LXXXI. The Lay of Osgar

p. 320

LXXXI.

THE LAY OF OSGAR.

From Donald MacPhie, Smith, Breubhaig, Barra; and others.

IT was said at that time that Eirinn was the better chase than Albainn; that there were many great beamed deer in it, rather than in this Albainn. It was this which used to cause the Fhinn to be so often in Eirinn; but true Albanian Gaul (Scotch highlanders) they were.

The red-haired Cairbre came in as king over the fifth part of Eirinn, at the southern end. The Fhinn were now over in Eirinn, and Fionn had dwelling-houses in every place in which it was most usual for them to stay.

The ord Fhiann (hammer of Fionn) was a bell. It was not to be struck but in time of great rejoicing, and in time of bard straits, and it could be heard in the five-fifths of Eirinn.

They had a house on the land of the red-haired Cairbre, and they came on the northern side of Eirinn to bunt.

Padruig was asking Oisean--

"Would their set of arms be on them when they went to hunt?"

Oisean said to him--

"Without our armour and our arms;
We should not go to hunt like that.
There would be arms, and stout headgear,
And in each man's grasp were two great spears."

When the Fhinn went to hunt to the northward, they left Osgar to keep the house, and three hundred of the old warriors with him, for they were heavy for walking. Said Oisean, when he was going to tell the old story to Padruig ( 346-a).

p. 321

LAOIDH OSGAIR.

Bha e air a radh 'san am ud gu 'm b'e Eirinn a b' fhearr sealg na Albainn; gu 'n robh moran de dh' fheidh chabrach mhor innte seach an Albainn seo. 'Se sin a bhiodh a' toirt do 'n Fhinn gu 'm biodh iad cho tric an Eirinn; ach 'se fior Ghaidheil Albannach a bha annta.

Thainig an Cairbre ruadh a stigh 'na righ air a' choigeamh cuid de dh' Eirinn air a' cheann deas. Bha 'n Fhinn 'san am seo thall an Eirinn, 's bha tighean comhnuidh aig Fionn anns a' h-uile h-àite a bu tric leo a bhith stad ann.

Clag a bha anns an ord Fhiannta. Cha robh e ri 'bhualadh ach an am toil-inntinn mhoir, 'san am eigin chruaidh 's chluinnt' ann an coig choigeamh na h-Eirionn e.

Bha tigh aca air fearann a' Chairbre ruaidh, 's thainig iad air an taobh mu thuath de dh' Eirinn a shealgaireachd.

Bha Padruig a foighneachd de dh' Oisean,

"Am biodh an cuid arm orr' uile nuair a rachadh iad a shealgaireachd?"

Thuirt Oisean ris,

"Gun ar n-eideadh, 's gun ar n-airm,
Cha rachamaid a shealg mar siud;
Bhiodh airm, agus ceannabheart chorr,
’S da shleagh mhor an dorn gach fir."

Nuair a chaidh an Fhinn a shealgaireachd do'n taobh tuath dh' fhag iad Osgar a' gleidheadh an tighe 's tri cheud de na seann laoich comhla ris, o bha iad trom gu coiseachd.

Thuirt Oisean nuair a bha e 'dol a dh' innseadh an t-seanachais do Phadruig. ( 346-a)

p. 322

1--OISEAN.

"I will not style my strain, 'my Prince,'
How sad is Oisean to-night,
Osgar and the Cairbre stalwart
Ebb away in strife of corses. ( 344-1)

2

"The venomous spear in the hand of Cairbre,
In anger's hour, how baneful was it;
The raven would utter with fear,
That with it should be slain the Osgar."

3--RAVEN.

"It is worse," to himself he'd say
That black raven in his craze,
"These five to be washing about a trough,
Than blood of men to be gorging us."

4--OSGAR.

    .        .        .        .        .        .
"Why should our own blood choke us?
What weakness is on our eyelids?
That we for such small cause should weep."

5--WASHERWOMAN.

"The raven will croak to-morrow early
Upon thy cheek in the field of battle;
From the socket thine eye shall be forced;
Out of this thus much will come."

________________

Said one of the old warriors, as she saw the hue of the blood on the water that she had washing the clothes of Osgar.

p. 323

1--OISEAN.

