Re: Celtic Legends of Ireland

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Posted by Big Christy on May 10, 1998 at 06:24:07:

In Reply to: Re: Celtic Legends of Ireland posted by Christy Cummins on May 10, 1998 at 06:16:43:

: : Christy O Comaine

: : from the "Yellow Book of Lecan"
: :
: : These Ancient Celtic Legends have been traditionally
: : past down from generation to generation. As such they
: : were preserved through the ages and are here presented
: : by: Sir Randal "of Elstow.
: :
: : Part I Here Begins the Wooing of Etain:

: : 1. There was a famous king of Ireland of the race of the
: : Tuatha De, Eochaid Ollathair his name. He was also named
: : the Dagda [i.e.good god], for it was he that used to work
: : wonders for them and control the weather and the crops.
: : Wherefore men said he was called the Dagda. Elcmar of the
: : Brug had a wife whose name was Eithne and another name for
: : her was Boand. The Dagda desired her in carnal union. The
: : woman would have yielded to the Dagda had it not been for
: : fear of Elcmar, so great was his power. Thereupon the Dagda
: : sent Elcmar away on a journey to Bres son of Elatha in
: : Mageninis, and the Dagda worked great spells upon Elcmar
: : as he set out, that he might not returns betimes (that is,
: : early) and he dispelled the darkness of night for him, and
: : he kept hunger and thirst from him. He sent him on long
: : errands, so that nine months went by as one day, for he
: : had said that he would return home again between day and
: : night. Meanwhile the Dagda went in upon Elcmar's wife, and
: : she bore him a son, even Aengus, and the woman was whole
: : of her sickness when Elcmar returned, and he perceived not
: : her offense, that is, that she had lain with the Dagda.

: : 2. The Dagda meanwhile brought his son to Midir's house in
: : Bri Leith in Tethba, to be fostered. There Aengus was reared
: : for the space of nine years. Midir had a great playing-field
: : in Bri Leith. Thrice fifty lads of the young nobles of Ireland
: : were there and thrice fifty maidens of the land of Ireland.
: : Aengus was the leader of them all, because of Midir's great
: : love for him, and the beauty of his form and the nobility of
: : his race. He was also called in Mac Oc (the Young Son), for
: : his mother said: "Young is the son who was begotten at the
: : break of day and born betwixt it and evening."

: : 3. Now Aengus quarreled with Triath son of Febal (or Gobor)
: : of the Fir Bolg, who was one of the two leaders in the game,
: : and a fosterling of Midir. It was no matter of pride with
: : Aengus that Triath should speak to him, and he said: "It irks
: : me that the son of a serf should hold speech with me," for
: : Aengus had believed until then that Midir was his father, and
: : the kingship of Bri Leith his heritage, and he knew not of
: : his kinship with the Dagda.

: : 4. Triath made answer and said: "I take it no less ill that a
: : hireling whose mother and father are unknown should hold speech
: : with me." Thereupon Aengus went to Midir weeping and sorrowful
: : at having been put to shame by Triath. "What is this?" said Midir.
: : "Triath has defamed me and cast in my face that I have neither
: : mother nor father." "Tis false," said Midir. "Who is my mother,
: : from whence is my father" "No hard matter. Thy father is Eochaid
: : Ollathair," said Midir, "and Eithne, wife of Elcmar of the Brug,
: : is thy mother. It is I that have reared thee unknown to Elcmar,
: : lest it should cause him pain that thou wast begotten in his
: : despite." "Come thou with me," said Aengus, "that my father may
: : acknowledge me, and that I may no longer be kept hidden away
: : under the insults of the Fir Bolg."

: : 5. Then Midir set out with his fosterling to have speech with
: : Eochaid, and they came to Uisnech of Meath in the center of
: : Ireland, for 'tis there that was Eochaid's house, Ireland
: : stretching equally far from on every side, south and north,
: : to east and west. "Before them in the assembly they found
: : Eochaid. Midir called the king aside to have speech with the
: : lad. "What does he desire, this youth who has not come until
: : now?" "His desire is to be acknowledged by his father, and
: : for land to be given to him," said Midir, "for it is not meet
: : that thy son should be landless while thou art king of Ireland."
: : "He is welcome," said the Eochaid, "he is my son. But the
: : land I wish him to have is not yet vacant." "What land is
: : that?" said Midir. "The Brug, to the north of the Boyne,"
: : said Eochaid. "Who is there?" said Midir. "Elcmar," said
: : Eochaid, "is the man who is there I have no wish to annoy
: : him further."

