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Loích ro bátar do Laignib .i. Mac Connaid ocus Marrcán ocus Maelodrán.

Laochra de Laighnigh ab ea Mac Connaidh, Marcán agus Maolodhrán.

Mac Connaid, Marrcán and Maelodrán were three warriors of the men of Leinster.

Is de ro chét:

Is ina dtaobhsan adúradh:

It was sung of them:

Ní thaet didiu de

Ní thagann thar n-ais

From Osraige

in cocad fri hOssairge,

ón gcogadh le hOsraí

our warband does not return

cen Mac Connaid for eoch án,

gan Mac Chonnaidh ar each uasal

without Mac Connaid on his noble horse,

cen Marccán, cen Maelodrán.

gan Marcán ná Maolodhrán.

without Marrcán or Maelodrán.

Maelodrán ua Dimmae Chróin

Maolodhrán ó Díoma Chróin

Maelodrán descendant of Dímmae Crón

ro bí in fer isi[nd] móin;

do mharaigh an fear sa mhóin;

killed a man in the marsh:

túirid na cholaind aile

cuardaigh a chorp uile,

search his whole body

nícon rubae oenguine.

óir níor bhuail aon-ghoin é.

for not one wound has struck him.

Comaithig immorro do Maelodrán Huí Máil

Comharsana dó ab ea Uí Mháil, áfach,

Now Maelodrán’s neighbours were the Uí Máil

ocus ba holc immorro a chomaithcess doib.

agus, go deimhin, níorbh aon dea-chomharsa dóibh eisean ach a mhalairt.

and his neighbourship was bad indeed for them.

Is de ro chét:

Is de adúradh:

Concerning this it was sung:

Huí Máil

Uí Mháil,

The Uí Máil,

trícha cét ba hed a lín;

trí mhíle dob ea a líon;

three thousand were their number:

nocon fhárgaib Maelodrán

níor fhág Maolodhrán

Maelodrán left none

acht trí nónburu díb.

ina mbeatha díobh ach trí naonúr.

but three times nine among them.

A n-as·rubart fodessin:

Dúirt Maolodhrán féin:

Maelodrán himself said:

“Is cumma lim-sa huí Máil

“Déanfad-sa Uí Mháil a mheilt

“The Uí Máil and a mill grinding grain

ocus muilenn oc blith gráin;

mar a mheileann an muileann an grán;

are both the same to me.

it fáilte huí Máil fria nguin

fáilte rompu, mar sin, chun a ngonta;

the Uí Máil are welcome to the killings

is cóir cach bró fria tuarcain.”

tá na bróinte i gcóir chun a meilte.”

for every quern is proper for crushing.”

Athechda rí hua Máil immorro.

Dob é Aitheachdha rí Ua Máil, mar sin,

Now Aithechda was the king of the Uí Máil.

Do·fuc Maelodrán a ingin.

agus is í a iníon sin a bhí mar mhnaoi ag Maolodhrán.

Maelodrán married his daughter.

Luid-si didiu fecht do thig a [h]athar do chomfhis a mmáthar bae i ngalur.

D’imigh sise uair go tigh a hathar ag feiscint a máthar, nuair a bhí sí breoite.

Once she went to the house of her father to visit her mother, who was sick.

Ro aslacht a hathair fuirri-se brathtecosc a fir dó.

D’áitigh a hathair uirthi a fear do bhrath dóibh.

Her father persuaded her that it was fitting to betray Maelodrán.

“Maith,” ar [in] ben,

“Tá go maith,” arsa an bhean.

“That is good,” said the woman,

“fil mo dáil-se fris i-nnocht.

“Beidh mé á fheiscint anocht.

“I am meeting with him tonight.

Acht a·taat teora huarbotha lais

Tá trí uarbhothanna aige

There are three huts near him

ocus ní fetar-sa ciasu adba díb i fifa i-nnocht,

ach ní fheadar cé acu ceann ina mbeidh sé anocht.

and I do not know in which of them he will sleep during the night

acht ro·fetar-sa a n-as maith duib.

