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Once upon a time

Mac Telene do feraib Muman,

Mac Telene ón Mhumhain,

Mac Telene of the men of Munster,

cend imarbaga hErend,

príomh-údar mioscaise na hÉireann,

chief strife-fomenter in Ireland,

dorad imarbaigh

d’adhain iomarbháigh

made contention

feachtus

uair

hi tig Guaire Aidne

in dteach Ghuaire Aidhne

in the house of Guaire of Aidne

dia mbatar a muinter oc admolad Guaire ocus a aesa dana

mar a raibh Guaire á mhóradh ag a mhuintir, é féin agus a aos dána,

as his people were glorifying Guaire and his artists

.i. ana hingenraidi ocus na fileada

idir bhantracht, filí,

— viz., the women-folk, the poets,

ocus na segunna ocus na druthu ocus na hoinmiti.

laochra, draoithe agus óinmhidí.

the champions, the buffoons and the fools.

“Atat lenni,” or Mac Teleni, “aes ata ferr indate

“Tá againne,” arsa Mac Telene, “daoine is fearr ná iad;

“We have folk,” said Mac Telene, “who are better than they are,

.i. ata seguind na hErend lend .i. Cumaine Fota mac Fiachnai.

tá curadh na hÉireann againn, Coimín Fada mac Fiachna;

that is to say, we have the champion of Ireland, Cumaine Foda, son of Fiachna.

Ata espoc lend ocus is oen oinmit fer nErenn.

tá easpag againn, Morónóg, *agus is é óinmhid fear na hÉireann é;*

We have a bishop and he is the fool of the men of Ireland.

Ata oinmit lind ocus is e file fer nErenn

*tá óinmhid againn, Mac Mo Chearda,* agus is é príomhfhile *fear* na hÉireann é.

We have a fool and he is the poet of the men of Ireland;

.i. Moronoc int espoc ocus Mac Mo Cherda ind oinmit.”

*.i. Morónóg an t-easpag agus Mac Mo Chearda an t-óinmhid.”*

viz., Moronoc is the bishop and Mac Mo Cherda is the fool.”

Rogabad-som immorro la Guaire

Gabhadh le Guaire ansin é

Thereupon he was detained by Guaire

co tistais dia fhuaslugud.

nó go dtiocfadh Coimín Fada, Morónóg agus Mac Dá Chearda á fhuascailt.

till they would come to liberate him.

Bliadain lan do and

Bliain lán dó ann

He was there a whole year

ocus ni fetus for Cumaine dul fris.

agus níor féadadh a chur ar Choimín dul fána choinne.

and Cumaine could not be got to go for him.

Co tuidchid andeas dia bliadna.

I gceann na bliana, ámh, tháinig sé aneas.

That same day next year he came from the south.

Cet mac for faithci Derlais ara chind oc ain liathroidi.

Bhí céad macaomh ar fhaiche Dhurlais ag imirt liathróide ar theacht dóibh.

There were a hundred youths before him on the green of Durlas playing ball.

Lingthi Mac Da Cherda co sudib

Léim Mac Dá Chearda eatarthu

Mac Da Cherda leaps into the midst of them

co mbui isin troit na liathroiti.

go raibh sé féin i gcoimheascar na liathróide leo.

so that he is in the contest of the ball.

Geibid didiu Moronoc a mbachla oc dul isan teach.

Ag dul isteach sa teach do Mhorónóg bhain sé a gcamáin díobh *ansin*.

Moronoc then takes their clubs going into the house.

Dobreth immorro la Guaire og chirci i cathair ar cind Cumaine

Chuir Guaire ubh chirce in gcathaoir Choimín*, áfach,*

There was placed by Guaire a hen-egg in the chair assigned for Cumaine*, however,*

ocus cerchaill tairis dia brisead do

agus cuisín á clúdach ionas go mbriseadh sé í

and a cushion over it so that he might break it

ocus dia gabail do Guaire foi

agus go mbéarfadh Guaire amuigh ansin air

and so that Guaire might seize him for it,

cona bad segond dia mbrised an og.

faoi gan bheith ina laoch dá mbriseadh sé an ubh.

for he would be no champion if he broke the egg.

