VI. Lá dhā deach[aidh] sé dhā chill
MS p. 93:
<Auc d >[1.] Lay < a d at > say <ȝay> keill Patrik grinni ni <bacill bane>
Rug ay i’ tossin les er wurn gow wes <r>aaig <cut> <ni sk >
[2.] Is di bail lwme awȝaill woid ossane ny’ r<eoik> na<c> teym<m>
Coo i’ tein neaat gi’ a loyit smow chvir groym er f<a>no<w> fin<n>
[3.] A ċleryt nyt baitill brek bi worr y’ beacht ȝut r< d> linni
A churri a woeyr a ȝnait ne wai ȝaw er fanew fin<n>
[4.] Onyt harlyt ȝut gi’ none a ossin gi’ (dwll) doll nane d<ey>
Bee say er chatris gi braa how gatris di ȝnaa ny’ fane
[5.] Kegit blyin da bein boa a geyskyt reid chooil syt <k l >
Ne hy’nassit ȝut gow maik a lwit aycht a rinn fanyt <f >
[6.] Fa ra’new in doyn traane / wa <o>ggin f<enyt> <er git >
Keis gai hukwail gow fane fin / na noe i’ <taygwill d >
[7.] Ne roive a’syt si doytin voir nat da bit chor b<o>a <n>a < >
Na roive i’ nalve ny’ (lam) lann brek a ȝarv< ⎡s.t⎤>
[8.] Da ny’⎡no⎤s<y>t ȝoive i’ nes a ossin ny’ gres nat <tem>
Coo in teinneat bi ȝar lawe (f) wa < ay >
[9.] mor in feme a churris orm̄ a ċleryt oyd < >
Ni hy’nosit gow lay looin ni way loy á ñ
[10.] Onyt harlyt how nane dey a ossin da da<ne> <ma >
Coo nyt leit bar lat mait skay re d<oyl> din nan<e> < >
[11.] Oskir is kilt & gowle is mclowit ny’ lann< > <m.aat
fa hy’chill vckowle ail boyin di bi raa < n cat>
MS p. 94:
[12.] Farȝone fullyt mcy’reit & (c) kerrill re sneive ȝaatdermi’ daatalin gy’ nawle re hoir skaat chenn bi waat
[13.] Collyt mccheilt er wley mynni ky’keit curri ny’ genk maat
& rynnyt mcy’reit / myrytin nar wenyt i’ gaat
[14.] Felane foltinn bi wa<k>t ind Agis garrych i’ deim <nawe>
deirring mcdoyir (m) gy’ none Eyġ mcgarryt bi waat law< >
[15.] me fene is gar mcsmail is dyryt darrit mcronane
tre mek nyt kerd gy’ chalk re oyr hentyt di barmȝark
[16.] Mir a ȝana / ⎡ma⎤ ȝut goo a cleryt wor furt nyt mynni
cha (cha) ⎡(not)⎤ banit (ȝoos) do<s>t din nane at git fer fene
a brat a ȝilli
[17.] Soe id chaitir is gawe di fenni is / ⎡gi⎤ wayassi in narm gi leir
gi ein neat ga bi ȝair laiwe hanyt o chaait gvs in nane
[18.] hanyt reit lotlin er ler daar done skȧȧ bi war gnaa
di wraa keis errin er koyne fane deyryt ir sloyġ gi ⎡leir⎤
[19.] hanyt it chawir ȝair wane t<wo>a dey hug as gi knok
Carbryt loeitchir bi waat lawe iiii chayt slane gow p<o t>
[20.] Vii caytin hanik i’ nane huggi’ in near o lea Cvynni
<Ne si> in deach<ar> ⎡ir⎤ gerrow oo rae ȝein slane o ȝaryt dwn<n>
[21.] Is sai waa na chawlyt long daryt doown syt hylyt fene
xxx / ⎡<ti> caa⎤ feit di loyit nat dea woyn da<n> deir fene
[22.] waa ga weeow er in trae (<k>) Cown kreir bi lave gi’ lo<ch>
Ruk sloyġ ny hy’ea ȝeive is di hog ea kenni ret er knok
MS p. 95:
[23.] Cow̄ni mc reit wllit ny’ neacht & dollir ny’ greach tromedi ȝagamir er in traa er y’ bayt fo ȝair tonni
[24.] iii mek doytat ga bi rane yt toychic o lair i’ long
fer tenni is kirkil a flwk a ȝaik sin a gwrp gi lommi
[25.] Oor armyt ney’ reit grekga & forni ny’ beyme trome
Di ȝagamir fa ȝaar byve is neir aig synn i’ vyve fa bro<yn>
[26.] iiii mak reit lochlin lir a chasgir sein de neive arm
ne tre balwe one vorrin oir / ney’ deacha said voyn at marv
[27.] Re in doytin ga bi war dair done skayt bi ȝall gnaa
