This is the poem spoken by Lóch Lethglas, the poet of Indéch Mac Dé Domnann, and is the third “request” he grants to Lug in return for peace. It serves as a peace-treaty or declaration from the Fomoire. There are certain similarities between this poem and the Mór Rígain’s vision of peace (see Poems of the Morrigan, poem B).
The edition is from Elizabeth Gray, Cath Maige Tuired, although I have made some emendations regarding word divisions, and the line-breaks are mine, purely to facilitate reading. The given title, “In Dáil n-Asdadha“, is translated by Gray as “The Decree of Fastening”. I have translated it as “The Agreement of Restraint”, largely to give an alternate perspective on its function.
Lines 702 – 710, Section 141
[Lóch Lethglas speaks…]
Is ann cachain “In Dáil n-Asdadha” do Gaídelaib.
It is then he chanted “The Agreement of Restraint” for the Gaels.
Gébaid foss findgrinde,
The fair keenness / weapon-point will come to an end
descca doine
[the] dregs of people
doman tuircebat
they will restore the earth / they will raise up the depths
ceth torel aurblathaib
even though it perverted blossoms,
ticfait ioth sceo mblicht,
corn and milk will come,
morad indber,
increase of pastures,
ar mesaib marcainib
upon tree-fruits, [upon] fillies
dossuib drongaib darach
[upon] trees, [upon] crowds of oak,
o cridhiu i crib-cedhaib
from [the] heart, in swift consent
celar bron
grief is hidden
berar failti fira
men are welcomed
fo-m-cichet grian
the sun will proceed over me
glessaib saor-caomaib.
[by] free, precious means.
Sinaib serntar fir fletigib
Men are arranged [in] ancient feasting-halls
ailtiu astath-f- comfercca cridhiu.
for heart’s nourishing, restraint of mutual anger.
Celid Fomoire fairrcce, find-casrao,
The sea suppresses the Fomoire, white hail-showers,
sitt bitha banba
Ireland of long lives
echtguidi echtrann,
[is the] conditional plea [for? the] covenant of division [i.e. of the land].
& suthaine feraib finncluiche forbarsed ondiu, cobrath,
and long-lastingness [for] men, that fair games may grow from today, till the end of time,
bid sid ar Fomoire ind Ere.
It will be peace regarding the Fomoire in Ireland.
January, 2013
This is really cool, nice work!