Matheson Collection > Measgra dánta

64 NOTES
4
See introductory note to 3.
The relative do in 1. 2 would point to the poem not being earlier
than the seventeenth centviry ; but of course the original reading may
possibly have been something like a ghiolla théid, etc.
Source. 24 P 29, p. 356.
MS. Readings. 3 an] a. j Main. 9 An sa Mainisdir. 11 bi eas-
buirt an as neoin, which I have emended conjecturally. Another possible
emendation is bidh easbairt ann ar nóin, but this is a syllable short.
On the nuisance of a snoring bedfellow.
Sources. 23 D 4, p. 120 ; with a few readings from 23 B 37, p. 3.
A version consisting of only 4 qq., followed by two stanzas in stress-
metre, is given in 23 K ii, p. 62, where it is ascribed to Aindrias Mac
Cruitin. The ascription may be correct as regards the two later stanzas,
but is wrong for the present poem.
MS. Readings are noted where D is departed from. 5 do dhúisgeocha
D. 8 dad B i ad Y>. 16 gaineamh B ; gainimh D. 20 a om. 25
lachan] na lacha DB. 29 is om. búithre B ; buidhre D. 33 mná
módhan B ; mnd modhach D. [With the conjectural emendation in the
text cf . the common phrase re n-iodhnaibh which was misread by Lhuyd
(followed by O'Brien, Shaw, and 0'R.eilly) as re modhnuibh, whence a
ghost-word, fnodhan, ' child-birth,' was created].
Re lingeadh do lár, 1. 20, seems corrupt ; should we read na a ling-
(eann) ód lár ?
6
On a bad harper.
Sources. The MSS. differ very much, and none of them gives a
satisfactory text, (a) The earliest and least faulty is 24 B 28, p. 339
{ca. 1728). The order of quatrains is the same as in the version printed
here, except that q. 9 comes after q. 4. A final quatrain (" 10 ") has
not been included in the present edition, (b) 23 G 20, p. 241. Order
of qq. I, 2, 4. 3, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10. (c) H 6. 17, p. 163, in hand of William