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THE
AMRA CHOLUIM CHILLI
DALLAN^FQRGAILL .
THE ORIGINAL IRISH AND LITERAL TRANSLATION.
O'BEIRNE CROWE
DUBLIN : M'ULASHAN AND GILL, 50, UPPER SACKVILLE-STKEET,
LONDON : WILLIAMS & NORGATE, 14, HENRIETTA-ST., COVENT GARDES ; AND 20, SOUTH FREDERICK-STREET, EDINBURGH.
1871.
W
Price 7s. 6d.
By the Editor.
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
AND
fSfyz f risfr language.
Price One Shilling.
To be had of J. O'Daly, 9, Anglesea-street, Dublin.
THE
AMRA CIIOLUIM CHILLI
OP
D ALLAN FORGAILL:
NOW PRINTED FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM TIIE ORIGINAL IRISH IN
lebon Net huiorce,
A MS. IX TIIE LIBRARY OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY;
A LITERAL TRANSLATION AND NOTES,
A GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS OF TIIE TEXT,
AND COPIOUS INDEXES.
BY
J. O'BEIRNE CROWE, A. B. ;
GOLD MEDALLIST IN ANCIENT CLASSICS AND ANCIENT LITERATURE GOLD MEDALLIST IN THE CELTIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE ;
LATE PROFESSOR OF CELTIC, UUEEn's COLLEGE, GALWAY ;
AND EXAMINER IN CELTIC FOR THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
IN IRELAND.
DUBLIN: MCGLASHAN AND GILL, 50, UPPER SACKVILLE-STHEET.
LONDON : WILLTAMS & NORGATE, 14, HENRIETTA-ST., COTENT GARDEN ; AND 20, SOUTH FREDERICK-STREET, EDINBURGH.
1871.
BY THE EDITOR.
SCeLO NCI CSCR50 (Tidings of the Resurrection), from Lebor na hUidre, with a Literal Translation.— For the Editor. Dublin, 186.5.
Dam LiaC (Duleek), Its Origin and Meaning — For the Editor. Dublin, 1866.
The paedl piClOa (Guardsman's Cry) of St. Patric, and its ancient Preface; from the Liber Hymnorum, T.C.D., with a Trans- lation anil Notes. — The Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeolo- gical Association of Ireland, for April, 1869.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF TIIE PAGAN IRISH, Essay on, lb.
aioeo ecac maic mairceoa (The destruction of eocho
Mac Maireda) ; from Leh. na hUidre, with a Translation and Notes. — The Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland, for January, 1870.
CCUN bO PTCCUC (The Spoil of the Cows of Froich) ; from the Book of Leinster, H. 2. 18. T. C. D., with a Translation and Notes. — Proceedings of the E. I. Academy (Irish MSS. Scries), 187 1.
SiabCtTC-CaRpaC CON CUlaiNO (The Demoniac Chariot of Cu Chulaind) ; from Leb. na hUidre, with a Translation and Notes : and an appended Essay on the " Ancient Irish Chariot." — The Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland, for January, 1871.
THE EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION.
THE occasion of the composition of the Arara, or Elegy of Columb Cille, is fully stated in the ancient preface ; it is therefore unnecessary to repeat what is there already given. In order, however, that the reader may be able to carry with him from the outset a fair idea of both Author and Poem, I shall here quote a few passages from Colgan's Life of St. Dalian (Acta Sanctorum, p. 203, et seqq.).
a In the times of Aed,1 son of Ainmere, monarch of Ireland, about the year of Christ 580,2 there flourished in the same kingdom a man of illustrious ancestry, by name Eochaid, and by cognomen Dalian, who splendidly adorned nobility of race by great comeliness of virtues. He was born in a district of Connacht bordering on Ulster,
The following notes are Colgan's own : 2 About the Year of Christ, 580. King
anything I arid will be enclosed in Aed, according to the common catalogue
brackets, and marked " Ed." Colgan in- of the kings of Ireland, and the Annals of
troduces his notes with the remark, " Be- Donnegall [Four Masters], began to reign
cause the acts of this saint have not come in the year 571, or, according to others,
to my hands, these things which have 576, and he reigned 27 years. With his
presented themselves about him as wrorthy time then, and so in the year 580, St.
of remark, I have taken chiefly from the Dalian flourished, especially since he lived
history of the Acts of the Synod of Druimni after the death of St. Columb, who died,
Ceta, and from the Life of St. Columb." according to Ussher, in the year 597, or
1 In the times of Aed, Monarch of Ire- at least after the year 590. [The year
land. So is expressly held in the Preface 597 is the true date. See Dr. Reeves's
to the Acts of the aforesaid synod of Introduction to his Adamnan's St. Co-
Druinim Ceta, and in the Life of St. lumba, p. lxxviii]. — Ed. Columb, cap. 218.
IV INTRODUCTION.
which the ancients called Masrbje, and Cathrige Sleacht^ but which the moderns name Teallach Eathach.
