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The Burning of Finn's House

Author: Unknown

File Description

Edward J. Gwynn

Electronic edition compiled by Beatrix Färber

Funded by School of History, University College, Cork

1. First draft.

Extent of text: 2880 words

Publication

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

(2016)

Distributed by CELT online at University College, Cork, Ireland.
Text ID Number: T402362

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

Sources

    Manuscript Sources for Irish text
  1. Dublin, R.I.A., 23 A 47, 18th century, p. 118ff (on which the edition is based).
  2. Dublin, R.I.A., 23 C 26, 18th century, p. 208ff.
  3. Dublin, R.I.A., 23 O 32, 19th century, p. 119ff.
    Editions and related versions of this poem
  1. See below.
  2. J. F. Campbell, Leabhar na Feinne: heroic Gaelic ballads collected in Scotland chiefly from 1512 to 1871 (London 1872, reprint Shannon: Irish University Press, 1972), p. 177.
  3. John Smith, Galic antiquities: Consisting of a history of the druids, particularly of those of Caledonia; a dissertation on the authenticity of the poems of Ossian; and a collection of ancient poems, translated from the Galic of Ullin, Ossian, Orran, etc. by John Smith, minister at Kilbrandon, Argyleshire (Edinburgh 1787; 1780).
  4. More details are available on the CODECS website at http://www.vanhamel.nl/codecs, when you search for Tóiteáin Tighe Fhinn.
    The edition used in the digital edition
  1. Edward J. Gwynn, The Burning of Finn's House in Ériu. Volume 1, Dublin , Royal Irish Academy (1904) page 13–37: 17–33

Encoding

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CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts

Sampling Declaration

The present text represents even pages 17–33 of the published edition. The Irish text is available in a separate file, G402362.

Editorial Declaration

Correction

Text has been proof-read twice.

Normalization

The electronic text represents the edited text.

Quotation

Direct speech is tagged ".

Hyphenation

Hyphenation was introduced. When a hyphenated word (hard or soft) crosses a page-break, the page-break is marked after the completion of the hyphenated word. Soft hyphens are silently removed.

Segmentation

div0=the poem. Stanzas are numbered; page-breaks are marked pb n="".

Interpretation

Names are not tagged, nor are terms for cultural and social roles.

Profile Description

Created: English translation by E.G. Gwynn. (1904)

Use of language

Language: [GA] Irish occurs in the original title.
Language: [EN] The translation is in English.

Revision History

Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition: T402362

The Burning of Finn's House: Author: Unknown

p.17

{MS page 118}
  1. 1] Sad is it here, O ruined keep!
    2] where was wrought that destruction:
    3] here remain your traces:
    4] we remember those tidings of evil.
  2. 5] A grievous sight to me to see thee in this plight,
    6] O ruin, once glorious, crowned with brightness!
    7] The Clann Morna, who lie under headstones in the grave,
    8] thou hast brought to bareness, O ruin!
  3. 9] Said Ailbe, we remember:
    10] "Perilous the place where we find ourselves:
    11] if anyone should come over sea,
    12] he would not leave a woman of us with her mate."
  4. 13] Said the women truly
    14] to the king's daughter white of skin:
    15] "Since there are no neighbours to do us right,
    16] let us see what help our elder can afford."
  5. 17] "Let us raise a cry of battle without craft,
    18] throughout the white-rodded red-satined hostel,
    19] till we see what stay is best
    20] to support us in the land of Erin."
  6. 21] "Garaid mac Morna, impetuous hero,
    22] if he should hear the cry of unequal combat,
    23] would come at the cry without craft,
    24] and our laughter would be stirred at him."

    7. p.19

  7. 25] "Let us bind his hair and his beard tight
    26] to the side of the hostel,
    27] since he chances to be sound asleep,
    28] so that he should not wreak his will on us."
  8. 29] The women bound in sooth mac Morna
    30] (great was the deed):
    31] they raised the cry of battle without reason:
    32] for our lays it was cause of grief.
  9. 33] Up started Garaid at the cry:
    34] he left his hair and his flesh right to the bone:
    35] he went forth among the women:
    36] no cause had they to be proud.
  10. 37] He said, as he drove them into the dun
    38] that it should be a journey with no returning:
    39] "Your mocking cry shall be your shame:
    40] ye shall be a bonfire by morning."
  11. 41] "Withered elder, hold thy peace!
    42] let us alone with your teaching."
    43] (I shall cause horror thereat,
    44] a shudder as of a woman after her washing.)
  12. 45] "Feeble elder though I be —
    46] it is long since I gripped my shield —
    47] I will avenge on you your mockery;
    48] I will kindle the torch's head."
  13. 49] Garaid arose and went forth from the house:
    50] he took in hand the woodman's axe:
    51] he cut in the wood, 'tis past denial,
    52] nine stout faggots of ash.

