§1

§2

§3

§4

§5

§6

§7

§8

§9

§10

§11

§12

§13

§14

§15

§16

§17

§18

Complete file (PDF)

Bói coire feile la Laigniu, Buchat a ainm.

Bhí brúidh an-fhial ag na Laighnigh arbh ainm dó Buichead.

The Leinstermen had a ‘caldron of hospitality’, named Buchet.

Tech n-oeged fer n-Herenn a thech in Buchet [sin Y].

Teach aíochta do mhuintir na hÉireann uile ab ea teach an Bhuichid sin.

A guest-house of the men of Erin was the dwelling of that Buchet.

From the time he began householding

Ni ro díbdad teni fo a choiriu

Níor múchadh riamh an tine fán choire ina theach

the fire under his caldron was never quenched.

o ro gab threbad.

ón chéad lá a chuaigh sé i mbun an tí.

INgen do Chatháir Mór mac Fheidlimthe do ríg Herenn

Bhí iníon le Cathaoir Mór mac Fheidhlimidh, *rí Éireann,*

A daughter of Catháir Mór, son of Feidlimid, king of Ireland,

[ar altram R1] in a hucht [lais Y. H.]

ar altrom *ina ucht* aige,

was in his bosom for fosterage,

.i. Ethni ingen Chathair.

Eithne iníon Chathaoir.

even Ethne Catháir’s daughter.

Da mac deac [ar fhichit Y] la Cathair.

Dhá mhac dhéag ar fhicid a bhí ag Cathaoir

Twelve sons and twenty had Catháir Mór,

Tictis-[s]ide do oigidecht

agus thagaidís-san ar aíocht

and they used to come for guesting

ocus do acalldaib a sethar [do thich Buichet R1].

agus do fhiosrú a ndeirfíre go teach Bhuichid.

and to have speech of their sister *,to Buchet’s house*.

Domeltis oigidechta fichtíb ocus trichtaib.

Thagaidís féin agus a lucht leanúna ina bhfichidí agus ina dtríochaidí ar lorg aíochta.

In scores and in thirties they would enjoy the guestings.

Ba robec leosom ón co mbertis aisceda.

Agus ba bheag leo an aíocht féin gan aiscí a lorg ina theannta.

This they deemed little till they got gifts.

Ba menic didu a timgaire ocus al-lín.

Ba mhór é a líon agus ba mhinic a n-iarraidh.

Frequent, then, was their asking and (great was) their number.

Mani fhagbaitís dano al-leór

Mura bhfaighdís an ní d’iarraidís

Unless they obtained what sufficed them

dognítís michostud [mor fri muintir mBuichet R1].

thugaidís ainíde ar mhuintir Bhuichid.

they would grossly misbehave to Buchet’s household.

No bered fer na gerranu,

Thugadh fear acu na gearráin leis,

One man would take the geldings,

a cheli na serraig,

duine eile acu na searraigh,

another the foals,

araile gesca dina buaib,

fear eile acu tréad de na ba,

a third the branches of the kine;

co ro fhasaigset maic Catháir fodeoid,

ionas go raibh sé creachta ag clann mhac Chathaoir sa deireadh

so that at last Catháir’s sons laid Buchet waste,

conna fargabsat leis

agus nár fhág siad aige

and left him nought

acht .uii. mbai ocus tarb,

ach seacht mba agus tarbh

save seven cows and a bull

bale ir-rabatar na .uii. n-árge

áit a mbíodh seacht dtréada

in the steading where there had been seven herds of cattle,

[ocus secht tige la cach n-airge, R1].

agus lán seacht dtithe i ngach tréad acu.

and seven houses with each herd.

Luid-seom iarum [lá and R] dia accóine fri Catháir.

Chuaigh sé lá amháin dá ngearán chuig Cathaoir,

So one day he went to complain to Catháir,

Senóir dímiltni side dano intan sin.

a bhí an uair sin ina sheanóir caite.

who, at that time, was a decrepit old man.

Ocus asbert Buchet:

Arsa Buichead leis:

And Buchet said:

“A mmo chóir Catháir, cotó recht ru[fh]ácbath úas Hérenn íath!

“A Chathaoir chóir, bíodh reacht cothrom i bhfeidhm in Éirinn!

“O my just Catháir, preserve the law that has been left over Erin’s land!

Adcoimse mo chrod dot cháin macniu,

Tá mé ag éamh mo chuid eallaigh ar do chlann mhac, a thóg uaim iad

I cry out for my wealth carried off by thy fair sons

cen chinta fíra.

go héagórach.

without faults of truth (on my part).

Fallsigthe fó,

Foilsigh anois an chóir.

