§1

§2

§3

§4

§5

§6

§7

§8

§9

§10

§11

§12

Complete file (PDF)

Cid diatá Aided Cheltchair maic Uthechair?

Cid de atá Oidhe Chealtchair mhic Uitheachair?

Whence is the tragical death of Celtchar mac Uthechair?

Ní hansa.

Ní hansa.

Not hard to tell.

Fer amra robúi de Ultaib [fer amra do Ultaib E] .i. Blái briuga.

Fear amhra do bhí de Ultaibh .i. Blaoi brughaidh.

There was a famous man of the men of Ulster, even Blái the Hospitaller.

Secht n-airgeda leis [om. E].

Seacht n-airgeda leis.

He owned seven herds of cattle,

Secht fichit bó cecha airgi

Seacht fichid bó le gacha airge,

seven score kine in each herd,

ocus seisred [seisr E with horizontal stroke over r and dot over the stroke] cecha airgi.

agus seisreach le gacha airge.

and a plough-team with each herd.

Tech n-óiged [om. E] . . . .

Teach n-aíochta aige.

He also kept a guest-house.

Ba geiss dó [dosom E] dano [om. E]

Ba geis dó *áfach*

Now it was a geis for him

ben for dámrud dia thig [dochom [a thige] L]

bean ar dhamhra [do theacht] dá thigh

that a woman should come in a company to his house

cen feiss dó-som [om. E] le,

gan feis dó-san léi,

without his sleeping with her,

meni beth a fer ina fochair.

muna beith a fear ina fochair.

unless her husband were in her company.

Doluid didiu [om. E] Bríg Brethach ben Cheltchair [for oi[gidecht] add. E] dia thig-som [dochum a thaig[e] L].

Do chuaigh Brígh Breathach, bean Chealtchair, dá thigh-sean.

Then Brig Brethach, wife of Celtchar, went to his house.

“Ní maith a ndoronais [ndernus E], a ben,” ar Blái briuga.

“Ní maith a ndo ronais, a bhean,” ar Blaoi brughaidh.

“Not good is what thou hast done, woman,” said Blái the Hospitaller.

“Is geiss dam-sa do thuidecht chucum [thecht cucum E] amal táncais.”

“Is geis domsa do thíocht chugam amhail thángais.”

“Thy coming to me as thou hast come is a geis to me.”

“Is fer trúag,” ar in ben [ar in ben om. E], “loites [goittes L] a gessi féin [a geis for mnai E].”

“Is fear truagh,” ar an bhean, “loiteas a gheasa féin.”

“It is a wretched man,” said the woman, “that violates his own gessa.”

“Is fír. Isim senóir-si ocus acum gressacht atái dano [om. E],” ar se.

“Is fíor. Is im sheanóir mise agus ag ’om ghreasacht ataoi,” ar sé.

“Tis true. I am an old man, and moreover thou art inciting me,” said he.

Fóid lee [ocus faidid le E] in aidchi sin.

Codlaíonn léi an oíche sin.

That night he sleeps with her.

Dofitir Celtchar inní sin ocus doluid for iarair a mná [dolluid side diarra na mna L].

Do fheadair Cealtchar an ní sin agus do chuaigh ar iarrair a mhná.

Celtchar came to know that; and he went to seek his wife.

Luid Blái briuga

Chuaigh Blaoi brughaidh

Blái the Hospitaller went

co mbái for lethláim Conchobair isin rígthig [co mbai etir Chonchobur . . . in c. Batar . . . desciurd ó Emuin Macha L].

go mbí ar leathláimh Chonchobhair isan ríghthigh.

until he was by the side of Conchobar in the royal house.

Luid dano Celtchar ina diaid co mbói for lár in rígthige [co [m]bui i comf[ocus] . . . L].

Chuaigh Cealtchar ina dhiaidh go mbí ar lár an ríghthighe.

Celtchar also went until he was on the floor of the royal house.

