Hew Morrison Collection > Dàn an Deirg; agus, Tiomna Ghuill (Dargo and Gaul)

NOTES. 103
lìohhaidh, 'son of polishing' (noZ//<rt«?/t=: Zen's) is perhaps Celtic
for Voelund, or Wayland Smith, the mythic discoverer of iron
among the northern nations. However this may be, the legends
of Luno and Vcelund have much in common, e.[/., the Swedish
king, Niduth, carries off Vrelund and forces him to work for
him.self and his people, and though the smith forges many
excellent swords, there is one which surpasses all the rest.
This is the older account, as given in the Vcelundar-quida, but
in the more modern WiUdna-saga (13th or 14th century) Voelund
hides the real sword, and puts off the king with an inferior one.
231. 'a5'c mosgladh. See on Dargo i. 2.
241. Monadli nan smth. See on 1. 108.
252. Mac-talla, 'son of the hall,' or 'of the roek.' (See
Dargo I. 90.
259. Ga d' ghreasad, lit., 'to thy hastening,' like 'n ar còmlid-
hail, 'n ar coinneamh, Dargo I. 27, 31.
272. Dr. Clerk gives three possible derivations of Cromlech,
of which he prefers the first — 1. Circle of stones (crom-leac) ;
2. stone of bowing (worshipping), from cram, ' to bend ; ' 3. a
bent flagstone, from the adjective, cram. In Carricthura 213,
we have the Cròni Chruth-Loduinn, ' circle of the Form of
Loda.'
276. Lit., 'takes to motion,' instead of a simple verb. See on
Dargo I. 86.
291. For the idea or ghosts pursuing their avocations, as on
earth, see Introduction, and cf. Dargo i. 59, 139.
297. Compare a passage in Shelley's poem, 'The Cloud' —
' The stars peep lehind her [the moon] and peer ;
And I laugh to see them whirl and flee
Like a swarm of golden bees.
When I uidcn the rent in my wind-built tent,' etc.
304. 6'iOi //ii'os, or 'unperceived ;' lit., ' without knowledge.'
305. Ulaclia, j^ossibly from uia, 'long grass ' {Dargo I. 332).
307. Dr. Smith cites Thomson, Spring 973 —
" Away they fly
Affectionate, and undesiring bear
The most delicious morsel to their young."
316. Dean innse. See on Dargo i. 86.
317. '• Barbari hi (Celtce) contendunt et esse deos . , . et
prcesignificare futura, magna ex parte per in somnia et stellas "
(yElian ii. 31, quoted by Smith).
338. For the character of the inhabitants of I-frona, see on
1. 89.