"Cha 'n abair mi, mo thriath, ri m' cheol,
Cia b' oil le Oisean e nochd;
Osgar agus Cairbre calma,
Traghar iad ann an cath cairbhre.( 344-1)

2

"An t-sleagh nimhe, 's i 'n laimh Chairbre,
Gu'n craidhteach i ri uair feirge;
Theireadh am fitheach ri 'ghiomh,
Gur h-ann leatha 'mharbht' an t-Osgar."

3--FITHEACH.

"’S miosa theireadh e ris fhein,--
Am fitheach dubh 'na mhi-cheill;
A' choigear a' taiseadh mu ( 346-b) 'n chlar,
Ach fuil fir a bhith 'gar tacadh.

4

"Com' an tacadh ar fuil fhein,
De ghiamh a th' air ar rasgabh;
Nuair a chaoineamaid chaol reachdaibh.

5--BEAN NIGHIDH.

"Gairidh am fitheach, moch a maireach,
Air do ghruaidh-sa anns an araich.
Cuireader do shuil a gluchd;
As an sin a thig na h-uiread."

Arsa fear de na sean ii laoich, 's e 'faicinn dath na fala air an uisge a bh' aice a' nigheadh aodach Osgair. ( 344-2)

p. 324

6

"Surely it is a shroud thou washest
Red is the look that is upon it,
But until this day had come,
That shroud's spaeing was not evil."

7---OSGAR.

"Thou witch there thy clothes that washest,
Make for us a sure soothsaying;
By us shall a man of them fall,
Ere that we all go to nothing?"

8--SHE.

"Five hundred by thee shall die;
Wounded by thee the king's self;
Thus much, and a man of law (cut) off,
Off the world all that came ( 346-c)."

9--OSGAR.

"Let him not hear thee, Rasg MacRuaidh,
Nor one that belongs to his people;
Let not the Een hear thee this night,
Lest we be spiritless all."

10--OISEAN.

"Heard ye of the raid of Een,
The time he wended to Eirinn;
There came the fierce Carbre of spears,
And grasped all Eirinn under sway.

11

"Away went we with eager hurry,
As many Feen as were of us;
We laid our army and our people
On the northern side of Eirinn.

p. 325

6

"’S dearbh gur n-aobh sin tha thu nigheadh,
’S dearg an t-aogasg a tha orra;
Ach gus an d' thainig an diugh
An aobh sin cha b' olc a h-inneal.

7--OSGAR.

"A bhaobh sin, a nigheas t' aodach,
Dean-sa dhuinne faisneachd chinnteach;
An tuit aon duine dhiu leinn
Ma'n d' theid sinn uile do neo-ni?

8--ISE.

"Marbhar leatsa coig ceud,
A's gonar leat an righ fhein;
Mar sin a's fear Lagha dheth ( 344-2)
Bhar saoghail uile gu 'n d' thainig. ( 344-3)

9--OSGAR.

"Na cluinneadh e thu, Rasg MacRuaidh,
Na duine 'bheanas dh' a shluagh;
Na cluinneadh an Fhinn thu nochd,
Ma 'm bi sinn uile gun mhisneach. ( 344-4)

10--OISEAN.

"An cuala sibhse turas Fhinn
An uair a ghluais e gu h-Eirinn?
Thainig an Cairbre sleaghach, garg,
A's ghlac e Eirinn fo aon smachd.

11

"Dh' fhalbh sinne le than damhair,--( 344-5)
A lion de'n Fhinn 's a bha dhinn;
Leagadh leinn ar feachd, 's ar sluagh,
Air an taobh mu thuath de dh' Eirinn.

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12

"There was sent down by Cairbre
Word for Feene's hardy Osgar,
To go down to the Feen's carousal,
And he would get his cess according.

13

"He rose who never baulked a foeman,
The beauteous Osgar to the king's hearth,
Three hundred stalwart men with him,
To answer his will and need.

14

"We found honour, we found food,
As we ever before had found;
We were merrily within,
With Cairbre in the house of the king."

15--CAIRBRE.

"Upon the last drinking day,"
Said the Cairbre with a voice so high,
"An exchange of spear-shafts I'd like from thee,
Thou brown Osgar of the Alba."

16--OSGAR.

"What shaft's exchange wouldst thou wish,
Thou red-haired Cairbre of the ports of ships?
Oft were my spear and myself with thee,
In the day of battle and combat (free)."