di ȝaig sin a chorp er trae er ni lot fo wail ny’ n<ain>
[28.] Di loyew in doytin trane ney’ deach woyn̄ fene sin nair
Ach rei ni franki mir hea an <t>yn say brea er in nail
[29.] Er eggill in noskir <w>ll cha di leggi ay voyeni er lay< >
Gow glen balcan mir ta hest (ch) is and di ȝave e <fes> <is> ⎡tawi⎤
[30.] Er traye fintrach ni goyn fer ni churri ni sloy<e> i’ ta < >
Er reow in doytin trane di ȝeil sein fene ir sair
[31.] Di bimmi o reich ir narme leich a waa marve <er in lar>
di bimmi claive & skayt na blay< w> har er in tray<e>
[32.] Er tray fintraichin ny’ port di bimmi ann c<or>p fir rane
Di bimmi leich fa ȝair byve is di bim<mi> ann fayve er <lain>
MS p. 96:
[33.] Phatrick vcalpin ail ney’ danik ȝair wane wo raeAch da cath (eggin) eggir gi’ loth & ne roif i’ gorb slane
[34.] Cach di ċlanni bisky’ni ȝeive b<o>ein not char venyt i’ lave
Cach di clanni mornyt ny’ grat & i’ darne lay ċla’nnow smai<l>
[35.] Er fir laivsyt a halgin trane say ȝaiksin dair wane sin na< >
Coyk cachin eggir ȝair sloyeġ a l<e>gga woyne er in trae
[36.] xxx ⎡<ti>⎤ ca feiȝit gi’ rach / deaċhcayd feitȝit git cach ȝeive
ȝarremay loyġ ȝair ȝoynn naċ draynik er toynn a reis
[37.] a halgin da wregrin clair o baillait deym pen̄ gyt s<k>ail
gow dwkgai cȧa ȝawryt nyt glann not cha daynik ken ir ⎡lay⎤
[38.] Di rynni sin a gawli long & argit trome i’ reich
In noor sin neydda sin neyche i’ neirrin er gi lea dee
[39.] A phadrik macha ni mynn an id keilli a waym bas
Cur feyn tallow er mo knes os aggit hay fis mo skail
[40.] ossin o taa tow skeit dane i’ nos di heit gow bas
gaw turni gin is (air) ⎡ear⎤ tlws is gew dea mowch gi lay la<y>
[41.] Er sleyve seyane lay looyn & ni sloye er a lar
Meichall is mv<.yt>mcdey dy’ hoyrt fene er in laive
[42.] In da espill deyk si wlay gi cleryt may is gi faye
Edrwme agis effrin oir di wi gi croy er mi lay Lay
Restored text:
<Auc[tor] >1. <Lá dhā deach[aidh] sé dhā> c[h]ill,
Pádraig grinn na <bachall bán>,
rug é an t-Oisēan leis air mhuirn
go <bhfiosrachadh cuid ’nā sgáth>. (4)
2. “Fhios do b’áil liom fhagháil bhuat,
[a] Oisein na ruag nach tim,
có an t-aoinneach gona shluagh
’s mó chuir gruaim air Fianaibh Finn?” (8)
3. “A chléirigh na bachall breac,
bu mhór a<m> beacht dhuit <réd> linn
a chur a <bhfoghar> a ghnáth
na bha dh’ágh air Fianaibh Finn.” (12)
4. “Ōn a tharla dhuit gan on,
a Oisēin, gan dol ’nan <déidh>,
bí-se air chaithris go bráth,
thú [a]g aithris do ghnáth na<m> Féin.” (16)
5. “Caogad bliadhan dā beinn beó
ag éisdeacht réd cheól ’sa <chill>,
ní h-<inneósad> dhuit gu m’éag
a liuthad éacht a rinn Fiana <Finn>. (20)
6. “Fā rannaibh an domhain tréin
bha againn áféinñ air gach < >
cíos ’ga thōgbháil go Féin Finn
< > (24)
7. “Ní roibhe annsa[n] domhan mhór
neach dā budh chóir <buaidh >
na roibhe a nAlmhai[n] nan lann breac
a dhearbh<adh > (28)
8. “Dā n-<ionneósta> dhomh anois,
a Oisēin nan greas nach <tim>,
có an t-aoinneach budh fhear lámh
bha < > (32)
9. “Mor an feidhm a chuiris orm,
a chléirigh, oid[e] < >,
ní h-inneósad go lá luain
na bha shluagh < >.” (36)
10. “Ōn a tharla thú ’nan déidh,
a Oisēin < >,
có na laoich b’fhearr leat mád sgéith
rē dol don Fhéin < >?” (40)
11. “Osgar is Caoilt[e] & Goll,
