XII. Ard aigne Ghuill - Book of the Dean of Lismore

MS p. 145

A houdir so seis Farris feilli

[1.]   Ard agni ȝwlle / far coggi finn
       Leich loyvir loonn / owil ne timm

[2.]   Seir a’nich sos / seir snaiġ heive
       Murrich er sloyġ goole crowich keiwe

[3.]   Mak mornych marri / fa croich i’ gell
       A ċlew fa schen Far gennoll sen

[4.] Reih fi’nich fayl / ne timmi i (i’) gloor
       Ne i’ seywe a chail / leich eyve mor

[5.] Noor heyd a gaych / rayme flach feich
       Ga meine a chnes ne i’ tas in neich

[6.] A waid ne i myn / oos geagi torri
       say is glenny gen̄ / Eddi ni’ skill

[7.] Oos barri benn / Errir sin rynn
       fa heggill lenn / a hagri hecht rinn

[8.]   Derrim rwt a Inn na drillis noonn
       Di warr agli ȝwle / hagni gi troom

[9.]   Gin chur ra wach / si cach ne i’ doe
       Inseich chayċh / kinselich sloe

[10.]   A a’nich ne min / fullich i’ fer
           Dosi ni skoll / ossil a ȝen

[11.]   Wrrik a loyġ / torvirdy^t fayll
           A throst cayth is boyn / fos flaa a chayl

[12.]   Dwn na olt / a wrwnni mir chelk
           Wmlane mi chorp / looml<an>e da herk

[13.]   Erri fa cheis / bi chor ra chws
           Me’mnycht a weis / dalwei^t a ȝnws

[14.]   Ne elzaei re oos gowle / ne chell ort a Inn
           tres ni doon a ȝasga ȝrin

MS p. 146

[15.]   Flaaoll fos / daytholl a knes
           Er ȝoole na / clis / ne slim er has

[16.]   broontyth a ȝale / convych a royr
           ferriddi mein / melleddi moyr

[17.]   Da rayth gi brȧy^t / aw & eich
           Nawth re caych / lawth a leich

[18.]   claa chon̄is woon / sonnis ni wayne
           monnwrrycht coyn // Illericht dane

[19.]   Loyvin er aw / croyth na grewi^t
           Loyvir a layve / royġ ni reich

[20.]   Sonnis ni rowd / sollis a ȝaid
           Curris say layne / g<y>ch trayn da wayd

[21.]   boyn rowni a nir / boy gorrik er /
           Leydwich a ȝelli / Egni i’ sterr

[22.]   Leich ċwnych loonn / neawny^t la lynn
           Targissi gool // argissicht lynni

[23.]   Leich ar’mi mar / fargytht ra chin
           colg convy^t er / onchow er ȝell

[24.]   Forȝalle ni gonn / royċȝraw ni (g<a>n) ban
           beic dawe gi non / di ȝnȧȧ na ȝarr

[25.]   La beowe rod / a rot ne i’ tlȧȧ
           meich ni grayth / a ȝrayth fa bl<a>a

[26.]   Seyor a chrow / awȝor a rach
           Ne in traynich shrow / na reym i’ gayth /

[27.]   Mak morn is (dan) dane / f<a> orryth a ȝayl
           Innoyr a ȝlayr // beich woyn a thrayn̄

[28.]   Trayth marri mer / fayle ferri a chorri
           Gin tayr na ȝerr // a ȝaill er forri

[29.] Mak tead is cheiwe / nach treggi daive
Gin choggi reich // nar laggi a layve

MS p. 147

[30.]   Oawo^r a cholk / is borbe a ȝloa
           nor erris arg trane shelga ȝoa

[31.]   / a vccowle ȝrinn / coythwil / es gyle
           See boynych di ȝooll / gin noa / gin nawle

[32.]   In nes rame lay / a ȝnayn ȝoo
           werrim gin ċhelg / trayn selga ȝoo

[33.]   Ni twllia / ann / far nas i gor
           graw te’ni inn / trane ċon a ȝooll

[34.]   Treg heich a ȝwle / be seich^t rwnn
           Nad ray gin ving / trane feẏth finn

[35.]   ȝoywidsi sinni / arris a ayll
           Is skeil mi ȝroym / ne wor mi wane /

[36.] Carri gin kelg / bail tanni derg
a’nich si low // (a) / a clow os ard // Ard agni ȝwl

Restored text:

A <h->ughdar so síos Fearghus File

1.   “Ard aigne Ghuill,
       fear cogaidh Finn,
       laoch leabhar lonn,
       fhoghail ní tim.    (4)