17--CAIRBRE.

"I'd need no less than cess and kain
From any warrior your shores within,
And I'd need no less for my life's term,
Than to get as I ask for it every arm."

p. 327

12

"Chuireadh le Cairbre 'nuas
Fios air Osgar cruaidh na Finne,
A dhol a dh' ionnsuidh fleadh na Finne,
’S gu'm faigheadh e cis a reir sin.

13

"Dh' eirich, o nach d' ob e namhaid.
An t-Osgar aluinn gu Leac Righ;
Tri cheud fear treun dh' imich leis
A fhreasdal dh' a thoil 's dh' a fheum.

14

"Fhuair sinn onair, fhuair sinn biadh,
Mar a fhuair sinn roimhe riamh;
Bha sinn gu subhach a steach
Maille ri Cairbre 'san Teamraidh." ( 344-6)

15--CAIRBRE.

"An latha mu dheireadh dh' an ol"
Thuirt an Cairbre le guth mor.
"Iomlaid croinn sleagh b' aill leam uait
Osgair dhuinn na h-Albann."

16--OSGAR.

"Gu de an iomlaid croinn a bhiodh ort,
A Chairbre ruaidh nan long-phort?
A's tric 'bu leat mi fhein 's mo shleagh
An latha cath agus comhraig."

17--CAIRBRE.

"Cha b' uilear leamsa cis a's cain
Bhar aon seoid a bhiodh 'nar tir;
’S cha b' uilear leam ri m' linn a bhos,
Gach seud a dh' iarrainn gu 'm faighinn."

p. 328

18--OSGAR.

"In sooth, there's nor gold nor precious thing,
That might be asked from us by the king,
Without dishonour or disgrace,
That were not thine, oh Tjeearnai's."

19

"But exchange of shafts without head's exchange,
That were unjust to demand from us
The reason thou hast asked it is,
That I am without Een and father."

20--CAIRBRE.

"Although the Feene and thy father
Were as good as they were ever;
I'd need no less for my life's term,
Than to get as I ask for it every arm."

21--OSGAR.

Were but the Feene and my father
As well in life as they were ever
That thou scarcely shouldest win
Thy dwelling's breadth in Eirinn."

22--OISEAN.

"Coldness fell on the warrior's keen,
At hearing the skirmishing;
There were rough vows bandied there,
Between the Cairbre and the Osgar."

23--CAIRBRE.

I will give a lasting vow,"
So would say the red-haired Cairbre,
That he'd plant the seven-edged spear ( 346-d)
Between his reins and his navel.

p. 329

18--OSGAR.

"Cha n-'eil or, na earras, gu flor,
A dh' iarradh oirnn an righ,
Gun tair, na tailceas dhuinn e,
Nach bu leatsa 'thighearnais." ( 344-7)

19

"Ach malairt croinn, gun mhalairt cinn,
B' eucorach siad iarraidh oirnn;
’S e'm fath mu 'n iarradh tu oirnn e
Mise bhith gun Fhinn, gun athair."

20--CAIRBRE.

"Ged a bhiodh an Fhinn a's t' athair
Co math 's a bha iad riamh 'nam beatha,
Cha b' uilear leamsa ri m' linn,
Gach seud a dh' iarrainn gu'm faighainn."

21--OSGAR.

"Na 'm biodh an Fhinn agus m' athair
Cha math 's bha iad riamh 'nam beatha,
’S teann air am faigheadh tu sin,--
Leud do thaigh ann an Eirinn."

22--OISEAN.

"Lion fuarrachd na laoch loin
Ri claistinn na h-iomarbhaidh:--
Bha briathrin garbha, leith mar leith,
Eadar an Cairbre 's an t-Osgar."

23--CAIRBRE.

"Bheireamsa briathar buan"
’S e 'theireadh an Cairbre ruadh;
Gu'n cuireadh e sleagh nan seachd seang ( 346-d)
Eadar 'airnean agus 'imleag.

p. 330

24

"Another vow against that,"
So would say the Osgar valiant,
That he'd plant the nine-edged spear
About the shaping of face and hair.

RECITER.

The Cairbre had a place made in a pillar of rock, and there would not be a bit of him out but his face.

25

"That lasting vow, then; that lasting vow,"
So would say the red-haired Cairbre,
That he would bring chase and sorrow
To Albainn upon the morrow.

