I.

Fionn’s names / The Leap of Breac Bládha (ll. 148-204)

II.

Fionn’s Knowledge (ll. 1331-1376)

“Indeosad dhuit ámh,” ar Fionn.

“Inseoidh mé duit *ámh*,” arsa Fionn.

“I will tell you indeed,” said Fionn.

“Glas Dige [Glas Díoghuin M. Glais Dioghuinn KFL] mo c[h]éad-ainm ocus Giolla an chuasáin m’ai[n]m ’na dhiaigh sin,

“Glas Díge mo chéad ainm agus Giolla an Chuasáin m’ainm ina dhiaidh sin.

“Glas Díge was my first name, and Giolla an Chuasáin (‘Lad of the [Tree] Hollow’) my name after that;

ocus ag Tioprait Crithirlinde [Crithne NL ( — na) K] do leathtaoibh tshléibhe Smóil mic Eighleachair

Ag Tiobraid Chrithirlinne ar leataobh Shliabh Smóil *mic Eidhleachair*,

and it was at Tiobraid Chrithirlinne, by the side of Sliabh Smóil mic Eidhleachair

ar a dtugtar Sliabh Bladhma inniu,

[i.e. Sliabh Bladhma],

dorinni[u]s mo c[h]éad-shnámh

a rinneas mo chéad shnámh,

that I had my first swim;

ocus ag Dún mBrocna [dún buidhe (baoi FL) theas risa ráightear dún an brogha a ndeisgert Eirionn K et al.] dorindi[u]s mo c[h]éad-c[h]reach ariamh

agus is ag Dún Brocna a rinneas mo chéad chreach riamh

and it was at Dún mBrocna that I performed my first ever hunt:

.i. an p[r]easleacha [an phraslacha MKFL] gona dá hén déig;

— *.i. an* phraslacha gona dhá héan déag.

i.e. a teal with her twelve ducklings;

ocus is a[i]re lingim-si léim na Brice Bladha gacha bliadhna

Agus is ar a léimimse Léim na Brice Blá gach bliain,

and the reason for which I jump the leap of Breac Bladha every year:

.i. an céad-lá do scarus ré mo bhuime .i. ré Boghmuinn,

*.i.* an chéad lá a scaras le mo bhuime, Bodhmann

i.e. the first day I parted from my foster mother, i.e. from Bodhmann (Bodbmall)

arna marbadh do c[h]lannuibh Mórna,

— arna marú ag clanna Morna —

following her slaying by the sons of Morna

do gabhus seachrán sligheadh cugum co ránac co Luachair Deagh[adh] theas,

*do* ghabhas seachrán slí chugam go dtáinig go Luachair Deá ó dheas,

I went astray, until I reached Luachar Deaghadh in the south.

ocus mé am’ óg-macaomh bhaoth éagiallaidhi and;

agus mé i m’ógmhacaomh baoth éigiallta *ansin*

And I was only a giddy, senseless young lad then;

ocus ní raibhe d’éadach umum an[n] acht beart do croicend óglaogh allaidh;

gan d’éadach orm *ansin* ach beart de chraiceann óg-lao allta

And I wore no other clothing then, but a garment of a young, wild fawn’s hide;

[ocus do bhí ainim eile orm fán am sin, eadhon, Giolla na gCroiceann U]

*agus do bhí ainm eile orm faoin am sin, eadhon, Giolla na gCroiceann*.

and I had another name by that time, i.e. Giolla na gCroiceann (‘Lad of Skins’).

ocus ní cian do c[h]uadhus an tan do concas an dá comhdáil,

Ní cian a chuas an t-am a chonaiceas an dá chomhdháil

And I was not wandering for long when I saw the two assemblies,

oireachtus fortamail fearamail fear ocus oireachtus bind comráiteach ban [bheann MS.],

— oireachtas fortúil fearúil fear is oireachtas binn comhráiteach ban —

— a powerful, manly gathering of men, and a melodiously chatty gathering of women —

ar dhá cnoc c[h]omárda re taobh a chéile,

ar dhá chnoc chomharda le taobh a chéile,

on two hills, of equal height, opposite each other,

ocus all dubh dua[i]bhseach domain gáibteach gráineamail etorro;

agus poll duibheagáin duaiseach domhain gáifeach gráiniúil eatarthu.

