhaibh

athair maoineach Maoil Choluim, seanathair Eoin fhmfhleadhaigh ;

mor gheall chunnradh nar chomhaill.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Griogoir deaghmhac Donnchadha,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;285

mac uaidh Eoin dob é a oighre ; fear aghasach onchonta

Ó Loch taobhsholas Toilbhe.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Eoin Dubh an geal Gaoidhealta

mac airmheach Eoin mheic Ghriogoir, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;290

sealgaire damh ndraoidheachta, tus gach cogaidh do fhriothoil,

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Maol Coluim ’ga dheaghchungbhail

aithnid duinn d’eis a athar deisgeart Glinne gealUrchaidh,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;295

madh sioth do chach madh cagadh.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ata tus na h-imearta

do Chlainn Ghriogoir ó Ghallaibh ;

’ga bhfuil tréidhe tighearna,

gradh sealga agus buaidh ghaisgidh. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;300

7a. Itta toissich noymit’ MS.] 7b. 00 zallew MS.]

7c. boye deleted before graw MS.]

MAC GIOLLA FHIONNTOG

The Author of this is Mac Giolla Fhionntóg

THE Poet

1- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;From the beginning of their race chiefs do possess the

excellence of lords ; I shall record of their young men each one of whom a learned man hath knowledge.

2- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The first lord of this land was Duncan the Little, great

of spirit, who left with Clan Gregor their valour as a legacy.

3- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Duncan the Great, a man of their warriors, was Malcolm’s

bounteous father, and grandsire of John of wine-feasts : he plighted no compact that he did not fulfil.

4- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gregor was Duncan’s good son ; son to him was John

his heir ; a warlike man, right valorous, from bright-shored Loch Toilbhe.

5- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;John the Black, the bright true Gael, was the renowned

son of John, son of Gregor, a hunter of magical stags, who attended upon the beginning of every war.

6. Known to us is Malcolm, who followeth his sire, well maintaining the southern side of fair Glen Orchy,nbsp;whether others be at peace or at war.

7- The foremost place of honour Clan Gregor have won from Saxons ; they possess the qualities of lords, evennbsp;love of hunting and triumph of valour.

MAC GIOLLA FHIONNTOG

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I n-aimsir Chuinn Chéadchathaigh

do-chuala mé a mhac samhla :

Fionn, nfor ghabh ó ghéarlannaibh, mac Cumhaill na gcreach gcalma.

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sealg Éireann’s a thigheadasnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;305

ag mac Cumhaill na gcaoilshleagh ; aoibh m'or ghuidh na tighearnasnbsp;ar criochaibh clanna Gaoidheal.

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;D’fhiadh ré linn da leagfaidhe

Ó Chiarraigh go Cam Bhalair, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;310

rogha dhamh na seasraighe do bhiodh aige ’na aghaidh.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ó Shamhain go Bealltaine

buannacht gach tighe d’fhianaibh ; an t-sealg, fa sógh seabhcaidhe,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;315

aca i n-ionam an fhiadhaigh.

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;lomdha ci'os nach airmhithe

ag Fionn no ag fear a thabhaigh ; flacha Eireann d’airithe

ar mhac Cumhaill ’na aghaidh. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;320

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A bhfuaradar d’iongantaibh

fa bhruachaibh gacha buinne ag sin a bhfuil d’iomarcaidh

Mhaoil Choluim ag mac Muirne.

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Nf dhearna Fionn fianaidhenbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;325

sealg gan sireadh a ceada ; sealg Alban gan fhiafraighenbsp;ag Maol Choluim’s a creacha.

15. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cungbhalach na coimhshealga

Mac Griogoir as garg daoine ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;330

nior mhionca coin chroidhearga go longphort Clainne Baoisgne.

9a. heytis MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;12a. nach airfee MS.]

12b. a harffee, by dittography from previous line, MS.]

15b. m‘=g®gar MS.]

MAC GIOLLA FHIONNTOG

8- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the time of Conn of an Hundred Battles I have heard

of one his like, even Fionn (he gave not back from keen blades) son of Cumhall of bold forays.

9- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;To Cumhall’s son of slender spears belonged Erin’s

hunting and his housing ; he sought no welcome nor lordship over the bounds of the clans of the Gael.

10- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In his time if any stag was laid low from Kerry to

Balar’s Cairn, the picked ox of the team of six was his in requital.

11- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;From Hallowe’en to Beltane the warrior-bands had

right of quarters in every house ; the hunt (good cheer was there for falcons) they had in the huntingnbsp;season.

12. Many a tribute that needs not mention had Fionn or he who exacted it for him ; in return for that tributenbsp;Fionn had as his special duty Erin’s obligations.

I3- All that they found of wonders beneath the banks of each swift stream ; that is such of Malcolm’s abundance as was held by Muirne’s son.

H- Fionn the warrior made no hunting without leave asked : Alba’s hunting and her forays are Malcolm’snbsp;without seeking.

15- Maintainer of the joint hunt is MacGregor whose men are fierce ; not oftener did hounds red with gorenbsp;enter the encampment of Clann Baoisgne.

335

30 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MAC GIOLLA FHIONNTÓG

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Lfon troda do thóiseachaibh

éirghidh leis i ló catha ; fior lota ar óirshleaghaibhnbsp;’ga lucht tighe san dtachar.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ceannas feadhna is féitheamhnas,

coitchionn is clü da chineadh, ar beirn ghaisgidh ghléidhearbhasnbsp;Mac Griogóir gradh na bhfileadh.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;lomdha ’na chüirt chomhladhaigh

feilm chumhdaigh is colg tana, ór dearg ar a ndornchoraibh,nbsp;airm leómhain Locha hAbha.

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Coimhsheinm idir clairseachaibhnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;345

i ndün an laoich ’na lamhaibh ; a lucht tighe ó thaipleasaibhnbsp;ag dol fa dhubhar gharaidh.

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mac Griogóir bos bharrchorcra,

mac Dear-bhail buidhe ó Ghallaibh (?), nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;350

aonchara na calmachta,

lamh lér rainig gach rathbhuaidh.

21. Buaidh féile ré fileadha

inghean Mheic Laghmainn coisnidh ; do mhéaduigh clü a cineadhanbsp;ar thiodhlaic a lamh [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

360

Buaidh thighearna.

19b. oy {?) before done, WM. and MS.] 2ib. ne v’clymont (z.i?., ni Mheic) MS.]nbsp;2id. a laif lowye MS.]

MAC GIOLLA FHIONNTÓG

16. A full battle-complement of captains goeth out with him in day of strife ; right thirsty are the goldennbsp;spears of his household in the encounter.

17- Captaincy and protection (it bringeth glory to all his tribe alike) MacGregor, loved of poets, clearly showsnbsp;in valour’s gap.

^8. In his court of many doors is many a fair-wrought helmet and thin blade ; gold gleameth on theirnbsp;hilts, the weapons of the Lion of Loch Awe.

19- In the hero’s stronghold is concert of harps in hands of minstrels ; his household go from games of backgammon to walk in shaded garden.

20. MacGregor whose palms are rosy-tipped, son of yellowhaired Derval from the Lowlands (?), peerless friend of bravery, a hand wherewith is come each graciousnbsp;excellence.

Lamond’s daughter winneth triumph of bounteousness to poets ; her kindred’s fame hath been enlarged bynbsp;what her [generous] hand hath bestow^ed.

22. Mary, the bards’ fostering mother, whose side is smooth and white and shapely; the poet-bands unite innbsp;praising her : brighter her cheek than raspberries.

GIOLLA CRIOST

VI. AUCTOR HUIUS GIOLLA CRIOST BRÜILINGEACH

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;LAmh aoinfhir fhóirfeas i nÉirinn

ar anbhuain Ghaoidheal is Ghall, flaith na bhfear is bile bonnbhlaith,nbsp;cridhe geal is connbhdil ann.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ar eineach agus ar aithne

’s ar eangnamh i n-iath an fhéidh, giolla glaccaomh, bile Banbha,nbsp;macaomh tighe Teamhra tréin.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Eólach dhomhsa iarla uasal,

fhoireas Eirinn ar chath cliar ; bradan Sionna na sreabh solta,nbsp;giolla geal do sgoltadh sgiath.

Autour Hums Gillecrist Browlingych Bard in Leymm

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Law \n ir jorfA in neyr

er nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;5eill 7 jawle

fflatA na ver bil boiiwlaa. ere gale sy* onich ann.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Er en«y* 7 er amiy*'

7 er angnow in neyg in neyy gil g3lak ra bil banva

makcave teigA tawraa trane.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Olyth jowssyth erlyth ossil

ooyrA eyr er chaat/? clayr braddane sinni nyn schreyve soltnbsp;gil gal do skolt skay.

GIOLLA CRIOST

The Author of this is Giolla CrIost Brüilingeach

T It is the hand of one man who in Ireland will succour distress of Gael and of foreigners, prince among mennbsp;and smooth-soled chief, heart unstained where supportnbsp;resides.

2- For generous deeds and wide renown, and for prowess m the haunts of the deer, he is a youth fair-handed,nbsp;Tanbha’s lofty tree, gallant of Tara’s mighty house.

Known to me is a high-born earl, who succours Ireland from strife of poet-bands, salmon of Shannon ofnbsp;fair streams, a goodly lad for cleaving shields.

3-

34 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA CRIOST

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Aithnid domhsa an féinnidh fuileach,

an fear-soin chongbhas a ghaol ; ciabh fhollan ghlan ag an ghiolla,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;375

Mongan na mban sionga saor.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Lugh Lamhfhada mor mac Eithleann

airdri h'onmhor Locha Cé ; loth seólach ar buaidh a bhéimeann :

leómhan do chuain Eireann é. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;380

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ar Thomaltach caomh na Cairrge

do chuir mé m’aithne ’na aoibh ; gabhthar mo laoidh ar m’fhéis romhainnnbsp;go rfgh Céise Corainn chaoimh.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mac Diarmada ó Mhuigh Luirg h'onmhoir, 385

lanchara ceall agus cros ;

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;, J

flaith ar mbuain an bhaire a bhos.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Annit doss in feygith fullich

in fersin chowis a 3eill keyve ollane jlan ag in jillinbsp;mvngane ni ban sinni seir.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Low lawaddi mor mckellin

ardre leno'' locha kay ith soylich er boye a weyvrdnnbsp;loyvin de choyn eyrrin ay.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Er homildyt keyve ni carga

cur mee man«y* in a yve goyvir mi leich er meess roythwmnbsp;gow reith chess chorr° . . .

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;M^Dermot mew Iwrgi lenor

lane charri kawle 7 cross tosse gach g°yrni ajrany*nbsp;flat A er boyin a wayr awoss.

GIOLLA CRIOST

4- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Wel] I know that deadly warrior, the man who doth

Uphold his kin ; locks thick and bright the youth possesses ; he is as Mongan among slim free-bornnbsp;dames.

5- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Peer of long-armed Lugh, Eithliu’s mighty son, is Loch

Cé’s high-king of numerous hosts ; he is as seaborne loth for blows puissant ; a lion of Ireland’s litter he.

d. Of dear Tomaltach of the Rock’s good cheer I have got knowledge ; let my lay, in return for the banquetnbsp;that awaits me, be sung to the king of dear Céisnbsp;Corainn.

7- MacDiarmaid of populous Moylurg is firm friend of churches and of crosses ; [

] ; he is a prince who has won pre-eminence this side the sea.

GIOLLA CRIOST

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mac Diarmada is a réim roimhe,

ri na Cairrge i gcruas a chuilg ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;390

fear is iomdha da fhuil bhrioghmhoir tighearna ar Muigh lionmhoir Luirg.

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cruithneacht dearg ar maghaibh mine

fa Thomaltach chosnas Chéis ; bidh ar clar collbhan ui Chollanbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;395

lomlan a droma ar gach deis.

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Lacht milis ag buaibh i mbuailtibh,

branar fa féaraighe form ; fa h-arainn mhin is fa monadh

tir alainn fa toradh trom. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;400

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Miolchoin gharga ar iallaibh órdha

ag Tomaltach 's ceann ar each ; sguir go moch san aonach uallach

man loch bhraonach bhuadhach bhlath.

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;M®Dermot 7 a reymroith

ree ni carga'm gross a chwige farda 7 m eymy* 'm wil wreo^'nbsp;tearne a er vy lenor Iwrgee.

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Crwwnytht derk er my meineny*

fa homildy* chossnis k . . . bee er clair collewane echolenbsp;lomelane a drome er gi d . . .

10. Laitht millis ag boyve \n boltewnbsp;bra^^ner fa feire a foonbsp;ffa arrill weine 7 faa monythnbsp;teir allin fa torrith trom.

Meilchon 5arga er eyllow oyrre

ag tomildyth ch . . . awe engrra (?) skwrre gi mvth si nenyth oylichnbsp;ma?? loch vrenith voygith wlaa.

GIOLLA CRIOST

8- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MacDiarmaid’s course is ever onward, king of the

Rock in right of his rapier’s steel; many a man of his vigorous blood has been lord of the peoplednbsp;plain of Lorg.

9- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Red wheat waves on smooth plains under the rule of

Tomaltach, lord of Ceis ; on the white-hazelled domain of Coil’s descendant, each tar of corn carriesnbsp;its full burden.

Cows yield sweet milk in milking folds ; the fallow land is most rich in grass ; throughout its smoothnbsp;demesne and mountain it is a lovely land under itsnbsp;Weighty crop.

Fierce deerhounds on gold-gilt leashes has Tomaltach, lord of all; in early morn horse-spans race in thenbsp;proud assembly around the moist warm lake of virtue.

38 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA CRlOST

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I gcrich Mheic Dhiarmada doinndeirg, 405

dearg agus donn craobh na gcrann ;

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] ar chul an chragaidh,

gach meas go h-ur abaigh ann.

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;An chuirt as aoibhne ar druim dombain

dun Mheic Dhiarmada as gea] gné nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;410

i gcaisteal fionn na gcloch mbuadha ÓS cionn Locha cuanna Cé.

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cuirn is cuaich is copain chumhdaigh

i gcuirt lionmhoir Locha Cé ; ibhthear fion san chonnphort chnuasaigh ;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;415

is longphort riogh uasail é.

15. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;lomdha a theaghlach alainn uasal,

a éideadh’s a eachradh ard ; iomdha sleagh is lann is luireach,

agus fear mall gluineach garg. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;420

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;\n greich dermit donnerk

darkg 7 donni creive ni gra;?

\n gon class! er chowle \n gragge gi mess g ho*^ abbe anyt.

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A chwrt is eyviny* er dru?wmyt doyn

downy* v®dermot is gall gna . . . hastil fin er braa woyginnbsp;oskinn locha chondy* cay.