: : 6 "Pray, what counsel dost thou give this lad?" said Midir.
: : "I have this for him," said Eochaid. "On the day of Samain
: : let him go into the Brug, and let him go armed. That is a
: : day of peace and amity among the men of Ireland, on which none
: : is at enmity with his fellow. And Elcmar will be in Cnoc Side
: : in Borga unarmed save for a fork of white hazel in his hand,
: : his cloak folded around him and a gold brooch in his cloak,
: : and three fifties playing before him in the playing-field; and
: : let Aengus go to him and threaten to kill him. But it is meet
: : that he slay [end p. 145] him not, provided he promise him his
: : will. And let this be the will of Aengus, that he be king for
: : a day and a night in the Brug; and see that thou not yield the
: : land to Elcmar till he submit himself (?) to my decision; and
: : when he comes let Aengus plea be that the land has fallen to
: : him, and that he in fee simple for sparing Elcmar and not
: : slaying him, and that what he had asked for is kingship of day
: : and night, and" said he, "it is in days and nights that the
: : world is spent."

: : 7. Then Midir sets out for his land, and his foster-son along
: : with him, and on the Samain following, Aengus having armed
: : himself came into the Brug and made a feint at Elcmar, so that
: : he promised him in return for his life kingship of day and
: : night in his land. The Mac Oc straightway abode there that day
: : and night as king of the land, Elcmar's household being subject
: : to him. On the morrow Elcmar came to claim his land from the
: : Mac Oc, and therewith threatened him mightily. The Mac Oc said
: : that he would not yield up his land until he should put it to
: : the decision of the Dagda in the presence of the men of Ireland.

: : 8. Then they appeal to the Dagda, who adjudged each man's contract
: : in accordance with his undertaking. "So then this land accordingly
: : belongs henceforth to this youth," said Elcmar. "It is fitting,"
: : said the Dagda. "Thou was taken unawares on a day of peace and
: : amity. Thou gavest thy land for mercy shown thee, for thy life was
: : dearer to thee than thy land, yet thou shalt have land from me that
: : will be no less profitable to thee than the Brug." "Where is that?"
: : said Elcmar. "Cleitech," said the Dagda, "with the three lands that
: : are round about it, thy youths playing before thee every day in
: : the Brug, and thou shalt enjoy the fruits of the Boyne from this
: : land." "It is well," said Elcmar; "so shall it be accomplished." And
: : he made a flitting to Cleitech, and built a stronghold there, and
: : Mac Oc abode in the Brug in his land.

: : 9. Then Mider came on that day year to the Brug on a visit to his
: : fosterling, and he found the Mac Oc on the mound of Sid in Broga
: : on the day of Samain, with two companies of youth at play before
: : him in the Brug, and Elcmar on the mound of Cleitech to the south,
: : watching them. A quarrel broke out among the youths in the Brug.
: : "Do not stir," said Midir to the Mac Oc, "because of Elcmar, lest
: : he come down to the plain. I will go myself to make peace between
: : them." Thereupon Midir went, and it was not easy for him to part them.
: : A split of holly was thrown at Midir as he was intervening, and it
: : knocked one of his eyes out. Midir came to the Mac Oc with his eye
: : in his hand and said to him: "Would that I had not come on a visit
: : to thee, to be put to shame, for with this blemish I cannot behold the
: : land I have come to, and the land I have left, I cannot return to it
: : now.

: : 10. "It shall in no wise be so," said the Mac Oc. "I shall go to
: : Dian Cecht that he may come and heal thee, and thine own land shall
: : be thine and this land shall be thine, and thine eye shall be whole
: : again without shame or blemish because of it." The Mac Oc went to
: : Dian Cecht. [...](2) that thou mayest go with me," said he, "to save
: : my foster-father who has been hurt in the Burgh on the day of the
: : Samain." Dian Cecht came and healed Midir, so that he was whole again.
: : "Good is my journeying now," said Midir, "since I am healed." "It
: : shall surely be so," said the Mac Oc. "Do thou abide here for a year
: : that thou mayest see my host and my folk, my household and my land."