and a gloomy, dark, deep, perilous, horrible precipice between them.

ocus táinic misi an ua[i]r-sin mur a raibhe na mná ar tús

Thángas an uair sin mar a raibh na mná ar dtús,

And I came at first at that time to where the women were,

ocus do bheannaigeas dhóibh treasna déibh adharthae

bheannaíos dóibh trí na déithe adhartha

and I greeted them through the gods of pagan worship;

ocus d’fhiauraigheas créad má [leg. fá] roibhadur an dá c[h]omdáil [condáill MS.] sin leath ar leith ’mun all.

agus d’fhiafraíos díobh cén fáth a rabhadar an dá chomhdháil sin leath ar leath ar an aill.

and I enquired the reason why those two assemblies were side-by-side around the precipice.

Do innsidur na mná domh-sa gurab é an adhpur

D’insíodar na mná domsa gurbh é an fáth a bhí leis sin

The women informed me that the reason was

.i. go raibhe Séadna mac Oilealla [S. mac Cairill Chais (mic Criomhthainn, add ML) K] ann .i. mac rí Ciarraidhe Lu[a]chra,

go raibh Séanna mac Ailealla, mac rí Chiarraí Luachra *ann*,

that Séadna mac Ailealla., i.e. the son of the king of Kerry Luachra, was present

ocus oireachtus fearda fearamail fear ina t[h]iomcioll,

agus oireachtas fortúil fear ina thimpeall,

and a masculine, manly gathering of men surrounding him;

ocus go ttuc searc ocus siar-grádh d’Athnait inghean Dáire an Sídhe [do Dhánait i. Dáire as Síth Dáire K]

agus go dtug sé searc agus síorghrá d’Adhnait, iníon Dáire an tSí

and he gave his affection and enduring love to Athnait, daughter of Dáire of the Sídhe

go bfuil an t-oireachtus ccomálaind [leg. comálaind] binn-briathrach bhan-sa ina tiomcioll;

— a bhfuil an t-oireachtas comhálainn binnbhriathrach ban seo ina timpeall —

who is surrounded by the comely, melodiously-worded assembly of  women;

ocus is í cobchi do iar[r] sí fair,

agus is í an aisce *a* d’iarr Adhnait air mar choibhche:

and the bride-price she required of him was

léim an aill-si do thabhai[r]t;

léim na haille seo a thabhairt.

to attempt to leap this precipice;

ocus thig gach[a] bliadhna ionn[a] coinde an[n] so [do] tabha[i]rt in léime;

Tagann sé gach bliain ina coinne anseo ag tabhairt na léime,

and he comes here every year in expectation of attempting the jump,

ocus in uair thionscnas í tabhairt

agus nuair a thionscnaíos í a thabhairt

and when he tries to make it

ocus thig go bruach an aill,

agus nuair a thagann go bruach na haille,

and he comes to the edge of the precipice

tillighidh tar [a] ais arís gan a léim do thabha[i]rt.

filleann sé ar ais arís gan a léim a thabhairt.

he returns again without accomplishing the leap.

Do fhiafraighi[u]s don ingin ’nar c[h]uma léi cé dobeireadh an léim.

D’fhiafraíos den iníon ar chuma léi cé a bhéarfadh an léim.

I enquired of the girl, if she cared who would accomplish the leap.

Adubhairt nár c[h]uma,

Adúirt sí gur chuma.

She said that she did not mind,

‘ocus cidh gránna h’eireadh-sa ocus h’éadach ocus do c[h]ulaidh,

‘Cé gur gránna d’earra is d’éadach is do chulaith,’ ar sí,

‘and however hideousness your apparel, your clothing and your attire are,

ocus ní do chaínead[h] do dheilbe féin é,

‘agus ní ag cáineadh do dheilbhe féin é,

it is not a criticism of my own appearance;

dá ttugteá in léim,

*dá dtugthá an léim,*

if I were to make the jump,

do bhiadh sisi agud ocus do fuighfeadh leat.’

bhéinnse agat agus do luífinn leat.’

you would have her and she would lie with you.’