    14. p.21

  14. 53] He kindled a fire in the great house,
    54] from the floor to the ceiling (?):
    55] he set the house in a great blaze:
    56] that old man had no mercy.
  15. 57] He shut the seven doors of Finn's house:
    58] he fastened seven locks on every door-post;
    59] he makes a fire to kill them:
    60] hence came their sore sufferings.
  16. 61] "Let me out for my father's sake!"
    62] said the daughter of Conn the Hundred-fighter's grandson;
    63] "for my own sake, and to earn the thanks of Finn,
    64] O noble, fair-haired Garaid!"
  17. 65] "I will not let thee out for thy father's sake,
    66] O daughter of Conn the Hundredfighter's grandson;
    67] nor for thine own sake, nor to earn the thanks of Finn,
    68] will I let thee out."
  18. 69] "Let out the wife of Conan of the conflict,
    70] and the wife of prosperous Caoilte
    71] and the wife of Mac Reithe here—
    72] I have known no furtive love."
  19. 73] "Come forth, O wife of Mac Reithe,
    74] if furtive love be thy desire:
    75] since Mac Reithe is not here
    76] I myself have not the power."
  20. 77] "Accept a price, O Garaid of the great deeds!"
    78] said the noble daughter of Cormac ua Cuinn;
    79] "the full of thy fist of all that is in the dun
    80] to be granted thee without revoking."

    21. p.23

  21. 81] Garaid accepted a fair price from the women
    82] (yet kept not his promise to them),
    83] till he saw a lock of hair from each woman
    84] in the shapely palm of the chief lady.
  22. 85] As soon as Garaid, never mild of mood,
    86] saw how many of the princely families were within,
    87] once the powerless throng was gathered,
    88] he shut the door boldly.
  23. 89] "May Garaid live no longer till the day of doom,
    90] since ye are fast inside,
    91] if he lets a soul in or a soul out,
    92] of all that are there."
  24. 93] Garaid made haste into the glen,
    94] as the house was falling;
    95] in Glen Cuaich away in Munster
    96] slept he thereafter.
  25. 97] "A strange thing has been revealed to me,"
    98] said Finn of the Fiann of the Gaels;
    99] "the outcry of dogs and women and men
    100] a-burning and a-wailing."
  26. 101] "What is yon smoke that comes towards us from the west?"
    102] said Finn, prince of the Fianna:
    103] "it is the smoke of havoc a-doing,
    104] or of a house cruelly burned."
  27. 105] We made a wondrous leap for battle;
    106] on all sides we leave our chase;
    107] and we found of our houses eastward
    108] nought save the stump of each stake in earth.
  28. 109] Each man thrust the shaft of his spear among the women-folk,
    110] amidst the burning heap:
    111] and they found of their winsome wives
    112] nought save fragments black and charred.

    29. p.25

  29. 113] That death which Lugaid found,
    114] it was no seemly death for a hero,
    115] to die of grief for his wife —
    116] keen Lugaid son of Luchorman.
  30. 117] Finn of the Fiann was alive no longer,
    118] though he lived afterward:
    119] the strength of a travailing woman
    120] was not in the chief of the Fiann among his comrades.
  31. 121] There was burned in that hostel in the west
    122] the best wife Finn ever had:
    123] bright was her cheek and her hand —
    124] beautiful dapple-cheeked Ailbe.
  32. 125] There were burned there Finn's two horses
    126] and his high splendid car:
    127] great was the household loss
    128] for the son of Cumall of Almain.
  33. 129] There were burned a hundred shields
    130] cunningly wrought and a hundred conquering targes
    131] and two hundred corslets and two hundred blades
    132] and two hundred mail caps and helmets.
  34. 133] There was burned a stud of a hundred horses,
    134] of horses belonging to the over-kingship,
    135] with their breast-ornament of crystal,
    136] with their gilded bridles.
  35. 137] There were burned by Garaid in Finn's hostel
    138] three hundred whelps
    139] of mac Cumaill's beautiful dogs,
    140] a great loss were they.
  36. 141] There were burned three hundred great chests
    142] for hoarding silver and gold:
    143] there were burned — and it is no lie to say it —
    144] three hundred horns and three hundred cups.