26

"Another vow against that,"
So would say the Osgar valiant,
That he'd plant the nine-edged spear
About the shaping of face and hair.

27

"That night we were without aid,
Hither and thither about the river
There was an isthmus in the midst; ( 347-f)
There was a great isthmus betwixt us.

28

"An olla was heard with a soft voice,
On a sweet-toned harp, bewailing death
Up rose Osgar in heavy wrath,
And seized his arms in his mighty grasp.

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24

"Briathar eile 'n aghaidh sin,"
’S e 'theireadh an t-Osgar calma;
Gu'n cuireadh e sleagh nan naoi seang
Mu chumadh fhuilt agus aodainn.

AM FEAR-AITHRIS.

Bha hit aig a' Chairbre, air a dheanadh ann an carragh creige, 's cha bhiodh mir a mach deth ach an t-aodann.

25

"Briathar buan sin,--briathar buan,"
’Se 'theireadh an Cairbre ruadh;
Gu 'n d' thugadh e sealg agus creach,
Do dh' Albainn an la'r na mhaireach.

26

"Briathir eile 'n aghaidh sin,"
’Se 'theireadh an t-Osgar calma;
Gu 'n cuireadh e sleagh nan naoi seang,
Mu chumadh fhuilt agus aodainn.

27

"An oidhche sin duinne gun chobhair
Thall agus a bhos mu 'n amhainn;
Bha doirlinn leith mar leith, ( 347-f)
Bha doirlinn mhor eadaruinn.

28

"Chualas Olla, le guth tim,
Air chlarsaich bhinn a' tuireadh bàis.
Dh' eirich Osgar ann am feirg,-
’S ghlac e 'airm 'na dhornaibh aidh.

p. 332

29

"Uprose we upon the morrow,
The whole of our people, as many as we were;
We raised a raid upon Sliabh Goill,
So swiftly, actively, strongly.

30

"When we arrived there within
The pass of combat of the narrow glen,
Then warmed the Cairbre high,
Brandishing, and coming to meet us.

31

"Five score of Gaidheal fierce,
That came to land in time of storm;
These fell yonder by the hand of Osgar,
’Tis a rousing for the King of Eirinn.

32

"Five score of men and bows
That came to Cairbre's succour;
These fell yonder by the hand of Osgar,
’Tis a rousing for the King of Eirinn.

33

"Seven score of men of war,
That came from the snowy shore;
These fell yonder by the hand of Osgar,
The shame is for the king of Eirinn.

34

"Seven score men of gray glaives,
That never went backwards a single pace,
There fell yonder, by the hand of Osgar,
The shame is for the King of Eirinn.

p. 333

29

"Dh eirich sinn an la'r na mhaireach,--
Ar sluagh uile,--sin na 'bha dhinn,
Thog sinn creach air Sliabh Goill
Gu luath, lasgarra, lughar.

30

"Nuair a rainig sinn ann,--
Bealach comhraig nan caol ghleann,
’S ann a bhlath an Cairbre ard,
A' lannaireachd a' tighinn 'nar comhdail.

31

"Coig fichead Gaidheal garg  344-8)
A thainig do 'n tir an uair gharbh;--
Thuit siud le laimh Osgair thall,
’S e mosgladh gu righ Eirionn.

32

"Coig fichead de dh' fhearaibh bogha
Thainig air Cairbre g' a chobhair;--
Thuit siud le laimh Osgair thall,
( 344-9) ’S e mosgladh gu righ Eirionn.

33

"Seachd fichead de dh' fhearaibh feachd ( 344-10)
A thainig a tir m t-sneachd;--
Thuit siud le laimh Osgair thall,
Tha 'mhasladh gu righ na h-Eirionn.

34

"Seachd ficheadh fear claidheamh glas
Nach deach aon troidh riamh air 'n ais,
Thuit siud le laimh Osgair thall;
Tha 'mhasladh gu righ na h-Eirionn.

p. 334

35

"Four hundred of mighty men,
That came to us from the Lion's land,
These fell yonder, by the hand of Osgar--
The shame is for the King of Eirinn.

36

"Five score of a royal breed,
Whose birthright was valour and great deeds,
These fell yonder, by the hand of Osgar,
The shame is for the King of Eirinn.

