The First Age of the world contains 1656 years according to the Hebrews, but 2242 according to the Seventy Interpreters; all which perished in the Deluge, in the same manner that oblivion is wont to swallow up infancy. Ten generations. Thus do the Gaedhel express the number of this age:—
- Six years, fifty, and six hundred,
as I reckon,
A great thousand I count
from Adam to the Flood.
Kal. v. f. l. 10. Anno Mundi 1599. A.M. 1599 In this year the daughter of one of the Greeks came to Hibernia, whose name was hEriu, or Berba, or Cesar, and fifty maidens, and three men, with her. Ladhra was their conductor, who was the first that was buried in Hibernia. This the antiquaries of the Scoti do not relate.
The Second Age of the world begins, which contains 292 years, that is according to the Hebrews, as the poet says:—
but according to the lxx. Interpreters, 940 years.
- From the Flood to Abraham,
who was happily born,
Two full, prosperous years,
ninety and two hundred;
Kal. Anno Mundi 1859. A.M.1859 Ten years after that to the demolition of the Tower. Nine years after that to Fenius. In this year Fenius composed the language of the Gaeidhel from seventy-two languages, and subsequently committed it to Gaeidhel, son of Agnoman, viz., in the tenth year after the destruction of Nimrod's Tower.
The Third Age commences, which contains 942 years, and it begins with the birth of Abraham, as the poet said:—
- From that birth,without peril,
to David, the faithful prince,
Forty-two years
and nine hundred, certainly.
In the sixtieth year of the age of Abraham, Parrthalon arrived in Hibernia. This Parrthalon was the first who occupied Erinn after the Flood. On a Tuesday, the 14th of May, he arrived, his companions being eight in numher, viz.:—four men and four women. They multiplied afterwards until they were in number 4,050 men and 1,000 women.
There were four plains cleared in Erinn by Parrthalon, viz.:—Magh Tuiredh, or nEdara, in Connacht; and Magh Sere in Connacht; and Magh Ita in Laighen; and Magh Latrainn Dál Araidhe; and Lecmagh in Ui Mac Uais, between Bir and Camus.
Seven years after the occupation of Erinn by Parrthalon,
There were seven lake eruptions through the land in the reign of Parrthalon, viz.:—Loch Mesca, and Loch Decet, Loch Laighline, Loch Rudhraidhe, Loch Echtra, and the sea inundation of Brena, and Loch Con.
Three years afterwards occurred the first battle which Parrthalon gained, in the Slemains of Magh Itha, over the Fomorians, viz.:—they were Demons, truly, in the guise of men, i.e. men with one hand and one leg each.
In the succeeding year died Slangia, the fourth chieftain of Erinn, who was interred by Parrthalon in Sliahh Slanga; hence from him the mountain has been named.
The year after Slanga's death occurred the eruption of Loch Laighline, and his death; unde prius nominatur; (he was the fourth chieftain of Erinn; in digging his grave the lake burst forth); and the eruption of Loch Echtra, between Sliabh Modharn and Sliabh Fuaid. Twenty years afterwards occurred the eruption of Loch Rudraidhe, in Uladh.
In the same year the sea inundation of Brena broke over the land, so that it is the seventh lake; for Parrthalon found in Erinn before him but three lakes and ten rivers, viz.:—Loch Luimnigh, Loch Fordremuin at Sliabh Mis, in Mumhan, and Finn Loch of Irrus Ui Fiachrach. The ten rivers, moreover, were, the Buas, between Dál Araidhe and Dál Riada, and the Ruirtech or River Liffe; and the Berbha of Laighen; and the Laoi in Mumhan; and the Samaoir, between Ui Fiachrach and
Four years after the eruption of Brena, the death of Parrthalon took place. In Sen Magh Ealta he was buried. The reason, moreover, why that is called Sen Magh is because no tree ever grew there. Five hundred and two, or 402 years, as Eochaidh sang, Parrthalon's people were in Erinn. The first plague that happened in Erinn after the Flood was the pestilence of Parrthalon's people. It commenced on Monday, the 1st of May, and prevailed until the succeeding Sunday. From that plague of Parrthalon's people the Tamhleachda of the men of Erinn are called.
