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Bái mesca mór for Ulto fecht n-and i nEmain Macha.

Bhí meisce mhór ar na hUlaidh trá in Eamhain Mhacha.

Once upon a time the men of Ulster were greatly intoxicated in Emain Macha.

Docuridar didiu immarbága móra ocus comrama eturro

Tharla dá bharr iomarbhánna móra agus comórtais eatarthu

Thence there arise great contentions and comparison of trophies between them,

.i. etir Chonall ocus Coinculaind ocus Lóegaire.

.i. idir Conall agus Cú Chulainn agus Laoire.

even between Conall and
Cuchulinn and Loegaire.

“Tucaid dam-sa” ar Conall “inchind
Me[i]ssgegra

“Tugaigí chugamsa,” arsa Conall, “inchinn Mheis Gheára

“Bring me,” said Conall, “the brain of
Mesgegra,

co ro-acilliur ócu na comram.”

le go labhróinn leis na laochra atá ag iomaíocht.”

so that I may talk to the competing warriors.”

Ba bés d’ Ultaib ind inbaid sin

Ba bhéas leis na hUlaidh an uair sin,

At that time it was a custom with the men of Ulster

cach curaid nomarbdais ar galaib óenfhir

gach curadh a mharaídís i gcomhrac aonair,

nogatta a n-inchind assa cendaib

a n-inchinn a bhaint as a gceanna

to take the brains out of the head

of every warrior whom they slew in single combat,

ocus commesct[h]a áel airthib

agus aol a mheascadh leo

and to mix lime with them,

co ndénad líathróite crúade díb.

i dtreo go ndéanfadh liathróidí crua díobh.

so that they were made into hard balls.

Ocus intan nobítis i n-immarbáig nó chomramaib

Agus nuair a bhídís in iomarbhá nó i gcomórtais

And whenever they were in contention or at comparison of trophies,

dobertis dóib co mbítis inna lámaib.

thugtaí chucu iad agus bhídís acu ina lámha.

these were brought to them, so that they had them in their hands.

“Maith, a Chonchobuir,” ar Conall,

“Sea, a Chonchúir,” arsa Conall,

“Well, O Conchobar,” said Conall,

“na co ndernat óic na comram

“nó go ndéana na laochra atá i gcomórtas

“until the competing warriors

écht fón innas-[s]a ar galaib óinfhir,

éacht den sort seo i gcomhrac aonair,

perform a deed like this in single combat,

nídat túalngi comram frim-sa.”

níl siad ionchomórtais liomsa.”

they are not capable of comparing trophies with me.”

“Is fir ón,” ar Conchobur.

“Is fíor sin,” arsa Conchúr.

“That is true,” said Conchobar.

Doratad íarum forsin forud fora mbíd dogrés ind inchind.

Cuireadh an inchinn ansin ar an bhforadh mar a mbíodh sí de ghnáth.

Then the brain was put upon the shelf upon which it was always kept.

Luid cách a lethi arnabárach dia cluchiu.

Lá arna mhárach d’imigh gach duine leis i mbun a chluiche.

On the morrow every one went his own way to his sport.

Dolluid dano Cet mac Matach do chúairt ectra la Ulto.

Tháinig Cead mac Mách ar chuairt eachtraíochta in Ulaidh.

Then Cet, the son of Matu, went upon a round of adventures in Ulster.

Béist ass andsam robói i nHérinn in Cet.

Ba é an Cead céanna an phéist ba dheacra in Éirinn.

This Cet was the most troublesome pest that was in Ireland.

Ised dolluid-side dar faidchi na hEmna

Mar seo a ghabh sé thar faiche na hEamhna —

This is the way he went, across the green of Emain,

ocus tri láechcind leis do Ultaib.

agus cinn triúr laochra d’Ulaidh leis.

having with him three warriors’ heads of the men of Ulster.

