THE CELTIC REVIEW

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THE

CELTIC REVIEW

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY

Consulting Editor: PROFESSOE MACKINNON

Editor: MRS. W. J. WATSON (MISS E. C. CARMICHAEL)

VOLUME VIII MAY 1912 TO MAY 1913

EDINBURGH: WILLIAM HODGE & CO., 12 BANK STREET.

LONDON : DAVID NUTT, 17 GRAPE STREET, NEW OXFORD STREET.

DUBLIN : HODGES, FIGGIS & CO., LTD., 104 GRAFTON STREET.

582309

Edinburgh : T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty

CONTENTS

FAOB

A Concise Old Irish Grammar and

Reader, .... Julius Pokorny, Ph.D.,

Alexander Carmichael, LL.D. Our Interpreter, .

An Comunn Gaidhealach,

An Old Inventory of the Laird of Coil's Writs,

Argyllshire Clans, .

Children's Rimes, .

( Vienna) f Kenneth Macleod,

. 267

. 112 95

Niall D. Campbell, . 97

Rev. A. Maclean Sinclair, 334

From the MSS. of the late Rev. Father Allan Mac- donald, . . .166

Credo's Lament for Cael,

. John M. Paterson,

295

Deirdre — The Highest Type of

Celtic Womanhood, . . Miss A. G. Macdonell, . 347

Dr. Haverfield and the Saxon

Advent in Britain, . . Alfred Anscombe, .

Ewen Maclachlan and Inverness

Royal Academy, . . . Evan M. Barron, .

251 22

From the Vision of Mac Conglinne, Versified by Alfred Percival

Graves, . . .49

Fulacht na Morrigna, Gildas and Arthur, .

. Professor Mackinnon, . 74 . A, 0, Anderson, M.A., . 149

vi THE CELTIC REVIEW

PAGE

Grannie's Baking, . . . Donald A. Mackenzie, . 234

MacBain's Etymological Dictionary, . . . .192

Marbhrann do Alasdair Macghille- mhicheil, Ughdar Carmina Gadelica, .... Alasdair Camshron, . 249

Notes, ....... 288, 365

Note on Musical Instruments in Gaelic Folk-Tales, . . Kenneth MacLeod, . 341

Reviews of Books :

An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language {reviewed by C. M. B.) ; Miss Tolmie's Collection of Gaelic Music : The English Folk-Lore Journal (reviewed by M. N. M.) ; Songs of the Irish Harpers {reviewed by M. N. M.) ; Monumenta Historica Celtica {reviewed by W. J. Watson) ; A Descriptive Catalogue of Gaelic Manu- scripts in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Scotland {reviewed by W. J. Watson) ; Grain Ghaidhealach le Donnchadh Macantsaoir {reviewed by W. J. Watson) ; The Book of Highland Verse : An English Anthology {reviewed by D.M.); Welsh Poetry, Old and New, in English Verse {reviewed by H. Idris Bell) ; Zeitschrift fiir Celtische Philologie ; The Revue Celtique {reviewed by W. J. Watson) ; The Spiritual Songs of Dugald Buchanan {reviewed by Don. Mackin- non) ; Teutontic Myth and Legend {reviewed by D. M^C. ) ; Sea Tangle {reviewed by M. N. Munro) ; Songs of the Mountain and the Burn ; Buile Suibhne : The Adventures of Suibhne Geilt ; The Poem- Book of the Gael : Translations from Irish Gaelic into English Prose and Verse ; The Celtic Annual : Year-Book of the Dundee Highland Society ; Gadelica : A Journal of Modern Irish Studies,

76, 189, 256, 356

The British Race and Kingdom in

Scotland, .... James Ferguson, K.G., 170, 193

The Clan Chattan, . . . Rev. A. Maclean Sinclair, 1

The Executioner of John the

Baptist, .... Professor Mackinn^n, . 168

CONTENTS vii

PA6B

The Gaelic Version of the Thebaid *

of Statius, . . . Profesac/r Mackinnon,

8, 100, 218, 296

The House of the Dwarfs, . . David MacRitchie, . 289

The Literature of the Scottish Gael, Rev. Donald Maclean, 51, 129

The Rev. George Henderson, M.A.,

Ph.D., B.Litt., . . . Professor Mackinnon, . 245

Topographical Varia— VI., . W. J. Watson, LL.D., . 235

Traditions of the Land of Lome and the Highland Ancestry of Robert Burns, . . . The Late Alexander

