Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

Background details and bibliographic information

Deirdre

Author: Unknown

File Description

Douglas Hyde

Electronic edition compiled by Stephen Beechinor

Funded by University College, Cork

1. First draft, revised and corrected.

Extent of text: 4300 words

Publication

CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College, Cork
College Road, Cork, Ireland.—http:www.ucc.ie/celt

(2001)

Distributed by CELT online at University College, Cork, Ireland.
Text ID Number: G301020

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Available with prior consent of the CELT programme for purposes of academic research and teaching only.

Sources

    Manuscript sources
  1. Dublin, Trinity College Library, 1339 olim H. 2. 18 al. Book of Leinster, p 259b-261b; 12th century (oldest version).
  2. Dublin, Trinity College Library, 1318 olim H. 2. 16 al. Yellow Book of Lecan, col. 749-753; 14th century.
  3. Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, MS 72.2.3 (olim Advocates Library, MS. 53, Scottish Collection), Glen Masáin; vellum; 15th century.
  4. London, BL Egerton 1782, f67r-69v; 16th century.
  5. Belfast Museum, unnumbered MS. (late 18th to early 19th century).
    Editions
  1. Theophilus O'Flanagan, Deirdri, or, the Lamentable Fate of the Sons of Usnach, an ancient dramatic Irish tale, one of the three tragic stories of Erin; literally translated into English, from an original Gaelic manuscript, with notes and observations: to which is annexed the old historic facts on which the story is founded, Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Dublin I, Dublin 1808.
  2. Eugene O'Curry, The 'Tri Thruaighe na Scéalaigheachta' (i.e. the 'Three Most Sorrowful Tales') of Erinn. 'The Exile of the Children of Uisneach' [edited from the old MS. called the 'Yellow Book of Lecain' col. 749-53 in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin], Atlantis 3 (1862) 377-422.
  3. Ernst Windisch, Longes mac nUisnig. 'Die Verbannung der Söhne Usnechs', Irische Texte mit Übersetzungen und Wörterbuch 1, herausgegeben von W. Stokes und E. Windisch (Leipzig 1880) [Text from Book of Leinster, fo. 192, with variant readings of Yellow Book of Lecan and Egerton 1782. [Text reprinted in Gaelic Journal 1 (1883) 378-91].
  4. Whitley Stokes, The Death of the Sons of Uisneach, Irische Texte 2 (Leipzig 1887) 109-84 [Text of Oided mac nUisnig from the Glen Masáin MSS. 56, 53 Edinburgh, with introduction, English translation, and notes. Corrigenda in 3, 283]
  5. A. Cameron, Deirdre and the Sons of Uisneach [ed. from Edinburgh MS. 56 with transl. and notes; also text of the Glenmasan MS.], Reliquiae Celticae 2 (1894) 421-74.
  6. Vernam Hull, ed., Longes mac n-Uislenn. The Exile of the sons of Uisliu, New York/London 1949 [Reconstituted text based on the Book of Leinster MS].
  7. Breandán Ó Buachalla, ed., Imthiacht Dheirdre la Naoise agus oidhe chloinne Uisneach, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 29 (1962/64), (H. 1/2, 1962), 114-54.
  8. Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith (ed. and trans.), Oidheadh Chloinne hUisneach. The Violent Death of the Children of Uisneach. Irish Texts Society, vol. 56. London: Irish Texts Society, 1993.
    Translations and Adaptations
  1. Samuel Ferguson, 'The Death of the Children of Usnach', Hibernian Nights' Entertainment. Dublin University Magazine (December 1834), 670-688.
  2. R.D. Joyce, Deirdre, Boston 1876.
  3. Ernst Windisch, Longes mac nUisnig. 'Die Verbannung der Söhne Usnechs', Irische Texte mit Übersetzungen und Wörterbuch 1, herausg. von W. Stokes und E. Windisch (Leipzig 1880) [German].
  4. Standish Hayes O'Grady, History of Ireland: the Heroic Period, London 1878.
  5. P. W. Joyce, 'The Fate of the Sons of Usna', Old Celtic Romances, London 1879.
  6. Georges Dottin, Exil des fils d'Usnech, autrement dit: Meurtre des fils d'Usnech et de Derdriu, in: H. d'Arbois de Jubainville (ed.), L'epopée celtique en Irlande (=Cours de littérature celtique), Paris 1892.
  7. D. Mackinnon, The Glenmasan Manuscript, The Celtic Review 1 (1904-07) 13–17; 105–131; 209–229; 297–315; Vol.2: 21–33; 101–121; 203–223; 301–313. Vol. 3: 11–25; 115–137; 199–215; 295–317. Vol. 4: 11–27; 105–121; 203–219 [English].
  8. Samuel Ferguson, 'Deirdre', Poems of Sir Samuel Ferguson, Dublin 1918.
  9. Aubrey de Vere, 'The Sons of Usnach', The Poetical Works of Aubrey de Vere II, London 1882.
  10. Standish Hayes O'Grady, The Coming of Cuculain, Dublin 1894.
  11. Douglas Hyde, The Three Sorrows of Story-Telling and Ballads of St Columkille, London 1895.
  12. John Todhunter, Three Irish Bardic Tales, London 1896.
  13. George Sigerson, Bards of the Gael and the Gall, London 1897.
