Translated by Elizabeth A. Gray
English
1. The Tuatha De Danann were in the northern islands of the world, studying occult lore and sorcery, druidic arts and witchcraft and magical skill, until they surpassed the sages of the pagan arts.
2. They studied occult lore and secret knowledge and diabolic arts in four cities: Falias, Gorias, Murias, and Findias.
3. From Falias was brought the Stone of Fal which was located in Tara. It used to cry out beneath every king that would take Ireland.
4. From Gorias was brought the spear which Lug had. No battle was ever sustained against it, or against the man who held it in his hand.
5. From Findias was brought the sword of Nuadu. No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its deadly sheath, and no one could resist it.
6. From Murias was brought the Dagda’s cauldron. No company ever went away from it unsatisfied.
7. There were four wizards in those four cities. Morfesa was in Falias; Esras was in Gorias; Uiscias was in Findias; Semias was in Murias. Those are the four poets from whom the Tuatha De learned occult lore and secret knowledge.
8. The Tuatha De then made an alliance with the Fomoire, and Balor the grandson of Net gave his daughter Ethne to Cian the son of Dian Cecht. And she bore the glorious child, Lug.
9. The Tuatha De came with a great fleet to Ireland to take it by force from the Fir Bolg. Upon reaching the territory of Corcu Belgatan (which is Conmaicne Mara today), they at once burned their boats so that they would not think of fleeing to them. The smoke and the mist which came from the ships filled the land and the air which was near them. For that reason it has been thought that they arrived in clouds of mist.
10. The battle of Mag Tuired was fought between them and the Fir Bolg. The Fir Bolg were defeated, and 100,000 of them were killed including the king, Eochaid mac Eire.
11. Nuadu’s hand was cut off in that battle–Sreng mac Sengainn struck it from him. So with Credne the brazier helping him, Dian Cecht the physician put on him a silver hand that moved as well as any other hand.
12. Now the Tuatha De Danann lost many men in the battle, including Edleo mac Allai, and Ernmas, and Fiacha, and Tuirill Bicreo.
13. Then those of the Fir Bolg who escaped from the battle fled to the Fomoire, and they settled in Arran and in Islay and in Man and in Rathlin.
14. There was contention regarding the sovereignty of the men of Ireland between the Tuatha De and their wives, since Nuadu was not eligible for kingship after his hand had been cut off. They said that it would be appropriate for them to give the kingship to Bres the son of Elatha, to their own adopted son, and that giving him the kingship would knit the Fomorians’ alliance with them, since his father Elatha mac Delbaith was king of the Fomoire.
15. Now the conception of Bres came about in this way.
16. One day one of their women, Eriu the daughter of Delbaeth, was looking at the sea and the land from the house of Maeth Sceni; and she saw the sea as perfectly calm as if it were a level board. After that, while she was there, she saw something: a vessel of silver appeared to her on the sea. Its size seemed great to her, but its shape did not appear clearly to her; and the current of the sea carried it to the land.
Then she saw that it was a man of fairest appearance. He had golden-yellow hair down to his shoulders, and a cloak with bands of gold thread around it. His shirt had embroidery of gold thread. On his breast was a brooch of gold with the lustre of a precious stone in it. Two shining silver spears and in them two smooth riveted shafts of bronze. Five circlets of gold around his neck. A gold-hilted sword with inlayings of silver and studs of gold.
17. The man said to her, “Shall I have an hour of lovemaking with you?”
“I certainly have not made a tryst with you,” she said.
“Come without the trysting!” said he.
18. Then they stretched themselves out together. The woman wept when the man got up again.
“Why are you crying?” he asked.
“I have two things that I should lament,” said the woman, “separating from you, however we have met. The young men of the Tuatha De Danann have been entreating me in vain-and you possess me as you do.”
19. “Your anxiety about those two things will be removed,” he said. He drew his gold ring from his middle finger and put it into her hand, and told her that she should not part with it, either by sale or by gift, except to someone whose finger it would fit.
20. “Another matter troubles me,” said the woman, “that I do not know who has come to me.”
21. “You will not remain ignorant of that,” he said. “Elatha mac Delbaith, king of the Fomoire, has come to you. You will bear a son as a result of our meeting, and let no name be given to him but Eochu Bres (that is, Eochu the Beautiful), because every beautiful thing that is seen in Ireland–both plain and fortress, ale and candle, woman and man and horse–will be judged in relation to that boy, so that people will then say of it, ‘It is a Bres.’”
22. Then the man went back again, and the woman returned to her home, and the famous conception was given to her.
23. Then she gave birth to the boy, and the name Eochu Bres was given to him as Elatha had said. A week after the woman’s lying-in was completed, the boy had two weeks’ growth; and he maintained that increase for seven years, until he had reached the growth of fourteen years.
24. As a result of that contention which took place among the Tuatha De, the sovereignty of Ireland was given to that youth; and he gave seven guarantors from the warriors of Ireland (his maternal kinsmen) for his restitution of the sovereignty if his own misdeeds should give cause. Then his mother gave him land, and he had a fortress built on the land, Dun mBrese. And it was the Dagda who built that fortress.
25. But after Bres had assumed the sovereignty, three Fomorian kings (Indech mac De Domnann, Elatha mac Delbaith, and Tethra) imposed their tribute upon Ireland-and there was not a smoke from a house in Ireland which was not under their tribute. In addition, the warriors of Ireland were reduced to serving him: Ogma beneath a bundle of firewood and the Dagda as a rampart-builder, and he constructed the earthwork around Bres’s fort.
Old Irish
Batar Tuathai De Danonn i n-indsib tuascertachaib an domuin aig foglaim fesa & fithnasachta & druidechtai & amaidechtai & amainsechta, combtar fortilde for suthib cerd ngenntlichtae.
Ceitri cathrachai ir-rabatar og fochlaim fhesai & eolais & diabuldanachtai .i. Falias & Goirias, Murias & Findias.
A Falias tucad an Lia Fail bui a Temraig. Nogesed fo cech rig nogebad Erinn.
A Gorias tucad an tsleg boi ac Lug. Ni gebtea cath fria no frisinti an bidh il-laimh.
A Findias tucad claidiub Nuadot. Ni terládh nech dei o dobirthe asa idntiuch bodhuha, & ni gebtai fris.
A Murias tucad coiri an Dagdai. Ni tegedh dam dimdach uadh.
Cetri druid isna cetri cathrachaib-sin. Mor-fesae bai a Falias. Esras boi hi nGorias. Uiscias boi a Findias. Semias bai a Murias. It iad sin na cetri filid ocar’ foglaindsit Tuata De fios & eolas.
Gnisit iarum Tuatha De caratrad fri Fomorib, & debert Balar ua Néit a ingin .i. Ethne, de Cen mac Dien cecht. Gonad i-side ruc an gein mbuadha .i. Lucc.
Tangatar Tuad Dei morloinges mor d’indsaigid Erionn dia gabail arecin for Feraib Bolc. Roloiscset a mbaraca focetoir iar torrachtain crice Corcu-Belgatan .i. Conmaicne mara andiu, eatsen, conapedh a n-aire for teiched cucu, gur rolion an dei & an céu tanaic denaib loggaib an ferodn & an aer robe comfocus doib. Conid assin rogabad a tichtain a nelaip ciach.
Fectha cath Muighe Tuired etorra & Fir Bolc, & maite for Feraib Bolc, & marbthar cét mile diib am Eochaig mac n-Eirc immon righ.
Isen cath sin dno robenad a lamh de Nuadaid .i. Sregg mac Sengaidn rophen dei hí, go tarad Dien-cecht an liaigh laim airgid foair co luth cecai láma, & Credhne in cerd ag cungnam fris.