: : 11. I will not stay," said Midir, "unless I have a reward therefore."
: : "What reward?" said the Mac Oc. "Easy to say. A chariot worth seven
: : cumals,"(3) said Midir, "and a mantle befitting me, and the fairest
: : maiden in Ireland." "I have," said the Mac Oc, "the chariot, and the
: : mantle befitting thee." "There is moreover," said Midir, "the maiden
: : that surpasses all the maidens in Ireland in form." "Where is she?"
: : said the Mac Oc. "She is in Ulster," said Midir, "Ailill"s daughter
: : Etain Echraide daughter of the king of the north-eastern part of
: : Ireland. She is the dearest and gentlest and loveliest in Ireland."

: : 12. The Mac Oc went to seek her until he came to Ailill's house in
: : Mag nInis. He was made welcome, and he abode three nights there. He
: : told his mission and announced his name and race. He said that it was
: : in quest of Etain that he had come. "I will not give her to thee," said
: : Ailill, "for I can in no way profit by thee, because of the nobility
: : of thy family, and the greatness of thy power(4) and that of thy father.
: : If thou put any shame on my daughter, no redress whatsoever can be had
: : of thee." "It shall not be so," said the Mac Oc. "I will buy her from
: : thee straightway." "Thou shall have that," said Ailill. "State thy
: : demand," said the Mac Oc. "No hard matter," said Ailill. "Thou shalt
: : clear for me twelve plains in my land that are under waste and wood, so
: : that they may be at all times for grazing cattle and for habitation to
: : me, for games, assemblies, gatherings, and strongholds."

: : 13. "It shall be done," said the Mac Oc. He returns home and bewailed
: : to the Dagda the strait he was in. The latter caused twelve plains to
: : be cleared in a single night in Ailill's land. These are the names of
: : the plains: Mag Macha, Mag Lemna, Mag

: : Thus ends part one. Parts two and three will be presented
: : soon.

