Electronic edition compiled (based on Danielle Malek's edition) by Beatrix Färber
Funded by University College, Cork, School of History
2. First draft, revised and corrected.
Extent of text: 4900 words
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Hardcopy copyright lies with the editor, Danielle Malek (University of Sydney).
We are very grateful to Danielle Malek for donating this material to CELT.
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
The present text represents an extract of the volume. It includes a critical edition of the two manuscripts, and translation of the longer manuscript. Commentary and glossary are omitted.
Text has been checked and proofread twice. All corrections and supplied text are tagged.
Direct speech is tagged q.
Hyphens have been inserted after mutated words with h- in anlaut and after nasalisation. When a hyphenated word (hard or soft) crosses a page break, the break is marked after the completion of the hyphenated word.
check, too div0=the textgroup; div1=the individual saga, div2=the section (Irish text and English translation); paragraphs are marked; page-breaks mare marked pb n=""; the editor's line-breaks are marked every five lines by lb n="".
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Created: By (an) unknown Irish monastic author(s). The story belongs to the later Old Irish period. Date range: c. 800-900.
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Peter Flynn (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Danielle Malek, Sydney (donation)
Ro-buí dono2 lóech amru la Connachtu. Regoman a ainm. Almo diáirmithe do cetraib les, ocus secht n-ingeno les. Ros-carsat sidi na secht Maine .i. secht maic Ailella ocus Medba .i. Mani Mingor ocus Mane Mórgor ocus Mani Aithremail ocus Mani Máthremail ocus Mani Condogaib-uili ocus
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Mani Milbél ocus Mani Móepert, condot secht Mani samluith. Sect n-ingeno Regomuin dono .i. cethéora Donanda ocus téoro Dúnlaithi. Is díb atá Inbiur n-Donann ind íarthar Connacht3 ocus 4 Áth ina n-Dúnlatho i m-Bréfne.
‘Tíagar5 húann co Ragoman,’ ol Ailill, ‘co tucthar ní dún dá cethrib frissin n-égin fil fornn.’ ‘Ro-fetamur a n-dobérad dún dia n-dorucmais dou .i.
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na maccu ucut,’ ol Medb. ‘Día tíastais do acolluim ina n-ingen do-bértais ascaid n-amra dún húathaib6 do búaib blichtuib.’
Con-gartar dóib íarum ina Mane ocus ráiti Ailill friu. ‘Is ferr a dol,’ ol Medb, ‘dég gairi.’ ‘Regam-ne ém,’ ol Mane Gor. ‘Is olcc ar láechdocht-ne immurgu ocus nís mór ar m-bríg, ar is rocáem ronn-ailed7 ocus iss aindun8 fria
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dol9 gu náimtiu ocus it maithi inn óig gusa tíagumm ocus nín relgeth do fogluimm aitherguib.’
Do-llotar as do iarum, secht fichit laech a llín, cu m-bátar inn íarthar Connacht [i n-]ocus10 do crích Corccmodruad11 Ninuis. ‘Tóet húathad12 n-óoc húaib,’ ol Mani Gor, ‘.i. tríar n-óc féni do acullaim ina n-ingen.’
Co comarnaicter frisna téora h-ingenuib i n-dorus in dúni. Dus-forsailgsit claidmi dóib fo cétóir. ‘Anmuin hi n-anmuin,’ ol na h-ingena. ‘Tabraid13 ar nd-trí-drinnrusc douin-ni,’ ol ind ócc.14 ‘Rob-bia,’ ol in tríar ingen, ‘acht níp innili, ar ní cumcum-ni dúib.’ ‘Is la suidi ém cich i n-dingnem,’15 ol Mane. ‘Coich sib-si?’ ol ind ingen. ‘Mani Gor mac Ailella ocus Medba.’ ‘Cid
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do-bar-hucco issin tír-si?’ ol inn ingen. ‘Do brith bó ocus ingen,’ ol sé. ‘Is amluit,16 is comaduis a m-brith,’ ol in ingen. ‘Ad-ágar namrugaid,’17 ol sí, ‘atát óicc maithe ar bur ciunn.’ ‘Bíth for n-itgi-si linn ocus dos-fuccfom,’ ol sé. ‘Ba dútracht linn éim,’ ol sí, ‘mad íar menmannuib conn-étsimis,’ ol sí. ‘Cia for lin?’ or sí. ‘Secht fichit láech,’ ol séisium. ‘Anuith sunn gen conn-árladamair-ni
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na h-ingeno aili,’ol sí. ‘Fob-sisimair-ne ém,’ ol in ingen, ‘in mét con-mesamar.’
