IV. DUAN ALBANACH.

Of the Dalriadans, of whom we have lately spoken, we have no doubt of the truth of the little we have attempted of their origin and genealogy in this book. We set down, however, here an ancient poem of the history of the Kings of Scotland.

Thus it speaks, although it is defective in counting the kings in the last quatrain, and according to other accounts:


            O all ye learned of Alba!
            Ye well skilled host of yellow hair!
            What was the first invasion — is it known to you?
            Which took the land of Alba?
            Albanus possessed it, numerous his hosts;
            He was the illustrious son of Isacon,
            He and Briutus were brothers without deceit,
            From him Alba of ships has its name.
            Briutus banished his active brother
            Across the stormy sea of Icht.
            Briutus possessed the noble Alba,
            As far as the conspicuous promontory of Fothudan.
            Long after Briutus the prosperous, the good,
            The race of Nemhidh took it,
            Erglan, after having disembarked from his ships,
            After the destruction of Conaing's tower.
            The Cruithnians seized it afterwards,
            After they had come from the plain of Eri,
            Seventy noble kings of them
            Possessed the Cruithnian plain.
            Cathluan was the first king of them,
            (I tell unto you briefly),
            The last king of them was
            The brave hero Cusaintin.
            The children of Eochadh after them
            Seized upon Alba, after great wars;
            The children of Conaire, the comely man,
            Chosen men were the mighty Gaedhil.
            The three sons of Erc, son of Eochadh the valiant,
            Three who obtained the blessing of Patrick,
            Seized upon Alba, exalted was their courage,
            Loarn, Feargus, and Aongus.
            Ten years was Loarn (it is known to fame)
            In the government of the bounds of Alba,
            After the generous, courageous Loarn,
            Seven and twenty years reigned Fergus.
            Domhangart, the son of noble Fergus,
            Numbered for five turbulent years;
            Twenty-four without a battle
            Are assigned to Comhghall, son of Domhangart.
            Two prosperous years without contempt,
            After Comhghall, are assigned to Gabhran,
            Three years five times without interruption,
            Was Conall, son of Comhghall, king.
            Four years and twenty in possession,
            Was Aodhan, king of many provinces;
            Ten years seven times, a glorious career,
            Was the sovereignty of Eochadh Buidhe,
            Connchad Cearr reigned a quarter, renowned in fame,
            Sixteen years his son Fearchar,
            After Fearchar (inspect the poems),
            The fourteen years of Domhnall.
            After Domhnall Breac, of the towns,
            Conall and Dungall, ten years,
            The thirteen years of Domhnall Dunn,
            After Dungall and Conall.
            Maeldun, son of Conall, of forays,
            Reigned seventeen years legitimately,
            Fearchair the Long, behold thou
            Passed one year over twenty.
            The two years of Eochadh of steeds,
            He was the brave king of royal mansions;
            For one year was king afterwards
            Aincheallach the Good, son of Fearchair.
            The seven years of Dungal the impetuous,
            And four to Alpin,
            The three years of Muireadhach the good,
            Thirty to Aodh, as supreme king.
            Four and a score, not imbecile,
            Of years Domhnall spent;
            The two years of Conall of glorious career,
            And the four of another Conall.
            The nine years of Cusaintin the fair;
            The nine of Aongus over Alban;
            The four years of Aodh the noble;
            And the thirteen of Eoghanan.
            The thirty years of Cionaoith the hardy,
            Four Domhnall of the ruddy countenance,
            Thirty years, with his vigour,
            To the hero, to Cusaintin.
            Two years (hard was his complexion)
            To his brother, to Aodh, of the white flowers;
            Domhnal, son of Cusaintin the fair,
            Reigned a year four times.
            Cusaintin, brave was his combat,
            Reigned six and two score years;
            Maolcoluim four years;
            Indolph eight, of supreme sovereignty.
            The seven years of Dubhoda the vehement,
            And four of Cuilen,
            Twenty-seven over every clan,
            To Cionoath, son of Maoilcholuim.
            Seven years to Cusaintin, listen!
            And four to Mac Duibh,
            Thirty years (as verses mark)
            Was Maelcolaim king of Monaidh.
            The six years of Donnchad the wise,
            Seventeen years the son of Fionnlaoich;
            After Mac Beathaidh, the renowned,
            Seven months was Lughlaigh in the sovereignty.
            Maelcoluim is now the king,
            Son of Donnchad the florid, of lively visage,
            His duration knoweth no man
            But the Wise One, the Most Wise. O ye learned.
            Two kings over fifty, listen!
            To the son of Donnchadh of royal countenance,
            Of the race of Erc, the noble, in the east,
            Obtained Alba, O ye learned.