37

"Mangan MacSeirc, ( 344-11) who was a foe
That could combat a hundred gray glaives,
That one fell yonder, by the hand of Osgar--
The shame is for the King of Eirinn.

38

"The five who were nearest the king
Of great valour and deeds,
These fell yonder, by the hand of Osgar--
The shame is for the King of Eirinn.

39,

"When the red-haired Cairbre saw
Osgar a-hewing the people,
The envenom'd dart in his hand
He let it off to meet him.

40

"Osgar fell on his right knee,
And the deadly spear through his waist;
He gave another cast thither,
And the King of Eirinn was slain by him.

p. 335

35

"Ceither cheud de dh' fhearaibh mora, ( 344-12)
Thainig oirnn o thir nan leomhan; ( 345-13)
Thuit siud le laimh Osgair thall,
Tha 'mhasladh gu righ na h-Eirionn.

36

"Coig fichead de chlannaibh righ
D' am bu dual gaisge 's mor ghniomh;
Thuit siud le laimh Osgair thall,
Tha 'mhasladh gu righ na h-Eirionn.

37

"Mungan MacSeirc a bu namh,
A chomhraigeadh ceud claidheamh glas;
Thuit siud le laimb Osgair thall,
Tha 'mhasladh gu righ na h-Eirionn.

38

"An coigear a b' fhaisge do 'n righ,
Bu mhor gaisg' agus gniomh;
Thuit siud le laimh Osgair thall,
Tha 'mhasladh gu righ na h-Eirionn.

39

"An uair a chunnaic an Cairbre ruadh,
Osgar a snaidheadh an t-sluaigh;
A' chraosach nimhe 'bha 'na laimb,
Gu 'n do leig e i 'na chomhdhail.

40

"Thuit Osgar air a ghluin deis,
’S an t-sleagh nimhe roimh a chneas;
Thug e urchair eile null,
’S mharbhadh leis righ na h-Eirionn.

p. 336

41--CAIRBRE.

"Arise Art, and grasp thy glaive,
And stand in the place of my father;
And if thou get'st thy due of the world,
I'll. think that thou art a king's son."

42--OISEAN.

"He gave another cast aloft,
Its height appeared to us sufficient;
There fell by him, by his aim's greatness,
Art MacCairbre at the next spear cast."

RECITER.

The Cairbre was dead, and Osgar was upon his knees, and the spear through him. Cairbre had a ceap made against the rock, and they put the ceap (helmet) on the crag, so that Osgar might think he was alive.

43--OISEAN.

"They set about the king his ceap,
Cairbre's people, rough in fight,
That they might reap the fruit of the field,
When they saw that Osgar was wounded.

44

"He lifted a slab from a hard plain,
From off the earth of the ruddy side;
He broke the pillar on which was the ceap,
The last deed of my worthy son."

45--OSGAR.

"Raise me now with you, Eanna,
Never before have you lifted me;
Take me now to a clear mound,
That you may strip off me my armour."

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41--CAIRBRE.

"Eirich Art a's glac do chlaidheamh,
A's seas ann an àite t' athar;
’S ma gleibh thu do dhiol saoghail,
Saoilidh mi gur mac righ thu."

42

"Thug c urchair eile 'n airde;--
Air leinne gu 'm bu leoir a h-airde,
Leagadh leis, aig mend a chuimse,
Art MacChairbre air an ath urchair."

AM FEAR-AITHRIS.

Bha Cairbre marbh, 's bha Osgar air a ghluinean. ’san t-sleagh roimhe. Bha ceap aig Cairbre air a dheanadh ris o' chreig, 's chuir iad an ceap air a chreig, air dhoigh 's gu 'n saoileadh Osgar gu 'n robh esan beo.

43

"Chuir a chum an righ mu cheap
Sluagh Chairbre bu gharbh gleachd,
An los gu'n buinte leo buaidh larach,
Air faicinn daibh Osgar gu craidhteach.

44

"Thog e leac a comhnard cruaidh,
Bhar na talmhuinne taobh-ruaidh;
Bhrisd e 'n carragh air an robh 'n ceap,
Gniomh mu dheireadh mo dheag mhic."

45--OSGAR.

"Togaibh leibh mi nis Fhianna,
Nior thog sibh mi roimhe riamh;
Thugaibh mi gu tulaich ghlain,
Ach gu 'm buin sibh dhiomh an t-aodach."

p. 338

46--OISEAN.