is Mac Lughach nan lann math,
fā thimcheall Mhic Cumhaill fhéil,
buidhean do bu réidh <’san chath>. (44)
12. “Feardhomhan fuileach mac an ríogh,
& Caireall rē sníomh ghath;
Daormann dathálainn gan fheall,
rē h-uair sgathadh cheann bu mhath. (48)
13. “Colla mac Caoilte <air bhleith mionn>,
Caoince, curadh nan <gcionn> math,
& Raighne, mac an ríogh,
muirighean nār mhín an gcath. (52)
14. “Faolán foiltfhionn bu mhac Fhinn,
agus Garadh an < >;
Diorraing mac Dobhair gan on,
Aodh mac Garaidh bu mhath lámh. (56)
15. “Mé féin is Gar[adh] mac Smáil,
is Daighre Daireach mac Rōnáin,
trí Mic na Ceirde gan chealg
rē uair <theanntachd> do b’airmdhearg. (60)
16. “Mura dhéana mé dhuit gó,
a c[h]léirigh mhóir phuirt na mionn,
cha b’aithne dhomhs[a] don Fhéin
ach gach fear féin a’ breith a ghill. (64)
17. “Suidh ad chathair is gabh do pheann,
is go bhfagha-sa a n-ainm go léir,
ga[ch] aoinneach dhā budh fhearr lámh
tháinig ō chách gus an Fhéin. (68)
18. “Tháinig rí Lochlann air lear,
Dáir[e] Donn, sgiath bu mhear gné,
do bhreith cíos Eireann air chuan,
fán d’éirigh ar sluagh go léir. (72)
19. “Tháinig a chabhair dhár bhFéin
Tuatha Dé thuig[e] as ga[ch] cnoc;
Cairbre Luachair bu mhath lámh,
iiii c<h>atha slán go p<ort>. (76)
20. “Vii cathan tháinig an Fhian
thugainn aniar ō Leith C[h]uinn;
<ní > an deach ar gceathramh ō thráigh
dhinn[e] slán ō <gháire Duinn>. (80)
21. “Is é bha ’na chabhlach long
Dáire Donn ’s a theaghlach féin;
<trí cath[a]> fichead dā shluagh
nach deach[aidh] bhuainn dan dtír féin. (84)
22. “Bha ’gā bhfeitheamh air an tráigh
Conn Crithir, bu lámh gan lo<cht>;
rug sluagh na hInnia dhíobh,
’s do thog é ceann ríogh air cnoc. (88)
23. “Conn, mac ríogh Uladh na n-each,
& Dolar nan gcreach trom
do dh’fhágamar air an tráigh
air am báthadh fō gháir t[h]onn. (92)
24. “Iii mic Dubhthaigh, gē bu thréan
a’ toidheacht ō lár an long,
Fear <Teine> is Ciorcall a’ Phluic,
a dh’fhág sinn a gcuirp go lom. (96)
25. “Órarmach, nighean ríogh Gréig,
& Foirne na<m> béim trom,
do dh’fhágamar fā gháir badhbh
is níor ghág <sinn> an bhadhbh fā <b[h]rón>. (100)
26. “Iiii mic ríogh Lochlann lir
a chasgair sinn do nimh arm;
na trí Bailbh ón Bhoirinn uair,
ní <’n> deachaidh siad bhuainn ach marbh. (104)
27. “Rí an domhain, gē bu mhear,
Dáir[e] Donn, sgiath bu gheal gné,
do dh’fhág sinn a chorp air tráigh
arna lot fō bhéal na n-éan. (108)
28. “Do shluaghaibh an domhain tréin
ní <’n> deach[aidh] bhuainn féin ’san ár
ach rí na Fraingce mar theith
an <teinn> ’s é breith air an néal. (112)
29. “Air eagal an Osgair uill
cha do lēig é [a] bhuinn air lá<r>,
go Gleann Bolcain, <mar tha [a] theist> –
’s ann do ghabh é <feis> <is> támh. (116)
30. “Air tráigh Fionntrágh[a] na gcuan
far na chuir na sluaigh an t-á<r>
air ríoghaibh an domhain tréin
do dhíoghail sinn féin ar sár. (120)
31. “Do b’iomadh ō fhraoch ar n-arm
laoch a bha marbh <air an lár>;
do b’iomadh claidheamh & sgiath
’na bhlaighibh shiar air an tráigh. (124)
32. “Air tráigh Fionntrágha nam port
do b’iomadh ann corp fir thréin,
do b’iomadh laoch fā gháir b[h]adhbh,
do b’iomadh ann fadhbh <ar leinn>. (128)
33. “[A] Phádraig mhic Alpainn fhéil,
ní <’n> dtáinig dhár bhFéin bhō thráigh
ach dá c[h]ath eagair gan locht