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: : : Christy O Comaine : : : from the "Yellow Book of Lecan" : : : : : : These Ancient Celtic Legends have been traditionally : : : past down from generation to generation. As such they : : : were preserved through the ages and are here presented : : : by: Sir Randal "of Elstow. : : : : : : Part I Here Begins the Wooing of Etain: : : : 1. There was a famous king of Ireland of the race of the : : : Tuatha De, Eochaid Ollathair his name. He was also named : : : the Dagda [i.e.good god], for it was he that used to work : : : wonders for them and control the weather and the crops. : : : Wherefore men said he was called the Dagda. Elcmar of the : : : Brug had a wife whose name was Eithne and another name for : : : her was Boand. The Dagda desired her in carnal union. The : : : woman would have yielded to the Dagda had it not been for : : : fear of Elcmar, so great was his power. Thereupon the Dagda : : : sent Elcmar away on a journey to Bres son of Elatha in : : : Mageninis, and the Dagda worked great spells upon Elcmar : : : as he set out, that he might not returns betimes (that is, : : : early) and he dispelled the darkness of night for him, and : : : he kept hunger and thirst from him. He sent him on long : : : errands, so that nine months went by as one day, for he : : : had said that he would return home again between day and : : : night. Meanwhile the Dagda went in upon Elcmar's wife, and : : : she bore him a son, even Aengus, and the woman was whole : : : of her sickness when Elcmar returned, and he perceived not : : : her offense, that is, that she had lain with the Dagda. : : : 2. The Dagda meanwhile brought his son to Midir's house in : : : Bri Leith in Tethba, to be fostered. There Aengus was reared : : : for the space of nine years. Midir had a great playing-field : : : in Bri Leith. Thrice fifty lads of the young nobles of Ireland : : : were there and thrice fifty maidens of the land of Ireland. : : : Aengus was the leader of them all, because of Midir's great : : : love for him, and the beauty of his form and the nobility of : : : his race. He was also called in Mac Oc (the Young Son), for : : : his mother said: "Young is the son who was begotten at the : : : break of day and born betwixt it and evening." : : : 3. Now Aengus quarreled with Triath son of Febal (or Gobor) : : : of the Fir Bolg, who was one of the two leaders in the game, : : : and a fosterling of Midir. It was no matter of pride with : : : Aengus that Triath should speak to him, and he said: "It irks : : : me that the son of a serf should hold speech with me," for : : : Aengus had believed until then that Midir was his father, and : : : the kingship of Bri Leith his heritage, and he knew not of : : : his kinship with the Dagda. : : : 4. Triath made answer and said: "I take it no less ill that a : : : hireling whose mother and father are unknown should hold speech : : : with me." Thereupon Aengus went to Midir weeping and sorrowful : : : at having been put to shame by Triath. "What is this?" said Midir. : : : "Triath has defamed me and cast in my face that I have neither : : : mother nor father." "Tis false," said Midir. "Who is my mother, : : : from whence is my father" "No hard matter. Thy father is Eochaid : : : Ollathair," said Midir, "and Eithne, wife of Elcmar of the Brug, : : : is thy mother. It is I that have reared thee unknown to Elcmar, : : : lest it should cause him pain that thou wast begotten in his : : : despite." "Come thou with me," said Aengus, "that my father may : : : acknowledge me, and that I may no longer be kept hidden away : : : under the insults of the Fir Bolg." : : : 5. Then Midir set out with his fosterling to have speech with : : : Eochaid, and they came to Uisnech of Meath in the center of : : : Ireland, for 'tis there that was Eochaid's house, Ireland : : : stretching equally far from on every side, south and north, : : : to east and west. "Before them in the assembly they found : : : Eochaid. Midir called the king aside to have speech with the : : : lad. "What does he desire, this youth who has not come until : : : now?" "His desire is to be acknowledged by his father, and : : : for land to be given to him," said Midir, "for it is not meet : : : that thy son should be landless while thou art king of Ireland." : : : "He is welcome," said the Eochaid, "he is my son. But the : : : land I wish him to have is not yet vacant." "What land is : : : that?" said Midir. "The Brug, to the north of the Boyne," : : : said Eochaid. "Who is there?" said Midir. "Elcmar," said : : : Eochaid, "is the man who is there I have no wish to annoy : : : him further." : : : 6 "Pray, what counsel dost thou give this lad?" said Midir. : : : "I have this for him," said Eochaid. "On the day of Samain : : : let him go into the Brug, and let him go armed. That is a : : : day of peace and amity among the men of Ireland, on which none : : : is at enmity with his fellow. And Elcmar will be in Cnoc Side : : : in Borga unarmed save for a fork of white hazel in his hand, : : : his cloak folded around him and a gold brooch in his cloak, : : : and three fifties playing before him in the playing-field; and : : : let Aengus go to him and threaten to kill him. But it is meet : : : that he slay [end p. 145] him not, provided he promise him his : : : will. And let this be the will of Aengus, that he be king for : : : a day and a night in the Brug; and see that thou not yield the : : : land to Elcmar till he submit himself (?) to my decision; and : : : when he comes let Aengus