"There was heard at the northern strand,
Shouts of people and edge of arms;
Our warriors suddenly started,
Before that Osgar was yet dead."

47--OSCAR.

"Death's shrouds be about thee, thou victory's son,
A second time will thou lie to us;
These are my grandsire's ships,
And they are coming with succour to us."

48--OISEAN.

"We all gave blessing to Fionn
What though he saluted not us
Until we reached the hillock of tears,
Where was Osgar of the keen arms."

RECITER.

Fionn could heal any wound that might be on any being in the Een, unless there should be poison in it.

49--FIONN.

"Worse, my son, wert thou for it,
The battle-day of Bein Eidinn;
The sickles might float through thy waist,
It was my hand that made thy healing."

50--OSGAR.

"My healing does not increase,
No more shall it be done for ever
The Cairbre planted the seven-edged spear
Between my reins and my navel. ( 345-14)

p. 339

46--OISEAN.

"Chualas aig an traigh mu thuath
Eibheach sluaigh a's faobhar arm,
Chlisg ar gaisgich gu luath
Ma 'n robh Osgar fhathasd marbh."

47--OSGAR.

"Marbhphaisg ort a mhic na buadha,
Ni thu breug an darna uair dhuinn;
Luingeas mo sheanar a th' ann,
’S iad a' teachd le cobhair thugainn."

48--OISEAN.

"Bheannaich sinn uile do dh' Fhionn,
Gad tha cha do bheannaich dhuinn;
Gus an do rainig sinn. tulach nan deur,
Far an robh Osgar nan arm geur."

AM FEAR-AITHRIS.

Leighseadh Fionn creuchd sam, bith a bhiodh air neach san Fhìnn, ach gun puinsean a bhith ann.

49--FIONN.

"’S miosa 'mhic a bhiodh tu dheth,
An latha catha air Beinn Eudainn
Shnamhadh na corran roimh d' chneas,
’S i mo lamhsa rinn do leigheas."

50--OSGAR.

"Mo leighas cha n 'eile e 'fas,
’S cha mhò a niotar e gu bràch;
Chuir an Cairbre sleagh nan seachd seang
Edar m' imleag agus m' airnean.

p. 340

51

"I planted the nine-edged spear
About the shaping of his face and hair;
The deep sting in my right side,
The leech has no skill to heal it."

52--FIONN.

"Worse, my son, wert thou for it,
On the battle day of Dun Dealgan;
The geese might float through thy waist, ( 345-15).
It was my band that made thy healing."( 347-g)

53--OSGAR.

"My healing does not increase,
No more shall it be done for ever;
The Cairbre planted the seven edged spear
Between my reins and my navel.

54

"I planted the nine-edged spear
About the shaping of his face and hair;
The deep sting in my right side,
The leech has no skill to heal it."

55--OISEAN.

"That was the time that Fionn went
Up to the mound above him;
The tears streamed down from his eyelids,
And he turned his back to us."

56--FIONN.

"My own calf, thou calf of my calf,
Thou child of my fair tender child,
My heart is bounding like an elk,
Not till the last day, rises Osgar.

p. 341

51

"Chuir mise sleagh nan naoi seang
Mu chumadh fhuilt-san agus aodainn;
An gath domhainn a m' thaobh deas
Cha dual do'n leigh a leigheas."

52--FIONN.

"’S miosa 'mhic a bhiodh tu dheth,
Latha catha sin Dhun Dealgain.
Shnamhadh na geoidh roimh d' chneas,
’S i mo lamhsa rinn do leigheas."

53--OSGAIR.

"Mo leigheas cha n-'eil e 'fas,
'S cha mho a dh' eireas mi gu bràch;
Chuir an Cairbre sleagh nan seachd seang
Eadar m' imleag agus m' airnean.

51

"Chuir mise sleagh nan naoi seang
Mu chumadh fhuilt-san agus aodainn;
An gath domhainn a' m' thaobh deas
Cha dual do 'n leigh a leigheas." ( 345-16)

55--OISEAN.

"’Sin an uair a chaidh Fionn,
Air an tulaich as a chionn;
Shruthadh na deoir sios o 'rasgaibh,
’S tionndaidh e ruinn a chul."

