XXIII. Do-chuala mé fad[a] ō shoin
MS p. 236
Gillcallu’ mcynnollecg in turskail so seis[1.] Di ċoala ma
fad o hen / skail (is coslow rair gow) ⎡di vonis re cowe⎤
Is traa ȝa haytris
gow trome gata (na) ⎡mir⎤ a’neis orrinn
[2.] Clanni
rowre ni brȧȧ mawle fa chonchir is fa chonnil
(Er orle) ⎡Di
burlow⎤ oyg // ⎡err⎤ (n)si wyġ (gow) ⎡er⎤ hurlair chogew vllycht
⎩
⎩
⎩
[6.] Glossis
Connil nar lag laive di wrea skailleit din vakcaive
Er darve torrin di’ leich Cayvelir con̄il (<c>) laa con̄l<eicht>
[7.] Neir ȝoive in leich ra lawycht Con̄il frei<cy>ch forranyt
MS p. 237
Cayd dar sloyġ di cawleit les ayngnyt is bone ra haytris
[8.] Curreit teachtir canni ni conni
(gow) ⎡woo⎤ hardre ayngneit vlleit
Gow down dalgin ȝranyt ȝlyin sen downe gaylit ni geill
[9.] Woyn down sen
di loyir linni di ȝangnowne neyn̄ orginn
Teggows gneive ny’ seir (acha) ⎡rit⎤ sange gow reit feiltyt ny (f) warrin
[10.] Disryt sloyg vllit oynnych teiggows kow ni
creive roye
mak de<ct>in a ȝoyg mir howe nar ettee teacht dar gowir
[11.] Faddit er chōchowir ris in gon
wayġis gin tea<ch> dar gowir
Is Conil surryt ny’ staid ma<rr>yt in gwryt is keada dar sloyġe<w>
[12.] Deakir
ȝois wee y’ bred a ir chwre er charrit
Ne in rait
dole in ayngnyt(w) a lanni si taa lar ċaweleit con̄il
[13.] Na
smein gin dole na ȝye a re ni gormlan̄ granole
a laive croy gin lagga re nacht smoyn er heddyt is a gwrit
[14.] Cowchullin
ny’ san(g<i>)⎡n⎤ lanni sleim noair a choala Curyt Connil
di ȝlossa la trane a laive di wraa skailli dy’ wakcaive
[15.] Innis
downi er tocht id ȝailli a raiġ in Cow nar ob tegwail< >
a lis rȧȧ in nawryt ȝoe fis tarm ka di ȝowchis
[16.] Dym
ȝaissew er teacht wom̄ hey gin skaili a ȝinsi ȝoew
da ni’sin di neach elli Id ȝrait ȝinsin daire
[17.] Coirrik
ry’sich (s) is Egin dud na skail dinsycht mir charrit
Gawsich ȝi royg a <k̇>eyv lag ne gail tyigil vin chorrik
[18.] Achna
(tegfow er a kenn Inċow aw ni herrin) ⎡wea goe dighow nar genn a honchow aw ne
herrin⎤
A laive ȝasga in dows trot mo ċlow wea in naske aggit
[19.] (heymon i’ gonnew) ⎡<hernid> <dyr> chona⎤ chaill (ne royġ) ⎡ca⎤ corrik (a bantrane) ⎡a banvaill⎤
MS p. 238
(A vakcan̄ gow dor a ȝwn̄ agis daltan̄) / ⎡<n>a ma<lc>an̄ ga tor a ȝwn & daltan⎤ croye Caytve
[20.] Cowchullin
ni g<o>rik croye di we i’ laysen̄ fa ȝi’moye
A Invak di marwe les in teir lat chalm̄ Coive <ȝ>has
[21.] Innis
downni ir ċow ni glas o teit fest far naildas
<T>arm̄ is di lonni gi lom̄ na terg a ȝulchin orrin
[22.] Is
me con̄leich mcno con Iir ȝleit ȝown dalgin
Is me rown dakgis y’ bron is tow ag skayt di tollwm̄
[23.] Vii
bleyn di wȧȧ ma horri fylwm ȝasga wom̄ wair
Ni classi lar horchir mȧȧ wȧȧȧvow ȝesse<n> a vylwm̄ ornn<a>
[24.] Smonis
Cowchullon̄ vor <n>aik a vcne i’ draich ȝa chow<
>
gvr smoine nar wraik feiltyt i’ ir a reyk a chwnit si chat<eave>
[25.] A
arrwm re corp no con̄ di chow is beg nar skarri
Re fagsin a cowlwoe a ȝlyn̄ gasgeit ȝ<o>wnyt dalgin
Mak swalti
[26.] A chow gai // ⎡mor⎤ a foyima ne low y’ broin it ta orrin Di <cho >
Restored text:
Gill[e] Caluim mac an Ollaimh an
t-uirsgéal so síos
1. Do-chuala mé
fad[a] ō shoin
sgéal as cosmhail rér gcumh[aidh];
is tráth dhā aithris go trom,
gē [a]tá ’na aighneas orainn. (4)
2. Clanna
Rudhraigh[e] na breath mall
fā Chonch[obh]ar ’s fā Chonall:
fhir urlamh óg[a] ’na mhoigh
go h-urlár chóigidh Uladh. (8)