Cid Tuath Dei Dononn dno derocratar gomar isin cath im Edleo mac nAllai & am Er(n)mus, am Fhióchraig & im Turild Bicreo.
Doneoch immorro terla de Feraib Bolc asin cath lotar ar teched de saigid na Fomore, gor’ gabsad a n-Arainn & and Íle & a Manaidn & a Rachraind.
Bai imcosnum flathae fher n-Erenn itir Tuaid De & a mná, ar nirb’ inrighae Nuadoo iar mbeim a laime de. Adpertutar ba cumdigh doip rige do Pres mac Elathan, díe ngormac fesin, & co snaidhmfed caratrad Fomure fria an rige de tabairt dósin, ar ba {MS folio 63 b} ri Fomore a athair, edon Elotha mac Delbaeth.
Is amlaid so iarum arricht compert Bresi.
Bai didiu ben diib lau n-adn oc deicsin an marai & an tiri do tichc Maoth Sceni .i. Eri ingen Delbaith, go n-acui an muir fo lanfeth amail ba clar cumredh. A mbui and iarsin confacai ní. Dusn-arfas ess n-argait isin fairce. Ba mar lee a méd acht na tarthragestar a delp dii, & dobert sruthna tuinde riam decum tirei. Conacqu iarum pa duine ind ba ferr delph. Mogg orbude foir go a dib guaillib. Brat go srethaib di orsnáth imbe. A lene gond indledhaib de orsnáth. Delc n-óir ara bruinde go forsannadh de líic loghmair adn. Dia gelgae airgide & di semcradn snasai indib de credumae. Coicroith oir uara muin. Clodib orduirn go fethaidib airget & go cichib oir.
Ispert an fer frie: ‘In linn bío assae uar coblige laut?’ ‘Ni rud-dalus em’, ol in phen. ‘Tic frisna dáulta’, ol esium.
Consernad doib iarum. Ciich an pen iarum antan asnérsed an uher. ‘Cid cíi?’ ol esium. ‘Tátham dede rocoiner’, ol in bean: ‘scaradh friutsa quibindes a cumairnecmar. Maccaema Túath nDea Domnonn is ét iar mo caenghuide & mo ét didsiu amail atomcotasiu.’
‘Didigestar do broc din déde si’, ol sei. Tiscaid a órnaisc n-óir dia meor medhóin & debert ina laim, & aspert ria na tesed uaide i crec iná i n-aisced, acht de nech diamad coimsie1 die meor sin.
‘Is deitheden eli domsae’, ol in pen, ‘nat fetar cia dom-fainec’.
‘Ni bo hainfes det andísin’, ol seie. ‘Dit-anaic Elothae mac Delpaeth rí Fomore. Béra mac diar comruc, & ni tartar ainm do acht Eocha Bres, edon Eocha Cruthach, ar cech cruthach atcíther a n-Erinn, etir mag & dun & cuirm & coindeil & ben & fer & ech, is risin mac sin dobiter, con-eperthar as bres dó annsin’.
Is iarsin luidh an fer doridisi ina fritheng, & doluid an phen dia hadphai, & depreth de an compert airderc.
Bert in mac iarum & debreth dó an ainm atbert Elotha .i. Eocha Pres. Intan ba laun a sechtmad athseoltai ina mnáa bui forpart caeictiges for in mac, & rofuc an arthrach sin go cend a secht mbliadan go roucht forpart .xiiii. bliadan.
Is den cosnam sin boi etir Tuaith Deu dobreth flaith Erenn don mac sin, & dobert .uii. n-aidirie di trénferuib Erenn .i. a matri, fri hasic na flathae uad ma fofertís a mifholtae fesin. Dibert a máthair tír do iarsin, & dongnit dun les uar an tir .i. Dun mBrese, & ba hé an Dagdhae dogene an dun sen.
O rogeb iarum Bres righe ronaisceatar Fomoraig .i. Indech mac Dei Domnann & Elathu mac Delbaeth & Tethra, tri rig Fomorach, a cíos for Erinn, co na boi dei do clethe a
n-Erinn forsna beth cíos doib. Dobretha dno na trénfirae a foghnam dou .i. Oghmae fou cualae connaidh & an Daghdo ‘na rathbuige, gonadh sé rocladh Rath mBrese.
Ba toirsich dno an Dagdo ocund obair, & atcliched daul esba isin tech, Cridenbel a ainm, a beolae di suide asa bruindie. Ba pec la Crichinphél a cuid fesin & bá mar cuid an Dagdae. As inn atbert: ‘A Dagdae, dot inchaib na tri mírionn bes dech dot {MS folio 64a} chuid tapraither domsae!’ Doberedh iarum an Dagdae dó cech n-oidche. Maru immorro a mírionn an cainte .i. met degmuce ba hed an mír. Ba trian immorro de cuid an Dagdhua na tri mirenn sen. Mesai-de bláth an Dagdhae dinni sin.
Lau n-ann didiu bai an Dagdai isin clad conacai an Mac n-Oc cuige. ‘Maith sin, a Dagdai!’ or in Mac Óc. ‘Amin’,ol in Dagdae. ‘Cidh deghnie drochfethol?’ ol sé. ‘Tathum a damhnai’, ol esium. ‘Cridenbel Cáinte gaphais algas dim gachae nónae im na tri mirionn as dech dim cuibrind’.
‘Tatham airlei deit’, ol in Mac Oc. Dobeir laim ina bossan, & gadaid tri scildei óir ass & dobeir doo.
‘Tapair-si’, ol se, ‘na trí scitle-si isna tri mirinn deog-laei do Cridenbel. Is ed iarum is sruitium bioas fort mes, & adsuife an t-ór ina broinn co n-epili de, & ni ba maith a cert do Bres iarum. Atbertar frisin righ ‘romarbh an Daghdae Cridenbel tre luib eccineol derat dou’. Isperae iarum an ri de marbad. Isberusa fris: Ni fíor flathu deit, a ri oc fenei, a n-udbere, ar domringarta2 o gabais mo uopair, & aspered frim: ‘tidnaic dom, a Dagdai, na tri mirinn ata dech dot cuibrionn: is olc mo trebad annocht’. Docoatsai dno desin
minam-cobradís na teorai scillice fúar andíu. Dus-radas form cuid: dorautus iarum do Cridenbél, ar is edh is dech bhui armobelaib, and ór. As dae iarum ind or a Cridenbélcon-erbailt de.’ ‘Is menann’, ar an ri. ‘Tiscaither a tarr fon cainte dus in fuirestar ind or ann. Min fuirestarcon bebhausa. Di fuirestar immorro ba pethai did.’
Iarsin tallaid a tarr fon cainte, go fuiresta na teorai scilte oir adna brú, & anachtae an Dagdae.
Tolluid an Dagdae ina obair iarum arauharach, & tanic an Mac Og cucai, & atbert side: ‘As gar go rois th’ obair, & ni cunghis fochrec go tucaither det cethri Erenn, & togai diib dairt mongduib nduib ndentaaicenn leo’.
Is iarsin dogeniu an Dagdae a oupair go forcend, & asbert fris Bres, cid nogebad il-log a saethair. Frisgart an Dagdae: ‘Atgnasa fort cethre Erenn’, al se, ‘de teglomath a n-oenmaighin’. Dongnith an ri anndísin amail aspert, & togai diib an dairt aspert an Mac Óc fris. Ba héccomhnart la Bres annísin : demenair side ba ní pudh moo dogegadh.
