[17] The Gaelic original is Beanchaointeach (Banchainte) Conchubhar fein, etc., and means literally Concobar’s Conversation-woman, which perhaps might be rendered as “gossip.”
[18] I have adopted here, as more euphonious, the name given to the eldest of the sons of Usna (Uisneach) by Macpherson in “Darthula.” The old spelling is Naoise. Ainnle (Ailne, Ailthos) means “beautiful,” and Ardan, “pride.”
[19] The Cruithne, or Picts, had their chief stronghold at Beregonium, overlooking the Bay of Selma, not far from the mouth of Loch Etive, below the Falls of Lora, in West Argyll.
[20] To this day, the Highlander of Western Argyll and of Inverness-shire is familiar with the Fort of the Sons of Usna, above one of the lochs which constitute what is now known as the Caledonian Canal.
[21] Western India.
[22] This is a free paraphrase of the original as given by Dr. Cameron in the Reliquiæ Celticæ. The original consists of nine short quatrains. In the second, the names mentioned are Dun Fiodha, Dun Fionn, Innis Droighin, and Dun Suibhne. In the following quatrains the old and modern names are practically identical. The modern Glendaruel was formerly Glendaruay (Gleann da Ruadh), the Glen of the Two Roes, or Glennaruay (Gleann na Ruadh), the Glen of the Roes. Innis Droighin is again alluded to in the last verse. It is now called Innis Draighneach, meaning the Island of Thorns, and is situate in Loch Awe.
[23] Literally “O d’chuala Feargus sin, do rinneadh rothnuall corcra dhe O bhonn go bathas.” (When Fergus heard this, he became a crimson mass from the foot-sole to the face.)
[24] This sentence is literal after the old Gaelic as translated by Dr. Cameron. Apropos of the mention of the chessboard in the next sentence (as once before), it may be added that the ancient Celtic kings and lords had a passion for chess.
[25] Agus d’ibh deoch, agus tainigh amach aris, etc., “and he drank a drink,” etc.
[26] Scandinavia.