Erinn was waste for thirty years after the death of Parrthalon, until Nimhedh, son of Adhnoman (.uu.)1 came to Inbher Sgene. He occupied Erinn afterwards, as it is related in the Invasions of Erinn.
Kal. Anno Mundi 2355. A.M.2355 At this time the Fir Bolg occupied Erinn. But this has not been proved.
Kal. Anno Mundi 2390. A.M.2390 In this time the Tuatha De Danann, viz., Dealbaeth, and Bress, the Daghda, Nuadha, and Ogmha, and the rest, overcame the Fir Bolg.
Kal. Anno Mundi 2544. A.M.2544 Nel, son of Fenius, learned in many languages, went to Egypt.
[You have heard from me, O Readers, that I like not to have the labour of writing this section imposed on me, wherefore it is that I beseech of you, for the sake of true
Kal. Milidh, son of Bile, proceeded then from Spain to Scythia, and from Scythia to Egypt, after the slaying of Reflor, son of Neman (as it is found in the Invasions of Erinn); and understand not that it was soon after the death of Nel in Egypt, but many years, indeed, after it, that Milidh departed from Scythia, after the slaying of Reflor, contending for the sovereignty of Scythia. His great fleet consisted of 100 ships, as the vellum relates from which this copy has been drawn; fifteen families in each ship, and soldiers without wives in it besides. They remained three months in the island of Taprobane. Three months more, also, they were on the Red Sea, until they came to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. They learned the arts of that country. They remained eight years with Pharaoh in Egypt, where they propagated their various arts and their various actions. Scota, Pharaoh's daughter, married Milidh, son of Bile. After that, Milidh went with his host on the great sea, (and Scota, Pharaoh's daughter, along with him), past the island of Taprobane, in which they stayed a month. They rowed afterwards round Scythia to the "Inbher" of the Caspian Sea. They remained three nomada motionless on the Caspian Sea, through the chaunting of mermaids, until Caicher, the druid, rescued them. They voyaged afterwards past the point of Sliabh Rife until they landed in Dacia. They stayed a month there.
They subsequently passed by Gothia, by Germany, to Bregann, until they occupied Spain. It was uninhabited on their arrival. They remained there thirty years, and fought fifty-four battles against Frisians, and Longobards, and Bachru; and they were all gained by Milidh, son of Bile. For the right of Spain these battles were fought; and hence he was called "Milidh of Spain". And it was in it Milidh's two sons, Eremon and hErennan, were born. These were the two youngest. The two oldest were Donn and Ebhir; for in the east, in Scythia, Donn was born, and Ebhir in Egypt.
Twelve families died of a plague in one day in Spain, together with their three kings, viz.:—Milidh, son of Bile, Uige, and Oige. Forty-seven families and four soldiers went with the sons of Milidh, and with Scota, Pharaoh's daughter, on the sea to Erinn. They subsequently proceeded to land in Erinn at Inbher Slaini. They sailed round Erinn thrice, until finally they came to Inbher Sgene. Erenan, the youngest of Milidh's sons, went up into the mast to see how far they were from the land. He was drowned there, so that his limbs were severed by rocks, and, in dying, his head was placed on his mothers breast and gave forth a sigh. ‘No wonder’, said his mother, ‘Erenan's going between two Inbhers, but he reached not the Inbher to which he came; he separated from the Inbher from which he came’. In that day there came a terrible storm, and the ship in which was Donn, son of Milidh, with fifty men, twelve women, and four soldiers, was cast away, so that they were drowned at the Dumacha in the western sea, called Tech nDuinn.
On Thursday, the Kalends of May, on the l7th of the Moon, the fleet of the sons of Milidh occupied Erinn at Inbher Sgene, and the wife of Aimergin Gluingil, i.e. Sgene Davilsir, died there, and her grave was made there; hence it was called Inbher Sgene. Erennan's grave was placed on the other side.
The third day after the occupation of Erinn by the sons of Miledh, they fought the battle of Sliabh Mis against demons and Fomorians, and the sons of Milidh gained it, and they assumed the sovereignty of Erinn very soon afterwards; and so forth.
[I pass to another time, and He Who Is will bless it.]