XXII. Mór a-nocht mo chumh[a] féin

MS p. 232

<  > so s<ei>s allan<  > m<^c>royr<i>

[1.]   Mor in notht my chow feyn a halgin id ta ȝim rair
        Re smentew a chaa ċroy huggemir is carbry^t cranroye

[2.]   a mak sen chormik e chwnni merga i’ nayn̄ harly^t fa chung
        Rei^t gin chas vm chaa^t di churri & gin ȝrane roytht boe

[3.]   kailsvm gi^t olli^t fame hwnni Inni ⎡&⎤ is clanni k̇eive chwnni
        Gwsi wyve sen charbre roye nir smene seine olk na a’woin

[4.]   Di chan carbri^t rany^t loye^t Agis di be i’ nolli^t chroye
        gir bar les twttwm er myg agis in nane la cheille
        Nassy^t rei^tre wea vir agis in nan̄e a wei^t er marrin

[5.]   Di chan barrin gi prap cwnei^t mvkre agis art
        Fir sinsir ḣuttwm i’ sin di wrei^t felli^t ni fayni^t

[6.]   Cwnei^t a gessich chroye is cwnei^t in na’oywir
        Is na^t royin cogei^t rame linni ach na heiggei^t vakkowle

[7.]   Ba corle clonni cwne agis carbre a lay trome
        Ead feyne a hawrt dar ginni agis sinni di (<c>) ȝechin

[<8.>]   gow marrei^t na ȝey wleyġ is gin nane a wei^t in nalvin
            is weadeis bais fa ȝoe in tra na^tbedeis in n<ei’>ȝloe

[9.]   Hug sen gi^t fei^t fergi^t in Cathsen cach^t ȝawraa
        Di hut in nane bonni re bonni is rei^tre olsa errin

[10.]    Ne royġ oo ny’nea nor gow fodlei^t earra in doy^tin
           In rei^t na^t royġ fair smacht rair linni gus a chaa sen a halgin

[11.]    o churri an sen ir nair neir ȝoive rwneni keis na kayn
           Is ne roye ag dwn̄ kei^t(s)⎡rwn⎤ ach fair gwde di ȝea neirrin

[12.]    ymmi / ⎡er⎤ fey in doyn worre ni^t lar weyin dei^t in tloye
           Ni fonyei^t la er lai a hwtteim la ny cheilli^t

[13.]    Da degfei^t awlwurrei^t in sen orrew in neirrin eaȝlyn
           Ossin cred a ȝanei^t finni & <ir>rsmi far neirrin

MS p. 233

[14.]    <E>r a laive a cleyrre ċaye / ne royi^t si vanve vane
           Beggane de leichre Erse agis / ⎡ogre⎤ gin darve

[15.]    Ga bea rei^t heissy^t in sin ȝoyve sai fodlei^t in nasgei^t
           gin ċach^t gin nirral gin nawġ gin nen̄e gȳ achassen̄

[16.]    churrsin ir dechta sor ⎡gow⎤ fȧȧ mayk v^cconni
           Di hoi^t orrin nar genni di ȝowell rei^trei^t errin

[17.]    Mor in tysin dy’mi^t orwei^t ar / rei^t tawrei^t fa mow torm̄
           Twlli^t owyr a twg gew dul di warwa er ollea

[18.]    Ossin Innis doive skail nor chorsew in nirril trane
           Nor huty^t di waksi si chaa na drwg tow er er lawrycht

[19.]    Oskin mi vek osgir aye<n> hany^t mis er cwrrei^t in nara
           Id tanik keilty^tor sen oskin a hechtir clynni

[20.]    hanyk in roye boa ȝair weane woskin in garrit⎡dy^t⎤ feyn
           drong ȝoe lawrric or sin is wei^t drong elli^t gin armyn̄

[21.]    A cleyrrei^t ni baichil bane ga bea ȝei^t chewi^t in tayr
           by^t wor in troye rair lin olsa errin di hutt<y>m

[22.]    ymmei^t caichraa codei^t keive y’mi loerei^t hei^t heir
           y’mei^t skai^t harsi si wyg agis a trea gin a’min

[23.]    Cha dewei^t sin din tloyġ mirri baale er in royġ boye
           Cha dugsin lynni as a cȧȧ ach feyve rei^t na Ardlacht

[24.]    sanni a hor me mi wag feyn na lea / er a wllin ċlaa
           is skaa nawris er in layr agis a lanni na ȝes laive
           Tonnwl alli^t er gi^t lea dea er bley a loereicha