Boi dno Nuadae oga uothras & dobreth laim n-argait foair lioa Dien-cecht go lucht cecha lamha indte. Nir’ uo maith dno liaa mac-sium sen .i. le Miach. Atreracht sim don laim & atbert ‘ault fri halt di, & feith fri feth,’ & icuis fri teorai nomaidhe. In cetna nómad immuscuirid comair a taeib & rotonigestar. An-dómad tanisde immascuirid aro brundib. An tres
nomad dobidced gel sg::ai di boc-sibnibh dubhoib o ro dubtis a ten.
Ba holc lia Dien-cecht an freapaid sin. Duleicc claidimh a mullach a meic go rotend a tuidn fri feoil a cinn. Icais an gillai tre inndeld a eladon. Atcomaic aithurrach go ro teind a feoil corrodic cnaimh. Icais an gilde den indel cétnae. Bissis an tres bein co ranic srebonn a inchinde. Icais dno an gille don indell cétnae. Bisius dno an cethramad mbein co nderba an inchind, conid apu Mioach, & atbert Dien-cecht nach n-icfad lieig badesin ontslaithe sin.
Iarsin rohadhnocht lia Dien-cecht Mioach, & asaid coic lube sescut ar tri cétuib tresin athnocul, fo líon a altai & fethe. Is iarsin scarais Airmedh a prat & decechla na lube sin iarna techtai. Tosarluid Dien-cect & conmesc side na lube, cona fesai a frepai cori manis-tecaisceth an Spirut iartain. Ocus atbert Den-cecht: ‘Mane pé Mioach meraidh Airmeth’.
Gapuis tra Bres an flaith feib donidnacht do. Bui fodhord móar imbe lie mathrui la Thuaith Dei, ar nibtar beoluide a scenai uatha. Cid menic notistais niptar cormaide a n-anaulai. Ni fhacutar dno a filidh ina a mbardai no a cainte no i crutire no i cuslendaig no a cornairie no i clesomhnaig no a n-onmide oga n-airfide arucinn isin techlug. Ni co lotar dno a comromai a segonn. Ni facutar a trénfiorai do fromadh fri eggnamh liesin righ, acht oenfer namma .i. Oghmai mac Etnae.
Ba he ord frism-boi, tobairt connaid don dun. Doberidh cuoail cech lai a hIndsib Mod. Noberiud an muir da trien a coile aire fóuhíth ba henirt cen bieadh. Ni taprad acht entrian,
& nofiuradh an sluaigh on trath co’ role.
Ni roan tra fochnom nó eraic dona tuathaib, & ní tapradis seoit na tuaithe a foicidh na tuaithe oli.
Tanic an file fecht ann for oighidhecht do tichc Brese, edhoen Corpre mac Etoine, file Tuaithe Dei. Ranic a tech mbic cumang ndub ndorchai sech ni raibe tene nó indel no derghaud ann. Tucthae teorai bargenui becai do, atéi turui, for meis muhic. Atracht iarum arnauharach, & nir’ bo pudech. Oc techt tar an les do as ind itbert:
- Cen colt for crib cerníne;
cen gert ferbba fora n-assa athirni;
cen adba fir fo druba disorchi;
cen díl dámi resi, rob sen Brisse
‘Ni fil amain tra Bresi’, ol se. Ba fir on dno. Ni boi acht meth foairi-sim ond uair-sin. Conad si sin cétnae hoer doronadh a n-Erinn.
Iarsin tra dollotar Tuath Dea a hoentai do agallaim an gairmic .i. Bres mac Eladna & condioachtutar cucae die n-araighib. Tobert doib tasiuc na flathae, & ni bo sofoltach friu disin. Gadhuis im anuth fris co cend .uii. bliadan. ‘Rut-bioa’, ol ion t-oirecht cétnai a hoentai, ‘acht docui forsan rathai cétnu coinge cech torad tairfenat frit laimh, etir treb & tir & or & argat, buar & biad, & diolmaine do cios & eraic conice sin’. ‘Robor-biaa’, ol Pres, ‘amail atberthei’.
Is airi gesu doib an daul, co tarcomlat-sim trénfiru an ts[dot ]idho .i. na Fomore, fri gapail na tuath arecin, acht go tairsed les (doqhlte). Fa scith lais a ionnarbad asa rige.
Decomlai iarum dechum a máthar & imcomaircter di cia bo can a cinel. ‘Is derb lium’,ol síe, & luidh riam docum na tilchu dia n-acu an es n-aircit asin muoir. Luid remhi docum na trachta, & dobert a máthair ind órnasc dofacbhud lei do, & dobert-sium imma meor medonuch, & ba fomhais dou. Ar nach duine dotarfir sí etir crec & aisced. Ni raibe diib diamad imairgide cusan laithe sin.
Lotar rempuo ioarum con-rancutar tír na Fómore. Ráncutar mag mor co n-airechtaib iomdaib. An t-oirecht ba socruidie diobh dollotar cucau. Immafoucht scelu dib isin oirecht. Atpertutar bá de feraib Erenn. Itbert friu iarum an rabutar coin ocu, ar iss ed ba bes isin aimsir-sin slog teged a n-oirecht alale cumcluiche nó cocluiche do tocbhauil. {MS folio 65a} ‘Atat coin lenn’, al Pres. Fochartatar iarum an coin cocluiche, & batar luaithe coin Tuath nDea oldate coin na Fomore. Focres forrai dno dus am-bi leo eich ri comrith. Atbertatar sam ‘Atod’, & batar luaithe aldat eich na Fomore.
Focres forra dno dus a mbi leu nech padh calmai fri laim imbertai cloidib. Nid frith leu acht Bres a oenar. Antan denu argaib-sium a laim cosin cloideb aithgin a athair and ornasc imma meor, & friscomhairc cioa bo cuich en laech. Friscart a máthair darucenn, & asbert risin rig ba mac dou he. Atcuaid dou an scél n-uli amail derurmesam.
Fa bronach a athair fris. Atbert an t-athair: ‘Cisi ecin det-birt asin tir hi forgabais?’ Frisgart Bres: ‘Nim-tucc acht m’anfhir & m’anuabhar fesin. Diusriubart die setaib & maineib & a mbiadh fesin. Nid tallas cios no eric dib cosindiu’.
‘Duaig sin’, al o athair. ‘Pa ferr ar-rath oldas a rrighe. Ba ferr a nguide oldás a n-eguidhi. Cid dia tutchad diu?’ ol a athair.
‘Dadechadus do cuindchid trénfer cugaibsi’, ar se. ‘Nogebainn in tír sin ar eigin’.
‘Ní rogaba la hainbfir immorro mani gaba la fir’,ol sé.
‘Cest, diu, caidhe mo airrle si luat?’ ol Bres.
Faithius iarsin cusan trénfer, co Balur hua Neitt, co righ na n-innsi, & co hIndech mac De Domnand, co rig Fomoire, & nos-taireclamat-side doneoch buí o Lochlainn síar do sluag docum n-Erenn, do astad a císa & a righi ar eigin foruib, gur’ ba haon droichet long o indsib Galld co hErind léo.
Ni tanaic docum nErenn drem bud mo gráin nó aduath inda in slog sin na Fomoiridhi. Ba combag ogond fir o Sgiathia Lochlaindi & a hinnsib Gall immon slogad sin.
Imtusa immorro Tuaithi De is ed imma cesnaidter sund.
Bui Nuadhae doridesi tareis Brese a rige for Thuaith Deu. Bui mórfled ocuside di Tuaith Dei a Temraig an inbaid sin. Boi dno oruli oglaech og saighid de Temraig, Samhildánach a ainm-side. Botar dorsaidi for Temraig an inbuid sin .i. Gamal mac Figail & Camald mac Riaghaild a n-anmonn sidei. A mboi side and atcí an dirim n-anetarcnaidh ‘na docum. Oglaech coem cruthach co n-imscigg riog a n-airenuch na buidne sin.
