Irish Sagas at UCC University College Cork

CDI
CELT

 

Echtra Fergusa maic Léti

Sections in the text

§1

§2

§3

§4

§5

§6

§7

§8

§9

§10

Complete file (PDF)

 

Section 1

Batar tri primcinela in here

Bhí trí phríomhchineál in Éirinn

There were three chief races in Ireland:

.i. feni ocus ultaig agus gailni .i. laigin.

.i. Féine agus Ulaidh agus Gailne .i. Laighin.

the Féni, the Ulaid, and the Gáilni or Laigin.

robatar didiu trí rigtigernai consniset flaith(i) feni

Bhí, más ea, triúr ríthiarnaí a bhí ag cosnamh flaitheas Féine

Now there were three royal chiefs contending for the sovereignty of the Féni,

.i. cond cétcathach

.i. Conn Céadchathach,

viz. Conn Cétchathach (‘of the hundred battles’)

ocus conn cétcorach

agus Conn Céadchorach,

and Conn Cétchorach (‘of the hundred treaties’?)

ocus eochu belbuidhi mac tuathail techtmair.

agus Eocha Béalbhuí mac Thuathail Theachtmhair.

and Eochu Bélbuide (‘of the yellow lips’) son of Tuathal Techtmar.

luid eochu for loinges co fergus mac leti ri ulath

D’imigh Eocha ar deoraíocht go Fearghas mac Léide rí Uladh

Eochu went into exile to Fergus mac Léti king of the Ulaid

do chuinnchid neirt agus sochraidi

ag lorg cabhrach agus slua

in quest of support and allies,

iar foglaib moraib fri conn ria techt.

tar éis dó foghla móra a imirt ar Chonn roimh dhul.

having inflicted many injuries on Conn before going.

bui iarum imale fri fergus re ciana.

Bhí sé fara Fearghas ar Feadh i bhfad ina dhiaidh sin.

For a long time thereafter he remained with Fergus.

doluid eochu bélbuide iar dain co cinel

Tháinig Eocha Béalbhuí faoi dheireadh chun a chinéil féin

Eventually Eochu Bélbuide came to his own tribe

do imarchur choru friu.

chun réiteach a thairiscint dóibh.

to offer them terms of peace,

marbsi(de)

 

but was slain by

asal mac cuinn cetcataig

Ach, Asal mac Coinn Chéadchathaigh

Asal son of Conn Cétchathach

ocus .iiii. maic buide meic ainmirech

agus ceathrar mac Bhuí mhic Ainmhireach

and the four sons of Buide mac Ainmirech

.i. eochu oirisech

.i. Eocha  Oireasach,

— viz. Eochu Oiresach,

ocus enna agenbras

Éanna Aigheanbhras,

Énda Aigenbras (‘broadmouthed’?),

ocus ailill antuarad

Ailill Anduaradh,

Ailill Antuarad (‘ill-omened’?)

ocus tibraiti traiglethan

agus Tiobraide Troighleathan,

and Tipraite Traiglethan (‘broadfooted’)

ocus mac ronuc dorn ingen buide do deorath.

agus mac a rug Dorn iníon Bhuí do dheoraí,

and a son whom Dorn the daughter of Buide had borne to an outlander.

 

— mharaigh siadsan é.

 

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Section 2

is de rocett:

Is faoi sin a canadh:

 Of this was sung:

 

 

 

foglaid forn

Is foghlaí orainn

An aggressor against us (?) is

mac (?) dia duirnn

Mac do Dhorn;

the son of (?) Dorn . . . . . .

dia foghlaid a cin

De fhoghlaí a chion,

 

do tuathaib targuth echtrann

De thuathaibh tar guth eachtrann.

 

dun a forus fil

Is eol dúinn a bhunús.

 

co breith biru a bas ninn

Daoraim é chun báis dá bharr

I doom him to death for it

mad rachtid adrorastar

Más féidir a ghabáil go reachtach.

if he can be secured . . . ;

no aurnaidet a mathair a mifolta

Nó iompraíodh a mháthair a chionta.

or let his mother sustain [responsibility for] his misdeeds.

nis fol forreth

Ní fhóirfidh maoin

Help (?) shall not support her

nach a finntiu foisither

Ná ní chosnóidh a fearann gaoil.

nor shall her kin-land protect her . . . . . .

cach connli cin

A bhfuil páirteach so choir

 

cinged hi cumalacht

Céimníodh i gcumhalacht

let her advance into bondage

ceim co nduiri fri saegalrith sir

Céim dhaoire ar feadh cúrsa fada a saoil.

and servitude for the whole course of her life.

nochotacertmaim

Nó réitím a caingean mar seo:

Or I decide her case [thus]:

id laim lecther

Scaoiltear léi faoi do láimh

that she (?) be left in thy hand [to be sent adrift]

co .iii. mara muircrecha

Trí muirchreacha

as far as three muirchrecha out to sea,

ar is frit forruich.