[25.]    Leggwm Erla mi ley re lar is / ⎡di⎤ ry’nis osachinni tawe
           <s>mvnni’ a healgin er sen cred a ȝanvin na (yġe) ȝeye

[26.]    Di hilli^t osgir rwmsy^t sos agis bi lor lam a chros

MS p. 234

           Di hein a hwggwm a laive er wayn erre ym choaaill<e>

[27.]    Di ȝoyve may laive / mi vec feyn is dy^t hoeis rany^t crea /
           Is won tw sin a lea char churreis cais sin teil

[28.]    hurirt romsy^t mi wak fairry^tagis a nar army^t
           A woe ris ni dwllw sin di w<ee>si^t slane a aychir

[29.]    Ne ȝanwmsy^t ȝewsycht goe^t ne roe aggvm fregrei^t ȝoe
           Gin danik keilt worsin huggin a ȝeyȝin oskir

[30.]    A dowirt makronane innawe / ach ky’nis tayȝeis a ȝrawg
           A tame er oskir mir is dloe dul a gonnir seil (a) (ȝ) awȝeive

[31.]    Crathtea sley ċarbre roye fa ymlin osgir armroye
           lawe cheilt gȧ wllin dee rea^t in geachte / ny^t sley

[32.]    sirris keilta a k̇nee er choyr Id toyr a Inni na ȝooe
           It toyr a ȝrwme crechti kyn er a ȝerre din ȝarley
           sckreddis makronā in sin & tuttis gow talwin

[33.]    Id dowirt keilty^t y’ meille trane er wei^t ȝoi tryle in dyvenail
           Feirane sen / ⎡a⎤ oskir aile a skarris rany^t wane
           Is skar rȧȧ Cȧȧċ ra rynni bee ny keis ag seil morchwne

[34.]    Gerrit a wei^t ȝone mir sin a vec alpin a cleyri^t
           gi waka huggin wo nar ne roye boea ȝanew phail

[35.]    Fe<i>chit kead ȝon̄y^t mir sin eddir ogre is arse
           Ne roewe dwn̄e s<l>ane dew sin aggin din neychit Cadsin
           ach fer ix gon̄ni gi’ neive fa^t low aggin di ċre^accew

[36.]    Togmy’ in tosgir arne er chrannew sley in nardea
           Bermyn̄ a gw tully^t ȝlin dy^t howirt dea a heydy^t

[37.]    Lead ny^t bossy^t ȝane chorp cha royve slane wo na olt
           Na gi ryg a won̄y^t (s) lair aċ / a yġ na hy’nirrane

MS p. 235

[38.]    In nyich sin dwn sin naar geilli’gga churp gow laa
           gir hogsin clan v^cne finni er chnokow ard evin

[39.]    Ne<y>r chenei^t nea^t a v^cfan neir chein a wrair fa ȝeyt
           Re fegsin mi vecsi mir sin kȧȧch vlly^t a keny^t oskir

[40.]    Gerrit a wee ȝown̄ // ⎡mir sen⎤ er cwry^ttin a churp choive ȝil
           gow vaka chug<g>in fa non̄e fin m^ckowle v^ctranevor

[41.]    Gow dugsydir (<g>) annsy^t nar dram̄ boe di ȝanew phal
           Er fyail clynni beisni m<y>r fa chassil chroo sin nirril
           Di bi royġ baekei^t ni werri & skanil ny^t meill<^e>y^t

[42.]    gon vaggi sin merga finn re ċranni sley vos ir g<’>in
           hugsaid huggin asin nar di hug sin na goaill

[43.]    di vanny^t sinn vlly^t ȝinni & char reggir a sinni
           dwlli er in tully^t na rane far in roive oskir armȝair

[44.]    Nar a wowych oskir finni er t<o>thc daa vos a chinni
           Togissa nẏe neachla (&) is ba’ny^tchis da h’achir

[45.]    Id dowirt in tosgir in sin re m^cmvrnni^t sin norsin
           Mi chin fest ris in naik er haggin a Inni arm ȝair

[46.]    Troyg a <’> oskir arne / ea // a ȝeyv^c mo v^csy^t fen
           mis er a ȝeye is fanni ⎡is⎤ er dye fane errin

[47.]    Mally^t art Inir gym moye sai (do<w>) ⎡in⎤ dwe tanyk reym loyi^t
           Di len a (ho) orrwm a heir na gi reach ma i’ noenei^t