Atbertatar risin dorsaid ara n-indised a Temruich a tiachtai. Atbert in dorsaid: ‘Cia fil and?’
‘Fil sunn Luch Lonnandsclech mac Ciein meic Diencecht & Ethne ingine Baloir: dalta siden Taillne ingine
Magmoir ri Espáine & Echdach Gairuh meic Duach.’
Rofiarfaig ion dorsaid do t-Samhilldanuch: ‘Cia dan frisa ngneie?’ al sei, ‘ar ni teid nech cin dan i Temruig.’
‘Dene mo athcomarc’, ol se: ‘am saer.’ Friscort an dorsaid: ‘Nit-regaim i leas. Ata saer lenn cenu .i. Luchtai mac Luachadhae.’
Atpert-sum: ‘Atum-athcomairc, a dorrsoid: am gobhae.’ Frisgart ion dorsaid dou: ‘Ata gobae liond cenai .i. Colum Cuaolléinech teorae nua-gres.’
Atpert-som: ‘Atom-athcomairc, am trénfer.’ Friscart in dorsaid: ‘Nid-regoim a les: ata tréinfer lend cenu .i. Oghmae mac Ethlend.’
Atbert-sum diridesi: ‘Atom-athcomairc’ ar se: ‘am crutiri’. ‘Nit-regaim {MS folio 65b} a les: ata crutiri lenn cenai .i. Auhcan mac Bicelmois aran-utgatar fir tri ndea i sidoib.’
Atpert-sum: ‘Atom-athcomairc: am níadh.’ Friscart an dorrsoidh: ‘Nit-regam e les. Ata níad lion chenu .i. Bresal Echarlam mac Echach Baethlaim.’
Atbert-sum iarum: ‘Adum-athcomairc, a dorsaid, am file & am senchaid.’ ‘Nid-regam i les: ata file & senchaid cenai lenn .i. En mac Ethomain.’
Atbert-sum: ‘Atom-athcomairc’, ol se, ‘im corrguinech’. ‘Nit recom e les: Ataut corrguinigh lionn cheno: at imdou ar ndruith & ar lucht cumhachtai.’
Atbert-som: ‘Atom-athcomairc, am liaich.’
‘Nit-regam a les: Ata Dien-cecht do liaigh lenn.’
‘Atom-athcomairc’, al sé, ‘am deogbore.’ ‘Nit-regom a les: atat deogbaire linn cenau .i. Delt & Drucht & Daithe, Taei & Talom & Trog, Glei & Glan & Glési.’
Atbert: ‘Atom-athcomairc: am cert maith’. ‘Nít-regom e les: ata cert lind cenu .i. Credne cerd.’
Atbert-som aitherrach: ‘Abair frisind rig’, ol se, ‘an fil les oeinfer codogabai ina danu-sae ule, & ma ata les ni tocus-sa in Temraig.’
Luid in dorsaid isin rigtech iar sudiu con-eicid dond riogh ulei. ‘Tanaic oclaech iondoras lis’, al se, ‘Samilldánach, & na huili dano arufognot det muntir-si atat les ule a oenor, conedh fer cacha danai ule ei.’
As ed atbert-som go rocurit fidhcelda na Temrach dia saigidh-sium annsin, & gou rug-som a toichell, conad andsin dorigne an Cró Logo. Acht masa i n-uamas an catha Troianna rohairged in fidceall ni torracht Herinn andsin í, uair is a n-áonaimsir rogniadh cath Muigi Tuired6 & togail Traoi.
Rohinnised iarsin thrá do Nuadaitt anní sin. ‘Tuleic isin les’, ar Nuadha, ‘ar ní tanaic ríam fer a shamail sin isin dun-sa’.
Dolleig iarum an dorrsaidh seca, & luid isin dún, & siasur a suide suad, ar bo suí cach dáno é.
Focairtt iarum Ogma an mar-lícc, a rabatar feidm cetri .xx. cuinge, trésan tech co mbuí fri Temair anechtair: Do cor algusa for Lucc on. Ducorastar Lucc forcula co mm-buí for lar an righthighi, & docorustar an mbloig bert riam amach
a taob an rigtige co mbo slan.
‘Seindter cruitt duin’, alid sluaig. Sephaind iarum an t-oglaech suantraige dona sluagaib & don righ an cét-oidqui. Focairtt a suan on trath co’ raili. Sephainn golltraigi co mbatar oc caei & ac dogra. Sephainn gendtraigi co mbatar hi subai & a forbfáilti.
Imrordaid iaram Nuadai, o’ tconnuirc ilcumachtai n-aoclagi, dus an caomnacair dingbail na dairi dib fo mbatar lasna Fomoiri. Gnisit iarum comuirle im dalai and oglaich. Is si comuirle arriacht Nuadha, caemclodh suidi frisin n-occlaech. Luid Samilldanach a suide rig, & atreracht an rí riam co cend xiii la.
Imma n-arladair dó iarum fria da brathair .i. Dagdo & Ogma, for Greallaig Dollaid iarnamarach. Conoccartha cucu a brathair .i. Goibniu & Dian-cecht.
Bliadan lan doib immon run-sin in lín-sin, conadh desin dogarur {MS folio 66a} Amhrun Fer nDea fri Grellaid nDollaid.
Conocarthai cucau iarsin druid Erenn & a lege & a n-aruid & a ngoboinn & a mbriugaid & a mbrethemain. Imusn-agallatar doib a ndiclet.
Rofiarfaig iarum don corrguinech .i. Matgen a ainm, dus cia cumang gonanacair. Atbert side focichred slébe Erenn tri gritai fona Fomorib, go tocrad im-mulloch fri talmain. Ocus doadbastar doib da priomsliab decc tiri Erenn do bith fo Tuatha De Danonn og imbualad dib .i. Sliab Liag & Denda Ulad & Bennai Boirche & Bri Ruri & Sliab Bladmai & Sliab Snechtae, Sliab Mis & Blai-sliab & Nemthenn & Sliab Maccu Belgodon & Segois & Cruachan Aigle7.
Imcomaircidh dno den deogbori, cia cumagg conanocair? Atbert-side doberadh da primloch déc na hErenn ina fiadnoisi, & ni fugbitis usce indtib cid íotae not-gabad. At iad sou eat-side, Derc-loch, Loch Luimnigh, Loch n-Orbsen, Loch Ri, Loch Mescdhae, Loch Cuan, Loch Laeig, Loch n-Echach, Loch Febail, Loch Dechet, Loch Rioach, Marloch8. Arosscichersit do dib primaibnib dec ina hErenn .i. Buas, Boann, Banna, Nem, Lai, Sinond, Muaid, Sligech, Samair, Fionn, Ruirtech, Siuir, & decelaiger9 ar Fomorib uile cona foighbid bando indtib. Targebu deogh firu Erenn ce bet go cenn secht mbliadan isin cath.
Atbert dno Figol mac Mamois a ndrui: ‘Firfit teorai frasae tened liomsou a n-enech sluaig na Fomhore, & pérut da trian a ngaili & a ngascid & a neirt estib, & arnenas a fual ina corpoib fodesin & a corpaib a n-ech. Nach anul dotlegfet firu Erenn bod formach golie & gaisgid & nirt doib. Quia bed isin cath go cenn secht mbliadan ni bot scithae acach’.
Atbert an Daogdae: ‘An cumang arbagaid-si dogen-sou ule amaon.’ ‘Is tu-sai an Dagdae!’ or cach, gonadde rot-lil ‘Dagdae’ o sin e.
