Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])

poem 55

Sliab n-Echtga I

1. The legend of noble Echtga
   by reason of her mighty fame and ardour
   is present to me, with her gatherings
   of the companies of the men of Feine.
2. 5] A man bright of mien possessed it,
   Mac Ruide high in fame:
   'twas he that got the bright-swelling land
   from every king that he served.
3. From Cruachan's king justly-famed
   10] he got a bride rich in substance;
   she belonged to him, — a fiery hero without fickleness-
   as is seen in every exact verse.
4. Lusca Beist was from childhood
   the name for Fergus mac Ruide,
   15] who was reared at Sid Nenta;
   there were his petitions granted.
5. Kitchener for the hosts
   with active ardour,
   was the son of Ruide Ruad — declare it!
   20] look ye and speak truth!
6. He took on him the spencer's office,
   innumerable were his excellent arts,
   whereby he got a noble share of strong places
   in the territory of all-generous Sengand.

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7. 25] He was in favour with great kings
   through his arts of various beauty:
   only, without falsehood, in pure truth,
   he found no woman that accepted him.
8. Crafty Fergus acquired land
   30] by dint of his bitter greed
   from Moen of the teeming homes
   to the levels by the sea.
9. He offered all in one day —
   Mac Ruide of the victorious spear —
   35] his land with the fruits thereof
   as her bride-price to a lawful wife.
10. In princely Crich Echtair
    by the graves of the men of the west
    was reared the lovely offspring
    40] martial Echtga
    [...]
    
11. A fresh girl sought by suitors,
    of the people of Dea, the beloved,
    daughter of Aurscothach mac Tinne,
    an offspring winsome of mien.
12. 45] Every sort of substance there was on earth
    the noble cheerful maiden possessed,
    except tenant-land held in fee:
    it was no lowering of her fame.

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p.303

13. Doach Moelchend of ill fame
    50] gave appropriate counsel
    in his native guile
    to his nursling — deed of deceit,
14. to sleep with harsh Fergus
    for the worth of his estate,
    55] for the sake of the goodly portion he got
    in the land of venerable Sengand.
15. Mac Ruide spear-renowned
    gave in dower all
    the mountain that ye visit
    60] with oak woods and strong places.
16. Since she got the mountain free of tax,
    the woman eager for gifts,
    since then, a customary title,
    her name is upon it.
17. 65] Hence is called
    Echtga, a green-swelling plough-land;
    name it without constraint among all
    who can taste poetic lore.

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