Tíaguit as iarum gusna h-ingenao aili ocus ad-gládatar. ‘Óicc dúib sunn a tírib Connacht,’ ol sí, ‘.i. secht maic Ailella ocus Medba, da bur m-brith ocus do brith bar18 m-bó lib.’ ‘Ba hál19 dún ém,’ ol inn inginrad, ‘acht nammá at-águmar turbad fair laisna20 h-ógo.’ ‘Tóet as trá conn-árlaidid ina macco.’
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‘Atroglésim-ni.’
Do-togut21 íarum a mórfesiur conda-orlaidsit22 occon tiprait. Feruit fáilti friu. ‘Táet as,’ ol síat, ‘ocus tucuith for cetra lib, ar fob-sisimuir-ne for ar n- einech.’ Do-toegat na h-inginu leo íarum ocus tuccatar an ro-buí do cetri ocin dún leo gusna23 Mane. ‘Rantar in cethern i ndé,’ ol Mani Gor, ‘ocus rantar
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na cetra, ar ní
rucfiter24 ar óen-chóe, gu comairsium for Áth m-Briuin.’25 Do-gníth són.
Ni buí Regamon ann illá sin ina thír. Buí hi Corco Baiscinn. Égthir fon túaith. Tánuicc Regamuin foa. ‘Dob-eglaimith-si trá,’ ol Mane Gor, ‘ocus lécith ina h-ingine reimib forsin áth26 ocus ágad27 na bá riunn do Don Crúachan
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ocus aisnédit do Ailill ocus Meidb gabáil forn oc Áth Briúin.’28
Do-lotar Connachta la h-Ailill ocus Meidb íarum do Áth Briuin do chobair a muinntiri. Do-génsiut maic Ailella ocus Medba íarum clíathu do sgiaith29 ocus droigiun i m-bélaib ind átho fria Regomon, conade atá Áth Clíath hi crích Óacc m-Brethrui30 hi túaiscirt críche h-Úa Fiatrach31 Aidne.
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Conndrecat ann íarum in dib slúaguib immond áth.
Do-gníther síd leo dono dég na maccaem foro-glúaissid in táin ocus dég na n-ingen. Anuit na h-ingeno la maccuib32 Ailello ocus Medba ocus anuit secht fichit lualgach leo do bíathad fer n-hÉrinn fri himthinol tabarta na táno bó Cúailgne. Do-llécther na halmo olchena dia tig dorithissi.
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Láech-brugaid amra ro-baí33 la Connachtaib i n-aimsir Ailella ocus Medba, Regamon a ainm. Alma imda lais do cheithrib cáem, cadhla34 uile. Bádar immurgu secht n-ingena lais. Ro-charsad side secht maccu ocus Ailella ocus Medba35 .i. na secht Maine .i. Maine Mórgar ocus Maine Mingar ocus Maine
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Aithremail ocus Maine Máthremail ocus Maine Milbél ocus Maine Annai ocus Maine Móepert ocus Maine Condageb36 -uile ocus is é side tuc cruth a máthar ocus a athar ocus a n-ordan díblínaib. It é secht n-ingena Regomon .i. téora Dunana37 ocus cethéora Dunmeda ocus is dia n-anmandaib atá Inber n- Dunand i n-íarthar Connacht ocus Áth na n-Dumed i m-Bréfni.
10] Fecht and imusn-acallatar do Ailill ocus Medb ocus Fergus. ‘Tíagair úaindi,’ol Ailill, ‘co Regaman38 co tucthar aiscid dún dia ceithri úad frisin39 n-écin-si fil forn oc airbiathad fer n-Érend oc táin na m-bó a Cúailgni.’ ‘Ro-fedar ínti badh maith do dul dó dian-tairgimis .i. na Maine fo bíth áinisa na n-ingen.’
