Book of the Dun Cow
The Book of the Dun Cow is the oldest surviving manuscript written in Irish. It contains the oldest versions of a number of famous Irish legends, such as the Táin Bó Cuailgne, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, and the Voyage of Bran.
The Irish version of the Historia Britonum of Nennius
EGO Nemnius Elvodugi discipulus,
aliqua excerpta scribere curavi, i. e. I have taken pains to write certain fragments, and I am Ne...
OF THE KINGS OF THE ROMANS HERE.
Janus, i. e. Jan, King of Eperda, was the first king that took possession of the Roman territory;...
OF THE CONQUEST OF ERI, AS RECORDED BY NENNIUS.
The first man that took Eri was Parrtalon, with a thousand men, i. e. a thousand between men and ...
OF THE ADVENTURES OF GAEDEL, AS FOLLOWS.
The learned of the Gaels give the following account of the adventures of their ancient chiefs. Th...
HERE FOLLOWS OF THE CONQUEST OF THE SAXONS.
Now it came to pass after the aforesaid battle, and after the slaughter of the Roman chieftains t...
OF THE MIRACLES OF GERMAN HERE.
After the arrival of German in the island of Britain, he went to the fortress of the warrior whos...
THE FORTRESS OF AMBROSE, AND OF HIS CONTEST WITH THE DRUIDS.
And afterwards Gortigern invited to him twelve Druids, that he might know from them what was prop...
OF THE WARFARE OF GORTIMER.
After this, Gortimer the victorious, son of Gortigern, with his brother Catigern, rose up against...
INCIPIT CONCERNING THE WONDERS OF THE ISLAND OF BRITAIN HERE.
The first wonder of the island of Britain is Loch Lemnon; there are sixty islands and sixty rocks...
THE WONDERS OF MANANN DOWN HERE.
The first wonder is a strand without a sea.The second is a ford which is far from the sea, and wh...
OF THE CRUITHNIANSC INCIPIT.
The Cruithnians came from the land of Thracia; they are the race of Gueleon, son of Ercal Hercule...
[HERE FOLLOWS OF THE ORIGIN OF THE CRUITHNIANS.]
Cruithne, son of Cing, pater Pictorum habitantium in hac insula, c. annis regnabat. He had seven ...
APPENDIX.
I. OF THE MIRACLES OF CAIRNECH HERE.
SARRAN assumed the sovereignty of Britain after this, and established his power over the Saxons a...
II. OF THE WONDERS OF ERI HERE ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF GLEN-DA-LOCHA.
i. Inis-Gluair in Irrus Domhnann; this is its property, that the corpses that are carried into it...
III. DUAN EIREANNACH.
Maelmura of Othain cecinit. Let us sing the origin of the Gaedhel, Of high ...
IV. DUAN ALBANACH.
Of the Dalriadans, of whom we have lately spoken, we have no doubt of the truth of the little we ...
The Story of Tuan mac Carill
The Intoxication of the Ulstermen
The Raid for Dartaid's Cattle
THE VOYAGE OF MAILDUN
AN ACCOUNT OF THE ADVENTURES OP MAILDUN AND HIS CREW, AND OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THEY SAW DURING...
CHAPTER I: MAILDUN'S CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. HE BEGINS HIS VOYAGE IN QUEST OF THE PLUNDERERS WHO SLEW HIS FATHER
THERE was once an illustrious man of the tribe of Owenaght of Ninus, Allil Ocar Aga by name, a go...
CHAPTER II: THE FIRST ISLAND. TIDINGS OF THE PLUNDERERS
THEY sailed that day and night, as well as the whole of next day, till darkness came on again ; a...
CHAPTER III: THE ISLAND OF THE MONSTROUS ANTS
FOR three days and three nights they saw no land. On the morning of the fourth day, while it was ...
CHAPTER IV: THE TERRACED ISLE OF BIRDS
AGAIN for three days and three nights they saw no land. But on the morning of the fourth day they...
CHAPTER V: A MONSTER
THEY sailed from this, and on the fourth day discovered a large, sandy island, on which, when the...
CHAPTER VI: THE DEMON HORSE-RACE
AFTER sailing a long distance, they came in view of a broad, flat island. It fell to the lot of G...
CHAPTER VII: THE PALACE OF SOLITUDE
THEY suffered much from hunger and thirst this time, for they sailed a whole week without making ...
CHAPTER VIII: THE ISLAND OF THE WONDERFUL APPLE TREE
AFTER leaving this, they suffered again from hunger, till they came to an island with a high hill...
