This version of Lugh's coming is excerpted from "Mór ar bhfearg riot, ri Saxan", a poem for Maurice FitzMaurice, 2nd earl of Desmond, who died somewhere between 1356 and 1358. This is part of the story of the Tuatha Dé Danann's struggles with the Fomor, which culminated in Lugh's victory at the Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh (Moytura). The manuscript it came from is RIA A iv 3.
| Middle Irish | English translation |
|---|---|
| Tabhás do Lugh, leannán Teamhra, * | [It was] revealed to Lugh, Temuir's lover, * |
| thoir i nEamhain, * | east in Emain [Abhlach], * |
| dá ránaig sé ar súr gach domhain | at which he left, to seek through all the earth |
| Múr Té, Teamhair. | Te's Fort, Temuir. |
| -- | -- |
| Dúnta an chathair ar chionn Logha, | The stone fort was closed up in preparation for Lugh, |
| laoch ro thoghsom; | a very choice hero; |
| téid gusan múr sleamhain slioschorr, | [he] touched with power the sleek, smooth-walled fort, |
| beanaidh boschrann. | seizing the knocker. |
| -- | -- |
| Ar an doirseóir ris an deaghlaoch, | Said the doorguard to the noble warrior, |
| fá doirbh ruaigfhearg: | who was stern and swift to anger: |
| cáit as a dtig an fear áith ógard | "From what hall came the keen man, young and tall, |
| bláith geal gruaiddearg. | smooth, bright and red-cheeked?" |
| -- | -- |
| Ris an doirseóir | To the doorguard |
| a dubhairt Lugh nár loc iomghuin: | said dark-spoken Lugh, who did not shun combat, |
| file meise a hEamhain Abhlaigh | "I'm a poet from Emain Abhlach |
| ealaigh iobhraigh. | of swans and yews." |
| -- | -- |
| Nocha dligi, ar doirseóir Teamhra, | "An earned thing," said the doorguard of Tara, |
| tocht diar ndaighthigh; | "A hard coming to the noble house |
| atá fear réd cheird san chathraigh | it is for a man of that craft into the stone fort, |
| a dheirg dhaithghil. | oh red and bright-colored one." |
| -- | -- |
| Teach Miodhcuarta ag Macaibh Eithleann * | [In] Meadcourt House, the Sons of Eithliu * |
| um an amsoin, | -- back then, |
| tréidhe an tighe fheactha fhinnsin | the curved bright white house's property |
| teactha tharrsaibh. | must be told to the messenger. |
| -- | -- |
| Do thréidhibh Thighe Miodhchuarta, | "Because of the property of Meadcourt House -- |
| is mín críochbhuird, | it is a fine enclosure-wall -- |
| nach leigthear d%s inn re haoincheird, | we are not two of us learned in the same craft, |
| a fhinn fhíochbhuirb. | oh white one, fierce in war. |
| -- | -- |
| D'iomad ceard ag Tuaith Dé Danann, * | "So many crafts are with the Tuatha Dé Danann, |
| dháileas bruta, | distributors of cloaks, |
| ceird ar nach fuil aithne aca | [you need] an art that their knowledge is not acquainted with, or |
| caithfe chuca. | used to." |
| -- | -- |
| Is dum cheardaibh, | "Is there a craftsman |
| ná ceil is tigh i dtá an bhuidhean, | that is together in the house in which the company is, the hostel, |
| léim ar bhailg is gan a bloghadh, | [that can] leap on a bubble without it breaking?" |
| tairg dá thuireamh. | -- an offer for his recounting. |
| -- | -- |
| Snámh ós éidtreóir, | "Swimming over weakness |
| iomchor dabhcha ar drummaibh uilleann | [&] carrying a vat on the back of the arm |
| atá dhá cheird ar mo chumhang, | are two arts in my capacity," |
| eirg dá fhuighioll. | he says for his declaration. |
| -- | -- |
| Atá sonn d'iomurcaidh orra | "It is here in excess beyond them, |
| an uiread tuirmhim, | the fresh telling -- |
| 'sní fhuil ina gceird mo choimhghrinn, | and not known in the arts, my perceptive one, |
| ní d'fheirg fhuighlim. | nor an angry declaration." |
| -- | -- |
| Ar gcluinsin ar chan an macaomh, | On hearing [what] the young noble said -- |
| mór a thaimséin, | great of fame -- |
| d'agallaimh Thuath Dé don doirseóir, | the Tuatha Dé Danann's doorguard, to proclaim it |
| luath é ainnséin. | his haste was great. |
| -- | -- |
| Fear san doras ar an doirseóir | "A man's in the doorway," said the doorguard, |
| rén doirbh coimmeas. | "who has no match. |
| an uile cheard ar a chommus, | All of the arts are in his power, |
| an dearg doinndeas. | the red one, brown and comely." |
| -- | -- |
| Damadh é Lugh, leannán Fódla | "If it were Lugh, lover of Fódla |
| na bhfonn sriobhfhann, | of the slow streams' song, |
| do bheith ann, ar Tuath Dé Danann, | that was there," said the Tuatha Dé Danann, |