  14. Eleanor Hull, The Cuchullin Saga in Irish Literature, London 1898.
  15. Douglas Hyde, A Literary History of Ireland, London 1899.
  16. William Sharp, The House of Uena, Portland/Maine 1900.
  17. Herbert Trench, Deirdre Wedded, London 1901.
  18. Lady Gregory, Cuchulain of Muirthemne, London 1902.
  19. C. L. Thompson, The Celtic Wonder World n. p. 1902.
  20. George William Russell (A.E.), 'Deirdre', Imaginations and Reveries, Dublin 1916.
  21. Máire Ní Siúdlaig, 'Deirdre', The Gael (March 1904), 85-86.
  22. A. H. Leahy, Ancient Heroic Romances of Ireland II, London 1905.
  23. Charles Squire, The Mythology of the British Isles, London 1905.
  24. Eleanor Hull, A Text-Book of Irish Literature, London 1906.
  25. W. B. Yeats, Deirdre (London 1907) A. H. Bullen.
  26. John M. Synge, Deirdre of the Sorrows (NY 1910) John Quin.
  27. T. W. Rolleston, Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, London 1911.
  28. Eva Goore-Booth, The Buried Life of Deirdre [Accepted for performance by the National Theatre of Ireland in October, 1911, but never performed. Published in limited edition of 250 copies (NY 1930) Longman's].
  29. Anonymous, Fate of the children of Uisneach, Dublin 1914.
  30. James Stephens, Deirdre, New York 1923.
  31. Máirín A. Cheavasa, The Unfaithfulness of Naoise, Cork 1930.
  32. "J. J. Jones", Deirdre, Cork 1930.
  33. Kim McCone and Pádraig Ó Fiannachta, Scélaíocht ár sinsear, Maynooth 1992, 109-116 [Modern Irish adaptation].
    Secondary literature
  1. Rev. J. J. O'Carroll, S. J., Appendix to the three texts of Longes mac nUisnig, as given by O'Curry, O'Flanagan and Windisch, Gaelic Journal 2 (1884) 17-30, 51-58.
  2. H. d'Arbois de Jubainville, L'épopée celtique en Irlande (Paris 1892) Libraire du Collège de France.
  3. R. K. Smith, Loch Etive and the Sons of Usnach. [With illustr. by Miss J. Knox-Smith] (Edinburgh, 1885).
  4. Oidhe Chloinne Uisnigh, ed. R. J. O'Duffy [Critical notice] Gaelic Journal 9 (1898) 275-6, 295-298.
  5. Eleanor Hull, The story of Deirdre in its bearing on the social development of the folk-tale, Folk-Lore 15 (1904) 24-39.
  6. Josef Weisweiler, Deirdriu und Gráinne, Paideuma 2 (1941/43), (H. 4/5, 1942) 197-223.
  7. Myles Dillon, Early Irish Literature (Chicago 1948) Chicago U.P.
  8. Máirín O'Daly, [review of Hull (1949)] Béaloideas 19, 1949 (1950), 196-207.
  9. D. A. Binchy, [review of Hull (1949)] Éigse 6, 1948/1952 (pt. 2, 1950) 179-183.
  10. Gerard Murphy, [review of Hull (1949)] Studies 39 (1950), 108-9.
  11. Howard Meroney, [review of Hull (1949)] Modern Language Notes 67 (1952), 61-63.
  12. Hugh P. Bevan, The topography of the Deirdre story, Bulletin of the Ulster Place-names Society 5 (1957) pt. 1, 1-5.
  13. E.G. Quin, Longas mac nUisnig, in: Myles Dillon (ed.), Irish sagas, Dublin 1959; Cork 1968, 51-65.
  14. Herbert V. Fackler, Nineteenth-century sources for the Deirdre legend, Éire-Ireland 4 (1969) uimh. 4, 56-63.
  15. Sister Margaret P. Slattery, Deirdre: the 'Mingling of Controversies' in Plot and Symbolism, Modern Drama 9 (Spring 1969), 400-403.
  16. Maria Tymoczko, Animal Imagery in Loinges Mac nUislenn, Stud. Celtica 20/21 (1985/86) 145-166.
  17. Patrick Sims-Williams, Fionn and Deirdre in Late Medieval Wales, Éigse 23 (1989), 1-15.
  18. Máire Herbert, The Universe of Male and Female: A Reading of the Deirdre Story, in: Cyril J. Byrne, Margaret Harry, and Pádraig Ó Siadhail (eds.), Celtic Languages and Celtic Peoples: Proceedings of the Second North American Congress of Celtic Studies held in Halifax August 16-19, 1989. Halifax 1992, 53-64.
  19. Máire Herbert, Celtic heroine? The archaeology of the Deirdre story, in: T. O'Brien Johnson and D. Cairns (eds.), Gender in Irish Writing, Milton Keynes/Philadelphia 1991, 13-22.
  20. Cornelius G. Buttimer, Longes Mac nUislenn Reconsidered, Éigse 28 (1994/95), 1-41.
  21. Caoimhín Breatnach, Oidheadh Chloinne Uisnigh, Ériu 45 (1994), 99-112.
  22. Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith (ed. and trans.), Oidheadh Chloinne hUisneach. The Violent Death of the Children of Uisneach. Irish Texts Society, vol. 56. London: Irish Texts Society, 1993. [A substantially different version of the Deirdre story, transmitted fully in 90 extant MSS, the earliest written in 1671].
  23. Caoimhín Breatnach [Rev. of Mac Giolla Léith 1993], Éigse 28 (1994-5), 200-218.
  24. Mícheál Ó Flaithearta [Rev. of Mac Giolla Léith 1993], Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies 29 (1995), 75-77.
  25. Doris Edel [Rev. of Mac Giolla Léith 1993], Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 48 (1996), 331-333.
    The edition used in the digital edition
  1. Douglas Hyde, Déirdre in Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie. volume 2, Halle/Saale, Max Niemeyer (1899) pages 138-155