Is and robái Conchobar ocus Cúchulaind ac imirt fidchille

Is ann do bhí Conchobhar agus Cú Chulainn ag imirt fichille,

There were Conchobar and Cúchulinn playing a game of fidchell;

ocus robái bruinne Blai briugad tarsin fidchill etarru

agus do bhí broinne Bhlaoi brughaidh thar an fhichill eatarthu,

and Blái the Hospitaller’s chest was over the play-board between them.

ocus clannaid Celtchar in gái trit

agus clanann Cealtchar ga tríd

And Celtchar plants a spear through him

co mbái isin cleith iarna cúl,

go mbí isan chleith iarna chúl,

so that it stuck in the wattle of the wall behind him,

co táinic banna do rind in gái co mbái forsin fidchill.

go dtáinig braon do rinn an gha, go mbí ar an fhichill.

so that a drop (of blood) from the point of the spear fell upon the board.

“Amin, a Chúchulaind!” ar Conchobar.

“Aimin, a Chú Chulainn!” ar Conchobhar.

“Forsooth, Cúchulinn!” said Conchobar.

“Amin dano [om. E], a Chonchobair!” ar Cúchulaind.

“Aimin, mar sin, a Chonchobhair!” ar Cú Chulainn.

“Indeed, then, Conchobar!” said Cúchulinn.

Toimsit[h]er [foimister E; rottomsed L] in fidchell ón banna anunn ocus ille [alle E; ille ocus inund L]

Toimhsithear an ficheall ón mbraon anonn agus i leith

The board is measured from the drop hither and thither

dús cia díb diarbo foicsi [cia da bad faicsi E].

do fhios cia díobh darba fhoicse.

to know to which of them it was nearer.

Foicsi in banna dano [om. E] do Chonchobur

Foicse an braon do Chonchobhar *áfach*

Now the drop was nearer to Conchobar,

ocus rob siadi co dígail [siad cosin dic . . . L] íarsin.

agus do ba shia go díoghail iarsin.

and it was the longer till revenge [i.e., I suppose, Cúchulinn would have avenged the deed on the spot].

Atbath immorro [tra L] Blai briuga.

Fuair Blaoi brughaidh bás iomorra.

Blái the Hospitaller, however, died.

Atrulla [ocus docuaid E] Celtchar

Do theith Cealtchar

Celtchar escaped

co mbúi isna Déisib Muman tess [aness E].

go mbí isna Déisibh Mumhan theas.

until he was in the land of the Déisi of Munster in the south.

“Is olc so, a Chonchobair!” ar Ulaid.

“Is olc so, a Chonchobhair!” ar Ulaidh.

“This is bad, O Conchobar!” said the men of Ulster.

“Is toitim deise annso.

“Is titim díse an so.

“This means the death of two.

Ropo lór in fer marb diar n-esbud [et as lór aoinfer do esbaid oirn E]

Do ba leor an fear marbh dár n-easpa,

It was enough that we should lose the man who has died,

ocus ticed Celtchar [tabhartar Cealtchair E] da tír,” ar Ulaid.

agus tigeadh Cealtchar dá thír,” ar Ulaidh.

and let Celtchar come (back) to his land,” said the men of Ulster.

“Ticed dano [dino E],” ar Conchobar,

“Tigeadh, mar sin,” ar Conchobhar,

“Let him come, then,” said Conchobar;

“ocus eirged [eirched E] a mac for a cend ocus téiged i commairge fris [bí a comairci fair E].”

“agus éirgheadh a mhac ar a cheann agus téadh i gcoimirce leis.”

“and let his son go for him, and let him be his safeguard.”

At that time with the men of Ulster

Ní [ni tei . . . L] gebtha dono cin ind athar forsin [for in L; forsan E] mac

Ní gebhtha cion an athar ar an mac,

a father’s crime was not laid upon his son,

iná [nó L] cin in maic forsin athair

ná cion an mhic ar an athair,

nor a son’s crime upon the father.

ac Ultaib in tan sin.

ag Ultaibh an tan sin.

Luid sidein didiu dia gairm [di gairm Cheltchair L; dá ghair E] co mbói thess [aneas E].

Chuaigh seisean dá ghairm go mbí theas.

So he went to summon him until he was in the south.