His mother's name was Forchella,4 from whom himself, too, it is thought, is called Dalian Forgaill,5 or Forcellius ; and his father was Colla,6 son of Ere, of the race of Colla surnamed Uais,7 King of Ireland ; his cousin-german was Maidoc of Ferns,8 the very renowned archbishop of Leinster, grandson of the same Ere from his son Sedna, or Sedonius.9
Colgan, after speaking of the great learning of Eochaid, and explaining the word Dalian (the blind), an epithet which he received from his having, through the severity of Ins studies, lost the use of his eyes, thus proceeds : —
" He wrote in the native speech and in ancient style several little works, which cannot in Inter ages be easily penetrated by many otherwise well- versed in the old native idiom and antiquity; and hence they are illustrated by our more learned antiquaries with scattered commentaries, and as rare monuments of our ancient language and anti- quity, it is customary to lecture on them, and expound them in the schools of antiquaries of our nation.
" Among these is one panegyric or poem, now and
'■"• Mnsrífjc, Sfc. Thus it is held in the Genealogical Menologium says that this
aforesaid Preface. Ere was, from his sou Feredaeh, grandson
4 His mother's name was Forchella. Thus of King Colla. But the Life of St.
is it held in the same place, aud is it Maedoc, and others, say that the same
gathered from Blessed Marianus Gor- Ere was the grandfather of both St.
manus, and from the author of the Dalian and St. Maedoc; but the grand-
Martyrology of Tamlaeht, who calls him father of St. Maedoc was not the grand-
the son of Forgall. But his father was son of King Colla, but many degrees
not called Forgall or Forchella, but Colla, removed from him. . . . And this
. . . whence that was his mother's opinion pleases me the more, because it is
name. more likely that those who lived at the
6 From whom himself, it is thought, is same time were the same distance of
called Forgaill, or For cheilitis. So the same degrees from the common trunk, than that
Preface testifies. one of them should be many more.
6 But his father weis Colla, son of Ere. 6 [Here Colgan refers to his Life of
So tin' same Preface, and the Life of St. Maedoc, whose day is the 31st January].
Columb, cap. 2, 18, and the Genealogical — Ed.
[um, cap. 12. 9 Grandson of the same Ere from his son
■ Son of Ere, of the race <f Colla Uais, Se<?>ia. So the Irish Life of St. Maedoc,
Thus it is held in the same place, but the chapter 72, ócc.
INTRODUCTION. v
always held in great esteem, on the praises of St. Columb, and entitled Amra Choluim Chille,10 that is, " The Praises of Columb of the Churches." The occasion of the composition of this little work is recorded io be as follows : After St. Columb had come from Britain to Ireland to settle certain disputes which had arisen between the monarch of Ireland, Aed, his relative, and the chiefs of Dal Riata and Leinster, and other subjects ; and after he had attended before the same king, and the nobles of the kingdom, in a certain synod of Druimm Ceta, assembled for this purpose in the region of Cianachta,11 while the assembly was being broken up, and all things were succeeding according to the wishes of St. Columba, with die hope of general peace and concord, St. Dalian comes to St. Columb, and offers him a certain poem, which he had composed in his praise. But while that poem was being partly read, and the holy man was strongly feeling certain sudden emotions of vain complacency, he was admonished by St. Baithene, his disciple, then standing near, that a great troop of evil demons appeared scoffing above his head, and when the holy man with astonishment saw the troop, he was struck with com- punction of heart, and immediately he forbids the praises written by St. Dalian to be further produced or published : adding that no one [should be praised] in life, which he might badly end ; that he alone who had run well in the stadium, and had ended his race successfully, should be praised after his death. And when Dalian could by no
10 Amra Choluim Chille, that is, the n In the region of Cianachta. Druimm
Praises of Columb of the Churches. I have Ceta is a place in the Diocese and County
in my possession one copy of this work, of Derry, at the River Eoe, to-day and
beautifully written, but, putting- aside a always venerable especially on account
few scattered commentaries which it con- of the many pilgrimages, and the public
tains, it is penetrable to a few only to-day, Theophory which, on the festival of All
and these most learned. [I shall try to Saints, in memory of the aforesaid synod
make the present translation rank me as there celebrated, is there annually made,
one of the successors, though longo inter- with an immense concourse from all the
vallo, of Colgau's " peritissimi."'] — Ed. neighbouring districts.
vi INTRODUCTION.
contrivance obtain the publication of the praises he had written, he insisted that he might be allowed to follow out his [St. Columb's] life, in case that it should be happily ended, with praises after his death : and this he accordingly obtained.
" The Saint accordingly, having returned to Britain, died after some years, and immediately as soon as he died, St. Dalian received by angelic ministry the announcement of his death, and composed that very learned little work which we have mentioned : and when he had finished this, he was regifted with the13 immediately-lost light of his eyes, and further received a promise that the person, who would recite these praises from memory and from mind, would close his life with a happy end." Of the other works of Dalian, Colgan says : —
" He composed, also, another poem13 for the death and funeral praise of Senan, Bishop of Inis Cathaig (Scattery Island), which, on account of antiqueness of style and antique gracefulness, is among those fond of antiquity always in great esteem : and on account of the grace of preservation from blindness and other special indulgences, which are believed to be granted by God to him who recites it from memory, it is among devout persons held in great veneration.
