Notes to Poem XII
i. MS Text: The text of this poem occupies the whole of pp. 145 and 146 of the MS, and half of p. 147. It is clearly legible throughout, and there is no evidence of textual revision in the light of another version. Below the ascription, a later hand, possibly that of Dr John Smith, has written “Rosg Ghuill” and “See Miss Brook p 298”, the reference being to the Irish text B discussed in Section iii. Another hand of the same period, evidently that of Donald Mackintosh, has added two glosses in the right-hand margin of p. 145, transliterating two words in the MS text (qq. 4 c, 6 d) as “Saobh” and “Oide”. The same hand adds the tally “144 lines” as a subscript to the poem on p. 147.
ii. General background: This poem is essentially a eulogy of Goll mac Morna, Fionn’s rival in the Fian. It is supposedly uttered by Fearghus File, whose aim is to convince Fionn of the excellence of Goll and the danger inherent in provoking conflict with him. It would seem that particular tension exists between the two warriors at this time, and Fionn eventually agrees to give Goll a third of the prey taken in a hunt (q. 32) and apparently a third of his hunting-dogs (q. 33). There is a suggestion in q. 32 that these were customary rights enjoyed by Goll, and that they had been withdrawn. An amicable settlement is reached, but it is of some interest that Fionn is shown to lose his case to Goll.
iii. Later versions: This poem survives in both Irish and Scottish tradition later than BDL. In Irish tradition, it is possible to find texts which preserve much of the BDL version. B, for example, preserves BDL qq. 1-21, 24, 29, 31, and 34-36. But it also includes quatrains not found in BDL. These are B qq. 9-13 (placed between qq. 7 and 8 of BDL), and 30-31 (found after B’s version of BDL q. 24. The BDL sequence of quatrains is usually well maintained in B. A very similar text to B (including B’s additional material, and lacking only BDL qq. 34-36) occurs in RIA MS 24 P 29. A much shorter text is attested in RIA MS 23 A 47. This consists of BDL qq. 1-7, and 14, with B qq. 9-13 following its equivalent of BDL q. 7.
On the Scottish side, versions are generally very short. The most extensive are those of MacL and G, which preserve only BDL qq. 1, 4, 6, 14, 16, 18, 19 and 29. T preserves merely three quatrains, BDL qq. 1, 8 and 12.
The severe reduction in the size of this poem, particularly in Scottish transmission, is readily explicable by its nature, since it does not have a cohesive story-line, and would be specially susceptible to the loss of quatrains.
iv. Metre: The syllabification of this poem is basically 41 41 41 41, which is the pattern of Trian Rannaigheachta Móire (EIM, p. 58, no. 37).
v. Line annotation:
Ascription: The ascription to Fearghus File breaks with the general convention of ascribing such verse to Oisean. It was probably felt that Oisean was too closely related to Fionn to be an effective ambassador for Goll. Cf. the similar ascription of BDL XXI, and the discussion of Fearghus File in BDL XXII, Section ii (2).
1 The wording of this line corresponds to that normally found in most Irish and Scottish versions. HP’s restoration Ardaigneach Goll follows B Ard aigneach Goll, but even B subscribes Ard aigneadh Ghuill.
5 Saor eineach: B presents this as two words; but Saoireineach (24 P 29) and Saoroineach (23 A 47).
suas: B and other Irish MSS read suadh, gen. sg. of saoi, “wise man, sage” (RIA Dict. s.v. suí), which seems likely to have been the original reading. The BDL reading indicates confusion with the adv. suas (? perhaps in the mainland sense of “in the west, westwards” (Dw. s.v.)).
6 saor <snaidh[te]>: The MS reading seir snaiġ could represent saor snaidh[e], and perhaps we should restore the line as saor snaidh[e] [a] thaoibh, “noble is the shaping of his side”. saorshnaoidhach athaobh (B); síor shnoidh táob[h] (24 P 29); síor snaoidhte taobh (23 A 47).
13 Rí fine: The MS reading Reih fi’nich does not support HP’s Rígh-fhéinnidh. Laoch féinnidhe fial (8); but Láoch fine fial (24 P 29, and similarly 23 A 47).
14 <a g[h]lór>: MS i may represent the prep. “in”; this possibility is strengthened by the writing of i’ (later cancelled) after the first i.
15 ní <’n>: BDL sometimes follows the neg. particle ní with i’, which usually may be expanded as in in terms of the MS orthography. It is difficult to know how best to represent this in normalised orthography. Later Scottish MSS attest this development; thus in this line Ni ’n saoibh a chiall (G). The convention of the later MSS has heen adopted with some reserve. Cf. 20, 34, 98, 103.
20 <an ní>: HP restores to do-ní on the view that MS in neich represents a ní. do ní (B, and similarly other Irish MSS).