| dob é a ionam. | "it's time for him." |
| -- | -- |
| Geall n-éasgaisg ón fhior san doras | "To take the prize away from the man in the doorway is not easy -- |
| damhna leisgi, | a cause for reluctance -- |
| nocha ndearnadh d'úir ná d'uisgi | nothing made of earth or of water |
| dúil dán dleisdi. | [dares to try it]. |
| -- | -- |
| A thaobh, a aghaidh, a earla, | "His side, his face, his hair -- |
| eochair thogha, | the key of choosing -- |
| triar ar snuadh aoil agus umha, | a trinity in color -- of white lime and bronze |
| agus fhola. | and blood. |
| -- | -- |
| Binni a theanga | "A sweetness of tongue |
| 'ná téada meannchruit 'ga míndeilbh, | like smooth-shaping on lute strings |
| ón sádhail suan, | for comfortable sleep |
| i lamhaibh suadh agá sísheinm. | in an artist's hands for a time ever-playing." |
| -- | -- |
| Issé sin, ar sluagh na cathrach, | "It's he himself," said the troop of the city, |
| ar gceann báidhe, | "our head of love, |
| aonmhac Eithni, * | Eithne's only son, * |
| saorshlat ar nach beirthi báire. | free graft that is not matched in plans. |
| -- | -- |
| Brosdaighthear, ar Tuath Dé Danann, | "Stir yourself," said the Tuatha Dé Danann, |
| doirseóir Teamhra, | "doorguard of Temuir, |
| d'ionnsoighidh na craoibhe cubhra, | towards the fragrant branch, |
| aoighe Eamhna. | [the] guest from Emain." |
| -- | -- |
| Mása thú an tIoldánach oirrdhearc | "The golden red legs of you, the one of all trades, |
| an airm ghlaisghéir | the grey and sharp weapons -- |
| is mo chean duid, ar an doirseóir, | [to them] is my welcome," said the doorguard, |
| a bhuig bhaisréidh. | "oh gentle smooth-palmed one. |
| -- | -- |
| Tair san dúnadh, ol an doirseóir, | "Come into the stronghold," said the doorguard, |
| Dia do bheatha; * | "God give you life." * |
| ac, ná hosluig, | "No, [I won't walk in]," |
| ar an tslat lér cosnaid creacha. | said the graft striving enough for prey. |
| -- | -- |
| Teamhair Airt, go héirghi gréine, * | [At King] Art's Temuir, till the sun's rising -- * |
| geis don dúnadh | [it's] a geis to the stronghold -- * |
| oslugadh an dúin do dhéanamh | [walking into the fort] |
| arná dhúnadh. | [when it's a stronghold]. |
| -- | -- |
| Níor mhill geasa | "[I will not] spoil the geis |
| ghrianáin Teamhra an teaghlaigh airmdheirg; | on Temuir's sunroom, the red-weaponed dawnhouse." |
| tug céim ar gcúl, | The step back is done, |
| rug léim isan mhúr don mhaighleirg. | the leap taken -- the wall plain-sloped. |
| -- | -- |
| Ní bhrisfeadh ar bhailg ós abhainn, | There's no distance-break for a bubble over a river |
| d'aighthibh ógbhonn, | of the fighting young sole, |
| léim ÿith éadtrom | a keen leap ____ |
| a dhá dhéagbhonn réidh mblaith mbrógdhonn. | of two smooth noble soles in smooth brown shoes. |
| -- | -- |
| Mar sin táinig go Teagh Miodhchuart | So himself came to Meadcourt House |
| na múr ngreadhnach, | of the merry wall |
| dár fhóir a fholt gleannach gabhlach | at the boundary -- forked wavy hair |
| teallach Teamhrach. | to Temuir's hearth. |
* Teamhra/Temuir: Teamhra, pronounced Tara, is the genitive case of Temuir.
Temuir, aka Tara, was the royal center of Meath and Ireland. It had long been
abandoned when this poem was written.
* Emain [Abhlach]: Avalon, the Isle of Apples -- perhaps the Isle of Man.
* Teach Miodhcuarta ag Macaibh Eithleann/[In] Meadcourt House, the Sons of Eithliu: Teach Miodhcuarta, Meadcourt House, was Temuir's feasthall. Every great fort had a meadcourt. The Sons of Eithliu is another name for the Tuatha Dé Danann.
* Tuaith Dé Danann/Tuatha Dé Danann: The Goddess Dana's People. Many of them were worshiped as gods. When the Milesians came to Ireland, the TDD went oversea and underground. Many are kings and queens of fairy hills in today's Irish legends.
* Eithni/Eithne: Lugh's mother, a daughter of Balor, king of the Fomorians. His father was Cian, son of Dian Cecht (the TDD's main doctor). [Thanks to Francine Nicholson for this!]
* Dia do bheatha/God give you life: A traditional Irish welcome.
* Teamhair Airt/King Art's Temuir: One of the famous (post-Lugh) kings who ruled at Temuir.
* geis/geis: A action which must be followed or avoided to keep from
being destroyed or weakened. In this case, Lugh is telling the doorguard that
Temuir could be destroyed if he enters through the door after dark, because
it is a geis that nobody should.