Ach tá a fhios agam cad is fearr daoibhse a dhéanamh.

but I know the best course for you.

Tucthar lib lán mo chlera-sa do thenid sinnaig

Beirigí libh lán mo mhealbhóigese de chipíní críona le tine shionnaigh

Bring my bag full of fox-fire

ocus at·bér-sa is é m’étach-sa fil ann

agus déarfadsa gur éadaí liomsa atá inti.

and I will tell him that my dress is inside it:

ocus biat-sa ina diaid

Agus beadsa ina dhiaidh aniar

I will follow after him,

et láifet-sa in tenid im diaid,

agus bead ag caitheamh na gcipíní uaim im dhiaidh

then you throw the fox-fire behind me

ocus toít-si iarmo shlicht.”

agus tagaigí ar mo lorg.”

and follow in my path.”

Ba fír ón.

Sin mar do tharla.

So it happened.

Tiagait co mbátar immun n-uarboith.

Chuadar go dtí go rabhadar timpeall ar an uarbhoith.

[The sons of Aithechda] went until they were near the hut

Con·gairet fair.

Do ghlaodar air.

and they called to him,

“Innat-fhail tall, a Maelodráin?”

“An bhfuilir ansin, a Mhaolodhráin?”

“Are you there, Maelodrán?”

“Cosmail mo bith,” ar Maelodrán,

Arsa Maolodhrán: “Is cosúil go bhfuilim,

“It is likely that I am,” he replied.

“ocus ná marbaid for siair.

ach ná maraigí bhur ndeirfiúr.

“Do not kill your sister:

Nos léicebh chucaib.”

Ligfidh mé amach chugaibh í.”

I shall allow her to come out to you.”

“Mo chen di,” ar ind óic.

“Tá fáilte roimpi,” arsa na hóglaigh.

“That is well with us,” the young men said.

La sodain lomraid a c(h)ennchongraim na mmná

Leis sin, do bhain sé an ceann-bhrat dá mhnaoi

With that Maelodrán stripped the shawl from the woman,

ocus do·beir immo chenn fesin

agus do chuir um a cheann féin é

put it about his own head

ocus luid secco samlaid.

agus do chuaigh amach tharstu mar sin.

and so made his way past them.

Leis sin, do thugadarsan fogha ar an mboth

*With that, they attacked the hut

agus do mharaíodar an té a bhí istigh inti.

and killed the person inside it.

Ansin is ea do labhair seisean laistiar díobh.

Then he called from behind them:

“Robbar bia imned,” ar ei-sseom, “i-fecht-sa lim-sa.

“Gheobhaidh sibh a chathú sin uaimse feasta,” ar sé,

“I will make you regret that now,” he said.

Mo ben-sa ocus for n-ingen féin ro marbsaid.”

“mo bheansa agus bhur ndeirfiúr féin do mharú.”

“You have killed my wife and your own sister.”*

Ocus ros fuabair coro lá a n-ár in tan sin.

Do thug sé fogha fúthu ansin agus d’imir ár chomh mór sin orthu

Then he set upon the men and slaughtered them.

Do·gní iarum Maelodrán ocus Aithechda córai dib línaib.

gur sásta a bhí Aitheachdha síocháin do dhéanamh leis ar choir ina dhiaidh sin.

Afterwards Maelodrán and Aithechda made peace.

Fecht ann, bae Maelodrán ic fothrucud hi tich Aithechdai

Uair eile do bhí Maolodhrán ag folcadh i dtigh Aitheachdha

Another time Maelodrán was bathing in the house of Aithechda

ocus bae for menmain dó-side a marbad-som.

agus do bhí seisean socair ina aigne ar é a mharú.

and it was in Aithechda’s mind to kill him.

(Ní bae dano Dubchrón gilla Maelodráin ann in tan-sin.)

Ní raibh Dubhchrón, giolla Mhaolodhráin, istigh aige an uair céanna, áfach.

*However* Dubchrón, Maelodrán’s servant, was not there on this occasion.