He composed also a third little work in praise of St. Conall,14 surnained Coel, Abbat of Inis Coel,15 in Tir Connail (now Iniskeel in Donegall). Of him also he
12 [The meaning is that 1 lallan, to whom Amra in II. 2. 16 : T. C. D. • and another
Columba allowed the nséofhia eyeswhile in H. 3. 17: T. C. D., and fragments in
making the poem, lost that use imme- various manuscripts]. — Ed.
diately on finishing it, but Mas imme- " In praise of St. Conall. This is rc-
diately regifted with it].— Ed. corded in the aforesaid Preface, but
u Also another poem. I have in my pos- whether it is still extant or not is un-
session this little work, which can hardly known to me.
be taken in to-day without illustrations of 15 Conall, Abbatt of Inis Coel. This
antiquaries. [There is a copy of this chureh is in au island, surrounded by the
INTRODUCTION. vn
begged strenuously that, by the intervention of his prayers and merits, he might deserve to enjoy the honour of a tomb the same with himself (that is, to be buried with him), and this, granted by the Divine goodness, he obtained."
The above extracts, regarding Dalian and his poetry, will be quite sufficient. I shall now proceed to give my reader the plan of publication I intend to adopt.
The work will be finished in two Parts. Part I. (the present) contains the Ancient Preface ; the Exordium, or Prelude to the Amra and the Amra proper with their ancient commentaries, and a literal translation of the whole. Part II. will contain topographical, biographical, and his- torical notes ; a critical and grammatical analysis of every word in the text, and copious Indexes. And as the Lebor Brec's™ Preface to the Amra supplies several im- portant records omitted in that of Lebor na hUidre, this preface also will be given, together with the marginal notes and secondary glosses of the present copy, and with literal translations. The poetic characteristics of our poem will be examined in an Appendix, which will also say a word or two on Irish poetry in general. The text, to distinguish it from the commentaries, is given in large letters, and exactly as it stands in the original, and on the whole I have strong hopes that my Amra, when completed, will receive the approbation of my spiritual friends, St. Columb and St. Dalian above, as well as that of my literary friends here below.
Dublin, August, 1871. J. O'B. C.
ocean, in the district of Tirconnaill, which ^ A defect of one page in Lebor na is called Bugeilaigh, and in the diocese of hUidre is supplied from the Lebor Brec, Raphoe, and in this church St. Conall is which, though only a fragment, fortunate- venerated on the 1 2th May. [St. Dalian's ly preserves the last leaf of the Amra, and day is the 29th January].— Ed. the greater portion of the preface.]— Ed.
rcempocut.
LOC oo'no pem[p]ocul-pa cecup Opmmm Cera, ap ip annooponaD in món-Dáil Opomma Ceca : in alio locó immopo, Doponao conp mo immuin o pein immach, uc pope appapec. In ampip Qeoae meic Gnmepech DopigneD : peppo — Oallán popgaill t>o lTlappaigib TTlaige Slecu : cucaic — ap poccain píchio oó péin, ~| alíip pep pe. Upi cucaice uepo ap a came Colum Cille a hGlbain in hG'pirio in can pin .1. do púaplucuo Scannláin ÍTIóip, meic Cino páelao, pig Oppaipe, ppnp in oeocaio íp pacaigep, "] do apcuD inna pileo in hGpino (ap pobap inD innapba ap a cpomoacc, a]\ nobiD .;rr;r. 1 cléip cac olloman, 1 apcu. 1 cléip cac anpaio) : -| Do piouguD ecep pipu hG'penn, ~\ Ctlban ím Dal Ríaca. ~] íp eo ocbepae no con acca Colum Cille G'pinn in ran pin, áp nobiD bpéic Dap a puibb : -] ip eo pocepa pein, ap pogell pemi pein ic Dul capip na pégbao GpinD o pein immac, Dicenp :
Pil puiln glaip, Pégbap Gpinn Dap a liaip : No con ácebá íapmochá Pipu G'penD nác a mmna.
CocuocaiD íapam Colunn Cille ip inn aipecc ocup cor.éppacc pocaioe pemi Do páelci ppip. ITlao lap pencap ele, immopo, ni eppacc nee pemi ace Oommnall mac in pig, ap acpubaipe in pi co ná heippeD nee pemi : ap popicip ani imm 0 cane, -| ni p'ba maic leip a ciccain, ap ni n'bo all leip apcuo na pileo, no cuaplucuo
FORESPEECH.
THE place for this forespeech, firstly, is Druimm Ceta, for it is in it was made the great meeting of Druimm Ceta : in a different place, however, was made the body of the hymn from that forth, as appears after. In the time of Aed, son of Anmere, it was made : author — Dalian Forgaill of the Masraige of Mao; Slecht : cause — for reaching of heaven for himself and for others through it. Now there are three causes for which Colum Cille came from Alba to Eriu that time — namely, for the releasing of Scanlann Mór, son of Cend Faelad, king of the Osrarians, with whom he went in pledgeship : and for the staying of the poets in Eriu (for they were in banishment on account of their burdensomeness, for there used to be thirty in the company of each Ollom, and fifteen in the company of eaoh Anrad) : and for pacification between the men of Eriu and of Alba about Dal Riata. And it is it they say, that Colum Cille by no means saw Eriu that time, for there used to be a bandage over his eyes ; and it is it that caused that, because he promised before that at going past it, that he would not view Eriu from that forth, saying : —
There is a grey eye That will view Eriu backwards : By no means will it see afterwards The men of Eriu or its women.