CHAPTER IX: THE ISLAND OF BLOODTHIRSTY QUADRUPEDS
A BEAUTIFUL island next came in view, in which they saw, at a distance, multitudes of large anima...
CHAPTER X: AN EXTRAORDINARY MONSTER
THE next island had a wall all round it. When they came near the shore, an animal of vast size, w...
CHAPTER XI: THE ISLE OF RED-HOT ANIMALS
NOT daring to land on this island, they turned away hurriedly, much disheartened, not knowing whi...
CHAPTER XII: THE PALACE OF THE LITTLE CAT
AFTER rowing for a long time, their store of apples failed them, and they had nothing to eat or d...
CHAPTER XIII: AN ISLAND THAT DYED BLACK AND WHITE
ON the morning of the third day, they came to another island, which was divided into two parts by...
CHAPTER XIV: THE ISLAND OF THE BURNING RIVER
ON the third day, they came in view of a large, broad island, on which they saw a herd of gracefu...
CHAPTER XV: THE MILLER OF HELL
THE next island they came to, which was not far off from the last, had a large mill on it; and ne...
CHAPTER XVI: THE ISLE OF WEEPING
AFTER leaving this, they had not been long sailing when they discovered another large island, wit...
CHAPTER XVII: THE ISLE OF THE FOUR PRECIOUS WALLS
THE next was a high island, divided into four parts by four walls meeting in the centre. The firs...
CHAPTER XVIII: THE PALACE OF THE CRYSTAL BRIDGE
THEY came now to a small island, with a palace on it, having a copper chain in front, hung all ov...
CHAPTER XIX: THE ISLE OF SPEAKING BIRDS
ONE night, soon after leaving this, they heard in the distance, towards the north-east, a confuse...
CHAPTER XX: THE AGED HERMIT, AND THE HUMAN SOULS
AT a little distance from this they found another small island, with many trees on it, some stand...
CHAPTER XXI: THE ISLAND OF THE BIG BLACKSMITHS
WHEN they had been for a long time tossed about on the waters, they saw land in the distance. On ...
CHAPTER XXII: THE CRYSTAL SEA
AFTER a time, they came to a sea like green crystal. It was so calm and transparent that they cou...
CHAPTER XXIII: A LOVELY COUNTRY BENEATH THE WAVES
AFTER leaving this they entered on another sea, which seemed like a clear, thin cloud; and it was...
CHAPTER XXIV: AN ISLAND GUARDED BY A WALL OF WATER
WHEN they came to the next island, they observed with astonishment that the sea rose up over it o...
CHAPTER XXV: A WATER-ARCH IN THE AIR
ON the next island they saw a very wonderful thing, namely, a great stream of water which, gushin...
CHAPTER XXVI: THE SILVER PILLAR OF THE SEA
THE next thing they found after this was an immense silver pillar standing in the sea. It had eig...
CHAPTER XXVII: AN ISLAND STANDING ON ONE PILLAR
THE island they saw after this was named Encos; and it was so called because it was supported by ...
CHAPTER XXVIII: THE ISLAND QUEEN DETAINS THEM WITH HER MAGIC THREAD-CLEW.
THE next island they reached was very large. On one side rose a lofty, smooth, heath-clad mountai...
CHAPTER XXIX: THE ISLE OF INTOXICATING WINE-FRUITS
THEY were now a long time tossed about on the great billows, when at length they came in view of ...
CHAPTER XXX: THE ISLE OF THE MYSTIC LAKE
THE island they came to next was larger than most of those they had seen. On one side grew a wood...
CHAPTER XXXI: THE ISLE OF LAUGHING
THEY next came to an island with a great plain extending over its whole surface. They saw a vast ...
CHAPTER XXXII: THE ISLE OF THE BLEST
THEY came now to a small island with a high wall of fire all round it, and there was a large open...
CHAPTER XXXIII: THE HERMIT OF THE SEA-ROCK
A LITTLE time after leaving this, they saw something a long way off towards the south, which at f...
CHAPTER XXXIV: SIGNS OF HOME
SOON after they saw a beautiful verdant island, with herds of oxen, cows, and sheep browsing all ...
CHAPTER XXXV: MAILDUN MEETS HIS ENEMY, AND ARRIVES HOME
ON a near approach, they found it was a small island; and now they recognised it as the very same...
The Vision of Adamnan
1. Noble and wonderful is the Lord of the Elements, and great andmarvellous are His might and Hi...
The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedon
There was a wondrous and noble king over Erin, namely, Eochaid Mugmedon. Five sons he had: Brian,...