Scaraid iarum asin comairlie go comairsitis die teoru mbliadan.
O ro indlid iarum airicill an catha amlaid sin, luid Lucc & Dagdae & Ogma go tri Deo Danonn, & doberot side gressa an cathae do Lugh, & roboth sect mbliadnai oca foichill & ag denom anarm.10
Boi tegdus den Dagdae a nGlionn Etin antuaith. Bai dno
bandal forsin Dagdae dia bliadnae {MS folio 66b} imon samain an catha oc Glind Edind. Gongair an Unius la Connachta frioa andes. Conaca an mnai a n-Unnes a Corand, og nige, indarna cos di fri Allod Echae .i. Echumech11, fri husci andes, alole fri Loscondoib, fri husce antuaith. Noi trillsi taitbechtai fora ciond. Agoillis an Dagdae hi & dogniad oentaith. Lige ina Lanomhnou a ainm an baile osin. Is hi an Morrigan an uhen sin isberur sunn.
Itbert si iarum frisin Dagdae deraghdis an Fomore a tir .i. a Maug Scetne, & aragarudh an Dagdae oes danu Erionn arocendsi for Ádh Unsen, & noragad si hi Scetne do admillid rig na Fomore .i. Indech mac Dei Domnann a ainm, & douhéradh si crú a cride & airned a gailie uad. Dobert-si didiu a dí bois den cru sin deno sluagaib batar oconn idnaidhe for Adh Unsen. Bai Ath Admillte iarum a ainm ond admillid sin an riog.
Degnith ierum lesin oes ndanou ind sen, & docachnotar brechtau for sluagaib na Fomore.
Sechtmad rie samain sen, & scaruis cach oroile diob go comairnectur fir Erenn uili al-la rie samain. Sé trichaid cét a llion .i. da trichaid cét gech trin.
Foides ierum Lug an Dagdae de tascelad forsna Fomhorib & dia fuirech go tíostais fir Erenn den cath.
Luid iarum an Dagdae go loggfort na Fomore & cunges cairde cathai forrai. Dobreth do amail conanoich. Degnither lite do lasna Fomori, & ba dia cudbud on, oir ba mar serc liten lasium. Nos-lintar core coecduirn an riog dóu, a ndechotar
cetri ficet sesrai do lemlacht & a cubat cétnai de men & beoil. Doberthar gabair & coerig & mucau indtie, & nos-combruithiter lei. Nos-dortiter a nderc talman dou, & atbert Indech fris no imberthau fair bas mono tomledh ule, ardaig na berad ecnach Fomore co rocaithed a said.
Gabois iersin a leig & ba himaircithe go tallfad lanomain ina lige foro laur na leghi. It e didiu mírionn fordurauhotar inde, lethau tindei & cethromthu bloinge.
Is ann adbert in Dagdae: ‘Fo bioath indso ma rosaigh a broth an rosaig a blas’. Antan immorro noberid an leg laun ina beolu, is adn adbered: ‘Nis-collet a micuirne, ol in sruith’.
Dobeir-sium immorro a mer cromm tar domain an dercu foderid itir ur & grioan. Dolluid cotlud foair ierum ar caitem a liten. Ba mediter scabol tige a bolc fair, gon tibsid im sodain na Fomore.
Luid uaidib ierum co Trachta Ebae. Niruho herosai tra den laech imdecht lie mét a bronn. Ba drochruid a congraim. Cochline go bac a di ullend. Inor aodhar imbe go foph a tonai. Is ed deno uchtlebar penntol. Da broicc imbe di croicinn capoild & a find sechtoir. Gabol gicca rothach feidm ochtair ina diaid, go mba lór do clod coicrice a slicht ‘na degaidh, gonad dei dogaror Slicht Loirge an Dagdai.
[gap: text omitted]
Tecoid iarum na Fomoire co mbatar a ndichmaid a
Scetne. Batar firu Erenn im-Moigh Aurfholaigh. Batar ierum ag imnesie cathai in dá sluag so. ‘An cauth arfolmotar fir Erenn de tabairt dúdn’, al Pres mac Elier fri hIndech mac De Domnonn. ‘Dobiur so inoen’, ol Indech, ‘cu mbat minai a cnamhae mina ernet a cáno’.
Bui comairli lia firu Erenn im nemlegodh Logai isin cath, ara coime. Go nderochtor a noi noide die comet .i. Tollus-dam & Ech-dam & Eru, Rechtaid Fionn, & Fosadh & Fedlimidh, Iubor & Scibar & Minn. Ecol leo iarum mochscelie den oclaich ar imot a dan. As airie nar’ telgsit din cath.
Rotinalid tra maithe Tuaithe De Danonn go Luch. Ro imcomhoirc a gaboinn .i. Gaibne, cia cumong conancur doib?
‘Ni anse’, al se. ‘Gé bet fir Erenn isin cath go cenn secht mbliatan, gai detaet dia crunn ann, no claidem memais ann, tarceba arm nua uamsai ina inoth. Nach rind degeno mo lam-so’, ol se, ‘ni focertar imrold de. Nach cnes i ragae noco blasfe bethaid de iersin. Ni bó gnithe do Dulb gobhae na Fomore annisin. Atu dam cor do cath Muige Turedh anosa.’
‘Os tusai, a Dien-cecht,’ or Lug, ‘cia cumogg conicid si em?’
‘Ni anse’, ol sie: ‘Nach fer gentor ann, acht mona bentor a cedn de, nó min tesctar srebonn a inchinde no a smir sentuinde bodh ogslaun limsu ‘sin cath arabharoch’.
‘Os tusai, a Credne’, or Lug frie cerd, ‘caide do cumong isin cath?’
‘Ni anse’, ar Credne. ‘Semonn a ngai & dornclai a cloidim & cobraid a sciath & a mbile rusia limsai doip ule’.
‘Os tusa, a Luchta’, or Luog frie a soer, ‘cia cumong rosta ‘sin cath?’
‘Ni anse’, or Luchtai, ‘a ndoethain sciath & crand sleg rosíae lemsai doib ule’.
‘Os tusa, a Oghmau’, ol Lug frie a trénfer, ‘caide do cumong isin cath?’
‘Ni anse’, ol sié: ‘digguhail and riog lia dingbail tri nonuhar dia cairdib, la gabail in catha go trian la firu Erenn’.
‘Os tusa, a Morrighan’, ol Lug, ‘cia cumang?’
‘Ni anse’, ol si; ‘ar-rosisor dosifius, dosselladh arroselus, ar-rosdibu nosriastar’.
‘Os sibsie, a corrgunechai’, al Lugh, ‘cia cumang?’
‘Ni anse’, ar na corrguinigh, ‘a mbuind banai forra iarna trascrad trienar cerd-ne, goro marbtar a n-aiscid, & da trian a neirt do gaid foraib, lie forgabail aru fual.’
‘Os sibse, a deoguhairi’, or Lug, ‘cia cumong?’
‘Ni anse’, ar na deogbore, ‘dobéraimne robhar ítadh foraib & nemfhogbail dige día cusc doib.’
‘Os sibse, a druide’, ol Luog, ‘cia cumong?’
‘Ni anse’, ar na druide, ‘doberomne cetha tened fo gnuisib no Fomore go nar’ fetad fegodh a n-ardou, corusgonot fou cumas iond oicc bet ag imgoin friu’.
‘Os tusai, a Corpri, meic Etnai’, or Luog frie a filid, ‘cia cumang conicid isin cath?’
‘Ni anse’, ol Corpri, ‘degen-sai glaim ndicind douib, & nus-oerub & nus-anfialub, cona gebat frie hócu trie
bricht mo danu-sa’.