Óir is i d’aghaidh a chiontaigh.

for it is against thee she (?) has offended.

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Section 3

Et doget snaduth fergusa ime ocus a muintir.

Coilleadh coimirce Fearghasa maidir le hEocha féin agus a mhuintir.

And Fergus’s protection was violated by the slaying of him and his followers.

siacht fergus co sluagaib a diguin.

Tháinig Fearghas le sluaite ar lorg cúitimh.

Fergus came with armies to avenge the violation.

dobreth iarum a riar do

Tugadh ansin ar éiligh sé dó,

Eventually his own terms were given to him,

ocus roictha fris .iii. .uii. cumal

agus íocadh leis trí seacht gcumhala

and there were paid to him thrice seven cumals,

.i. cumal do or agus argat

.i. seacht gcumhal d’ór agus d’airgead,

viz. seven cumals of gold and silver

ocus tir .uii. cumal

agus talamh seacht gcumhal

and land worth seven cumals,

tir cuinn cétcoraig

de chuid Choinn Chéadchoraigh

the land of Conn Cétchorach

— Nítha ainm in tiri

(Níotha ainm na talún

— Níth was the name of this land

ara lin do nithaib ocus debthaib

de bharr an líon níoth agus cath

on account of the numerous contests (nítha) and dissensions

robui imbi iar tain —

a bhí ina taobh ina dhiaidh sin)

that arose about it subsequently —

ocus duine cam do fognam

agus banchumhal le fónamh dó

and a human cumal (bondwoman) to serve him,

.i. dornn ingen buidhi

.i. Dorn iníon Bhuí,

to wit Dorn daughter of Buide,

.i. siur do macaib buidhe ditngegnatar

deirfiúr do mhic Bhuí a rinne an coilleadh air,

a sister of Buide’s sons who had violated his (Fergus’s) protection,

ach[t] ba i ngill fri cimbid dobrethside

ach ba i ngeall le cime a tugadh ise

but it was as pledge for the surrender of a captive that she was given

no co ruigletis .uii. cumala cacha laime robbi

nó go ngeallfaí seacht gcumhala gach lámh a mharaigh é (Eocha);

— or it may be that seven cumals had to be pledged for every hand that had slain him (Eochu) —

conad o sunn romes fiach digona rig

ionas gurb as sin a measadh na fiacha i gcúiteamh coilleadh coimirce rí

so that it is from this that the penalty for breach of a king’s protection  has been fixed

cim[b]ith i cinaid .u.ir

.i. cime i gcúiteamh cion cúigir.

at a captive for every five persons concerned;

ocus dobert conn tir i ccinaid a m[e]ic et reliqua.

Agus thug Conn an talamh mar chúiteamh i gcoir a mhic &rl.

and Conn gave the land in atonement for the liability of his son (Asal), etc.

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Section 4

 

De bharr an chúitimh seo

In consideration of this mulct

Dogeni fergus ogcoru

rinne Fearghas lánsíocháin

Fergus concluded full peace

tarsa nericso

 

 

ocus luid doa tir

agus d’imigh dá thír

and went to his own land,

ocus bir[t] a cumail lais i foghnum.

agus thug leis a chumhal i ndaoirse.

bringing with him his bondmaid into servitude.

IN tan ronainic fergus a methus

Nuair a shroich Fearghas a fhearann féin

When he had reached his domain

luid docum mara sechis

chuaigh sé ar aghaidh chun na mara

he went on to the sea

ocus a ara muena a ainm.

agus a ara darb ainm Muena leis.

accompanied by his charioteer, whose name was Muena.

contuilsit and for bru in mara.

Thit a gcodladh orthu ansiúd ar bhruach na mara.