Carmichael, LL.D., . .314

THE CELTIC REVIEW

APKIL 1912

THE CLAN CHATTAN Rev. a. Maclean Sinclair

The Old Clan Chattan

GiLLECATTAN was bom sometime between 900 and 950 a.d. He was the son of Gallbrait, son of Diarmad the Lector. His successors in the hne of descent were as follows : Nectan, Seth, Snibhne, Muireach, Donald, Malcolm, Gil- christ, Perchar and Seth. Donald, son of Muireach, was born about the year 1120, and was known as an Caimhghille. Caimh stands for Caemh or Coimh, gentle, handsome, or else for camh, strong, powerful. Gille means a young man. Donald was probably both strong and handsome. He was chief of the Clan Chattan, and the progenitor of Clann a Chaimhghille, which would be known in English as the Clan Chewill or Clan Kevill. Donald had two sons, Gille- moluaig and Malcolm. Gillemoluaig and Seth, son of Malcolm, appear on record between 1224 and 1233. They were living in Badenoch, on lands which belonged to the Bishop of Moray. Seth, son of Ferchar, son of Gilchrist, son of Malcolm, had two sons, Ferchar and Leod. Ferchar, son of Seth, was succeeded by his son Seth, who died before the year 1338, and was buried at Dalnafert. Seth, son of Leod, had a son named Suibhne, and probably a son named John. Lachlan, son of Suibhne, was born about 1360, and was chief of the old Clan Chattan, or Clan Chewill, in VOL. viii. A

2 THE CELTIC EEVIEW

1385, the year about which the Skene Manuscript was written.

In 1390 we find Slurach and the whole Clan Chewill charged with taking part with Stewarts, Duncansons, and others in making a raid into the Braes of Angus, and slaying Sir Walter Ogilvy and sixty of his followers in a skirmish which took place. Sir Walter was sheriff of Angus, and was trying to drive the invaders away. Slurach is a misreading for Muirach. There never was such a name as Slurach.

Whilst Lachlan, son of Suibhne, was nominal chief of the clan Chewill in 1390, Muireach, who was probably a brother of Lachlan, was their fighting leader and their real chief. Lachlan married a daughter of Lord Lovat, and had by her Ferchar and Margaret. He died in 1407. Ferchar, his son, was born probably about 1390. Ferchar married a daughter of the laird of Innes, and had Duncan and other children. He died in 1417.

The Clan Vuirich

I. Muireach, the Slurach of 1396, was born about 1365. He was a man of ability and energy, and qualified for leading a clan in the rough days in which he lived. He was the progenitor of the Clan Vuirich, who are just the Clan Chewill under a new name.

n. Duncan, who was probably the second or third son of Muireach, studied for the Church, and was known as Duncan Person or Parson. He was unquestionably a man of ability and determination. He was with the Lord of the Isles in Lochaber, when the latter was attacked and defeated by James i. in 1429, and was taken prisoner. He was then chief of the Clan Chewill, and was probably the only lawful son of his father left alive. He was confined in Tantallon Castle in 1431, and had for companions Alexander, Lord of the Isles, Lachlan Bronnach Maclean of Duart, Torquil MacneiU of Gigha, and Terlach MacFerchar. Lachlan Bronnach' s father and Alexander of the Isles were

THE CLAN CHATTAN 3

first cousins. Torquil Macneill was by origin a Maclean, and was related to Lachlan Bronnach. Terlach MacFerchar was chieftain of the Macleans of Urquhart and was also related to Lachlan Bronnach. Duncan Parson was related to Terlach Mac Ferchar.