plea be that the land has fallen to : : : him, and that he in fee simple for sparing Elcmar and not : : : slaying him, and that what he had asked for is kingship of day : : : and night, and" said he, "it is in days and nights that the : : : world is spent." : : : 7. Then Midir sets out for his land, and his foster-son along : : : with him, and on the Samain following, Aengus having armed : : : himself came into the Brug and made a feint at Elcmar, so that : : : he promised him in return for his life kingship of day and : : : night in his land. The Mac Oc straightway abode there that day : : : and night as king of the land, Elcmar's household being subject : : : to him. On the morrow Elcmar came to claim his land from the : : : Mac Oc, and therewith threatened him mightily. The Mac Oc said : : : that he would not yield up his land until he should put it to : : : the decision of the Dagda in the presence of the men of Ireland. : : : 8. Then they appeal to the Dagda, who adjudged each man's contract : : : in accordance with his undertaking. "So then this land accordingly : : : belongs henceforth to this youth," said Elcmar. "It is fitting," : : : said the Dagda. "Thou was taken unawares on a day of peace and : : : amity. Thou gavest thy land for mercy shown thee, for thy life was : : : dearer to thee than thy land, yet thou shalt have land from me that : : : will be no less profitable to thee than the Brug." "Where is that?" : : : said Elcmar. "Cleitech," said the Dagda, "with the three lands that : : : are round about it, thy youths playing before thee every day in : : : the Brug, and thou shalt enjoy the fruits of the Boyne from this : : : land." "It is well," said Elcmar; "so shall it be accomplished." And : : : he made a flitting to Cleitech, and built a stronghold there, and : : : Mac Oc abode in the Brug in his land. : : : 9. Then Mider came on that day year to the Brug on a visit to his : : : fosterling, and he found the Mac Oc on the mound of Sid in Broga : : : on the day of Samain, with two companies of youth at play before : : : him in the Brug, and Elcmar on the mound of Cleitech to the south, : : : watching them. A quarrel broke out among the youths in the Brug. : : : "Do not stir," said Midir to the Mac Oc, "because of Elcmar, lest : : : he come down to the plain. I will go myself to make peace between : : : them." Thereupon Midir went, and it was not easy for him to part them. : : : A split of holly was thrown at Midir as he was intervening, and it : : : knocked one of his eyes out. Midir came to the Mac Oc with his eye : : : in his hand and said to him: "Would that I had not come on a visit : : : to thee, to be put to shame, for with this blemish I cannot behold the : : : land I have come to, and the land I have left, I cannot return to it : : : now. : : : 10. "It shall in no wise be so," said the Mac Oc. "I shall go to : : : Dian Cecht that he may come and heal thee, and thine own land shall : : : be thine and this land shall be thine, and thine eye shall be whole : : : again without shame or blemish because of it." The Mac Oc went to : : : Dian Cecht. [...](2) that thou mayest go with me," said he, "to save : : : my foster-father who has been hurt in the Burgh on the day of the : : : Samain." Dian Cecht came and healed Midir, so that he was whole again. : : : "Good is my journeying now," said Midir, "since I am healed." "It : : : shall surely be so," said the Mac Oc. "Do thou abide here for a year : : : that thou mayest see my host and my folk, my household and my land." : : : 11. I will not stay," said Midir, "unless I have a reward therefore." : : : "What reward?" said the Mac Oc. "Easy to say. A chariot worth seven : : : cumals,"(3) said Midir, "and a mantle befitting me, and the fairest : : : maiden in Ireland." "I have," said the Mac Oc, "the chariot, and the : : : mantle befitting thee." "There is moreover," said Midir, "the maiden : : : that surpasses all the maidens in Ireland in form." "Where is she?" : : : said the Mac Oc. "She is in Ulster," said Midir, "Ailill"s daughter : : : Etain Echraide daughter of the king of the north-eastern part of : : : Ireland. She is the dearest and gentlest and loveliest in Ireland." : : : 12. The Mac Oc went to seek her until he came to Ailill's house in : : : Mag nInis. He was made welcome, and he abode three nights there. He : : : told his mission and announced his name and race. He said that it was : : : in quest of Etain that he had come. "I will not give her to thee," said : : : Ailill, "for I can in no way profit by thee, because of the nobility : : : of thy family, and the greatness of thy power(4) and that of thy father. : : : If thou put any shame on my daughter, no redress whatsoever can be had : : : of thee." "It shall not be so," said the Mac Oc. "I will buy her from : : : thee straightway." "Thou shall have that," said Ailill. "State thy : : : demand," said the Mac Oc. "No hard matter," said Ailill. "Thou shalt : : : clear for me twelve plains in my land that are under waste and wood, so : : : that they may be at all times for grazing cattle and for habitation to : : : me, for games, assemblies, gatherings, and strongholds." : : : 13. "It shall be done," said the Mac Oc. He returns home and bewailed : : : to the Dagda the strait he was in. The latter caused twelve plains to : : : be cleared in a single night in Ailill's land. These are the names of : : : the plains: Mag Macha, Mag Lemna, Mag : : : Thus ends part one. Parts two and three will be presented : : : soon.

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