Fragments Of Ancient Poetry, Fragment XV

[1]Where is Gealchossa my love, the

daughter of Tuathal-Teachvar?

I left her in the hall of the plain, when I

fought with the hairy Ulfadha. Return

soon, she said, O Lamderg! for

here I wait in sorrow. Her white breaft

rose with sighs; her cheek was wet

with tears. But she cometh not to meet

Lamderg; or sooth his soul after battle.

Silent is the hall of joy; I hear not

the voice of the singer. Brann does

not shake his chains at the gate, glad

at the coming of his master. Where

is Gealchossa my love, the daughter of

Tuathal-Teachvar?

[Footnote: The signification of the names in this fragment are; Gealchossack, white-legged. Tuathal-Teachtmhar, the surly, but fortunate man. Lambhdearg, bloodyhand. Ulfadba, long beard. Fichios, the conqueror of men.]

Lamderg! says Firchios son of Aydon,

Gealchossa may be on the hill;

she and her chosen maids pursuing the

flying deer.

Firchios! no noise I hear. No

sound in the wood of the hill. No

deer fly in my sight; no panting dog

pursueth. I see not Gealchossa my

love; fair as the full moon setting on

the hills of Cromleach. Go, Firchios!

go to Allad, the grey-haired son of

the rock. He liveth in the circle of

stones; he may tell of Gealchossa.

[Footnote: Allad is plainly a Druid consulted on this occasion.]

Allad! saith Firchios, thou who

dwellest in the rock; thou who tremblest

alone; what saw thine eyes of

age?

I saw, answered Allad the old, Ullin the son of Carbre: He came like a

cloud from the hill; he hummed a surly

song as he came, like a storm in

leafless wood. He entered the hall of

the plain. Lamderg, he cried, most

dreadful of men! fight, or yield to Ullin.

Lamderg, replied Gealchoffa,

Lamderg is not here: he fights the

hairy Ulfadha; mighty man, he is not

here. But Lamderg never yields; he

will fight the son of Carbre. Lovely art

thou, O daughter of Tuathal-Teachvar!

said Ullin. I carry thee to the

house of Carbre; the valiant shall have

Gealchossa. Three days from the top

of Cromleach will I call Lamderg to

fight. The fourth, you belong to Ullin,

if Lamderg die, or fly my sword.

Allad! peace to thy dreams!--found

the horn, Firchios!--Ullin may

hear, and meet me on the top of Cromleach.

Lamderg rushed on like a storm.

On his spear he leaped over rivers. Few

were his strides up the hill. The rocks

fly back from his heels; loud crashing

they bound to the plain. His armour,

his buckler rung. He hummed a surly

song, like the noise of the falling

stream. Dark as a cloud he stood above;

his arms, like meteors, shone.

From the summit of the hill, he rolled

a rock. Ullin heard in the hall of

Carbre.--