“Cid dia tutc[h]aidh, a macáin?” or sé.

“Cid a thug tú, a mhacáin?” ar Cealtchar.

“Wherefore hast thou come, my son?” said Celtchar.

“Condigid siumh (sic) don tír,” uar in gilla.

“Gonadh dtigid-se dod thír,” ar an giolla.

“That thou mayst come to thy land,” said the lad.

“Cisse comairce dotaot frim?” ol sé.

“Cid é an coimirce do théat liom?” ar sé.

“What is my safeguard?”

“Misi,” ol in gilla.

“Mise,” ar an giolla.

“I,” said the lad.

“Fír,” ol sé.

“Fíor,” ar sé.

“True,” said he.

“Is séimh in muin doberat [doberait E] Ulaid ummum-sa

“Is séimh an mhuin do bhearad Ulaidh umum-sa,

“Subtle is the treachery which the men of Ulster practise upon me,

techt for muin mo mic.”

teacht ar mhuin mo mhic.”

that I should go on my son’s guarantee.”

“Bid séimh a ainm ocus ainm a cheneóil [chini E],” ar in drúi.

“Bid séimh a ainm agus ainm a chineoil,” ar an draoi.

“Subtle shall be his name and the name of his offspring,” said the druid.

“An-sa, a gilla!” for sé, “ocus ragat-sa anunn [om. L].”

“Fan-sa, a ghiolla!” ar sé, “agus raghatsa anonn leat.”

“Stay thou (here), lad!” said Celtchar, “and I will go there.”

Dogníther ón

Do ghníthear san,

This is done,

ocus is de atá Semuine isna Déisib.

agus is de atá Seamhuine isna Déisibh.

and hence is Semuine in the land of the Déisi.

Isí immorro [tra L] éraicc conattecht [conaitced E] im Blái briugaid,

Is í éiric do hiarradh im Bhlaoi brughaidh, *áfach,*

However, this is the fine which was demanded for Blái the Hospitaller,

na trí fochaide ata annsom [annso L] doticfad [tic . . . L] la Ultu [ina] remes [ina remes om. E] do dingbáil díb.

na trí fochaidh ba ansa dá dtigfadh le Ultaigh ina réimeas do dhiongbháil díobh.

to free them from the three worst pests that would come into Ulster in his time.

Doluid didiu Conganchnes mac Dedad do dígail a bráthar for Ultu

Do chuaigh Conganchneas mac Deadhadh le sin do dhíoghail a bhráthar ar Ultaigh

Then Conganchnes [i.e. Horn-skin] mac Dedad went to avenge his brother,

.i. Cúrúi [Conrui E] mac Daire maic Dedad.

.i. Cú Raoi mac Dáire mhic Dheadhadh.

even Curoi son of Daire mac Dedad, upon the men of Ulster.

Rofhásaigestar Ultu co mór [Ulto commor L].

Do fhásaigh sé Uladh go mór.

He devastated Ulster greatly.

Níngeibtis [ni gapdis . . . he E] gái nó chlaidib, acht noscendis ass amal de chongnu [noscingtis de amal bid codna nobendais E].

Ní gheibhdís gatha ná claimhte air, ach do sceinndís as amhail de chonga.

Spears or swords hurt him not, but sprang from him as from horn.

“Díngaib dín in fochaid seo [sin E], a Cheltchair!” ar Conchobar.

“Diongaibh dínn an fhochaidh seo, a Chealtchair!” ar Conchobhar.

“Free us from this pest, O Celtchar!” said Conchobar.

“Maith ám,” ar Celtchar,

“Maith ámh,” ar Cealtchar,

“Surely I will,” said Celtchar.

ocus luid dia acallaim in Chonganchnis laa n-óen [laa and E]

agus chuaigh dá agallaimh an Chonganchnis lá n-aon,

And on a certain day he went to converse with the Horny-skin

co tard muin uime [tarad breit (leg. breic) frise L],

go ndearna muin uime,

so that he beguiled him,

gur gell a ingin dó .i. Níab [Niam E] ingen Cheltchair

gur gheall a iníon dó .i. Niamh iníon Chealtchair,

promising to him his daughter, even Niam daughter of Celtchar,

ocus proind céit cecha nóna dia tairiuc.

agus proinn céid gacha nóna do thabhairt chuige.

as well as a dinner for a hundred every afternoon to be supplied to him.