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CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts

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All editorial introduction, translation, notes and indexes have been omitted. Editorial corrigenda are integrated into the electronic edition. All variants recorded by the editor have been retained and these are tagged as variants. In the case of variant readings, editorial expansions of MS abbreviations, rendered in italic in the edition, are not marked. Missing text supplied by the editor is tagged. The manuscripts have not been freshly collated.

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Direct speech is marked q.

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Profile Description

Created: By (an) unknown Irish scribe(s). Date range: c. 1100-1500.

Use of language

Language: [GA] The text is in Early Modern Irish.

Revision History

Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition: G301020

Deirdre: Author: Unknown

p.142

Feacht n-aon ro luidhe

[There is a footnote to this 'luidh, he went'.]

Conchubhar mhac Fachtna rí Uladh & maithe na Craobhruaidhe chum fleadha go tigh Fheidhlim mhic Doill, árd sgealuidh an righ, agus ba subhach soimheanmnach an rí agus a mhuinntir ag caitheamh na fleidhe sin a t-tigh an ard-sccealuidh le ceolta caoimh na n-oirfideach & le binneas glor na m-bard sna n-ollamh, re h-aoibhnios urlabhra & seanachais na suadh & lucht léighte caoineach leac & leabhar: re tuar na n-druadh & lucht airimhthe Raé agos Rean. Agos an tráth bu suthach sáimh an comhdháil go coitchionn, tárla go rucc bean Fheidhlimi inghion áluinn iolcrothach, le linn na fleidhe. Eirghios go h-athlomh Caithfaidh caoimh ceann draoidh na h-Eireann, a tharla a lathair san c-comhdháil an tráth sin, agus beart a shein leabhar seitheach sigh inn a láimh chlí lais, & imthighios amach fa h-ur a leasa & gabhus ag breathnughadh go grinn & ag rinfheithimh ar neultaibh an aeoir, ar alt na realt, & ar aois na Ré, chum faisdine d'fhaghail & fios na cineamhna bhi a c-cuine an linibh do gineadh ann. Fillios Cathfaidh go luath ar chách a láthair an righ, & do aithris dóibh tuar & tarrangaire, go t-tiucfadh n-iomad dochar & dithe do choicce Uladh da thoisg na h-inghiona do gineadh ann.

