LXXIX. The Praise of Goll

p. 309

LXXIX.

THE PRAISE OF GOLL.

From Donald MacPhie, Breubhaig, Barra.

There came a stranger the way of the Finne, and he asked what sort of man Goll was, and Fionn said--

1 High mind of Goll, Fionn's man of war,

2 Broad, burly hero, dauntless and hardy;

3 Fair generous hero, of sweetest speech.

4 His mildness mild, harmless his grace.

5 Of brightest mood, teacher of schools.

6 King-like is Goll, hide it not Fionn.

7 Might of the waves, by valour bright.

8 Lion like hind, valiant in deed.

9 Powerful his hand, choice of the kings.

10 Man friendly kind, forsakes not his friend.

11 In strife of kings, not slack his hand.

12 Crushing his shout, hound-like his might.

13 Youthful and soft, warlike and great.

p. 310

MOLADH GHUILL.

Thainig coigreach an rathad na Finne a dh' fheoraich de'n saeorsa duine a bha ann an Goll 's thuirt Fionn-

1530	1787	1860
MS.	Gillies.	Oral.
71 lines	18 lines	13 lines
1	1	1	Ard aigne Ghuill fear cogaidh Fhinn;
2	2	2	Laoch leothar, lonn, 1 fulangach nach tim;
9	3	3	Laoch, fionn, fial, a's misle gloir;
	5	4	A-mhìne mìn; sgèimh gun chron.
12	6	5	’S e 's glaing gean, 2 oide na sgoil.
26	7	6	Amhuil righ a's Goll na ceil ort Fhinn;
27	8	7	Treise nan tonn; air ghaisge grinn. 3
36	9	8	Leomhan mar agh; crodha 'na ghniomh;
37	10	7	Neartar a lamh; rogha nan righ.
55½	15	10	Fear daimheil, caomh, nach treig a dhaimh;
56	11	11	An cogadh righ nach lag a lamh.
			p. 311
30	17	12	Pronntach a ghair; conach 1 a threoir;
31	18	13	Fiurants mìn; mileanta mor.

From Donald MacPhie, Breubhaig, Barra, who says he learnt it from his uncle, Hector MacLaine, Breubhaig, Barra. October I, 1860.--H. M‘L.

This is a traditional fragment of the poem given at page 29 of the selections from the Dean of Lismore's MSS. 1530. Of the thirteen lines here given, nine are almost identical with the Gaelic, as given by Mr. MacLauchlan. There are seventy-one lines in the oldest version. The corresponding numbers are here placed opposite to the lines for reference. Another version is printed in Gillies' collection, 1784. Page 34, there are eighteen lines, of which thirteen appear here slightly modified, and in a different order. There are considerable variations in several of the lines, for example, damhail, friendly, is deud-gheal, white-toothed. A fourth version, eighteen lines, was published by MacCallum, 1816, and has five lines which I have not.

Footnotes

310:1 Lonn, strong.

310:2 Perhaps GEIN, a sword, of brightest sword, or of purest kin.

310:3 Grinn, means excellent and beautiful, and is the superlative of praise, applicable to anything.

311:1 Conach, canine. The old stag-hounds were powerful, large active animals, and they are constantly represented on old stones in Scotland. (See ante.)