Deisid in cleireach isin chathair iar mbendochad do Guaire do.

Shuigh an cléireach sa chathaoir tar éis beannú do Ghuaire dhó.

The cleric, after greeting Guaire, sits down on the chair.

Dorad immorro Moronoc corra in c[h]oicat bachall ar in comlaid

Chuir Morónóg cinn an chaoga camán *ansin* le comhla an dorais.

Moronoc then placed the twisted ends of the fifty clubs on the door,

ocus taraill a asa oc dul isinn tech in comla.

Ag dul isteach dó ghreamaigh a bhróg sa chomhla,

and as he went into the house his shoe caught against the door

Tuslis ocus timmortis in chomlai

baineadh tuisle as gur sháigh sé an chomhla

He fell and pressed to the door

co rusdruiti in chomla frisin dorus

agus gur dhruid é

so that it shut in its place

co torchradar a cenda don coicit bachall

i gcaoi gur thit a gcinn den chaoga camán

and their heads fell from the fifty clubs,

co mbadar al-lorga maela for lar in tige uile.

agus go raibh a lorga maola uile ar urlár an tí.

and their headless handles were all on the floor of the house.

Rotibset imsodain.

Gháir siad ar fad uime sin.

They laughed thereat.

“Tairr ille, a clerich,”

“Tair i leith, a chléirigh,

“Come hither, cleric,”

or Guaire, “for in cholcaig,

ar an choilceach anseo,” arsa Guaire le Coimín Fada.

said Guaire, “on the flock-bed,

acht ni segondacht duit

“Ní laoch tú, ámh,

though you are no champion

ma robrisi an uigh

má bhris tú an ubh

if you have broken the egg

rodermadad isin chathair.”

a fágadh sa chathaoir trí dhearmad.”

which has been forgotten in the chair.”

“Ni fetamar” or Cumaine,

“Ní fheadramar,” arsa Coimín,

“We knew not,” said Cumaine,

“ar mad in bar cathairib nodothaidis bar cerca.

“gur in bhur gcathaoireacha a bhéaradh na cearcha agaibh.

“that it was in your chairs that your hens laid.

Ata sund bar n-og ocus ni robrised.”

Tá bhur n-ubh anseo agus níor briseadh í.”

Your egg is here and it has not been broken.”

Aitt inn-acai Moronoc Cumaine forsin coilcid, luid

Nuair chonaic Morónóg Coimín ar an choilceach chuaigh sé anonn chuige

Moronoc seeing Cumaine on the flock-bed went there to him

cona asaib lana do chechair.

agus a bhróga lán múirín.

with his shoes full of mire.

Rotibset didiu in gillai imsodain.

Gháir na giollaí uime sin *go deimhin*.

The youths *then* laughed thereat.

“Bes as e a suide dogres,” ar Guaire, “for laim in cleirich.”

“Is dócha gur mar sin a shuíonn sé de ghnáth, le taobh an chléirigh,” arsa Guaire.

“Perhaps it is his usual seat,” said Guaire, “beside the cleric.”

“Is e immorro,” ar Cumaine.

“Is ea, go deimhin,” arsa Coimín.

“It is, in sooth,” said Cumaine.

“Insen for n-oinmit an espoc sin,” or Mac Telene.

“An t-easpag sin,” arsa Mac Telene, “sin é agaibh bhur n-óinmhid.”

“That bishop, it is he is your fool,” said Mac Telene.

“Dothoet oinmit de-seom immorro,” or Guaire;

“Iompar óinmhide atá faoi, gan amhras,” arsa Guaire.

“He has shown himself a fool, *indeed*,” said Guaire;

“tiagar do gairm Mac Mo Cherda.”

“Téitear do ghairm Mhac Dá Chearda,” ar seisean.