Co tard [co tarat L] in ben bréic uime co n-epert fris:

Agus do bhréag an bhean é, go ndúirt leis:

Then the woman beguiled him, saying to him:

“Innis dam-sa,” ar sí, “amal marbthar tú.” [co n-erbairt frie in n-innas no mair . . . L]

“Inis damsa,” ar sí, “amhail mharbhtar tú.”

“Tell me,” she said, “how you may be killed.”

“Bera derga iarnaidi do tapairt im [[bera] iairn it eat derga tri . . . Here the fragment in L ends] bonnaib ocus tria mo luirgnib.”

“Beara dearga iarnaí do thabhairt im bhonnaibh agus tria mo loirgnibh.”

“Red-hot iron spits have to be thrust into my soles and through my shins.”

Co n-epert si [erpert E] riana hathair co ndernta dá bir móra lais

Agus adúirt sí lena hathair go ndearnta dhá bhior móra leis,

Then she told her father that he should have two large spits made,

ocus co tardta bricht súain fair

agus go gcuireadh briocht suan air,

and a sleeping spell put upon him,

ocus co tarcumlad slóg mór cuici.

agus go dtionóladh slógh mór chuige.

and that he should gather a large host to himself.

Ocus dorónad amlaid.

Agus do rónadh amhlaigh.

And so it was done.

Et docóas ar a tarr

Ocus do chuas ar a dtairr,

And they went on their bellies,

co tardad na beru co n-ordaib ina bonnaib

go sádh na beara le hordaibh ina bhonnaibh

and the spears were thrust into his soles with sledge-hammers

ocus sechnóin a smera con dorchair lais,

agus seachnóin a smeara, gonadh dtorchair leis.

and right through his marrow, so that he fell by him.

co tall a cend de, co tardad carn for a cend

Agus bhain Cealtchar a cheann de, agus tógadh carn ar a cheann,

And Celtchar cut off his head, over which a cairn was raised,

.i. cloch cacha fir tánaic ann.

.i. cloch gacha fir thánaig ann,

viz. a stone was placed by every man that came there.

Et isí fochaid tánaise iarsin .i. in luch donn

Agus is í fochaidh tánaiste iarsin .i. an luch dhonn

And this is the second pest, even the Dun Mouse,

.i. cuilén fúair mac na baintrebthaigi a cúas omna

.i. coileán fuair mac na baintreabhaí i gcuas omhna,

viz. a whelp which the son of the widow had found in the hollow of an oak,

ocus ronalt an bantrepach co mba mór.

agus do alt an bhaintreabhach go mba mór.

and which the widow had reared till it was big.

Fadeoigh dono dofell ar [dofell ar evidently stands for do-ell for] cóerchu na bantrebthaigi

Fá dheoidh do éalaigh ar chaoire na baintreabhaí, *áfach,*

At last then it turned upon the sheep of the widow;

ocus romarb a bú ocus a mac ocus romarb feisin hí féin

agus do mharbh a ba agus a mac, agus do mharbh í féin,

and it killed her kine, and her son, and killed herself,

ocus docóid iarsin co Glenn na Mórmuici.

agus do chuaigh iar sin go Gleann na Mórmhuice.

and then went to the Glen of the Great Sow.

Les gach n-aidchi nofásaighedh la Ultu ocus ina cotlud cach dia.

Lios gach n-oíche do fhásaíodh le Uladh agus ina codladh [di] gach lá.

Every night it would devastate a liss in Ulster, and every day it lay asleep.

“Díngaib dín, a Celtchair!” ar Conchobar,

“Diongaibh dínn, a Chealtchair!” ar Conchobhar.