Manifest (thy) goodness,

ar ba fíu mo brugussa cach mbrugas cona bésaib brugad anbith.

Dob fhearr an freastal aíochta a thugas-sa agus an fónamh brúidh a rinneas ná brúas ar bith eile dá bhfuil.

for my hospitality was worth any hospitality, with its fervid (?) hospitaler’s customs.

Bid anim mór mo díth do Chatháir crích.

Is aineamh mór do chríoch Chathaoir mise bheith scriosta.

My loss will be a great blemish to Catháir’s country.

Macne Chatháir ro chloiset mo brugas búar

Clann mhac Chathaoir a scrios mo theach agus mo thréada

My hospitality and cattle Catháir’s sons have ruined,

.i. Ros Rúadbullech,

*.i. Ros Rua-bhuilleach,

to wit, Ross Red-striking,

Crimthann Cétguinech,

Criomhthann Céad-ghoineach,

Crimthann First-wounding,

Dáre Trebanda,

Dáire Laochta,

Dáre the Tribunician,

Loscán Án,

Loscán Án,

Loscán the Splendid,

Echaid Airegda,

Eochaidh Prionsúil,

Eochaid the Princely,

Bressal Enechglas,

Breasal Aghaidh-ghlas,

Bressal Greenface,

Fiacha Foltlebor fortbia cách.

Fiacha Folt-leabhair a mhillfidh cách*.

Fiacha Longhair, who will cut off (?) every one.

cor-rí ailethuaith nad rosset húi Feidlimthi Find.”

nó go dtéidh sé go tuaith eile san áit nach baol dó clann mhac Chathaoir.”

until he reaches another tribe which the grandsons of Feidlimid the Fair would not reach.”

Is and sin frisrogart Catháir a n-asbert:

Do fhreagair Cathaoir é ansin agus dúirt:

Then Catháir answered what he said:

“Fír, a Buchet, basa brugaid bíata dám.

“Is fíor, a Bhuichid, go mba bhrúidh biatach dom tú.

“True, O Buchet, thou hast been a landholder nourishing companies.

Buaid do gal, do gart, do gaisced,

Trí bhuaidh go ghaisce agus do fhéile

Precious is thy fervour, thy hospitality, thy valour,

dogén[ad] fáilte fri cach n-óen it midchúairt már.

chuirtheá fáilte roimh gach aoinne i do mhíodhchúirt mhór.

which would make welcome to every one in thy great midcourt.

Acht con messindse mo maccu

Ach mise do chur smachta ar mo chlann mhac

If only I had judged my sons,

ní dingéntais do chridi crád.

ionas nach mbeidís ag crá an chroí ionat,

they would not cause thy heart’s torment.

Nert ní dernim,

níl an neart ionam chuige, faraor.

Strength I cannot exercise,

rith ní rordaim,

Ní thig liom rás a rith

running I cannot run,

léim ní rolngaim,

ná léim a lingeadh.

a leap I cannot leap:

rodarc ní cían cungnamar.

Radharc i bhfad uaim ní fheicim.

(as to) sight, not far do we perceive.

Ríge dorumaltsa .L. mbliadan mbúan.

Tá mé i seilbh flaitheasa le caoga blian,

Kingship I have enjoyed for fifty lasting years.

Acht con messind dofessind do Buchet a búar.

ach dá dtriallfainnse do chuid bha a thabhairt ar ais duit,

If only I had judged (my sons) I would
bring his kine to Buchet.

Nímthása cumang duit, a Buchet,

a Bhuichid, ní bheadh a chumas ionam.

(But now) I have no power for thee, O Buchet,

acht ‘as aíthe cach delg assó’.

‘An dealg is óige is í is géire.’

(nothing), save (the proverb) ‘sharper is every thorn that is younger’.

As tír duit.”

Amach as mo thír leat.”

Get thee out of the country.”

Luid Buchet for teiched

D’imigh Buichead ar teitheadh

Buchet fled

southwards

uadib assin tír

ó chlann mhac Chathaoir amach as an tír

from them out of the country,

.i. fut na haidchi co matin i ngait,

ós íseal i rith na hoíche sin ar fad go maidin

by stealth, the length of the night till morning,

co mbái i Cenannas na ríg

nó go dtáinig sé go dtí Ceanannas na Rí

so that he was in Kells of the kings.

atúaid.

ó thuaidh.