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cwrn 7 cwoay 7 coppan chody*

\n gwrt leno* locha cay evir fenyth si chonphort chnosseinbsp;7 lo;«gwrt re ossil a.

15. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Emmy* a hylich alin ossil

a eddee si echre ard emyth slyg,^ 7 lann 7 Iwrichnbsp;7 fer mawai glwny* garg.

GIOLLA CRIOST

12. Within brown-red MacDiarmaid’s bounds, red and brown are the boughs of trees ; [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] behind the

crag all manner of fruit is fresh and ripe.

'3- Most joyous court upon the world’s ridge is that hold of MacDiarmaid, bright of aspect, within the fairnbsp;castle of stones of virtue above the goodly lake of Cé.

H- Horns and goblets and fair-wrought cups are in the thronging court of Loch Cé ; wine is quaffed in thatnbsp;capital of garnered plenty ; it is the palace of a noblenbsp;king.

C'i- Many are his household noble and comely, his vestures and his tall steeds ; many a spear and blade andnbsp;niailcoat, many a man sedate, strong-kneed and stern.

GIOLLA CRfOST

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gabhaidh uime an t-earradh maothshróill

Mac Diarmada as nósmhor neart: sé mar tharbh tuinne i ndruim tóra,

Ié bhuille coir crodha ceart.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Duinidh uime an cotun daingean,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;425

do dhion an riogh ó Raith Cé ; an t-ór dearg ar crois a chlaidhimh,nbsp;fearg ar a bhois raighil réidh.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sgian chaisdearg ar an chrios chumhdaigh,

cathluireach ma chéibh na gcuach ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;430

clogas ÓS cionn sgabaill sgiamhdha man mhionn abaigh niamhdha nuadh.

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sleagh fhada ag an mhilidh mhaiseach,

Mac Diarmada Muighe hAoi; sgiath eangach ar chuairt na gcuradh,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;435

searrach suairc ar fulang faoi.

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gawe vimmie \n ter meithroll

mak Dermont 7 nossor nert ay mir harve twnnith'm drwm toyrrythnbsp;la bulli corri croyv cart.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dwne vimmy* m cottwn dangin

a 5eine in reith o rath deya {sic) m tor dark er cross a clawenbsp;ferg er a voss ro5all raea.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Skayne chassdark er a chreiss c^ode

cath Iwry* mi cheive ni goych cloggass oss skinn skabball skayvenbsp;ma« vinni abbe neyvea noa,

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;SlygA addiagin weille vassyth

ag mak dermit myg5a hei* skay nangy*' er chort ni gwrrinbsp;sarry* swork er fowllow fe . . .

GIOLLA CRiOST

16. He taketh about him his dress of soft satin, even MacDiarmaid renowned for might; as a firm-setnbsp;bull he ¦presses the backs of foemen with stroke wellnbsp;judged, valiant, unerring.

^7- He closeth about him his firm hauberk, to guard the king who comes from the Rath of Cé ; gold gleamsnbsp;red on his broadsword’s cross-hilt ; wrath sits on hisnbsp;palm full white and smooth.

18. A red-hafted dagger hangs from his fair-wrought girdle ; a battle mailcoat protects the warrior ofnbsp;clustering locks ; a helmet above a beauteous shoulder-cape encircles the ripe gleaming vigorous royal head.

long spear the comely warrior wields, even MacDiarmaid of Magh nAoi ; he bears a cornerednbsp;shield on heroic venture ; a docile colt supports hisnbsp;Weight.

42 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA CRIOST

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tanaig mise, maith an t-adhbhar,

dot fhios a hiVlbain, o’s coir, mad teist, a Chonnachtaigh chaisghil,

a Thomaltaigh mhaisigh mhóir. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;440

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tanag d’iarraidh athchuinge oraibh,

a hAlbain, a fholt mar or, ar an chuan ghaganach ghailbheachnbsp;uar bhradanach mhaighreach mhor.

22. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Clairseach ar leath dom dhan damhsanbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;445

tabhair mar iarraim, a rf; ghnuis mar bhlath na h-abhla abaigh,

0’s ni tharla agaibh 1'.

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A mheic Chonchobhair chuain Chairrge,

cubhaidh riotsa di'ol na ndamh ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;450

ta cuid do sgéimhe da sgriobhadh ;

Eire dhuid ar li'onadh lamh.

20. Hanyt missi math in tyvirnbsp;a tiss a halbin wss choirnbsp;ma test a chonnichtyth* chass5illnbsp;a holbmilty* wasseich woor.

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Hanic jarre hachon orrew

a halbin a olt myr oor er in choynny* 5aggany* jalwy*nbsp;or wraddanyt wyrryt woor.

22. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Clarsyth er leith dy»z jane dossi

hoithir mir earrwm a reith gnwss mir wlaa ni hawlith abbinbsp;on heit harle aggew eith.

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;V^chonchor cAoyne charga

cowe rut deilli* vim dawe hay cut di skaew jaskrreyvenbsp;Eir jutte er lanamp;m lawe.

GIOLLA CRiOST

20. I have come, good the reason, from Alba to visit thee, as is meet, drawn by thy fame, thou white-footed sonnbsp;of Connacht, thou Tomaltach goodly and great.

21- I have come to crave a boon from thee, from Alba, thou with hair like gold, upon the stormy sea ofnbsp;clustering wave-tops, chill and huge, the home ofnbsp;grilse and salmon.

22. A harp in special grant me at my request, thou king, thou whose countenance is as the ripe bloom of annbsp;orchard, for it is a matter that thou hast by thee.

23- Thou son of Conchobhar of the Rock’s haven, to pleasure poet-bands befits thee well ; the part that tells of thynbsp;beauty is being chronicled ; may Ireland be thine innbsp;requital of thy filling of hands.

44 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA CRÏOST

24. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Inghean Bhaiteir a Bure Breaghdha,

bean nosmhor neamhghann ma nf; folt cladhach culghlan na geeibheann ;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;455

rogha urbhan Eireann 1.

25. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dearna alainn fhada fhainneach

ag Caitilm na mbas mban ; dearg a h-imle solta saora,

’s ingne corcra laomdha a lamb. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;460

24. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ne wayter a burgk brey

ben nosso'' noe 5ann vin nee folt cleyich cowl5lan ny« geyvinnbsp;ry owrwane ayrrin ee.

25. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Darny*^ ayllin addi aynyth

ag cattelene riym bass bane emle (?) derga soltty* seirnbsp;7 Ingnyt corkry^ lemy* lawe.

GIOLLA CRIOST

24. The daughter of Walter de Burgh of Brega is a courtly dame who stints not store ; her hair is deep-trenched,nbsp;bright-locked, in tresses ; the choice of Ireland’snbsp;fair ladies is she.

25- A lovely hand, long and ring-decked, has Caitilin of white palms ; red are her lips, comely and noble,nbsp;and the nails rosy gleaming of her hands.

GIOLLA CRIOST

The Author of this is Giolla Criost Bruilingeach

I- Two chiefs are there in Ireland : one the refuse, the other the fine-fingered choice ; an old stingy lameter,nbsp;Saxon of soul, and a bountiful man of noble race.

2' No crime it is to set them side by side, a rod of alder and a rod of yew ; a cudgel of crooked alder woodnbsp;and my manly right generous timber.

3- Ulster’s mean and faulty chieftain, and the valiant king of Connacht ; a bright free-handed joyous man, andnbsp;a grudging man ready of refusal.

48 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA CRfOST

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mac Diarmada Muighe Luirg,nbsp;is Mag Uidhir an anuird ;

a n-eagar is claon an ceart, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;475

seagal caol agus cruithneacht.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tomaltach ré gaisgeadh glan,

Tomas ré h-olc’s ré h-uabhar ;

da chrobh ’gan mheathach ar meath,

gur lobh leathach mo laoidhe. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;480

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mileadh is fuidheall feachta,nbsp;ni coir a gcur cuideachta ;

giolla mainntbhréan caoch, mo chron, agus laoch lainntréan lionmhor.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mag Uidhir is gann do ghean,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;485

ceólach mac [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] ;

Mac Ruslainn dob é a shamhail,

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] a ionnamhail.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;M'^Dermont mew lurginbsp;7 maa gwii in nanurdnbsp;in eggir 7 clein kertnbsp;seggil keil 7 cronycht.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tonwldy* re gask glannbsp;thomas re oik 7 re hoyvirnbsp;da croff gin wayi^ er maanbsp;gir lowf laya* me leith.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mele is fuil feachta

ne coir in gwrri cwtdachte gilli ma^treyn keith mo c^ronnbsp;7 leith lane trane lein. . . .

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Maa gwil 7 gann di jinnbsp;coillith m'^woil waaenbsp;m'^ruslyn di baa hawilnbsp;mvsly* mea no hynoil.

GIOLLA CRfOST

4- MacDiarmaid of Moylurg and Maguire the unruly ; to set the two together is justice gone awry, tonbsp;compare meagre rye with wheat.

5- Tomaltach practises clean martial valour; Thomas practises evil and arrogance ; both the weakling’snbsp;hands have failed, whence it comes that my laysnbsp;are musty and askew.

Unmeet it is to place together a warrior and the leavings ' of a host, a purblind foul-gummed loon, woe’s me !nbsp;and a soldier mighty of blade and of numerousnbsp;following.

7- Maguire is scant of cheer ; [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] son is fond of

music; he is such as was MacRuslainn, ... is his counterpart.

GIOLLA CRfOST

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is sa tomvlty* in twrrinbsp;neil frossyt feil fairillnbsp;goyr m^colman groye 5alnbsp;loymlayn doyl 7 dagnyh

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Berre ma gwil a ma*

m garran bakky* bronych* a hllin cryni* a cAvrrenbsp;fa vynneyn vronycht vallith,

10. Beirre m®dermit a macAnbsp;ssry^ soul alyn sougychnbsp;ber belly* din 3ei* 3lynninbsp;sang ayth \n leith er loyv .

11. Ma guile gin low no leenbsp;er a 5errane vrayny* v .nbsp;is deihd in tra tayniknbsp;is seithid in fay* f . . .

GIOLLA CRfOST

8. Tomaltach the prince is as Niall Frosach, the generous son of Fearghal; he is as bright-cheeked Guaire, sonnbsp;of Colman, brimful of noble pride and of pleasantnbsp;temper.

9- The steed that bears Maguire forth is a halt pot-bellied nag ; upon his meagre mangy hump is placed hisnbsp;rider’s mouldering pillion.

The steed that bears MacDiarmaid forth is a mettled colt of fairest eye ; the warrior’s slim horse, as henbsp;skims the ground, makes a breach for the purenbsp;wind to enter.

Feeble and dingy sits Maguire upon his sorry yellow nag ; the meaner churl he when he arrives ; thenbsp;pleasanter the occasion for mockery.

52 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA CRiOST

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Luireach gheal fhainneach fhadanbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;505

fa Mhac daithgheal Diarmada ;

ré trodas do thagradh air, sgaball is clogas cumhdaigh.

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mar mhuine fforlus ag fas

Tomaltach do-gheibh glé-ghras (?) ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;510

Tomas corrthón (?) on [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] ghleann

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] craobh don chuileann.

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Luireach mheirge as daoire dreach,nbsp;sgaball mi'sgiamhach salach,

bidh ma Mhag Uidhir crion clamh, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;515

nar fhuirigh ré diol Danar.

15. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sgiath ordha ré ucht mar ghloinnbsp;ag righ Muighe Luirg li'onmhoir ;nbsp;cuiridh ré thaobh raigheal geal

claidheamh caol agus coirrshleagh. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;520

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Lwryt 5al any* addanbsp;fa vak dajal dermitda.nbsp;re trotdass di hagri* ernbsp;skabil 7 claggass . . .

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mir vuKnith feirlwss a fassnbsp;tomwaldy* a jevye glegrrych *

Thomas ch^rwin one 3eir 5lyne creyve jin chullin.

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Lwry* werge 7 deir dreanbsp;skabbil me skeyvy* salli*nbsp;bee ma va gwil chrein clawfnbsp;na* durre re deil dawnir.

15. Skaye oyrre ra wcht mir jlynnbsp;ag re mew lurga leno^nbsp;curre ra heive rojal galnbsp;claive keil 7 corley.

* glegrrych EM. ; now illegible.\

GIOLLA CRÏOST

f2. A bright mailcoat, long and ring-wrought, covers brilliant MacDiarmaid ; against the hour of challengenbsp;to fight he wears a shouldercape and a fair-wroughtnbsp;helmet.

'3- Tomaltach, who wins bright grace, grows as a copse of noblest herbs ; round-rumped (?) Thomas from thenbsp;[nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] glen [grows rankly like] a bough of holly.

f4. A rusty mailcoat of meanest look, a shouldercape ugly and foul, cover Maguire, that sapless leper,nbsp;who abode not the recompense due to barbarians.

'5- A golden shield against his crystal-bright breast guards the king of populous Moylurg ; by his gleaming sidenbsp;he sets a slim sword and a taper spear.

525

54 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA CRÏOST

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Do-bheir Tomas a truaill duibhnbsp;seanmhaolan aimhghéar arsaidh ;nbsp;ta ag Mag Uidhir, balbh a bhas,nbsp;arm nach fuirigh ré h-aghas.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fear mar Shuibhne nach beir buadh,nbsp;is fear mar loruath armruadh ;

saoi nach sgreadach go lamhach, is daoi meathtach mfolamhach.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fear mar Chain colach cuil,

’s fear mar Aibhél mac Adhaimh ; ri Loch Cé fear ós fearaibh :nbsp;is é as gean do Ghaoidhealaibh.

19. Ri laidir aithnid eolach,

is daoi anbhfann aintreórach ; is fearr saoi solamh ré sgolnbsp;iona daoi dolamh diultach.

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Di werri tomass a troyle doenbsp;sann vellin awjair arsse

hay ag mak gwil halve a woss arm na* furry* ra awjis.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ffer myr hwny* na berri boyenbsp;7 fer mir erroe armroy

seith na* scratty* gow layw* is dei vatty* wee lawytht.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fer myr chayvin colli* culli*nbsp;is fer mir awail m^awjewnbsp;re lochacay fer oss ferrew

is say 7 gena dy* jeillew.

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Re lad?gt; a;«nycht oylichtnbsp;is dei* anvin a^troyrrythtnbsp;is ferri seith holly* re skolnbsp;na dei* 5olly*in dwltei*.

GIOLLA CRIOST

16. Thomas draws from a blackened sheath an ancient antique edgeless dudgeon ; Maguire, pithless hisnbsp;palm, has weapons that abide not battle.

^7' The one is as Suibhne, who wins no triumph; the other is as red-weaponed loruath, the battle terror ;nbsp;the one is a hero who blenches not at spear-cast,nbsp;the other is a shrinking handless poltroon.