56--FIONN.

"Mo laogh fhein thu--’laoigh mo laoigh,
A leinibh mo leinibh ghil chaoimh
Mo chridhe 'leumraich mor lon;
( 345-17) Gu lath bhràch cha 'n eirich Osgar!

p. 342

57

"The whining of the hounds by my side,
And the wailing of the ancient warriors,
The crying of women in turns--
These were the things that pierced my heart-strings.

58

"So it was that I ever thought
No fleshly heart was in my breast;
But a heart of the holly spikes,
All over-clad with steel.

59

"Pity it was not I that fell
In the battle of Corses, not scarce in deeds;
And thou in the east and the west ward,
Thou'dst be before the Fiantan Osgair."

60--CONAN.

"Although it had been thou that fell
In the battle of Corses, not scarce in deeds;
Alas! in the east or the west ward,
Groaning for thee would not be Osgar."

61--OISEAN.

"We raised with us lovely Osgar,
On shoulders and on lofty spear-shafts;
We had a glorious carrying
Until we reached the house of Fionn.

62

"No wife would weep her own son,
No man bewail his brother kind;
As many as we were around the house,
We were all bewailing Osgar."

p. 343

57

"Donnalaich nan con ri m' thaobh,
Agus buirich nan seann laoch;
Gairich nam ban mu seach; ( 345-18)
Siud an rud a ghon mo chridhe.

58

"’S ann a shaoil mi roimhe riamh, ( 345-19)
Nach cridhe feola 'bha 'na m' chliabh;
Ach cridhe de ghuin na cuilinn
Air a chomhdachadh le stailinn.

59

"’S truagh nach mise thuiteadh ann
An cath Cairbhre, an gniomh nach gann;
A's tusa, 'n ear agus an iar
A bhiodh roimh na Fianntan Osgair."

60--CONAN.

"Gad a bu tusa 'thuiteadh ann
An cath Cairbhre an gniomh nach gann,
Ochon! an ear na 'n iar
A' t' iargain cha bhiodh Osgar."

61-OISEAN.

"Thog sinn leinn an t-Osgar aluinn
Air ghuaillibh 't air shleaghaibh arda;
Thug sinn as iomchar ghrinn
Gus an do rainig sinn taigh Fhinn.

62

"Cha chaoineadh bean a mac fhein,
'S cha chaoineadh fear a bhrathair caomh,
'S cia lion 's a bha sinn mu 'n teach;
Bha sinn uile caoineadh Osgair."

p. 344

63--FIONN.

"Death of Osgar that tortured my heart,
Eirinn's men's lord, our mighty loss;
Where in thy time was ever seen,
One so hardy behind a blade."

64--OISEAN.

"Fionn never gave over trembling and woe,
From that day till the day of for ever;
He would not take, and he would not desire,
A third of his life though I should say. ( 345-20)

(344-1) Cairbhre, abounding in carcases, producing carcases; from cairbh, a carcase. H. MIL. Gabhra, in Gillies. J. F. C.

(344-2) Araon 's am fear a (laghadh Laoidheadh) dh'e. J. F. C.

(344-3) Together, and one who would sing of it (a reading in Gillies.) J. F. C.

(344-4) This introduction is given in Gillies; it varies somewhat from this, but it is not a whit more comprehensible. J. F. C.

(344-5) Damhair, hurry.

(344-6) Teamhradh, a royal residence; from tàmh righ, king's dwelling, or rest, "Temora."

(344-7) Tighearn, a lord, or proprietor of land; from ti fhearann, person of lands. In this line tighearnas is used in the same sense as majesty. Tighearn was evidently synonymous with Righ, king, at one time, and is no doubt the same word as the Greek, turannos, a king. H. M‘L.

(344-8) From this line it might be inferred that the Gaels at some period were not the native race in the south of Ireland. H. M‘L.

(344-9) Tha mhasladh gu righ na h-Eirionn.--Patrick Smith. This seems to me to be the better line, as the one inserted hardly makes sense. H. M‘L.

(344-10) The Scandinavian race. H. M‘L.

(344-11) Bear, son of Love.

(344-12) This stanza is from Patrick Smith, who, in the enumeration of the heroes, invariably uses ceithir ceud, four hundred. H. M‘L.

p. 345

63--FIONN.