Ag fághail na faistine do mhaithibh Uladh do cinneadar comuirle a n-oidhe do mhilleadh & do bradar laochra na Craobhruaidhe a marbhadh gan fhuireach.

Ní h-amhlaigh deantar, ar an righ, ní h-ionmholta cathughadh a n-aghaidh na cinneamhna, & is maircc don ti do mhilleadh naoidhe neamhurcoideach, oir is geanamhuil gnaoi & gáire an leinibh: mo nuar! bu truagh a muchadh. Tugaighe fa n-deara a uaisle Uladh & eistighe liom-sa, a churadha crodha na Craobruaidhe, & tuigighe go n-géilliom-sa fos do thuar na t-tarrangaire & d'faistine bh-faidhe, acht cheana ní gheilliom 's ní mholaim gníomh táir no feillgniomh do dhénomh a n-dochas choisg feirge chúmhachta n-dúl. Mas cineamhain í nach feidir seachnadh, tugaidh gach einneach oidhe do feisin acht na dórtaoi cru a

p.144

naoídhe nimhchiontach, óir ní dual ágh 'na dhiaigh. Fuagraim dhibh iomora a mhaithe na h-Eamhna go n-gabham a n-inghion faoi mo chumairce bodhein feasta & ma beó buan me & í is eidir go m-biadh 'na h-aonmhnaoi & 'na caoimh ceile agam. Uime sin dearbhaighiom d'fhearaibh Eireand fa ratha easg & grein einneach do lamhadh a milleadh anois no arís nach buan beó é, ma mhairim-sa da héis.

D'eistiodar maithe Uladh & cách go coitcheann go toi tostach, gur eirghidh Conall Cearnach, Feargus mhac Roigh, & laochra na Craobhruaidhe a n-aoineacht, & as eadh do beart: A airdrí Uladh is ceart do breith, & is dleacht a choimhead, & gurab í do thoil-se dheantar.

Daile na h-inghiona thug Conchubhar fo n-a chumairce feisin í, & do chuir a lios fa leith í, da h-oileamhain age ag a buime darbh ainm Leabharcam, a n-daingion na Craobhruaidhe, & beirsiomh Conchobhar & Cathfaidh droidh dheire d'ainm dhi. As a h-aithle do bha Dhéirdre da h-oileamhain go h-úr fui Leabharcam re ré a h-aosa & fo bhantracht ga h-ard leasugha inn gach h-ealadhain bo h-oireamhnach d'inghion ardflaithe, gur eirghe 'na buinne blathmhur & gur chinn os gach ceim a h-áilne. Acht cheana ro h-oileadh í ré h-iomarc sogh bidh & dighe, ionnus go ma moide a mead sa h-apadh, & go ma luaiche ion-nuachar dhi. Is amhlaigh boi arus Dheirdre a n-daingion na craoibhe, do reir recht an righ, gach solus dúnta a n-éadan a dúnaigh, & na fuineóghadh cuil a bheith forsguoilte, luibhghuirt áluinn lán torrthach in n-iar thaobh a leassa inn a m-bia Déirdre, seal a siubhul faoi shuil a h-oide a t-tús & a n-deireadh an laé, faoi sgath na n-gcraobh sna n-geag úra & re h-úr sreabha siubhulach lúbach baoi snamh go sáimh tri lár an úirlis. Muir ard aibheil aimhreidh, nach uras tarsnadh ag timchiolradh an mhór adhbha soin, & ceathrar farchon fogharg o Chonchobhar ag buan choimhead ann, & bo baoghalach saoghal don te da lámhadh a ionsoigheadh.

p.146

Oir nir bho dleacht do neach firionn dol da ghar, no a c-coir Déirdre, no fós feachain uirre, acht a h-oide darb ainm Cailcin & an righ Conchobhar boidhein. Ba rathmhur reim Chonchobhair & ba calma clu curadh na Craoibhruaidhe ag cosnamh coigeadh Uladh a n-aighe Allmhurach & gach coige eile a n-Éirinn re n-a linn, & ni raibh triar a t-teaghlach na h-Amhna no a m-Banba fá seach, ba crodha iná mic Uisneach, no laochraidh dob' airde ceim na iad .i. Naoise, Ainle & Ardan.