The Cause of the Battle of Cnucha
When Cathar Mor son of Fedlimid Fir Urglais son of Cormac Gelta-gaith was in the kingship of Tara...
Birth of Aedh Sláine
[1]Tara of the Kings: she it was that to all kings successively ruling Ireland was a peculiar app...
This Is The Cause Of The Expulsion Of The Déssi To Munster And The Violent Death Of Cormac
[1]1. Why was Cormac partially blinded in Tara? It is not difficult [to relate].There was a fie...
Táin Bó Cúailnge
A great army was mustered
by the Connachtmen, that is, by Ailill and Medb, and word went from them to the three other prov...
The Story in Due Order
When they had come on the first stage of their journey from Crúachain to Cúil Silinne, the site o...
The Eulogy of Cú Chulainn
‘What manner of man,’ asked Ailill, ‘is this Hound whom we have heard of among the Ulstermen? Wha...
The Boyhood Deeds
‘He was reared,’ said Fergus, ‘by his father and mother at the Airgthech in Mag Muirthemne. He wa...
The Death of the Boys
‘Another time he was playing ball in the playing-field east of Emain, he alone on one side agains...
The Fight between Eógan mac Durthacht and Conchobar
‘There was strife between the Ulstermen and Eógan mac Durthacht. The Ulstermen went to battle whi...
The fate of the twenty-seven men and the reason why none dared to wound the Ulstermen when they were in their debility.
‘On another occasion the Ulstermen were in their debility. ‘Among us,’ said Fergus, ‘women and bo...
The killing of the Smith's Hound by Cú Chulainn and the reason why he is called Cú Chulainn
‘Indeed we know that boy’, said Conall Cernach, ‘and we know him all the better in that he is a f...
The Death of Nechta Scéne's Three Sons
‘He did still another exploit,’ said Fiachu mac Fir Fhebe. ‘Cathbad the druid was with his son Co...
A different Version up to the Death of Órlám
‘Let us go forward now,’ said Ailill. Then they reached Mag Mucceda. There Cú Chulainn cut down a...
Neue SeiteThe Death of Fráech
They remained there till the morrow. Fráech was summoned to them. ‘Help us, Fráech,’ said Medb. ‘...
Fergus leapt across the oak-tree in his own chariot.
They went on as far as Áth Taiten. There Cú Chulainn overthrew six of them, namely, the six Dunga...
The Death of Órlám
On the morrow they went over Iraird Culenn. Cú Chulainn went forward and came upon the charioteer...
The Death of the three Sons of Gárach
Then the three Meic Gárach remained at their ford. Their names were Lon, Úalu and Diliu, and Mes ...
The Death of the Marten and of the Pet Bird
Cú Chulainn threatened in Méithe that, wherever afterwards he should see Ailill or Medb, he would...
The Death of Lethan
Lethan came on to his ford over the Níth in Conaille, and he indeed waited to encounter Cú Chulai...
The Death of Lócha
A handmaid of Medb's called Lócha went with a great company of women to fetch water. Cú Chulain...
The Death of Úalu
On the morrow a valiant hero called Úalu went and took a great flagstone on his back to go across...
The Harrying of Cúailnge
When they had all arrived with their booty and assembled at Findabair Cúailnge, Medb said ‘Let th...
The death of Etarcomol and the terms offered by the men of Ireland as told to Cú Chulainn by Fergus:
Then Fergus went on that mission. Etarcomol, the son of Ed and Leithrinn, fosterson of Ailill and...
The Death of Nad Crantail
‘What man have you got to encounter Cú Chulainn tomorrow?’ asked Lugaid. ‘They will give you him ...
The Finding of the Bull according to this Version
Then Medb went with a third of the army to Cuib in search of the bull and Cú Chulainn followed th...
The Meeting of Cú Chulainn and Finnabair
Aithremail went to him, and he went first to Láeg. ‘Whose vassal are you?’ he asked. Láeg did not...
The Combat of Munremar and Cú Roí
When the hosts were there in the evening, they saw one stone thrown at them from the east and ano...
The Death of the Youths
Then the youths of Ulster took counsel together in Emain Macha. ‘Alas for us,’ said they, ‘that o...
The Bloodless Fight of Rochad
Cú Chulainn sent his charioteer to Rochad mac Fathemain of Ulster to ask him to come to his aid. ...