"Bàs Osgair a chraidh mo chrì,
Triath fear Eirionn 's mor g' ar dith;
Cait am facas riamh ri d' linn,
Aon cho cruaidh riut air cul lainn.

64--OISEAN.

"Nior chuir Fionn deth crith a's grain
G'n latha sin gu la bhràch;
Cha ghabhadh, 's cha b' fheairde leis
Train de 'n bheatha gad dh' abruinn.

(345-13) The Phoenician or Carthaginian race. H. M‘L.

(345-14) Here Osgar exults in having given the nobler wound. H. M‘L.

(345-15) (?) The winds.

(345-16) Na 'n ruigeadh mo dhuirn a chneas,
Cha deanadh an leigh a leigheas.

(345-17) '’Se mo chreach nach eirich Osgar.--Patrick Smith.

(345-18) Gul a' bhannail 'caoidh mu seach--Donald MacPhie.

(345-19) These lines are put in the mouth of Oscar by some reciters, and in the version published by MacCallum, which would imply that Oscar's fortitude gave way from the pain of his wounds; but this is altogether inconsistent with the character ascribed to Oscar in all Fenian tales and poems, while, on the contrary, when uttered by Fionn, the loftiest heroism that can be conceived is represented; the steel-encased holly heart overpowered by deep feeling; the stern, indomitable old captain completely subdued by the tears of warm and generous affection. H. M‘L.

Part of this poem was recited to me by Patrick Smith, South Boisdale, South Uist, September 17, 1860. The whole of it as written here, excepting a few lines peculiar to Smith's version, was got from Donald MacPhie, smith, Breubhaigh, Barra, October 1, 1860. It seems to be a fragment of a much larger poem, some peculiar ancient drama. The commencement is rather obscure, and it is not easy to make sense of some of the lines. H. M‘L.

(345-20) This abrupt termination seems to indicate more to follow, or a repetition of the first line, which seems to be the usual termination of these poems. J. F. C.

p. 346

(346-a) This introduction is curious. The Irish tradition is, that Scotland was the hunting ground of Fionn. The lay is part of a dialogue between the old poet and St. Patrick, which savours of Irish extraction; but Barra is a Roman Catholic district.

(346-b) Moistening, Taiseadh. This seems to refer to some ancient method of soothsaying connected with washing clothes. In broad Scotch it is mentioned in an old song, which I quote from memory-

My droukit sark sleeve I was waulking,
His likeness cam ben the house stalkin',
        The verra grey breeks o' Tam Glen."

[paragraph continues] In Brittany (Foyer Breton, vol. i., 144), the night washerwomen (kannérez-noz) were a troop of ghosts, which appeared on a certain night in November. They washed, they dried, and they sewed the shroud of the dead who yet walk and talk, singing,--

"Till there come Christians' saviour,
We must bleach our shrouds,
Under the snow and the wind."

[paragraph continues] They asked passengers to help to wring the wet sheets, and if a man turned the clothes with them it was well, if he turned against them he was crushed, and died.

Taisbean, s.m., means a vision, an apparition.

Taisbein, v.a., to reveal.

Taisgeal, s.m., the finding of something lost, and I have heard "an Taistear" used as a term of opprobrium. The collector is unable to explain the passage, but this seems to be an imperfect explanation of it. The raven has been a soothsayer time out of mind.

(346-c) This 8th stanza seems imperfect, and it is very hard to make any sense of it as it stands, but supposing that I am right in my explanation, this might be an exclamation of the mystic washerwomen previous to their disappearance. See note (2), page ³⁴⁴.

(346-d) ’Seang probably refers to the slender, sharp, tough, qualities of a spear. Three slender points and three thin edges make a barbed head, and a tough springy shaft makes a spear of seven "seang," add to that a couple of slender cords for throwing the weapon, of which there are traces in Irish stories; and we have

p. 347

a spear of nine "seang," Blenders, and a phrase similar to the "binding of the three smalls."

(347-f) This line is given in Armstrong's dictionary under the word doirlinn.

(347-g) The geese might float. This, taken literally, is absurd, and is at variance with the spirit of the rest of the poem. I suspect, therefore, that the word which now means geese, and nothing else must have had some other meaning, as the word which means herons in verse 49 also means any crooked cutting instrument. It might be gaoithe, winds, and suggest the idea of the breath escaping from the wound.