“let some one go to call Mac Da Cherda.”

Is and asbert-side:

Is ansin adúirt Mac Dá Chearda:

Thereupon he said:

“Ni fetar citne briga

“Ní fheadar cad é an mhaith

“I know not what is the good

mo dul i teach cor-riga,

mé dhul i dteach an Fhlaithe;

of my going into the house with kings;

nimtha nach cundail atber,

níl agam ní is fiú a rá,

I have nothing appropriate to say,

ni fuiglim nímfuiglither.”

ní labhraim, ní labhartar liom.”

I consult not, I am not consulted.”

“Ardfile na hErind asrubaird on,” or Guaire.

“Ard-fhile na hÉireann adúirt é sin, gan amhras,” arsa Guaire,

“The chief poet of Ireland has said that,” said Guaire.

“Is oinmit colleic,” or Guaire.

“ach is óinmhid é ar a shon sin,” ar sé.

“He is a fool nevertheless,” said Guaire.

“Is coir ind oinmid is teach,” or cach.

“Is cóir an t-óinmhid a ligint isteach,” arsa cách.

“It is proper that the fool should come in a house,” said all.

“Is e fil oc mo gerran-sa,” ar Cumaine;

“Eisean atá i bhfeighil mo ghearráinse,” arsa Coimín.

“It is he who is in charge of my nag,” said Cumaine;

“gatar aire

“Goidtear uaidh é

“let it be stolen from him

co fesaid a iarair leis-seom.”

go bhfeice sibh cé mar lorgaíonn sé é.”

that you may know how he searches for it.”

“Rogadad do gerran,” ar cach.

“Goideadh do ghearrán,” arsa cách le Mac Dá Chearda.

“Your nag has been stolen,” said all.

“Fogebthar,” or seisem.

“Gheofar é,” ar seisean.

“It shall be found,” said he.

Luid for a slicht iaram

D’imigh sé ar a lorg ansin

So he went on its traces

ait inarfarcaib,

go dtí an áit ar fhág sé é

to the place where he had left it

cia noberthea itir graigib hErind.

gidh gur tugadh an gearrán idir dhá linn i measc graíthe each na hÉireann.

though (meanwhile) it had been led through all the studs of Ireland.

“Ata sund,” or cach, “in gerran.”

“Tá an gearrán anseo,” arsa cách.

“The nag is here,” said all.

“Cia ta-som andsin ata a slicht sund.”

“Má tá sé ansin tá a lorg anseo,” arsa Mac Dá Chearda.

“Though it is there its track is here.”

“Ci[a] atchet-som in gerran

“Bíodh go bhfeicfeadh sé an gearrán,” arsa Coimín Fada,

“Though he were to see the nag

ni ainfed don slicht

“ní scorfadh sé dá lorg

he would not desist from following its track

co rised a thoin.”

nó go sroichfeadh sé a thón.”

until he reached its rump”, (said Cumaine.)

“Ar ulc dogni,” or Guaire.

“Mar olc orainn a dhéanann sé amhlaidh,” arsa Guaire.

“It is for ill that he does it,” said Guaire.

“Abair ris,” ar Cumain, “techt do thobairt asclainde condaich

“Abair leis, “ arsa Coimín, “imeacht fá choinne beart connaidh

“Tell him,” said Cumaine, “to go fetch a bundle of firewood

do denam fotraicthi dam-sa.

chun folcadh a dhéanamh domsa.

to make a bath for me.

Berar tinne dot ór-so co farcaibthir ara chind.

Beirtear unga óir leatsa agus fágtar sa tslí roimhe é.

Let an ingot of your gold be taken and left in front of him.

Is oinmid mani thaisce,

Is óinmhid é mura dtaisceann sé é,

He is a fool if he does not pocket it,

dia taisce ni hoinmit.”

má thaisceann ní óinmhid.”

if he pockets it he is no fool.”

Dognither on.

Déantar amhaidh.

That is done.

“Or lind, a Maic Mo Cherda,” or a chele.