[48.]    Slane wome a ȝirril is dy^t ȝawe slane di gi keis di hoikwail
           Slane di^t gi maċ woym i’ nossa ach ne waym̄ ȝin chom̄sa

[49.]    Re clastin kelwein ny^t finni a arrwm a hosgir ȝi ling
           di hein a woa in dai laive is di ȝea a rosga rinwlaa

[50.]    Di hy’ta finni rwnna chowl di hilla deara gow dour

MS p. 236

           Ach fa osgir is fa wranna cha drin sai dair er talvin

[51.]    Aċ misa wane agis fin / ne royve a ȝayn wos a chin
           hug(in) ait tree ȝayry^t sin noyir a clos fa errin awoyr

[52.]    Coyk feicht kead (ix) is deich kead er in goayrrow ȝin fen
           Wa din nane marve er a wyġ gyn nane dwn ȝa essew /

[53.]    A ȝaa vrdill sin is ne goe is / ⎡Rei^t⎤ errin skail fa mȯȯ
           Wa marve er in teive Elli^t di loyg errin Arm ȝlin

[54.]    Ney’ roive swllo^r na saive o hen / gow hyiġ a was
            Woyn ʒlo^osin ne fadda les rei^tre wea ʒi warrin

[55.]    Woyn chath sin cath ʒawry^t (c) notcha drone maa tynnawry^t
            Cha (drone) (ma) ⎡roive⎤ oor roea na loo nar leg maa osin lanwor mo^r no^t m<i>

 

Restored text:

<[A h-ughdar]> so síos Ailéin <mac> Ruaidhrí

1.    Mór a-nocht mo chumh[a] féin,
       a Tháilginn atá dham réir,
       rē smaointeamh a’ chatha chruaidh
       thugamar is Cairbre crannruadh.    (4)

2.    A[m] mac sin Chormaic uí Chuinn –
       mairg an Fhian tharla fā chuing –
       rí gan chás um chath do chur
       & gan ghráin <roimh> b[h]iodhbhaidh.    (8)

3.    C[h]eilseam gach <fholadh> fám thuinn,
       inn is Clanna caomha Chuinn;
       gus a’ bhaidhbh sin Chairbre Ruaidh
       níor smaoin sinn olc nā anbuain.    (12)

4.    Do chan Cairbre rēna shluagh,
       agus do b’í an fholadh chruaidh,
       gur b’fhearr leis tuitim air moigh
       agus an Fhéin lē chéile    (16)

       nāsa ríoghradh [a’] bheatha mhir
       agus an Fhéin a bheith air marthain.

5.    Do chan Barrān go prap:
       “Cuimhnigh Mucraimhe agus Art;    (20)
       bhur sinnsir thuitim an sin
       do bhríogh foille na Féine;

6.    “Cuimhnigh a gcíosa cruadha,
       is cuimhnigh a n-anuabhar,    (24)
       is nach roibh aon c[h]óigeadh rém linn
       ach na[ch] h-íocadh [a] Mhac Cumhaill.”

7.    Bu c[h]omhairle Cloinne Cuinn
       agus Cairbre a Liathdruim       (28)
       iad féin a thabhairt dār gcionn
       agus sinne do dhíthcheann,

<8.>    go maireadh ’na dhéidh [a] bhlagh
           is gun Fhéin a bheith a nAlmhain,    (32)
           is <[go] bhfaighdís> bás fā dheóidh
           an tráth nach beidís a n-<aoin>ghleóidh.

9.    Thug sinn go fíochdh[a] feargach
       an cath sin cath[a] Ghabhra;   (36)
       do thuit an Fhéin bonn rē bonn
       is ríoghradh uaisle Éireann.

10.   Ní roibh ón Innia [a]noir
        go Fódla <iartha[r]> an domhain      (40)
        aon rí nach roibh fár smacht rér linn
        gus a’ chath sin, a Tháilginn.

11.   O chuireadh an sin ar n-ár
        níor <ghabhadh ruinne> cíos nā cáin,         (44)
        is ní roibh aig duin[e] cuibhreann
        ach bhar gcuid do dh’iath nÉireann.

12.   Iomadh air feadh an domhain mhóir
        neach lērbh aoibhinn díoth an t-slóigh,       (48)
        na <fonnadhaich> leath air leith
        a thuitim lēna chéile.