There they fell asleep on the sea coast.

dolota(ta)r lucorpain dond rig

Tháinig lúchorpáin chun an rí

Sprites came to the king

conidmbert[at]ar asa carpat

agus rug leo as a charbad é;

and bore him out of his chariot,

ocus bertatar a claidem nuad i tosach.

thóg siad a chlaíomh nua leo i dtosach.

having first deprived him of his sword.

runucsat iarum co rainic a muir(e)

Ansin rug siad leo é nó go raibh sé ag an muir;

They then carried him as far as the sea,

conidforcualae

 

 

o rancatar a cosa a muir.

agus nuair a chuaigh a chosa i bhfarraige,

and when his feet touched the sea

 

bhraith sé é.

he became aware of it.

dofiuchtradar la sodain

Dhúisigh sé leis sin

At this point he awoke

ocus argab triar dib

agus ghabh triúr díobh,

and caught hold of three of them,

fer cechtar a da la(i)m

ceann gach lámh leis

one in each hand

ocus araile fora bruinnib.

agus ceann ar a ucht.

and one on his breasts.

“anmain i nanmain!” .i. anacal.

“Anam ar anam!” (.i. anacal) arsan t-abhac.

“Life for life!” [said the chief dwarf].

“tartar mu tri drindro(i)sc .i. roga” ol fergus.

“Tugtar mo thrí ghrinnmhian (.i. rogha) dom,” arsa Fearghas.

“Let my three wishes be granted to me” said Fergus.

“rodbia” ol int abac “acht ni bes ecmacht dun.”

“Gheobhaidh tú iad,” arsan t-abhac, “seachas rud a bheadh thar ár gcumas.”

“Thou shalt have anything that is not beyond our power”, said the dwarf.

atgege fergus fair didiu

Roghnaigh Fearghas dá bhrí sin

So Fergus chose to ask from him

eolas fobarta fo muirib ocus lindaib ocus lochaib.

an rún faoi conas imeacht faoi fharraigí agus linnte agus locha.

a charm for passing under seas and pools and lakes.

“rotbia” ar int abacc

“Gheobhaidh tú sin,” arsan t-abhac,

“Thou shalt have it,” said the dwarf,

“acht aen ar[a]cuillimm airiut

“ach aon ní amháin a choiscim ort,

“save one that I bar to thee:

loch rudrige fil ad crich ni dechais fai.”

Loch Rudhraí atá i do chrích féin, ná téigh faoi.”

thou shalt not go under Loch Rudraige which is in thy own territory.”

Dobertatar didiu in lucuirp luibe dosom ina cluasa(ib)

Thug na lúchoirp luíonna dó ina chluasa

Then the sprites gave him herbs [to put] in his ears,

ocus imtiged leo fo muirib.

agus d’imíodh sé leo faoi fharraigí.

and he used to travel about with them underseas.

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Section 5

asberat araile iss int abac dorat(a) a brat do

Deir daoine eile gurb ann a thug an t-abhac a bhrat dó

Some say that the dwarf gave him his cloak

ocus atcortad fergus ima cenn

agus go gcasadh Fearghas timpeall a chinn é

and Fergus used to wind (?) it about his head,

ocus fo(r)bered muire ocus uisce samlaid.

agus go dtéadh sé faoi fharraigí agus faoi uisce mar sin.

and in this way used to pass under seas and water.

iss esside abac dide a cichesom fergusa

Is é sin an t-abhac a dhiúil cíocha Fhearghasa

This was the dwarf who sucked his, Fergus’s, breasts

ocus gaba(i)s a gruaide i nnairide a anacuil.

agus a rug greim ar a ghrua in airí a anacail.

and caught hold of his cheek as a token of [asking] quarter from him.

ISbert fergus “Cid ara ndenesiu sin?”

Dúirt Fearghas: “Cad chuige a ndéanann tú sin?”

“Why dost thou do that?” said Fergus.

“ni anse” ar int abacc “fir fer linne in so.”

“Ni ansa,” arsan t-abhac, “cothrom na féinne é seo againne.”

“That,” said the dwarf, “is [one of the rules of] fair combat with us.”

is de ata inniu gabail ciche fer ocus a ngruaide

Is uaidh sin atá gabháil cíocha fear agus gabháil a ngruanna mar nós inniu

Hence comes today [the custom of] taking hold of men’s breasts and cheeks

(Asberad araile dochuaid ogma lais gillae fergusa dia roscar fria coin et reliqua)

 

 

do chuinnche anacail ocus do denum fir dia inchaib et reliqua.

d’iarraidh anacail agus ag lorg cothrom na féinne dá bharr.

for the purpose of seeking quarter and making appeal (?) to their honour, etc.

 

(Deir daoine eile go ndeachaigh Oghma, giolla Fearghasa, ina theannta nuair a scar sé lena chú &rl).