Colum Cille then came to the assembly, and several rose up before him for welcome to him. If it is according to another tradition, however, there rose not up one before him but Domnall, the king's son, for the king said that there should not rise up one before him ; for he knew that about which he had come, and his coming was not thought
10 rcenipocut.
Scanntaín. ConiD anD pem pobennac Colum Cille mm Oomnall, ap pobo aipmeca conmci pein. ^o p'bu olc lap in pigam a bennacliaD, ap pobo lep-mac Di é : 50 ]10FeP5a15 in clépec ppia, con epbaipc-pi ppip 111 clépec : " Romóp in coppaigecc pop a ecu." " lp cec Duicpiu," ap in clépec, " bíc pop coppaigecc pop a cái : íp cec Duicpiu," ap in clépec, " bit pop coppai^ecc." ConiD anD pem popoao-pi 1 cuipp, co pagaib a hinailc pop acipiuguo in clépi^, co popaio pioe hi cuipp ele : co pilec na oá cuipp pm o pein llle in Opuim Checa, uc aln Dicunc.
I~áncacap íap pem na piliD íp inn aipecc -\ Diian molca léo Dó -] aiDbpi amm in cliiinl pin ; ocup ba céol oepp- cai^cec lie, uc Colmán mac Cénéne di;cic:
Linn oc heolaib, uin^i o[c] Dipnaib, Cpora bann áecec oc cpochaib pigna, TC15 ic Oomnall, DopD ic aiobpi, QoanD oc cainnill, cole oc mo clioilc-pe.
-] in óen[p]ecc Do^nícíp in ceól pm. Cocámc míaD men- man Do'n clepeocli, co p'bo lán inc áep húap a clnnD ó Demnaib, co popailpigeo do báicin pem, -] co pocliaipij; piDe in clépec, -| co cue in clépec íap pein a chenD po clioim, "i con Depna acpige, ~| co cuap^aib lap pein a clienD ap a clioim, -] co póemiD ceo mop Di a clnnD, -\ co popcáilic ap na Demna piap in céo pin. Oa céc Dec Dan lin na pileD, uc Di;ac quiDam : —
pecc Do TTIael Choba na cliap lc lilbup clnnD Upácca cíap, Oa céc Dec pileD poppuaip 17ep inn lbap aníap-chúam. CoinnmeD ceópam blíaDanm binD Oopac Dóib TTláel Coba in ong : THepaiD co let bpaclia bam Oo chenéol oelboa Oemr'nii,
F011ESPEECH. 1 1
well of by him, for the staying of the poets, or the releasing of Scannlan was not pleasing to him. So that it is then Columb Cille blessed this Domnall, because he was reverent to that extent. So that his blessing was thought ill of by the queen, for he was a stepson to her : so that the cleric grew angry towards her, so that she said to the cleric : " Very great is the craneing on which thou art." " Thou hast leave," says the cleric, " to be on a craneing on which thou art : thou hast leave," says the cleric, " to be on a craneing." So that it is then she was turned into a crane, so that her handmaid took to reproaching the cleric, so that she turned into another crane : so that those two cranes are from that hither in Druim Ceta, as some say.
The poets after that came into the assembly, and a poem of praising with them for him, and aidbsi (chorus) is the name of that music ; and a surpassing music was it, as Colman Mac Lenene said : —
Blackbirds beside swans, ounces beside masses, Forms of peasant women beside forms of queens, Kings beside Domnall, a murmur beside a chorus, A taper beside a candle [is] a sword beside my sword.
And together they used to make that music. Dignity of mind came for the cleric, so that the sky above his head was full from demons, so that this was manifested to Baithene ; and that he rebuked the cleric, and that the cleric after that brought his head under cover, and that he did penance, and that he raised after that his head from its cover, and that a great fog sprang from his head, and that the demons scattered from it before that fog. And twelve hundred was the number of the poets as a certain one said : —
As Mael Choba of the. companies was once At Ibar Chind Trachta in the west : Twelve hundred poets — he them found By the Yew in the north-west, Refection of three melodious years Mael Coba the chief gave to them : "It shall live to the day of pale judgment For the well-formed race of Deman.
12 raempocul.
Co popopc Colum Cille iap pein na pileou -j con epbaipn ppi liQeo :
Copmac cam bine neoic,
Nua molca, cpina peoiu:
lp eo polegup por-cpaeo —
Ceinmaip molciap, maipj áepnap, Q'eo!
Cam in pug ap a paep-fpjai^uib pugchiap ;
TTlaip5 in iac ecnaipe aipciap!
Qpao cloc : cam in péini piaoaic bi :
Oopúapcec maim molcaiDi.
