Ossian Collection > Reliquiae Celticae > Volume 2

THE TxVLE OF DEIRDRE.
The Tragical Death of the Sons of Uisiieach ;^ or
the Third Sorrow of the Three Sorrows of
Story- tehing.
A noble, illustrious, and uaost jwwerful King- assumed tlie
sovereignty of the Province of Ulster, whose name was Conchobar,-'
the son of Fachtna Fathach,* son of Rossa, ^ son of Congal
Claringnech,^ son of Rudhraighe Mor " (from whom the Clanna
Rudhraighe take their name), son of Sitrighe, son of Dubh, son of
Foghmor, son of Airgetmar, son of Sii'lamh, son of Finn, son of
Bratha, son of Labhraidh, son of Cairbre, son of Ollamh Fodhla,
son of Fiacha, son of Finnscothach, son of Seadna, son of Airtri,
son of Eibliric, son of Emher, son of Ir, son of Milidh of Spain.
And this brave, provincial, high -king '^ went to partake of a feast
and entertainment to the house of Feidhlim, son of Dall, Con-
chobar's story-teller ; for this was the manner of partaking of a
feast in Emain Macha at that time, namely, five and three score,
and three hundred were the number of the household on a certain
night in the house of each of them.^ And while the feast was
being partaken of, the wife of Feidhlim gave birth to a daughter ;
and Cathbad the druid, who happened to be then of the company,
foreboded and prophesied concerning the child ^'^ that many
calamities and evils would befal the Province on her account.
And when the nobles ^^ heard this, they proposed to put her to
death forthwith. " Let not that be done," said Conchobar ; " but
I will take her with me, and send her to be reared, that she may
.become my own wife." ^- Deirclre,^'' the druid, Cathbad, named
^ Lit. " children," and always so. - Lit. " high -mighty." ^ Usually
shortened into " Conor." * " Fathach " = " the wise." •'' i.e., " Rossa Ruadh,"
" Rossa the Red." * i.e., " Congal of the broad nails." ^ i.e., Rudhraighe," or
" Rory the Great." ^ i.e., Conchobar. ^ Lit. " in the house of every man of
them," i.e., of every entertainer. The parallel passage in O'Flanagan's version
is translated — " The usage at the feast of Eman was, that his own princely
seat was appropriated to each of the household of Conor ; and the number of
the household of Conor was five and three score above six hundred and one
thousand." '" Lit. " daughter." '^ Lit. " heroes." ^~ Lit. " only wife to me."
!•* " Deirdre," from older " Deirdriu," gen. " Deirdrend," like " Eire," from
older "Eiriu," gen. " Eirend" or " Eirenn," now "Eireann." "Deirdre" is
pronounced " Dearduil " in tlie Highlands of Scotland. Hence Macpherson's
" Darthula."