It may be regarded as certain that when Duncan Parson found himself in the position of chief of the Clan Chewill he ceased to act as priest. He took as his wife Isabel, daughter of Ferchar, son of Lachlan Mackintosh, the chief who died in 1407, and had by her two sons, Ewen Ban his successor and Bean of Brin, who appears on record in 1490.

in. Ewen Ban was born about 1430. He was married and had three sons, Kenneth, John and Gillies.

IV. Kenneth, son of Ewen Ban, had two sons, Duncan and Donald.

V. Duncan, son of Kenneth, succeeded his father in Cluny.

VI. Andrew, son of Dimcan, was born about 1520. He appears on record as tenant in Cluny in 1591 and 1603.

vn. Ewen, son of Andrew, had two sons, Andrew and John of Nuide.

Andrew, son of Ewen, was born about 1575, and fought at the battle of Glenlivet in 1594. He appears on record as laird of Cluny in 1609. Ewen Og, son of Andrew, was born probably about 1610. He married Ann, daughter of Duncan Forbes of Culloden, in 1641. He joined Montrose in 1645 with three hundred men of his own kin, and distinguished himself as a brave and loyal warrior. He remained with Montrose whilst the war continued. He died in 1647, leaving two sons, Andrew and Duncan. His father sur- vived him about three years. Andrew, elder son of Ewen Og, succeeded his father in Cluny, and his grandfather in the chief ship of the clan Vuirich. He died in 1672, and was succeeded by his brother Duncan, who died without male issue in 1722.

VTTT. John of Nuide was married in 1613, and appears on record as a cautioner or surety in 1641.

4 THE CELTIC EEVIEW

IX. Donald, son of John, received a charter of Nuide in 1643.

X. Ewen, son of Donald, succeeded his father in Nuide. He married a daughter of Lachlan Macpherson of Kinrara.

XI. Lachlan, son of Ewen, succeeded his father in Nuide. He succeeded Duncan of Cluny, both in Cluny and the chief ship of the Macphersons in 1722. He married Jean, daughter of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, and had by her Ewen his successor. He died in 1746.

xn. Ewen of Cluny joined Prince Charles in 1745. He was a strong and active man. He married a daughter of Lord Lovat, and had by her Duncan his heir. He succeeded in getting out of the land of King George and the Duke of Cumberland in 1755. He died at Dunkirk in 1756. Duncan, his successor, was born in 1750 in a kiln for drying grain, the Georgites having burnt his father's house.

Between 1450 and 1500 the descendants of Muireach, father of Duncan Parson, began to call themselves Macvurichs in Gaelic and Macphersons in English. On the roll of clans in 1594, we find the Clan Chattan, Clan Chewill, Clan Chamron, Macinphersons, Grants, and others. In 1645 the gallant Ewen Og made the Macphersons famous in Scotland as a fighting clan. Shortly afterwards the Mackevils, or the Clan Chewill, quietly passed out of sight. What became of them ? They just made Macphersons of themselves.

The New Clan Chattan

The new Clan Chattan or Mackintoshes are a branch of the old Clan Chattan. They are descended from Seth, son of Gilchrist, son of Aigcol, son of Ewen, great-grandson of Neil, a descendant of Gillecattan.

I. Seth, son of Gilchrist, was born about the year 1170. His descendants would be known in Gaelic as Clann Sheath

THE CLAN CHATTAN 5

or Sheagh, and in English as Clan Hay or Hah. Shaw as a Highland name has no connection in meaning with the English name Shaw ; it is simply an Anglicised form of Seth.

As it may seem impossible to those who cannot read Gaelic to get Hay or Hah out of Sheath or Sheagh, I may state that, so far as sound is concerned, sh and th in Gaelic are simply h, that ea is sounded like e in met, and that gJi is sounded almost like y in English.

n. Ferchar, son of Seth, was toiseach or seneschal of Baidenach, and appears on record as a witness in 1234. He had two sons, Seth and Gillemichael. Seth was suc- ceeded by his son Ferchar. Seth, son of Ferchar lived at Dalnafert, and died sometime before the year 1338.

in. Gillemichael, son of Ferchar, had two sons, Ferchar and William. Ferchar was killed about 1271. He left a son named Angus.