18. The one is as sinful crime-stained Cain, the other as Abel, Adam’s son ; Loch Ce’s king is a man abovenbsp;men ; he is the joy of the Gael.

19- The one a king, strong, renowned, skilful, the other a feeble helpless wight; better a sage who givesnbsp;quickly to a poet-train than a boor close-fisted andnbsp;given to refusal.

S6 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA CRIOST

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ranna dura dlighidh diom

a ghnuis nach deirge an doinnfhion, Mac Diarmada, cül na gcladh,nbsp;slat chiabhfhada ür uasal.

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tug Tomaltach nach mion móidnbsp;dhomh a bhiadh is a bhrogóid,nbsp;is clairsigh liom ar mo los,

an laimhsin as fhearr fhuaras.

22. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mag Uidhir, móide a mhéala,nbsp;péist amhnaireach neimhdhéanta :nbsp;nocha n-ionann bale na mbrodhnbsp;agus iothlann ard uasal.

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mag Uidhir feannaire fannnbsp;drochdhaoi aintreórach anbhfann ;nbsp;ata mórfhas don olc ann :

Tómas gan chorp gan chalann.

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ranni durry^ dlee deym

a 5noiss na* derga 'm doynein m^dermit cowle ni glyignbsp;slat keafade o’^ ossil.

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Hug tomuldy* na* myn moidnbsp;joff a wey 7 a vroikgoyd

is clarsy* loym er mi loss in lawsin is fer hoyris.

22. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ma gwil moid a wayly*nbsp;pest awnarytht no 5endychtnbsp;no*cha nynnyn balk nym broyvenbsp;agü'j illin ard ossill.

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ma gwil fawnir fannnbsp;droich 5ei* a«trorycht a«vinnbsp;id ta morass din oik annnbsp;thomas gin chorp gi^ challin.

GIOLLA CRIOST

20. Fervent verses I owe to him, whose countenance is ruddynbsp;as the dark wine ; MacDiarmaid with trenchednbsp;tresses, a wand with long locks, fresh and noble.

21. Tomaltach, not paltry of vow, has given me his food andnbsp;bragget, a harp besides to reward my song ; that handnbsp;is the best I have experienced.

22. Maguire, the more his disgrace, is a shameless misshaped reptile : not alike are a balk of straws and anbsp;tall and stately corn-yard.

23. Maguire, flayer of the weak, is a worthless, feeble,nbsp;helpless boor ; growth of evil in him is rank ; Thomasnbsp;has neither bulk nor body.

GIOLLA CRIOST

24. Maguire of paltry spirit is a rod from the thicket of soft alder; the proud theme of long melodiousnbsp;strains is the brown-tressed MacDiarmaid.

AITHBHREAC INGHEAN COIRCEADAIL

VIII. AUCTOR HUIUS AITHBHREAC INGHEAN COIRCEADAIL

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A PHAIDrIn do dhüisg rno dhéar,

ionmhain méar do bhitheadh ort ; ionmhain cridhe failteach fial

’ga raibhe riamh gus a nocht. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;5^0

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Da éag is tuirseach ataim,

an lamb ma mbi'thea gach n-uair, nach cluinim a beith i gclfnbsp;agus nach bhfaicim I uaim.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mo chridhe-se is tinn atanbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;565

ó theacht go crlch an la dhüinn ; ba ghoirid do éist ré ghlóir,nbsp;ré h-agallaimh an óig üir.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Béal asa ndob aobhdha glór,

dhéantaidhe a ghó is gach tir : nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;570

leómhan Muile na mür ngeal, seabhag Ile na magh min.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fear ba ghéar meabhair ar dhan,

ó nach deachaidh damh gan di'ol ; taoiseach deigh-einigh suairc séimh,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;575

aga bhfaightf méin mheic riogh.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Damh ag teacht ó Dhün an Óir

is damh ón Bhóinn go a fholt fiar : minic thanaig iad fa theist,

nf mionca na leis a riar. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;580

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Seabhag seangglan Sléibhe Gaoil,

fear do chuir a chaoin ré cléir ; dreagan Leódhuis na learg ngeal,nbsp;éigne Sanais na sreabh séimh.

3b. teic^ MS.] 6a. jown in noyr MS.] 6d. rair MS.] 7b. kein MS.]

AIFFRIC NIC COIRCEADAIL

The Author of this is Aiffric nic Coirceadail

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Thou rosary that hast waked my tear, dear the finger

that was wont to be on thee ; dear the heart, hospitable and generous, which owned thee ever until to-night.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sad am I for his death, he whose hand thou didst each

hour encircle ; sad that I hear not that that hand is in life, and that I see it not before me.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sick is my heart since the day’s close is come to us ;

all too short a time it listened to his speech, to the converse of the goodly youth.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A mouth whose winning speech would wile the hearts

of all in every land ; lion of white-walled Mull, hawk of Islay of smooth plains.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The man whose memory for song was keen, from whom

no poet-band went without reward ; a chief nobly generous, courteous and calm, with whom was foundnbsp;a prince’s mind.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Poets came from Dun an Óir, poets too from the Boyne

to seek his curling hair ; oft did they come drawn by his fame, not more often than they got from him allnbsp;their wish.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Slim bright hawk of Sliabh Gaoil, a man who showed

kindness to the Church ; dragon of Lewis of bright slopes, salmon of Sanas of quiet streams.

610

AIFFRIC NIC COIRCEADAIL

For want of one man all lonely am I after him, without sport, without kindly talk, without mirth, withoutnbsp;cheer to show.

9. Without one man to whom my mind draweth of the stocknbsp;of MacNeill since young Neil is gone ; ladies lacknbsp;mirth and joy ; I am without hope of gladness in song.

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sad is the state of smooth-soiled Gigha ; Dun Suibhne I

see without music, that greensward of a stronghold of generous men; the sorrow of the MacNeillsnbsp;is known to them.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cause of our joyous mirth in turn, to which we were

wont to go in stately wise, while now, alas ! I endure not to view it from each height.

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;If Thou, Son of the living God, hast made a breach

upon the cluster of three nuts, true it is that Thou hast taken our choice hostage ; Thou hast pluckednbsp;the greatest of the three.

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;From Clann Neill hath been newly plucked the topmost

nut of their cluster ; often do the choicest of the generous men come down to the MacNeills’ last bed.

14. The latest, choicest of them, it is the tale of him thatnbsp;hath sapped my strength ; my loved yokefellow hathnbsp;parted from me, thou rosary that hast waked my tear.

AIFFRIC NIC COIRCEADAIL

15. My heart is broken within my body, and will be so until my death, left behind him of the dark freshnbsp;eyelash, thou rosary that hast waked my tear.

16. Mary Mother, who did nurse the King, may she guard me on every path, and her Son who created eachnbsp;creature, thou rosary that hast waked my tear.

GIOLLA COLUIM

IX. A UGHDAR SO GIOLLA COLUIM

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MÓR an feidhm freagairt na bhfaighdheach

thig fa seach,

an drong gus dtigid go h-aidhbhleach ar gach leath.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Neach da n-iarraid bid go h-aidhbhleachnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;625

seach gach fear :

umhla dar chuir dun i ndaidhbhreas gusa bheag.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Beagan do shloinneadh na bhfaighdheach

sloinnfead duibh, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;630

an uair thigid fir na faighdhe d’fhaighdhe chruidh.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Bid go mm cairdeamhail caibhneach

mar is dluigh,

’s an uair chuirthear iad ar chairdeas nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;635

cia nach tuig ?

A Howdir so G. . . . Co. . . .

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mor in feym freygirt ni wyagA hie fane sheachnbsp;An drong guss in deggit go ayflacA er gi laa.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Nach 5ane nairrad bead ga ay'^flyth sheacA gad fernbsp;Owyle 3ar chur dwn in dyffrA gwss a weg.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Beggane di lon«ych ni wyagh slonensith dewfnbsp;Nor tAiggit fir ny fyagA yyach c^rwe.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Beid gow mein cardol cayfnyth mor is dlewenbsp;As noar cAurrir ead er chardis cay nac^ tug.

GIOT.LA COLUIM

The Author of this is Giolla Coluim

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;To answer the demands for aid that come in turn is a

great effort for those on whom they come hugely from every side.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;For him on whom these men make demand they are

terrible above any other ; it is subjection such as has all but brought a place of strength to poverty.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Somewhat of the thiggers’ character I will recount to

you, when those thiggers come to make request for gear.

4. They are courteous, friendly, kindly, as is meet ; andnbsp;when they are bidden stay for friendship’s sake, whichnbsp;of them fails to understand ?

GIOLLA COLUIM

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gabhaid mighean roimhéin ghairbhe

agus ruid ;

cromaid cnuasuighid a mailghe

muin ar muin : nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;640

“ go brath nocha chara caingne sinne dhuit.”

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Seagh na bhfaireann bhi'os ’nam aigneadh

tuig go math :

’n uair is léir, giodh ole an mhaidean nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;645

no go math,

do-m'd éirghe ghrad, go raghrad,

Ri na rath.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cantar led, “ Cha linn nach aithreach

ar dtoisg féin ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;650

fi'or gach seinbhriathar ta i dtaisgidh i mbf spéis :

riocht na ndrochcarad ar aistear thig i gcéin.”

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Eirghim-se ann sin ar sgath naire,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;655

’s budh ghnath bhruid ;

’s do-bheirim dhoibh Ian na laimhe do mo chuid.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gawit meejanw rewayn 5arfy ag/r rwdenbsp;Cromwid knossyd a mallin mvn er mAwn.

Go braa nocA cha charra kangnaa sin na jutt

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Seygh ni waa raan weaw nam agny tugga meanbsp;Gai 5olk a waddin noir is leyr na ga maa

Di neid erry gArad go ra 5rad ree ny raa

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;CsLntir loo cho linn nacA arryth ir dosk feynenbsp;ffeir gi sanvrear ta dasky am bea speisnbsp;Racht ny droc.^t charrit er astir hig in ganee

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Errymsi in sen er skay nar is bo 5na wrude

Is di wearrwme joyve lane no layve dim chwdch

GIOLLA COLUIM

5. They take a fit of displeasure, rough ill humour, and ofnbsp;peevishness ; they bend and gather their eyebrowsnbsp;one after another. “ Never,” say they, “ will we benbsp;friends to you in a dispute.”

6. Understand well the style of the folk I have in mind.nbsp;Bad or good though the morning be, once it is lightnbsp;they go forth quickly, all too quickly, King of grace !

7. Their talk is, “ Sore we repent our journey here. Hownbsp;true the old treasured sayings on which men setnbsp;store: the plight of the unwelcome friends whonbsp;come travelling from afar.”

8. Then I go forth for shame’s sake—it is a regularnbsp;bondage—and I give them a full handful of my means.

GIOLLA COLUIM

9. Canaid riomsa le gean gaire

ré maoin bhuig : nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;660

“ ar an dail is mór an braighe thugadh duit;

a h-aon mhac samhla ag mac Adhaimh nocha nfhuil.”

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Beagan do shloinneadh na bhfaighdheach 665

sloinnfidh mé :

meic Ui Shuiligh, meic Ui Anmoich iad i gcéin.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Meic Ui Mhoichéirghe, la samhraidh

iarras gréin ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;670

meic Ui Shirthigh, meic Ui Shanntaigh iad go léir.

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tiogfaid mna dhiobh d’fhaighdhe chaorach

orm fa seach ;

go sonnradhach sanntach sirtheach nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;675

thig gach bean.

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cuingidh diallaid, iasad easrach

ar a h-each ;

beiridh sirtheach no dha shirtheach

Ié mar neart; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;680

9. Can«it rwmsi la 3an gair ra mayn voge Er in dail is mor ym bray huggi dutenbsp;Hean v'^sawlla ag mak aan noch chin nwle

10. Beggane di lonffa ni wyagA slonffae maa Mek E hwlych m® E a^^mych ead in gayn

Mek E wothc/^aryth laa sawry* 5eyrfj grayne Mek E hirry* mek E hanty* ead gy* leyr

Tigfeid mna« 5eif jyag cheari* orm fane sach Gow sonoy^^ sancty* sheiry* hie gi banna

Gwn deillit Essit eissur ar ri hacha Wearre sheirry* na 3aa heirry* laa mir nert

13-

GIOLLA COLUIM

9. They say to me, laughing lightly for the liberal gift,nbsp;“ When wealth was dealt out, great was the uplandnbsp;you received ; no son of Adam has the like.”

10. Some little of the thiggers’ styles I will set forth ; theynbsp;are Roving-eye-sons, Fly-by-night-sons while yet afarnbsp;off.

II. They are Early-rising-sons, who on a summer’s daynbsp;demand more sun ; Spyer-sons, Greedy-sons are theynbsp;all.

12. Dames will come who will get aid in sheep from menbsp;each in turn ; on special errand, greedily, cravingnbsp;comes each dame.

13. She asks a saddle ; she has a borrowed straw pillionnbsp;upon her horse ; she brings a spy or two spies withnbsp;her as backing ;

72 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA COLUIM

14. Agus giolla bhios fa h-aodachnbsp;don treas fear ;nbsp;agus inilt do-ni daondachtnbsp;ar gach neach.

15. Mara bhfaghbhaid faighdhe chaorachnbsp;uam le gean,

do-nid bagradh agus fraochach gan bheith beag :

’s é ainm bagartha an da shirtheach fatha fead.

16. Tiogfaid faighdhigh dhiobh ré shotal,nbsp;Ri na riogh,

giolla mo ghroighe ré chogar :

“ druid a niar ; innis focal no da fhocalnbsp;dhomh go dian ;

17. Ga h-each as fearr tha ag an ollamh ? ”nbsp;’s é adeir siad ;

“ cionnus éirgheas é san tosach ? créad a fhiach ? ”

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;AgA gil weass fa hedyt din tress farnbsp;Agïs innile di ne deyndych er gi nac^

15. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is mor awyd fygk cheirry* woyme lay gannbsp;Di nead bagry* 7 freichach gin wei begnbsp;Say anma bagra in daa herrach faa fedda

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tigfeit fyigA seive re hottill ree nyn reenbsp;Gille mo ^rygk re choggir drut in nayrnbsp;Innis fokkill no da okkill 30! gi dean

17. Ga beach 7 far hag in nollew see der sheadnbsp;Cunwis a 5erris ay sin tossych keid a each

GIOLLA COLUIM

14. And a lad to bear her clothing as third man ; a maidnbsp;too, who shows kindness at each one’s wish.

15. Unless they get from me aid in sheep with good will,nbsp;they utter threats and angry words in no smallnbsp;measure ; the two spies’ term of menace is Fatha Fead.