Iomthusa Dhéirdre, an tráth ba ceithre m-bliaghan décc d'aois dí, do frith ionuachar í & do thriall Conchobhar go t-tuccadh cum a aird cearcaille

[There is a note at the bottom of the page here, 'cearcaille, a bed; aird cearcaille foidhein, his own royal bed'.]

foidhein í. Luighios mun am sin dubrón & trom thuile tuirse an an oig rioghain, gan chodhlodh sáimh, gan satha thomaltus, cen macnaois, mar ba gnátha lei.

Go t-tarla lá n-aon re lin laoige luighe san n-geimhre go n-deacha Cailcin oide Dheirdre a marbhadh laoighe chum prainn d'ollmugha di-si, & iar n-dorta fola an laoighe amuigh ar a t-sneachta cromus fiach dubh da h-ól & mar thucc Déirdre sin dá n-aire & í ag feitheamh tre fuineoig an daingnich ro

['daingnich. R' MS.]

leig osna throm go n-gcuala Cailcin í. ‘Créd fath do thuirse, inghion?’ ol sé. ‘Monuar nach raibh súd agum mar cím,’ ol si. ‘Biaidh sin agud má 's feidir,’ ol sé, ag tarraing a láimhe go h-athalámh gur chaith urchor gan iomroll da sgine ar amhus a n-fhich, gur thrasgar a leath chois dhe, & togus a n-ean iaromh & ro theilg fon aice Dheirdre é. Clisios an inghion a c-ceadoir & ro thuit a n-anfainne, go ranoicc Leabharcham fa cobhair dhi. ‘Cred fa filir mar chím, a inghion ionmhuin?’ ol si, ‘oir is truagh do gne otha n-de a leith.’ ‘Mion mian tárla dhom,’ ol Deirdre. ‘Cred an mion sin?’ ar Leabharcham. ‘Tri datha it chonarcas,’ ol Déirdre ‘.i. duibhe a n-fhich, dircce na fola, & gile an t-sneachta.’ ‘Is urus sin d'faghail duit anois,’ ol Leabharcham, & d'eircche mach cen fuireach & ro cruinnig lán leastar don t-sneachta & leath lán chuaiche d'fuil a laoigh, & beanas trí chleite as sgiathan a n-fhich & ro leag ar clar as comhar na h-inghiona iad. Ro thionsgain Deirdre samhail mar

p.148

da m-biadh ag ithe an t-sneachta & ag blaiseadh na fola go falsa le bar chleite an fhich & a buime ag breathnadh go geur uirre, gur iar Déirdre ar Leabharcham a fagbhail lei fein seal. Imthighios Leabharcum & fillios aris, & is amhlaighe a fuair si Deirdre ag cumadh meall sneachta a n-deilbh cinn fir & ga bhreacadh le bar chleite an n-fhich as cru a laoigh & ag cur mionchlumh dubha mar folt fair & nír airigh si a buime ag breathnughadh uirre no gur chriochnuigh e. ‘Cia dó is samhlait sin?’ ol Leabharcam. Clisios Deirdre & dubhairt ‘is oiber somilte í.’ ‘Is ró iongamh liom-sa an ober sin a inghion,’ ol Leabharcam, ‘oir nír bu ghnáth leat-sa deilbh fir do tharraing, nocha ro bhoi dleacht do bhandail na h-Amhna mhúnadh dhuit acht comhsamhlacht Chonchobhar náma.’ ‘It-conairc me gnuis am' aisling,’ ar Deirdre, ‘ba gile gnaoi ina gnuis an rígh, no Chailcin, & is ann a bh-feacus na trí datha do craigh mé .i. gile an t-sneachta ar a chneis, duibhe an fhiche ar a fhuilt, & deirge na fola ar a ghruaidh; & mo nuar, ni buan mo bheatha muna b-fhagham mo mhion.’ ‘Faroer do mhíon a mion!’ ar Leabharcham. ‘Mo mhion a bhuime caoimh,’ ar Deirdre. ‘Mo nuar, is truagh do mhion & is doilghe d'fhaghail,’ ol Leabharcam, ‘oir daingion dúnta bruighion na craoibhe, is ard aimhreidh badhmhun timchioll & geur coimhéd na m-borb f-farchon inte.’ ‘Ni baoghal duinn na coin,’ ol Déirdre, ‘Cáit inn ar dhearcais an ghnuis sin?’ ol Leabharcam. ‘I n-aisling a né,’ ol Deirdre & í ag caoi, iar bh-folach a gnuis a n-ucht a buime & ag sileadh déar gu flias fras?. ‘Eirighe diom, a dhalta dhil,’ ol Leabharcum, ‘& cosg do dheora feasta go n-ithir biadh & go n-ibhthir deoch, & d'eis Cailcin a phrainn a chealamh beimaoid ar aon a teacht ar an aisling’. Togbhas a buime cionn Dheirdre suas ‘gabh uchtac, a inghion,’ ol si, ‘& bi foigheideach, óir is doigh linn go bh-fuigheir do mhion go seadh; óir do reir aosa & beatha daonda ni fada buan saoghal Chonchobhair ad' aice.’