IV. William, second son of Gillemichael, was succeeded by his son Ferchar.

V. Ferchar, son of William, had William and other sons.

VI. William, son of Ferchar, succeeded his father as toiseach of Badenach. He had three sons, Ferchar, William, and Donald. Ferchar was molesting the bishop of Aberdeen in 1382, possibly by taking away some of the cattle and sheep on the bishop's lands, and, fortunately for those who take an interest in clan history, got his name put on record. He is described as Ferchar Mac Toschy or Ferchar, son of the Toiseach. He had a daughter who was married to Terlach Maclean in Glen Urquhart, eldest son of Hector Eeaganach of Lochbuie. Terlach and his wife had three children, Ferchar and two daughters. One of the daughters was married to Rory Macneil of Barra. The other daughter was the mother of Donald, first Maclean of Ardgour. Thus, then, the Macneils of Barra and the Macleans of Ardgour are both descended from the fiery Ferchar MacToschy. I often read in Skene's Celtic Scotland about Ferchar and his doings ; but I never knew until I

6 THE CELTIC REVIEW

was writing this article that I am one of his descendants. Such, however, must be the case, for I am certainly de- scended from Donald of Ardgour.

VII. William, second son of William, son of Ferchar, succeeded his father in the line of descent. He hand- fasted with Renilda, daughter of Donald Dubh MacEwan vie Donald vie Gillony, and had by her two sons, Angus and Donald. He married, first, Florence, daughter of the thane of Calder, and had by her Lachlan and Mora. He married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Rory Mor Macleod of Lewis by a daughter of the Lord of the Isles, and had by her Malcolm Beg and four daughters.

VIII. Lachlan succeeded his father as chief of the Clan Hay or Macintoshes. He married Agnes, daughter of Eraser of Lovat, and had by her Ferchar and Margaret. He died in 1407. Ferchar was probably only seventeen or eighteen years of age when his father died. He married Egidia Innes, and had by her Duncan, Malcolm, Ferchar, and a daughter.

IX. Malcolm Beg, second son of William, son of William, was born about 1385. He was an able, energetic, and shrewd man. He was elected chief of the Macintoshes in 1409. He commanded the left wing of the army of the Lord of the Isles at the battle of Harlaw in 1411, the right wing being in charge of Hector Roy Maclean of Duart. He supported King James against the Lord of the Isles in 1429, and thus won the king's favour. He obtained a lease of the barony of Moy in 1437, and a heritable right to Rait and Geddes in 1442. He received a charter of a number of lands in Lochaber in 1443, and a charter of the baiUiary of Lochaber in 1447. He married Mora, daughter of Macdonald of Moydart, and by her had Duncan, Lachlan Badenach, Allan and Malcolm. He died in 1457.

X. Duncan, son of Malcolm Beg, married Florence, daughter of Alexander, Lord of the Isles, and had by her Ferchar his successor. He appears in a bond of friendship

THE CLAN CHATTAN

written in 1467 as Duncan Macintosh, chief and captain of the Clan Chattan. He died in 1496. He was not chief of all the Clan Chattan ; he was chief only of the Macin- toshes, or new Clan Chattan.

Correction

In an article published in this Review in July 1906, 1 held that the combatants on the North Inch of Perth in 1396 were the Clan Chattan and the Clan Cameron. I have given up that view, and have come to the conclusion that the combatants were the Clan Chewill and the Clan Heth. The chiefs of the Clan Chewill or Old Clan Chattan, had been captains of the Clan Chattan, and desired to remain captains ; whilst the chiefs of the Clan Heth, or New Clan Chattan, wanted to oust them and get the captaincy of the Clan Chattan for themselves. The object of the fight on the North Inch was, from the point of view of the combatants, to settle the dispute about the captaincy of the Clan Chattan. From the king's point of view, however, its object was to punish the Clan Chewill and the Clan Heth for their past raids, robberies, and slaughters, and to lead them to refrain for the future from molesting their fellow-men. In the raid made by the Clan Chewill and others into the Braes of Angus in 1390 there were sixty persons slain. In the fight on the North Inch of Perth in 1396 there were sixty persons present whose business it was to kill one another.

