XI. Innis dúin, a Phádraig


MS p. 215

A houd ir so ossin mcfinn –

[1.]    Innis down a phadrik non̄or a leyvin
         A wil noewa gi hayre ag machew fane eyrrin

[2.]    Veyrs ȝut a ȝayvin (os) a ossinn ni glooyn
         Nac wil noewa ag aychyr ag oskyr na ag goolle

[3.]    Ach is troyġ <ni> skayl ch’nis tus ċleyrry
         Mis danow chrawe is gin noewa ag fayne Eyrrin

[4.]    Naċ mach lat a teneir vee tew si caythre
         Gin keilt gin noskir weit far rutt<is> is taychyr

[5.]    Beg a wach lwmsi wee ym hew si ċaychree
         Gin keilt gin noskyr wei
t far rwm is maytir

[6.]    Is farr gnws v
cneyve re agsin raa ane lay
         Na wil doyr si grwnnich vea aggit gi hymlane

[7.]    Innis downe a halgin skayle ni cachry
t noyȧ
         V<e>rsi ȝwt gi hayre scaylli cac gawrraa

[8.]    Ma sea skayll ni cachry
t ȝeawris tws a hannor
         <Gin> netow gin nagris gin narkis gin na<n/>hoy<we>

[9.]    K<e>id mu’tir neyve is oyssil fayne eyrrin
         Vil krooys na gree na deilli sead cleyrri

[10.]  Ne hy’ni’ is ni fa<y>ni ni cosswil aayd ree cheyll

         Ne<i>r ȝlas glay<r>r<e> wea geyrre spre

[11.]  Er ȝraw tenni phadrik na fagsi ni deniych
         Gin nis di ree neya <ber> a steach ni fayni

MS p. 141

[12.]  Ga beg a chwle chronaynyt na in dadom ȝac < ȝreyne>
         Gin nis din re woralych <.> ne rey fa wil a skaye

[13.]  Ne hay sin di v
ckowle re maċ we sin ni faynow
         Rachteis fir in doyin na hei
t wle gin nearri

[14.]  Is troyg (how) ⎡lwm⎤ he’nor is how i’ der teissi
         Cha chorry’mich a wrȧ sin ver how er mi ṙeissi

[15.]  Barr in chaċ layddir verri finni ny fayni
         Na di hearny
t crawe is tow feyn lay cheill

[16.]  bog sin a he’nor a ne in coyra bolla
         Is far dea re hy’lay na fayne eyrrin olla

[17.]  Ga tarnig mi la<y> is is me derri meissi
         Phadrik na toyr a
yhis er machew clynni beiskni

[18.]  Na hurr<im> ⎡ȝut⎤ a
ychis ossin vci’reayne
         Ac nac Inny’ fir machis agis flaychis mi heyarni

[19.]  Di marra aggwm con̄
ane far mewlas ni fayni
         Ne legfe layd wu’noll di chomis a cleyrri

[20.]  Na habbir sin a ossin is a’meine di wrayrri
         Be fest gi fostynich is gaw hugit mi ryilt

[21.]  Da wacca ni caċa is ni braddichi grast
         Ne wee ane reid id (t) ter ach meyir na fayni

[22.]  Ossin vcni flaa mest ta’myn a beityll
         Na cwne ni (f) cach cha nil ag asl<in>g sin so<y>ll

MS p. 142

[23.]  Da glwnta ni gyir <a> meich ni shelga
         bar <l>at wee na warri na wea si chay
tir noya

[24.]  Troyġ sin a he’nor is mei
thur ni schelga
         Faychin gi honnor ȝa wil si chai
tr noa

[25.]  Na habbir sin a phadrik is fallow di wrayrri

         In deggow sin daynit bar finn is no fayni

[26.]  Er a lawe vceweisni ne fallow mi wrairri
         Is farr angil din ni hanglew na finn is ni fayny
t

[27.]  (Na finn is na fayni) Da beany
t mir a veissit a gaċ ȝawry<t> ⎡ni beymi’⎤
         Di ȝelin in demis ver tow er ayne errin