The Death of the Royal Mercenaries
‘Let Cú Chulainn be asked for a truce for us,’ said Ailill and Medb. Lugaid went with that messag...
The Death of Cúr
Then Cúr mac Da Lath was asked by them to encounter Cú Chulainn. He from whom Cúr drew blood died...
A List of the Feats
The ball-feat, the blade-feat, the feat with horizontally-held shield, the javelin-feat, the rope...
The Death of Fer Baeth
‘Go for me, friend Láeg, to the encampment and consult Lugaid mac Nóis uí Lomairc, and find out w...
The Combat of Láiríne mac Nóis
‘Let one of you go speedily tomorrow to meet your opponent,’ said Lugaid. ‘No one will be got,’ s...
The Conversation of the Mórrígan with Cú Chulainn
Cú Chulainn saw coming towards him a young woman of surpassing beauty, clad in clothes of many co...
The Death of Lóch Mac Mo Femis
Then Lóch mac Emonis was summoned like the others and he was promised the extent of Mag Muirthemn...
The Scythed Chariot and Breslech Mór Maige Muirthemne
Then the four provinces of Ireland pitched their camp at the place called Breslech Mór in Mag Mui...
The Incantation of Lug
‘Arise, O son of mighty Ulster now that your wounds are healed ... Help from the fairy mound will...
The Description of Cú Chulainn
Cú Chulainn came on the morrow to survey the host and to display his gentle and beautiful form to...
The Mis-throw at Belach Eóin
Fíacha Fíaldána Dimraith came to have speech with the son of his mother's sister, whose name wa...
The Death of Taman the Jester
Ailill's people put his king's crown on Taman the Jester. Ailill himself did not venture to wear ...
The Death of Óengus mac Óenláime
Then Óengus mac Óenláime Gaibe, a bold warrior of the Ulstermen, turned back the whole army at Mo...
The Meeting of Fergus and Cú Chulainn
‘Let one of you come to meet me at Áth Da Fherta,’ said Cú Chulainn. ‘It will not be I!’ ‘It will...
The Fight with Mand
Medb sent Mand Muresci, the son of Dáire of the Domnannaig, to fight against Cú Chulainn. Mand wa...
The Fight of Fer Diad and Cú Chulainn
Then they debated among themselves as to which man would be capable of repelling Cú Chulainn. The...
A description of Cú Chulainn's chariot, one of the three principal chariots in story-telling, on the Foray of Cúailnge:
‘How does Cú Chulainn look to you?’ said Fer Diad to his charioteer. ‘I see,’ he answered, ‘a bea...
The Chief Episodes of the Táin
The Hard Fight of Cethern mac Fintain, the Tooth-fight of Fintan, the Red Shame of Mend, the Bloo...
The Hard Fight of Cethern
‘I see a chariot coming across the plain from the north today,’ said Mac Roth, ‘and (in the chari...
The Tooth-Fight of Fintan
Fintan came then to avenge his son's death on them. Thrice fifty armed men was the number of his ...
The Red Shame of Mend
Then there came to them Mend mac Sálchada with a band of thirty armed men. Twelve of them fell at...
The Bloodless Fight of Rochad
Then there came to them Rochad Rigderg mac Faithemain of Ulster with thirty armed men. He took up...
The Humorous Fight of Iliach
There came then to them at Áth Feidle Iliach, the grandfather of Lóegaire Búadach who was son of ...
The Trance of Aimirgin
This then is the trance of Aimirgin in Tailtiu. In his trance Aimirgin pelted them so that no man...
The Muster of the Ulstermen
‘Arise, O Findchad! I send you to Dedad in his inlet, to Leamain, to Fallach, to Illann mac Fergu...
The Vision of Dubthach
‘A wonderful morning for a battle, a wonderful time when armies will be thrown into confusion, ki...
The Trance of Ailill
‘Great is the truce, the truce of Cuillenn. Great the parleys, the parleys of Delend. Great the c...
The March of the Companies
Now while these prophetic visions were happening the men of Connacht, on the advice of Ailill and...
The Muster of the Men of Ireland
That night before the battle Ailill mac Máta chanted these words: ‘Arise, O Traigthrén! I send yo...
The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel
Part I
[1] There was a famous and noble king over Erin, named Eochaid Feidlech. Once upon a time he ca...
Part II
Conaire And His Troops To Dublin'Tis then the man of the black, cropt hair, with his one hand and...
Part III
The Room Of Mac Cecht, Conaire's Battle-SoldierThere I beheld another room with a trio in it, thr...