(Some say that Ogma, Fergus’s servant, went with him when he had parted from his hound, etc.)

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Section 6

Laithe nann iarum

Lá áirithe ina dhiaidh sin

One day

admidair fergus fobairt locha rudraighe

thug Fearghas amas ar imeacht faoin uisce i Loch Rudhraí

Fergus essayed to pass under Loch Rudraige,

ocus facba(i)d a ara ocus a carpat for bru in locho.

agus fágann sé a ara agus a charbad ar bhruach an locha.

leaving his charioteer and his chariot on the brink of the loch.

A lluid fon loch

Nuair a chuaigh sé faoin loch

When he dived under the lake

con(f)aca[e] in muirdris and

chonaic sé muirdhris ann,

he saw there a muirdris,

peist uiscide uathmar.

míol uafar uisce,

a fearful water-monster

ala nuair rosraiged in uair naili nosnimairced amal bolg ngobenn.

a bhíodh á síneadh féin agus á crapadh féin gach re turas mar bhoilg gabhann.

which kept alternately inflating and contracting itself like a smith’s bellows.

La diuderc do fuire

Nuair a d’fhéach sé uirthi,

At the sight of it

rosiapartha a beoil doa dib culadaib

síofradh a bheola siar do dtí a chúilfhéithe

his mouth was wrenched back as far as his occiput,

ocus doluid as for tir ar omon

agus tháinig sé i dtír as an uisce le heagla.

and he came out on land in terror.

ocus asbert fria araid

Dúirt sé lena ara:

He said to his charioteer:

“cia cuimacci?”

“Conas a fhéachaim, dar leat?”

“How do I appear to thee?”

“is olcc do gne” ol int ara

“Is olc é do dhealramh,” arsan t-ara,

“Ill is thy aspect”, said the charioteer,

“acht nib lia.

“ach ní bheidh tú amhlaidh.

“but it will be nothing more (?);

berthi cotlud dit.”

Bainfidh codladh díot é.”

sleep will take it from thee.”

la sodain danalaig int ara ina carpat

Chuir an t-ara ina luí siar ansin é *ina charbad*

Thereupon the charioteer laid him down *in his chariot*

ocus contuil.

agus thit a chodladh air.

and he fell asleep.

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Section 7

cein contuilsium

Fad a bhí sé ina chodladh

While he slept

teit int ara calleicc co gaotha ulath

chuaigh an t-ara, idir an dá linn, go lucht gaoise Uladh

the charioteer went in the meantime to the wise men of Ulster

batar i nemain macha

a bhí in Eamhain Mhacha

who were [assembled] in Emain Macha

ocus inset doaib imthechta in rig

agus d’inis imeachta an rí dóibh

and told them of the king’s adventures

ocus a mbui fair.

agus a raibh air.

and his present condition.

friscomarca[i]r doaib

D’fhiafraigh sé díobh

He inquired of them

cia ri(g) nogebdais tara eisi

cén rí a gheobhaidís ina dhiaidh

what king they would take in his stead,

ar nibud urusa ri co nainim i nemain

mar níorbh fhurasta rí le hainimh a bheith in Eamhain.

since it would not be proper to have a blemished king in E. M.

Ba si comairle gaoth nulad

B’é comhairle lucht gaoise Uladh

The decision of the wise men of Ulster was

in ri do tuidecht dia tig

an rí a theacht abhaile

that the king should come to his house,

ocus glanadh ara cinn o cach doescurslua(i)g

agus gach daoscarshlua a ghlanadh ar shiúl roimhe

and that beforehand a clearance should be made of all the base folk

arna beth druth na hoinmid ann

le nach mbeadh amaid ná óinmhid ann

so that there should be neither fool nor half-wit therein

arna toirbeitis a ainme ina inchaib

le heagla go ndéanfaidís a ainimh a chasadh leis;

lest these should cast his blemish in the king’s face;

ocus folcad faon do do gres

agus é á fholcadh i gcónaí ina luí faon

and further that he should always have his head washed while lying on his back

arnach aiced a scath i nuisciu.

chun nach bhfeicfeadh sé a scáth in uisce.

so that he might not see his shadow in the water.

dognith iarom a imcomet co leir co cend .uii. mbliadan.

Rinneadh é a aire go géar go ceann seacht mblian.

For seven years he was diligently guarded [in this manner].

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Section 8

Laithe nann asbert fria cumail folcad do denam do.

Dúirt sé lena chumhal lá áirithe folcadh a thabhairt dó.