[28.]  Dimmy
t di wor ȝail er cach di heill
         N<e> warrin did choy
t lawyt ach how nes a teneyr

[29.]  Da marri mi ȝeinissi ne estin do choyllane
         Is ȝoywo di hemoo in nerrik di choyrra

[30.]  Da mardeis sin vlli si goyni
t ra cheilli
         Ne wea mi holli bwe re vii cayċ ni fayni

[31.]  <Vii> feychit vrrit vrrit vil tus ȝi cleyrrew
         Di huttideis sin vlli lay oskir na henyr

[32.]  Ta tow in der di heill a he’nor gin cheyll
         Scur a neis id wreissrow is be fest ȝim rayr

[33.]  Da wacca in lwcht coy
toill a vcfin i’ nalvin

         Ne raacha ȝa gom̄or<i> re mu’tir ni caychre no<y>a

MS p. 143

[34.]  <     >
         Aggis neir low ir dy’noyll nor heg most gow tew<  >

[35.]  Sa’nossil ni bray
tryt fane woery ȝi ry’nis
         Machwm ȝut a cleyrre di skaylli na hy’nis Innis do<w>


Restored text:

A <h->ughdar so Oisēan mac Finn

1.    “Innis dúin, a Phádraig,
       [a] n-onōir do léighinn,
       a bhfeil neamh go h-áraidh
       ag maithibh Fian Éireann?”    (4)

2.    “Bhéar-s[a] dhuit a dheimhin,
       a Oisēin na glonn,
       nach bhfeil neamh ag [th’]athair,
       ag Osgar nā ag Goll.”    (8)

3.    “Ach, is truagh na sgéal[a]
       chanas tus[a], [a] chléirigh,
       mis[e] déanamh chrábhaidh
       is gan neamh ag Féin Éireann!”    (12)

4.    “Nach math leat ad aonar
       bheith ’d shuidhe ’sa c[h]athraidh,
       gan Chaoilt[e], gan Osgar
       bheith far riut is t’athair?”    (16)

5.    “Beag a mhaith liomsa
       bheith am shuidhe ’sa chathraidh,
       gan Caoilt[e], gan Osgar
       bheith far rium is m’athair.”    (20)

6.    “Is fearr gnúis Mhic Nimhe
       rā fhaicsin ré aonlá,
       nā [a] bhfuil d’ór ’sa[n] gcruinne
       bheith agad go h-iomlán.”    (24)

7.    “Innis dúin, a Tháilginn,
       sgéal na cathrach neamhdha;
       bhēar-sa dhuit go h-áraidh
       sgéala Cath[a] Gabhra.”    (28)

8.    “Mas é sgéal na cathrach
       dh’<fhiafras> tus[a], a sheanōir,
       gan íota, gan acras,
       gan airceas, gan <anshódh>.”    (32)

9.    “C[ia] iad muinntir neimhe
       is <uaisle> Fian Éireann?
       [A] bhfeil cruas ’nā gcridhe,
       nō [an] díoladh siad cléire?”    (36)

10.    “Ní h-ionann is na Fiana,
         ní cosmhail iad rē chéil[e];
         níor <dhleas [a] gcliara>
         bheith [a]g iarraidh spréidhe.”    (40)

11.    “Air ghrádh t’einigh, Phádraig,
         na fág-sa na daoine;
         gan fhios do Rígh Nimhe,
         beir a-steach na Fiana.”    (44)

12.    “Gē beag a’ chuil chrónánach
         nō an dadam ghath <ghréine>,
         gan fhios don rígh mhóralach
         ní ria fā bhil a sgéithe.”    (48)

13.    “Ni h-é sin do Mhac Cumhaill,
         rí math bhí <’sna> Fianaibh;
         rachdaois fir an domhain
         ’na thigh uile gan iarraidh.”    (52)

14.    “Is truagh liom, [a] sheanōir,
         is thú an deir[eadh] t’aoise;
         cha chothromach a’ bhreith sin
         bheir thú air mo Rígh-se.”    (56)