“Free us from it, O Celtchar!” said Conchobar.

ocus téit Celtchar a fidbaid co tuc cep ferna as

Agus téann Cealtchar i bhfiodhbha, go dtug ceap fearna as,

And Celtchar went into a wood and brought out a log of alder;

ocus gur roclas comfada a lama

gur cuireadh clais comhfhaid a lámha ann,

and a hole was dug in it as long as his arms,

ocus gur roberbh a lusaib tuthmara ocus a mil ocus a mbeoil

agus do bheirbh a lusaibh tuthmhara agus i mil agus i ngeir,

and he boiled it in fragrant herbs and in honey and in grease

gur bo bog righin.

gur ba bhog righin.

until it was soft and tough.

Téit Celtchar dochum na derca a cotlad in luch dunn

Téann Cealtchar dochum na deirce ina gcodlaíodh an luch dhonn,

Celtchar went towards the cave in which the Dun Mouse used to sleep,

ocus gabaid isin derc moch siu tísad in luch dond iarsan orcuin.

agus gabhann isan deirc go moch sula dtáinig an luch dhonn iar an argain.

and he enters the cave early before the Dun Mouse came after the slaughter.

Tic side ocus a srón a n-airde la tuth in croinn

Tig sise agus a srón arairde le tuth an chrainn,

It came, and its snout raised high in the air at the smell of the wood.

ocus léicid Celtchar in crann tarsan derc amach cuici.

agus léigeann Cealtchar an chrann thar an dearc amach chuici.

And Celtchar pushes the wood out through the cave towards it.

Gabaid in chú ina beolu co tard a fiacla inn

Gabhann an chú ina beola, go gcuireann a fiacla ann,

The hound takes it in his jaws, and puts his teeth into it,

ocus rolen na fiacla isin maidi righin.

agus do lean na fiacla isan mhaide righin.

and the teeth clave in the tough wood.

Srengaid Celtchar in crann cuici ocus srengaid in chú isin leth anaill

Sreangann Cealtchar an crann chuige agus sreangann an chú isan leith anall,

Celtchar pulls the wood towards him; and the hound pulls at the other side;

ocus dobeir Celtchar a láim iarsin cep

agus beireann Cealtchar a láimh iar an gceap,

and Celtchar puts his arm along the log (inside)

co tard a chridi tar a bél, co raibi ina dorn

go dtóg a croí thar a béal, go raibhe ina dhorn,

and took its heart out through its jaws so that he had it in his hand.

ocus ruc a cend lais.

agus rug a ceann leis.

And he took its head with him.

Ocus in lá a cinn bliadna iarsin

Agus an lá i gcinn bliana iarsin

And that day, at the end of a year afterwards,

bátar búachailli a táib cairn Congoncnis,

bhádar buachaillí ar thaoibh chairn Chonganchnis,

cow-herds were by the side of the cairn of Horny-skin,

co cúaladar iachtad na cuilén isin cairn

go gcualadar iachtadh na gcoileán isan chairn.

and heard the squealing of whelps in the cairn.

ocus rotochladar in carn ocus fúaradar trí cuiléna ann

Agus do thochladar an carn agus fuaradar trí choileána ann:

And they dug up the cairn and found three whelps in it,

.i. cú odur ocus cú minbrec ocus cú dub.

cú odhar agus cú mhínbhreac agus cú dhubh.

viz. a dun hound, and a hound with small spots, and a black hound.

Rucad in cú minbrec a n-ascaid do Mac Da Thó do Laignib

Rugadh an chú mhínbhreac in aisce do Mhac Da Thó, do Laighnigh,

The hound with the small spots was given as a present to Mac Da Thó of Leinster;

ocus is impi dotuit sochaidi do feraib Érenn a tig Maic Da Thó

agus is uimpe do thit sochaí do fhearaibh Éireann i dtigh Mhic Da Thó,

and for its sake multitudes of the men of Ireland fell in the house of Mac Da Thó,

ocus Ailbi ainm na con sin,

agus Ailbhe ainm na con sin.

and Ailbe was the name of that hound.

ocus co mad do Culand cerda dobert[h]a in chú odur

Agus ba do Chulann cearda do berthadh an chú odhar,

And it would be to Culand the smith that the dun hound was given,

ocus in chú dub Daolcú Celtchair feisin.

agus an chú dhubh Daolchú Chealtchair féin.

and the black hound was Celtchar’s own Dóelchú.