16. Some of them will come cajoling my stud groom, Kingnbsp;of kings ! saying in whispers, “ Come out here ;nbsp;tell me quickly a word or two :

17. “ Which is the poet’s best horse ? ” is what they say ;nbsp;“ how goes he in the forefront ? What is he worth ? ”

74 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA COLUIM

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mion lem ghiolla-sa ré bhrosgal

comunn cliar ;

gach each innseas é ré shotal gheibh mar bhias.

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;larrthar ormsa h-aithle a theagaisg,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;70$

thall ’nar dtoigh, an t-éineach luth is If d’eachaibhnbsp;do bhf ar ghroigh.

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Beag nach faighdhe mheic is athar

f mar sin ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;710

. créad a nois do-ghéantar againn uime sin ?

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Rugadar ar mba is ar gcapaill

as ar dtoigh ;

’s f ciall as fearr ata againn nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;715

trial! ré gcois,

go fionnta cóich as fearr acfhainn ré dol ar toisg.

22. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Go taigh Eoin Mheic Dhomhnaill damhach,

choreas rinn, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;720

d’fhaighdhe ar an fhear laomhsgar lamhach rachaidh sinn.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mean learn jillissy* re wroskill commyn clayrnbsp;Gac,^ eacA jinssis ay re hottil 5®yf mir weas

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Errir ormsi halli heggisk haal nar dyi

In tein eac.^ looysly jeacAew di wei* er ycyegh

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Beg nac^ vek 7 aythir E mir sinnbsp;Creddi in nis a ^a.ntir aggin vmmy sin

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;RuggidzV ar baa 7 ar gabpil as ir dy

Is keal 7 farri ad ta aggin tryle ra gossi Gow fynta coyck 7 far agewng re dol er tosk

22. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gow tei oyne v^donil dawy* chorkis rynnnbsp;Syg^ er in nar lyrhskir lawyt rachoyd sinn

GIOLLA COLUIM

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fawned on thus, small thought has my lad for poets’

company; the spy by his cajoling will discover the form of every horse of which he tells.

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;After this schooling, I am asked, over there in my

house, for that horse in the stud that is best for strength and colour.

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In this way the thigging is almost one by father and by

son ; what now shall we do on that account ?

21. They have taken our cattle and our horses from ournbsp;house ; our best plan now is to go as well, to provenbsp;which of us is best equipped for (such) business.

22. To the thronging house of Eoin MacDonald, whonbsp;empurples spear-points, will we go, to thig from him,nbsp;the generous man of ready hand.

725

76 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA COLUIM

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gach ni tugamar gus trasta

cuma linn,

mas é mac Eoin, an folt anbhog, focas rinn.

24. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Giodh ceart cam leat, a ri bearnais

na n-arm nocht,

aithioc na faighdhe nach dearnais do chur ort,

25. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;. . . mé ar do ghealbhois

a thoirt dhomh ;

dod mhuintir-se, a mheic ui Fhearghuis, thugas crodh.

26. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Muintir dhuit, agus é i nAlbain,

gach hath fial ;

muintir dhuit na faighdhigh amhlaidh, a fholt fiar.

27. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Da dtiosadh an fear a Francaibh (?)

seachad siar, canaidh é ré do ghnuis dheargglainnbsp;as math niamh :

“ Muintir mise d’Eoin og eargnaidh, aige bhiam.”

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gi nei* tuggomor gi strasta commo lynnnbsp;Ma say m^ayne \n nolt aynvog jeikA rinn

24. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gai cart camm lat a rei barnis riyn narm nocAtnbsp;Aytheik ni fyg^ nacA d(?rnis a chur ort

25. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sweach mee er a 5alwoss a hort 3awf

Did mAwntersse m,^ek E arg,^is hugiss c^ryif

26. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mu«tir dut agzs E in nalbin gi flat^ feallnbsp;Muntir dut ni fyag/^ awfly a olt fear

27. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;An deiss in fer a franguss scheacAad shearnbsp;Canni ay red jnwss jerg 5lyn 7 mat/t neafnbsp;Mu?2tir miss 3Óyn og arne aggi wéame

GIOLLA COLUIM

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;For all that we have given hitherto we care not, if it

be Eoin’s son, with soft bright hair, who makes us payment.

24. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Though thou deem it but crooked justice, thou king of

naked weapons’ gap, to have put on thee repayment of the thigging thou madest not,

25. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;[I ask thee] by thy white palm to give it me ; it was to

thine own folk, thou scion of Fergus, that I gave gear.

26. Of thy following is every generous lord that is in Alba ;nbsp;of thy people likewise are the thiggers, thou of thenbsp;curling tresses.

27. If a man from France (?) were to come along westward,nbsp;he will say to thy bright ruddy face, good of colour,nbsp;quot; I am of the following of stately young Eoin, hisnbsp;man I shall be.”

CxIOIXA COLUTM

28. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Muintir dhuit ó mhuir go monadh,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;745

Dia dod dhi'on ! gomadh tü ghabhas an soladhnbsp;dlighe a i'oc,

29. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gion gur i'ocais cion da ndearnsad

ar a gceann. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;750

Canaidh riomsa an sülghorm seangbhog, ag ól bheann :

30. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;“ Aithioc na bhfaighdhe nach dearnas

i'octhar leam ;

do-ghéabhair uam 1' go h-earlamh, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;755

nó nf’s fearr ;

31. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;“ Na ba is na capaill do sgaoilis

as do thoigh,

mara beag lat uam do dh’aoineach—

bó ar do bhoin— nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;760

searrach sleamhain seingmhear saoitheach, aire ghroigh.”

32. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Adéarainn-se a nois ruaig mholta

dod ghnuis réidh ;

“ is td as cruaidhe i ngreis chrothta,” nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;765

canfaidh mé ;

28. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MunWr 5wt o m/^wrri gow monni dya ja deiynnbsp;Gommo tow jawis in sollied dley eiak

29. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gin gïr deikA kin da dernït er a gannnbsp;Can^y rwmsi in swljorm sangwog ag oil wann

30. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Aytheik ny fyagA nacA d^rnis hekkir leammnbsp;Dy jóywir woyme E gi harlow na neiss far

31. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ni baa 7 na cappil di skeillis as di heygAnbsp;Mir a beg lat vome di jein each bóó er a won.nbsp;(S)arryth slaywin sangwoir seiach er ri jryeg/«

32. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dearninsi neis róyag mAolta did jnoyss reenbsp;As tow is croy in gness chrotda canfee mea

GIOLLA COLUIM

28. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;From sea to mountain all are thy people ; God guard

thee well! May it be thou who gettest the profit of what it is thy due to pay !

29. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Even though on their behalf thou hast not paid for the

fault they have committed. Then to me the blue-eyed slim-waisted generous lord will say, as he quaffsnbsp;horns :

30. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;“ Repayment of the thigging that I made not, I shall

perform. Thou shalt have it from me readily, or better still:

31. “ The cattle and the horses that thou didst let go fromnbsp;thy house, unless indeed thou deem it small to receivenbsp;for thine every horse a colt sleek, lithe and mettled,nbsp;well bred, a lord of studs, and a cow for thy cow.”

32. Now would I make a flight of praise to thy gracious face.nbsp;“ Thou art the sternest in rocking combat,”—thusnbsp;will I say.

8o nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA COLUIM

33. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;“ ’S tü as buige do bhronnadh longaidh

réd linn féin ;

is tü as fearr fa chlaidheamh corra

as math féigh. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;770

34. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;“ Is tü as fearr fat ór ’s fat ionnmhas

do chloinn Chuinn ; ni mó ort na uisge ionnlaidnbsp;dod bhois chuirr

bhar n-oineach ’s bhar ndéirc ré iomlaid nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;775

druim ar dhruim.

35. “ Is tü as cruaidhe ag cosnamh tirenbsp;nach bi id sheilbh ;nbsp;bheith it aghaidh, a ri Ile,nbsp;mór an feidhm.”

Mór an.

33. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As tow 7 bugga wronna longa rada lynn feynnbsp;As tow 7 far faa clyew cor 7 mat feych

34. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As to 7 far faa toir 7 fa tynnows di clonn chwnnnbsp;Noc,^ cha WO ort na wske inlit di wossi chwrrinbsp;ffar noyni* is fir derk re imlit drwm er jrwm

35. As tow 7 croy ag cosnow teirri nac^ bee ad telfnbsp;bee id tygAe a re EillycA mor in feym. Mor in.

GIOLLA COLUIM nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;8i

33- “ Thou art the most liberal in giving viands of all thynbsp;time ; thou art best to wield a keen-edged tapernbsp;sword.

34- “ Thou art the best as regards thy gold and treasure ofnbsp;the children of Conn. No more than water to washnbsp;thy taper palm dost thou reckon thy liberality andnbsp;thy bounty, to bestow them heap on heap.

35- “ Thou art the sternest to win land that is not yet thine ;nbsp;to oppose thee, thou king of Islay, great the effort! ”

GIOLLA COLUIM

X. A UGHDAR SO GIOLLA COLUIM MAC AN OLLAIMH

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ThAnaig adhbhar mo thuirse,nbsp;cha Horn chuaidh an bhliadhain-se ;nbsp;ni tuigse do neach nach tuig

mo thuirse theacht mar thanaig.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gé bé neach nach tuigeadh soin,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;785

a theacht comhlan dom chumhaidh,

na luit-se féachadh im chom, tuirse ’na créachtaibh orom.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Aoibhinn liom, giodh deacair dhamh,

togbhail ar chuairt na cumhadh ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;790

ata an bron ’gam chradh fa chléith :

is mór mo ghradh don [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ta mo chridhe ’na dha leth,nbsp;cha n-iongnadh é bheith briste ;

ta mo chorp gan fheoil gan fhuil, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;795

mar bhocht gan treoir a shamhail.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cha n-iongnadh cumha da mhéidnbsp;orom i ndiaidh mheic Mairghréid ;

Ó chuimhnmid ar mhaith an fhir

MOcha nfhuilngmid flaith d’fhaicsin. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;800

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is truime dhuinne na a dholnbsp;anmhain ’na dhiaidh san saoghal ;nbsp;mo chradh, is tuar ar dhol as,

an lamh fhuaras ó Aonghas.

3a. MS. represents Is aoibhinn.] 3b. co . . . MS.]

3d. t . . . MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;4d. gin troyr {sic') . . . MS.]

5c. MS. represents 6 bheith cuimhneach.]

6a. jwnith MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;6d. wo Eihii(s) MS.]

GIOLLA COLUIM

The Author of this is Giolla Coluim Mac AN Ollaimh

I. Matter for grief is come to me ; not with me hath this year prospered ; he that hath no understandingnbsp;understandeth not that my grief is thus come.

2. Whosoever should not understand it, that my grief is come so complete, let him regard these hurts in mynbsp;breast, and see that grief is wounding me.

3- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It pleaseth me, though it be hard for me, to set out upon

a journey of lamenting ; sorrow is paining me beneath my side ; great is my love for the [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

4- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;My heart is broken asunder, no wonder that it be so ;

my body lacketh flesh and blood, it is like unto a strengthless wretch.

5- No wonder that I am grieved, however deeply, at thenbsp;death of Margaret’s son ; when I remember thenbsp;goodness of the man, I cannot bear to look upon anbsp;prince.

6. Heavier for us than his going is to abide in the world after him ; alas, it is an omen of my leaving it, thenbsp;blow I have received from Angus.

830

GIOLLA COLUIM

7- Though hard I deem it to part from him, Eoin’s son, of sweet converse, it is worse that I depart not from thenbsp;world, that I am not returning to Angus.

8. Though I might be long parted from him abroad, leaving behind me my detractors, so united was Inbsp;to my lord that secrecy from me he sought not.

9- No wonder that my spirit fails, to see the lord of Islay ; my well-being is grown heavy and strengthless, sincenbsp;my king is dead.

lo. By his death he hath pained my heart, a tale right easy to relate ; grief there is no more for me to feel ; itnbsp;has shattered the bonds of my [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

11 • Great is my grief, and no wonder ; it is no [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;]

grief [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] gt; É hath utterly harried my heart,

there is no road for me to take in Scotland.

12. Now since I must needs depart, or live with others unesteemed, in his time I would rather go from thenbsp;wild isles of .Scotland.

13- Though I depart, it is hard for me, though depart I must ; my mind is turned to go abroad, and to leavenbsp;my native land behind.

86 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA COLUIM

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is é ni fa-deara dhamh,

ar Horn cha bheag an t-adhbhar, gan mo ghaol do theacht ar ais,nbsp;aol ar do leacht, a Aonghais.

15. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is truime na a éag sinnbsp;an IÓ tanaig da aimsir,

a chnu chridhe is a chnamh chuirp, gan slighe ag each da dhi'oghailt.

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;NIor shaoileas duine ar domhan,nbsp;da mhéid rath, dod cheannsughadh,nbsp;gur fealladh oirne agus ort :nbsp;mealladh lér h-oirneadh th’adhart.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;O’s é dheónadar a dhol,

truagh nach amhlaidh do bhamar, a Mheic Mhuire bhaisghil bhinn,nbsp;gan duine taisgidh againn.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I n-éinfheacht ré agra ghill,

’na ghar gan dol ’na dheaghaidh,

nior éigh nl’s faide na sin

don mhéid bh’aige do mhuintir.

19. Lucht caidreabha a chul gcam,nbsp;ar neimhnf chaidh a gcomann ;nbsp;a n-aigneadh do chuaidh ar ais :

’s cruaidh gach caidreabh as t’éagmhais.

20. Dobadh deacair coimeas riomnbsp;’s a mbi óm thighearna agam :nbsp;caidreabh is comhol is tamhnbsp;’s aigneadh romhor gan anlamh.

I4d. eill er a Jechtisi enis ar a (= do) leacht-sa, Aonghais) MS.]

16b. da wayd, da deleted wrongly, MS.]

18c. (ner) rayeyis, wM no* enich Tvritten above, but no deletion ; ner is barely legible nowl\

20b. MS. represents do bhi'.] 2od. is deleted in MS.]

GIOLLA COLUIM

14. My reason (no small one, methinks) is that my loved one returns not, that there is lime on thy gravestone,nbsp;O Angus.

IS- More grievous than that man’s death is the day that is come since then, thou nut of my heart and bone of mynbsp;body, and that others have no means to avenge him.

16. None in the world, however great his fortune, did I think would overcome thee, until thou and I were deceivednbsp;alike ; a deceit through which thy death-pillow wasnbsp;arrayed.

17- Since they ordained that he should go, sad it is that we also were not so ; thou Son of Mary, white-palmednbsp;and sweet of voice, we have no man to cherish us.

18. At the same time that he demanded a pledge, at his own door, without going to seek it, he called no furthernbsp;than that, such was the number of his following.

IQ- Those who consorted with him of the twining locks, their comradeship is destroyed; their spirit hathnbsp;failed ; all society is painful without thee.

