Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])

poem 3

Brug Na Bóinde II

  1. O nobles of Breg, a might that is not deceitful,
    with featful points (royal is the road):
    know ye the story of every lord
    that is here in the Brug of the Mac ind Oc?
  2. 5] Behold the fairy mound before your eyes:
    it is plain for you to see, it is a king's dwelling,
    it was built by the harsh Dagda:
    it was a shelter, it was a keep renowned for strength.
  3. Behold the Bed of the red Dagda:
    10] on the slope, without rough rigour;
    he paid noble court after the chase
    to a fair woman free from eld and sorrow.
  4. Behold the two Paps of the king's consort
    here beyond the mound west of the fairy mansion:
    15] the spot where Cermait the fair was born,
    behold it on the way, not a far step;
  5. Whither came the wife of the son of noble Nemed
    to a tryst to meet the swift Dagda,
    and her dog after her,
    20] though it was a long journey from afar:
  6. Whither came Midir from Bri Leith
    to bear off the prince, it was a lucky find;
    so he bore the Mac ind Oc from the ford
    with a shield in his protection, though he was weary.

    7. p.21

  7. 25] Thereafter was brought, a clever compact,
    the boy, on that day nine full years after
    to his father, it was a fitting command,
    to the loved Dagda at his house.
  8. Entertainment was made by him for the King
    30] in the mound by means of lasting deception;
    thence is named,–it is not a question without a key–
    Duma Treisc before the eyes of the hosts.
  9. Thereafter the stern Dagda refused his request,
    to whom belonged the keep, it was no abode of grief:–
    35] so he dwelt in Ochan, a journey with lamentation,
    after warlike labour, after a time of carousing.
  10. The grave of Esclam, pilgrimage revered,
    where good men used to cast lots:
    a sward with a brave portion, a deed without concealment,
    40] for the son of Calpurn it was a path of grace.
  11. Know ye the Well of Bualc the good,
    his successor throughout the plain,
    from which he drew a draught ....
    a drink for the host, honoured deed.
  12. 45] Know ye the Grave of grim Cellach
    with wailing in unison, filling the breezes:
    by a swift heroic pair he died,
    13. when he was in the north on idle clamour of fools.

    p.23

  13. Know ye the Grave of the Horse of the king,
    50] Cinaed free from shame of avarice?
    He bore off victory from fleet ones of the bridle
    at the will of the son of noble Irgalach.
  14. The Comb, the Casket of the woman,
    in whatever place each of them is,
    55] it shall abide till the Doom come;
    their beauty shall not grow less and less.
  15. Behold before you–it was the boast of every bard,
    it was the grave of a noble man, fame without decay–
    bear witness, it is the meadow-land of a rough race–
    60] the mound of Aed Lurgnech on the hill-slope.
  16. There was caused bloodshed by its chief
    upon the resort of ridges and territories:
    that was a general vengeance of the tribes
    in the place where the great Morrigan was smitten.
  17. 65] Know ye for noted deeds,
    with theme of song truly-bright, with scores of chiefs,
    the plain of bright actions, where shields used to be,
    the Prison of the Grey, where the Grey Steed was?
  18. Know ye by the refuse of heads
    70] the Glen where the sluggish Matha dwelt?
    it was slain after the incursion of lithe hosts:
    much havoc was wrought there.

    19. p.25

  19. Thereafter came (a deed without concealment),
    the kings from a pleasant land towards him,
    75] to view the vast Matha,
    and each planted on him pitilessly his stone.
  20. Buide planted his keen stone
    in the portion which is called Finn's Seat:
    in presence of the hosts of the glens he left
    80] his head on the plain of Muired Mend.
  21. Thereafter came the mighty Ulstermen
    (Conn's proper Share) against him,
    to strive with the might of the sluggish Matha
    so his limbs were broken on Lecc Bend.
  22. 85] A solid barrow was built by them
    for a rampart over the bones of the beast:
    that was the trophy, a fight with lamentation,
    which it possessed with victory and might.
  23. The wall of Oengus the blameless,–
    90] (the name Airther Oenlussa clave to it,–)
    the son of Crundmael on whom fell guilt,
    when he had drunk mead till he was mad.
  24. Royal the contest at the Cast
    of the Mac ind Oc–whence did it arise?
    95] when the eye of mighty Midir was broken:
    is there any of you who can recount it?

    25. p.27