Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])

poem 13

Berba

1. The Barrow, enduring its silence,
   that flows through the folk of old Ailbe;
   a labour it is to learn the cause whence is called
   Barrow, flower of all famous names.
2. 5] No motion in it made
   the ashes of Mechi the strongly smitten:
   the stream made sodden and silent past recovery¹⁰
   the fell filth of the old serpent.
3. Three turns the serpent made;
   10] it sought out the soldier to consume him;
   it would have wasted by its nature all the kine
   of the indolent hosts of ancient Erin.
4. Therefore Diancecht slew it:
   there was rude reason for clean destroying it,
   15] for preventing it for ever from wasting
   above every resort, from consuming utterly.
5. Known to me is its grave where he cast it,
   a tomb without walls or roof-tree;
   its evil ashes,–no ornament to the region
   20] found silent burial in noble Barrow.

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