21 ní mion: The solitary i of the MS reading ne i myn may be most easily construed in terms of 15 n, but it is difficult to represent in the restored text.
22 <tor> : Could MS torri represent toradh, “fruit”?
26 <iarrthar>: One cannot feel happy with the present restoration of MS Errir, although it is a possibility supported by the Irish versions, which follow B iarras ort roinn; ? transl. “Above the tops of the mountains, he is sought in the region”. But why is he sought? The next couplet suggests that he should be avoided. Is it possible that the reading lying behind MS Errir was iolar, “eagle”, which became iorar by dissimilation (and indeed is thus known in O. Ir. (RIA Dict. s.v. ilar))? Confusion with the verb iarraim may then have come about. A parallel between Goll and an eagle might help to explain the reference Uas barra beann.
28 The line is hypermetric, and can only be restored by removing the 3 sg. poss. pron. Other such lines, which may be corrected similarly, occur at 37, 43, 46. Removal of the vocative particle restores lines 29, 121.
31 The line is hypermetric, with no obvious solution. bí ar eagla ghuill (B); ar eagla guill (24 P 29); biodh eagla goill (23 A 47).
35 <cháich>: One cannot be sure that the initial ch of the MS form has not been projected from the end of the preceding word, as sometimes happens in BDL. Thus it might be possible to restore MS Inseich chayċh as ionnsaigheach áigh; cf. ionnsaightheach áigh (B, and similarly other Irish versions).
41 <Uirdheirc>: The MS form Wrrik seems to represent something like ura(i)g or úra(i)g; cf. Sc. G. ùrag, “nice, bland” (Dw. s.v.). But it is probable that the MS reading is based on a form of the word in the restored text; cf. the variants urrdhairc, uirrdhreic, uirrdhearc (RIA Dict. s.v. airdirc).
a <luadh>: MS a loyg could also represent a shluagh; cf. oirdheirceach re slúaigh (B, and similarly 24 P 29).
50 <chur rā>: It is possible to restore MS chor ra as chóir dhā (thus H’s restoration budh cóir dhá chúis) on the assumption that initial r of MS ra represents Z; this is sometimes attested in BDL where the final letter of the preceding word is r (cf. MS git fer rewe for gach fear dhíobh, V, 43; MS verrir roysa for bheirear dhomhsa, VII, 35). If we go with the present restoration, the couplet would mean: “To have the tribute of Ireland would add to his cause”; or if we follow the alternative: “His cause [is such that it] ought to have the tribute of Ireland”. budh cóir dha chúis (B, 24 P 29)
54 ní cheil ort: Following B, HP emends the verb form to cheilim, and in a note suggests the possibility of reading chéal, 1 sg. é-fut. of ceilim. However, it is feasible that MS chell should be interpreted simply as 3 sg. pres. indic. conjunct, and that the person involved is Goll himself: “he does not hide it from you, Fionn” (the reference being to his high view of himself, expressed in the preceding line). The emendation cheilim has the disadvantage that, even with the removal of the vocative particle, it makes the line hypermetric. Ni ’n ceil ort, Fhinn (G).
55-56 HP emends unnecessarily, following B. Transl. “His fierce valour has [in it] the power of the waves”.
gaisgeadh: This is evidently f. to the scribe, since the adj. Zrin shows lenition.
57 Flaith<eamhail>: The MS form Flaaoll could represent flathail, but the trisyllabic form seems to be required for line length, although disyllabic forms are acceptable elsewhere (cf. 12, 58).
58 dathail: Given the context, it seems unlikely that MS daytholl represents dáicheil. daitheamhuil a chneas (B, 24 P 29).
60 air theas: er has Ms. Transl. the line: “he is not feeble when heated in battle”. It is conceivable that the MS reading could support H’s restoration a threas, but this seems unlikely, cf. however a ttreas (B, 24 P 29).
63 <fírea[n]ta>: It seems likely that MS ferriddi represents a variant of the word suggested in the restoration, although fireanda, “male, masculine” (RIA Dict. s.v. firenda) might be a possibility, in the sense “manly”. fiodhreannta a mhéin (24 P 29).
65 Dā <thriath>: The MS form rayth could also represent rádh (thus HP). If we accept the present restoration, the couplet would mean: “His prowess and his rage are (or will be) ever directed against his lord” (i.e. against Fionn, an interpretation which suits the context of the poem). Or, following the alternative reading in HP: “His prowess and his rage will ever be recounted”. Da rádh go bráth (24 P 29)
71 <mongharach>: There seems little doubt that the MS form monnwrrycht is to be restored as suggested, with the usual sense “noisy, clamorous” (RIA Dict. s.v. mongarach). mórdhálach (B, 24 P 29, G).
cuan: An adj. is required, and it seems likely that MS coyn represents a variant (probably an apocopated form) of cuanna or cuanda, in its vague laudatory sense “dear, precious, fine, handsome” (RIA Dict. s.v. cúanna). caoin (B, 24 P 29).
