What should bring us in presence of the hero And the many havens, straits, and seas Not in vain was the sleep of the maiden, Vain it is to strive with the storm; Loch Etive of the elements is far away from their course, And Connel of the masted woods so green. No wind shall come from the south, my grief! The venom of the north wind will not cease, Naos will never come back in his life, He never will ascend the hill of the deer. To him Fifth is nearing And Connachar of the wiles in his palace there, Wherein Darthula gave her love. Delightful to Darthula was the youth Whose face shone like the day, Of the lustre of the raven were his locks, His skin was like the foam of the stream, His heart was manly and generous, But when arose his wrath and his ire Like as is the strength of waves- So was the clang of the glave of the brave. Mar reodhairt a bhuinne bhorb, "Ionmhuin," ors' an oigh thlath, "An t-aineol o bhlar nam beud, Ach 's goirt le cridhe 'mhathar, A dhainead ri uchd na streup." "A nighean Cholla nan sgiath," Ach a Dhearduil bu ghrinne nos, "B' ioma-ghointe mo chridhe ma 'm athair, 'Us chrom mi gu talamh ga thearnadh, Ach chaochail ruthadh a ghruaidh, Threig a shnuagh us a chail e." Chaidh long Chlann Uisne eir tir "Clann eir seachran a t'ann, "Cha Chlann air seachran liomsa sibh, Thug sibh uam a bhean am braid, Like the spring-tide's powerful flood When looking forth from the top of her tower. Beloved, said the lovely maiden, Is the stranger from the field of war, Is his rashness on the field of strife. "Thou daughter of the Coll of the Shields," Spoke Naos of the melodious voice, "Far from us is Alba of the Feinne And Etive of the brown brindled hinds." But Darthula of the kindliest grace, The noise of the waves and of the wind Is changing thy speech of melody. Much grieved was my heart for my father But the ruddy colour of his cheek forsook him, The ship of the Children of Uisne went ashore Below the great town of Conachar, Conachar came out with his forces (Twenty strong-headed heroes) And he demanded in words of wrath, "Who are the people on board this ship?" "Children astray are we, Three who came over the ocean On the truce and the faith of the king "Children astray ye are not to me, "Eirich a dheagh Naos 'us glac do chlaidheamh, Chuir Naos a shailltean ri bord, Shorchar mic Uisne 's a ghreis Cha d'fhagadh meangan, meur, no geug diubh. "Gluais, a Dhearduil, as do luing, A gheug ur an abhra dhuinn, 'S cha 'n eagal dha do ghnuis ghlain, Fuath, no eud, no achmhasan.' "Cha teid mi mach as mo luing, Cha tir, cha talamh, cha tuar, Cha triuir bhraithre bu ghlan snuagh, Ach mo chead a dhol dha 'n traigh, Ghluais Dearduil a sin dha 'n traigh, "A shaoir is fearr ga'm facas riamh, Aon fhainne buadhach na h-Eirionn." Arise, thee Naos, and grasp thy glave, Naos placed his heels to the board Overpowered were the sons of Uisne in the combat, Destroyed by the blasting eitidh, Nor branch nor bough nor twig is left. Move thee Darthula from thy ship Thou beauteous branch of the brown eyelids, And nought to fear has thy pure soul From hatred jealousy or reproach." "I will not go out of my ship Till I obtain my choice petition It is not land nor country nor riches, It is not the three brothers of fairest form, It is not gold nor silver nor horses, Neither am I a proud woman, But my leave to go to the strand Where the three Children of Uisne are lying Moved Darthula then to the strand And there she found a wright trimming oars, And his axe he had in his other. "Thou wright the best that has ever been seen Is the one choice ring of Erin." |