Con-gairter a meic co h-Ailill. Ráiti friu. ‘Is buideach a dul is ferr,’ ar
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Medb, ‘dáig gaire.’ ‘Ragthair ém dáig gairi,’ ar Maine Mórgar. ‘Inge bid ferrde40 in aiscid,’ ar Maine Mingar. ‘Is olc ar láechdacht, is olc ar m-bríg, is aninand41 fri techt i futhairbe .i. i crích nó i ferand co náimtiu. Is rocáem rorn-alt, nín relgid do foglaim aithergaib,42 it maithi immurgu na h-óicc cosa tíagam.’43
Berid beandachtain for Ailill ocus Meadb, ocus don-taircomlaid in fecht. Do-comlat ass, secht fichit láech a lín, co m-bádar a n-descert Connacht i focus do crích Corcmodruad i Nindus inn ocus don dún. ‘Téid úadhad úaidib do fis scél coon44 lis,’ ar Maine Mórgar, ‘do fis esimail na n-ingen.’
Téit Maine Mingar tríur co comarnaic fri téora ingenaib45 díb ocin
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tibraid. Do-fúaslaiced claidbiu dóib fo cétóir. ‘Anmain i n-anmain,’ ar inn ingen.46 ‘Tabair mo trí-lánfocull dam-sa,’ ar Maine. ‘Amal no n-aseca do thenga rod-bia acht beatha,’ ar an ingen, ‘ar ní cumgam-ni h-éside dáib.’ ‘Is la sodhain,’ ar Maine, ‘cech i m-bem.’47 ‘Cia thúsu?’ ar sísi. ‘Maine Mingar mac48 Ailella ocus Medba,’ ar sé. ‘Fo chen ón,’ ar sí. ‘Cid nod-bar-tuc isin crích?’ ar
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sí. ‘Do breth bó ocus49’ ar Maine. ‘Is cóir a m-breith imalle,’ ar sí. ‘Adágar ní bus urthidir, aní ad-fíadar; ad maithi ina hóicc cosa tángid-si.’ ‘Bad lind beith for n-itgi-si,’ or sé. ‘At-gégmais chitus mád íar menmannrad con-étsimis.’ ‘Cia bar lín?’ ar sí. ‘Secht fichit láech,’ ar sé, ‘dún sunn.’ ‘Anaid sund,’ ar sí, ‘co n-árladhamar50 na h-ingena aile.’ ‘Fob-sisimar-ni,’ ar na
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h-ingina, ‘nach cumang con-ísamar.’
Tíagaid úaidib cusna hingena n-aile.51 As-pertatar fri suideib: ‘Do-bar-
ruachtadar óic sund a tírib Connacht for menmarca fodésin, secht meic Ailella ocus Medba.’ ‘Cid dia tudchadar?’ ‘Do brith bó ocus ban.’ ‘Ba hedh ad-gegmis-ni52 aní sin mad dia fedmais.’53 ‘Ad-ágar óccu dia tairmesc nó dia terbaid,’ or
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sí. ‘Taít ass co n-árlasar inní.’ ‘Ad-glaasmar-ni.’
Do-tíagad na secht n-ingena cusin tibraid. Feraid fáilti fria54 Maine. ‘Taít as,’ ar sé, ‘ocus tucaid bar ceitri lib-si. Bid maith ón sin. Fob-sisimar-ni for ar n-eneach, ocus for ar snádhadh,’ ar sé. ‘A ingena Regomun,’ ar na h-óicc. Do-immargid na h-ingena a m-bú ocus a muccu ocus a curchu arná raib
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ráthugud55 foraib. Do-sethet íarum co ráncadar costad a chéle.56 Feraid na h-ingena fáilti fria57 macco Ailella ocus Medba ocus ima-sisedar dóib. ‘Randtar in almu sa i ndé,’ ar Maine Mórgar, ‘ocus in slóg, is romór for áen-cháe uile íad; ocus comraicium i n-Áth Briuin.’ Do-gníther samlaid.
