Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])

poem 36

Mag Femin, Mag Fera, Mag Fea

1. Femen and fair-haired Fera,
   eager soldiers of the great strongholds,
   and Fea, famed for timber-havoc in Inis Fail,
   sons of Inogach son of Dachar,
2. 5] With warlike bold Clann Miled
   they pushed on to verdurous Banba;
   the tools of their hereditary calling
   were bill-hook and axe and heavy spade.
3. The axe a-lopping in stout style
   10] and the bill-hook
   [...]
   
   were their tools, noble yet not proud, —
   and the spade hard a-digging.
4. They cleared three plains, after many a spell;
   through their piety they gained their titles:
   15] Mag Fea, no
   [...]
   for a girl,
   Mag Fera and Mag Femin.
5. Each in turn would make,
   without delay, without regret,
   without idle desire that lured him away,
   20] exchange of tools and weapons.
6. Fea, wife of Neit son of Indui,
   did not desert Mag Fea, though she was silent,
   the fair-haired woman, — she was a love beloved-
   the right-generous daughter of Elcmaire.
7. 25] I have heard of the two oxen of Dil,
   radiant of beauty, conspicuous;
   Fe and Men are they called,
   whence Mag Femin gets its name.

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