Mus léc fer díb aigen láin gríscha

Do lig fear díobh oigheann lán de ghríosach

One of the men present quickly tipped a pan *full* of embers

moa súili ocus moa aigid

um a shúile agus um a aghaidh

into the eyes *and face* of Maelodrán

ocus clannaid Athechda a gae fodessin ind (.i. in Charr Mailodráin)

agus ansin do shá Aitheachdha an ga tríd, a gha féin, an carr Mhaolodhráin,

and Aithechda thrust Maelodrán’s own spear into him

co mbaí triit

i dtreo gur chuaigh tríd

*so that it went through him*

conarro marbsat samlaid.

agus do mharaigh mar sin é.

and so killed him.

Benait iarom a chenn de

Baineadh a cheann de ina dhiaidh sin

Then, they stuck off his head

ocus do·berar hé for a dérgud ocus bratt dar a chenn.

agus do chuireadh ar a leaba é agus brat thar a cheann.

and placed him on a bed with a cloak over his head.

Do·rooig Dubchrón for Dubglais .i. for a gabair-seom.

Tháinig Dubhchrón ar Dhubhghlas, ar a chapall.

Dubchrón arrived on Dubglas, Maelodrán’s horse.

“Tairling, a Dubchróin,” ar cách.

“Tuirling, a Dhubhchróin,” arsa cách leis.

“Get down, Dubchrón,” they all said.

“Níthó,” ar Dubchrón. “Cate Maelodrán?”

“Ní dhéanfad,” ar seisean. “Cá bhfuil Maolodhrán?”

“No,” he replied, “Where is Maelodrán?”

“A·tá inna chotlud; sit, sit, ar nácha ndúsca.

“Tá ina chodladh; sith, sith, ná dúisigh é.

“Hush, *hush,* he is asleep — do not disturb him.

Tairling ocus tair ’sin tech.”

Tuirling agus tar isteach sa tigh.”

Dismount and come over into the house.”

“Ní dóig limm a chotlud acht má beind-se coa aire.

“Ní dóigh liom go mbeadh sé ina chodladh mura mbeinnse agá fhaire.

“It is not likely that Maelodrán would rest unless I were watching over him.

Gataid in mbratt dia aigid,” ar se.

Bain an brat dá aghaidh,” ar sé.

Remove the cloak from his face.”

Gattair de.

Do baineadh.

It was removed.

“Fír, a Maelodráin,” ar sé.

“Is fíor go deimhin, a Mhaolodhráin,” ar sé.

“So it is true, Maelodrán,” he said:

Ocus dixit:

Agus dúirt sé:

“Deithbir dond aigid cid bán

“Ní haon ionadh an aghaidh a bheith bán,

“Though it is white it befits the face,

cond·ránic fri faeburdán;

tar éis arm faobhair d’imirt uirthi.

that has met with swordplay.

imma·rulaid ilar lám

Is iomaí lámh go ghluais timpeall

The head of Maelodrán

in cenn fil for Maelodrán.”

an chinn sin ar Mhaolodhrán.”

has passed through many hands.”

Do·bert Athechda a mnaí-seom,

Do rug Aitheachdha a bhean leis,

ar ní ba hí hingen Athechdai ba ben do Maelodrán in tan ro marbad.

mar níorbh í iníon Aitheachdha ba bhean do Mhaolodhrán an uair do maraíodh é.

Since Maelodrán was not married to the daughter of Aithechda when he was slain,

Aithechda took his wife.

A llá-sin hi cind bliadna bae Athechda for a dérgud

An lá sin i gcionn bliana do bhí Aitheachda ar a leaba

A year later, to the day, Aithechda was upon the bed

ocus ro bae ic décsin na cairre ar a halchaill

agus do bhí ag féachaint ar an gcarr agus í ar a halchaing,

looking at the spear on his weapon rack

(.i. in charr Belaig Duirgen.

carr Bealaigh Duirghein.

