DEIRDRE’S LAMENT FOR THE SONS OF USNACH.
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Of the many Irish-Gaelic and Scottish-Gaelic and English translations and paraphrases, I have selected the rendering of Sir Samuel Ferguson. The original Erse is of unknown antiquity. (See Introduction.)
THE LAMENT OF QUEEN MAEV.
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This admirable translation is by Mr T. W. Rolleston (vide Note to p. 166), after the original in The Book of Leinster.
THE MARCH OF THE FAERIE HOST.
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This striking poem is given as translated by Professor Kuno Meyer. It and other verses are to be found, in the original, in The Book of Lismore (15th century). The particular narrative therein deals with the visit of Laegaire mac Crimthainn to the land of Faerie. The episodic portion of this narrative has been translated and edited by Mr Standish Hayes O’Grady (see Silva Gadelica); but the general reader may be more interested in the brief and lucid commentary of Professor Kuno Meyer (see The Voyage of Bran—with Essay on the Celtic Elysium, by Mr Alfred Nutt—recently published by D. Nutt). Professor Meyer considers this and the other verses of “Laegaire mac Crimthainn” to be as old as the 10th century period. “The Faerie Host,” as here given, is fragmentary, being part of an episode; but I have further curtailed it by three lines, for the sake of effect and unity of impression. The other three lines are—
“At all times melodious are they,
Quick-witted in song-making,
Skilled at playing fiachell.”
VISION OF A FAIR WOMAN.
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This characteristic Scoto-Celtic poem is supposed by some scholars to be very ancient. The Gaelic version permits of some doubt on the conjecture, but the text is not in this instance conclusive. The “Aisling” will be found in Smith’s Collection of Ancient Poems, from the Gaelic of Ossian, Ullin, Orran, and others (1780)—the reputed originals of which were published in 1787. See, for easier reference, Nigel MacNeil’s Literature of the Highlanders, p. 218.
THE FIAN BANNERS.
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