XXVII. Osnadh carad a Cluain Fraoich
MS p. 301
Is say a verri a hosni gi trome freit mcfeit ni golk s<e>n̄Autor huius in keich o cloan̄
[1.] Hosna charrit
a cloan freich hosne leich a gassil chroa
hosna ȝane’ni (boy<tc>) ⎡tursyt⎤ far agis da’ gwllin ban oge
[2.] ag
so har i’ carn fane (f) wil freich mcfeich i’ nolt weye
Fer a ryn bwychis byef is voe lontir carn freicht
[3.] Gwl <e>in
wnâ o crochin sor troe i’ skail fa wil a wan̄
Is see (ȝi<a>ne i’ nosna) ⎡ver a hosna gyt⎤ throm (freit mcfeich ny’ golk sen̄) ⎡i’in ayt ny’ golk sen̄⎤
[4.] Is
sie i’ ny’ wan di neig i’ gwle ag dul da is gow cloan freicht
fy’nowir in nolt chas ail Inne veyve ga bead leicht
[5.] Inny’
orle is our folt is freit anot teive er heive
ga mor far ȝa darge ee neir ȝrawiġ se far aċ freicht
[6.] foyis
mewe mwe feye cardis freit fa far a gleye
Inchus fa ċraichtyt a corp trai gin lotht a ȝanew ree
[7.] De
churre ⎡ai⎤ gas<.>syt vas (teif) ⎡tief⎤ re mrāve ne twk o nolk
mor a foar a hoyc la meyf i’n<i>ssit gy’ k<hė>lk i’ nos hosni
[8.] kerin
di weit er
loċ maie de chemist in trat ȝa has
git rae gat mee torri abbe de we er
/
[9.] sasse
bee ni kero sen fa milsyt na milli a wlae
Di choncfe a kerin derk far gin wey gi kend ix traa
MS p. 302
[10.] Bleyn
er heil gi Ir di churri sin fa skail <de>rv
Gi borin di lucht kneif frot a wes is aid d<e>rk
[11.] Di
we amsyt no ȝei
ga bea ley chawyr in tloye
pest neif ȝo we no vonni vakki ȝi caċ ȝul da wo<yn̄>
[12.] lein
aslaynti throṁ throm y’in ayit ni gorn̄ seyr
Di curre lai fis er freit feisrych kid hȧne ree
[13.] <A>
durde meyve nat be slan̄ mur woe lane i bos meit
di cheyrew i’ loch oyr gin dwneni ȝa woyna aċ freit
[14.] knossyt reyve ne ȝ̇arni mee er vcfeit gi knai ȝerg
Ge’ ger darnis ai er freit ratsit di ẇoyni ker a veyf
[15.] Glossis
freit fa far
a naye voy’ne ȝi nave er in lotht
For a fest is ee na soynna is a kenna sos ris i’ nos Hosni
[16.] Freit mcfeit in erma ȝeiar hanik one
fest gin is dee
hug a ha’vlti keir nark farrin roif meyf ȝa<a> tee
[17.] Ach
gai maċ i’ duggis latti I durt meyve is gal crow
Ne oyr mis a leit / ⎡loann⎤ at slat a woyan as a bonni
[18.] Togris
freit is
neir ȝilli teymmi nȧf a ris er in ling voik
is neir ead aċ ga mor ayȝe hech one vas in roive chwd
[19.] gawis
I kerin er varri targi a cran as I raif
towirt (doe) chos / ⎡ȝo⎤ i’ deir moġȝis <d>o ris in pest
[20.] Beris
er aggis ai er snawef is gawis a lawf na crissyt
di ȝave sessin is er chail trow gin a skayn ag freit
[21.] Fy’owr
in olt chas ail di ran chwggi skan gin oyr
leddryt a
ṗest a knes bayn is teskit a lawe er loee
[22.] Di
hudditdyr bone re bone er trae no glat cor so has
Freit mcfeit is in fest troy a ȝai
mir hug i’ dres
MS p. 303
[23.] <coyrik
ne corik> cair di ruk las a kann no lave
<nvr> chonik i’ ney’ ee di choy no nail er in trae
[24.] <Er>ris
i’ neyin one tave gavis in laive bi la<w> boik
Ga ta so na cwt ny’ nane is mor i’ teach i rin a vos
[25.] Voyn
vas sen di foar in far / loth mai g<a> len din loth
A ta i’ tarm̄ se’ dee gi loan ga ȝerma i’ nos gus in nos
Hosni char< >
[26.] Beirrir
in sen gow cloon freit corp in leich gow kassil croyg