    37. p.27

  37. 145] I pledge my word before God,
    146] by my sword and my shield,
    147] that there died of grief for their wives
    148] three hundred like white-handed Lugaid.
  38. 149] There was burned there the harp of Daire:
    150] there was burned the lulling pipe of Saigen:
    151] when they were played, without a spell,
    152] the Fianna of Finn fell asleep thereat.
  39. 153] There were burned there three hundred lithe
    154] elders of the princely nobles of the Fianna of Erin,
    155] both of the Clann Griogoil
    156] and of the vigorous Clann Baoisgne.
  40. 157] There were burned three hundred old women,
    158] fair and famous in the hostel
    159] (the princelings are nurtured apart)
    160] to the loss of mac Cumaill of Almain.
  41. 161] There were burned three hundred shorn maidens,
    162] that were brightest of bosom and side:
    163] lovely were the pure women folk
    164] that were burning in agony.
  42. 165] Nine nights we spent thereafter
    166] and we on Garaid's track:
    167] we found Garaid, grey and fierce,
    168] in the rock above Craobh-liath.
  43. 169] When they saw each other
    170] — Garaid and Finn of the Fianna,
    171] the two that were boldest on any path —
    172] bitterly they set to chiding.
  44. 173] "Hate and reproach on thee from us,
    174] thou fierce white-bearded Garaid!
    175] thou hast burnt our women but now:
    176] their sore suffering is thy boast."

    45. p.29

  45. 177] "Go ye from us into the cave,
    178] a great company of our hosts!
    179] seize the sinewy shaggy fellow,
    180] and fetch out the old fox."
  46. 181] "Since it is thyself that is on my trail,
    182] brave son of Cumall of the red weapons,
    183] come thou into the cave to flay me,
    184] and take firm hold of my old hairs!"
  47. 185] Said Finn, prince of the Fianna of Ireland:
    186] "Bring with you Garaid in your keeping:
    187] make ye his bed and his bier
    188] where the women-folk were burnt by him!"
  48. 189] A hundred and thirty men,
    190] sixteen, and eight
    191] fell by Garaid's hand in the cave:
    192] great was the carnage for one time.
  49. 193] So long was Garaid without food
    194] that he made a cast of his shield from him:
    195] he put a hand under his hoary breast,
    196] and came forth, alone.
  50. 197] Desire of sport or laughter or inclination
    198] to ought were it never so pleasant
    199] was not in fierce Garaid
    200] till he saw the women folk dead and stark.
  51. 201] When fierce Garaid saw the women burned,
    202] dead and stark,
    203] he let fly a peal of laughter over them
    204] to be heard among the Fianna throughout Erin.
  52. 205] "Pleasant it is to me to find you thus,
    206] O women!" said Garaid:
    207] "that you may learn for good
    208] not to mock at a miserable old man."

    53. p.31

  53. 209] "I beg a boon of thee, O Finn!"
    210] said Garaid of Crumlin:
    211] "that thou slay me not — great the task —
    212] till the hour of dawn to-morrow."
  54. 213] "Thou hast thy boon from me,"
    214] said the son of Cumaill of the red weapons:
    215] "that I should not slay thee in this place
    216] till the hour of dawn to-morrow."
  55. 217] Garaid was without food that night,
    218] and the Fiann guarding him;
    219] at sunrise in the early morning
    220] Garaid stole away covertly.
  56. 221] Garaid stole away from the Fiann,
    222] and none of them knew of his going:
    223] they knew not whither on the wide earth
    224] Garaid from Liatruim had gone.
  57. 225] Over Sliabh Tulchon he went in truth
    226] till he reached Tuag Inbir:
    227] from Tuag Inbir went Garaid of the exploits
    228] (alas! it is cause for tearful heaviness) —
  58. 229] To Mag an Roid across all ways,
    230] to Dun Macha of the potent saints,
    231] to the Cam of Eile daughter of Echaid
    232] hastened Garaid the fierce vassal.
  59. 233] To Mag an Bhoill bheo in his flight,
    234] his right hand towards Dun an Laoich Leith:
    235] he happened on melodious Glenn Beacain,
    236] close by the head of Loch Liatruim.
  60. 237] Afterwards he reached a height over the sea
    238] — fierce black-browed Garaid:
    239] he entered the cavern with a leap:
    240] there fierce grey Garaid fell asleep.

    61. p.33

  61. 241] Garaid was never ware of the Fiann
    242] till they gathered from east and west:
    243] they raised a battle-cry in the cavern:
    244] an unseasonable sleep was his.
  62. 245] Aod and keen Garaid encountered in the cavern —
    246] it was cause of tears:
    247] and Aod struck off his father's head:
    248] it was a horrid unheard-of deed.
  63. 249] For the hand that slew Garaidh,
    250] which numbness and disease have filled —
    251] the blood of Garaidh has stained that hand —
    252] it were meet to catch all diseases.
  64. 253] Aod fled away;
    254] he met no man of the Fianna;
    255] he drowned himself in the sea-waves:
    256] Aod was cause of heavy grief.
  65. 257] Garaid and Aod are buried by the bay's verge,
    258] side by side:
    259] sad and sorrowful is my heart
    260] with thinking on them every hour.
  66. 261] Here is a tale for thee, O Patrick!
    262] I am Oisin of the many crimes:
    263] through the greatness of my grief in telling of them
    264] sad and sorrowful is my heart.