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Eochaid Rígéiges

Bhí Eochaidh Rígéices

Eochu Rígéigeas,

d’Ultaibh

ardfili na Hérend,

ina Ard-Fhile ar Éirinn

chief poet of Ireland,

robaí Fiachna mac Boetán

agus bhí a chara Fiachna mac Báetáin

Fiachna, son of Boetán

rí Uladh

oc a chuired chucai do éicsi dó,

á iarraidh chun éigse chuige.

was inviting him to him to make verse for him,

ar ba rí Ulad in Fiachna

for Fiachna was king of Ulaid

ocus ba di Ultaib in tEochaid.

and Eochu was of the Ulaid.

“Nícon beósa it farrad” or Eochaid,

*Arsa Eochaidh:* “Ní thiocfaidh mé chugatsa

“I should avoid thy presence,” said Eochu,

“sech cach ríg do ríghaib Érend,

thar aon duine eile de ríthe na hÉireann.

“more than that of any of the kings of Ireland,

ar atá macán lat .i. Mongán mac Fiachna.

Tá do mhac *óg* Mongán *mac Fiachna*

for thou hast a young son, Mongán, son of Fiachna.

Issé mac dian lia eólas i nÉrind,

ar an ógánach is léannta sa tír.

He is the most learned youth in Ireland,

biaid sé oc scélaib ocus oc eólas,

Beidh sé ag scéalaíocht is ag faisnéis,

he will be relating tales and giving instruction,

do-bérat in drochdaíne fair frithtuideacht frimsa,

beidh an daoscar ag tathaint air mise a shárú,

evil people will set him to contradict me,

do-bérsa miscaid fair,

cuirfidh mise mo mhallacht air,

I shall curse him

bid debaid latso frimsa an ní sin.”

is beidh tusa ina dhiaidh orm.”

and thou wilt quarrel with me on that account.”

“Nathó,” or Fiachna, “acelaitsi mo mac

“Ní hea,” arsa Fiachna, “ach labhróidh mise leis,

“Nay,” said Fiachna, “I shall speak to (?) my son

co ná tí fritso,

sa tslí nach dtabharfaidh sé faoi do bhréagnú;

that he contradict thee not,

isé bus míne fritso isin teaglachsa.”

ní bheidh duine ar an teaghlach níos béasaí leat ná é.”

it is he will be the most civil towards thee in this household.”

“Maith,” or Eochaid “do-géntar,

“Maith go leor,” arsa Eochaidh,

“Well,” said Eochu, “it shall be done.

bid ammin co cend mbliadna.”

“tabharfaidh mé an bhliain ann, mar sin.”

Let it be thus until the end of a year.”

Baíseom laa n-ann oc indisin eólais.

Bhí sé ag tabhairt léachta, lá.

One day he was relating lore.

“Olc duid, a Mongáin,” ar na gilla, “cen éleghad in bachlaig oc rád na góa.”

“Is suarach an mhaise duit gan tabhairt faoin mbodach bréagach,” arsa a chompánaigh le Mongán.

“Evil of thee, Mongán,” said the boys, “that thou dost not challenge the lying clown,”

“Maith,” or Mongán.

“Tá go maith,” arsa Mongán leo.

“Good,”|says Mongán.

Luid Fiachna for cuairt ríg ocus Eochu lais.

Chuaigh Fiachna ar a chuairt rí agus Eochaidh ina theannta.

Fiachna went on a royal visitation, accompanied by Eochu.

A mbátar laa n-and for a n-éraim

Lá dá raibh siad sa siúl

One day on their journey

conacatar sé choirthi cloichi móra ar a cind

go bhfaca siad sé cinn de choirthí móra cloiche *rompu*

they beheld six large pillar-stones before them,

ocus cethrur maic-cléireach im na coirthi.

agus ceathrar mac-chléireach timpeall orthu.

and four young clerics by the stones.

“Cid do-gní[d] andsin, a chlérchi?” or Fiachnai.

“Cad tá ar bun agaibh ansin, a chléirigh?” arsa Fiachna leo.

