Book of the Dean of Lismore Book of the Dean of Lismore Fian-lays and other heroic verse
University of Glasgow

X. Truagh liom Tulach na Féine

MS p. 212

[1.]    Troyġ lwm twllyt ni faynit ag ni ċleirchew fa <    >
         Is danyt lucht ni billak in ny’nit ċlannyt beisknych

[2.]    <T>ayr missi raacroychin schell fada wroychow <g    >
          Beg a hellis gi tarfin (ni’) in talgin er di w<    >

[3.]    Tayr meiċ skay is sleẏ conn is gyir fad walle
         Ga ta not knok nyt fayni fa ċleyrchew & fa wachle

[4.]    Da marra clanni morn ni wee fir nordsi seadtrach
         Di ȝoyve schew fir grabbil a lwch ni baychill bre<ga>

[5.]    Da mara mclowyt si vi curri chalm̄aa
         Swl fowkweis in tullytdi wee fir cowlyt garr<eyt>

[6.]    Da marra clanni carda fir nachir chelggi bayssen
         < >e weit fir glwkgi fir bachlaa ny’nit ni’ bradtyt <    >

MS p. 213

[7.]    <    cla>nni nayvin fir nac banvin in droddew
         Ne weit di wu’tir a phadrik gi laydyr er ni chnoke<w>

[8.]    Da marra clan i’ dew ȝeirri da marra keilti croych
         Ne weit gayr ċlooggi is ċleyrri ga nestich in raacroyc<   >

[9.]    Da marra rynne roydda & keilcroyt mccreyvin
         Ne weit di loywir la cheyll ir a laywis a bebill

[10.]   Ir ni lwrga crwmmi di ryn̄ in swll dayne
          Di weit di lorga na brosna da bea osgir er lay<   >

[11.]   Ir i’ trostane woye di ryn in swe swnda
          <m>ach dut nat marin / connan fa ma’naċ dorn duta

[12.]   <      >re in swlȝorm̄ seir con̄an meil makave ni way<    >
          <                    >yrre ga mor di ȝorda / di won̄i ȝut dorn̄ gi dane

[13.]   <      >a mce ȝoyni ir ni lwrga crossi
          <                            eit> di lorga (ni) (i)sne mesta bresta fa chaytra clȯȯcha

[14.]   <      > clwga mir helim da bit dering na waye
          Di weit di ċlog na raḃḃa woya fa (h) Edin a chayt<re>

[15.]   Neir ȝȧrgȧ smor a cheyt er gayt geit mcroynā
          na b<a>e di clog gi hannis ir a wa’nis a koyllan

[16.]   <Ne> Eddwm bay gi sowchyt ne agkwm mccowl s<o>w<    >

          Ne Ekkym dearmit o doywn̄ ne ekym keilt mcc<    >

MS p. 214

[17.]   <N>e heynych mi way gi dowych er in tullyt soo phadri<k>
          <n>e Ekkim mclowch ne ekim in chwllych ȝrawchc

[18.]   Ne Ekkim far loo raym heyve ne Ekkim oskir na <E   >
          Ne Ekkim i’ ny’myrt vor ne Ekkim a (a) choanirt cheyf

[19.]   Ne Ekkim cla’ni smoyl ne ekkim gȯlli mor ni gneyf
          Ne Ekkim feillane fayill ne ekkim na ȝey i’ nayn̄

[20.]   Ne Ekkim ferris mi wrayir layr meyt layir woalta
          Ne Ekkim dyir’ri doynicht o womist koyl gi noyrra

[21.]   <N>e Ekkim fa ka’nyn̄ naċ beehow aggin er ayrre
          Ne Ekkim acme gar worrin di bi wor torrin a gla<r>

[22.]   Ne Ekkim Evi’nis na hoyl ne clwnnu’ i’ koyl di wee
          Soll di curri me mi hoo di fronfwn feyn or gi ley<n>

[23.]   Insim ȝwt a phadrik da bi ȝayllwm hecht har<s>ta
          Nach fayddwm a heillow a vacca may ȝevi’nis agga

[24.]   Missi is cleyrre ni bortwis notcha droy<in>vn ra cha<al>

          Ga ta mee nocht gi dowych Is troyg lwm tullit n<i> f<   >
                                                      Troyg lwm

Restored text:

1.   Truagh liom Tulach na Féine
      aig na cléir<ch>ibh fā <[dhaoirse]>;
      is dána lucht na bileag
      a n-ionad Chlanna Baoisgne.    (4)

2.   D’iarr mise, [a] Ráith C[h]ruachan,
      seal fā do bhruachaibh <[go subhach]>;
      beag a shaoileas go táirfinn
      an Táilgeann air do <[mhullach]>.    (8)

3.   D’iarr mí sgiath[a] is sleagh[a],
      coin is gadhair fād bhalla,
      gē tá [a]nocht Cnoc na Féine
      fā chléir<ch>ibh & fā bhachla.    (12)

4.   Dā maireadh Clann Morn[a],
      ní bhíodh bhur n-ord-sa séitreach;
      do-gheobhadh sibh bhur gcrapall,
      a lucht na bachall bréige.    (16)

5.   Dā maireadh Mac Lughach
      [i]s a vi curaidh chalma,
      sul fúigbhidhe-s[a] an tulach
      do bhíodh bhur culaidh gearrtha.    (20)

6.   Dā maireadh Clanna Cearda,
      fir nachar chealga[ch] béasan,
      <n>í bhíodh bhur gcluig, bhur bachla
      a n-ionad na<m> bratach <[gréasta]>.    (24)

7.   <[Dā maireadh]> Clanna Neamhainn,
      fir nach b’anbhfann an dtrodaibh,
      ní bhíodh do mhuinntir, a Phádraig,
      go láidir air na cnocaibh.    (28)

8.   Dā maireadh Clann an Duibh-Dhíthribh,
      dā maireadh Caoilte cródha,
      ní bhíodh gáir chlog is chláirea[ch]
      ’gā  n-éisdeacht an Ráith C[h]ró<chan>.    (32)

9.   Dā maireadh Raighne <Róda>
      & Caol Cródha mac Criomhthainn,
      ní bhíodh do leabhar lē chéil[e],
      fhir a léigheas a[n] bíoball.    (36)

10.    [A] fhir na luirge cruime
         do-rinn an siubhal dána,
         do bhíodh do lorg ’na brosna
         dā biadh Osgar air láth[air].    (40)

11.    [A] fhir an trosdáin bhuidhe
         do-rinn an suidhe sunnta,
         math duit nach maireann Conán –
         fā manadh dorn <dut-[s]a>.    (44)

12.    <[Dá maireadh]> an súlghorm saor,
         Conán Maol, macaomh na bhFian<n>,
         <                       > gē mór do <ord>,
         do bhoineadh dhuit dorn go dian.    (48)

13.    <[Dá maireadh]> Mac Uí Dhuibhne,
         [a] fhir na luirge croise,
         <[do bhíodh]> do lorg, ’s ní misde,
         brisde fā charra cloiche.    (52)

14.    <                              > cluig, mar shaoilim,
         da <beith> <Diorraing> ’na bheatha,
         do bhíodh do chlog ’na réabthach
         bhuaidhe fā éadan a’ charra.    (56)

15.    <Níor dhearcais – mór do chaoich[e] –
         air Gath Gaoithe mac Rónáin>;
         nā biodh do c[h]log go <h-anfhois>,
         fhir a bhaineas a[n] ceólān.    (60)

16.    Ní fhéadaim beith go subhach,
         ní fhaicim Mac Cumhaill <[sunndach]>;
         ní fhaicim Diarmaid Ó Duibhn[e],
         ní fhaicim Caoilt[e] mac <[Crunnchair]>.    (64)

17.    Ní h-ioghnadh mí bheith go dubhach
         air an tulaigh so, Phádraig;
         ní fhaicim Mac Lughach,
         ní fhaicim an chulaidh ghrádhach.    (68)

18.    Ní fhaicim Fear Logha rém thaobh,
         ní fhaicim Osgar nā <[Aodh]>,
         ní fhaicim an imirt mhór,
         ní fhaicim a’ chuanairt chaomh.    (72)

19.    Ní fhaicim Clanna Smóil,
         ní fhaicim Goll mór na gníomh,
         ní fhaicim Faolán fial,
         ní fhaicim ’na dhiaidh an Fhian.    (76)