& ní roibh an gcorp slán. (132)
34. “Cath do Chlanna Baoisgne dhíobh,
buidhean nochar mhín an lámh;
cath do C[h]lanna Morna nan gcreach
& an darna leath Challaibh Smáil. (136)
35. “Air bhur láimh-se, a Tháilginn tréin,
’s é dh’fhág sinn dár bhFéin ’sa n-á<r>
cóig cathan eagair dhár sluagh
a leagadh bhuainn air an tráigh. (140)
36. “<Trí cath[a]> fichead gan rath,
deich céad fichead gach cath dhíobh,
dh’áirmheadh [a] shluagh Dháir[e] Dhuinn
nach ád’ráinigñ air tuinn arís. (144)
37. “A Tháilginn dā bhfreagrann cléir,
ō b’áil leat dhíom féin gach sgéal,
go dtugadh cath Ghabhra na gleann
nocha dtáinig ceann ar lá. (148)
38. “Do roinn sinn a gcabhla[ch] long
& airgiod trom an ríogh,
a n-ór ’s a n-éideadh ’s a n-eich,
a nÉirinn air ga[ch] leith dí. (152)
39. “A Phádraig Macha na mionn,
ann ad c[h]ill [d]ā bhfagham bás,
cuir féin talamh air mo c[h]neas,
ō ’s agad tha fios mo sgéal.” (156)
40. “[A] Oisēin, ō tá tú sgíth,
déan anois do shíth go bás;
gabh t’urnaigh dhuinn is iarr tlus,
is guidh Dia much ga[ch] lá.” Lá (160)
41. “Air Sliabh Síóin latha luain
& na sluaigh air a lár,
Mícheal is <Muir[e]> [is] Mac Dé
dom thabhairt féin air an láimh. (164)
42. “An dá easbal déag ’s a bhFlath,
ga[ch] cléireach math is gach fáidh,
eadram agus ifreann uar
do bheith go cruaidh air mo lá.” (168)
Lá
Translation:
<The author >1. One day when prissy Patrick of the <fair croziers> went to his cell, for affection’s sake he took Oiséan with him, to <gain some knowledge in his company>.
2. “I would like to find out from you, Oiséan who has been in strenuous routs, which single individual with his host most sorely afflicted Fionn’s Fiana.”
3. “O cleric of the speckled croziers, it would be presumptuous for you to think that in your lifetime you could ever give full expresion to all the valiant deeds of Fionn’s Fiana.”
4. “Since it has happened that you, Oiséan, have blamelessly outlived them, you should always be at your post endlessly relating tales of the Fiana.”
5. “Though I should live for fifty years listening to your music in the church, until the day I die I cannot tell you of all the many feats achieved by Fionn’s Fiana.
6. “Throughout all the divisions of the mighty world we had a <fian-band> on every < >; tribute was being raised for Fionn’s Fian < >.
7. “In all the wide world there was no-one who had the right < > to put to the test < > all who were in Almhain of the speckled blades.”
8. “If you would tell me now, Oiséan who has been in strenuous fights, who was the single individual with the strongest arm who < >.
9. “You have imposed on me a great undertaking, O cleric and teacher < >; until the day of doom I cannot relate the extent of the host < >.”
10. “Since it has happened that you have outlived them, Oiséan < >, who were the warriors whom you most liked to have around your shield when the Fian went < >?”
11. “Osgar and Caoilte and Goll, and Mac Lughach of the fine blades, used to accompany the generous Son of Cumhall – they were a level-headed band <in battle>.
12. “Warlike Feardhomhan, the king’s son, and Caireall would ply the spears; guileless Daormann of beautiful complexion was good when the time came to lop off heads.