“Tá ór anseo, a Mhac Dá Chearda,” arsa a chompánach.

“Here is gold for us, Mac Mo Cherda,” said his companion.

“Ta din, a bachlaich,” or seiseom;

“Éist, a bhachlaigh,” ar seisean,

“Be quiet, churl,” said he;

“do chuindchid chondaich dodechamar;

“d’iarraidh chonnaidh a thángamar.

“to seek firewood we have come,

intan regmai do chuindchid oir

Nuair raghaimid d’iarraidh óir

when we go to seek gold

bermaid linn.”

bhéarfaimid linn é.”

we shall take it with us.”

“Is o[i]nmid adrubairt on,” ar Guaire;

“Óinmhid adúirt sin, go deimhin,” arsa Guaire.

“It is a fool who has said that,” said Guaire;

“atberat at segonda.”

“Deirtear gur laoch tú,” ar seisean le Coimín.

“they say you are a champion.”

“A cleirig,” ar Guaire, “imrem fithchill.”

“An imreoidh muid ficheall, a chléirigh?” ar seisean.

“O cleric,” said Guaire, “let us play chess.”

“Ni dernus riam,” ar Cumaine;

“Ní dhearnas riamh é,” arsa Coimín.

“I have never done (so),” said Cumaine,

“muin iarum dam-sa ocus imerat.”

“Múin dom é, ámh, agus imreod.”

“teach me therefore and I will play.”

“Is andso fri hairec,” or Guaire

“Is deacair a fhoghlaim,” arsa Guaire.

“It is difficult to acquire,” said Guaire.

“Dodechad-sa aiccept ba handsa dam-sa,” or Cumaine.

“D’fhoghlaimíos ceacht ba dheacra liom ná é,” arsa Coimín.

“I have come to a lesson that was more difficult to me,” said Cumaine.

“Gaib dus in tucfa mo fili-se .i. Senchan.”

“Gabh ceacht féachaint an dtuigfeadh mo fhile, Seanchán, tú,” arsa Guaire leis.

“Recite (a lesson) to see if my poet, Senchan, will understand.”

“Rotbia on,” or Cumaine.

“Bíodh mar sin,” arsa Coimín.

“I shall do so for you,” said Cumaine.

Gebid-side da liachtan dec dont soscela.

Ghabh sé dhá cheacht dhéag as an Soiscéal.

He repeats twelve lessons from the Gospel.

“Is doraid inn aircetul,” ar Senchan; “geib dorisi.”

“Is doiligh an chantaireacht é,” arsa Seanchán, “gabh arís é.”

“Difficult is the poetry,” said Senchan; “recite again.”

Gaibid.

Ghabh.

He recites.

“Is dorcha a fidrad inn airchedail,” or Senchan; “gaib in tres fecht.”

“Is doiléir brí na cantaireachta,” arsa Seanchán, “gabh an tríú uair é.”

“The interpretation of the poetry is obscure,” said Senchan; “recite a third time.”

Gebid didiu Senchan fochetoir.

D’aithris Seanchán ansin láithreach é.

Senchan then repeats straightway.

“Gaib airchedal, a Senchan,” ol Guaire,

“Gabh duan, a Sheancháin,” arsa Guaire,

“Recite a poem, Senchan,” said Guaire,

“dus in tuicfea Cummaine.”

“féachaint an dtuigfeadh Coimín é.”

“to see if Cumaine will understand.”

Gaibid-side iarcuae Guaire.

Ghabh Seanchán duan molta Ghuaire.

He recites a poetical composition of Guaire.

Nosgeb Cummaine didiu.

Ghabh Coimín láithreach ina dhiaidh é.

Cumaine *then* repeats it.

“Roscuala riam, a Cummaine,” ar Guaire.

“Chuala tú roimhe seo é, a Choimín,” arsa Guaire.

“You have heard it before, Cumaine,” said Guaire.

“Mo chobais, ni chuala,” ar Cummaine.