‘Os siuhse, a Uheculde & a Dianand’, or Lug fria da ban-tuathaig, ‘cia cumang conicid17 isin cath?’
‘Ni anse’, ol sied, ‘dolbfamid-ne na cradnai & na clochai & fodai an talmon, gommod sluag fon airmgaisciud doib, co rainfed hi techedh frie huatbas & craidenus’.
‘Os tusa, a Dagdai’, ol Lug, ‘cia cumang connic for sluag na Fomhore isin cath?’
‘Ni anse,’ ol in Dagdae. ‘Dugensa leath fria feraib Erenn etir caemslecht & admilliud & amaidichtai. Bud lir bommonn egai fua cosaib gregai a cnaimreth fum luirg an f. sie áit a comraicid diab namod for rái Muige Tuired’.
Ruaicill tra Lug cach aruair dib fria a ndanoib on mud-sin, & rus-nert & rus-aicill a sluag co mbo menmanrad righ nó roflathua la cech fer dib fon cruth sin.
Ro sernatai tra an cath cech laei etir fine Fomore & Thuatha Dea, acht nammaá ni botar righ no ruirig oga tabairt, acht oes feigh foruallach nama.
Ba ingnad tra liasna Fomoire alaill tarfas doib isin cath. Botar cloite a n-airm-sie .i. a ngaoi & a cloidme, & an romarbad dia feruib-sium ni ticdis iernabharuch. Ni ba edh immorro de Tuathaib Dea, ar cia no clotis a n-airm-sium andiu atgainidis amarach, fobíth roboi Goibnenn Goba isin cerdchai ag denam calc & gai & sleg, ar dognith side na harma sin fria teorai gressai. Dognith dono Luchtaine soer na crondo fri
teora snasau, & ba feith an tres snas, & ata-indsmad hi cro an gai. O robidis arm de isin leth ina cerdchai dobidcet-som na crou cusna crandoib, & ni bo hecin aitherrach indsma doib. Dugnith dno Credne cerd na semonn fri teorai gressai, & dobidged cro na ngau diib, & ni bo ecen tairbir remib, & noglentais samlaid.
Is edh dono doberiud bruith isna hogaib nogontais ann, comtar aniu iarnauárach, fobíth roboi Dien-cecht & a dí mac & a ingen .i. Ochttriuil & Airmedh & Miach, oc dicetul for an tibrait .i. Slaine a hainm. Focertdidis a n-athgoite indte immorro airlestis. Bótar bi notegdis esde. Bati slan a n-athgoite tre nert an dicetail na cethri lege robatar immon tibrait.
Tanaic didiu frisna Fomore annísin, go tudciset som fer n-uadaibh de descin cathai & cosdotha Tuath nDea .i. Ruadan mac Bresi & Brighi ingene in Dagdai. Ar ba mac side & ba ua da Thuaith Dea. Atcuaid ierum gnim an gaphonn & an tsaeir & an cerdou & na cetri lege rouhatar imon tibrait do Fomorib. Rofaided-som afridisie fri marbod neich den oes dana .i. Gaibniu. Tothloigestar goi ossoide, a semonn on cerdai & a crand an tsoer. Debreth ierum amail asbert. Bai dono ben and fri bleth arm .i. cron máthair Fianluig, is í rus-meil gai Ruadáin. Dobreth di Ruadán didiu an gai a mathri, conuddesin doberar gai matri de garmnaib beus a n-Erinn.
Immesoi didiu Ruadán ier tabairt in gai dó, & geogoin Goibninn. Tiscaid sen an gai as & fochaird for Ruadán, colluid trit & co n-erbailt arbelaib a athar a n-oirecht na Fomore. Tic Brich & caines a mac. Éghis artós, goilis fodeod. Conud
andsin roclos gol & egem artos a n-Erinn. Is si didiu an Prich sin roairich feit do caismert a n-oidci.
Luid tra Gaibniu fon tibrait & ba slan side. Bai oclaech lasno Fomoire .i. Octriallach mac Indich meic Dei Domnann mac rig Fomoire. Atbert-side frisna Fomore aro tabroidis cloich cech ain fir leo de clochaib Drobesa do cor ar tibrait Slaine a n-Achad Abla fri Magh Tuired andíar, fri Loch n-Arboch antuaid. Lotar didiu & doberod cloich cech fir for in tiprait. Gonudde ata Carn Octrialdaich for an carn. Ainm n-aild dono din tibroid-sin Loch Luibe, ar dobered Dien Cecht ind luib cech losa rouhotar a n-Eri.
O tanaic, tra, airis an cathai moir atrarochtor na Fomoire asa scoraibh sechtair, & deronsud catha daiggne ditogladai dib. Ni rabhu tra airich no fer engnamae diob cen luirig friae chnes, cen catbarr for a cend, cin manais muirnig ‘na deis, gen cloidim tromger for a cris, gen scieth daiggen for a formnai. Ba bein cinn fri hald, ba laum a net natrach, ba haigedh go tenid cor fri sluag na Fomoire isin lo sin.
Robtar íet so rig & toisich rouhatar og nertadh sluaig na Fomoire .i. Balor mac Doit meic Neid, Bres mac Eladon, Tuirie Tortbuillech mac Lobois, Goll & Irgold, Loscenn-lom mac Lomgluinigh, Indecch mac De Domnann ri na Fomoire, Octriallach mac Indich, {MS folio 68b} Omna & Bagnai, Elotha mac Delbaeth.
Atrachtotar Tuath Dea Donann don leth eli & dofagaibsid a naie celi ag comet Logai, & lotar do oiris an catha. Intan iarum segar an cath conselu Lug asa coimet a mboi ina cairptech, go mbo hé bai arinchaib catha Tuath nDea. Roferud
tra imairec aith amnus and so etir fine Fomoire & firu Erenn. Boi Lug og nertad fer n-Erenn; coro ferdais go dicra an cath, fodegh na beidis a ndoiri ní bod sirie. Ár ba ferr duoib bas d’fhogail oc díden a n-athardho indas beith fo doiri & fou cis amail rouhatar. Conid and rocan Lug an cetul so sios for lethcois & letsuil timchell fer nErenn:
- Arotroi cath comartan, etc.
Ros-laisiud na sluaig gair mor oc dol isin cath, comrancotar iersin, & rogab cach for truasdrad a céile dibbh.
Mor do coemaib derochrotar ann a mbuailie bais. Mor an t-ar & an lechtloige roboi ann. Roboi uall & imnaire and leth for leth. Bui ferg & borrfad. Ba himdae reun folu tar gelcnius moethoclaech ann iarna leudh do lamaiuh letmiuch oc teicht an gauhad ar imbnárie. Ba hamnus muirn & sai toi na curud & na lath ngali ic immditin a ngae & a sciath & a courp indtaun nus-bitis a celi ica truasdrad denaib gaib & denaib cloidbiuh. Amnus, dno, an tarneuch ruboi and sechnon an cathae .i. gair na laechraidi & presimb na sciath, loindreuch & fedgairi na cloidhim & na calc ndéd, cairchiu & grindegur na saicidbolc, sian & etigud na foghaid & na ngabluch, & priscbemniuch na n-armb.
Es bec tra na comrancatar inn a mmeur ocus a coss oc in imtuarcain, co tuslitis assa sessam lie slimreth na foluo fou cossaib na miliodh, co mmbentaeis a cinno diob ana suidip. Conuargabud cath crótdae, cresachtocch, broineuch, fuilech, & rurassa Unnsenn hi crobaiph bidbad annside.