er y’ gloan tuggi a anm̄ is mark varris da loo
[27.] Carn
laive in carn so raym heve (a) o lave reyt di beast sonni
Fer noi y’poe in dres fer bo ȝawsi nert i’ drot
[28.] Invin
i’ bail nar ob ȝaive y’ beddeis mnâ I torvirt fook
Invin tearn̄ ny’ sloye Invin groye nar ȝerk a ros
[29.] Doiġ
no feat bair
a olt derk a ȝroy na ful leicht
fa meyni na kow er schraive gille na i’ snacht knes freicht
[30.] Cassi
na i’ kaisnai olt gwrm a rosk na yr’ lak
<Ti>rk na partain a wail gil a ȝaid na blai feit
[31.] Ard
a ley na cranna swle beynni no teyd kwle a ȝow
Snawe di bair no freit cho di hene a heif re strow
[32.] Fa
lannyt na
koillit a
skait Invin
trae ve re drwm̄
coffad a land is a laive la’ni a cholk na ⎡clar⎤ ȝi long
[33.] Troy
nat ann i’
gorik re leich di hut freit a fronni or
Dur<s > sin a huttim la pest troe
a ȝai nat
marrin fos Hosni
Restored text:
Au[c]tor huius an Caoch<ó C[h]luain>
1. Osnadh carad
a Cluain Fraoich,
osnadh laoich a gcasail chró;
osnadh <dhéanadh> <buidheach> fear
agus dān guileann bean óg. (4)
2. Ag so <shoir>
an carn fán bhfuil
Fraoch mac Fiodhaigh an fhuilt mhaoith,
fear a rinn buidheachas badhbh –
is bhuaith[e] shloinntear Carn Fraoich. (8)
3. Gul aonmhná
a Cruachain soir,
truagh an sgéal fā bhfhoil a’ bhean;
’s <é> dhéanadh an osnadh throm
Fraoch mac Fiodhaigh nan gcolg sean. (12)
4. Is í an
aoinbhean do-ní an gul,
ag dul dā fhios go Cluain Fraoich,
Fionnabhair an fhuilt chais fhiail,
inghea[n] Mheidhbhe [a]gā biaid laoich. (16)
5. Inghean <Orla>
as úr folt
is Fraoch a-nocht taobh air thaobh;
gē mór fear dhā dtairgeadh í,
níor ghrádhuigh sí fear ach Fraoch. (20)
6. Fuaighis
Meadhbh Moighe Faoi
cairdeas Fraoich fā fearr a gliaidh –
an chúis fā chréachtach a c[h] orp,
tré gan locht a dhéanamh ri[a]. (24)
7. Do
chuireadh é gus a bhás;
taobh rē mnáibh ní tug ōn olc;
mar a fuair a oidheadh lē Meidhbh,
<innisead> gan cheilg anos.
Osnadh (28)
8. Caorthann
do bhí air Loch Máigh –
do-chímis an tráigh <rē h-ais>;
gach[a] ráithe gach[a] mí
toradh abaigh do bhí air. (32)
9. Sásamh
bídh na caora sin
fā milse nā mil a bhláth;
do chongbhadh a[n] caorthann dearg
fear gan bhiadh gu ceann ix tráth. (36)
10. Bliadhn[a]
air shaoghal ga[ch] fhir
do chuireadh sin, fā sgéal dearbh;
gu <b’fhóirithin> do lucht cneadh
fromh[adh] a mheas is é dearg. (40)
11. Do
bhí <am[a]sach> ’na dhéidh
gē bé léigh chabharth[a] an t-sluaigh;
péisd nimh[e] dho bhí ’na bhun
bhacadh dha c[h]ách dhul dā bhuain. (44)
12. Líon
easlainte throm throm
inghean <Aigheach> na gcorn saor;
do cuireadh lé fios air Fraoch
fiosrugh[adh] ciod tháini[g] ri[a]. (48)
13. Adubhairt
Meadhbh nach <biodh> slán
mur bhfuigheadh lán a bos maoth
do chaoraibh an loch[a] fhuair
gan duine dhā bhuain ach Fraoch. (52)
14. “Cnuasach
riamh ní dhearna mé,”
ar mhic Fiodhaigh go gné dheirg;
“gion gor darnas é,” ar Fraoch,
“rachad do bhuain c[h]aor a Mheidhbh.” (56)
15. Gluaisis
Fraoch fā fearr a n-ágh
bhuainne dhā shnámh air an loch;
fuair a’ phéisd is í ’na suain
is a ceann suas ris a ndos. Osnadh (60)
16. Fraoch
mac Fiodhaigh an airm ghéir
tháinig ón phéisd gan fhios di;