20. It was hard to find one to compare with me, such was my lord’s liberality ; society and feasting and rest,nbsp;and great cheer without a hand against me.

GIOLLA COLUIM

An uair théid each dha dtigh n-óil is Ï mo chuid da n-onoirnbsp;bheith fa bhrón gan dion a muigh,nbsp;ag Ó1 mo dhiol do chumhaidh.

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] gan dol tar mh’ais,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;865

cha n-anann cumha as m’éagmhais ;

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] don chumhaidh mé :

’s pailte na dubhaigh fie.

Is iomdha neach romhainn riamh

do chuir cumha fa dhimiadh ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;870

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] dearbhthar liom

uirsgeal nar dealbhadh romham.

[24] . Do chuala mé fada ó shoinnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;a

sgea/ as cosmhail rér gcumhaidh : nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;b

ut sequitur in alio loco, etc.

[25] . Mac Subhaltaigh na mbreath mbinn,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;c

daltan Chathbhaidh is Chonaill nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;d

21C. a mew MS.]

22a. . . . lanvin RC. ; the MS. is perhaps ty»za«vin.]

22c. . . . ach aggi MS.] 23c. . . . na wonso MS.]

23d. nar jalve MS.]

The beginnings of lines on the lower half of the last page of the poem are now mostly illegible owing to abrasion ; the MS. was apparentlynbsp;more legible in Dr Cameron^s time.

GIOLLA COLUIM

21. When others go to their drinking-house, this is mynbsp;share of their honour, to be sorrowful and shelterlessnbsp;without, drinking my fill of grief.

22. [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] that I go not back, sorrow abideth

not without me ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;[nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] of sorrow:

more abundant than the mourners of Islay.

23. Many is the man before us whom grief placed in dis-esteem ; [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] is shown by me, a tale that has

not hitherto been set forth.

[24.] I heard long ago a tale like unto our lament : utseq. etc.

[25.] Subhaltach’ s son of sweet-voiced judgments, fosterson of Cathbad and of Conall . . .

GIOLLA COLUIM

The Author of this is Giolla Coluim

MAC AN OlLAIMH THE PoET

I. It is no joy without Clan Donald ; it is no strength tonbsp;be without them ; the best race in the round world ;nbsp;to them belongs every goodly man.

2. The noblest race of all created, in whom dwelt prowessnbsp;and terribleness ; a race to whom tyrants bowed,nbsp;in whom dwelt wisdom and piety.

3. A race kindly, mighty, valorous ; a race the hottest innbsp;time of battle ; a race the gentlest among ladies,nbsp;and mightiest in warfare.

4. A race whose assembly was most numerous, the best innbsp;honour and in esteem ; a race that made no war onnbsp;church, a race whose fear it was to be dispraised.

5- Brilliant pillars of green Alba, a race the hardiest that received baptism ; a race who won fight in everynbsp;land, hawks of Islay for valour.

6. A race the greatest and the most active ; a race the comeliest and calmest of temper ; a race the widestnbsp;of heart, the best in patience and in liberality.

92 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA COLUIM

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Meic n'ogh nar thuill a n-aoradh,

i roibh daonnacht is truime ; fir allta uaisle fhonnmhor,

i roibh bronntacht is buige. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;900

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Clann dob fhearr feidhm is faisgeadh,

clann dob fhearr gaisgeadh laimhe ; ole liom giorrad a h-forna,

’n bhé lér sniomhadh a snaithe.

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ni'orbh iad na droichfhir bhodhra,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;905

na na fir lobhra laga ; ré dol i n-ionad bhuailtenbsp;fir nach cruaidhe na craga.

10. Clann gan uabhar gan éagcair,

nar ghabh acht éadail chogaidh ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;910

’gar mheanmnach daoine uaisle, is agar bhuaine bodaigh.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mairg ó rugadh an fheadhain,

mairg do dheadhail ré gcaidreabh ; gan aonchlann mar Chlainn Domhnaill,nbsp;saorchlann ba chomhnairt aigneadh.

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gan aireamh ar a n-urdail,

gan chuntadh ar a nduaisibh ; gan chn'ch gan tus gan deireadhnbsp;ar eineach aga n-uaislibh.

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I dtosach Clainne Domhnaill

do bhi foghlaim ’ga faithneadh, agus do bhi ’na ndeireadhnbsp;feidhm is eineach is naire.

14. Ar bhrón agus ar thuirsenbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;925

do thréigeas tuigse is foghlaim ; gach aoinni ortha thréigeas :

ni h-éibhneas gan Chlainn Domhnaill.

Ni h-éibhneas.

GIOLLA COLUIM

7. Sons of kings, who deserved not satire, in whom werenbsp;manliness and dignity ; men untamed, noble, hearty,nbsp;who were open-handed and generous.

8. A race the best for service and for shelter ; a race thenbsp;best for valour of hand ; ill I deem the shortness ofnbsp;her skein, by whom their thread was spun.

9. Not they the miserly men and deaf, nor yet men weaknbsp;and feeble ; to go where blows were struck they werenbsp;men than whom the rocks were not harder.

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A race without arrogance, without injustice, who seized

naught save spoil of war ; whose nobles' were men of spirit, and whose common men were most steadfast.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Alas for those who have lost that company ; alas for

those who have parted from their society ; for no race is as Clan Donald, a noble race, strong ofnbsp;courage.

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There was no counting of their bounty ; there was no

reckoning of their gifts ; their nobles knew no bound, no beginning, no end of generosity.

13' In the van of Clan Donald learning was commanded, and in their rear were service and honour and self-respect.

14. For sorrow and for sadness I have forsaken wisdom and learning ; on their account I have forsaken all things :nbsp;it is no joy without Clan Donald.

GIOLLA COLUIM

15. Mighty was the blast of tyrants against that tribe wisenbsp;and strong; though to-day they are unhonoured,nbsp;it is no joy without Clan Donald.

16. The best people in the round world,—their joyousness,nbsp;their keenness, their effectiveness ; without them isnbsp;no strength ; it is no joy without Clan Donald.

17. The Babe of the hand [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;], may He save us

from every evil ; though He to us is dear, it is no joy without Clan Donald.

DEADHAN CHNOIDEOIRT

XII. A UGHDAR SO DEADHAN CHNOIDEOIRT

A CHINN Diarmaid Ui Chairbre, giodh lór th’airgne agus t’uaille,nbsp;cha mhor Horn méad do dhocranbsp;gé ’taoi i gcrochadh ré cuaille.

Cha truagh Horn fad ghruaig ghreannaigh, na gaoith ghleannaigh da gairbhe,nbsp;cha truagh Horn gad id ghiallaibh,nbsp;a chinn Diarmaid UI Chairbre.

Mairg do smuain do bhéim braghad nach badh namha do chairdis ;nbsp;och is mairg nar thill t’iachtaigh,nbsp;a chinn Diarmaid UI Chairbre.

Do milleadh leat rl lie, fear imirt fhlona is airgid,

’ga dta an trilis ur iarnaidh, a chinn Diarmaid UI Chairbre.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;RI lie na gcorn gcomhóil,

do chuir onóir ar chairdibh ; mairg do chréacht a chneas niamhgheal,

a chinn Diarmaid UI Chairbre. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;960

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;lonmhain Horn a bhas mhórdha,

nar dhoichleach oir na airgid,

’s lérbh annsa fleadh is fiadhach, a chinn Diarmaid UI Chairbre.

ib. agis M‘L.; contracted in MS.} id. coyll WM.; almost illegible 2b. glennich M‘L.; glein* MS.; thereafter WM. reads ga ; then, after anbsp;little space, appears 5, which WM. does not copyl}

1C. gad MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;4c. eyrni* MS.]

THE DEAN OF KNOYDART

The Author of this is the Dean of Knoydart

1- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Thou head of Diarmaid 0’Cairbre, though great enough

are thy spoils and thy pride, not too great I deem the amount of thy distress though thou hangest from anbsp;stake.

2- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I pity not thy shaggy mane, nor (that it is tossed by)

the wind of the glens however rough ; I pity thee not that a withy is in thy jaws, thou head of Diarmaidnbsp;O’Cairbre.

3- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Woe to him who hath noted thy throat-stroke, and would

not be a foe to thine alliance ; woe, alas, to him who rejected not thy shrieks, thou head of Diarmaidnbsp;O’Cairbre.

4- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;By thee was destroyed the king of Islay, a man who dealt

wine and silver ; whose locks were fresh and crisp, thou head of Diarmaid O’Cairbre.

5- Islay’s king of festive goblets, who raised his friends tonbsp;honour ; woe to him who wounded his bright whitenbsp;skin, thou head of Diarmaid O’Cairbre.

6. Dear to me was his noble palm, ungrudging of gold or silver ; who joyed in feast and hunting, thou ea onbsp;Diarmaid O’Cairbre.

DEADHAN CHNOIDEOIRT

7. larraim ar righ na n-astal, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;965

an tl fhasgas Ie [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;],

da fhurtacht feasda ó phianaibh, a chinn Diarmaid Ui Chairbre.

A chinn Diarmaid.

7a. nostill MS.]

7b. After faskis la, which is quite clear, WM. reads tinw : t is very uncertain, mw seems rigkti]

7c. da vrticht . . . fianow MS.]

THE DEAN OF KNOYDART

7. I beseech the King of the apostles, Him who protects [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;], to succour him now from pains, thou

head of Diarmaid 0’Cairbre.

FHUARAS MAC

XIII. [MOLADH AR TORCUL MAC LEOID LEÓDHUIS]

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;FhuARAS mac mar an t-athair,

math ar flathaibh ar n-eólas, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;970

do fhriothail a aoibh ’s a aigneadh ’s mé ’ga chaidreabh i Leódhus.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fios agus aigneadh flatha,

uair ratha leis a ndéantar : dar leat an mac-sa fhuair mlnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;975

gurab é an Ruaidhri céadna.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is ionann i dtigh comhóil

ar n-onóir da fholt fainneach ; ionann moltar i gcathaibh

Torcul is a athair airmheach. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;980

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Da dteagmhadh ré linn Torcuil

m' h-é locadh don Tromdhaimh : do-m'—ga beart as buaine ?—nbsp;aithris Ghuaire mheic Colmain.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;lomdha ceard ara moltar

Torcul an abhradh chraobhaigh, ar luth, ar lamhach curadhnbsp;ag teacht go dula i gcaonnaig.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Adéara mé dha h-aithle,

d’éis a aithne is a eólais, nach dtanaig fear a aoise

as fearr na an rl-se Leódhuis.

IC. Dareolla ? Aareoll ? RC.]

2b. MS. represents Ié ndéantar.]

5d. gow dull in c . . . {the rest illegible) MS.]

FHUARAS MAC

[In Praise of Torquil MacLeod of Lewis]

I ¦ I have found a son like the sire ; good is our knowledge of princes ; he served me with his cheer and his spiritnbsp;while I was in his company in Lewis.

2. He possesseth the knowledge and the spirit of a prince, the author of an epoch of good fortune ; this sonnbsp;whom I have found is, thou wouldst think, the verynbsp;Roderick.

3- Equal honour do his locks in ringlets win from us in thenbsp;house of feasting ; praise equal to his renowned sire’snbsp;doth Torquil win in battles.

4- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Did it come in Torquil’s time, it is not he who

would make refusal to the Burdensome Poet-band ; he worketh—what deed is more lasting ?—after thenbsp;pattern of Guaire, son of Colman.

5- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Many are the arts for which praise is won by Torquil

of the bushy eyebrow : for vigour, for a champion’s cast as he cometh to enter battle.

6. I shall assert thereafter, after acquaintance and knowledge, that there hath come no man of his agenbsp;who is better than this king of Lewis.

FHUARAS MAC

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Madh leis ó Charraig Bhoirbhe

séad as soirbhe fhuair file, do bhronnadh mac mheic Thorcüil,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;995

da roichinn tir a fhine.

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ag mac Ruaidhrf na mearcholl

da mbeith an Seancholl Snigheach, nó séad olie b’fhearr foghnamh,

do bhronnadh-san ré ineach. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1000

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sgiath cheannghaig nó séad ordhairc,

foras formaid na bhfileadh, usa leissean a mbronnadhnbsp;na Ie ollamh a sireadh.

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Da mbeith an Liath mór Machanbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1005

d’eachaibh, nó an Dearg Driüchtach, m'orbh iongnadh fear a chleachtainnbsp;gan bheith fa eachraidh diültach.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Damadh leis an Dubh Saighleann,

Mac Leoid da n-aidhreann cliara, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;loio

leis ni thaisgeadh an t-each-soin, gé bé rachadh da h-iarraidh.

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ata ag Torcul Og oineach

nach moidheadh i n-am cogaidh ; cosg gach tire da theaghlach,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;loij

da shluagh meanmnach go cogadh.

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ni'orbh fhearr ’na aois Cü Chulainn

na Torcul d’fhulang teannta : lamh as calma is as diste,

fear briste gacha bearna. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1020

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gérbh ionmhain mac mheic Thorcüil,

ni mholainn é ar a annsacht: fear as treise i n-uair agha,

iuchair ghradha don bhantracht.

7b. hor fal [sic leg) MS.]

FHUARAS MAC

7- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Had he, from the Rock of Bergen, a jewel the most

precious that poet ever won, the son of Torquil’s son would bestow it, were I to reach the land ofnbsp;his kin.

8- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Had Roderick’s son of fierce destruction the Ancient

Dripping Hazel, or an other treasure better of service, he would bestow it for his honour’s sake.

9- Scalloped shield or noble jewel, cause of envy to poets,nbsp;—easier for him to bestow them than for bard tonbsp;seek them.

10. Had he of horses the great Gray of Macha or the Dewy Red, it were no marvel though a man of hisnbsp;custom should make no refusal as to horses.

II- Were the Black Saingleann his, MacLeod whom poets court, by him that steed would not be hoarded,nbsp;whosoever might come to seek it.

12. Young Torquil hath honour that would not break in time of warfare ; his household winneth victory overnbsp;every land, his host lively for battle.

13- Cu Chulainn in his time was not better than Torquil to endure straits ; his hand is the most valiant and thenbsp;most expert, a man who breaks every breach of battle.

14- Though dear were Torquil’s grandson, I should not praise him for my love to him ; he is a man mightiestnbsp;in hour of battle ; he is a key that unlocketh thenbsp;hearts of ladies.

1025

104 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;FHUARAS MAC

15. Ni' fheil mac riogh na flatha,nbsp;da mhéad ratha, da gcualas,nbsp;giodh minic linn a rochtain,nbsp;as fearr na Torcul fhuaras.

16. Nf Mheic Cailéin Caitr-iona,nbsp;bos mhiolla, urla dualach,nbsp;inghean larla Oirir Ghaoidheal,nbsp;an aoinbhean as fhearr fhuaras.

