XV. Binn guth duine an Tír an Oir

MS p. 171

[1.]   Binn gow du’ni in teyr in oyr binn a ġloyr cha’nyd nyt heoyn̄
        Bynn i’ noaillan̄e a nee a quhor bin i’ tonn a bwn̄ da treoyr

[2.]   Binn i’ fyġȝir a ne ȝeye bin gow / ⎡coych⎤ oas cass<yit> c<o>n̄
        Alynn i’ delry
t a ne grean̄e byn i’ near feddyl nyt lon̄

[3.]   byn gow Illyr essi roye oas kynn coayn<’> vc moyrnye mor
        Byn gow coychaa oys berrye dos alynn i’ tost a ne i’ coir

[4.]   Fyn mc cowil mayr fane sacht cȧȧ na eaynn gyt grynn
        In oayr a lykeyst con̄ ra feayġ (na) ⎡a⎤ garrye no ȝeye b<y> wynn
                                                                                bynn gow

Restored text:

1.    Binn guth duine an Tír an Oir,
       binn a’ ghlór chanaid na h-eóin;
       binn an nuallán a ní a’ chorr,
       binn an tonn a Bun Dá Treóir.    (4)

2.    Binn an foghar a ní [a’] ghaoth,
       binn guth cuaich[e] uas Caise Con;
       álainn an deallradh a ní grian,
       binn aniar feadail na lon.    (8)

3.    Binn guth iolair Easa Ruaidh
       uas cionn Cuain Mhic Morna móir;
       binn guth cuaiche uas barra dos,
       álainn an tosd a ní an c[h]orr.    (12)

4.    Fionn mac Cumhaill, m’athair féin,
       seacht catha ’na fhéin go grinn;
       an uair a lēig<[d]ís> coin rē fiadh,
       a gáire ’na dhiaidh bu bhinn.    (16)
                            Binn guth

Translation:

1.      Sweet is a man’s voice in the Land of Gold; sweet is the warbling which the birds produce; sweet is the cry which the crane makes; sweet sounds the wave in Bun Dá Threóir.

2.      Sweet is the noise made by the wind; sweet is the cuckoo’s voice above Caise Con; lovely is the shining of the sun; sweet is the whistling of the blackbirds in the west.

3.      Sweet is the voice of the eagle of Eas Ruaidh above the Bay of great Morna’s Son; sweet is the cuckoo’s voice above the tops of thickets; lovely is the pause in the crane’s cry.

4.      Fionn son of Cumhall, my own father, accommodated seven battalions pleasantly in his fian-band; when <they> let dogs loose against a deer, their cry as they pursued it was sweet.