Derocair dno Nuodai Aircetlaum ocus Maucha ingen Ernmoiss lie Balur ui Neit. Duceur Cassmoel lie hOgtriallug mac n-Indich. Immacomairnic de Luch & di Bolur Birugderc esin cath. Suil milldagach le suide. Ni horscailtie inn soul acht ir-roi cathae namma. Cetrar turcbaud a malaig die sol conu drolum omlithi triena malaig. Sluoach doneceud darsan sól nin-geptis fri hocco cie pidis lir ilmili. Es de boi inn nem sin fuirri .i. druith a adhar botar oc fulucht draidechtae. Tanaic-seum & ruderc tarsan fundeoic, co ndechaid de en foulachtae fuithi, gonid forsan suil dodecaid nem an foulachta iersin. Condrecait ierum Luch.[gap: text omitted]
‘Tocaib mo malaig, a gille’, al Balor, ‘co ndoecius an fer rescach fil ocum acallaim.’
Tocauhar a malae dia deirc Baloir. Fucaird Luch iersin liic talma do, co ndechaid an suil triena cend. Conid a sluag bodessin derecacha. Co torcair four sluag na Fomore, conda-apatar tri nonuhair dib fou a toeb, co mboi a mullach frie bruinni n-Indig meic De Domnann, co sescaind a loim foulae tar a beolu side.
‘Congarar damsae’, ar Indiuch, ‘Luoch Lethglass .i. mo fili’ .i. lethglass e o talmain go mulluch a cinn. Totaed ‘na docum. ‘Finnta damsa’, ol Indeach, ‘cia rotollae formsa in n-orcur-sai’. [gap: text omitted]
Tanaic in Morrigan ingen Ernmusa anduidhe, & boi oc nertad Tuath nDea co fertóis an cath co dur & co dicrai: conid ann rocan in lóid se sis:
‘Afraigid rig don cath,’ etc.
Romebhaid ierum in cauth iersin & roslechait na Fomore co muir. Dorochratar comtuitim Ogma mac Ealauthan an trénfer & Indeouch mac De Domnaund ri na Fomore.
Ailis Loch Leatglas for Lucch a anacol. ‘Mo tri drinnroisc daum!’ for Luch.
‘Rod-bie’, our Loch. ‘Dingebat-sa fochail Fomore d’Erinn co práuth, & a ngebas di teungae iocfaid fri diaid mbeuthaud ar cach n-aingceus’.
Aunauchta Loch ierum. Is ann cachain in dail n-asdadha do Gaidelaib: ‘Gebat foss findgrinde’, etc.
Asbert Loch dano doberadh ainm di nai cairptib Lochca ara anacul. Asbert dano Lucc ara n-ainmnigud. Frisgart Loch, condepert ‘Luachta, Anagat’, etc.
‘Cest, cie hanmanna na n-aradh robatar inn immorro?’ ‘Medol, Medon, Moth’, etc.
‘Cie hanmanna na ndeled batur ‘na lamaib?’ ‘Ni anse. Fes, Res, Roches,’, etc.
‘Cie hanmanna na n-ech ?’ ‘Can, Doriadha’, etc.
‘Cest, cie lion ind air?’ for Lucc fri Loch. ‘Ni fedar cia lion do aithechaib & do drabarsluag. Mad an lion do tichernaib & d’airechaib & do anradaib & do macuib righ & do airdrigaib Fomore rofetar .i. triar tri fichit .l. cét fer .xx. cét tri cóicait .ix. cuicir cetri .xx. míle, ochtar ocht fichit, moirseser cetri .xx., seiser cetri .xx. coicer ocht fichit, dias cethrachat im hua Net noicait. Is he sin lion ind áir dorochair di airdrigaib & do airdticernaib na Fomore isin cath.’
‘Mad al-lion immorro di aithechaib & di drochdóiniuh & di daoscarsluag & d’aos cecha danae olchenae diloutar a comoidecht an marsluaig — aur dideochaid cech anroth & cech ardtoisech & cech airdri de Fomorcaib cona sochraide din chauth co torcradaur adn uili a sóir & a ndaoir—nisn-airmium acht uothad di moghadaib na n-airdrigh namáu. Issed adnso au… lion ro airmios di suidhiuh amal attconnaurc. Secht fir secht fichit secht cét secht caocae .L. di cétaib cét .xx. fichi. cét cét .xl. immon Saub n-Uancendach mac Carpri Cuilc, mac sidhe moga di Indeuch mac De Domnadn .i. mac moga rich Fomore’.
‘Madh a ndorochair adn chena de lethdoinib & di crandasc. fianlaich dineoch nad roacht cridiu cathae co ro hairmither reanda nime & gainem maurae & loae snechtae & drucht for faichthi & bommadn eghae & feur fo cossaib greghae & groigh meic Lir la maur-ainfini, ni hairmidter side itir’.
Iarsin dono frith baoccul Bresi meic Elathan dóip. Atbert-sidhe: ‘Is feurr m’anacul’, ol se, ‘oldass mo guin’.
‘Cid annsidie biass de?’ aur Lucc. ‘Bid sir-blechtach bae Erenn’, ol Pres, ‘diae nom-aunastar-sa’. ‘Comarfassa diar ngaothuib’, or Lug.
Is desin luid Lug co Maoiltne Morbretach, co n-epert pris: ‘An anustar Bres ar bithblicht do buaibh Erenn?’
‘Nach anustair’, ar Moeltne, ‘nad cumhaicc an oes nach a n-indoth, ce choni a mblicht airet beat bí’.
Atpert Lug fria Bres: ‘Ni ed annisin not-anuig; nad cuimgi a n-oes nach a n-inddoth, ce chonis a mblicht’.
Atpert Bres: ‘Forbotha ruada: Roicht Mailtne’.
‘An fil n-aill nut-ain, a Bres?’ ar Lug.
‘Fil ecin: abair fri bar mbrethiomain, bibhsiutt buain cech raithi ar m’anocol-sa’.
Atbert Lug fria Moeltne: ‘An anustar Bres ar buain n-etha cech raithi di feruib Erenn?’
‘Is ed immanairnicc lind’, or Maoiltne, ‘errach fria har & sílad, & tosach samraid fri foircend & sonairti n-etha, & tossach n-aipchi foghamair fri forcend aipchi n-etha & fria buain. Gaimred fria tomalta’.
‘Nis-tessaircc annísin’, or Lug fria Bres. ‘Forbotha ruadha, roicht Mailtni’, or se.
‘Is luga dot-essaircc’, or Lug. ‘Cid?’ ol Bres.
‘Co conebrad, co silfad, co chobibsad fir Erenn? Is iar fis an trede siu manad anustar’. ‘Abair friu, Mairt a n-ar, Mairt hi corad sil a ngurt, Mairt a n-imbochdt’.
Roleccad ass didiu Bress triasan celgsin.
Isan cath sin didiu fuair Oghma trenfer Ornai, claidiomh Tetra ri Fomóre. Tofoslaicc Oghma in claideb & glanais he. Is andsin ro indis an claideb nach ndernad de, ar ba bess do claidbib antansin dotorsilcitis doadhbadis na gnimha dognithea dib intansin. Conid desin dlegaid claidme cíos a nglantai iarna tosluccad. Is de dno forcométar brechda hi cloidbib osin amach. Is aire immorro nolabraidis demna d’armaib isan aimsir sin, ar no adraddis airm ó dáinib isin ré-sin & ba do comaircib na haimsire sin na hairm. Is don cloidibh sin rochan Loch Lethglas in lóid-si:
- Admell maorna uath, etc.
Loutar andiaid na Fomore dno Lug & an Daghdou & Ogma, ar cruitire an Dagda ron-ucsad leo, Uáitniu a ainm {MS folio 70b}. Rosaghad ierum a flettech a mboi Bres mac Elathan & Elathan mac Delbaith. Is ann boi in crot for in fraighid. Is si in cruit sin ara nenaisc in Dagdae na ceola conna rofograighsetor tria gairm co ndegart in Dagda intan atbert annso sis:
- Tair Daur-dablao.