Fhuaras.

17. Fhuaramar bean ar ndi'ola,

do ghéig mhóir ghn'obhdha ghasta, nf Mheic Cailéin cruth ógbhlath,nbsp;cül mar an cornan casta.

1035

FHUARAS MAC

IS- There is no son of king or of prince that T have heard of, though often have I met such, be his fortune hownbsp;great soever, whom I have found better than Torquil.

i6. Catriona, MacCailéin’s daughter, whose palm is soft, whose locks are tressed, daughter of the Earl ofnbsp;Argyll, is the one best lady I have found.

i?- We have found a lady to our mind, sprung from a bough great, heroic and comely, MacCailéin’snbsp;daughter, young and fair of form, her tresses curlednbsp;like the [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

GIÜLLA PADRAIG

XIV. A UGHDAR DHA SO GIOLLA PADRAIG MAC LACHLAINN

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;FhuaraS rogha na n-óg mbrioghmhor,

fear treabhtha fóid namhad, thug druim ré sith na nGall mioghor,

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1040

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mac UI Chailéin na gcalg bhfaobhrach,

fear garg raighrinn narach, rug geall ar ghaisge is ar dhaondacht,nbsp;ceann d’eachtra i n-ucht agha.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Deirge i gcoigcrich a bhratach,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1045

ni meirge óglaigh thursaigh ; creach is gialla i n-eochair tachar,

Ie sluagh sonntach sulchair.

A howd/r 3a soo gillepatrik m® clachlane

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;HoarA royg ni noyk breournbsp;ffer traywe foyd nawa(t)nbsp;hwg drwm re seith ni gawlenbsp;cowl ad veydew gi* gyl(e).

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Maye calleine ni golga fywri*nbsp;fer garga ra 5riyin (?) naar(it)nbsp;rug gyle er 5assga 7 er 5endy*'nbsp;cann deVhtre now^ aja

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Derkith in gogrei* a wrattichnbsp;ne merge oglei* hurseith

crea* 7 gaeilli* in noecAur tay%ir

la sloeg soyntith swlc. . . . nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;swltow EM.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

'Ihe Author of this is Giolla Padraig MacLachlan

I- I have found the pick of vigorous young warriors, a man who ploughs the soil of foemen, who has turnednbsp;his back on peace with impious Saxons, [

]•

2. The son of Ua Cailein of keen-edged blades, a man fierce, most goodly, modest, who has won the palmnbsp;for valour and for mercy, the leader of a venturenbsp;in the forefront of battle.

3- Reddest is his banner in a foreign land, the standard of a young warrior of no heavy spirit; he wins spoilnbsp;and hostages in the edge of conflicts, along with anbsp;courageous pleasant-spirited host.

io8 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA PADRAIG

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Teaghlach Shéamais an drong fhairtleach,

na lann bhfaobhrach bhfuilteach ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1050

fiana tuathach meanmnach maisgleach, sluagh nach dearna tuirleadh.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dream bhios ar bhi'odhbhaidh go fairtleach,

is ’ga mbi an dubh solas ;

feadhain chródha na n-arm sgaiteach, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1055

gharg leómhanta lonnach.

6. Eachtrainn ag teacht le [nbsp;neach dhi'obh cha n-iarr [

1060

7. Glac an ghaisge as mo meadhar,nbsp;a clu i n-aisg nf fhaghthar ;nbsp;creach agus gialla gan mheabhalnbsp;teacht le fianaibh Labhair.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tylich hamis in drying artlichnbsp;ny’ lann fywrith fultithnbsp;faynith toyth ma’nith masslathnbsp;sloeih ni’ dar’mi’ du(rlith.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Drammi veiss er wewee gi fartlithnbsp;is ga bei* i’ dow s . . .

ffyin cAroyth ni’ narme skattich garg loynteith lonnith.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ethri’ni^ techt la ni’ ge’nithnbsp;nach jeiwe cha nair’ . . .

in ney i’ deir’rith wei* gin neelli* crarrhdis sei* in g . . .

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Glak a 3assgi is mowi* meyirnbsp;a clowi* nasga neaythirnbsp;crea* 7 gaeyle gi’ woeyllnbsp;teacht la faynew lawir.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

4. James’s household is a daring band, of keen-edged bloody blades ; sturdy, bold-spirited, virile troops, anbsp;host that have made no stumbling.

S- A company who press stoutly upon an enemy, and for whom darkness is light ; a valorous band withnbsp;cleaving weapons, fierce, lion-like, furious.

6. Foreigners coming with [ seeks [

7- The hand of the warrior blithest of spirit, its renown is won unblemished ; foray and hostages withoutnbsp;disgrace go with the war-bands of Lawers.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

Sluaghadh is grainne gharbh ruaige i ndiaidh dala an [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;]

ag Ó1 fiona i ndun an [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;],

mur nach aoibhne Teamhair.

8. Sloei* 7 grane 5arwe royig*

i’ nygAe dail i’ narm. ... nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nar msoyd EM.

a goyle Eine* i’ downith i’ deyi’ doyi’? moir na* evy’nith taw. . . . moerWM.

11. Eolair mor wamnith a char’rit

in gloe* gryile chai*. . . . nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;curryith EM.

laywe is boyn di’ dawe /a/ tarrei* sic MS. far lane ayg is wr. . . .nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;wrrwm EM.

GIOLLA PADRAIG nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;hi

8. Hosting and the stern dreadfulness of rout [

] drinking wine in the fortress of [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;], a castle than which Tara is not

more delightful.

9- James, son of John of thin blades, is the head of poet-bands and men of learning ; foemen abide not his warfare : he is the match of the Hound of Ireland.

lo. When he turns to attack Saxons, it is an omen of the destruction (of his enemies) ; he is a mighty-handednbsp;tower who conquers foreigners, who routs andnbsp;defeats [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

II- He is the great-spirited eagle of his friends, in the clamorous warfare of champions ; a hand the mostnbsp;lasting, abundant to the poet-band, a man full ofnbsp;triumph and honour.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Lamh Ié ndeargthar gormlann tana,

gan forlann roimh sgolaibh ; tainte i n-órdhuais led go caladh,nbsp;gur foghnamh da mholadh.

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tuirseach ’na dheoidh a lucht cagaidhnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1085

[ ^ ]gt; an tuir chatha as blathbhuan caidreabh,

flath Ian d’uaill is d’aigneadh.

14. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Séamas forgla bhaisgheal deaghfhlath,

saidhbhreas [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;],nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1090

taobh anall ag teacht go a fhionnbhrugh creach na nGall gur [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

15. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Trom a thoir ag teacht gach teannta,

creach air nf doigh iompudh ; sróll ós laochaibh dearg mar dhonnchru :nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1095

fraoch is fearg fan onchu.

15. Trommi a hor a tea* gih te’toill creach er ne i’ doye a hy’poynbsp;shroyle oss leithew dark mir 5oywn crow leichew ?nbsp;frei* is ferga fa nonchow.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

12. A hand whereby a slender blue blade is reddened, (but) without violence to the schools ; cattle-flocksnbsp;they carry home with them as a golden reward ; itnbsp;serves his praise well.

13- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sorrowful he leaves those who war with him [

], the tower of battle whose society is warm and lasting, a prince full of pride and of spirit.

14- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;James is the white-palmed pick of goodly princes ;

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] coming to his white dwelling, foray

won from Saxons [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

15- nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Heavy is his pursuit at the coming of each time of

straits ; his foray is not like to be turned back ; above his warriors is a satin banner red like brownnbsp;gore ; wrath and rage are around the fierce warrior.

11

114 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA PADRAIG

i6. Mac Eoin mhir na slogh’s na gconnlann,nbsp;gach rod diobhsan lomlan ;nbsp;m'or léig Eoin do shi'oradh Dubhghall,nbsp;fear diola duan dtromdhamh.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Aicme dhamh nÉireann ’ga iomradh,

mac Eoin céibhfhionn glanluath ; a lamh mar Naoise na n-iolbhuadhnbsp;ag dal craoiseach gcraruadh.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Do fhuair Seamas as di'on daoine

saidhbhreas gaoil gach cléire : do dhi'ol ratha is séad is maoine,nbsp;flath ar séad na féile.

19. Si'ol na n'ogh gan [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;]

siorghaol damh na hEireann, mar mhac Colman dob fhearr buille,nbsp;déar lomlan don fhéile.

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;M^Oyne vir ni’ sloygA is ni’ gwnlanenbsp;gi royd dew sin lorn lane

nar leg oyine di heir’row dowjaale fer 5eil doyn ni dromjav.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Acmea* 5awe er’rin ga hy’rainbsp;m® oyne keyve in glan loyenbsp;lawe mir neiss ni’ nil woygenbsp;a dal chreissith croy royg.

o y

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Di hoyr damis is deine dwn {sic)nbsp;sywriss ^ 5eil gi* clayr’ri*

a jeil raa* is ere is oir flaa* er slee ni fayle.

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Seil ny’ rei* gi’ grive er chwnithnbsp;seir jeil dawe ni heirrin

mir colman a bar bwle dar lomlan din nayle.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

16. The son of fierce John of hosts and companies, each road is filled with them ; John ceased not fromnbsp;chasing Saxons, a man who requites the songs ofnbsp;weighty bardic trains.

17- Ireland’s tribe of poet-bands tell of him, John’s son, fair-haired, bright and swift; his hand is like thatnbsp;of Naoise of many triumphs, at the meeting of blood-red spears.

18. James, who is the protection of men, has won wealth of love from every train of poets ; for dispensingnbsp;fortune and jewels and wealth, he is a prince uponnbsp;the path of generosity.

19- The descendant of kings without [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;], ever the

love of the poet-bands of Ireland ; he is like Colman’s son whose blow was stoutest, a drop filled full withnbsp;generosity.

ii6 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA PADRAIG

20. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ór Ie ollamhnaibh [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;]

go bronnadh dhóibh smaointeach ;

Ua Duibhne an laoch mór nach caintear, bran fuirne nach sgaoilteach.

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Snuadh an t-subha ’na ghruaidh ghléghil,

sluagh fa chumha an óigfhir ; laoch neartmhor ghabh ti'r ar éigin,nbsp;siol Artüir mheic [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

22. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fear bhitheas ré charaid pairteach,

’s ó mbf Danair sgaoilteach ; ór gan chuibhrigh do riar chainteach,

Ua Duibhne hal faoilteach.

23. Fhuair ón Righ do dhealbh gach düilenbsp;geall ós righ na Féinne ;nbsp;mac Eoin chuir flaitheas fa h-umhla,nbsp;lan maitheasa is céille.

20. Oyr la ollowew si ha’lynnbsp;is gi bronith 5oive smyentithnbsp;oy downe i’ leith mar na* cayntyrnbsp;bran forni* na* sko/^. . . .

21. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sney* in soe na 5rowg^ gleygAillenbsp;sloye fa chowe i’ noik I . . .

lei* nartur 5awe teir’ri* reygin di heill artur v® eriv (?).

22. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Far a weiss ra chor’rit partithnbsp;is o bei* da’nir skeiltith

oir gi’ chwrith a rar cha’tith o dwne fayle faltith.

23. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;H)oar one rei* a 5alwe gi* dwlenbsp;gyle oss rei* ni feany*

Oyne) chur flay is fa howlith lan mathis is keyle.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

20. Gold to men of learning [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] he is thoughtful

to bestow; Ua Duibhne, the great warrior who receives no satire, chief of a troop that scatters not.

The hue of the raspberry is in his bright cheek, a host owes allegiance to the young warrior ; a mighty mannbsp;of arms who has taken land by force, of the seed ofnbsp;Arthur, son of [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

22. A man who to his friends is generous, and from whom foreigners scatter ; gold without stint he gives tonbsp;pleasure satirists, Ua Duibhne liberal and welcoming.

23. The favour of the King who shaped each creature he has won more than the king of the Fiann ; John’snbsp;son who has placed a kingdom under submission, fullnbsp;of goodness and sense.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

24. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mac Eoin beódha baisgheal buidhneach,

barr gaisgidh gach feadhna ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1130

tuir dhearg óir ’s a chiall go cuimhneach, barr fial mór na meadhra.

25. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Baranta na gcn'och do argain,

feardha fiadhaigh feadhnach ; luan cneisgheal aghmhor armach,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1135

is treis gnath a theaghlach.

26. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Na gcolg bhfuar gan iocht da namhaid,

tuar bliochta i n-óirdhiol ; diombuan eachtrainn ó n-a airleach

’s ó threascairt a [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1140

27. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ceann na n-ollamh ’s na mban leanmhnach,

an bhróin mhairneach tholgach ;

’s é mo rogha ó a dhreach meanmnach each is bogha is dorrlach.

27. kenni ni’ nollew sni ban lanvith a wron mar’ni tolgithtnbsp;Sai mi royivh woa 5rai* ma’nithnbsp;eath is bovve is dorlitht.

GlOLLA PADRAIG

24. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;John’s son, vigorous, white-palmed, of numerous hosts,

the flower of valour of every company ; a red tower of gold, of mindful heart, the mighty generous flower ofnbsp;joyousness.

25. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The surety of the lands that he has harassed, manly,

fierce, of numerous troops ; a white-skinned weaponed moon of prowess, mighty is the wont of his householdnbsp;companies.

26. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A man of cold blades, without mercy to his enemy, an

omen of plenty in bestowal of gold ; foreigners are short-lived from his slaughter and from the overthrowing [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].

27. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The head of men of learning and of persistent women,

the spying, proud company ; my choice of gifts from his magnanimous face is a horse, a bow and a quivernbsp;of arrows.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

28. Tréanlaoch garg tagarthach narachnbsp;ard aigeantach uaibhreach,nbsp;do chuir gach di'obhadh fan armhaigh,nbsp;dha bhi'odhbhaidh m suaineach.

29. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ua Cailéin do thréig gach ainbheas,

a chaithreim gan bhruanchol ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1150

coimhdheas ar seirc is ar [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;],

rogha mheic riogh fhuaras.

30. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mairghréad bhéildearg an fhial ionraic,

glainghéag na gciabh gcoinnleach, ucht nar caineadh, taobh tlaith trombog,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;i IS5

troigh thana, sail choirrgheal.

31. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gealua glan Shir Donnchaidh Forsair,

deighbhean chonnail chneasbhog, dreach mar ghréin [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;],

dead geal is béal [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;].nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1160

28. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;trane leith garg togg’^idi* nayi’rithnbsp;ard aggi’tyt oyr’rth

Churrith gi* dive fa nith ayr’rith 5a wewe ne swnitht.

29. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;oa challeine di reyk gi ha’wisnbsp;a chatreime gi’ wrayn cholnbsp;hoy*5is er serk es er 5reiwenbsp;saymis royve v'^reith \ioris.

30. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Marrayd wale darg i’ naile Inrik

glanjaik ni gey we (ganla) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ganla EM.;

wtht nar cha’nee teiwe flay* trommbok

try tanni sail ch . , . nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;cha^vor EM.;

31. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gal oya glan hir Duncha fors*'

dey wen chwnlei* chnesswog nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;EM.; u-

dreach mir jreyn na wen sin doithcheyr doithchoyr? dead gal is bail r. . . .

GIOLLA PADRAIG

28. A powerful warrior, fierce, combative, and modest,nbsp;lofty, spirited, proud-minded ; who inflicted everynbsp;destruction upon the battlefield, unsleeping to his foe.

29. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ua Cailein who has put behind him each evil wont,

his career is without paltry sin ; equally ready is he for love and for [enmity], the pick of a king’s son Inbsp;have found.

30. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Red-lipped Margaret, the liberal and upright, a bright

branch with brilliant tresses ; a bosom that has not been dispraised, a person tender, gentle and revered, anbsp;slender foot, a heel white and pointed.

31. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The fair bright daughter of Sir Duncan Forrester, a

noble lady good of mind and soft of skin ; her countenance like the sun [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;], a white tooth

and a [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] mouth.

GiüLLA PADRAIG

32. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Aübh is umhla dha gnüis nairigh,

craobh chumhra na h-uaille ; do thréig si gach ni fa taire :nbsp;béal bithe gan fhuaire.

33. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;larla diomsach duasmhor aghmhor,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1165

ri fial uasal Gaodhal, do chuir gach coigcrioch fa radhaibh,

’s ni choigleann sé an saoghal.

34. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;larla garg curanta cródha

ard urramach brioghmhor ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1170

flath na sioth ’s na gcaithréim gceólach,

Cailéin ri ós rioghaibh.

35. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;[nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] mo dhana

d’Iarla Gaodhal duanach ; don righ rug geall gacha baire,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1175

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] fhuaras.

Eywe is owle 5a gnwss nairre creiwe chowri* ne hoylithnbsp;di reyk see gi nee fa tayr’renbsp;baile beei*’ gin (foyir ri* horA. EM.)

Earlith demisith dosswor awir re faile ossil geillnbsp;churri* gi cogry* fa ni* rawhenbsp;is ne choglin sea in seill.

34. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Erlea garga currintith croithnbsp;ard wrrmth bre’our

flaa ni sei* is na ga*reym toythli calleine rei* oss reith.

35. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Nearsi ergoyk wrei* mo janenbsp;5arly* 5eil/ gi do. . . .

din reith rwk gyle gi bair’ri* na* b . . . rw . . . f . . . i’r.

GIOLLA PADRAIG

32. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fair cheer and homage be to her modest face ;

she is a fragrant tree of lofty spirit; she has put behind her each thing that is base ; a tender mouthnbsp;without coldness.

33. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;An earl of haughty spirit, liberal and valiant, is the

noble generous king of the Gael, who has placed every foreigner under his sway, and spares not thenbsp;world.

34. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A warlike earl, heroic and valorous, lofty, honoured,

full of might ; a prince of peace and of melodious triumphs, Cailéin, king above kings.

35. [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] of my song to the earl of the Gael, the

theme of poems ; to the king who has borne each palm of victory, [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] I have found.

124 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;GIOLLA PADRAIG

36. M’anama?? ar th’iocht, a Choimdhe,

[

36. Marrwm er heitht a chome a 3wle ... fa

a re a ter noewe toyr see jwn. . . .

GIOLLA PADRAIG

36. Be my soul under Thy clemency, O Lord, [

3-

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

The Author of this is Finlay, the Red Bard

. Receive and protect me, MacGregor ; greet me well as I come to thee ; I have essayed to make my peacenbsp;without an advocate, thou love of poets, thou darlingnbsp;of churches.

2. To nurse one’s anger is ungentle ; over each matter that is bygone let cast a cloak ; to turn the backnbsp;on a fosterson were a trick of treason, for God pur-sueth not his wrath against a man.

3. The easier it is to pardon him, when he maketh a circuit, that fault with him is rarely found ; eachnbsp;prince’s wrath subsideth at last; his heat remainethnbsp;red while it is fanned.

128 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;FIONNLAGH RUADH

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fadódh corruigh ’s gan mé ciontach,

a Mheic Ghriogóir na lann ngorm, gé taim seal a muigh ar th’uamhan,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1195

do lean da mhuin uabhar orm.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gé bé neach lér cuireadh eadrainn

aimhleas bréige nach buan sgeamh, a bhréag fa dheoidh dobadh diomhaoin :

créad acht sgeoil far bhflorghaol sean ? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1200

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dalta Chonchobhuir n'ogh Uladh,

Conall Clogach nar mhath ciall, a fhreagradh amhra man fhosadh ;nbsp;beagnach samhla dhomhsa a thriall.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ó Chonchobhar as an Chraobhruaidhnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1205

m' bhfaghadh cairde ’s a thuaith ; fa dhiamhraibh gan locht a liosa,

bliadhain gan tocht d’fhios a shluaigh.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fada chorre is •gm ma ky^tyth

a v° cregor vim lan gorm ga tame schel a moe er hoyvinnbsp;da len dl vwn oyvir orm.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ga ba neach la curri eddrin

awless brega na* boyn skeiwe a wraig fa joae di bi jaiwirnbsp;creid a* skoyle fir werjail sen.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dalta cho;«chowir re wlly^

cownyll cloggy* neir waa keyll a fregry* awraa my* nossi

beg nach sawlaa 5oissi a reaille.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;O chowchowir essi chrewroy

ni faa chardaa sa thoy ffa jeawriw gin Iwcht a lyssnbsp;bly®5in gin tocht dyss a loy.

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Because thy wrath was kindled while I was guiltless,

thou MacGregor of blue blades, therefore my pride retained the smart, though for dread of thee I amnbsp;for a space abroad.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;What man soever hath set between us lying mischief

short-lived of bark, in the end his lie hath been but idle : it is but the tale of thy true kin of old.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The fosterson of Conchobhar king of Ulster, even Conall

Clogach, who was not sound of sense, made good reply about atonement : his course is well-nigh anbsp;type of mine.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;From Conchobhar of the Craobhruadh he could find

no respite nor his folk; he was in lonely places sundered from his stronghold’s people ; for a yearnbsp;he came not to see his host.

130 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;FIONNLAGH RUADH

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Giodh mór a mhuirn ar [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] fhearainn,

Conall Clogach do chleacht ciall ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1210

do bheacht, is cha b’fhardal ceille, teacht go a ardfhlath féin da riar.

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mar soin mise i ndiaidh mo thrialla

Ó Mhac Griogóir na n-arm nocht ; m' tuar so mo thriall ó a chóisir,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1215

duan ’na chomhdhail, duais gan locht.

10. Dfomhaoin do neach a radh riomsanbsp;sgarsain ré hEoin na rosg ngorm ;nbsp;mo thriall, a bhranain na nGaoidheal,

da lion anair aoibheal orm. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1220

11.

chuiris srian fa adh na hAlban ag riar dhamh is bhard is bhocht.

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ga mor a wurnn er rowyd aryne

cullin cloggy* di chlacht k . . . di bacht is cha bardill keillanbsp;tacht ga ardlaa fan a r . . .

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Myr sen mischi in dey mi realli

o crggar (nyn arm nocht EM.) ne torsi mi reaill o choissyr

donny a choaill doissi gin locht.

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dewane di naich a raa ruwsa

scarsin re hoyne ny rosk gorm my* reaill o wra«nan ny* geillnbsp;dy leyne a^nar awill orm.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Hertaa rut in dey a chailli

da ga^naa cayth reward nocht churrA srayne fa ayg^ ny* halbinnbsp;a rair daw is ward is wo*.

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Though great his pride in his land’s [extent ?], Conall

Clogach practised prudence ; he bethought him (and it was no check of wisdom) to come to his lord tonbsp;make peace.

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It is even so with me after my journey from MacGregor

of weapons bared ; no omen this that I forsake his banquet, a poem to meet him, a present without fault.

10. Idle it is for any man to bid me part from Eoin of thenbsp;blue eyes ; my journey, thou chief of the Gael, for allnbsp;its honours, was on me as a burning coal.

] thou hast enmeshed Alba’s fortune in pleasuring poet-bands and bardsnbsp;and poor.

II. [

132 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;FIONNLAGH RUADH

12. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mairg do bhiodhbhaidh teacht it aghaidh ;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1225

ionann duit is do bhaidhbh chliath ; ni daigh ód shith acht fir ghonta,nbsp;ód laimh ghil a sgoltas sgiath.

13. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Baranta na h-aosa dana

Mac Griogóir a bhronnas ba ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1230

urra dhamh is fear na sealga, a lamh gheal a dheargas ga.

Gabh rém chomraigh.

12. Merg 5a bewe tacht a teygAee innynn dut is di weyf chleaanbsp;ne dach o tee ach fer gontaanbsp;oid law 5ill a skoltw skeaa.

13. Barrandi ny* heissi dany* m® cregar a fronnis baanbsp;wrri 5aw is fer ny* scheallyggaanbsp;a law 3ell a 5ergfi' gaa.

gaa reym chomvc.

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

12. Woe to the foeman that cometh against thee ; thou art resistless as the war-goddess of battle-ranks ; fromnbsp;thine onset naught is like to come save mennbsp;wounded, from thy white hand that cleaveth shields.

13. Surety of the folk of song is MacGregor who bestoweth kine ; patron of poet-bands and famed in the hunt,nbsp;his white hand that reddeneth spears.

1260

FINLAY, THE RED EARD

The Author of this is the Red Bard Finlay

I. The prime devil of the Gael is dead, a tale fit to benbsp;vaunted, who ignobly wounded churches and crosses,nbsp;the bald boar dull and worthless.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;From hell he came at first ; his origin makes it the

easier to believe the news, how that his existence is again prosperous among the hot ash showers of thenbsp;Devil.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;They bound him by his weapon’s point, what time he

left the house of hell, that to that same hold he should return, with his back to the stars of paradise.

4. When the black boar arrived thither, many a demonnbsp;plighted him ; the rude outcry of every form ofnbsp;monster arose hugely and hideously.

5. For fear that he should lack a competence, Roderick’snbsp;son was made a knight honourably there in hell, afternbsp;the manner of Conan.

6. Just is the claim that Allan makes to-day upon the devils,nbsp;even that he was their king, methinks, in his timenbsp;among them.

7. It is time to cease thine elegy, thou aged animal evernbsp;fleshly, thou son of Roderick, from the sea-girtnbsp;fortress, who didst win gear without show of vigournbsp;or spearcast.

1290

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

To estimate his career aright I should need to meet with Colum (Cille), for thy career is thy satire complete,nbsp;thou Allan bald and impious.

9. Thou didst harry, and that was not all thy spoiling,nbsp;Iona and Odhran’s burial ground ; it was thou thatnbsp;barbarously there didst mutilate the shrine of thenbsp;gospels and of the masses.

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It was thou that didst stir up evil to the Isles, thou didst

impoverish her tribute and her sanctuary ; thy custom hath been a coward’s ever, wherein thou dost follownbsp;up thy first beginning.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;But one blow hath reached thy left side, on my word,

thou son of Roderick : no feat of thine hath since been heard, once thou wert under curse of the living cross.

12. Noble are the two whom thou hast defied, [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] from

the first outset of thy warfare, thou carcase over-ripe and stinking.

13. Another foray outwith the law thou madest on Fionannbsp;in Glen Garry ; thine own saint of holy power hathnbsp;cursed thy bald craven pate, thou Allan.

14. He, like every other saint, now avengeth the despitenbsp;done him ; Dubhthach, in aid of his own cause,nbsp;hath set madness in Allan’s countenance.

15. Sad is thy land, sad are thy people; the bone-axe isnbsp;stricken from them ; they make an end of merrimentnbsp;between Seile and Subhairne.

FINLAY, THE RED EARD

16. No marvel that he is in torment ; it is long since Allan was gallows-ripe ; mention not the manly vigour of thenbsp;man who went in to his mother and to his sister.

17. Time now to cease from satire of thee, thou son of Roderick, thou man of violence ; thou Allan whosenbsp;wont is not to press a fight, fit is the triumph of thynbsp;cursing.

FIONNLAGH RUADH

XVII. FIONNLAGH AN BARD RUADH IS É THUBHAIRT SO

Gealladh gach saoi don each odhar an geall do mhaoidh sise ;nbsp;fa h-f bhuaidheas is an chosnamhnbsp;gach ni luaidheas mise.

Urraim a luaithe ’ga cosaibh nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1305

go ruathar do bhriseadh ; nochtadh san aonach a treise,nbsp;san chaolach giodh soithimh.

NI fhoghnann saighead da caitheamh

ré aigheadh a reatha ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;131°

ni' bréag tuarasgbhail an eich sin, stéad luadhaltach gasda.

An Dubh Saighleann is ria as cosmhail, nó oighre an Liath Macha ;nbsp;giodh oirdheirc a méad ’s a gcosnamh,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;13 U

nf [ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] na ar n-each-ne.

Mar chaochladh gaoithe do chnocaibh ruith na saoithe i ndeachaidh ;nbsp;mór gcéad lér aidhbhseach a siubhal,

théid mar thaidhbhse seachaibh ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1320

each do-ni slorruith ré saighid, a gniomhraidh is greanta,nbsp;léigeas bann d’uaisle a reathanbsp;san ruathar mar reathas.

Giodh fada an eachraidh roimpe, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1325

nior aithnigh an marcach ; gur beag do mholadh an eich sinnbsp;a coimmeas ré ealtaibh.

1307. noty* sei* MS.] 1312. loyildy* MS.]

1316. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ne hor eaid MS.]

1317. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MS. represents Mar badh. dachi WM., rightlyi]

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

Finlay the Red Bard, it was He said this

Let each wise man pledge for the dun horse the stake that the horse challenges ; it is he that wins in the contest innbsp;each matter that I mention. Honour to his feet for hisnbsp;swiftness in breaking an onset ; his might has been shownnbsp;in the gathering, though he be gentle in the enclosure. Anbsp;shaft shot amain is no match for his running; no lie isnbsp;the description of that horse, a steed goodly and nimble.nbsp;The Dubh Saingleann he resembles, or the heir of thenbsp;Liath Macha; though far-famed their size and theirnbsp;prowess in contest, they are not [better] than our horse.nbsp;As the shifting of wind from hill-tops is the running of thenbsp;troop he charges ; to many hundreds his career is dreadful,nbsp;he that passes like a phantom ; a steed that keeps pacenbsp;ever with an arrow, his deeds are brilliant ; a steed that letsnbsp;win triumph by the excellence of his running, as he races innbsp;the onset. Though the squadron be far ahead, his ridernbsp;does not note it ; it is small praise for that steed to comparenbsp;him to birdflocks.