thug a h-anultach caor ndearg
far an roibh Meidhbh dhā tigh. (64)
17. “Ach
gé math an dtugais leat,”
adubhairt Meadhbh as geal cruth,
“ní fhóir mis[e], a laoich luain,
ach slat a bhuain as a bun.” (68)
18. Tograis
Fraoch, ’s níor ghille tim,
shnámh a rís air an linn bhuig;
is níor fhéad, ach gē mór [a] ágh,
theacht ón bhás an roibh [a] chuid. (72)
19. Gabhais
an caorthann air bharr,
tairr[n]gidh a[n] crann as an fhréimh;
tabhairt [a] chos dhó an dtír,
mothchais dó [a] rís an phéisd. (76)
20. Beiris
air agus é air snamh
is gabhais a lámh ’na <craos>;
do ghabh seisean is[e] air ghiall –
truagh gan a sgian aig Fraoch. (80)
21. Fionnabhair
an fhuilt chais fhiail
<do-rad> chuige sgian go n-ór;
leadraidh a’ phéisd a c[h]neas bán
is teasgaidh a lámh air leódh. (84)
22. Do
thuiteadar bonn rē bonn
air tráigh na gclach corr so theas,
Fraoch mac Fiodhaigh is an phéisd –
truagh, a Dhé, mar thug an dtreas. (88)
23. <[Gē]
comhrag ní comhrag> cearr,
do rug leis a ceann ’ns láimh;
<’nuair> chunnaic an nighean é
do chuaidh ’na néal air an tráigh. (92)
24. Eirghis
an nighean ón támh,
gabhais an lámh, bu lámh b[h]og;
gē tá so ’na cuid na n-éan,
is mór an t-éacht a rinn<a bhfos> (96)
25. Bhón
bhás sin do fuair an fear –
Loch Máigh, gē lean dōn loch –
atá an t-ainm sin d<e> go luan
’ga ghairm a-nuas gus anos. Osnadh
car[ad] (100)
26. Beirear
an sin go Cluain Fraoich
corp an laoich go caiseal <cruaidh>;
air an gcluain tugadh a ainm;
is mairg [a] mhaireas <dā luaidh>. (104)
27. Carn
Láimhe an carn so rém thaoibh,
o láimh Fhraoich do <baist[eadh]> soin –
fear <nach> iompugheadh an dtreas,
fear bu dhásach neart an dtroid. (108)
28. Ionmhain
an béal nar ob dhámh,
[dh]am bidís mná a’ toirbheirt phóg;
ionmhain tighearn[a] nan sluagh,
ionmhain gruaidh nār dheirg[e] a[n] rós. (112)
29. Duibh[e]
nā fiach barr a fhuilt,
deirge[e] a ghruaidh nā fuil laoigh;
fā míne nā cobhar sreabh,
gile nā an sneacht cneas Fraoich. (116)
30. Caise
nā an casnaidhe [a] fholt,
guirm[e] a rosg nā oighr[eadh] leac;
deirg[e] nā partain a bhéal,
gil[e] a dhéad nā bláth feath. (120)
31. Aird[e]
a shleagh nā crann siúil,
binne nā téad ciúil a ghuth;
snámhaidhe do b’fheárr nā Fraoch
cha do shín a thaobh rē sruth. (124)
32. Fā
leathna nā comhla a sgiath,
ionmhain triath [a] bhí rē druim;
comhf[h]ad[a] a lann is a lámh,
leathna a cholg nā clár dhe luing. (128)
33. Truagh
nach ann an gcomhrag rē laoch
do thuit Fraoch a bhronnadh ór;
<dursan> a thuitim lē péisd;
truagh, a Dhé, nach maireann fós. (132)
Osnadh
Translation:
The author of this is <the One-eyed Man from Cluain>
1. The sigh of a friend <comes from> Cluain Fraoich, the sigh of a hero in a mantle of gore; it is a sigh which <would make> a man <glad>, and which causes a young woman to weep.
2. Over here to the <east> is the cairn under which lies Fraoch son of Fiodhach of the soft locks, a man who gladdened scald-crows – Carn Fraoich takes its name from him.
3. A woman weeps in Cruachan to the east, and a sad story weighs her down; the one who was making the heavy sigh is Fraoch son of Fiodhach of the ancient blades.