Ocus ba bec ind immirgi rucad and

Agus ba bheag an imirce a rug leis ann,

And small was the drove that was taken
there,

.i. .uii. mbai ocus tarb,

seacht mba agus tarbh,

to wit, seven cows and a bull,

ocus sesseom ocus a chaillech

é féin agus a chéile chríonna

and he himself, and his old wife,

ocus ind ingen .i. Ethni ingen Chatháir.

agus Eithne iníon Chathaoir.

and the damsel, Ethne daughter of Catháir.

Bátar i mbothin bic and isin choill,

Chuireadar fúthu i mbothán beag sa choill ann

They dwelt in a small cabin there in the forest,

ocus ind ingen oca timthirecht.

agus bhí an ógbhean ag déanamh timireachta dóibh.

with the damsel serving them.

Buí Cormac matan moch fecht and i Cenannas iar ngabáil rige

Bhí Cormac ua Choinn, tar éis dó flaitheas a ghabháil, maidin mhoch amháin i gCeanannas na Rí

Early one morning, after he had taken kingship, Cormac was in Kells,

[oc uréirghi cona timthacht sroill imbe R2.),

ag éirí agus a chuid éadaigh sróill uime

arising with his raiment of satin about him.

conaccai in n-ingin oc blegon na mbó.

nuair a chonaic sé an ógbhean ag bleán na mbó.

He saw the damsel milking the cows.

A cétblegon il-lestar for leith,

Chuir sí an chéad bhleán in árthach faoi leith

Their first milking (she put) into a vessel apart;

a ndeadblegon il-lestar n-aile.

agus an bleán deiridh in árthach eile.

their last milking into another vessel.

Atas-ciid dano oc búain na luachra,

Chonaic sé ansin ag baint luachra í

Then he sees her cutting rushes,

ocus medón in tuimm luachra lee i n-airbir foleith.

agus meán an dlaoi luachra á chur aici i mbeart faoi leith.

and the middle of the tussock of rushes she puts into a bundle apart.

Oc tabairt ind usci dano assa ur [in tshrotha R2] issind-ara lestar,

Ar an chuma chéanna chonaic sé í ag tabhairt uisce as an sruth gar dá bhruach agus á chur sin in árthach amháin

So the water which she took from the brink of the stream she put into one vessel,

a n-aill assa medón issin lestar n-aile.

agus an t-uisce as lár an tsrutha á chur aici in árthach eile.

and the water from the midst of it into another.

Ro iarfaig fecht and inti Cormac in
n-ingin:

Cheistigh Cormac an iníon:

Then Cormac asked the girl:

“Cia tái a ingen?” or Cormac.

“Cé thusa, a iníon?” arsa Cormac.

“Who art thou, O damsel?” says Cormac.

“INgen bachlaig thruáig sund-ut,” ol-si.

“Iníon an bhachlaigh bhoicht úd thall mé,” ar sise.

“The daughter of a poor herdsman yonder”, she answered.

“Cest,

“Ceist agam ort,” ar seisean léi,

cid ma ndenaisi in n-usce ocus in luachair ocus ín t-ass do chomraind?”

“cad chuige a ndéanann tú an t-uisce agus an luachair agus an bainne a roinnt?”

“Why dost thou divide the water and the rushes and the milk?”

“Fer ro bái i n-airmitin riám,” or sí,

“Fear a dtugtaí onóir riamh dó go dtí seo,” ar sise,

“A man” she answers “who was formerly honoured,

“dia mberar a medón na luachra ocus in t-iarmblegon,

“is dósan a bheirim meán na luachra agus bleán déanach na bó

’tis to him that the middle of the rushes and the after-milk is given,

ocus dam-sa a n-aill

agus bíonn an chuid eile agam féin,

and the rest to me,

conna raib-seom didu cen airmitin do neoch fogeb-sa.

ionas ná beidh sé gan onóir fháil as pé ní gheobhadsa.

so that he may not be without honour from what I shall get.

Dia fagbaind-se dano airmitin bad moo

Dá bhfaighinn onóir ba mhó a thabhairt dó

If I could find a greater honour

ro m-biad som.”

bhéarfainn dó é.”

he should have it.”

“Is dochu a fhagbáil duit,” or Cormac.

“Tharlódh go bhfaighfeá,” arsa Cormac.

“ ’Tis very likely that thou wilt find it”, says Cormac.

“Cia dia tabar ind airmitiu?”

“Cé dhó a dtugann tú an onóir seo?” ar seisean.

“To whom is this honour given?”

“Buchet a ainm,” ol si.

“Buichead a ainm,” ar sise.

“Buchet is his name”, she replied.

“Buchat Lagen ón?” or Cormac.

“An é Buichead Laighean é?” arsa Cormac.

“Is that Buchet of Leinster?”, says Cormac.

“ ’S é immorro,” or sisi.

