Echtra Chondla

Sections in the text

§1	§2	§3	§4	§5	§6	§7	§8
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Note to the reader:

The Medieval Irish text in this presentation is taken from the version of the saga in Leabhar na hUidre. However, the Modern Irish version and the English translation are based, in part, on versions of the saga in other manuscripts. This accounts for the differences between the three versions that occur in Sections 1 and 8.

Section 1

CID día n-apar Art Óenfer. ni handsa.		Why was Art the Lone One so called? Not hard to say.
Lá ro boí Condla Rúad mac Cuind Chetchathaig	Bhí Conla Rua, mac do Chonn Chéadchathach,	One day as Connla the Bold, son of Conn the Hundred-Fighter,
for láim a athar i n-uachtor Usnig.	in éineacht lena athair lá in uachtar Uisnigh,	was with his father on the Hill of Usnech
Co n-acca in mnaí i n-étuch anetargnaid na dochum.	nuair chonaic sé chuige bean a raibh éadach neamhchoitianta uirthi.	he saw a woman in unfamiliar dress.
Asbert Condla. “Can dodeochad a ben?” or se.	Arsa Conla léi: “Cá has a dtáinig tú, a bhean?”	Said Connla, “Where do you come from, O woman?”
“Dodeochadsa” for in ben “a tírib beó	“Tháinig mé as tír na mbeo,” arsa an bhean,	The woman answered, “I come from the Lands of the Living,
áit inna bí bás nó peccad na imorbus.	“áit ná bíonn bás ná peaca ná cointinn.	where there is neither death nor want nor sin.
Domelom fleda búana can rithgnom	Bímid de shíor gan iomarbháidh ag caitheamh fleidhe	We keep perpetual feast without need for service.
caíncomrac leind cen debaid.	agus ní cuirtear an tsíocháin anairde eadrainn riamh.	Peace reigns among us without strife.
síd mór i taam	Is i sí mór atáimid inár gcónaí	A great fairy-mound (sid) it is, in which we live;
conid de suidib nonn ainmnigther áes síde.”	agus is dá bharr sin a tugtar Aos Sí orainn.”	wherefore we are called ‘folk of the fairy-mound’ (aes side).”

Section 2

“Cía a gillai?” ol Cond fria mac “acailli?”	“Cé leis a bhfuil tú ag agallamh?” arsa Conn lena mhac,	“Who is it you are speaking to?” Conn asked his son;
úair ni acca nech in mnaí acht Condla a óenur.	mar níorbh fhéidir le duine ar bith an bhean a fheiscint ach Conla amháin.	for none could see the woman save Connla alone.
Ro recair in ben.	Arsa an bhean á fhreagairt:	The woman answered,
“.r. Adgladadar mnaí n-óic n-alaind soceneoil	“Tá sé ag caint le bean óg álainn dea-chinéil	“He is speaking to a young and beautiful woman of noble descent,
nad fresci bás na sentaid	ná feicfidh go deo an bás ná an tsean-aois.	who will know neither death nor old age.
ro charus Condla Rúad	Do charas le fada Conla Rua	Long have I loved Connla,
cotgairim do Maig Mell	agus táim á ghairm anois go Máigh Meall,	and I summon him to Mag Mell,
inid rí Boadag bidsuthain	áit inar rí Buadhach Síorbheo,	where Boadach the Eternal is king,
rí cen gol cen mairg inna thír	rí ná faca gol ná mairg ina thír	a king in whose realm there has been no weeping and no sorrow
ó gabais flaith.	ó ghabh sé flaitheas.	since he began his rule.
.r. Tair lim	Tar liom,	Come with me,
a Condlai Rúaid muinbrec cainelderg	a Chonla Rua mhuinéal-álainn, lasair-dheirg,” ar sí.	O bold Connla, with rosy neck, gleaming like a candle.
barrbude fordotá óas gnúis corcorda	“An Folt buí atá ar do cheann os do chorchar-ghnúis	The fair crown that sits above thy ruddy countenance
bid ordan do rígdelbae	is comhartha é ar an choróin ríoga bheas ort.	is a token of thy royalty.
má chotuméitís	Má thagann tú liom,	If thou wilt follow me
ní chrínfa do delb a hoítiu a haldi	ní thréigfidh do dheilbh a hóige ná a háilleacht	thy form shall never decrease in youth or beauty,
co bráth brindach.”	go brách na bruinne.”	even to the marvellous Day of Judgment.”