(that is, the spear of Belach Duirgen:

Is í no marbad in tríchait mbuiden dia figran ocus dia aureil

Deich mbuíonta fichead do mharaíodh sí dá rinn agus dá faobhar

it would destroy thirty troops with its point and blade

ocus dia liugu co lár,

agus de thuitim ar an dtalamh,

from its position when lying on the ground,

.i. no bíd isint shligid ocus gabul fo bráigit.

mar is amhlaidh do bhíodh sí sa tslí agus gabhal fúithi

for it used to lie in the road with a fork under its shaft.

Nach oen ar·thiagdais secce, meni fácbaitis ní lee,

agus gach aoinne dá dtéadh thairsti, mura bhfágadh sé ní aici,

Should anyone pass it by, the spear would not leave anything alongside

nos luaded demun

do chorraíodh deamhan í

but a demon would propel the spear

ocus no linged foitheib co cuired a n-ár.)

agus do lingeadh fúthu agus d’imríodh ár orthu.

so that it leaped upon them and slaughtered them.)

Bae Aithechda dano coa déiscin na cairri.

Sea! do bhí Aitheachdha ag féachaint ar an nga.

*Now* Aithechda was looking at the spear.

“Bliadain lán cosin laithe-se ó ro marbus-[s]a Maelodrán diit, a charr ucut.”

“Bliain slán go dtí an lá inniu, do maraíodh Maolodhrán leatsa, a charr úd.”

“O spear, it is a full year, to the very day, that Maelodrán was slain by you.”

“Fé amae!” ar in ben, “ní mu-taet ar do beolu.

“Ologón ó!” arsa an bhean. “Ní haon mhaith a thagann thar do bheola;

“Alas!” said the woman, “your speech is not well said.

Dia ndíglad nech iarna écaib,

mar, dá ndíoghlfadh aoinne é féin tar éis a bháis,

If anyone could avenge himself after his death,

méite combad Maelodrán bad dóchom dó i nHérind.”

is é Maolodhrán ba dhóiche in Éirinn a dhéanfadh é.”

it is *most* likely that, in all Ireland, Maelodrán could.”

La sodain commo·faccatar Maelodrán iarsind aurdrochut ina ndochum.

Leis sin, do chonaiceadar Maolodhrán chucu thar an ndroichead.

Thereupon, beyond the forebridge, they saw Maelodrán facing them.

“Iss e-seom són,” ar in ben.

“Is eisean é sin,” arsa an bhean.

“It is he,” the woman said.

At·raig Aithechda dochum in gae.

D’éirigh Aitheachdha chun an gha.

Aithechda rose towards the spear

Luaithiu con·ránic Maelodrán,

Is luaithe do shrois Maolodhrán é

but more quickly Maelodrán reached the spear

conos tarat tria Aithechda conid ro marb de.

agus do chuir tré Aitheachdha is do mharaigh.

and he thrust it through Aithechda until he perished.

Ic dul do i-mmach, is ann as·bert:

Nuair a bhí sé ag dul amach, dúirt sé:

As he departed Maelodrán said:

“Imlech Ech,

“Imleach Each, an áit úd

“We used to ride about

imma·réidmis ar cach leth;

ina rithimis ina thimpeall de gach leith,

Imlech Ech on every side,

ce ron maídi nech ron bí

cé gur rinne an té do mharaigh é maíomh as,

though someone may boast that he killed him,

nírbo dú do Aithechdai.”

ní dó ba dhual, a Aitheachdha.”

it has not been fitting for Aithechda.”

Ro adnacht-som didiu i nGlind Dá Locha, dia n-ebrad:

Do hadhlacadh eisean ansin i nGleann Dá Locha, agus is de adúradh:

He was buried *then* at Glendalough of which it was said:

Lige Maelodráin is glé

Uaigh Mhaolodhráin is glé

The grave of Maelodrán is clear

i nglind fri gaíthe cluä;

i ngleann le gaotha cama,

in the valley against the whirling wind.

lige Maic Connaid, ní chail,

uaigh Mhic Chonnaid ní chéil

I shall not yet conceal Mac Cionnaid’s grave

con linn i Tigh Mo Chuä.

ag an linn i Tigh Mochua.

at the pool of Teach Mo Chua.