“What do you here, clerics?” said Fiachna.

“Atáum sund oc cuindchidh fhis ocus eólais:

“Ar lorg eolais is treorach atáimíd *anseo*.

“We are here seeking knowledge and instruction.

do-n-uc Dia dúnd iarum rígéices Hérend .i. Eochaid

Cabhair Dé chugainn! Nach in é an Rí-Éigeas *Éireann Eochaidh* féin *, áfach,*

God has brought to us, however, the king-poet of Ireland, Eochu,

dia gléodh dús cia nosháith na leca sa

lena léiriú dúinn cé a thóg na leaca *seo*

to reveal who planted these stones

ocus cia ro-s-aralta.”

agus conas a feistíodh ina n-áit iad.”

and how (?) they were arranged (?).”

“Amain,” or Eochaid, “nícon fil for menmain damsa sin uile:

“Ní chuimhním air sin go léir,” arsa Eochaidh.

“Well,” said Eochu, “I do not remember all that.

ba dóich lim bad Cland Deadhaid do-n-uargaibset

Ba dhóigh liom gurbh iad Clanna Deadhadh a thóg iad

I should think the Children of Deda upreared them,

do dénam Chathrach Chon Raí.”

chun Cathair Chon Raoi a dhéanamh.”

to build the City of Cú Roí.”

“Maith, a Eochaid,” ar fer díb, “atberad na maiccléirich immo-t-ralasu.”

“Sea, más ea, *a Eochaidh,*” arsa duine acu, “deir na mac-chléirigh go bhfuil dul amú ort.”

“Well, Eochu,” said one of them, “the young clerics say thou art astray (?).

“Ná cairigh,” or araile.

“Ná tóg air é,” arsa duine eile acu.

“Do not blame him,” said another.

“Bés is anfis dó,” ar a chéle.

“B’fhéidir nach bhfuil a fhios aige,” arsa a pháirtí.

“Perhaps he does not know,” said his companion.

“Is anfis dó,” ar araile.

“Níl a fhios aige,” arsa an ceathrú duine.

“He does not know,” said another.

“Maith,” or Eochaid, “ocus sibsi, caidi bar n-edirgléodsi diib?”

“Agus más ea, cad a deir sibhse fúthu?” arsa Eochaidh.

“Well,” said Eochu, “and you, what is your explanation of them?”

“Is hé ar n-eólaisni, ám,

“Is é ár dtuiscintne orthu *, ámh,*

“This, then, is our information

trí líc andso niathbuidne

gur trí leac laochbhuíne

— these are three stones of a champion-band

ocus trí liic láthbuidne:

agus trí leac féine iad;

and three stones of a warrior-band.

Conall Cernach ro-da-lá la Hilland mac Fergusa

Conall Cearnach a thóg le hIlland mac Fheargais iad

Conall Cernach placed them, along with Illand, son of Fergus,

ro marb triar sund dá cétgaisced:

tar éis dó seo triúr a mharú *anseo* ar a chéad ghaisce:

who slew three here in his first prowess.

atraí a lechta (?) do turcbáil ar a oíti,

chuaigh de iad a thógáil uaidh féin i ngeall ar a óige,

He was unable to uprear the pillars on account of his youth,

co-nda-thuarcaib Conall Cernach leis,

agus thóg Conall *Cearnach* ina theannta iad,

and Conall Cernach raised then with him,

ar ba bésad do Ultaib

mar ba bhéas le hUltaibh

for it was the custom of the Ulaid

áit a ndéndais a cétgaisced

wherever they performed their first act of valour,

turcbaitis a corthi ind lín a romarbdais,

coirthí a thógáil don líon a mharaídís

to raise pillar stones to the number that they slew,

ar a gcéad ghaisce;

agus aircseo, a Eochaid, lat ainfiuss.”

agus gread leat anois le do chuid aineolas, a Eochaidh.”

— and be off, Eochu, with thy ignorance.”