Ní baí in ríg Ragaman58 and in lá sin. Is and baí a crích Corco Baiscinn
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i n-dáil fri Firu Bolg. Éigthir fon túaith dia n-éis. Fo-sagar do Ragaman in scél. Luid side for a n-íarair cona slóg. Do-roich in tóir uili for Maine Mórgar, ocus gabsad comach éccomlaind for suidiu. ‘Do-thegmaid didiu uili a n-áen inad,’ for Maine, ‘ocus agar nech úaidib cusna bú ar ceand na n-ócc; ocus agat na hingena na bú forsin n-áth co Crúachnaib; ocus aisnéidet do Ailill ocus do
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Meidb an écomlonn a filim sund.’ Ro-soiched na h-ingena co Crúachain, ocus ad-fíadad scéla uile. ‘Ro-gabad,’ ar síad, ‘fort maccaib-siu oc Áth Briuin ocus as-bertadar techt na fóirithin.’
Dos-cumlad Connachta ma59 Ailill ocus Meidb ocus Fergus ocus loinges Ulad do Áth Briuin do cobair a muntiri. Do-rigénset immurgu meic Ailella
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co-léic clíatha do sciach ocus do draigen i m-béol ind átha fri Recoman cona muintir60, coná rochtadar61 dul darsin n-áth, co tánic Oilill cona slúag; conid de atá Áth Cliath Medraidi i crích n-Óc Bethra62 i túaiscirt hÚa Fiachrach Aidne iter Connachta ocus Corcumruad. Con-recad and a slúagaib uilib.
Do-gníthir síd dála eturru fo dáig ina mac cáem foro-glúaiset ina cetra,
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ocus fo dáig na n-ingen cáem do-lotar leo, ima coméracht in imirgi. Do-berar aisic na h-imirgi do Regamon; ocus anait na h-ingena la maccu63 Ailella; ocus for-fácbaid secht fichit lulgach leo do íarraig na n-ingen, ocus do bíathad fer n-Érenn fri tinól na tána bó Cúailnge; conid Táin Bó Regamon in scél sa ocus remscél do scélaib Tána Bó Cúailnge hé.
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Finit amen.64
There was a famous warrior and hospitaller among the men of Connacht in the time of Ailill and Medb — Regamon his name. He had many herds of cattle, all fine and excellent. Furthermore, he had seven daughters. They fell in love with the seven sons of Ailill and Medb, that is, the seven Maines: namely Maine Mórgar, and Maine Mingar, and Maine Aithremail, and Maine Máthremail, and Maine Milbél, and Maine Annai, and Maine Móepert, and Maine Condageb-uile; and it is this last who brought together the beauty of form and the dignity of his mother and his father. These are the seven daughters of Regamon: the three Dunana, and the four Dunmeda; and it is from their names there is the estuary of the Dunana in the west of Connacht and the ford of the Dumeda in Breifne.
{YBL linebreak 10}On one occasion, Ailill and Medb and Fergus converse together. ‘Let someone be sent from us to Regamon,’ said Ailill, ‘so that a gift from his herd may be brought to us from him because of this difficulty which is upon us in maintaining the men of Ireland in driving off the cattle of Cúailnge.’ ‘I know who would be good to go if we asked, that is, the Maines, because of the beauty of the daughters.’
{YBL linebreak 14}His sons are summoned to Ailill. He puts it to them. ‘Victorious is their going,’ said Medb, ‘and all the better on account of filial duty.’ ‘Indeed, it will be going for the sake of duty,’ said Maine Mórgar. ‘Yet it will be the better [for] the gift,’ said Maine Mingar. ‘Inadequate is our valour; inadequate is our strength; it is the same as going into an open field (that is, to the boundaries) or out into the country against enemies. Too soft has been our upbringing; training in arms has not been not allowed us; besides, the warriors to whom we go are formidable.’
{YBL linebreak 20}He bids farewell to Ailill and Medb, and assembled the expedition. They set out, seven score warriors their full strength, until they were in the south of Connacht near to the boundary of the Corcmodruad in Nindus, in the vicinity of the fort. ‘Let a small number of them go to find out news at the stronghold,’ said Maine Mórgar, ‘and find out the disposition of the girls.’
