Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Erard mac Coisse cecinit (Author: [unknown])
p.42
{folio 149b}
- O Mór of Moyne1 of Mag Siúil,2
the loss of a bird is a small hurt;
if thou wouldst rather die thyself,3
is it not folly for thy sense to lament a goose?
- Daughter of stalwarth Donnchad,
thou that hast the pride of women,
hast thou not heard the news,thou that art so quick,4
while thy pretty goose grieves thee?
- Hast thou not heard
[...]
of the strife?
Dead is Conn of the hundred battles;
and Cormac, and Art,
both son and grandson are no more.
- Hast thou not heard the fate of Crimthann5 the just,
Fidach's son of the glorious fair race,
and of Eogan Taidlech in the south,
which brought grief upon Cliu Máil6?
- Hast thou not heard of the fierce cruel deed?
Dead is Eochaid Feidlech the wrathful,
and Crimthann with his champion's courage,
and Lugaid of the two red stripes.
- Hast thou not heard of the dispensation of hardship
whence Ugaine7 found the cry of woe?
hast thou not heard of the night-watch once upon a time,
whereby Conaire of Colt was crushed?
- Hast thou not heard that Mongan the goodly hero
has fallen at the meeting of boundaries,
and that honey-mouthed gentle Cermat,
the vehement Dagda's son, has perished?
- Hast thou not heard that he of the nimble hand has perished,
Cuchulinn? he was a delightful champion,
and one whom8 no man
ever subdued
of all that took spear in hand.
p.45
- Hast thou not heard of the harsh, deadly deed,
Fothad Canann,an ill-sounding report,
and the royal champion
whose name was Finn, leader of the fian?
- Hast thou not heard of Fergus, though he was brilliant,
of whose fame every great mighty sea was full,
and of Manannan son of Ler,
O my dear little soul, Mór?
- There are geese in Ireland in Brian's time,
Brian who rules in golden Eibliu9;
good is the friend thou hast in Brian,
generous is the lord of Kinvara, O Mór.