3. Gidh eadh ní
tháinig ’na gceann
fā uile uaisle Éireann
eachtra ard aonuair oile
dār <dhiombuan> Clanna Rudhraigh[e]. (12)
4. Tháinig
thuca, borb a fhraoch,
ar gcuraidh cródha Conlaoch,
a dh’fhios na múr gclártha grinn
ō Dhún Sgáthaigh go [h]Éirinn. (16)
5. Do labhair
Conchobhar re cách,
“Cia gheibh<mi[d]-n[e]> chon a’ mhacáimh,
do bhreith beacht <nan> sgéala dhe
gun teacht lā h-éaradh bhuaidhe?” (20)
6. Gluaisis
Conall nār lag lámh
do bhreith sgéala don mhacámh;
air dearbhadh torainn don laoch
ceanglar Conall lē Conlaoch. (24)
7. Níor ghabh
an laoch rē lámhach
Conaill fraochdha forránaich;
céad dār sluagh do ceangladh leis,
eangnamh as buan rē aithris. (28)
8. “Cuiridh
teachtair[e] [an] ceann na Con
go h-airdrígh eangnamhach Uladh,
go Dún Dealgan ghrianach ghloin,
sean dún giallach na Gaodhal.” (32)
9. Bhón dún
soin do luaidhear linn,
do dh’aindeoin nighin Fhoirginn,
tigeas gríobh nan saoireach seang
go rígh faoilteach nam bhfearann. (36)
10. D’fhiosruigh[e]
sluaigh Uladh uaine
tigeas Cú na Craobhruaidhe,
mac Deichtin, a gh[r]uaidh mar shuibh,
nār eitigh teacht dār gcobhair. (40)
11. “Fada,”
ar Conchobhar ris an gCoin,
“bhádhais gan teacht dār gcobhair,
is conall suirgheach nan stéad mear
an gcuibhreach is céad dār slóighibh.” (44)
12. “Deacair
dhomhs[a] bheith am braid,
a fhir <chuireadh> air charaid;
ní <’n> réidh dol an eangnamh lann
’s a[n] té lēr cheangladh Conall.” (48)
13. “Nā
smaoin gan dol ’na dheaghaidh,
a rí na gormlann gráineamhail,
a lámh c[h]ruaidh gan laige rē neach,
smuain air th’oide is é [a] gcuibhreach.” (52)
14. Cú
Chulainn nan seanglann slim,
’nuair a chuala cuibhreach Chonaill,
do ghluais sé lē tréine a lámh
do bhreith sgéala don mhacámh. (56)
15. “Innis
dúinn air teacht ad dháil,”
a ráidh an Cú nār ob teagmháil,
“a shlios réidh an abhradh dhuibh,
fios t’anm[a], cia do dhúthchas.” (60)
16. “Dom
gheasaibh air teacht bhōm thaigh
gan sgéala a dh’innse <dh’aoidheadhaibh>;
dā n-innsinn do neach eile,
ad dhreach dh’innsinn d’áiridhe.” (64)
17. “Comhrag
riumsa is éigean duid
nā sgéal d’innse mar charaid;
gabhsa do rogh[a], a chiabh lag;
<ní ciall tadhall fān> chomhrag.” (68)
18. “Ach
nā tigfea air do c[h]eann,
[a] aonchú áigh na hÉireann,
a lámh ghaisge an dtús trod,
mo chlú bheith a n-aisgidh agad.” (72)
19. <Théarnadar
chon [a] chéil[e]>,
ní roibh comhrag a b’aintréine;
a mhacān go d’fhuair a ghuin
agus daltān cruaidh Cathbhuidh. (76)
20. Cú
Chulainn na gcomhrag cruaidh
do bhí an lá soin fā dhiombuaidh;
a aonmhac do marbhadh leis,
an t-saorshlat chalm[a] c[h]oimhdheas. (80)
21. “Innis
dúinn,” ar Chú na gcleas,
“ō [a]taoi feasd[a] fār n-áilgheas,
t’ainm is do shloinneadh go lom;
nā teirg a dh’fholchainn orainn.” (84)
22. “Is
mé Conlaoch mac na Con,
oighr[e] dhligheach Dhúin Dealgan;
is mé rún d’fhágais am broinn
is tú ag Sgáthaigh dot fhoghlaim. (88)
23. “Vii
bliadhn[a] do bha mé thoir
foghlaim ghaisge bhōm mháthair;
na cleasa lēr thorchair mé
bha <geasan> a bhfoghlaim oirnne.” (92)
24. Smuainis
Cú Chulainn < >
< a mhic dhā choimh[éad]>,
gur smuain nār bhréag faoilte an fhir
a thréig a chuimhne ’s a chéad[f]aidh. (96)
25. A
anam rē corp na Con
do chumh[aidh] is beag nār sgaradh,
rē faigsin a chúil bhuidhe ghlain,
gaisgeadhach Dhúine Dealgan. (100)
26. A
chumh[a] gé mór a fuaim,
ní lugh[a] am brón atá orainn.