{YBL linebreak 24}Maine Mingar goes as one of three and he encountered three of the girls at the spring. They immediately draw swords on them. ‘Mercy!’ said the girl. ‘Give my three full demands,’ said Maine. ‘Whatever your tongue may demand, you shall have it, except food-supplies,’ said the girl, ‘since we cannot give you that.’ ‘That is just what we are here for,’ said Maine. ‘Who are you?’ said she. ‘Maine Mingar, son of Ailill and Medb,’ said he. ‘Greetings then!’ said she. ‘What has brought you into this territory?’ said she. ‘To take cows and women,’ said Maine. ‘Taking them together is proper,’ said she. ‘Nevertheless, I fear [whenever] anything is done, that it is made known; the warriors to whom you have come are formidable.’ ‘Let us have your good will,’ said he. ‘If it were according to our own inclination, we would go with you.’ ‘What is your full strength?’ said she. ‘Seven score warriors [are] with us here,’ said he. ‘Wait here,’ said she, ‘so that we may speak to the other girls.’ ‘We shall assist you,’ said the girls, ‘[with] whatever power we can.’
{YBL linebreak 36}They go from them to the other girls. They spoke to them: ‘Young warriors from the lands of Connacht have come to you here, your own darlings, the seven sons of Ailill and Medb.’ ‘Why have they come?’ ‘To take cows and women.’ ‘It would be that we would choose, if only we were sure.’ ‘I fear [for] the young warriors — a hindering of them or a cutting-off,’ said she. ‘Come away so that you may speak to them.’ ‘We will speak [with them].’
{YBL linebreak 41}The seven girls come to the spring. They greet Maine. ‘Come away,’ said he ‘and bring your cattle with you. That will be good then. We make an undertaking [for] you upon our honour, and upon our protection,’ said he. ‘O daughters of Regamon!,’ said the warriors. The girls muster their cows, and their pigs and their sheep so that there might not be [any] observation of them. Then they make their way until they reached the meeting place of their companions. The girls greet the seven sons of Ailill and Medb, and they stood together with them. ‘Let this herd be divided in two, and the host’ said Maine Mórgar, ‘they are all too much together; and let us meet at Áth Briuin.’ It is done like that.
{YBL linebreak 49}King Regamon was not there that day. He was in the territory of the Corco Baiscinn at a meeting with the Fir Bolg. The alarm is raised after them in the territory. The news is told to Regamon. He goes in pursuit with his host. The whole pursuing party falls upon Maine Mórgar, and they thereby sustained an overpowering assault. ‘All gather then in one place,’ said Maine, ‘and let someone from them be sent with the cows in front of the warriors; and let the girls drive the cows across the ford to Crúachu; and tell Ailill and Medb the plight in which we are here.’ The girls arrive at Crúachu, and they tell the whole story. ‘There has been an attack upon your sons at Áth Briuin,’ said they, ‘and they asked for a party for their assistance.’
{YBL linebreak 58}The men of Connacht set out under Ailill and Medb and Fergus and the exiled warriors of the Ulaid to Áth Briuin to assist their people. Now, in the meantime, the sons of Ailill had made hurdles of whitethorn and of blackthorn in the approach of the ford against Regamon and his host, so that they [had] not accomplished a crossing over the ford, so that Ailill came with his host: so that it is from that there is Áth Clíath Medraidi in the territory of Óc Bethra in the north of Úa Fiachrach Aidne, between the men of Connacht and the Corcmodruad. They meet there with all their forces.
{YBL linebreak 64}Peace was made between them because of the fine boys who had driven the cattle, and because of the beautiful girls who had gone with them, on account of which the herd departed. A restitution of the herd is made to Regamon; and the girls stay with the sons of Ailill; and seven score milch-cows were left with them for seeking the daughters, and for supplying the men of Ireland at the gathering of the táin bó Cúailnge: so that this story is Táin Bó Regamon, and it is a fore-tale to the stories of the Táin Bó Cúailnge.