Arna chlos [sin] damh-sa

Arna chloisteáil sin domsa

After hearing that,

tugus lán-c[h]ruinughadh orm a meadhón mo c[h]roicinn

thugas lán-chruinniú orm féin i meán mo chraicinn,

I puckered myself in the midst of my skin,

ocus do scuchus ar mo c[h]úl ón all

d’imíos ar mo chúl ón aill

and I moved backwards from the precipice,

ocus tucus dighrim reatha rind-luaithe doc[h]um an aill,

agus thugas rith reatha rinn-luath chun na haille,

and I took off running swiftly, at top-speed towards the precipice,

gur éirgeas co hárd-éadrum eaduruasach rum féin ós cionn an aill,

gur éiríos go hard-éadrom eadarbhuasach liom féin ós chionn an duibheagáin

so that I easily rose (jumped) soaringly over the precipice

gur turlingus ar taobh na tulcha don taobh thall don all,

agus gur thuirlingíos ar an tulach taobh thall den aill.

so that I landed on the side of the hill on the other side of the precipice.

ocus do thillus a fritheing na conaire céadna arís cum an aill

ocus tucus an léim tar mh’ais,

thugas an léim thar mh’ais

and I made the leap back,

ocus dobéaraind ní ba mionca dámad áil liom féin.

agus *do* bhéarfainn ní ba mhinice í dá mba áil liom féin é.

and I could have accomplished [the jump] more often if I wished.

Arna fhaicsin [sin] d’Aithnait, táinic dom’ ionnsaigh[e]-si

Arna fheiceáil sin d’Aidhnait, tháinig sí chugam,

After Aithnait seeing that, she approached me:

ocus [do] c[h]uir a lámh fom uráguit,

chuir a lámh faoi m’aghaidh

and she threw her arms about my neck,

ocus tuc teóra póg dam

agus thug teora póg dom.

and she gave me three kisses

ocus do bhain mo croi[c]end dhíom

*Agus do* bhain sí mo chraiceann díom ansin

and she stripped me of my hide,

ocus tug éadach mo diongmála dam umum,

agus thug éadach mo dhiongbhála dom.

and she gave me clothing more fitting of me to put on;

ocus do chuadhas léi dá teigh an oidhche sin

Chuas léi chun a tí an oíche sin

and I went with her to her house that night

ocus do éirgheas co moch arna uhárach.

agus d’éiríos go moch arna mhárach.

and I arose early the next morning.

Táinic sisi cugam ocus do iair aiscidh maidne [mainde MS.] orum

Tháinig sise chugam agus d’iarr aisce mhaidine orm:

She came to me and asked a ‘morning request’ of me:

.i. an léim-si do t[h]abha[i]rt gach[a] bliadhna;

*.i.* an léim sin a thabhairt gach bliain.

i.e. to perform this leap every year;

ocus tugus sin dí;

Thugas sin di

and I obliged her thus;

ocus do fhág mur geasuibh orm,

agus d’fhág sí mar gheasa orm,

and she bound me by gessa (‘binding injunctions’),

an bliadha[i]n nach ttiurain[n] hé,

an bhliain nach dtabharfainn an léim,

the year I would fail to accomplish the jump

éag nó oigheadh d’f[h]agáil damh.

éag nó oidhe a fháil.

I would die, or murder would befall me.

Agus is iad sin scéala d’f[h]iarfaigis díom, a C[h]onán,” for Fiond.

Agus is iad sin na scéalta a d’fhiafraís díom, a Chonáin,” arsa Fionn.

And these are the stories that you requested of me, oh Conán,” said Fionn.

“Beir buaidh ocus b[ean]nachtain, a rí-fhéinidh,” ar Conán,

“Beir bua agus beannacht, a Rífhéinní,” arsa Conán.

“Take victory and blessing, oh royal fían-warrior,” said Conán.