Do <chuala>
Translation:
The following apologue is by Gille Caluim son of the Chief Poet
1. I heard a long time ago a tale that resembles our lament; it is time for me to tell it in a sorrowful manner, although it troubles me.
2. The Clanna Rudhraighe of unhasty judgements were assembled about Conchobhar and Conall; <Conchobhar’s> ready young men were [gathered] in his plain, as far as the <low-lying part> of the province of Ulster.
3. However, on no other occasion did there come to them <from> all the nobles of Ireland a great expedition which <reduced the life-spans> of [members of] the Clanna Rudhraighe.
4. Our valiant warrior Conlaoch – how wild was his fury! – came to meet them on his way to the fine panelled walls [of Dún Dealgan], having left Dún Sgáthaigh to go to Ireland.
5. Conchobhar spoke to all his men; “Whom shall we get to approach the lad, to bring back an accurate account of his tidings, and not to return from him with a refusal?”
6. Conall, whose arm was not weak, went to bring tidings from the youth; when the hero had demonstrated his thunder-feat, Conall was tied up by Conlaoch.
7. The warrior did not take [gladly] to the hurling of weapons by furious aggressive Conall; a hundred of our army were tied up by him – an achievement which will be recounted for ever.
8. “Send a messenger to fetch Cú Chulainn, to fair sunny Dún Dealgan, the Gaels’ ancient fort with its many hostages, [and ask him] to come to the valorous high-king of Ulster.”
9. From that fortress which we mention, the griffin-like warrior of the slim and noble steeds came to the joyful king of these lands, in spite of [the opposition of] the daughter of Foirgeann.
10. <To meet> the army of the green land of Ulster, there came the Hound of the Craobhruadh, the son of Deichtine, whose cheek was [red] like a berry, and who had never refused to come to our aid.
11. “You have been a long time without coming to our assistance,” said Conchobhar to the Hound, “when pleasant Conall of the spirited steeds is in fetters, along with a hundred of our host.”
12. “It is difficult for me [to contemplate] being in captivity, you <who would accuse> a friend; it is no easy matter to cross swords with the one by whom Conall was tied up.”
13. “Go to fetch him, and do not think otherwise, you king with the terrible blue blades and the arm that shows no weakness to anyone; think about your foster-father in fetters.”
14. When he heard about the captivity of Conall, Cú Chulainn of the narrow burnished blades advanced with the power of his hands to bring tidings from the youth.
15. “Now that I have come to meet you,” said the Hound who did not avoid a conflict, “tell me, lad of shapely side and dark eyebrow, what your name is, and your native country.”
16. “It is one of my taboos after leaving home that I should not tell tidings to <strangers>; should I tell them to another person, I would tell them to you above all.”
17. “You must either fight with me or tell your tale as a friend; make your choice, you lad of soft locks; <it is not wise to join in> combat.”
18. “But if you were to advance [against me], you valorous hound of Ireland and the hand of heroism in the van of battles, you would learn my reputation at no cost.”
19. <They went down to attack one another>, and there was never a more strenuous encounter; his son received a wound, and so too did Cathbhadh’s hardy foster-child.
20. Cú Chulainn of the stern conflicts was in discomfiture that day; his only son was killed by him – the noble sapling, strong and ready.
21. “Since you are at my disposal from now on,” said the Hound of the feats, “tell me plainly your name and your lineage; do not attempt to hide from me.”
22. “I am Conlaoch son of the Hound, and the rightful heir of Dún Dealgan; I am the secret child whom you left in a womb when you were being trained with Sgáthach.
23. “I was seven years in the east, learning from my mother how to use weapons; I was (prevented by taboos) from learning those feats by which I have fallen.”
24. Cú Chulainn thought <at the time of his son’s death as he watched him> that the greeting of the lad was no mere affectation as his memory and senses left him.
25. The soul of the Hound nearly parted from his body because of his grief while gazing at the warrior of Dún Dealgan with his shining yellow locks.
26. Although the sound of his lamentation is great, the sorrow that afflicts us is not less.