2.   “Saor eineach suas,
       saor <snaidh[te]> [a] thaobh,
       muireach air sluagh,
       Goll cruthach caomh.    (8)

3.   “Mac Morna mear
       fā cródha an goil,
       a chliú fā sean,
       fear geanail sin.    (12)

4.   “Rí fine fial,
       ní tim <a g[h]lór>,
       ní <’n> saobh a chiall,
       laoch aobhdha mór.    (16)

5.   “Nuair théid a gcath
       réim flath[a] faoi;
       gē mín a chneas,
       ní <’n> tais <an ní>.    (20)

6.   A mhéad ní mion,
       uas géaga <tor>;
       ’s é as glaine gean,
       oide nan sgol.    (24)

7.   “Uas barra beann
       <iarrthar> ’san roinn;
       fā h-eagal linn
       a thagra theacht rinn.    (28)

8.   “Deirim riut, a Fhinn
       na drilis ndonn,
       do bharr eagla Ghuill
       th’aigne go trom.    (32)

9.   “Gan chur rā mhath
       ’sa c[h]ath ní <’n> dóigh;
       ionnsaightheach <cháich>
       ceannsalach slóigh.    (36)

10.   “A eineach ní mion,
           fuileach an fear,
         duasaidh na sgol,
       uasal a ghean.    (40)

11.   “<Uirdheirc> a <luadh>,
          toirbheartach fial,
         a throsd catha is buan,
       fos flatha a chiall.    (44)

12.   “Duinn[e] ’na fholt,
          a bhruinne mar chailc,
         iomlán mā chorp,
       lomlán do sheirc.    (48)

13.   “Éire fā chíos
       bu <chur rā>chúis;
       meanmnach a bhíos,
       dealbhach a ghnúis.    (52)

14.   “Ní fheil rí uas Goll,
       ní cheil ort, a Fhinn;
       treis[e] na dtonn
       a ghaisgeadh ghrinn.    (56)

15.   “Flaith<eamhail> fós,
       dathail a c[h]neas;
       air Gholl na clis,
       ní slim air theas.    (60)

16.   “Bronntach a dháil,
       conbhfach a threóir,
       <firea[n]ta> mín,
       míleada mór.    (64)

17.   “Dā <thriath> go bráth
       ágh & fhíoch,
       námhach rē cách,
       lámhach a[n] laoch.    (68)

18.   “Cleath chonais bhuan,
       sonas na bhFian,
       <mongharach> cuan,
       <iolardhach> dian.    (72)

19.   “Leómhan air ágh,
       cródha ’na g[h]níomh,
       leabhar a lámh,
       rogha na ríogh.    (76)

20.   “Sonas ’na ród,
       solas a dhéad;
       cuiris sé [a] léan
       gach tréan dā mhéad.    (80)

21.   “Buan rún an fhir,
       buaidh gcómhraig air,
       léidmheach a ghoil,
       éignea[ch] an stair.    (84)

22.   “Laoch <guineach> lonn,
       neimhneach le lainn;
       tarcaisea[ch] Goll,
       airceasach leinn.    (88)

23.   “Laoch armach mear,
       feargach rā chion;
       colg conbhfach air,
       onchú air ghoil.    (92)

24.   “<Forghal> na gcon,
       roghrádh na ban;
       bídh dámh gan on
       do ghnáth ’na ghar.    (96)

25.   “Lē biodhbhaidh rod
       a throd ní <’n> tláth;
       maoidheadh na gcreach,
       a dhreach fā bláth.    (100)

26.   “Seadhmhor a chruth,
       ághmhor a rath;
       ní <’n> tréine sruth
       nā [a] réim an gcath.    (104)

27.   “Mac Morn[a] as dian,
       fā [h-]urra a ghéill,
       ionnuar a <ghlár>,
       biothbhuan a thréan.    (108)

28.    “Triath meardha mear,
       fial feardha a chor,
       gan táir ’na ghar,
       a dháil air for.    (112)

29.   “Mac <Téid[e]> as caomh,
       nach tréigeadh dámh,
       gon chogadh ríogh
       nār lag a lámh.    (116)

30.   “Uathmhor a cholg,
       is borb a ghleó;
       ’nuair éirgheas fhearg
       trian sealga dhó.    (120)

31.   “A Mhic Cumhaill ghrinn,
       comhaill is geall
       síoth <b[h]uan> do Gholl
       gan fhuath, gan fheall.”    (124)

32.   “A-nois rém lá
       a <ghnáthan> dhó;
       bheirim gan chealg
       trian sealga dhó.”    (128)