“is binne ná céol crot bheith ag éisteacht re bind-c[h]omhrádh do bheóil;

“Is binne ná ceol cruite a bheith ag éisteacht le binn-chomhrá do bhéil.

“Listening to your sweet mouth is more melodious than the music of harps;

ocus ar grádh h’einigh innis damh anois, a rí-fhéinidh,

Agus ar ghrá d’oinigh inis dom anois, a Rífhéinní,

and for the sake of your honour, tell me now, oh royal fían-warrior,

cionnus fuarais an fios forbhartach fíor-eólach atá agad;

cé mar a fuairis an fios forbarthach fíor-eolach atá agat,

how did you acquire the truly-learned, fully-developed wisdom that you have;

ocus ní hé fios an bradáin nó fios thoighe Cuanna atáim d’iarraidh ort.”

agus ní hé ‘Fios an Bhradáin’ ná ‘Fios Tigh Chuanna’ atáim ag iarraidh ort.”

and it is not the wisdom of the ‘Salmon [of Knowledge]’, nor the wisdom of ‘Cuanna’s House’ that I am inquiring of you.”

“Inneósat-sa sin” ar Fionn.

“Inseodsa sin,” arsa Fionn.

“I will tell you that,” said Fionn.

“Tiobraid atá ag Bec mac Buain ocus is do Thuathaibh Dé Danann an fear sin,

“Tobar atá ag Beag mac Buain — agus is de Thuatha Dé Danann an fear sin —

“Beag mac Buain has a well, and that man is of the Tuatha Dé Danann,

ocus gach duine ibhus deoch eisdi,

agus gach duine a ólfas deoch as

and every person who drinks a draught from it,

bídh fios forbartach aige dá éis

beidh fios forbarthach aige dá éis

possesses fully-developed wisdom;

ocus budh fáidh é go bás re fírinne;

agus is fáidh é go bás le fírinne.

and, in truth, he will be a prophet until death.

ocus síad bhíos ag coimhéad na tiobraide sin

Agus is iad a bhíos ag faire an tobair sin

And those who keep that well:

.i. trí hingeana an Bheic [Bhaic MS.] .i. Céibhfionn ocus Teacht ocus Arbach [Teisinn Techéd (Techedh F) ocus Arbhach (Armhach FL) MFL; om. KN]

triúr iníonacha an Bhig, *.i.* Céibhfhionn, *agus* Teacht agus Arbach.

i.e. the three daughters of Beag, i.e. Céibhfhionn, and Teacht and Arbhach,

ocus as í Céibfiond as sine dhíobh

Is í Céibhfhionn is sine díobh

and it is Céibhfhionn who is the eldest of them,

ocus as í dháilius an tiobraid ar gach duine c[h]eandaighius hí;

agus is í a dháileann uisce an tobair ar gach duine a cheannaíonn í

and it is she who dispenses the [draught from the] well to every person who purchases it;

ocus dobeirthi trí céad uinge do dearg-ór

agus a bhéarfaidh trí chéad uinge dearg-óir

and three hundred ounces of red gold used to be given

ar lán gach éan-eascra don tiobraid sin.

ar lán gach *aon* eascra den tobar sin.

for every single full vessel from that well.

Agus tarla misi aon do ló ag seilg na feagh-sa [leg. (feadh-sa)] mur a raibhe iomat fiadhaig[h],

Tharla mé aon de laethanta ag seilg na háite sin mar a raibh iomad fianna

And I happened one day to be hunting in these rushes/ woods (?) where there was an abundance of deer/ wildlife,

ocus tánac ar mhullach Cairn bhFearadhaigh

nuair a thángas ar mhullach Chairn Fhearaígh

and I came to the summit of Carn Fearaígh

ocus ní raibhe fariom annsin acht Díorraing mac Doghuir ocus Mac Reithe;

agus gan i mo chuideachta ach Diorraing mac Doghair agus Mac Reithe.

and only Diorraing mac Dochair and Mac Reithe were with me then;

ocus ní cían do bhámur ann

Ní cian a bhíomar ann

and we were not long there

an tan do c[h]oncamur dorus an tshíodha osluicthe romhain[n]

an t-am a chonaiceamar doras an tsí oscailte romhainn

when we saw that the door to the Síodh was open before us,

ocus do ionnsaighmur é gan fhuireac[h].

agus chuamar chuige gan mhoill.

and we approached it without delay.