Iar n-imthiacht do Leabharcham uaiche d'airigh si brat uaithne crochaidh a m-bal fuineóighe dúnta, ar chionn luircc umha & bar gaithe da saitheadh tre mhuir na bruighine. Cuireas

p.150

Leabharchum a lámh chuige go ranaic lei go reídh, 's gur tuitsiomh clocha & caonach nuas ina h-aithle, co madh leir solus lae, faithche feurmhur, & rian na n-gaisgeach, os comhair eadan na bruighne, & na laochra ar a lúth-chleassa muigh. ‘Tuigim, a dhalta,’ ol Leabhurcum, ‘gur ab ann son ro chonairc tu an aisling uccadh’, acht nír fhreagar Deairdre dhí. D'fhag a buime biadh & beoir ar clar a lathoir Dheirdre & d'imthig uaiche cen labhairt lei, oir nír thaitean le Leabharcam tolladh na fuineoige d'eagla Chonchubhair no Chailcín fios d'fhaghail fair. Iomthusa Dheirdre rir chealaigh prainn, acht ro choisg a h-iotach as corn beorach & togus feoil a laoigh lei iar n-a fholach fo bhinn a braite & ro luidh chum a h-oide & iarrus cead dul seal amach fa chula na bruighne. ‘Ta an lo fuar, agus sneachta dubhuinn ann, a inghion,’ ol Cailcin, ‘acht feidir siubhul seal fa sgath sleasaibh na bruighne, & tobhair dod' aire tiach duigthear na coin’. D'imthigh Déirdre mach & nior stuanadh lei go n-deachaidh sios tri lar a t-sneachta mar a raibh cuas na bh-farchon, & mar aithin na coin í & balamh a n-feoil, nior bhain lei, & ní dhearnadar tafan, gur rainn si a prainn eotorra, & fillios asteach as a h-aithle. Tanaic Leabharcam iaramh, & fuair Déirdre na luighe air leathtaobh a cearcaille, & í ag osnamh go trom & a falcadh déar. Ro sheas a buime go toi seal, ag breathnughadh uirre, gur maothadh a croidhe chum truaighe & gur imthigh a fearcc uaidhche. Sínios a lámh & as eadh ro ráidh: ‘Eircche inghion chaidh go m-béimis a trácht ar an aisling & airis dom a bh-facais an gaisgiath dubh na h-aislinge ucchad ariamh, a roimh n-dé

[This is probably the origin of the curious phrase in modern Irish arú (arroo) andé='the day before yesterday', i.e. a-roimh andé.]

,’ ol Leabharcuim. ‘Gaisgiath geal, a bhuime chaoimh, gaisgiath na n-gruadh geanamhuil chorcuisi,’ ol Déirdre. ‘Airis dam gan ghó,’ ol Leabharcam, ‘an bh-faicis ariamh an laoch sin roimhe n-dé, no sul far thollais obair na fuineoige ré bar gaithe & le lorcc umha, & gur dhearcais thrid amach ar laochraidh na Cróibhe tan ro bhádor ar a c-cleassa lúth, ar rian na c-curadh, & go bh-facais a n-aisling a dubhrais.’ Folachas Deirdre a gnúis a m-brollach a buime ag caoi, go n-dubhairt: ‘A mháthair chain & oileamhuin mo chroidhe, ná