Section 3

Asbert Cond fria druid Corán a ainm side.		Then Conn spoke to his druid (Corann was his name),
ar rochúalatár uili an ro rádi in ben cenco n-acatár.	Ó chualathas gach rud adúirt an bhean, bíodh ná facthas í,	for they had all heard everything the woman had said, although they did not see her:
	do labhair Conn le Corann, an draoi. Ar seisean leis:

“.r. Not álim a Chorán	“Áilim thú, a Chorainn	“I appeal to you, Corann,
mórchétlaig mórdanaig	na sailm-bhriocht, na n-ealaíon,	Skilled in song, skilled in arts.
forbond dodomanic	Diongbhaigh díom an t-éigean seo	A power has come over me
as dom moo áirli	is fearr comhairle ná mé,	Too great for my skill,
as dom moo cumachtu	Riamh ó ghabh mé flaitheas	Too great for my strength;
níth náchim thánic	níor fhulaing mé bheith fá ansmacht	A battle has come upon me
	Ach anois táim gaite i dteannta	Such as I have not met
o gabsu flaith	ag cumhacht is fearr ná mé.	since I took the sovereignty.
mu imchomruc delb nemaicside	Tá mo mhac ró-chaoin á ghoid uaim	By a treacherous attack
cotoméicnigidar	trí foirceadal págánta,	the unseen shape overpowers me,
immum macc rochaín	Tá deilbh deamhain nach bhfeicim	To rob me of my fair son,
d’airchelad tre thoathbandu	ag cur an chatha im aghaidh,	With heathen words of magic.
dí láim rígdai	Chím é óm thaoibh á mhealladh,	He is snatched from my royal side
	ag éaló trí mo lámha
brectu ban mberir.”	Trí dhraíocht an ghutha mhná seo	By women’s words of magic.”
	nach bhféadaimse a chloí.”

Docháchain iarom in druí	Chan an draoi a bhriocht ansin	Whereupon the druid sang a magic incantation
forsin nguth inna mná	in éadan ghlór na mná	against the voice of the woman,
connach cúala nech guth na mná	ionas nár chualathas a guth níos mó	so that no one could hear her voice,
ocus conna haccai Condla in mnaí ond úair sin.	agus ná faca Conla an bhean a thuilleadh an uair sin.	and Connla saw no more of her at that time.
In tan trá luide in ben ass re rochetul in drúad	Nuair a bhí an bhean á chur chun siúil le briochta an draoi	But as the woman departed before the potent chanting of the druid,
dochorastár ubull do Condlu.	chaith sí úll chuig Conla.	she threw Connla an apple.

Section 4

Boi Condla co cend mís cen mir cen dig cen bíad. Nirbo fíu leis nách túara aile do thomailt acht a ubull.	As sin go ceann míosa níor mhian le Conla de bhia ná de dheoch ach an t-úll sin amháin	Connla remained to the end of a month without food or drink, for no nourishment seemed to him worthy to be consumed save only the apple.
Ní dígbad ní día ubull cacha tomled de	agus dá mhéid d’itheadh sé den úll níor chaith sé riamh é,	What he ate of the apple never diminished it,
acht bá ógshlan beus.	ach é slán iomlán i gcónaí.	but it remained always unconsumed.
Gabais eólchaire íarom inní Condla	Ghabh galar snoí Conla	Longing seized upon Connla
imon mnaí atconnairc.	mar gheall ar an bhean a chonaic sé.	for the woman he had seen.