Intan bátar na ónmite ’co cluchiu do inchind Me[i]sgegra,

Agus na hóinmhidí ag imirt le hinchinn Mheis Gheára,

While the jesters (of Emain) were at play with the brain of Mesgegra,

issed atbert ind ónmit fri araile.

dúirt óinmhid le hóinmhid eile gurb í a bhí acu.

this is what one jester said to the other.

Rocluinedar Cet aní sin.

Cloiseann Cead é sin.

Cet hears that.

Ethaid side in n-inchind al-láim indala n-ái ocus berid leiss,

Snapann sé an inchinn as láimh duine díobh agus beireann leis í,

He snatches the brain out of the hand of one of them, and carries it off;

ó rofitir Cet robói i tarngere do Messgegra a dígail iarna écaib.

mar bhí a fhios ag Cead go raibh sé sa tairngreacht Meas Gheára á dhíolt féin tar éis a bháis.

for he knew that it had been foretold of Mesgegra that he would avenge himself after his death.

Cach cath ocus cach irga[l]

I ngach cath agus iorghal

In every battle and in every combat

nobíd do Chonnachtaib fri Ulto

a bhíodh ag Connachta le hUlaidh,

which the men of Connaught had with those of Ulster,

dobered Cet in n-inchind inna chriss

thugadh Cead an inchinn leis ina chrios

Cet used to carry the brain in his girdle

dús in tetarthad écht n-amra

féachaint an rithfeadh leis éacht cáiliúil a dhéanamh

to see whether he could compass a famous deed

d’ Ultaib do marbad di.

agus Ultach a mhárú léi.

by slaying a man of Ulster with it.

Fecht and didiu dolluid-seom intí Cet sair

Ghabh Cead soir uair

Once then Cet went eastwards

co tuc tánai mbó a Feraib Ross.

agus rug táin bó leis ó Fhir Ros.

until he took a drove of cows from the men of the Rosses.

Donarraid i n-íarmóracht Ulaid ina diaid.

Tháinig na hUlaidh suas leis sa tóir air.

The men of Ulster overtook him in pursuit after him.

Doriachtatar dano Connachtai dond leith aile dia thessarcain-seom.

Tháinig Connachta ón taobh eile á theasargan.

Then the men of Connaught came up from the other side to rescue him.

Fechair cath eturro.

Troideadh cath eatarthu.

A battle is fought between them.

Dolluid Conchubur féin issin cath.

Chuaigh Conchúr féin sa chath.

Conchobar himself went into the battle.

Conid andsin gádatar mná Connacht do Conchobur tuidecht for leith

Is ansin a d’impigh mná Chonnacht ar Chonchúr teacht i leith

And it was then that the women of Connaught begged Conchobar to come aside

do déscin a delba dóib.

le go bhfeicidís a chló.

so that they might see his shape.

Fobíth ní rabi for talmain delb duini amail deilb Conchobuir

Óir ní raibh ar talamh cló duine mar chló Chonchúir

For there was not on earth the shape of a human being like the shape of Conchobar,

.i. etir chruth ocus deilb ocus dechelt,

.i. idir chruth agus chló agus éide,

both for beauty and figure and dress,

etir mét ocus córe ocus cutrummae,

idir mhéid agus chóracht agus chothroime,

for size and symmetry and proportion,

etir rosc ocus fholt ocus gile,

idir shúil agus fholt agus ghile,

for eye and hair and whiteness,

etir gáis ocus álaig ocus erlabra,

idir ghaois agus shuáilce agus urlabhra,

for wisdom and manners and eloquence,

etir erriud ocus áne ocus écosc,

idir fheisteas agus ghlóir agus dhealramh,

for raiment and nobleness and equipment,

etir arm ocus immad ocus orddan,

idir arm agus raidhse agus dhínit,

for weapons and wealth and dignity,

etir gnáis ocus gaisced ocus chenél.

idir ghnása agus ghaisce agus chine.

for bearing and valour and race.

Nírbo lochtach tra intí Conchobur.

Ní raibh locht, más ea, ar Chonchúr.

That Conchobar was faultless indeed.