15.    “B’fhearr aon chath láidir
         bheireadh Fionn na Féine
         nā do thighearna crábhaidh
         is tú féin lé chéil[e].    (60)

16.    “Bocht sin, a sheanōir,
         a ní an cómhradh buile;
         is fearr Dia rē h-aonlá
         nā Fian Éireann uile.”    (64)

17.    “Gē táirnig mo lá<-s[a]>
         is mé [a] deireadh m’aoise,
         Phádraig, na toir aithis
         air maithibh Cloinne Baoisgne.”    (68)

18.    “Ní <thoirim> dhuit aithis,
         Oisēin, mhic an <ríghfhéinnidh>,
         ach nach ionann bhur maitheas
         agus flaitheas mo Thighearna.”    (72)

19.    “Dā maireadh agam Conán,
         fear míobhlais na Féine,
         ní leigfeadh léd mhuineal
         do chumas, a c[h]léirigh.”    (76)

20.    “Nā abair sin, a Oisēin,
         is ainm[h]ín do bhriathra;
         bi feasd[a] go foisdineach
         is gabh thugad mo riaghailt.”    (80)

21.    “Dā <bhfaicthea> na catha
         is na bratacha gréast[a],
         ní bhiodh aon <réad> ad air[e]
         ach meadhair na Féine.”    (84)

22.    “Oisēin, mhic na flatha,
         meas t’ainmain a baoghal;
         na cuimhnigh na cath[a];
         chan fheil <ach> aisling ’san saoghal.”    (88)

23.    “Dā gcluinntea na gadhair
         a’ maoidheadh na sealga,
         b’fhearr leat bheith ’nā bhfarradh
         nā bheith ’sa chathair neamhdha.”    (92)

24.    “Truagh sin, a sheanōir,
         is meadhair na sealga,
         [a’] féachainn ga[ch] onōir
         dhā bhfeil ’sa chathair neamhdha.”    (96)

25.    “Na h-abair sin, a Phádraig,
         is falamh do bhriathra;
         an dteagamh ’s an dánacht
         b’fhearr Fionn is na Fiana.”    (100)

26.    “Air do láimh, mhic uí Bhaois[g]ne,
         ní falamh mo bhriathra;
         is fearr aingeal do na h-ainglibh
         nā Fionn is na Fiana.”    (104)

27.    “Dā beinn mar a bhíos-sa
         a gCath Ghabhra na béimeann,
         do dhíolainn an dímeas
         bheir tú air Fhéin Éireann.”    (108)

28.    “<Díomdhach> do mhórdháil
         air caith[eamh] do shaoghail;
         ní mhaireann dod <chomhlámhaich>
         ach thú [a]nois ad aonar.”    (112)

29.    “Dā maireadh mo dhaoine-se,
         ní éisdinn do cheólán,
         is gheobhadh do <thime>
         a n-éiric do chómhraidh.”    (116)

30.    “Dā mairdís sin uile
         ’s a gcuana rē chéile,
         ní bhiadh mo thuilleamh buidhe
        vii cath[a] na Féine.”    (120)

31.    “<Vii> fichead uiread uiread
         bhfeil tus[a] dhe c[h]léiribh,
         do thuitidís sin uile
         lé Osgar ’na aonar.”    (124)

32.    “Tá tú an deir[eadh] do shaoghail,
         a sheanōir gan chéill;
         sguir anois [dh]ed bhaosradh
         is bi feasda[a] dham réir.    (128)

33.    “Dā <bhfaicthea> an lucht comhól[a],
         a mhic Finn, a nAlmhain,
         ní rachtha dhā gcommóradh
         rē muinntir na cathra[ch] neamhdha.”    (132)

34.    “<
         >
         agus níor lugh[a] ar dtionól
         ’nuair thigmís to Teamh<raigh>.”    (136)

35.    “’S anuasal na briathra
         fán bhuaidhreadh dho-rinnis;
         maithim dhuit, a c[h]léirigh;
         do sgéala na h-innis.”    (140)
                     Innis dúi<nn>

Translation:

