Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])
poem/story 17
ATH GRENCHA
- Ath Grencha shall change its name through the deed of the Houndthat fierce warrior: here is the gibbet with the four points, a puzzle for the men of Erin.
- On two arms, as token of battle, are the head of Fraech and the head of Fochnam: on two arms likewise are the head of Err and the head of Indell.
- The four chariot-driversglorious career! the sons of Aurard son of Anchinn, their blood escapes across the fields; they are gory, encrimsoned.
- The ogam that is on the shining gibbet, let the druids interpret perpetually! and tell who precisely set them thereon, and how many planted it in the ground.
- The piercing gibbet, which cost many an effort, that I see here, said Fergus; one man cut it, hail to him! at one flashing stroke of sword.
- He sharpened it and bore it on his back: in sooth, 'twas no weakling's feat; and then he pitched it in the soil for any man of you to pluck from the ground.
p.81
- Aurard he tricked on the plain in his chariot, drawn by Cruan and Cnamrad: at Fán Cruain, by the road side, he met death and destruction.
- Orlam's charioteers I espy, lying mangled in a bed of gore: hail to him who fooled them!scant honour have they among monuments and beacon-names.
- Here is Aurard: great is his Plain, yet the shining gibbet stirred him to grief, whereon his sons' heads were setsad was that greeting.
- Ath Grencha was the ford's name till now; its memory shall endure in all men's minds: but Ath Gabla shall its name be till doomsday, from the gibbet thou seest in the ford.