Tair Coir cetharchuir,
Tair sam, tair gam,
beola crot & bolg & buinne.
Dá n-ainm dno batar foran cruit-sin .i. Dur-dabla & Coircethairchuir.
Doluid an crot assan froig ierum, & marbaid nónbor, & tanuicc docum an Daghda, & sepainn side a trédhi fora nemithir cruitiri doib .i. súantraigi & genntraigi & golltraigi. Sepainn golltraigi doib co ngolsad a mna déracha. Sepainn genntraigi doib co tibsiot a mna & a macraith. Sepainn suantraigi doib co tuilset an tsluaigh. Is de sén díerlátar a triur slan uaidib ciamadh ail a ngoin.
Dobert an Dagda diu laiss [gap: omission in original] tria gém na dairti dobreth dó ara soethar. Ar intan rogessi a gaimmain rogeltatar cetri Erinn uili doneoch bertatar Fomore dip ina cios.
Iar mbrisiud ierum an catha & iar nglanad ind air, fochard and Morrigan ingen Ernmais do tascc an catha sin & an coscair moair forcoemnocair ann do rigdingnaib Erenn & dia sidhcairib & dia ard-uscib & dia inberaiph. Conid do sin
innesus Badb aird-gniomha beus. ‘Nach scel laut?’ ar cach friaise ann-suide:
- Sith co nem.
Nem co doman.
Doman fo nim
Nert hi cach, etc.
Boi si iarum oc taircetul deridh an betha ann beus & oc tairngire cech uilc nobíad ann, & cech teadma & gach diglau; conid ann rocachain an laid se sís:
- Ni accus bith nombeo baid,
sam cin blatha,
beti bai cin blichda,
mna can feli,
fir gan gail,
gabala can righ,
[gap: extent: approx. 6 words]
feda cin mes,
muir can torad
[gap: extent: approx. 40 words]
sen saobbretha,
brecfásach mbrithioman,
braithiomh cech fer,
foglaid cech mac.
Ragaid mac il-ligie a athar,
ragaid athair al-ligi a meic,
cliamain cach a bratar,
[gap: extent: 8 words]
olc aimser.
immera mac a athair,
imera ingen a máthair.
2. They studied occult lore and secret knowledge and diabolic arts in four cities: Falias, Gorias, Murias, and Findias.
3. From Falias was brought the Stone of Fal which was located in Tara. It used to cry out beneath every king that would take Ireland.
4. From Gorias was brought the spear which Lug had. No battle was ever sustained against it, or against the man who held it in his hand.
5. From Findias was brought the sword of Nuadu. No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its deadly sheath, and no one could resist it.
6. From Murias was brought the Dagda’s cauldron. No company ever went away from it unsatisfied.
7. There were four wizards in those four cities. Morfesa was in Falias; Esras was in Gorias; Uiscias was in Findias; Semias was in Murias. Those are the four poets from whom the Tuatha De learned occult lore and secret knowledge.
8. The Tuatha De then made an alliance with the Fomoire, and Balor the grandson of Net gave his daughter Ethne to Cian the son of Dian Cecht. And she bore the glorious child, Lug.
9. The Tuatha De came with a great fleet to Ireland to take it by force from the Fir Bolg. Upon reaching the territory of Corcu Belgatan (which is Conmaicne Mara today), they at once burned their boats so that they would not think of fleeing to them. The smoke and the mist which came from the ships filled the land and the air which was near them. For that reason it has been thought that they arrived in clouds of mist.
10. The battle of Mag Tuired was fought between them and the Fir Bolg. The Fir Bolg were defeated, and 100,000 of them were killed including the king, Eochaid mac Eire.
11. Nuadu’s hand was cut off in that battle–Sreng mac Sengainn struck it from him. So with Credne the brazier helping him, Dian Cecht the physician put on him a silver hand that moved as well as any other hand.
12. Now the Tuatha De Danann lost many men in the battle, including Edleo mac Allai, and Ernmas, and Fiacha, and Tuirill Bicreo.
13. Then those of the Fir Bolg who escaped from the battle fled to the Fomoire, and they settled in Arran and in Islay and in Man and in Rathlin.
14. There was contention regarding the sovereignty of the men of Ireland between the Tuatha De and their wives, since Nuadu was not eligible for kingship after his hand had been cut off. They said that it would be appropriate for them to give the kingship to Bres the son of Elatha, to their own adopted son, and that giving him the kingship would knit the Fomorians’ alliance with them, since his father Elatha mac Delbaith was king of the Fomoire.
15. Now the conception of Bres came about in this way.
16. One day one of their women, Eriu the daughter of Delbaeth, was looking at the sea and the land from the house of Maeth Sceni; and she saw the sea as perfectly calm as if it were a level board. After that, while she was there, she saw something: a vessel of silver appeared to her on the sea. Its size seemed great to her, but its shape did not appear clearly to her; and the current of the sea carried it to the land.
Then she saw that it was a man of fairest appearance. He had golden-yellow hair down to his shoulders, and a cloak with bands of gold thread around it. His shirt had embroidery of gold thread. On his breast was a brooch of gold with the lustre of a precious stone in it. Two shining silver spears and in them two smooth riveted shafts of bronze. Five circlets of gold around his neck. A gold-hilted sword with inlayings of silver and studs of gold.
17. The man said to her, “Shall I have an hour of lovemaking with you?”
“I certainly have not made a tryst with you,” she said.
“Come without the trysting!” said he.
18. Then they stretched themselves out together. The woman wept when the man got up again.
“Why are you crying?” he asked.
“I have two things that I should lament,” said the woman, “separating from you, however we have met. The young men of the Tuatha De Danann have been entreating me in vain-and you possess me as you do.”
19. “Your anxiety about those two things will be removed,” he said. He drew his gold ring from his middle finger and put it into her hand, and told her that she should not part with it, either by sale or by gift, except to someone whose finger it would fit.
20. “Another matter troubles me,” said the woman, “that I do not know who has come to me.”
21. “You will not remain ignorant of that,” he said. “Elatha mac Delbaith, king of the Fomoire, has come to you. You will bear a son as a result of our meeting, and let no name be given to him but Eochu Bres (that is, Eochu the Beautiful), because every beautiful thing that is seen in Ireland–both plain and fortress, ale and candle, woman and man and horse–will be judged in relation to that boy, so that people will then say of it, ‘It is a Bres.'”
22. Then the man went back again, and the woman returned to her home, and the famous conception was given to her.
23. Then she gave birth to the boy, and the name Eochu Bres was given to him as Elatha had said. A week after the woman’s lying-in was completed, the boy had two weeks’ growth; and he maintained that increase for seven years, until he had reached the growth of fourteen years.
24. As a result of that contention which took place among the Tuatha De, the sovereignty of Ireland was given to that youth; and he gave seven guarantors from the warriors of Ireland (his maternal kinsmen) for his restitution of the sovereignty if his own misdeeds should give cause. Then his mother gave him land, and he had a fortress built on the land, Dun mBrese. And it was the Dagda who built that fortress.
25. But after Bres had assumed the sovereignty, three Fomorian kings (Indech mac De Domnann, Elatha mac Delbaith, and Tethra) imposed their tribute upon Ireland-and there was not a smoke from a house in Ireland which was not under their tribute. In addition, the warriors of Ireland were reduced to serving him: Ogma beneath a bundle of firewood and the Dagda as a rampart-builder, and he constructed the earthwork around Bres’s fort.