Arna fhaicsin sin do trí hingeana[ibh] Bheic mic Buain,

Arna fheiceáil sin do thriúr iníonacha Bhig mhic Bhuain,

Upon the three daughters of Beag mac Buan seeing this,

do éirghedur go hat[h]lamh do dhúnadh an doruis,

d’éiríodar go héasca ag dúnadh an dorais.

they rose with haste to shut the door,

ocus tugadur a lámh[a] uile a n-aoinfheacht do thao[i]ph [astigh]

Thugadar a lámha uile in éineacht don taobh istigh

and they simultaneously placed all their hands on the inside,

ag dúnadh an doruis romhain[n]

ag dúnadh an dorais romhainn,

closing the door in front of us

ocus tucamur-ne ar nguailne ocus ar lámha a n-aoinfheacht

agus thugamar-na ár nguaillí is ár lámha in éineacht

and together we placed our shoulders and our hands

don taoibh amuidh dá fhoslacadh orra-san;

don taobh amuigh dá oscailt orthusan.

on the outside to open it upon them;

ocus is amhlaidh tarla do Céibh-fionn a bheith an uair sin

Is amhlaidh a tharla do Chéibhionn a bheith an uair sin

and it so happened that Ceibhfhionn was at that time

ocus lán an eascra don tiobraid ina láimh;

agus lán *an* eascra d’uisce an tobair ina láimh,

[with] the full of the vessel from the well in her hand;

ocus ag iadhadh na comhladh oruin[n] dí,

agus ag dúnadh na comhla orainn di

and in closing the door on us,

do dhort taosc mór don digh innar mbéil-ne,

*do* dhoirt sí taosc mór den deoch inár mbéalna,

she spilled a large splash of the draught into our mouths,

gur fhan fios fíor-eólach aguinn ó sin a leith,” ar Fionn.

gur fhan fios fíor-eolach againn ó shin i leith,” arsa Fionn.

so that true-learned wisdomremained with us from then onwards,” said Fionn.

“Agus as í[ad] sin fuaslacadh na gceist do chuiris orum, a Cannáin,” ar Fionn;

“Agus is iad sin fuascailt na gceist a chuiris orm, a Chonáin,” *arsa Fionn*.

“And these are the answers to the questions that you put to me, oh Conán,” said Fionn.

ocus itbert in láoi:

Agus thug an laoi:

And he sang the lay:

“Trí hingine Beic mic Buain,

“Trí iníon Bhig mhic Bhuain;

“Three daughters of Beag mac Buain;

is acu ibhid na sluaigh;

is acu a ólaid an slua;

it is with them that the hosts drink;

is uatha sin atá thall

is uathu sin atá thall

it is from them yonder that there is

fios dearbhtha Tuath Dé Danann.

fios dearfa Thuatha Dé Danann.

the assured wisdom of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Tobur atá thall ’sa lios

Tobar atá thall sa lios

There is a well yonder in the enclosure,

is ann dogeibhthur gach fios;

is ann a fhaightear gach fios;

it is there that every wisdom is found;

is dearbh do gach aon ros blais

is dearbh do gach aon a bhlais

it is certain for every one who has tasted it

gurab í sin an t[s]eaghais.

gurb í sin an tSeaghais.

that it is Seaghais.

Gé do fuarus in t-eó fis,

Cé go bhfuaras an t-eo fis,

Even though I caught the ‘Salmon of Knowledge’,

neimhthní co ránac an t[s]eaghais;

neamhnaí go rugas an tSeaghais,

it was nothing until I reached Seaghais;

as é in fios fo[r]burtach damh

is é an fios forbarthach dom

I have fully-developed wisdom

ó ránac an triur inghean.”

ó ráinig an triúr iníon.”

since I reached the three daughters.”