Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The bardic poems of Tadhg Dall Ó Huiginn (1550–1591) (Author: Tadhg Dall Ó Huiginn)

section 35

HUGH O'BYRNE

22

¶1] Despise not, O Hugh, the love of Íor's spouse, grievous is it for thee that this land of Niall should be neglected; surely if thou comest—according to the words of Flann (or surely), it is said, if Flann's words come true) [...](?) will be under tribute to thee.

¶2] Stretch forth thy(?) vigor as a woodbine enclasping a tree when [...]; the son of John is censured by the array of English, when he comes down on the land to banish the foreign soldiery.

¶3] And to take hostages of him who does not join with him, when thou art under the protection of thy armor and weapons, [...](?) on the embroidery of banners, a full [...](?) of silk on the bottom of a rough equipment (?).

¶4] A tough, seasoned blade against which English armor is no protection, and a sheltering gauntlet on thy forearm down to the fingers; a tall war-horse, none straighter leaps a gap, and a [...](?).

¶5] A spear which the royal son of noble Tuireann possessed and was, it is said, for a time in the fairy castle of Aonghus; for thee was it destined, thou gallant son of John, the lines of the shield are written on thy name (?).

¶6] Scarcely a day but this hero of the six couplets has the gains of a king(?), when he puts on his armor; the shouts (?) of warriors facing battle-furies, and maniacs of the wind arising therefrom in the glen.


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¶7] The clergy of the churches consider not half of his wealth enough as an additional tribute from those who used to go there (?) and from all who gather about the son of John at night, the poets seating themselves under his protection according to their rank (?).

¶8] [...]under him, students of books, fairy timpáns praising him with harp-strings of [...](?); womenfolk with no useful craft save weaving textures [...] (?)

¶9] ? (Translation omitted.)

¶10] ? (Translation omitted.)

¶11] Many a thing hath the generous son of John accomplished, Leinster's ancient plain without (need of) a shepherd over any flock, [...] (?), while this best of men is king over the land.


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