Part IV
The Room Of Cuscrad Son Of Conchobar"I beheld another room. Therein were eight swordsmen, and amo...
footnotes
Quelle:Epic and Saga. New York, P. F. Collier & son [c1910], Harvard Classics no. 49 i.e....
The Feast of Bricriu
(Fled Bricrend, translated by George Henderson)
Chapter I
Here beginneth the Feast of Bricriu, and the Champion’s Portion ofEmain, and the Ulster Women’s W...
Chapter II
§ 8. The hostages of the braves had gone security on his behalf, andBricriu accordingly bethought...
Chapter III
§ 17. Bricriu, however, and his queen were in their soller. From hiscouch the condition of the pa...
Chapter V
§ 29. Once more the hall became a babel of words, the women laudingtheir men. Then essayed Conall...
Chapter VI
§ 33. Again it was their hap to quarrel about the Champion’s Portion.Conchobar with the nobles of...
Chapter VII
§ 34. “I accept that then,” quoth Cuchulainn. “I agree (lit. I allow it)then,” quoth Loigaire. “L...
Chapter VIII
§ 42. [Thus to the one stead the men of Ulster assembled in councilconcerning the heroes. The thr...
Chapter IX
§ 57. One night as their portion was assigned them, three cats fromthe Cave of Cruachan were let ...
Chapter X
§ 58. Ailill having gone to his chamber, set his back against the wall.He was disquieted in mind,...
Chapter XI
[Thereafter he followed his charioteer. “My plan,” quoth Mève toAilill, “is to keep those three h...
Chapter XII.
§ 66. “Go to the abode of my foster-father and to that of mystepmother,” quoth Mève—viz., Ercol a...
Chapter XIII
§ 72. The heroes ceased their discussions and their babblings and fellto eating and enjoying them...
Chapter XIV
§ 75. “Go forth to the ford of Yellow, son of Fair. He will adjudgeye.” Accordingly the three her...
Chapter XV.
§ 79. On the morning of the morrow the three heroes, Cuchulainn,Conall and Loigaire, then set off...
Chapter XVI
The Champion’s Covenant. § 91. Once upon a time as the Ultonians were in Emain, fatigued afterth...
Foot notes
lit.soller. Gloss of the Christian scribe. This is a mythic reference to Cuchulainn as sun-hero...
The Phantom Chariot of Cu Chulainn
Patrick went to Tam to enjoin belief upon the King of Erin, that is, upon Loegaire, son of Niall,...
This is the Genealogy of Cú Chulaind
[1] [First column:]Cú Culaind son of Sualtamson of Dubthageson of Cubairson of Ler son of Nelrui...
The Battle of Carnn Chonaill
(Autor unbekannt) Diarmait, son of Aed of Sláne, Sinech Cró fostered him. The Connaughtmen used ...
The Adventures of Connla the Fair
Why was Art the Lone One so called? Not hard to say. One day as Connla the Bold, son of Conn the ...
Bran (The Crow)
Wounded full sore is Bran the knight:For he was at Kerloan fight;At Kerloan fight, by wild seasho...
The Wooing of Emer by Cú Chulainn
(An Irish hero-tale of the eleventh century, translated from the original manuscript [Based on LU...
The Birth of Cu Chulainn
Dechtire, the sister of King Conchobar of Ulster, went, along with fifty other maidens, upon an e...
The Wooing of Etain
Quelle: Heroic Romances of Ireland, Volume II ed. and trans. A.H. Leahy. London: David Nutt, 1906.
I. Here Begins the Wooing of Etain
There was a famous king of Ireland of the race of the Tuatha De, Eochaid Ollathair his name. He w...
II. The Wooing of Etain
Eochaid Airem took the kingship of Ireland. The five Fifth of Ireland submitted to him, that is a...
III. The Wooing of Etain
Another time on a lovely summer day Eochaid Airem king of Tara arose and climbed the terrace of T...
Tales of Mongan
Quelle: Ancient Irish Tales. ed. and trans. by Tom P. Cross & Clark Harris Slover. NY: Henry Holt...
THE BIRTH OF MONGAN
Fiachna Lurga, the father of Mongan, was sole king of the province. He had a friend in Scotland, ...
A STORY OF MONGAN
Now once upon a time when Forgall the poet was with Mongan, the latter at a certain hour of the d...
A STORY FROM WHICH IT IS INFERRED THAT MONGAN WAS FINN MAC CUMAILL
Mongan was in Rathmore of Moylinny in his kingship. To him went Forgall the poet. Through him man...