A comairli immorro in Cheit

Ar chomhairle Cheid, áfach,

However, it was by the advice of Cet

rogabsat na mná ailgis do Chonchobur.

a chrom na mná ag achainí ar Chonchúr.

that the women importuned Conchobar.

Luid íarum for leth a óinur dia déscin dona mnáib.

Chuaigh sé i leataoibh ina aonar ansin le go bhfeicfeadh na mná é.

Then he went aside alone to be seen by the women.

Dolluid Cet immorro co mbúi etir na mná immedón.

Ach chuaigh Cead ar aghaidh nó go raibh sé i lár slí idir na mná.

Cet, however, went until he was in the midst of the women.

Nosindlethar Cet inchind Mesgegra isin tábaill

Chuir sé inchinn Mheis Gheára i bhfearas ina chrann tabhaill

He adjusts the brain of Mesgegra in the sling,

ocus nosteilc conidtarla immullach
Conchobuir

agus chaith í gur bhuail Conchúr i mullach a chinn

and throws it so that it hit the crown of Conchobar’s head,

co mbátar a dá trían inna chind

i dtreo go ndeachaigh dhá dtrian di isteach ina cheann

so that two-thirds of it entered his head,

ocus co torchairseom isa cend, co tarla fri lár.

agus gur thit sé i ndiaidh a chinn ar lár ar an talamh.

so that he fell upon his head forward to the ground.

Focherddat Ulaid chuci

Rith na hUlaidh chuige

The men of Ulster ran towards him,

conidrucsat ó Chet.

agus rug leo é ó Chead.

and carried him off from Cet.

For brú Átha Daire Dá Báeth is and dorochair Conchobar.

Ar bhruach Áth Dhoire Dá Bhaoth a thit Conchúr.

On the brink of the ford of Daire Dá Báeth it was that Conchobar fell.

Atá a lige and baile i torchair

Tá a uaigh ansiúd mar ar thit sé,

His grave is there where he fell,

ocus corthe fria chend

lia ag a cheann,

and a pillar-stone at his head,

ocus corthe fria chossa.

agus lia ag a chosa.

and another at his feet.

Maidid tra for Connachta co Sciaig Aird na Con.

Cuireadh Connachta i raon madhma go Sceach Ard na gCon.

The men of Connaught are then routed to Scé Aird na Con.

Dobertar Ulaid sair doridisi co Áth Daire Dá Báeth.

Ach tiomáineadh Ulaidh soir arís go hÁth Doire Dhá Bhaoth.

The men of Ulster are driven eastwards again to the ford of Daire Dá Báeth.

“Mo brith-se ass!” ar Conchobur.

“Tugtar mise as seo!” arsa Conchúr.

“Let me be carried out of this!” said Conchobar.

“Dobér ríge nUlad do neoch nombéra connici mo thech.”

“Tabharfaidh mé ríocht Uladh d’aon duine a bhéarfaidh mé chun mo thí.”

“I shall give the kingship of Ulster to anyone who will carry me as far as my house.”

“Notbér-sa,” ar Cend Berraide, ar a gilla fadéin.

“Béarfaidh mise liom thú,” arsa Ceann Bearraide, a ghiolla féin.

“I will carry thee,” said Cenn Berraide, his own attendant.

Dobeir-side lomain imme

Chuir seisean téad ina thimpeall

He puts a cord around him,

ocus nombeir for a muin co Arddachad Slébe Fuáit.

agus thug leis é go hArdachadh Shliabh Fuaid.

and carries him upon his back to Ardachad of the Fews.

Maidid a chride isin gillu.

Bhris an croí sa ghiolla.

The attendant’s heart broke within him.

Conid de sin atá ‘ríge Cind Berraide for Ultaib’

Is uaidh sin atá an nath: ‘Ríocht Chinn Bhearraide ar Ulaidh,’

Hence is the saying ‘Cenn Berraide’s kingship over Ulster,’

.i. in rí for a muin leth ind lái.

is é sin an rí ar a mhuin ar feadh leath an lae.

to wit, the king upon his back for (only) half the day.

