Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])
poem 78
Carn Amalgaid
- I will relate in full the legend
of noble Carn Amalgaid to the proud race
in mine abode, without deceit or dispute,
even the lore of the cairn and its line.
- 5] Fiachra Elgach, lord of slender steeds,
was son to the High King of Erin,
even to Dathi it was a strong branch
we have heard of no king who could match him.
- Son to Fiachra of the bright cheeks
10] was Amalgaid of martial arms,
from whom is named the cairn exempt from weakness
that stood yonder in the plain exceeding fair.
- He it was that first trenched
that cairn fair was its knowledge22
15] the son of Fiachra, who never wronged a man,
(the words of maidens are many and sweet):
- In order to behold his long ships,
and to have a place of assembly to dwell in:
the hosts of your line rested quiet
20] in the ancient place of burial.
- Long time they spent thereafter
until the death of the athletic king,
until the hero lay in his own cairn:
famous for ever is his death.
p.425
- 25] This is the veracious account
of honoured Carn Amalgaid,
the hosting-place of alert levies:
it is right to tell its name and story.
- Amalgaid himself son of Fiachra
30] from him is called the level sod of Tir Amalgaid,
home of saints and churches and crosses:
noble, I trow, is its story.
- Treise's Ferry on the northern side
is called after Amalgaid's wife of high worth,
35] she died at the ford hard by,
for which cause her smooth cross was hewn.
- Amalgaid, that never wronged a man,
son of Dathi of the radiant cheeks
from him is the island now called,
40] the lovely precinct of the gentle guardians.
- The brother of renowned Manannan,
Bron, who cleared the ancient plain of trees,
from him Mag Broin hard by is named,
where no help stood by him against Fergus.
- 45] Here are the names of the secret places
that I name to you according to rule:
no man of learning nowadays
follows the legend yonder we are the leaders.
p.427