The author is this is Oiséan son of Fionn

1.    “Tell us, Patrick, in honour of your learning, whether the nobles of the Fiana of Ireland in particular have gained heaven?”
2.    “I shall tell you the truth of the matter, Oiséan of the brave deeds; your father has not attained heaven, nor have Osgar and Goll.”
3.    “Alas, you tell me sad tidings, cleric, seeing that I am practising piety, and the Fian of Ireland have no access to heaven.”
4.    “Will you not be pleased to sit alone in the [heavenly] city, without Caoilte and Osgar and your father beside you?”
5.    “It will give me little pleasure to sit in the [heavenly] city, without Caoilte and Osgar and my father beside me.”
6.    “It is better to see the face of the Son of Heaven for only one day, than to have in your possession all the gold in the world.”
7.    “Give us, Adzehead, an account of the heavenly city; I shall give you specifically tales about the Battle of Gabhair.”
8.    “If you, old man, are asking for an account of the city, [I can tell you that it is] without thirst, hunger, poverty and distress.”
9.    “How do the people of heaven compare with the nobles of the Fiana of Ireland? Are they hard-hearted, or would they reward poet-bands?”
10.    “They are not to be compared with the Fiana – they bear no resemblance to one another. <It was not the custom of their companies> to be seeking wealth.”
11.    “For your honour’s sake, Patrick, do not abandon these men; give admission to the Fiana without the knowledge of the King of Heaven.”
12.    “Although the buzzing gnat is small, or the tiniest speck of sunlight, neither will reach the rim of his shield without the knowledge of the majestic King.”
13.    “It was not thus with the Son of Cumhall, a fine king among the Fiana; all the men of the world might enter his house without asking.”
14.    “I pity you, old man, and you at the end of your life; that is not a fair judgement which you make about my king.”
15.    “I would prefer one strenuous battle fought by Fionn of the Fian to having youself and your Lord of piety together [with me].”
16.    “That is sad, you old man of crazy conversation; it is preferable to have God [with you] for one day than to have all the Fian of Ireland.”
17.    “Although my day is done and I am at the end of my life, O Patrick, do not insult the nobles of the Clann Baoisgne.”
18.    “I do not <give> you any insult, Oiséan, son of the kingly warrior, but [I state that] the excellence of your people cannot be compared with the sovereignty of my Lord.”
19.    “If Conán, that badly-mannered man of the Fian, were alive by my side, he would deprive your neck of its power, cleric.”
20.    “Do not say that, Oiséan; your words are intemperate; be well-balanced from now on, and adopt my rule.”
21.    “If you were to see the battalions and the ornamented banners, nothing would occupy your mind but the joyful din of the Fian.”
22.    “Oiséan, son of the prince, consider that your soul is in danger; do not call to mind the battalions; this world is nothing more than a dream.”
23.    “If you were to hear the hounds exulting in the chase, you would rather be in their proximity than in the heavenly city.”
24.    “[All] that is of poor value, old man, and so is the mirth of the chase when one considers all the honours that are in the heavenly city.”
25.    “Do not say that, Patrick; your words are empty; in battle and in boldness, Fionn and the Fiana were better.”
26.    “By your hand, great-grandson of Baoisgne, my words are not empty; a single one of the angels is preferable to Fionn and the Fiana.”
27.    “If I were [now] as I was in the Battle of Gabhair of the blows, I would pay back the disparagement which you show to the Fian of Ireland.”
28.    “Your pride shows no gratitude at the end of your life; of your <fellow-fighters>, only you alone now survive.”
29.    If my people were alive, I would not listen to your little bell, and <your life would be cut short> as a reward for your talk.”
30.    “Even if those [men] were all alive, and their companies were intact, I would not curry favour with the seven battalions of the Fian.”
31.    “Seven score as many as your number of clerics – all of that number used to fall by the hand of Osgar alone.”
32.    “You have reached the end of your life, you senseless old man; give up your levity now, and obey me from this point on.”
34.    “<          > and no smaller was our assembly when we would come to Tara.”
35.    “You have spoken dishonourable words under the provocation which you have caused; I forgive you, cleric; stop telling your tales.”