20.    Ní fhaicim Fearghus mo bhráthair
         lér maoidh[eadh] láthair bhuailte,
         ní fhaicim Daighre Duanach
         ō bhfoighmís ceól ga[ch] n-uaire.    (80)

21.    Ní fhaicim Fath[adh] Canann
         nach bitheadh againn air éaradh;
         ní fhaicim aicme dhār bhfoirinn;
         do bu mhór torann a <gcléire>.    (84)

22.    Ní fhaicim aoibhneas nā ól,
         ní c[h]luinnim an ceól do bhí;
         sul do cuireadh mi mā thó,
         do bhronnfainn féin ór go <líon>.    (88)

23.    Inn[i]sim dhuit, a Phádraig,
         dā budh áil liom theacht tharta,
         nach féadaim a shaoileadh
         a bhfaca mé dh’aoibhneas aca.    (92)

24.    Mise is cléirigh na bportas
         nocha <    > rē <chéile>;
         gē tá mé [a]nocht go dubhach,
         is truagh liom Tulach na F<éine>.    (96)
                                           Truagh liom


Translation:

1.    I grieve for the Hill of the Fian, now oppressed by the clerics; the possessors of the paper leaves behave boldly in the place of the Clanna Baoisgne.
2.    I sought, Fort of Cruachan, to spend some time <happily> about your banks; little did I think that I would come upon the Adzehead on your <summit>.
3.    I sought shields and spears, dogs and hunting-hounds about your walls, although the Hill of the Fian is tonight covered with clerics and croziers.
4.    If the Clanna Morna were alive, your institution would not be powerful; you would be put in fetters, you possessors of false croziers.
5.    If Mac Lughach were alive, and his six stalwart champions, your vestments would be in tatters before you would leave the hill.
6.    If the Clanna Cearda were alive, man whose ways were not deceitful, your bells and your croziers would not occupy the place of the <ornamented> banners.
7.    If the Clanna Neamhainn were alive, men who were not weak in combats, your people, Patrick, would not be out in force on the hills.
8.    If Clann an Duibh-Dhíthribh were alive, and if valiant Caoilte lived too, the din of bells and clerics would not be heard in the Fort of Cruachan.
9.    If Raighne <Róda> were alive, and Caol Cródha son of Criomhthann, your book would not be in one place, you reader of the bible.
10.    You owner of the crooked staff who has made a presumptuous journey, your stick would be in splinters if Osgar were on the spot.
11.    You owner of the yellow stick who has sat down so saucily, you are fortunate that Conán is not alive – [if he were], it would presage a punch for you.
12.    If the blue-eyed noble one, Conán Maol, the young lad of the Fiana, <were alive>, though your institution is great, <cleric>, he would deal you a blow swiftly.
13.    You man with the cross-shaped crozier, if Mac Uí Dhuibhne <were alive>, your staff would be broken on a rock – and it would be no bad thing.
14.    < > of the bell, as I suppose, if Diorraing were alive, your bell would be shattered by him against a rock face.
15.    <You have never observed the Gath Gaoithe of the son of Rónán – great is your blindness>; you need not <sound> your bell, you man who strikes the tinkler.
16.    I cannot be joyful; I do not see the <spirited> Son of Cumhall; I do not see Diarmaid Ó Duibhne, I do not see Caoilte son of <Crunnchar>.
17.    It is no wonder that I am sad on this hill, Patrick; I do not see Mac Lughach, I do not see the equipment which we loved.
18.    I do not see Fear Logha by my side, I do not see Osgar or <Aodh>, I do not see the great playing of games, I do not see the beloved pack of hounds.
19.    I do not see the Clanna Smóil, I do not see great Goll of the feats, I do not see generous Faolán, I do not see the Fian following him.
20.    I do not see Fearghus my brother who boasted of victory on the battle-field, I do not see Daighre of the Songs from whom we would receive music on every occasion.
21.    I do not see Fathadh Canann whom we would never refuse; I do not see any group of our company; loud was the noise of <their poet-band>.
22.    I do not see any merriment or carousal, I do not hear the music which we once had; before I was put to silence, I myself would bestow gold <in plenty>.
23.    I tell you, Patrick, that even if I wished to recount them, I cannot call to mind all the joy I saw among them.
24.    I and the reliquary-bearing clerics did not <    > with one another; although I am sorrowful tonight, I grieve [specially] for the Hill of the Fian.

Notes to Poem X