Conócbad trá in debaid ón tráth co araile dar éis in ríg.

Coimeádadh an troid ar siúl ón tráth go céile tar éis don rí imeacht.

However, the fight was kept up after the king from one hour of the day to the same hour on the next day,

Co ráimid for Ulto íarsin.

Briseadh ar na hUlaidh ansin.

after which the men of Ulster were routed.

Doberar tra a liaig co Conchobar .i. Fingen.

Tugadh a lia .i. Finín, go Conchúr.

In the meantime his physician was brought to Conchobar, even Fingen.

Iss éside nofhinnad don díaid nothéiged don tig

Eisean a d’fhionnfadh ón deatach a thagadh ón teach

’Tis he who would know from the smoke that arose from a house

in lín nobíd i ngalur ’sin tig

an líon duine a bhíodh easlán ann,

how many were ill in the house,

ocus cech galar nobíd and.

agus gach galar a bhíodh ann.

and every disease that was in it.

“Maith,” or Fingen, “dia taltar in chloch as do chind

“Sea,” arsa Finín, “má thógtar an chloch as do cheann,

“Well,” said Fingen, “if the stone is taken out of thy head,

biat marb fo chétóir.

beidh tú marbh ar an toirt.

thou wilt be dead forthwith.

Mani tucthar ass immorro,

Mura dtógfaí as í, áfach,

If it is not taken out, however,

not-ícfaind

dhéanfainn thú a leigheas

I would heal thee,

ocus bid athis duit.”

ach beidh sí ina haithis ort.”

but it will be a blemish for thee.”

“Is asso dún” ar Ulaid “ind athis oldás a éc-som.”

“Is fusa linn an aithis ná a bhás,” arsa na hUlaidh.

“It is easier for us,” said the men of Ulster, “to bear the blemish than his death.”

Ro-íccad íarum a chend

Leigheasadh a cheann ansin,

His head was then healed;

ocus rofúaged co snáth óir,

agus fuadh é le snáth óir,

and it was stitched with thread of gold,

ar ba cumma dath fuilt Conchobuir ocus dath inn óir.

mar ba chuma nó dath an óir dath foilt Chonchúir.

for the colour of Conchobar’s hair was the same as the colour of gold.

Ocus asbert in liaig fri Conchobar

Agus dúirt an lia le Conchúr

And the physician said to Conchobar

co mbeth i fomtin .i. ar ná tísad a fherg dó

a bheith ar a aire nach dtiocfadh fearg air,

that he should be on his guard lest anger should come on him,

ocus ná digsed for ech

agus gan dul ar each,

and that he should not mount a horse,

ocus ná etraiged mnái

agus gan luí le bean,

that he should not have connexion with a woman,

[ocus ná rocaithed biad] co anfeta

agus gan bia a chaitheamh le hampla,

that he should not eat food greedily,

ocus ná rethed.

agus gan rith.

and that he should not run.

Robói dano isin chuntabairt sin céin robo beó .i. secht mbliadna

Bhí sé sa chontúirt sin fad ba bheo dó .i. seacht mbliana

In that doubtful state, then, he was as long as he lived, even seven years;

ocus nírbo engnamaid,

agus gan é inghníomha

and he was not capable of action,

acht a airisium inna shuidi nammá

ach ag fanacht ina shuí amháin,

but remained in his seat only,

.i. naco cúala Críst do chrochad do Iudaidib.

nó gur chuala sé gur chéas na Giúdaigh Críost ar chrois.

until he heard that Christ had been crucified by the Jews.

Tánic and side crith mór forsna dúli

Ansin tháinig crith mór ar na dúile

At that time a great trembling came over the elements,

ocus rochrithnaig nem ocus talam

agus chrith neamh agus talamh

and the heavens and the earth shook

la mét in gníma darónad and

le huafás an ghnímh a rinneadh ansin

with the enormity of the deed that was then done,

.i. Ísu Críst mac Dé bí do chrochad cen chinaid.

.i. Íosa Críost Mac Dé a chéasadh ar chrois gan chion air.

even Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, to be crucified without guilt.