“Is é, go deimhin,” ar sise.

“ ’Tis he indeed”, she answers.

“IN tussu ind Eithni thoebfhota [inghen Catháir Móir R2]?” or Cormac.

“An tusa, mar sin, Eithne Thaobhfhada iníon Chathaoir Mhóir?” arsa Cormac.

“Art thou Ethne Longside, daughter of Catháir Mór?” says Cormac.

“Is dóig [anisin, R1],” or sisi.

“Tharlódh gur mé,” ar sise.

“So it seems”, quoth she.

IArsin tra dochuas [o Chormac R1] co Buchat dia cungid.

Ina dhiaidh sin, cuireadh teachta ó Chormac go Buichead á hiarraidh mar chéile.

Thereafter then a message was sent by Cormac to Buchet to ask her (in marriage).

Nis-tarat side, ar nírbo leis acht la hathair a tabairt.

Ní thabharfadh Buichead uaidh í mar níorbh eisean ba chóir í thabairt ach a hathair.

He gave her not, for to give her
belonged, not to him, but to her father.

Asberat trá is ar écin rucad-si chuca-som dadaig,

Deirtear mar sin gur tugadh chuig Cormac ar éigin í an oíche ina dhiaidh sin

So then they say that on the following evening she was brought by force to Cormac,

ocus ní fói leis acht in n-aidchi sin

ach nár fhan sí leis ach an oíche sin

and she staid with him only that night,

ocus atrullai úad.

agus ansin gur éalaigh sí uaidh.

and then escaped from him.

Ocus issin n-aidchi sin dorala ina broinn in Corpri Liphechair mac Cormaic

An oíche sin is ea do gineadh Cairbre Lifeachair mac Chormaic.

But on that night there entered her womb the son of Cormac, Carbre Lifechair,

.i. ro char Liphe,

Char sé an Life

(so called because) he loved Liffey

ocus il-Liphechair ro halt etir a maithre ocus a athre.

agus is i Lifeachair, ar an teora idir dhúthaigh a athar agus dhúthaigh a mháthar, a hoileadh é.

and in Lifechair he was fostered between his mother’s tribe and his father’s tribe.

Ocus ní ragaib Cormac in mac

Níor ghlac Cormac leis mar mhac

And Cormac did not take him (as his
son)

co ro luigset Lagin corbo leis [hé, H].

nó gur thug na Laighnigh a móid go mba leis é.

until the Leinstermen swore that the boy was his.

Ocus robói-si iarsin ba rigan i fail Cormaic.

Ise a bhí ina dhiaidh sin ina banríon ag Cormac.

Afterwards Ethne as Cormac’s wife became a queen.

Ni ragaib [si, R1] immorro

Ní ghlacfadh sí leis, ámh,

Howbeit she did not accept him

can a tindscra [do thabairt H] do Buchet,

nó go dtugtaí a spré féin do Bhuichead.

without bestowing her brideprice on Buchet.

ISsed dorat Cormac dó,

Is é thug Cormac do Bhuichead

This is what Cormac gave him:

an ro siacht a radarc di múr Chenandsa,

oiread agus ab fhéidir leis a fheiceáil ó mhúr Cheanannais amach

all that his eyesight reached from the rampart of Kells,

etir boin ocus duine

idir bha agus dhaoine

both cow and man,

[ocus or ocus arcad Y]

agus airgead agus ór

and gold and silver,

ocus dam ocus ech,

agus dhaimh agus eich,

and horse and ox,

co cend sechtmaine.

go ceann seachtaine.

to the end of a week.

Forreimdes a mbreith la Buchat dar rigi fadess na rucc d’indilib i crích Lagen aridisi.

Is ar éigin ab fhéidir le Buichead a bhfuair sé de thréada a thabairt leis ó dheas thar an Ríghe ag filleadh dhó isteach i gcrích Laighean arís.

It was impossible for Buchet to take again over the kingdom southward into the country of Leinster all the herds that he (then) received.

Esnad tige Buchet dona dámaib

Is é ceol tí Bhuichid do na haoithe

The song of Buchet’s house to the companies:

.i. a gen gáre ass frisna dama:

ná a gháire geanúil os ard leis na dámha:

his laughing cry to the companies:

“Fo-chen dúib,

“Tá fáilte romhaibh,” ar sé.

“Welcome to you.

bid maith dúib [linni R1],

“Déanfaimidne maith díbhse;

It will be well to you with us.

bud maith dano dunni libsi.”

déanfaidh sibhse maith dúinne.”

Let it then be well to us with you.”