p.152

h-abair sin lem oide & ní cheilfim ort go bh-facas é ar faithche na h-eamhna ris na macaibh ag imirt cluibhthe & a foghlaim cleassa goile, & och ba h-álain gnaoi dho, an tráth sin, & bu ro gheanamhuil andé.’ ‘A inghion,’ ol Leabharcam, ‘ni fhaca tusa na macaoibh no faithche na h-eamhna ón trath bu seacht m-bliadhain d'aois duit, & ita sin sepht m-bliadhna o shoin.’ ‘Sepht searbh m-bliadna,’ ol Déirdre, ‘o chonairc mé aoibhneas na faithche & imirt na macan, 's gur chind Naoise tar ócclaochuibh na h-eamhna ar cheana.’ ‘Naoise mac Uisneach,’ ol Leabharcam. ‘Naoise is ainm dó mar dubhairt sé liom,’ ol Déirdre, ‘acht níor fhiarfuigh me ciar mhac é.’ ‘Mar dubhairt sé leat!’ ol Leabharcam. ‘Mar dubhairt sé liom,’ ol Déirdre, ‘an tan ro chaith se urchor meill re h-iomroll siar go fiar tar chionn an oghbhuidhean do sheas fa h-úr na faithche, & d'eirghidhe meise ar chaich gur thogus an leathroid & toirbhiros dó i, & d'faisg se mo lámh go luaghaireach.’ ‘D'faisg do lamh, inghean!’ ol Leabharcam. ‘D'faisg se í go díl, & dubhairt go b-feicfeadh arís me, ach bu deacair dó, & ní fhacus é o soin go t-ti n-dé, & a bhuime chaoimh, mas maith leat béo me, beir sgeala dhó uaim-se & aber leis tiacht dom' fhios & dom' agalla os isioll anocht, gan fhios do Chailcin, no d'aoin neach oile.’ ‘A inghion,’ ol Leabharcam, ‘is ro bhaoghalach an toisg chosg do mhiansa d'fhaghail, ó fheircc an righ, faoi gheur choimhéd Chailcin, um bh-fioch na bh-farcon n-garg, & mun aimhréidhe an bhadhbhun timchioll.’ ‘Ni baoghal duinn na coin,’ ol Déirdre. ‘Tuilleadh fos,’ ol Leabharcham, ‘is mor cion Chonchobhair ar Cloinn Uisneach & nil éin churaidh fon Craobhruaidh is disle dho ina Naoise.’ ‘Ma seadh mac Uisneach é,’ ol Déirdre, ‘do chualas a thaiste o bhandail na h-Amhna 's gur mór a ghabhaltusi fein a n-iarthar Alban, leith muigh do chumus Chonchobhair, & a bhuime chaoin, aitiom ort dul da fhios Naoise & feidir aithris do mar táim & mar mó mo chionas air ina ar Chonchobhair.’ ‘Aithris fein sin do ma eidir,’ ol Leabharcam, & d'imthigh mach a c-ceadoir d'fhios Naoise, gur frith é, & go ranaic lei go h-arus Dhéirdre a t-tus na h-oidhche gan fhios do Chailcin. Tráth

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conairc Naoise breaghacht gnaoi na h-inghiona liontar é re tuile seirc, & aitighios Déirdre fair, a breith ar eologh go h-Albain, acht bu ro dhoilighe le Naoise sin, d'eagla Chonchobhair, ach faire na h-oidhche ro ghabh Dhéirdre buaidh fair, gur aonta dhi, accos ro triallsat imightheacht san oidhche iar n-a mharoch.

Dealogh Deirdre a meodhan na h-oidhche gan fhios da h-oide ina da buime o(i)r táinic Naoise an tráth sin & a dhis bráthar maraon fris, gur thollastar bearn a chúl chuas na c-con, o(i)r ro bhadhtar na madradh marbh cheana re nimh o Deirdre.

D'ardaighiodar an inghion tar na muiribh tres gach aimreidhe, gur bhuan reabpa brait & bar eideagh dhi, & cuirseamh ar muin eich í & nír stuanadh riú go Slíab Fuaid & Fioncharn na foraire, & go ranccadar au cuan, & go n-deacadar a luing & gur seoladh iad re gaoith o n-deas tar bochnamara & for dhruim cladh an domhuin fairge go Loch n-Eathaig an iarthar Albain, & tri coeccad curadh crodha maraon friu, .&. fo gach fear don tríar dearbhrathar .i. Naoise, Ainli accos Ardan.