“Cráet so?” ar Conchobur fria drúid.

“Cad é seo?” arsa Conchúr lena dhraoi.

“What is this?” said Conchobar to his
druid.

“Cia olc mór dogníther isind lathiu-sa indiú?”

“Cén t-olc mór atá á dhéanamh an lá seo inniu?”

“What great evil is being done on this day?”

“Is fir ón ém,” ar in drúi.

“Is fíor dhuit,” arsan draoi.

“That is true, indeed,” said the druid [who then tells the story of the
Crucifixion].

“Is mór in gním sin,” ar Conchobur.

“Is mór an gníomh é sin,” arsa Conchúr.

“Awful is that deed,” said Conchobar.

“In fer sin dano” ar in drúi

“An fear sin anois a céasadh,” arsan draoi,

“That man, now,” said the druid,

“i n-óenaidchi rogein ocus rogenis-[s]iu

“rugadh é an oíche chéanna leat féin

“was born in the same night in which thou wast born,

.i. i n-ocht calde Enair

.i. an t-ochtú lá roimh chaileann Eanáir,

even on the eighth before the calends of January,

cen cop inund bliadain.”

cé nárbh ionann bliain.”

though the year was not the same.”

Is andsin rochreiti Conchobar.

Is ansin a chreid Conchúr.

It was then that Conchobar believed.

Ocus issé sin indara fer

Ba dhuine é den bheirt

And he was one of the two men

rochreti do Día i nHérinn ría tiachtain creitmi é

a chreid i nDia in Éirinn roimh theacht an chreidimh.

that had believed in God in Ireland before the coming of the Faith,

.i. Morand in fer aile.

Morann an fear eile …

Morann being the other man.

Ocus as iarsin asbert Concubur:

Dúirt Conchúr ansin:

And thereupon Conchobar said:

“Rofeasdais fir in beatha

“Bheadh a fhios ag fir an domhain

“The men of the world would know

mo cumang ac cathugud fri hIudaidhibh

cad é mo chumas ag cur catha ar na Giúdaigh

what I can do in fighting against the Jews

tre crochad Críst

de bharr Críost a chéasadh

for the sake of the crucifixion of Christ,

dia mbeinn a comfogus dó.”

dá mbeinn ina chóngar.”

if I were near Him.”

Is iarsin attraacht ocus rosgobh forsin deargail

Is ansin a d’éirigh sé agus a thug faoin gcoill daraí

Then he rose and made the onslaught,

cur’sceinn incinn Mesgeagra as a cinn

nó gur léim inchinn Mheis Gheára as a cheann

until Mesgegra’s brains jumped out of his head,

ocus conearbailt Concubur fochétóir.

agus go bhfuair Conchúr bás ar an toirt.

so that Conchobar died forthwith.

Conadh [d]esin adber[a]t na Gæidhil

Is dá bharrsan a deir na Gaeil

Hence the Gaels say

conadh hé Concubur cétgeinntlide docóidh docum neimhi a nÉirinn,

gurb é Conchúr an chéad phágánach in Éirinn a chuaigh ar neamh,

that Conchobar was the first pagan who went to Heaven in Ireland,

fobíth robo baithis dó in fuil dobidg as[a] cinn.

mar gurbh ionann agus baisteadh dó an fhuil a bhrúcht as a cheann.

for the blood that sprang out of his head was a baptism to him.

Et as annsin rucadh ainim Concobuir a n-ifrinn

Tugadh anam Chonchúir go hifreann

And then Conchobar’s soul was taken to hell

gu comraiced Críst fria ac te:uir na broide a hifrinn,

go dtí gur bhuail Críost leis agus é ag breith na creiche as ifreann,

until Christ encountered her as He brought the captive host out of hell,

co tuc Críst leis anim Concabair docum neimhi. Finid.

agus gur rug Críost anam Chonchúir leis chum neimhe.*Finit.*

so that Christ took the soul of Conchobar with Him to Heaven. Finit.