Esnad in choicat láech

Ceol an chaogad laoch ansin

The song of the fifty warriors

cona n-etaigib corcraib ocus cona n-erredaib

faoina n-éadaí corcra agus faoina n-éide chatha

with their purple garments and their armours,

do airfitiud intan batis mesca [na dáma R2.].

ag déanamh ceoil nuair bhíodh na haoi ar meisce.

to make music when the companies were drunk.

Esnad dano in choicat ingen for lár in tige

Ceol an chaogad ógbhan ar lár an tí

The song, too, of the fifty maidens in the midst of the house,

ina lennaib corcraib

faoina ngúnaí corcra ina dhiaidh sin,

in their purple dresses,

cona mongaib órbuidib dara n-etaige

a monga órbhuí thar a n-éadaí ar sileadh

with their golden-yellow manes over their garments,

ocus a n-esnad oc airfitiud in tshlúaig.

agus a gceol ag cur aoibhnis ar an slua.

and their song delighting the host.

Esnad in chóecat chruitte iarsin

Ceol a chaogad cruitire ar deireadh

The song of the fifty harps afterwards

co mmatin [ac talgud R2] in tshluáig [do chiul R2].

ag bréagadh an tslua as sin go maidin.

till morning, soothing the host with music.

IS de sin atá Esnada Tigi Buchat.

Is de sin atá Ceolta Tí Bhuichid.

Hence is (the name) The Songs of Buchet’s House.

IS and didu ro bói Cormac húa Cuind i Cenannas

Cormac grandson of Conn was then living in Kells

riasiu rogabad ríge [n-Erenn,

before he should take the kingship of Erin,

ar ni ro leíc, R2] Medb Lethderg hi Temraig

for Maive Redside did not let him into Tara

iar n-écaib a athar[som Y]

after the death of his father (Art).

.i. i fail Airt ro bói in Medb Lethderg do Laignib,

Now Maive Redside of Leinster had been Art’s wife,

ocus arrobert-side in rige iar n-ecaib Airt.

and after his death she enjoyed the kingship.

Ba hé domsom na rríg didu, Cenannus.

Kells, then, was the residence of the kings.

Conid iar ngabáil ríge do Chormac

But after Cormac had gained the kingship

ro clas lais in Temair

Tara was founded by him,

.i. ferand Odrain sin

and that was the land of Odrán,

.i. bachlach dona Dessib Breg.

a herdsman of the Déssi of Bregia.

INtan didu ro bás oc claide na rátha Temrach la Cormac

Now when the rath of Tara was being dug by Cormac,

adrand [Odhran H] a theora eigme ass.

Odran gave (?) his three groans out of him.

“Cid éigi?” or Cormac.  

“Why groanest thou?” says Cormac.

“Éigim dochraite,” or se,

“I groan for my oppression”, quoth he,

“fothugud do ríg hErenn form thír ocus form thalmain co bráth.”

“the support of a king of Erin on my land and my soil for ever.”

INtan didu ro bás oc intadud in ti[ge]

Then when they were setting the stakes of the house,

ro eig-seom béus.

he groaned again;

Oc techt inti do sholud do Chormac

and when, on a lucky day, Cormac was entering it,

dobert Odrán a druim frisin comlaid.

Odrán set his back against the doorvalve.

“Cid sin?” or Cormac.

“What is that?” says Cormac.

“Nacham-sháraig!” ar Odrán.

“Do not outrage me!” says Odrán.

“IS anfhír do sharugud,” ol Cormac.

“Tis untruth to outrage thee”, quoth Cormac;

“Ni ba messi dogena,

“it is not I that will do it,

acht manim-léicther ind ar lóg

unless I am not admitted for (this) payment,

.i. do chomthrom do argut

to wit, thy weight in silver,

& accnabtha nónbair cecha nóna céin béosa i mbethu

and rations for nine men every noontide so long as I am alive,

[ocus atethur rige R1] ocus tír bes chutrumma fri[t]tír hi tóeb in tiri-se

and land equal to thy land beside this land,

fri athigid chucumsa [ocus fri tairec do chisa, R1].”

for visiting me and supplying thy tribute”

“IS maith,” ar Odrán.

“Tis well”, says Odran:

“Ataat da port mathi frind aness amne,” ar Odran.

“there are two good banks to the south of us thus”, says Odrán.

“Ci a n-ainm?” or Cormac.

“What is their name?” asks Cormac.

“Odra Temrach,” or sé.

“The Odra of Tara”, says Odrán.

“Bisiu and, dano,” or Cormac. “Odor eter Odraib.”

“Then thou art”, says Cormac, “Odor between Odra”.

IS de ata Odra Temrach.

Hence is (the place-name) Odra Temrach.