13.   “Dā dtigfeadh allmhuraigh an sin
        oraibh a nÉirinn iathghloin,    (52)
        Oisein, créad a dhéanadh Fionn
        & iarsma fear nEireann?”

14.   Air do láimh, a c[h]léirigh cháidh,
        ní roibhe ’sa Bhanbha bháin    (56)
        [ach] beagán do laochraidh arsaidh
        agus ógraidh gan dearbhadh.

15.   Gē bé rí thíosadh an sin,
        gheobhadh sé Fódla a n-aisgidh,       (60)
        gan chath, gan iorghail, gan agh,
        gan <eana[ch]>, gan achmhusán.

16.    Chuir sinn ar dteachta soir
        gu Fathadh mac Mhic Con,     (64)
        do thoidheacht orainn ’nar gcionn
        do ghabhail ríoghradh Éireann.

17.    “Mór an t-saith sin d’imthigh oirbh
        <ar rí> Teamhra fā mó toirm;    (68)
        tuilleadh uabhair a t[h]ug <dhaoibh>
        dol do mharbhadh <ar-oile>.

18.    “[A] Oisēin, innis domh sgéal:
        ’nuair chuir sibh an iorghail t[h]réan,    (72)
        ’nuair thuit do mhac-sa ’sa chath
        <na> d’rug tú air air labhracht?”

19.   Os cionn mo mhic Osgair áin
        tháinig mis[e] air cur an áir;    (76)
        <ad->táinig Caoilte air sin
        os cionn a sheachtair cloinne.

20.   Tháinig an roibh beó dhár bhFéin
        bhos cionn an gcaraide féin,    (80)
        drong dhiubh [a’] labhracht air sin
        is bhí drong eile gan anmain.

21.   A c[h]léirigh na bachall bán,
        gē bé <dhíobh> chífeadh an t-ár,       (84)
        bu mhór an truaighe rér linn
        uaisle Eireann do thuitim.

22.    Iomadh <cathráth> cumhdaigh caomh,
        iomadh lúireach shíthe shaor,    (88)
        iomadh sgiath thars[n]a ’sa mhoigh
        agus a triath gan anmain.

23.   Cha d’fhadhbhuigh sinn don t-sluagh
        mura <ball> air an roibh buaidh;      (92)
        cha dtug sinn leinn as a’ c[h]ath
        ach fadhbha ríogh no ardfhlaith.

24.   ’S ann a fhuair mé mo mhac féin
        ’na laighe air a uilinn chlé,      (96)
        is sgiath <[a] ndáimh ris> air an lár
        agus a lann ’na dheasláimh,

        tonnfhuil fhala air gach leath de
        air bloighe a lúirighe.     (100)

25.   Lēigim earla mo shleighe rē lár,
        is do-rinneas ōs a chionn támh;
        smuainim, a Tháilginn, air soin
        crēad a dhéanainn ’na aghaidh.         (104)

26.   Do shill Osgar riumsa suas,
        agus bu leór liom a chruas;
        do shín é thugam a lámh
        air mhian éirigh am chomhdháil.       (108)

27.   Do ghabh mé lámh mo mhic féin
        is do shuidheas rēna c[h]ré,
        is bhōn t-suidhe sin a leith
        char chuireas cás ’san t-saoghal.       (112)

28.   Thubhairt riumsa mo mhac feardha,
        agus é [a] n-earr [a] anma,
        “A bhuidhe ris na dúilibh sin
        do bheith-se slán, a athair.”     (116)

29.   Ní dhéanaim-se dhaoibh-se gó,
        ní roibh agam freagra dhó;
        gun dtáinig Coilt[e] <mar> soin
        thugainn a dh’fhéachainn Osgair.     (120)

30.   Adubhairt Mac Rōnáin an áigh,
        “Ach cionnas <[a]taoi-s[e]>, a ghráidh?”
        “Atáim,” ar Osgar, “mar as dluigh,
        dul a gconair síl Adhaimh.”     (124)

31.   Créachta sleighe Chairbre Ruaidh
        fā imlinn Osgair armruaidh;
        lámh Chaoilt[e] gā uilinn di
        reaghadh an gcréachta na sleighe      (128)

32.   Siris Caoilt[e] a <chrí> air chóir,
        <ad->fhuair a inne ’na dhó;
        <ad->fhuair a dhruim créachtach caoin
        air a ghearradh don ghéirshleigh.      (132)

        Screadais Mac Ronáin an soin
        & tuitis gu talmlhain.