4. The woman who thus weeps as she goes to visit him to Cluain Fraoich is Fionnabhair of the noble curling hair, the daughter of Meadhbh whom heroes accompany.
5. The daughter of <Ailill> of the shining hair lies side by side with Fraoch tonight; although she was offered to many men, she gave her love to no-one but Fraoch.
6. Meadhbh of Magh nAoi secured the friendship of Fraoch who excelled in combat; the reason for the laceration of his body was that he would do no wrong with her.
7. He was dispatched to his death; he did not entrust himself to women for any bad purpose; I shall not relate truthfully how he was tragically killed by Meadhbh.
8. There was a rowan tree on Loch Máigh – <we can see> the shore <by its side>; every quarter and every month, there was ripe fruit upon it.
9. Those berries were a satisfying food – the produce of the tree was sweeter than honey; the red rowan would sustain a man without any other food for a period of nine days.
10. That tree could extend the life of every man by a year – a proven tale; the tasting of its fruit when red provided <a remedy> for the sick.
11. Although it functioned as a physician in healing the people, a <sudden attack> came after [it had been touched]; at its base was a poisonous beast which would prevent anyone from going to pick its fruit.
12. An extremely serious sickness overwhelmed the daughter of <Eochaidh> of the noble goblets; Fraoch was summoned by her to investigate the cause of her trouble.
13. Meadhbh said that she would not be well unless her soft hands received their fill of the berries of the cold loch, picked by nobody else but Fraoch.
14. “I have never gathered berries,” said the son of Fiodhach with the ruddy countenance; “but although I have not done it, I shall go to pick berries for Meadhbh.”
15. Fraoch, who excelled in valour, set off from us to swim across the loch; he found the beast fast asleep with its head supported by the tree-trunk.
16. Fraoch son of Fiodhach of the sharp weapons came away from the beast without being detected by it; he brought her great load of berries to Meadhbh in her house.
17. “Although what you have brought with you is good,” said Meadhbh of fair appearance, “nothing will help me, radiant hero, but to pluck a branch from the tree’s base.”
18. Fraoch was willing – he was no weak lad – to swim again in the soft loch; but in spite of his great valour, he could not escape the death allotted to him.
19. He seized the rowan branch by its top, and pulled the stem from its root; as he was setting his feet on the shore, the beast noticed him on the second occasion.
20. It caught him as he was swimming, and gripped his hand in its mouth; he took hold of it by the jaw – how sad that Fraoch should lack his knife.
21. Fionnabhair of the noble curling hair <gave> him a knife inlaid with gold; the beast hacked his fair skin, and severed and cut off his hand.
22. They fell beside one another on this shore of sharp stones to the south, Fraoch son of Fiodhach and the beast – pitiful, O God, was the outcome of their encounter.
23. <While it was a [hard] fight, it was not one-sided>, for he removed its head in his hand; when the maiden saw his plight, she fell in a faint on the shore.
24. The maiden rose from her faint, and lifted his hand – it was a soft hand; although it is now food for birds, it did a great deed <before death>.
25. Although Loch Máigh continued to be the name of the loch, that loch is [also] named from the death suffered by the hero; it is thus called until now, and will be forever.
26. The body of the hero was then taken to < a hard bier> in Cluain Fraoich; his name was given to the meadow; alas for him who survives <to mention it>.
27. This cairn by my side is Carn Láimhe, which <was given its name> from Fraoch’s hand; he would not turn away from a fight, and in conflict he displayed his strength boldly.
28. Much loved was the mouth which refused no poet-band, the mouth which women used to kiss; much loved was the leader of the hosts, much loved was his cheek which no rose surpassed for redness.
29. Blacker than a raven were the tips of his locks, redder than calf’s blood was his cheek; smoother than the foam of streams and whiter than snow was Fraoch’s skin.
30. Curlier than wood-shavings was his hair, bluer than a sheet of ice was his eye; redder than Parthian dye was his mouth, whiter than woodbine blossom were his teeth.
31. Taller than a ship’s mast was his spear, sweeter than a music-string was his voice; no better swimmer than Fraoch ever flexed his side against a current.
32. Broader than a door-valve was his shield, and much loved was the chief who carried it; his sword was as long as his arm, and his rapier was wider than a ship’s plank.
33. How sad that it was not while fighting another hero that Fraoch fell – the bestower of gold; <what a tragedy> that he was felled by a monster; alas, O God, that he does not live still.