“Ní bad imdergad lat, a Eochaid,”

“Ná cuireadh sé aon mhairg ort, *a Eochaidh,*

“Do not be ashamed, Eochu,”

or Fiachna,

said Fiachna,

“cubaid let na scolaige.”

má tá na cléirigh inchurtha leat féin,”

“the scholars are a match (?) for thee.”

arsa Fiachna leis.

Tiagait fora rémim in chétna.

Chuaigh siad chun cinn *mar a rinne siad cheana*

They proceed on their way as before,

Conacadar in aelráith móir [ar] a cind,

go bhfaca siad an aolráth mhór rompu

and they perceived a large limewashed castle in front of them,

ocus cethror óglách co n-étaigib corcrai ar a dorus.

agus ceathrar ógánach gléasta in éadach corcra ag an doras.

and four youths in purple raiment before the door.

Taidlig Eochaid in lis.

Téann Eochaidh ina dtreo *don lios*.

Eochu approached the enclosure.

“Maith,” or Fiachna, “cid as áil duib?”

“Sea,” arsa Fiachna, “cad ab áil libhse?”

“Well,” said Fiachna, “what do you want?”

“Áil dún a fhis ó Eochaid cisí ráth so ocus cia robaí indí.”

“Ba mhaith linn go n-inseodh Eochaidh dúinn cén ráth í seo agus cé a chónaigh inti.”

“We want to hear from Eochu what castle this is, and who lived in it.”

“Sochaide lasa ndéntar rátha,” or Eochaid,

*Arsa Eochaidh:* “Scata daoine a dhéanann ráthanna

“So many build castles,” said Eochu,

“co nách talla for menmain.”

agus ní fhanann siad go léir sa chuimhne.”

“that they do not all find room in the memory.”

“Léic uait, or is anfis dó,” ar a chéle.

“Caith uait, níl a fhios aige,” arsa an dara fear acu.

“Let be,” said the other, “for he does not know.”

“Cade bar n-eólas didiu?” or Fiachna.

“Cén cur amach atá agaibh féin mar sin air?” arsa Eochaidh.

“What is your information, then?” said Fiachna.

Tá an freagra go pras ag an bhfear eile.

Scaoileann sé leathrann chuige a raibh réiteach na faidhbe sa leath nach ndúirt sé —

“Ní ansa ám:

*“Ní ansa, ámh:

“Not difficult, indeed —

Cian ó do bí meadar mas

Is cian ó bhí sé meidhreach,

a while since he was merry,

oc ól meda a curn glas —

ag ól meá ó chuach ghlas —

drinking mead from a green goblet —

isin imscing ar [a f(?)]aithchi,

insan imscing ar a faiche.*

in the garden on its lawn,

ocus ní thucais a hainm iar suidiu, a Eochaid.”

Agus níor thug tú an t-ainm leat ina dhiaidh sin, a Eochaidh,” ar sé.

and yet thou hast not remembered its name, Eochu.”

“Maith didiu,” or Eochaid.

“Tá go maith, *mar sin,*” arsa an file.

“Good, *then,* ” said Eochu.

Tiagaid ass iarsin.

Ar aghaidh leo arís

Then they proceeded,

Conacadar ráith aile ar a cind

go bhfeiceann siad ráth eile *rompu*

and they saw another castle before them,

ocus cethror macám ina dorus oc imresain.

agus ceathrar ógánach ag aighneas ag an doras:

and four youths quarrelling in front of the entrance.

“Is fíru damsa!”

“Is cirte an ní a deirimse!”

“I am right!”

“Ní fíriu duidsiu!”

“Ní cirte *duit-sea*!”

“Thou art not right!”

“Cid táthaí, a maccu?” or Fiachna.

“Cad tá ar siúl agaibh, *a óga,*?” arsa Fiachna.

“What are you at, boys?” said Fiachna.

“Oc imresain atám dús cissí ráth so ocus cia las roclassa ind ráith so:

“Aighneas faoi cén ráth í seo agus cé a thóg;

“We are contending as to what castle this is and by whom it was built.

do-fuc Dia dún iarum in fer cen anfhis itir dia rélad dún.”

ach chuir Dia fear an eolais iomláin inár dtreo lena léiriú dúinn *, áfach*.”

