Matheson Collection > Measgra dánta

NOTES 329
M has 7 qq. in all, viz. the 6 here printed and another (which I in-
dicate as x) ; its order of qq. is ix 2 3 5 4 6. I has 6 qq., in the order
124356. In L the order is ix 2 3 4 5 6, but x and 3 are not in the
original hand (that of Maurice Newby, 1714) but added at a later date
by Peter O'Connell.
MS. Readings. 7 do roithfeadh na gheig M ; da roicheadh don ghéig
I (with a chuid preceding) ; do roicheadh don gheig L. 13 /e (or lé) mo
chloinn MIL ; ? read lent chloinn-se. 16 mh'] an t IL. 's mo] sa XL,
iS ga gcurthar M ; da ccurthaoi I ; da gcurthar L.
76
On the passing of youth.
Sources. 23 D 13, p. 155. H. 6. 14, p. 169. 23 G 27, p. 206.
23 N 14, p. 98. Nat. Lib. xii, pt. 2, p. 170 (" O ").
In D the poem has no title, and consists of qq. 1-4 (in the order
1243), followed by 3 other qq. which have no connection with the
poem and as to which see ' DánfhocaU,' 243 note. (23 O 35, p. 31,
also gives a version of qq. 1-4). In H (dated 1770) the poem is ascribed,
perhaps correctly, to Baothlach Dubh [Mac Aodhagáin]. In G, written
by Mícheál Óg Ó Longáin, the heading is nfeadur da chan an duainsi.
In N, written by the same scribe, the poem is ascribed to an fear céadna,
who in this case is Ó Dála Fionn ; but this ascription is almost certainly
ba?eless. In O the poem is anonymous ; qq. 2, 3 are transposed, and
for q. 6 another q. is substituted.
The original poem in all probabiUty ended with I. 20, for the re-
maining qq. have the appearance of having been added later by a more
pious-minded poet.
MS. Readings. Only the more important are noted. 2 a d. dhamh]
O; a dh. dhamh D ; learn a dh. GNH. 6 dithcheill D ; díthcéill GN.
9 dúinne HO. 12 is treithe ar D. 13 Tugas] Ait GN. mo ghruag]
gruag D. 14 has 8 syllables, imless radharc is reduced to a mono-
syllable or '5 omitted. 15 tosach air léim GN. 18 saoileadh O. 19 ar
mo bheith] mo thoil is GN. cea{i)nntréan tuathail GNH. 20 súgach
GNHO. For 11. 21-24 O has a different q., begiiming Uch ! da saoilfinn
gur bhféidir. 22 cúmhdacht GN. 25 A (?) bhláith H ; Bldith GN ; Air
bhldth O. 26 fóighe GN ; asóghadh H ; sóighne O. 27 do tréigeadh
GN ; do thréigean H ; a tréigean O. aoise] a aoise GH. 34 ar] re GN.
35 Ó] air O. 37, the adjj. are aspirated and inflected in the MSS. ;
for créachtach G reads ghrásaidh. 38 éagnach O (with do for dd) ;
éigneach H ; chdsadh GN. 39 ar] re GN. a ttalmhuin GNO. 40
anam GNO ; anmuin H.