Oopónao coinomeo na pileo lap pern po G'pmo -j pooi^baic lap pern a cliapa .1. jc^im. 1 cléip mo Olloman -] pen. i cléip ínoánpaio.
lp lap pin bái Colum Cille l cuincio Scant)láin pop Cteo, 1 m capoao Do; con epbaipe pium Dan ppi G'eo, íp é nongebao a appa mime imm íapmepgi ce bé bale nober, "| pocomallaD amlaiD. Colmán mace Com^elláin, immopo, íp é puc mm bpeir erep pipu G'peno i Qlban, -| Do Dal l^iaca Do piDe ; "] íp pip Dopi^ni Colum Cille mm bctiDe in ran popo lenam bee in Colrnán, uc Oi;cic :
Q cliubnp con : a anim $lan ; Qpo poic Dine : Dale poic Dam.
-j apbepc Culum Cille íp é Do^énaO píru^uD ecep pipu G'peno "| Qlban: -\ íp i bper puc, "a peer -] a plójeo la pipu G'peno oo^pep," ap íp [p]U>5eo la ponnaib oo^pép : "a cam "| a cobac la pipu Qlban ;" no, "am muip-coblac nammá la pipu Qlban: ó pein immac, immopo, la pipu hGpenn."
■Cánic íapam Oallan, apo-ollom hG'penn in ran pin Do acallaim Cholu[i]m Chilli, coniD ano po^ab in pem- pocul Do : i m peléic Colum Cille Do a oénam pec a- pem, con oepnao in ampip a cipcecca, ap apbepr ppi
FOEESPEECn. 13
So that Columb Cille after that stayed the poets, and that he said to Aed : —
Cormac well broke battle,
New [his] praisings, withered [his] jewels :
It is it I have read wheel-poetry —
A blessing that one is praised, woe that one is satirized,
Aed ! Fair the juice which from its free lawns is sucked : Woe. the absent land that is satirized ! Renowned ladder : fair the course they living drive ; The treasures of praisers remain.
The refection of the poets was after that made over Erin, and their companies were diminished after that — namely [only] twenty-four in the company of the Ollom, and twelve in the company of the Anrad.
It is after that Columb Cille was making the demand of Scandlan upon Aed, and he was not given to him ; so that he said accordingly to Aed, that it is he [Scandlan] who would get his shoes about him [Columb] about midnight, whatever place he should be, and it was so fulfilled. Now, Colman, son of Comgellan, it is he who gave the judgment between the men of Ériu and of Alba, and he was of Dal Riata ; and it is with him Columb Cille made the embrace the time the Colman was a little infant, as he said : —
0 tree of hounds : 0 pure soul !
This is a kiss to thee ; deal thou a kiss to me.
And Columb Cille said, it is he who would make pacification between the men of Eriu and of Alba : and it is the judg- ment he gave, " Their expedition and their hosting with the men of Eriu always," for there is hosting with territo- ries always : " their tribute and their exaction with the men of Alba ;" or, " their sea-gathering only with the men of Alba, but from that forth with the men of Eriu."
Then Dalian, chief Ollom of Eriu that time, came to converse with Columb Cille, so that it is then he recited the forespeech for him : and Columb Cille did not allow him the making of it beyond that, that he should make it
14 rcempocul,
mapb bap chubaiD : 1 ip Do cenDnaib pocpiall Dalian
a Diiain Do Dénam. Dopaipn^epc rpá Colum Cille Do
Dalian mmappa 1 copce in caiman ap in molaD-pa,
1 ni pa^aib, ace nem Do péin -| r»o cec oén non-
jjebaD cac Dia, -| DopucébaD euep cliéill -| pojup, uu cfuioam Di;ric : —
Qmpa Column — cac Dia
Cep é noD^eba co pollan, l?opia in pinD-[p]laic fia,
T?oip Dia 1)0 Dalian.
Upi comapca, immopo, Dopac Colum Cille do in ran Do^énao .i. mapcac eic alaio noinnippeD dó écpecc Coluim Chilli, 1 in cécna poccul nopáiDpeD in mapcac commaD lie copac in molca, ."] a puile do lécuD dó céin nobec ic a Dénam. lc Gc péne Dan ím TTliDe DoponaD in molaD-pa, uc Ulael Suchain Di;cic : aDpér, immopo, pepDomnach, comapba Colu[i]m Chilli, ip iap Slige Qppail pocanaD, ó rá Dun nan CtipbeD cop in cpoip ic U15 Lomma[i]n. Qnamain ecep Da mn inpo .1. nin 1 coppuc in molcai "| nin in a DepuiD .1. " Ni Dip [p]céoil" -| " Nimúam." No ip ^obul Di .1. pecne De-chubaiD .1. Da pon no a cpi do cinnpeecul o aén piD beop .1. DiaiD inDiaiD, 1 pon o piD ip écpamail in a DÍaD piDe.