33.   “Ní tuilleadh ann,
       fearr nas a[n] gcorr –
       grádh t’einigh, Fhinn,
       trian chon a Gholl.    (132)

34.   “Tréig th’fhíoch, a Ghuill,
       bi síochdh[a] ruinn;
       ’nad ré gan mheing
       trian <fiadhaigh> Finn.”    (136)

35.   “Gheobhad-sa sin,
       Fhearghuis, a fhéil,
       is sgaoil mo ghruaim,
       ní uar mo mhéin.”    (140)

36.   “Cara gan cealg,
       béal tana dearg;
       eineach ’s a lúth,
       a c[h]liú ōs ard.”    (144)

Ard aigne Ghuill

Translation:

The author of what follows is Fearghus the Poet

1. “High is Goll’s spirit; he fights against Fionn; he is a tall fierce warrior, whose foray is not feeble.
2. “He has the exalted dignity of a noble; his figure is nobly shaped; fair-formed comely Goll is the leader of a host.
3. “The lively Son of Morna was brave in battle; his fame was not recent; he is a congenial fellow.
4. “He is the generous king of a tribe; his speech is not weak; his mind does not mislead; he is a great cheerful hero.
5. “When he enters battle, he advances like a prince; though his skin is smooth, his deeds are hard.
6. “His stature is not small, [like] a tower above trees; he is of purest temperament, the teacher of the schools.
7. “He is <[like] an eagle> above the mountain-tops in the region; we are afraid lest he should lodge a claim against us.
8. “I tell you, Fionn of the brown locks, that your spirit is heavy for fear of Goll.
9. “It is certain that in battle he will add to his prowess; the attacker <of all>, he is the controller of a host.
10. “His status is not slight; he is a man of bloodshed; the rewarder of the schools, he has a noble disposition.
11. “His <reputation> is glorious; he is liberal and generous; his battle-din is persistent; his mind has the stability of a prince.
12. “His hair is brown, his breast is like chalk, he is perfect in body, full of affection.
13. “To have Ireland under his tribute <would augment> his cause; he is habitually courageous; his countenance is comely.
14. “No king surpasses Goll – he does not hide it from you, Fionn; his fierce valour is as strong as the waves.
15. “He is princely also; his skin is well-coloured; do not come against Goll suddenly – in battle-ardour he is no weak man.
16. “He dispenses liberally; his energy is ferocious; he is <manly> and gentle, heroic and great.
17. “His prowess and his anger are perpetually <directed against his lord>; he is hostile to all – a ready-handed warrior.
18. “An enduring pillar of battle, he is the joy of the Fiana; he is <noisy and handsome>, <many-sided> and swift.
19. “He is [like] a lion in valour, and dauntless in deed; his arm is supple; he is the choicest of kings.
20. “There is joy in his path; his teeth are shining white; he will bring grief on every warrior, whatever his size.
21. “The man’s purpose is firm, and he wins triumph in combat; his valour is daring – a violent story.
22. “A <wound-dealing> fierce hero, he is deadly with a blade; Goll is haughty, we think, and selfish too.
23. “A warrior well-armed and bold, he is angry with <his faults>; his rage is ferocious; he is [like] a wolf-dog in valour.
24. “He is <the talk> of heroes, and greatly loved by women; there is a flawless poet-band always beside him.
25. “Against a bold foe, his fight is not faint; when he boasts about his spoils, his visage is bright.
26. “His form is strong, his fortune is auspicious; no river is mightier than his advance in battle.
27. “Morna’s impetuous son, he redeems his pledge; his speech is temperate; his might is enduring.
28. “A fierce furious lord, his manner is manly and generous; no base thing is near him; his bounty is renowned.
29. “He is the fine son of <Téide> who would not forsake a poet-band, and whose hand did not hold back weakly from the strife of kings.
30. “His rage is terrible, his attack is fierce; when his wrath kindles, give him a third part of the hunt.
31. “You strong son of Cumhall, promise and observe a lasting peace towards Goll without hatred or treachery.”
32. “Now for all my days he will have his <customary dues>; I shall give him without deceit a third of the hunt.”
33. “There is something more, better than the rest: for the sake of your honour, Fionn, give a third of the hounds to Goll.
34. “Give up your rage, Goll, and be peaceful towards us; for the rest of your life, you will have, without deception, a third of Fionn’s hunting.”
35. “I shall accept that, generous Fergus, and my surliness has gone; my mind is no longer ill-disposed.”
36. “He is a friend without guile; he has slender red lips; his dignity, his vigour and his fame are no secret.”

Notes to Poem XII