VIII. Anbhfann anocht neart mo lámh


MS p. 126

Autor huius Osseane mcfynn –

[1.]   Anvin i’ not nart mo lawe </> ne ell mi ċooȝein er laar
        Is n<ee>/Enyt
ȝof wȧȧ bronyt ym ȝebil troġ sennorryt

[2.]   Troyġ gi neitt cheddeyt doif seach gi dw er twne talwo
        Re tarring ċlaċh a hallinn gow rell<u>ig hulchin tal
ȝing

MS p. 127

[3.]   Is ta wrskal aggwme ȝut er Ir ȝi wuntir phadrik
        Estich re asti’nyt Inn schal beg er tocht
ȝin talgin

[4.]   Brwin di rinnyt in swnn / er sleywe quoalgein moeolyt lwmm
        Di churri er feanow pail ywir in ta h<u’>wail


[5.]   Da drane din wrwin wroyt chur finn er clan mor
        Agis in trane ell
ȝeic orms is er cla’now biskneiċ

[6.]   Hugis fregryt nar choyr er mccowle vctranewoyr
        Hurd nat bein fada fa smaċt is naċ dany’ doo gilleicht


[7.]   Di weic finn fada na host i’ leit naċ burris a cosga
        fer gin noyin gi’ neggill nor a quayl i’ dȯȯregryt


[8.]   Is sea coyrra di raa rwmm flaċ eanyt ny vane finn
        bea tow schell a tarring clooċ ma i’ deyt how i’ weiċ wr<enyt>


[9.]   Di ȝeyrris is sin ra erg sos o vakcowle armȝerga
        Sea lenn me din nane awnyt cachrow chaċ croychalm̄


[10.]    Faster mis ag in nane verrir <r>oysa my wraa fey
           In lwcht a wa gim heiċ ann Is da i’ deiċ Id tam̄ gi a’vin


[11.]    Faa meiċ in coytirlyt croo / din nane i’ gach crwnvonyt     Anvin
           Ym̄th nac gy’ a’nyċ ann da i’ tallyt tame gyt Anvin     Anvin


[12.]    Anvin in noċt cleẏ mo cvrp creddwm di wrairrew padrik
           Eddir laywe is chos is chenn It ta
vllit gi a’vin      Anvin <noct>

Restored text:

Au[c]tor huius Oisēan mac Finn –

1.    Anbhfann anocht neart mo lámh,
       ní fheil mo choimhghein air lár;

       is <ní h->ioghnadh dhomh <bheith> brónach
       
am ghiobal truagh seanórach.    (4)

2.    Truagh ga[ch] ní cheaduigheadh domh
       seach ga[ch] duin[e] air tuinn talmhan,

       rē tarraing chlach a h-Oil Fhinn

       go relig thulch[a] an Táilghinn.    (8
)

3.    Is tá uirsgeal agam dhuid
       <air oighr[e]> mhuinntir Phádraig;

       éisdidh rē fháisdineacht Fhinn

       seal beag air tocht dhon Táilginn.    (12
)

4.    Bruidhean do rinneadh an sunn
       air Sliabh Chualgain <maol athlom>;

       do chuireadh air Fianaibh Fáil

       adhbhar an taigh[e] <chunbháil>.    (16
)

5.    Dá dtrian don bhruidhin <bhroghdha>
       [do] chuir Fionn air Clainn Morn[a],

       agus an trian eil[e] dhi

       orms[a] is air Clannaibh Baoisgne.    (20
)

6.    Thugas[-sa] freagra nār chóir
       air Mac Cumhaill mhic Tréanmhóir;

       thurt nach beinn fada fā smacht,

       is nach déanainn dó gilleacht.    (24
)

7.    Do bhí Fionn fada ’na thosd –
       an laoch nach b’urus[a] a c[h]osg,

       fear gan uamhan, gan eagal –

       ’nuair a chual[a] an doifhreagra.    (28
)

8.    Is é cómhradh do ráidh riom
       flaithfhéinnidh na bhFéin, Fionn:

       “Biaidh tú seal a’ tarraing cloch

       mān dtéid thú ōn bhioth <bhrionnach>.”    (32
)

9.    Do dh’éirgheas <as> sin rā fheirg
       suas ō Mhac Cumhaill airmdheirg;

       ’s é lean mé don Fhéin <amhra>

       <ceithre cath[a]> cruadhchalma.    (36
)

10.    Fasduighthear mis[e] ag an Fhéin,
        bheirear dhomhsa mo bhreith féin;

        an lucht a bha gam shíoth ann,

        is <dan> díoth atáim go [h]anbhfann.    (40
)
                                 Anbhfann

11.    Fá mí an comhairleach cródha
        don Fhéin an gcath Crunnmhóna;

        iomadh neach gan aithne ann;

        <dān> táillibh táim go <h->anbhfann.    (44
)
                                   Anbhfann

12.    Anbhfann a-nocht cléith mo c[h]uirp,
        creidim do bhriathraibh Pádraig;

        eadar lámh is chos is cheann,

        atáim uile go [h-]anbhfann.    (48
)

                                    Anbhfann <a-nocht>

Translation:

The author is this is Oiséan son of Fionn

1.    Feeble tonight is the strength of my hands; no contemporary of mine survives on the earth; it is no wonder that I am sad, as I am a pitiful worn-out rag of an old man.

2.    Everything ordained for me is more wretched than the lot of any man on the earth’s surface, here dragging stones <to> Elphin, to the church-yard on the Adzehead’s hill.

3.    And I have a tale to tell you <about the heir of> Patrick’s people; listen to the prophecy which Fionn made a little while after the Adzehead came.

4.    A hall was built here on Sliabh Cualgain, <flat and bare>; it was laid on the Fiana of Ireland <to take responsibility for> the material for the house.

5.    Fionn laid responsibility for two-thirds of the <cavernous> mansion on the Clann Morna; and the other third of it he assigned to me and the Clann Baoisgne.

6.    I gave an answer that was not right to the Son of Cumhall son of Tréanmhór; I said that I would not be long under his control, and that I would not be his servant.

7.    When he heard the unpalatable answer, Fionn was silent for a long time – the warrior who was not easy to check, a man devoid of dread or fear.

8.    These were the words which Fionn, the princely warrior of the Fiana, then spoke to me: “You will spend some time dragging stones before you leave the <illusory> earth.”

9.    Because of his anger I rose up from there and left the Son of Cumhall of blood-stained weapons; of the distinguished Fian, four valiant battalions followed me.

10.    Yet I was retained in service by the Fian, and I was given by own choice; those who were then at peace with me, it is for lack of them that I am feeble.

11.    I was the Fian’s valorous counsellor in the battle of Crunnmhóin; many were left there dead, and it is because of them that I am feeble.

12.    Feeble tonight is my body’s frame; I believe in Patrick’s words; both hand and foot and head, I am altogether feeble.