Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])
poem 73
Loch Neill
- I tell of Loch Neil bright gathering
where the famous son of Enna Aignech
of the wealthy host of noble Temair
met a lamentable death.
- 5] Nel was leader of a full band of hunters,
greatly dreaded in the meadow-lands of Elg:
in the reign of goodly Conall Cromderg
he wrought all warlike deeds of rapine.
- Drebrenn out of her evil heart sent
10] a baneful drove in the shapes of red swine:
from Collomair a noisy strife
the hoary-bristled drove held its way.
- By the track they left bare Nel followed them
the contest was a 'tale at sword-point'
with his pack of hounds over a fair road
15] throughout radiant Mag Ai.
- Ai was the name of the fell hound
of Enna Aignech, excellent in strife,
after whom is called Mag Ai,
20] fair under green sward, perfect in beauty.
- When the swine had eaten the mast
of the oakwood of Tarbga, scene of mighty conflicts,
they went, the ever-famous brood,
to the lake to satisfy their thirst.
p.407
- 25] Nel followed them a path of terror
was their track through the warrior tribes:
it was the journey of one doomed to a wretched end:
he entered the lake and it drowned him.
- Hence by the wish of every chieftain
30] is named Loch Neil, with its cloudy brightness:
the death of Nel of the stout retinue
is found in books, as I tell it.
- O King that drownedst keen Pharaoh
make ready for us, by thy royal will,
35] a place on thy right hand, O tender, sweet-speaking King,
after a strain of praise for every hero I celebrate.
p.409