God has brought to us, however, a man without any ignorance to reveal it to us.”

“Nách-an-imderg,” ar a chéle, “is anfis dó.”

“Ná náirigh é, níl a fhios aige,” arsa a pháirtí.

“Do not shame him,” said his companion, “he does not know.”

“Cade didiu bar fisse?” or Fiachnai.

“Cad is eol daoibh féin mar gheall uirthi *, mar sin*?” arsa Eochaidh.

“What do you know about it *, then*?” said Fiachna.

`

Scaoil an fear eile rann iomlán chuige go raibh an t-eolas go léir ann:

“Ní ansa immurgu:

*“Ní ansa, ámh:”

“Not difficult, indeed —

Cian ó thessaigthe in tslatt

Is cian ó théadh uisce chun folcadh

    .        .        .        .        . (?)

do fhir rocheachlaid Ráith Imgatt,

don bhfear a thochail Ráth Imgatt,

for the man who dug Ráth Imgat;

Immgatt ainm na mná ro-da-gart,

Imgatt ainm na mná a d’ainmnigh é,

Imgat was the woman who named (?) it,

ingen Buise mic Didracht —

iníon Bhuise mhic Didracht.*

daughter of Buise, son of Didracht.”

Ráith Immgat a ainm iarum, a Eochaid,

Ráth Immgat a ainm dá bhrí sin, a Eochaidh,

Ráth Imgat, then, is its name, Eochu,

ocus ní bo sirsan duid a ainbfhis,”

agus ní maith an bhail ort a bheith dall air.”

and it is not fortunate for thee that thou art ignorant of it.

Rohimdergad iarum intí Eochaid.

Bhí náire ar Eochaidh *dá bhrí sin*.

Then Eochu was put to shame.

“Cuma duid, a Eochaid,” or Fiachnai, “ní ba lugaidi do grád.”

“Nach cuma duit, a Eochaidh, ní lúide ár meas ort,” arsa Fiachna.

“It is all the same to thee, Eochu,” said Fiachna, “thou shalt not be thought the less of.”

Tiagaid iarum dia mbaile feisin.

*Do chas siad abhaile ansin.*

They go home then,

Mongán cona muintir istaig ar a cind.

Bhí Mongán is a mhuintir sa bhaile rompu.

and find *before them* Mongán and his following within.

“Maith,” or Eochaid, “tusu do-rónne suut, a Mongáin, ro-fhetarsa.”

“Tusa a dhein é sin orm, a Mhongáin, tá a fhios agam go maith é,” arsa Eochaidh.

“Well,” said Eochu, “thou hast done that, Mongán, I know.”

“Is tú atrubairt,” ar Mongán.

“Dúirt tú é,” arsa Mongán.

“Thou hast said it,” said Mongán.

“Ní faigebtha maith didiu,” or Eochaid,

*Arsa Eochaidh:* “Ní hé do leas a dhein tú *, mar sin;*

“It shall not profit thee, then,” said Eochu,

“faicebsa ailig fort dar a éisi:

“fágfaidh mise máchail ort dá dhroim.

“I shall leave a reproach on thee in return for it.

in t-ánius romór tuargabais fort bethir cen áinius dar a éisi:

Beidh tú gan sásamh i ndíol ar an sport breá a dhein tú duit féin:

The great sport thou hast made for thyself, thou shalt be without sport in consequence for it.

nícon bia acht eachbachlaich uait,

ní bheidh ar do shliocht ach eachbhachlaigh (i.e. giollaí capall)

Thou shalt have no issue save horseboys,

ocus ní ba mór itir faicebtha athgabáil,

*agus ní mór an t-oidhreacht a d’fhágfaidh tú,

and thou shalt not leave any great inheritance (?),

ocus nícon festar tarad de fen.”

agus …”*

neither shall  .  .  .  (?).”

Issed sin dono tall degiartaige ó Mongáin (sic) mac Fhiachnai.

*Is mar sin a tógadh dea-shliocht ó Mhongán mac Fiachna.

Thus was Mongán, son of Fiachna, deprived of noble issue.

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