“Dar mo chubhais, níor chuala,” arsa Coimín.

“My conscience, I have not,” said Cumaine.

Gaibid Senchan tri hairchedail.

Ghabh Seanchán trí duanta.

Senchan recites three poetical compositions.

Nosgab Cummaine a triur.

D’aithris Coimín na trí cinn ina dhiaidh.

Cumaine repeats all three.

“Maith,” or Guaire, “imrem fithchell.”

“Maith,” arsa Guaire, “imrímis ficheall.”

“Good,” said Guaire, “let us play chess.”

“Cindas gontar ind fir?” or Cummaine.

“Conas a gointear na fir?” arsa Coimín.

“How are the men taken?” said Cumaine.

“Ni anse,

“Ní deacair é:

“Not difficult to say;

dias dub dam-sa im óinfer find duid-seo forsin n-óintí

dís dubh agamsa ar an aon-líne timpeall

a black pair of mine about one white man of yours on the same line (?)

oc imchosnam na saigti thall.”

ag seasamh an ionsaí thall,” arsa Guaire.

disputing the attack from the other side.” (?)

“Mo chubais, immorro,” or Cummaine,

“Dar mo chubhais, go deimhin,” arsa Coimín,

“My conscience, *indeed*,” said Cumaine,

“ni cumgaim-se anaill;

“ní maith liom go ndéanfaí ceachtar acu

“I cannot do either;

acht ni gonab-sa

— ní ghoinfeadsa do mhuintirse

I shall not slay (your men),

ni gonfa-so mo moindter-sa.”

ná ní ghoinfidh tusa mo chuidse.”

you will not slay my men.”

Laa chaidchi do Guaire oca thetarracht

Lá iomlán do Ghuaire dá ionsaí

For a whole day Guaire was attacking him

ocus ni ruba fer dia muinter.

agus níor mharaigh duine dá mhuintir.

and he could not slay one of his men.

“Segonda sein, a clerich,” or Guaire.

“Is curata an gníomh sin, a chléirigh,” arsa Guaire.

“That is champion-like, O cleric,” said Guaire.

Rofuaslaiced iarum inti Mac Telene.

Fuasclaíodh ansin Mac Telene.

Mac Telene was then released.

“Anaid, a c[h]leirchiu,” ar Guaire.

“Fanaigí linn, a chléireacha,” arsa Guaire.

“Stay, clerics,” said Guaire.

“Ni anfam,” or Cummaine.

“Ní fhanfaimid,” arsa Coimín.

“We will not,” said Cumaine.

Gebid Moronoc a assa ime forsin colcaig,

Chuir Morónóg a bhróga uime ar an choilceach,

On the flock-bed Moronoc puts his shoes on him,

iall inn asai lais tri bruac[h] na seichi beos

iall na bróige trí fhabhra na seiche bhí ar an choilceach*, áfach,*

his shoe-string through the border of the hide*, however,*

ocus triasan asai.

agus as sin tríd an bhróig.

and through the shoe.

Berid iarum a cem annuas

Thug céim ansin anuas den choilceach

He *then* steps down

co tuc in seichi ina diaid cosin colcig

go dtug sé an tseiche agus an coilceach ina dhiaidh

bringing the hide and flock-bed after him

co mbai Cummaine ocus Guaire ocus cechtar de for tairr aroile for lar ind taigi.

nó go raibh Coimín agus Guaire *araon* caite ar tharr a chéile ar urlár an tí,

so that Cumaine and Guaire were both sprawling over each other on the floor of the house.

Conid teasarcain rotheasarcthe asin tenid.

gur ar éigin a teasargadh ar an tine iad.

So that it was a deliverance wherewith they were delivered out of the fire.

Celebrad iarum don rig

D’fhágadar slán ansin ag an rí

They bade farewell then to the king

ocus tíagait dia tir ocus a n-eneach leo.

agus chuadar dá dtír féin agus a n-oineach leo.

and go to their country with their honour.

Finit.

*Finit.*

*Finit.*