33.   Adubhairt Caoilte, am míleadh tréan,
        air bheith dhó treall an dtáimhnéall,    (136)
        “Fíréan sin, a Osgair fhéil,
        <do sgaradh-s[e]> rēna bhFéin.

        is sgar <rath catha> rē Fionn –
        bidh na cíos[a] ag síol mórChuinn.”    (140)

34.   Goirid a bheith dhūinn mar sin,
        a Mhic Alpainn, a c[h]léirigh,
        go bhfaca thugainn bhōn ár
        na roibh beó dh’Fhianaibh Fáil.        (144)

35.   Fichead céad dhūinne mar soin
        eadar ógraidh is arsaidh;
        ní roibh duine slán díobh soin
        againn don fhichead céad soin,         (148)

        ach fear ix gona go nimh
        fā lugh[a] againn do chréachtaibh.

36.   Togmai[d]-n[e] an tOsgar arnaidh
        air chrannaibh sleagh a n-áirde;        (152)
        beirmi[d]-n[e] é go tulaigh ghloin
        do thabhairt de a éadaigh.

37.   Leithead na boise dhan chorp
        cha roibh<e> slán bhōna fholt,         (156)
        nō go ruig a bhonn láir
        ach a aghaidh ’na h-aonarán.

38.   An oidhch[e] sin dūinn ’san ár
        [a]g íodhlacadh churp go lá;    (160)
        gur thog sinn clannmhaicne Finn
        air chnocaibh ard[a] aoibhinn.

39.   Níor chaoin neach a mhac féin,
        níor chaoin a bhrátahri fā dhéidh;     (164)
        rē faicsin mo mhic-se mar soin
        cách uile a’ caoineadh Osgair.

40.   Goirid a bheith dhúinn mar sin,
        air <cuibhreachtain> a chuirp chaoimhghil,         (168)
        go bhfaca thugainn fā nóin
        Fionn mac Cumhaill mhic Tréanmhóir.

41.   Go dtugsadar anns an ár
        dream beó do dh’Fhianaibh Fáil,      (172)
        air faghāil Cloinne Baois[g]ne m[h]ir
        fā chasail chró ’san iorghail;

        do bu thruah béiceach na bhfear
        & sgannal na míleadh.   (176)

42.   Gun bhfaca sinn meirge Finn
        rē cranna sleagh bhōs ar gcionn;
        thugsad thugainn as an ár;
        do thug sinn ’na gcomhdháil.    (180)

43.   Do bheannuigh sinn uile dh’Fhionn
        & char fhreagair é sin,
        dul air an tulaigh <’na thréan>
        far an roibh Osgar airmghéar.    (184)

44.   ’Nuair a mhothuigh Osgar Fionn,
        air toidheacht dā bhos a chionn,
        togais an aghaidh <néalla[ch]>
        is beannuighis dā sheanathair.    (188)

45.   Adubhairt an tOsgar an sin
        rē mac Muirne ’san uair sin,
        “Mo-chion feasd[a] ris an éag
        air th’fhaicin, a Fhinn airmghéir.      (192)

46.   “Truagh, a Osgair arnaidh, é,
        a dheighmhic mo mhic-se féin;
        mis[e] air do dheaghaidh is fann,
        is air deaghaidh Fian Eireann.    (196)

47.   “Mallacht Airt Aoinfhir go mbuadh
        ’se an diugh táinig rém shluagh;
        do lean é oram a shíor
        nō go reaghadh mé a meoiní.    (200)

48.   “Slán bhuaim a dh’iorghail is do dh’ágh,
        slán do ga[ch] cíos do thōgbháil;
        slán do ga[ch] maith bhuaim anos
        ach na bhfaghaim <dhon chomas>.”    (204)

49.   Rē claisdin céalmhaine Finn
        a anam a hOsgar do ling;
        do shīn é bhuaithe an dá láimh
        is do dh’iadh a rosga rionnbhláith.    (208)

50.   Do thionntuigh Fionn ruinne a chúl,
        do shil é déara go dúr;
        ach fā Osgar is fā Bhran
        cha d’rinn sé déar air talmhain.    (212)

51.   Ach mise fhéin agus Fionn,
        ní roibh a dh’Fhéin bhos a chionn;
        thug iad trí ghártha ’san uair
        a clos fā Eirinn adhuair.    (216)