Dia, Dia, "|c. Ip aipi emnap m céc pocal ap abela, no ap lainm in molca, uc epc, Deup, Deup meup, -jc. Ip é, immopo, a ainm pein lap in ^óeoel " aceppuc in giicn ^náf," ap bici epi quale copmaile labapcha ic pileDaib na J)oeDei^5e ■'■ aacqipuc in gucn glác, -] ainpi-moD, 1 aoiabul, -] ip í po aicne cecai Díb. Ip é lnc aiceppuc quiDem emnaD óen-pocuil in oen-iniuD ip inD punn 1 cen lenamain Dé ó pein immac. Ip é, immopo, ainpe-moD ainni|'ein o ttiud inunD .1. inc óen-pocul do pao
FORESPEECH. 1 5
in the time of his death ; for he said, to one dead it was fitting : and it is of headlets [capitula] Dalian proceeded to make his poem. Now Columb Cille promised to Dalian the gifts and products of the earth for this praising, and he did not take them, but heaven for himself and for every one who would recite it each day, and would understand it between sense and sound, as a certain one said:
Columb's Amra — every day
Whoever will recite it completely, Will reach the good bright kingdom
O C5 O
Which God granted to Dalian.
Now three signs Columb Cille gave him the time he should make it — namely, a rider of a speckled steed would announce to him the death of Columb Cille, and the first word the rider would utter, that it was to be the beginning of the praising, and that his eyes would be allowed to him, while he should be at the making of it. At Feni's Ford again in Mide [Meath] this praising was made, as Mael Suthain said : Ferdomnach, however, successor of Columb Cille, declares it is behind Assal's Way it was chanted, from where the Fort of the Balustrades is to the Cross at Lom- man's House. Anamain between two Ashes this ; that is, Ash in the beginning of the praising, and Ash in its ending ; namely, Ni dis \s\ceoil and Nimuain. Or it is for k of two, that is, bi-rh}nning narration ; that is, to begin two sounds or three from one tree still ; that is, one after another; and a sound from a tree which is different after that.
" God, God," &c. It is why he doubles the first word — on account of the rapidity and avidity of the praising, as is, Deits, Deus meus, &c. But the name of that with the Goedel is '' return to a usual sound ;" for there be three similar standards of expression with the poets of the Goedel; that is, re-return to a usual sound, and renarration mode, and reduplication, and this is the mark of each of them. The "return," indeed, is a doubling of one word in one place in the round, without adhering to it from that forth. The "renarration mode," again, is renarrating from a like mode ; that is, the one word — to say it frequently in the
l G rcempocnl.
commenic ip inD punD con ecapcaioecc pocul ele ecappu, uc epc hoc .1.
T?ic in picbe piclap ma^,
Pic in Dam cpí coécaic glono : l?ic in jilla jcjupmap, jano, popacaib Cú Oínipc Donn.
Ip 6, immopo, aDiabul .1. apilliuD .1. Do-emnaD, uc epc hoc, .1.
Ctgup, á^up, iap céin céin,
óic 1 péin pein, ní rír: pic : Qmal các các, co bpác bpác,
ln cec cpác cpác, ciD pcíc pcíc.
Oa epnail Díb po íp íno pempocul-po — aceppuc in ^ucn gnác, ocup ainnpi-moD : ainpe-moo, immopo, nammá po^abap 1 cupp mD ímmum.
oia, oia— oopposus reia uias inn a
^NUTIS .1. aca^up Dia, no guDim Oia, píapiu chíap in a gnúip, no in ran, no inD inDbaiD ciap.
CUtU URia NG1U.— popcceo, no popmolaD pil hie : 1 con na bicip gnee popcceDa, poip in oicneo ~\ DocneD 1 cennacpop, uc cpjiDam Dicunc. 61D Dan neic .1. gum, uc Dicicup : —
l?ob é do lecc 1 papce
lap Do néic péol pipaicce :
l?iiccap 1 capp inDiaiD pill
Do [pjpacc, a pcáil, Di á coem-chill.
.1. Gmal céic cappac pepDa cpé car, co pop amlaiD Dec m' annn-pea cpia cacn [o]emna Docum nime.
CULU .i. popcceD punD inconDiliD, ap ip "cul" in pocul gnácac, ace poruill in pili .u. punD Do UnaD na piliDecca ; no, Do Duaicni^uD na pocul cpia Digbail ocup cpia cópmach ocup cpia incumpguguD Do Dénam incib. -] acác cpí gnee paip .1. DicneD "| DocneD ocup cennacpop.
FORESPEECH. 17
round, with an intervention of other words between them, as is this :
Came the foam [which] the plain filters, Came the ox through fifty warriors ;
[So] came the keen, active lad, [Whom] brown Cu Dinisc left.
But " reduplication" is, namely, " refolding ;" that is, " bi- geminating," as is this :
I ask, I ask, after long, long,
To be in pain, pain, not peace, peace :
Like each, each, till judgment, judgment, In each time, time, though fatigue, fatigue.
Two divisions of these in this forespeech : " return to a usual sound," and " renarration-mode ;" but '' renarration- mode" only in the body of the hymn.
God, God — I have asked him ere I come to his face. .1. I implore of God, or I ask of God ere I come to his face, or the time, or the period I come.
