Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])
poem 13
Áth Clíath
- Behold Áth Clíath before you awhile!
O tower that ever guardest the Gael,
what warrior, what dame has plundered it,
and given its name to the ford?
- 5] The sin of Adam's wife brought upon us
the senseless rough-sporting beast:
long since had the seer foretold
the beast that was on Lecc Benn.
- The beast that was on Lecc Benn
10] had seven score feet, four heads;
its shank and its toe reached hither,
it licked up Boyne till it became a valley.
- The beast, from which the tale grew up
(if thou art skilled in a thousand books)
15] the strange beast, it found rest:
it was slain on Brug maic ind Oc.
- Who was the wright that planted the palisade?
in its great size he set it in the ford:
what is this palisade, we wonder?
20] it shall abide in the pool till Doomsday.
p.103
- The frame of the beast's chest made a cast
round Erin a coast that everyone knew
and the restless sea tossed it:
thereafter it befell that it reached the ford.
- 25] The King of the elements noble motion
the Lord of mystery for all men,
the Prince of nature, the Son of my God,
He it is that would protect every weakling.
- Relate to me, O comely Mongan
30] since thou art acquainted with every violent deed,
what number fell 'tis clear
in Tulach na Segainne.
- O pride of Erin across two seas,
O bright diadem whom all men know,
35] thou rememberest, O light from Iona,
the thing that set it in the ford.
p.105