72 <ioldharach>: The MS form Illericht most probably represents a variant of ioldhara, “manifold, varied, abundant, numerous” (RlA Dict. s.v. ilardae), perhaps here “multi-faceted”. iorghalach (B, 24 P 29, G)
79 cuiris sé: The MS reading Curris say appears to reflect the form of the Sc. G. fut. with final s found in northern mainland dialects and in Perthshire (in the latter area, evidently before the prons. tu, e, iad: see Robertson, “Perthshire Gaelic”, p. 31). The occurrence of this ending in the present instance before the regular nominative form of the 3 sg. m. pron. is suggestive of its origin. In the context of the original poem, the verb form would be cuiridh, and in sense pres. rather than fut.
[a] léan: A prep. is required at some point to make sense of this idiom with cuirim. Following B, HP places ar at the beginning of the following line, but this makes the line hypermetric. It seems possible that the idiom was originally cuir i (> a) léan (RIA Dict. s.v. lén cites LL: is mairg ances a bidbaid / inn inbaid do chora i llén), with the subsequent loss of the unstressed prep. by elision.
82 buaidh gcómhraig: Note the survival of eclipsis following buaidh, originally n.
85 <guineach>: The restoration is made tentatively, although this adj. “wound-dealing” (RIA Dict. s.v. guinech) gives good sense in the context. The main objection lies in the initial ch of the MS form ċwnych although it is not impossible that an original initial g has been assimilated to the preceding guttural fricative.
90: <chion>: The MS form chin would appear to represent the lenited form of cion, “guilt, fault, crime” (RIA Dict. s.v. cin I). However, this gives poor rhyme with ghoil (92), and as rhyme is satisfied by coir, similarly meaning “crime, fault, sin” (RIA Dict. s.v. 1 caire), it is likely that the one has been substituted for the other at some stage in the transmission of the text. This substitution is attested elsewhere in BDL, with a similar effect on rhyme (e.g. SV, p. 126, 1190).
93 <forghal>: MS Forȝalle may represent a variant form of forghla, in the sense of “choice, i.e. pick, best part” (RIA Dict. s.v. forglu). It is difficult to know how to transliterate the MS reading; an alternative to the suggested restoration would be forghala, but this would make the line hypermetric. Perhaps we should consider that the MS may also represent foirgheall or forghall, “(a) bearing witness, testifying, attestation, affirmation (b) statement, pronouncement” (RIA Dict. s.v. forgell). If the latter is the word intended, we may translate the couplet: “Warriors affirm that he is the one whom women love most”. Otherwise, we can take the line simply as “He is the best of the warriors”. organ na ccon (B, 24 P 29).
95 bídh: The MS form beic can be read clearly under ultra-violet light, and there is little reason to doubt that it represents the 3 sg. customary pres. of atá. bion dáimh mar sin (3); bid[h] dám[h] gun on (24 P 29).
106 fā [h-]urra: The MS form orryth has no trace of prefixed h which one might expect at this point.
107 <ghlár>: It seems highly likely that MS Zlayr represents a lenited form of glár, a variant of glór, “voice, sound, noise” (RIA Dict. s.v.).
113 Mac <Téid[e]>: HP restores MS Mak tead to Mac téad, but it seems more likely that the reference is to Téide, Goll’s mother (DF, III, p. 391, s.v.).
123 <b[h]uan>: The MS form boynych appears to be disyllabic, perhaps as the result of the growth of an unhistorical final syllable. The metre requires a monosyllable. síth bhuan (B).
125 <ghnáthan>: It seems possible that MS Znayn could represent the lenited form of gnáth, “custom, wont, usage” (RIA Dict. s.v.), with the Sc. G. pl. ending. HP’s restoration of the line goes beyond the MS evidence. The couplet appears to mean: “Now for the rest of my days he can have his customary rights”.
127 bheirim: Although formally 1 sg. pres. indic., this verb form appears to have fut. significance. HP suggests that do-bhéar may have been the earlier reading.
136 <fiadhaigh>: The MS form feyth could equally well represent fiodhaigh, gen. sg. of fiodhach, “timber” (RIA Dict. s.v. fidach). trian fiodhaidh o fhionn (B).
137 Gheobhad-sa: This very modern verb form could be either (a) the 1 sg. fut. of gabhaim, “I take”, influenced by the corresponding form of do-gheibhim, “I get”, which is do-gheobhad, or (b) the latter verb form with the loss of the preverb do; cf. the loss of the preverb in the form bheirim (127 n).