For chariots through battle. — £< Obscuration," or " superabundance," here ; and that appearances of ''obscura- tion " might not exist, the " be-heading," and " bi-headiiigy' and " head-changing " have been established, as some per- sons say. " Neit" also means, that is, wound, as is said :
May thy monument at dawn-breeze be After thy death-wound a sail ever to be driven ; Borne may [she] be in a chariot after a horse Thy wife, 0 hero, to her beautiful church.
That is : as a serrated chariot goes through battle, may it be so my soul shall go through the battle of demons to heaven.
" Obscuration" here in a special way, for cul is the usual word ; but the poet added .iu here for filling of the poetry ; or for making the words hard to be known through diminution and through increase and through immutation being made in them. And there are three forms on it, [on "obscuration,"] that is, "be-heading," and "bi-heading," and "head-changing." The "be-heading" is — to cut its own head
18 Rempocul.
lp é in DicneD a chenD Do $aic oo'nD [p]ocul -| cen ni ele in a inaD, uc Oipcic poeca : —
Oál poDalup — móp in baep — lp ino apup huap Opuimm : Q mmo Chomoiu, a pi pú pá, 6ui biu ba bép ni ciap.
" l?ú pá" — ípé in Depmepece anD pem : ap íp "pun pan" poDlecc. lp e, uepo, rri OocneD Da cenD paip .1. a cenn fém -\ cenD ele ; -\ commao é a Dilep in liccip Dé- Denac inD [p]ocuil do emnao, amal Dognerea " benn" Do'nDi ap " ben," ur oicicup : —
Lainn pip néie paDb copcpa ; Téic Daij Oe oemm ni cepcoa ; poppuim cenD Do cpunD occga ; ^nac cenn 1 cpub Chon eccga.
CoinmaD hi péc nobéc in Depmepece hie .1. a chenD péin pop inD [p]ip iic 1 cenn neic ele in a láim ; ace cena íp in eplabpa pe^caip inna haipci "| ni hi péc. CommaD hé in Depmeipecc hie " ni cepcoa," ap poeuilleo "Da" popp in pocul cepc : ace cena incpeccap pein, ap ni " oeicneo" íapn Dilpi copmac pillaibi, ace ip " popmolaD pileD ;" 1 íp é po a oeipmepecc piDe : —
Céim o locaib Do linn ól Co ^locaib clú naD ^ano on : Ueee pec eocu 1 cinD cpice — TTlaic bechu ím bice annón.
CaDe Din in oecneo ip inD punD acpubpummap. " Cainn pip -|c. Nin. " <Cenn" Do oénam Do'nD ni ap"cen" .1. cene, ap Dai 5 50 po[p]pecpaD do " chenn" : ocup DécneD íapn Dilpi pein. lp amlaiD po, immopo, Depmepeccaigcip na hepnaili-pea in alnp libpip .1. Oicneo amal acá " Dochupin" .1. cellaD a chenD oé .1. 'n " et," ap ip " Docuip[i]nec" pobui oe ppiup. lp e, immopo, in DeicneD, uc epc •'maelan" .1. " án" in cenD ele : ip é in cenOnacpop, uc epc " penchap," ap ip "penchap" pobui De ppuip. lpe pomepechao nan Oepmepece-pea .1. ni DicneD íapn Dilpi Oi^bail pillaibi *] ni oicneo lapno ino ap[p]aDe cipeD apile. Ctpaill anD Dan, ip
EORESPEECH. 19
off the word and without anything else in its place, as some one said :
A meeting I appointed — great the folly —
In the stand above Druimm : 0 my Lord, 0 king of noble mysteries!
. &c.
" Ru ra" — it is the example there ; for it is " run ran" that was lawful. But the " bi-heading" is — two heads on it, that is, its own head and another head ; and that its propriety may be the doubling of the last letter of the word, as if benn were made of what is ben, as is said :
The desire of a man of battle [is] purple spoil ; God's fire comes gloomy, not rare ; A strong stroke [is] from a shaft of eight hands ; Usual a head in the fist of Cu of deadliness.
So that it be in matter the example may be here, that is, his own head on that man, and the head of another one in his hand ; but yet it is in speech these proprieties are viewed, and not in matter. So that it be the example here, " ni tercda," for " da" was added to the proper word ; but yet that is criticized, for the increase of a syllable is not " bi-heading" according to propriety, but it is a " super- abundance of poets ;" and this is the example of that :
Advance from lakes for a net of twists, With celebrities — a fame not narrow this :
Coming past horses in the end of a territory — Good the life in which there is plentiness.
What, then, is the " bi-heading" in the round we have spoken. " Lainn fir, &c." Not difficult. To make tenn of that which is ten, that is, fire, with a view that it may answer to cenn, and that is "bi-heading" according to propriety. The following, however, is the way these divisions are exemplified in other books, that is, " be- heading" as is dochusin, that is, cutting its head off it ; that is, the "et," for it is docuis\t\net it was formerly. But the " bi-heading" is as is maelan, that is, an is the other head : the " headlet-changing" is as is senchas, for it is fenchas it was formerly. The following is the criticism of these examples, that is, diminution of a syllable is not
20 rcempocul.