Section 5

A llá bá lán a mí	An lá ba lán don mhí	On the day when the month was completed
baí for láim a athar i mMaig Archommin inti Condla	bhí sé i dteannta a athar ar Mháigh Archoimín	Connla was seated with his father in Mag Archommin,
co n-aca chuci in mnaí cétna	agus chonaic sé chuige arís an bhean chéanna.	and he saw the same woman coming toward him.
a n-asbert fris.	Ar sise leis:	She spoke to him thus:

A llá bá lán a mí	An lá ba lán don mhí	On the day when the month was completed
baí for láim a athar i mMaig Archommin inti Condla	bhí sé i dteannta a athar ar Mháigh Archoimín	Connla was seated with his father in Mag Archommin,
co n-aca chuci in mnaí cétna	agus chonaic sé chuige arís an bhean chéanna.	and he saw the same woman coming toward him.
a n-asbert fris.	Ar sise leis:	She spoke to him thus:

“.r. Nall suide	“I measc marbha míbhuana	“A woeful seat
saides Condla	Tá Conla ina shuí faoi néall	where Connla sits
eter marbu duthainai	Go haonrach, go huafar,	Among short-lived mortals,
oc idnaidiu éca uathmair.	Ag feitheamh ar an éag.	Awaiting only dreadful death.
Totchurethar bíi bithbi	Tugann na daoine síor-bheo cuireadh dhuit	The living, the immortal call to you;
at gérat do daínib Tethrach	Ad ghlaoch chuig muintir Theathrach,	They summon you to the people of Tethra,
ardotchiat cach dia	A bhíonn ad fhaire	Who behold you every day
i ndálaib t’athardai	i gcruinnithe d’athara	In the assemblies of your native land,
eter du gnathu inmaini.”	Idir do chairde dílse féin.”	Among your beloved kinsmen.”

Amal rochúala Cond guth na mná.	Nuair chuala Conn glór na mná,	When Conn heard the voice of the woman,
asbert fria muintir	ar seisean lena mhuintir:	he called to his attendants,
“gairid dam in druíd	“Glaoitear chugam an draoi.	“Summon me the druid.
atchíu doreilced a tenga di indiu.”	Chím gur ligeadh a teanga arís inniu léi.”	I see that her tongue is loosed today.”

Section 6

Asbert in ben la sodain.	Do fhreagair an bhean láithreach é. Ar sise:	Then said the woman:

“.r. A Chuind Chetcathaig	“A Choinn Chéadchathaigh,	“O Conn the Hundred-Fighter,
druidecht nís gradaigther!	Ná bíodh do grá don draíocht!	Thou shoudst not cling to druidry!
ar is bec rosoich	Óir is gearr anois go dtiocfaidh	It will not be long before there will come
for messu ar Trág Máir.	Thar muir an Fíréan chugaibh	To give judgments on our broad strand
firién	Le meas a dhéanamh oraibh,	A righteous one,
co n-ilmuinteraib ilib adamraib	Is a mhuintir iontach iomaí	with many wonderful companies.
	Ag seasamh lena thaoibh.
motáticfa a recht	Is gearr gan mhoill go ngéillfidh sibh	Soon his law will reach you.
	Don reacht a bheidh á chraoladh aige,
conscéra brichta drúad tardechta	Díbreoidh sé briochta drua uaidh	He will annihilate the false law of the druids
ar bélaib demuin duib dolbthig.”	Go háitreabh deamhan síos.”	In the sight of the black magic demon.”