52.   Cóig fichead céad is deich céad
        air an gcomháireamh dh’Fhionn féin
        bha dōn Fhéin marbh air a’ mhoigh
        gan aon duin[e] dhā <easbhaidh>.    (220)

53.   A dhá urdail sin ’s ní gó
        is rí Éireann, sgéal fā mó,
        bha marbh air an taobh oile
        do shluagh Éireann armghloine.        (224)

54.   Ní <’n> roibh Fionn suilbhir nā sáimh
        ō shin go h-oidh[e] a bháis;
        bhōn ghleó sin ní feairrde leis
        ríoghradh [a’] bheatha <dhā mharthain>.    (228)

55.   Bhōn chath sin cath[a] Ghabhra
        nocha d’rinn mé tionnabhradh;
        cha roibh uair <oidhche> nā ló
        nār lēig mé osnadh lánmhór.    (232)

          Mór [a-]nocht m<o>

Translation:

<The author> of what follows is Ailéin <son of> Ruaidhrí

1.      “Great is my grief tonight, O Adzehead who obeys me, as I think of the hard battle which we fought with Cairbre of the red spear.

2.      “That son of Cormac grandson of Conn – pity the Fian who came under his yoke – was a king who did not shrink from waging war, and who felt no dread of his foe.

3.      “We kept every grievance <concealed>, we and the fair families of Conn; until that <slaughter> made by Cairbre Ruadh, we did not think of harm or trouble.

4.      “Cairbre declared to his people, and it was [from] bitter resentment, that he would prefer to perish on a battle-field along with the Fian than to possess the kingship of the great world while the Fian were still in existence.

5.      “Barrán exclaimed at once: ‘Remember Mucraimhe and Art; remember that your ancestors fell then because of the treachery of the Fian.

6.      “Remember their harsh tributes and their excessive pride, and that there was not a single province in my time that did not pay a tax to the Son of Cumhall.’

7.      “It was the counsel of the family of Conn and of Cairbre of Liathdruim that they themselves would attack us and decapitate us,

<8.> so that Cairbre’s fame should endure after him, and that there should be no Fian left in Almhain – that they should finally perish when they were not <fighting together>.

9.      “With fury and ferocity we fought that battle, the battle of Gabhair; the Fian fell side by side with the noble kings of Ireland.

10.    “From India in the east to Ireland, the <western part> of the world, there was not a single king who was not subject to us in our time, until that battle, Adzehead.

11.    “Since the time of our slaughter there, no tax or tribute <has been taken by us>, and no man has had a portion except our due share of the land of Ireland.

12.    “There were many throughout the wide world who rejoiced at the destruction of the host, in which the <warriors> on both sides perished together.”

13.    “If foreign raiders should then have invaded you in the fair land of Ireland, Oiséan, what would Fionn have done, and the remnant of the men of Ireland?”

14.    “By your hand, holy cleric, nobody remained in fine Ireland [but] a few aged warriors and youths who had not yet been tested.

15.    “Whatever king should have come then would have obtained Ireland as a gift, without fight or strife or fray, without <ambush> and without quarrel.

16.    “We sent our envoys eastwards to Fathadh son of Mac Con, [to ask him] to come among us and to take the kingship of Ireland.”

17.    “That was a great evil which came upon you <through> the king of Tara of surpassing fame; it was excessive pride which caused you to go to kill one another.

18.    “Give me information, Oiséan; when you fought the hard battle, and when your own son fell in the conflict, <did you> reach him while he was still able to speak?”

19.    “I came upon my distinguished son Osgar when the fighting was finished; after that Caoilte came upon his own seven sons.

20.    “Those of the Fian who survived came upon their own kinsmen, some of them still able to speak, and others without life.

21.    “O cleric of the fair croziers, whoever of you should see the slaughter [would agree that] it was a great tragedy in our time that the nobles of Ireland perished.

22.    “There was many a fine well-constructed <battle-rampart>, many a <soft> comely mail-coat, and many a shield scattered on the field, with its owner lying lifeless.

23.    “We did not take any spoil from the host except for <items> of special quality; we took with us from the battle only the spoils of kings or princes.

24.    “I found my son lying on his left elbow, with his shield <close by him> on the ground, and his sword in his right hand, while a steam of blood flowed on each side of him through the fragments of his mail-coat.

25.    “I let the shaft of my spear rest on the ground, and I stood motionless above him; after that, Adzehead, I thought what I should do in front of him.