FTONNLAGH RUADH

Coimhdheas a buadh is a siubhal

i gcruadhach’s i lathaigh ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1330

eagal an eich ar gach duine theagmhaidh i ngreis chatha.

I bhfeacht, i bhfeadhain, i gcumasg is each breaghdha an t-each-soin ;nbsp;greann ar an mhoireach ’ga mosgladhnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I33S

i gceann chorra bhrataigh.

Bheir an stuagh fhulangach thograch urraim sluagh da marcach ;nbsp;théid on choir do bheith ar thosach,

an móireach min masglach. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1340

Beiridh buadh reatha agus cosgair gé ti i n-uair fheasgair ;nbsp;go h-éasgaidh óirchriosach ullamh,nbsp;móirchriothach ar faithche ;nbsp;go biodhgach cruinnshleamhan crudhachnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1345

min druimleathan daithte.

Each fa thuarasgbhail an eich sin do-chualamar aca ;nbsp;cha roibh seise riamh fa coimmeas :

nior mheisde an Liath Macha. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1350

Mac Griogóir ceannphort an eich sin, tréan ’na ghleannphort file ;nbsp;tiogfaid on Bhanbha go a mholadh,nbsp;i nAlbain ’ga shireadh ;

fear chuireas argain ar Ghallaibh, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1355

is earbsa ré ghealladh.

1338. Delete M‘L.’s in before merkych.] 1342. ga.y MS.]

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

Equal is his triumph and his career on firm ground and on bog-land ; fear of that horse comes on each man thatnbsp;meets him in fray of battle. On expedition, in host, innbsp;conflict, a goodly steed is that horse ; fury stirs up the greatnbsp;horse in front of a taper banner. That chief of steeds,nbsp;enduring and keen, wins the reverence of hosts for hisnbsp;rider ; the vanguard is his place and he goes there, thenbsp;great horse smooth-coated and virile. He wins the palmnbsp;for speed and for victory, though he come in the hour ofnbsp;evening ; agile, gold-girthed, ready ; causing the field tonbsp;quake greatly ; bounding, round-barrelled and sleek ; iron-shod, smooth-coated, broad-backed, comely. A horse suchnbsp;as this horse we have heard to be theirs ; a match was nevernbsp;found to compare with him ; not better was the Liath Macha.nbsp;That steed’s lord is MacGregor ; strong in his glen-mansionnbsp;are poets ; they will come from Ireland to praise him,nbsp;seeking him in Alba ; a man who ravages Saxons, whosenbsp;promise is trusted.

FIONNLAGH RUADH

XVIII. FIONNLAGH RUADH AN BARD

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fada ataim gan bhogha,

fhaghbhail domh is mithigh ; thanaig tiom a thabhaigh

as an fhiodhraidh dhlighthigh. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1360

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is é conair théighinn

d’iarraidh slaite iubhair, go flath tréan na nGaoidheal,nbsp;fear nar éar lucht siubhail.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Go Mac Griogóir dionachnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1365

as ceann do na sgolaibh ;

’na thigh ni' bhinn folamh : dlighthear dhlom a mholadh.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Go fear as tréan cuireadh

i dtosach gach samhraidh ; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1370

nl samhach da bhiodhbhaidh, a namha go h-amhlaidh.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;’N uair éirgheas iad uime,

Griogóirigh ’na gcéadaibh, baoth an chiall a bhfógradh :nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1375

gur triath ós na tréadaibh.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Eoin as ceann don tréad sin

ré h-uair creach do ghabhail fhuaras féin ag comhól

béal ré béal san chamhair. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1380

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;’N uair chi teaghlach airmghéar

Mheic Ghriogóir i mBealach slighe mhin nó chorrach,nbsp;ni b’eire riü an eallach.

IC. hanik MS.] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;2b. dairre MS.]nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;2c. fla trane MS.]

3c. Dim ; probably na hea MS.] 3d. jein MS.] 5c. baith MS.]

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

Red Finlay the Bard

I. Long I lack a bow ; time it is I got one ; the time isnbsp;come to levy it from the proper wood.

2. The way that I would go to seek a rod of yew is to thenbsp;mighty prince of the Gael, who to travellers hasnbsp;never made refusal.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;To MacGregor who gives shelter, who is patron to the

schools ; in his house I used not to be empty ; to praise him is my duty.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;To him who is strong of host at each summer’s outset;

no peace has he who wrongs him ; in like case is his foeman.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;When they arise around him, MacGregors in their

hundreds, it were a foolish plan to challenge them : he is lord over the flocks.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Eoin, who is head of that flock what time a prey is

seized, I have myself found carousing face to face at dawn of day.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;When the keen-weaponed household of MacGregor in

Bealach see a way smooth or uneven, no burden for them would be the cattle.

1405

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

8. When men decide for combat, proclaiming it in foemen’snbsp;bounds, it is to his side they come, in form of hostagenbsp;and of captive.

9. It is a custom of MacGregor’s, when those others arenbsp;in chase behind him, to stay with his men and makenbsp;merry in his stronghold.

10. Since I left my bow behind me on the field of quarrel,nbsp;it pleases best my patron that I should tell mynbsp;weakness.

II. Though it be ill in Loch lubhair to tell of my martialnbsp;service, to declare the vessel’s freight pleases bestnbsp;on day of battle.

12. Bear in mind that you find me there, MacGregor, withoutnbsp;tarrying, to face every fight, to meet a long arrow.

13. Thou noble Elizabeth, [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;], thou lady of soft

locks, with whom poets bide long.

FIONNLAGH RUADH

XIX. A UGHDAR SO FIONNLAGH AN BARD RUADH

A HOWD/i? SOO FINLAI IN BARD ROYE

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Hoariss mo ry heach vornbsp;ym be ni clairre a choooillinbsp;mor dave la \n doyvyr in teachnbsp;na* fayir lai gi hoyk(ny*

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Meithe miss 00 tat ni teinbsp;rai 3regyn jowne a monee

gy* rac jorrA blatAe fane teach jir choyhollis lai is y\.%h.

3. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;) fleynbsp;is ra fars5sing a forgni

) glair na) cowyng in teach ga cowing ee 5a hylych.

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

The Author of this is Finlay, the Red Bard

1. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I have found of houses my choice supreme, a house

wherein the poet-bands are wont to feast ; many a company chooses out that house, which is foundnbsp;no day deserted.

2. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I will vaunt, for they are within his house, the strong

hold of the dragon of Dun Monaidh, each great smooth door throughout the house, for which daynbsp;and night are bright alike.

[ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] of its banquets and by the wideness

of its structures, to poets the house is not narrow, though narrow it be for all its household.

1425

150 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;FIONNLAGH RUADH

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Neirtghnfomhradh a chon ’s a shluaghnbsp;is meinic le Eoin armruadh ;

a h-aithle na sealg on teach gach faithche dearg on fhiadhach.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mar soin dh’fhag na saoir ar choirnbsp;bruidhean chuplach Mheic Ghriogoir,nbsp;gan locht saoirse ré ar linn

ar dtocht dhaoibhse ar a h-arainn.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fi'on ’ga ibhe ag mnaibh malla,

Mheic Ghriogoir, id mhorthalla : nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;143°

id bhrugh tréan fairsing, ar linn, céir ar lasadh go h-ursainn.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Fhuaras teach coimmeas dod thaigh,

Mheic Ghriogoir ó Dhun Monaidh : n'ghtheach na bhfaobhar bhfada,nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1435

teach Aodha Mheic Dhiarmada.

4. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Nart) 5neeryt a chonna is a loyenbsp;me^ky* la one armroye

hoilli nyt selga woa in teacht gi feach dirg von neyiche.

5. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mir sen jaik ni seir er chornbsp;broyne ni chowply* v'^gregornbsp;gin locht seyrsyt reir linnanbsp;er techt jeives er a harrin.

6. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ffeinni ga eevi ag mnsLiv maalinbsp;vcrrgor id vor hall

id wrow trane fars5sin er linna keir er lassa gew hursinn.

7. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Floaris teach comvms id hee

cregor 00 d . . . voyne rea teach ny* vyvyr faddanbsp;teach Eyg/^ v^Dermitta.

1'INLAY, THE RED BARD

4. Mighty deeds by his hounds and his hosts are frequentnbsp;with red-weaponed John ; when hunting is made fromnbsp;the house, the hunt leaves every greensward red.

5. Thus did the masons leave aright the coupled house ofnbsp;MacGregor, nor is there any lack of masonry in ournbsp;time, since thou hast come to its demesne.

6. Wine is drunk by stately dames, MacGregor, in thynbsp;spacious hall ; in thy wide firm mansion, as I deem,nbsp;wax is ablaze even to the door-post.

7. I have found a house to match thy house, thounbsp;MacGregor from Dun Monaidh : the royal house ofnbsp;long keen blades, the house of Aodh MacDiarmaid.

FIONNLAGH RUADH

8. Aon do la dh’fhear an ruin bhuig,nbsp;do Mhac Diarmaid, san Charraig,nbsp;tharla béist arsaidh ’na thaighnbsp;ar léim gasraidh a dhünaidh.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;144°

9- Suidhighthear ar dteacht da theach Ie Mac Diarmada an chailleachnbsp;ar taobh asnach an tighe,nbsp;an bhadhbh chaslach chaillighe.

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Déarghaithear san bhruidhin bhainnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1445

leabaidh don eachlaigh urlair

gan iarraidh dh’fhoirinn taighe : bliadhain di ’na h-éanlaighe.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Nior fharraid éinneach dhise

ca ti'r asa raibhi-se nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;145°

ar fad na bliadhna ’na bhrugh, ag Mac Diarmaid san dünadh.

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Inni lai 5ar in rowne voiknbsp;di dermit si charrignbsp;harlai best harsi na heenbsp;er lemmi gassre 5owne.

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;SoigAtliir er teacht 5a heachtnbsp;Ie dermynt in kelly*

er teif assneyf in tee a wyve chaslat chaalee.

10. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dairreyir so wrone ni vanenbsp;lab 5in nealy* vrlair

gin nearre 5a rein teach bleyn de na heine lai.

11. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Nar errit In nach 5isnbsp;ka ter assin royithvissnbsp;er fad ni blyni na wrownbsp;ac m® Dermit sin downy*.

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

8. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One day when the man of generous mind, MacDiarmaid,

was in the Rock, there chanced an aged ill-favoured creature in his house, having eluded the retinue ofnbsp;his stronghold.

9. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The crone, coming to his house, is set by MacDiarmaid

by the house’s ribbed side, the cloaked spectre of a crone.

10. Unasked, the household company spread in the fairnbsp;hostel a bed for the witch ; a year she spends lyingnbsp;without rising.

II. No one asked of her from what land she was, throughoutnbsp;the year in his dwelling, with MacDiarmaid in thenbsp;stronghold.

154 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;FIONNLAGH RUADH

12. Eirghis i gceann na bliadhna,nbsp;sgéal ara bhfuil ffrfhiadhna,nbsp;an chailleach gan chóir dhealbhaigh,nbsp;’na h-ainnir óig fhinndealbhaigh.

13. Ni mó dhiültar ó’r dtigh-se,

Mheic Ghriogóir, bhar n-aoighidh-se, ód bhrugh lainneach—cia nach tuig ?-na an chailleach hath ón Charraig.

14. [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] cuirfidh mé

teach Aodha tuar urraime ; ni taibhéim ar Eirinn soin,nbsp;pailéis na cléire i nAlbain.

12. Eirse in gann in bleynnbsp;skail er a vil fer avinnbsp;In kelly*' gin chor 5alwo*nbsp;na ha;«nir ook in alve.

13. Ne mow 5ultyr voar deyssy*nbsp;v^cregor fir neysy*nbsp;ld wrow la^ny* kai na*^ twgnbsp;na kelly*- lai won charryc.

14. Mo heacht fene cur mainbsp;teach eygA ga toor vrrwmenbsp;ne tayvem er errin sinnbsp;palleis ni gleir in albin.

15. . . . mairin teach so an in gan

na cggyr a reine aross cddyr in treu* si

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

12. At the end of the year she arose (it is a tale for whichnbsp;there is true testimony), that crone unlovely, as anbsp;young, bright and lovely maiden.

13. No more is thy guest turned away from thy house, thounbsp;MacGregor, from thy delightful dwelling (who per-ceiveth it not ?), than was the grey crone from thenbsp;Rock.

14. [nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;] Aodh’s house, an omen of honour :

no reproach to Ireland this, that the palace of the poet-band is in Alba.

1470

FIONNLAGH RUADH

16. Fairsing da thaobh do thaighe,nbsp;lionmhor a lucht comhnaidhe ;nbsp;rioghol na gcead ar a lar,nbsp;mór do théad is do sheandan.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mise ni bhia mé dod dhith ;nbsp;maith mo thurchairthe id roithigh ;

ar taighibh Gaoidheal a bhos nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1475

mo rogha d’aointeach fhuaras.

Fhuaras mo rogha.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ealasaid an aigne bhuig,nbsp;inghean Eoin mheic Ghill-Easbuig,nbsp;nocha n-éarthar damh ’na teach,

bean Ian d’fhéile agus d’eineach. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1480

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Muime na gcliar is na gconnnbsp;Ealasaid a Gleann Li'omhunn ;nbsp;bean mhin as féile do mhnaibh :nbsp;dar linn céile maith fhuarais.

Fhuaras mo rogha.

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ffarsing da hove do henbsp;lenor in Iwcht coonenbsp;Reihoole ni gad er a larnbsp;mor a head is do hann dan.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Missi ner veme jai doy^

matA mi hurchir choad royth . . . Er teyt goil a voss

mo ry jeine teach horriss. hoarw m

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ellissait in negni voeknbsp;Ini oone vGllespek

noRha nearrir dave no teacht ben Ian deil 7 denacht.

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mwmi ni glair is ni gonnbsp;Ellissait a glenlevin

ben veine is faille ji wnaave dar leine keill maych hoarw.

FINLAY, THE RED BARD

16. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Wide are thy house’s two sides ; many are they who

dwell therein ; a royal banquet for hundreds is on its floor ; many a harp, many an ancient song, isnbsp;heard within it.

17. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As for me, thou shalt not lack me ; goodly are my prizes

in thy surpassing house ; of houses of the Gael this side the sea, I have found of every house my choice.

18. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Elizabeth of liberal heart, daughter of John, son of

Archibald, a poet band is debarred not from her house ; she is a lady full of hospitality and ofnbsp;generosity..

19. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Foster-mother of poets and of chiefs is Elizabeth from

Glen Lyon ; a gentle dame, of dames most liberal ; a noble spouse, I deem, thou hast found.