Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Metrical Dindshenchas (Author: [unknown])

poem 5

Nás

  1. Ruadri, son of Aitte of the flocks,
    was no faint splendour swift-passing yonder;
    father-in-law of Lug with tale of ships,
    with prowess of feats in war and slaying of foreign foemen.
  2. 5] The two daughters of Ruadri, the king
    of Britain, of conquering white-clad forces
    were the two wives of Lug, — fruitfulness came to them —
    Bui of the Brug and modest Nás.
  3. Nás, mother of Ibic of the horses,
    10] claims of right the brow and the beauty of the spot,
    since she is gone, with the noise of combat,
    how should ye know at all the spot where she died?
  4. Nás took in hand a deed unwise:
    (truth and not folly) death o'erwhelmed her;
    15] 'tis from her Nás was named,
    famous perpetually for stern law.
  5. Nás of the Leinstermen, bright with splendid bounty,
    'tis there the lady was buried;
    from her it is called with clear certitude:
    20] the lore of the ancient hides not this.

  6. p.51

  7. Her sister was at Cnogba free from ravage,
    after the havoc of her shelter and her precinct:
    not tardily came the death-dirge for the lady;
    'tis there Bui abode, and was buried.
  8. 25] Cnogba is the Hill of Bui of the battles;
    the pillaging violence of hosts does not wreck it;
    but 'tis it that, for repose from fatigue of fierce deeds,
    is the lofty hold of the fiery kings.
  9. The hosts of the pure Gaels came
    30] to bewail the women from the Brug;
    from Tailtiu where he raised a fire
    thence they came with Lug.
  10. They lifted a cry of lamentation perpetually
    for the women free from guilt and guile;
    35] the game of wounds was waged by them
    untimely, in no merry wise.
  11. Thence grew the boasted gathering —
    (it is not an empty lamentation with the lips)
    the assembly of Taltiu with mighty preparations,
    40] held by every hero moreover according to custom.
  12. That was the gathering of accomplished Lug,
    happy satisfaction, no small pleasure,
    the lamentation of the fair-skinned vocal women of Fáil,
    the keening for the daughters of Ruadri the red.

  13. p.53

  14. 45] The three sons of Dorchlam (strong testimony!),
    Nás, Roncc and Ailestar
    in the west without respite above troublous Cuan,
    Taltiu engaged them for good.
  15. A rath in Ulster (long the law);
    50] a rath of the province of Connacht the excellent;
    a rath of the province of Leinster without weakness,
    a site for Nás daughter of Ruad.

  16. p.55