Ba ingnad tra la Cond	Ba ionadh le Conn	Then Conn wondered
nicon taidbred Condla aithesc do neoch	nach labhradh Conla le duine ar bith	why Connla made no answer
acht tísed in ben.	nó go dtigeadh an bhean.	except when the woman came.
“In deochaid” ol Cond “fót menmainsiu a radas in ben a Condlai?”	“An bhfuil an ní adeir an bhean ag buaireamh d’intinne, a Chonla?” arsa Conn.	“Has it touched your heart, what the woman says, O Connla?” asked Conn.
Asbert Condla “ní reid dam	“Ní réidh liom é,” arsa Conla,	Then said Connla: “It is not easy for me.
sech cach caraim mo doíni.	“mar go bhfuil grá agam do mo mhuintir.	Although I love my people,
Rom gab dano eólchaire immón mnaí.”	Ach táim gafa ag grá éagmaiseach don bhean.”	longing for the woman has seized me.”

Section 7

Ro frecat in ben andside. co n-epert inso.	Arsa an bhean ansin:	The woman said:

“.r. Tathut airunsur álaib	“Is dian do chomhrac in éadan na dúile	“Thou strivest — most difficult of wishes to fulfill —
fri toind t’eólchaire ofhadib	Atá ad thiomáint chun cinn, ach ní thig leat é chloí,	Against the wave of longing which drives thee hence.
im loing glano condrísmaís	Go sí Mhór-Bhuadhaigh im chriostal-long shiúlach	That land we may reach in my crystal boat,
ma roísmais síd Boadaig.	Más mian leat a dhul is eol dom an tslí.	The fairy-mound of Boadach.

.r. Fil tír n-aill	Tá tír eile ann nach ionann is an tír seo,	There is yet another land
nad bu messu do saigid	Ba aoibhinn ár saol ann dá sroichfimis é,	That is no worse to reach;
atchíu tairnid in gréin ngil	Dá fhaid é i gcéin beimid ann roimh an oíche,	I see it, now the sun sinks.
cid cían ricfam ría n-adaig.	Sa tír sin a dtarlaíonn fuine don ghréin.	Although it is far, we may reach it before night.

.r. Is ed a tír subatar	Tír í a mhéadaíonn súchas daoine,	That is the land which rejoices
menmain cáich dodomchela	Ag síorchur le sonas a muintir gach lá,	The heart of everyone who wanders therein;
ni fil cenel and nammá	Is ní fheicfidh tú aicme ná cine sa tír sin	No other sex lives there
acht mná ocus ingena.”	Ach iníní áille is maighreacha mná.”	Save women and maidens.”

Section 8

O tharnic dond ingin a haithesc.
foceird Condla iar sudiu bedg úadib	Thug Conla ansin léim uathu	Then Connla gave a leap
co mboí isind noi glano	isteach sa bhád criostail.	into the woman’s crystal boat.
.i. isin churuch comthend commaidi glanta.
Atconnarcatar úadib mod nad mod	Chonaic na daoine iad ag imeacht uathu.	The people saw him going away.
.i. in fat rosiacht índ radairc a roisc. Ro ráiset íarom in muir úadib	Diaidh ar ndiaidh d’imigh siad ó léargas súl orthu ag iomramh dóibh thar muir.	Hardly could their eyes follow Connla and the maiden as they fared forth over the sea.
ocus ni aicessa o sin ille	Ní facthas iad ó shoin i leith.	From that day forward they were never seen again.
ocus ní fes cid dollatar.
A mbátar fora n-imrátib isind airiucht co n-aicet Art chucu.	Arsa Conn ina dhiaidh sin ag féachaint dó ar Art:	And then said Conn as he gazed upon his other son Art,
“Is a oenur d’Art indiu”	“Tá Art inniu ina aonar.”	“To-day is Art left the lone one.”
ol Cond “dóig ni fil bráthair.”
“Búadfocol an ro radis” or Coran
“iss ed ainm forbia co bráth Art Óenfer” conid de ro len in t-ainm ríam o sin immach.	Is de sin atá Art Aonair.	Hence he came to be called ‘Art the Lone One’ (Art Óenfer).