IV. Is fada [a]nocht a nOil Finn
MS p. 50:
a houdir so ossin[1.] Is fadda not in nelli finni is fadda linni i’ nycheit ryir
In lay dew gay fadda ȝoyth di bi lor fadda i’ lay de<.>
[2.] fadda lwmmi gyt lay ȝa dike / ne mir sen di cleachta doin̄
gin deowe gi’ danyt creach / (er) ⎡gin⎤ wea foylim clas dlw<o>t
[3.] gin nenit gi’ choill gin chrute / gi’ fronit crew gi’ ȝneiw<.> ⎡gr<..>⎤
gin (dea<b>yt) ⎡deillit⎤ollom ⎡<w>⎤ ȝoir / wea gi’ neilli gi’ oill fley
[4.] gin chin ar swrri na er selgi in da cherd ray i’ royt (i’) <i’> ⎡no<e>⎤
gin dwlli i’ glaew no i’ gayt / oichane ach is derrich dow<.>
[5.] gin wr<a>it er ellit no er feyġ / ne hawle sen̄ bi wane lo<n.>
gin loeġ er chonvert na er chon / Is fadda not in n<a>lli f<….>
[6.] gin ei’rit gaske ȝnaait / gi’ ni’mirt mir a baill (<d>) (<d>) linni
gin snaw ȝair leichre er loch is fadda
[7.] din teill mir a ta mee / is trowiġ <i>r bea mir a ta sinn
Menir a tarring clochc Is fadda
[8.] Derri ni feyni foir nois Is mee ossin moir mcfinni
gestichc re goytow clokki Is fadda /
[9.] Faye a phatrek ȝoein o ȝea / fis i’ ni’ni i’ bea sinni
git seirrir marru’ roit locht Is fadda Is Fad<..>
Restored text:
A <h->ughdar so Oisēan 1. Is fada [a]nocht a nOil Finn,is fada linn an oidhche [a]raoir;
an lá diu gé fada dhomh,
do bu leór fada an lá dé. (4)
2. Fada liom gach lá dhā dtig;
ní mar sin do cleacht<adh> dúinn,
gan deabhaidh, gan déanamh creach,
gan bheith [a’] foghlaim cleas <lúith>; (8)
3. Gan aonach, gan cheól, gan chruit,
gan bhronnadh cruidh, gan ghníomh <greagh>,
gan díoladh ollamh<an> dh’ór,
bheith gan <fhidhle>, gan ól fleadh. (12)
4. Gan chion air suirghe nā air seilg,
an dá cheird rē an roibh <[ar]> n-úidh;
gan dul an gcliathaibh nō an gcath,
ochán ach, is deireadh dúi<nn>. (16)
5. Gan bhreith air eilid nō air fiadh,
ní h-amhlaidh sin bu mhian linn;
gan luadh air choinbheirt nā air choin,
is fada [a]nocht a nOil F<inn>. (20)
6. Gan eirreadh gaisgidh [a] ghnáth,
gan imirt mar a b’áil linn,
gan snámh dhár laochraidh air loch,
is fada [anocht a nOil Finn]. (24)
7. Don t-saoghal mar atá mé
is truagh ar beith mar atá sinn,
[a]m aonar a’ tarraing cloch;
is fada [anocht a nOil Finn]. (28)
8. Deireadh na Féine fuair nós,
is mé Oisēan mór mac Finn,
[a]g éisdeacht rē gothaibh clog;
is fada [anocht a nOil Finn]. (32)
9. Faigh, a Phádraig, dhūinn ō Dhia
fios an ionaidh <am> bia sinn;
gu saorthar m’ anam roimh locht;
is fada [anocht a nOil Finn]. (36)
Is fad<a>
Translation:
The author of this is Oisēan 1. Time passes tediously in Elphin tonight; last night I thought it was tedious too; and though I feel today tedious, yesterday was every bit as wearisome.2. Tedious to me is every day that comes; it was not our custom to be thus, with no fighting, no raiding, no learning of athletic feats;
3. No gathering, no music, no harp, no dispensing of wealth, no deeds of horsemanship, no rewarding of learned poets with gold, no <fiddle-playing>, no festive drinking.
4. With no love now for courting or hunting, the two occupations which interested us; with no participation in battle-ranks or in combat, alas! it means the end for me.
5. With no catching of hind or of stag – that was not what I once desired; with no mention of dogs or their feats, time passes tediously in Elphin tonight.
6. With no battle-dress ever again, no game-playing of the kind I once liked, no swimming by our warriors in a loch, time passes tediously in Elphin tonight.
7. Being in such a plight in the world, my condition is truly pitiful, all on my own dragging stones; time passes tediously in Elphin tonight.
8. The last of the Fian who won fame, I am great Oiséan son of Fionn, listening to the voices of bells; time passes tediously in Elphin tonight.
9. O Patrick, get me knowledge from God regarding the place where I’ll be; may my soul be saved from sin; time passes tediously in Elphin tonight.