One day he told his bondmaid to wash his head.

ba mall leis didiu dogena[i] in ben in folcad.

Ba mhall leis, más ea, a rinne sí an folcadh.

Thinking that the woman was too slow in carrying out this,

dobertsom buille di co nechlaisc.

Bhuail sé í le heachlasc.

he gave her a blow with his whip.

gabsi tuirsi

Tháinig míshásamh uirthi

Resentment overcame her

ocus dobi a an(a)im fria enechsom.

agus chas sí a ainimh leis suas lena phus.

and she taunted him to his face with his blemish.

dobert builli ndi co claidem

Bhuail sé buille dá chlaíomh uirthi

He gave her a blow with his sword

co ndene di bloig di

agus rinne dhá leath di.

and cut her in two.

imeso. IAr suidiu

Ansin d’iompaigh ar a sháil

Thereupon he turned away

co luith fa(n) loch rudraidhi

agus d’imigh faoi Loch Rudhraí.

and went under Loch Rudraige;

laa co naidche rofich in loch

Bhí an loch ar coipeadh lá agus oíche

for a whole day and night the loch seethed

dib ocus in muirdris

dá bharr féin agus na muirdhrise

from [the contest between] him and the muirdris,

co tiged a tonngar for tir.

i dtreo go dtagadh an tonnaíl ar talamh.

and the surge of its waves kept coming on to the land.

do(t)luidsium iarom co mbui forsan loch

Faoi dheireadh tháinig sé ar barr sa loch

Eventually he emerged on the surface of the loch,

ocus cend na piasta

le ceann na péiste,

holding the head of the monster,

conidnacatar ulaid

i dtreo go bhfaca Ulaidh é,

so that the Ulaid saw him,

ocus isbert friu

agus dúirt sé leo:

and he said to them:

“meisi is tiugba” olse.

“Mise a tháinig as beo,” ar sé.

“I am the survivor.”

focairt fai iarum marb

Thit sé síos marbh ansin.

Thereupon he sank down dead,

ocus ba derg in loch dib co c(o)enn mis.

Bhí an loch dearg uathu go ceann mí.

and for a whole month the loch remained red from [the battle between] them.

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Section 9

Is desom rocet:

Is faoi sin a canadh:

Of this was sung:

 

 

 

Fergus mac leidi in ri(g)

Fearghas mac Léide, an rí,

King Fergus, son of Léte

luid i fertus rudraigi

Chuaigh ar fheartas Rudhraí,

Went on the sandbank of Rudraige;

huath do[d]narfas fa gann (n)gle

Taibhsigh uafás dó, dian gleo,

A horror which appeared to him — fierce was the conflict —

ba he fochond a ainme.

Cúis a ainmhe ab ea é dó.

Was the cause of his disfigurement.

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Section 10

Tír boíe (?) Chuind chétchoraig

Tír ba le Conn an chéad conradh,

Land which belonged to Conn of the hundred treaties (?),

asa·ngabtha ilbenna

As ar tógadh mórán eallaigh (ina dhiaidh sin),

out of which many horned beasts (lit. ‘horns’) were [afterwards] seized,

bertai Fergus ferglethech

Ghlac Fergus F. seilbh air

Fergus the manly warrior (?) took it

i ndígail a thromgreise

I gcúiteamh ar shárú a einigh

as atonement for the grievous outrage done to him

di guin Echach bélbuidi.

Trí Eochu B. a mharú.

by the slaying of Eochu of the yellow lips.

Brethae Dorn i n-ansoíri,

Tógadh Dorn i mbraighdeanas (chomh maith),

Dorn was brought [by him] into captivity;

do·cer inna fírinni

Cailleadh í i ngeall ar an bhfírinne

she perished on account of the truth

seiches i ngnúis Fergusa.

A nocht sí i ngnúis Fhergusa.

which she uttered in Fergus’s face.

Ferais Fergus ferfhechtas

Chuaigh Fergus ar eachtra

Fergus made a manly incursion

finech i lloch Rudraige

Ina thír féin i Loch Rudraige,

into the tribal (?) Loch of Rudraige,

dia·marbad i márchinta.

Áit ar maraíodh trína chionta é.

as a result of which he was killed for [his] grave wrongdoing.

Taisic a tír immurgu

Chuaigh an talamh i bhfrithdhílse, áfach,

The land, however, reverted

fo selba Cuind comorbae.

Chuig oidhrí Chuind.

to the estates of Conn’s heirs.

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