13. “There were Colla son of Caoilte <who sharpened his weapons> and Caoince, a warrior with fine <weapon-points>, and Raighne, the king’s son – they were no gentle troop in battle;
14. “Fair-haired Faolán who was Fionn’s son, and Garadh < >; Diorraing, blameless son of Dobhar, and Aodh son of Garadh who had a strong arm.
15. “I myself and Garadh son of Smál, and Daighre Daireach son of Rónán, together with the three Sons of Ceard without deceit, whose weapons were red in the hour of <distress>.
16. “Unless I tell you a lie, great cleric with your casket of relics, I did not know any man of the Fian who did not redeem his own pledge.
17. “Sit in your chair and take your pen, so that you will get all the names of every individual of strongest arm who came against the Fian from other peoples.
18. “Over the sea there came the king of Lochlann, Dáire Donn, a warrior of wild disposition, to carry across the ocean the tribute of Ireland. For this reason our army mustered in its entirety.
19. “The Tuatha Dé came out of every hill to meet him, and to assist our Fian; Cairbre Luachair, strong of hand, brought four battalions safe to harbour.
20. “Seven battalions of the Fian from Leath Cuinn came to us from the west; a quarter of our number <did not leave> the shore unscathed from the battle-din of [Dáire] Donn.
21. “In his fleet of ships were Dáire Donn and his own retinue; <twenty three battalions> of his army did not return from us to their own land.
22. “Conn Crithir of unerring arm was waiting for them on the shore; he deprived them of the army of India, and he raised a king’s head aloft on a hill.
23. “We left on the shore Conn, son of the king of Ulster, with his many horses, and Dolar of the heavy raids – drowned beneath the roar of the waves.
24. “The three sons of Dubhthach, brave though they were as they came from among their ships, and Fear <Teine> and Ciorcall an Phluic – we left their bodies stripped bare.
25. “Órarmach, daughter of the king of Greece, and Foirne of the heavy blows – we abandoned them to the screaming scald-crow, and we did not leave the scald-crow disappointed.
26. “By the venom of our weapons we slaughtered the four sons of the king of sea-girt Lochlann; the three Bailbh from the cold Boireann did not escape from us alive.
27. “For all his boldness, we left on the shore the body of Dáire Donn, king of the world and a warrior of radiant appearance; his corpse was torn by the beaks of birds.
28. “Of all the armies of the mighty world, not one man escaped from us in the slaughter but the king of France, who fled in distress and clutching at the clouds.
29. “For fear of mighty Osgar, he did not let his soles touch the ground until he reached Gleann Bolcáin, <as the tale about him relates>, where he took <sleep> and rest.
30. “On the shore of Fionntráigh of the bays where the armies inflicted slaughter, we avenged our insult on the kings of the mighty world.
31. “With the fury of our weapons many warriors lay dead on the ground; there were many swords and shields left shattered yonder on the shore.
32. “On the shore of Fionntráigh with its harbours, there were many corpses of brave men, many warriors abandoned to screaming scald-crows, and, <we believe>, many spoils from the dead.
33. “O Patrick son of generous Alpin, only two faultless, well-arranged battalions of our Fian came back from the shore, and their bodies were not without wounds.
34. “One battalion of them consisted of the Clanna Baoisgne, a company not soft of hand, and the other of the foray-making Clann Morna, with one half from the Clanna Smáil.
35. “By your hand, powerful Adzehead, the number of our Fian that we left in the field of slaughter was five well-arranged battalions of our army, who were lost from us on the shore.
36. “Of the army of Dáire Donn, there were counted <twenty three> luckless <battalions>, with three thousand men in each, who did not return across the waves.
37. “O Adzehead whom clerics obey, since you would wish to hear from me every story, [I tell you that] our day was not terminated until the battle of Gabhair of the glens was fought.
38. “We apportioned throughout every part of Ireland their fleet of ships and the king’s great store of silver, their gold, their battle-dress, and their horses.
39. “O relic-bearing Patrick of Ard Mhacha, should I die within your church, put with your own hands earth on my body, since you know my story.”
40. “O Oiséan, since you are tired, make now your peace unto death; say your prayer to us and seek mercy, and beseech God early every day.”
41. “On Mount Zion on the Day of Judgement, when the hosts are gathered in its midst, may Michael <and Mary and> the Son of God take myself by the hand.
42. “May the twelve apostles and their Lord, every good cleric and every prophet stand between me and the harshness of cold hell when my day comes.”