íac na pocail ^náca mom " Doc u pin," -| "maelán,'' "| " penchap." lapn appacaib Din aca Deipmepecca punc : cqi popcap lac na pocail ^nácca acu pit>e " Docuipinec" "| " mael" ~\ " pencap.'' Ip é, immopo, m cennacpop inDiii " penchap" Do Denam Do'nD [p]ocul ap "penchap :" ap íp é in gnácac ínoiu "penchap," uc Dicicup : —
pégpaic pilm páil ipop pencap co pei£ la pep^op : TTlaD iap mal cac maige immac, Ooppóipce Dome Oubcac.
" penacap :" íp é in Depmepecc ann pein .p. ap .p. anD. lp cumma Do^nicep 1 copuc ~| in DepiuD pocuil in DicneD "1 in cennacpop : in DepiuD, immopo, pocuil namma ap jjnác DÓcneD Do Dénam. Ni aiccem Dan ic pileoaib na ^aeoeilje amm páin pop Dí^bail liccpi -| pillabi amal acchiam pop copmac liccpi i pillabi .1. " DócneD" copmac liccpi -j " popmolaD" copmac pillabi.
01a Mime Nimr?eil5e il Lurs in 615- chiaR ar? mmch 01 a meiu .1. ap péiao
pípinm acbep " Oía nime," no di á pip con nac Oia ap iDal. " Nimpeilge íl liiji^ nan Demna oc an Dencap éjsjem ap méc am muice."
01a map mo aNaccoL oe mu r teiNO-
UlOe OIU-OGRCN Oe'R.i.lTlóp-OíaDomm'anaccul ap immeD in ceneD, bale 1 reil^icip Dépa co cian ic o Dcicpin .1. ap pic mup immeo, uc oicicup :
TTlúp immeD call ip ino pecc, Cop biiaiD ip bpíachap lán-chepc : Dii bale, dú oúchaig lac, Cul comec, ip oil cappac.
Dtu-bepc Dan noinen compoppicum ó Lacin ocup Scocic.
FORESPEECH. 21
" beheading" according to propriety, and anything else is not " be-heading" according to the antiquity. Another thing in the case too— the usual words at present are — dochusin and maelan, and senchas. According to the ancients then examples are here ; for the usual words with them were docuisinet, and mael, and fencas. But the "head-changing" at present is to make fencas of the word which is senchas ; for the usual at present is senchas, as is said :
The poets of Fal have viewed here
The Fenchas with illumination by Fergus :
If it is in reference to the poet of every plain forth—
Dubthach has surpassed men.
" Fenachas :" the example there is ./. for .s. It is alike in the beginning or in the end of a word the " be-heading" and the "head-changing" are made ; but in the end only of a word it is usual to make the " bi-heading." We do not see again with the poets of the Goedelic a different name for diminution of a letter and of a syllable, as we see for in- crease of a letter and of a syllable, that is, " bi-heading" in- crease of a letter, and " superabundance" increase of a syllable.
The God of Heaven — may He not allow me into the host in which there is crying on account of smoke from its greatness .1. For the manifestation of truth he says, "God of heaven," or from his knowledge that he is not a God who is an idol. " May he not allow me into the host of the demons, with whom crying is made on account of the greatness of their smoke."
Great God my protection from the fiery ram- fart of long eyes of tears ! .i. — Great God for my protection against the fence of the fire, a place in which are shed tears for a long time a-looking on it. That is, for mur means fence (immed), as is said :
"Mur" [means] fence beyond in the law.
" Coph," victory, and a full-right word.
" Du" [means] place, " du" inheritance with thee.
" Cul," protection, and "cul," chariot.
'■ Diudcrc" accordingly is a noun compounded from
22 uerhpocul.
Oiu .1. incian : Depc .1. pull, ur Dipnc gpanni injen Cop- maic pju pinD :
pil Dune, ftipm [b]aD buoe lem Diu-Depc, Q|i a cpibpinD in bir ule,
Q meicc TTIaipe, cid Diubepc!
01a piRGN, piRocus, cLuings mo oo
NU'CUll OO NlTTl-1'at net .1. Oia pípóen, no
Oía na pípén. '' pip-ocup" .1. quia ere Oeup ub'que ec ppope omnibup inuocaricibup eum. lTIo oo-mimll .1. mo Do nucull .1. nuall mo cuipp -| m'emma lap nelaib co iach nime : no, núall pecaplaice "] nu-pinaD. No, "mo 00- nuaill" .1. mo Do nuall .1. mo nuall Do .1. do Oia. biD Dan " iarh" mino ~] " lac" pepanD, uc Dicicup :
pó ainm Do mairip Do miaD, pi ainm d'uIc íp o'anjiiao : Cl'n pip íp ni popup pa no, Vacli minD 1 iach pepano.
FORESPEECH. 23
Latin and Scotic. " Diu," that is, long; " derc," that is, eye : as Granne, daughter of Cormac, said to Find :
There is a person, For a long look at whom I should feel grateful, For whom I should give the whole world, 0 Son of Mary, what a privation !
God righteous, truly near, wno hears my sad
WAIL TO THE HEAVEN-LAND OF CLOUDS .1. — RighteOUS God,
or