26.    “Osgar looked up at me, and I found that hard enough to bear; he stretched out his hand to me, wishing to rise to meet me.

27.    “I took my son’s hand, and I sat down by his side; from the time I sat down until now, I have had no interest in the world.

28.    “My manly son said to me as he approached the end of his life, ‘Those Powers of Creation are to be thanked that you are unscathed, my father.’

29.    “I tell you no untruth – I had no answer for him; thereupon Caoilte came towards us to look at Osgar.

30.    “The valorous Son of Rónán said, ‘Alas, how are you, my dear one?’  ‘I am,’ said Osgar, ‘as befits one going in the way of Adam’s seed.’

31.    “The wounds made by the spear of Cairbre Ruadh were about the navel of red-weaponed Osgar; Caoilte’s arm, as far as the elbow, could go into the spear’s gashes.

32.    “Caoilte examined his <body> properly, and he found his bowels cut in two; he found that his shapely back, full of wounds, had been severed by the sharp spear.  Then the Son of Rónán shrieked, and he fell to the ground.

33.    “After he had been in a faint for a while, Caoilte, the brave warrior, said, ‘It is true, generous Osgar, that you have parted from the Fian; and <good fortune in battle> has parted from Fionn – the race of great Conn will have the taxes.

34.    “After we had been like that for a short time, clerical Son of Alpin, we saw coming towards us from the slaughter those that survived of the Fiana of Ireland.

35.    “There were two thousand of us in that state, both young and old; of that two thousand we did not have a single man unscathed, apart from one with nine venomous wounds – he was the least seriously wounded person among us.

36.    We lifted up stern Osgar on the shafts of spears, and carried him to a bright hillock to remove his garments.

37.    “From his hair to the soles of his feet, there was not a palm’s breadth of his body which was uninjured, apart from his face alone.

38.    “We spent that night in the field of slaughter burying bodies until day; we lifted up the kindred of Fionn, and placed them on beautiful high hills.

39.    “No man mourned his own son, no man mourned his own brother after his death; on seeing my son in that plight, each and all were mourning Osgar.

40.    “After we had been like that for a short time and had <bound up> his fair white body, we saw Fionn son of Cumhall son of Tréanmhór coming towards us about evening.

41.    “ A group of the survivors of the Fiana of Ireland proceeded into the field of slaughter, after finding the Family of fierce Baoisgne in a mantle of gore in the conflict; the crying of the men was pitiful, as was the <noise> of the soldiers.

42.    “Then we saw Fionn’s standard on the shafts of spears above us; they made towards us from the field of slaughter, and we went to meet them.

43.    “We all greeted Fionn, but he did not answer us, as he <bravely> ascended the hillock where sharp-weaponed Osgar was placed.

44.    “When Osgar noticed that Fionn had come and was standing over him, he lifted his <clouded> face and greeted his grandfather.

45.    “Osgar then said to Muirne’s son at that time, ‘Death is welcome now, since I have seen you, Fionn of the sharp weapons.’

46.    “ ‘This is pitiful, stern Osgar, good son of my own son; I am reduced to weakness by your passing, and by the passing of the Fiana of Ireland.

47.    “ ‘The curse of victorious Art Aoinfhear has ruined my people today; it has always pursued me, until I should be reduced to nothing.

48.    “ ‘I bid farewell to fights and battles, farewell to the raising of every tribute, and farewell now to every good thing, except what I may obtain <by my own power>.’

49.    “When Osgar heard Fionn’s utterance, his soul departed swiftly from him; he stretched out his two hands, and he closed his eyes of gentle glance.

50.    “Fionn turned his back to us, and he shed tears fervently; only for Osgar and for Bran did he ever shed a tear on earth.

51.    “The only members of the Fian who stood over Osgar were Fionn and myself; at that hour they gave three shouts which were heard throughout cool Ireland.

52.    “Ten thousand and ten hundred men, numbered by Fionn himself, were dead of the Fian on the battle-field, and not one man <less>.

53.    “Twice that number – it is no lie – and the king of Ireland – a still greater tale – were dead on the other side, of the host of bright-weaponed Ireland.

54.    “Fionn had no joy or peace from that time to the night of his death; as a result of that fight, he would not have thought himself any the richer though he should have the kingship of the world <as long as he lived>.

55.    “Since that battle of Gabhair, I have not closed my eyes in sleep; there has not been an hour, by night or day, when I have not heaved a great sigh.”

 

Notes to Poem XXII