Ní léiced side a gabáil do duine acht do Celtchar.

Ní léigeadh sise a gabháil do dhuine ach do Chealtchar.

It let no man take hold of it save Celtchar.

Fecht ann ní bái Celtchar abus ocus do léiced in cú amach

Feacht ann, ní raibhe Cealtchar abhus agus do léigeadh an chú amach,

Once upon a time Celtchar was not at home, and the hound was let out,

ocus forféimditer [forfeimgiter E] in muinter a gabáil

agus níor fhéadadar an mhuintir a gabháil;

and the people of his household could not catch it;

ocus dosái forsna cethra ocus forna hindili

agus do iompaigh sí ar na ceathra agus ar na hinnile,

and it turned among the cattle and the flocks,

ocus nomilled bí gach n-aidchi la Ultu fo deoid [deoid E].

agus do mhilleadh [neach] beo gach n-oíche le Uladh fo dheoidh.

and at last it would destroy a living creature every night in Ulster.

“Dínguib didiu in fochaid [fochaidi E] ut, a Celtchair!” ar Conchobar.

“Diongaibh sinn ón bhfochaidh úd, a Chealtchair!” ar Conchobhar.

“Free us from that pest, O Celtchar!” said Conchobar.

Luid Celtchar dochum in glenna ’na mbói in cú

Chuaigh Cealtchar dochum an ghleanna ’na mbí an chú

Celtchar went towards the glen in which the hound was,

ocus cét laoch lais

agus céad laoch leis,

and a hundred warriors with him,

ocus gairmid in coin fo thrí, co facadar in coin cucu

agus gairmeann an choin fo thrí, go bhfacadar an choin chucu,

and three times he calls the hound until they saw it coming towards them,

ocus nosdírgenn co Celtchar co mbói ac lige a cos.

agus díríonn go Cealtchar, go mbí ag lí a chos.

making straight for Celtchar until it was licking his feet.

“Is trúag ám ann-dogní an cú,” ar cách.

“Is trua, ámh, a ndo ghní an chú,” ar cách.

“It is sad, indeed, what the hound does,” said all.

“Ní bíu-sa fot cinaid ní bus mó,” ar Celtchar

“Ní bhiusa fot chionta níos mó,” ar Cealtchar,

“I will no longer be incriminated for thy sake,” said Celtchar,

ocus atnaig builli don lúin Celtchair,

agus tugann buille di don lúin Chealtchair,

giving it a blow with the lúin of Celtchar,

co ruc a cride trithi ocus co fúair [bás] íarsin.

go rug a croí tríthi agus go bhfuair bás iarsin.

so that he brought out its heart, whereupon it died.

“Fé amai!” ar cách.

“Fé amai!” ar cách.

“Woe!” cried everybody.

“As fír,” ar sé la turgbáil an gái súas,

“Is fíor,” ar sé, ag turgbháil an gha suas,

“’Tis true,” said he, as he raised the spear,

gur féimid bróen fola d’fuil na con cuici ar fut an gái

gur rith braon fola d’fhuil na con chuige ar fud an gha,

when a drop of the hound’s blood ran along the spear

co ndechaid trít co talmain, co mbo marb de.

go ndeachaigh tríd go talmhain, go mba marbh de.

and went through him to the ground, so that he died of it.

Ocus rolaa[d] a gáir guil ocus rotógbad a lia ocus a lecht ann.

Agus ardaíodh a gháir goil agus do tógadh a lia agus a leact ann.

And his lament was set up and his stone and tomb were raised there.

Conid hí sin A[i]ded Blái Briugad ocus Congoncnis

Gonadh hí sin Oidhe Bhlaoi Brughaidh agus Chonganchnis

So this is the Tragical Death of Blái the Hospitaller, and of Horny-skin,

ocus Celtchair maic Uithechair.

agus Chealtchair mhic Uitheachair.

and of Celtchar the son of Uthechar.

Finit.

Finit.

Finit.