8 THE CELTIC REVIEW

THE GAELIC VERSION OF THE THEBAID OF STATIUS

Professor Mackinnon {Continued from page 335)

GAELIC TEXT

Cid tra acht ua fograch fraigthi ua firmainti re muirn acus re mor-mesci na milead ac ol is in ^ tig sin.^ Acus ba h-adbal re innisin eomrada ciuine cosnomacha na n-ingen n-Grecda n-gruad-solus ac ol acus (ac) aibnius is in tig sin. Acus ro bid gach bean builid brat-chorcar ac bibsugnd acus (ac) bansigud re h-ingenaib ailli Adraist and sin, comad ludaiti ^ ecla acus uruaman na fer cuanna coimithech^ sin orro. Acus is and sin tangadar reompo na h-ingena nua-glana narecha gle-gela gruad-corcra .t. Argia acus Deifilen. Acus co snigtis frasa dermara Foi. 5b 1. der dar aichtib na n-ingen ri met na naire in uair sin. Ua h-uruathmar acus ua h-emeltius acus ua imsnim acus ua h-urecla leosom caill a(n) n-oigi acus a n-ingenais do na feraib sin. Uair ni ra badar ar tuind talman in tan sin da ingin uad indruccu annat sin. Air is amlaid batar- sum cend-chaema cosmaile, sul-glasa saineamla, gruad- chorcra grib-glana, bel-chorcra banamla, det-gela dianim,^ lam-gela ^ ^ laichthecha, co sliastib semidib, co colpthaib cumaidib, co traigthib tanaidib, co salaib sar-chruindi.^ Cid tra acht gid fata ro beth "^ fer fiamach fir-glic ac mideam- ain na n-ingen sin, ni fhiter ca ® ragu do berad dib ar a caime acus ar a cosmaili.

Is ann sin imorro ua h-imcumang maigi acus tigi acus coillti ac gasradaib gusmara Grec ac idbairt acus ac onorugud baindsi na n-ingen sin Adraist. Acus o ra uatar-sium amlaid sin atchualatar buaidred acus bresmaidm is na

^ ~ ^ grianan glan-sholus in tigi sin. ^ lugaidi. ^ comthaidecha.

^ Eg. omits. 6 Eg. adds baintecha. ^"^ Eg. omits.

^ Eg. omits. 8 caidhi in.

THE THEBAID OF STATIUS

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Moreover ^ the walls of the firmament resounded with the shouts and the uproar of the warriors as they drank in that palace. A task to relate, it would be, the gentle rivalry of talk among the bright-cheeked Grecian maidens as they drank and made merry in that house. And sprightly purple-cloaked dames were caressing and sooth- ing 2 the beautiful daughters of Adrastus to calm their feelings of fear and timidity in the presence of their hand- some comrade husbands. Then came forward the fresh, bashful, white-skinned, red-cheeked maidens, Argia and Deiphele. Great showers of tears fell from the faces of these girls because of their great bashfulness in that hour. For the surrender of their virginity and maidenhood to these men was to them a cause of dread and hesitation and concern and fear. For there was not on earth's surface at that time two girls of purer mind than they. For they were with fair and shapely heads, glorious blue eyes, brilliant ^ red cheeks, red-lipped, womanly, faultless white teeth, soft white hands, slender thighs, shapely calves, thin feet, heels exquisitely rounded. So it was that however long an observant very acute man would be contemplating these girls, he would not know which of them to prefer for loveliness and beauty.

It was then indeed that the spirited nobles of Greece found their fields and houses and woods too contracted for sacrifices, and (otherwise) celebrating the marriages of the daughters of Adrastus. And while they were thus

1 Th., ii. 223.

^ The Gaelic words are rare, and the exact English equivalents more or less uncertain.

' Grih, ' quick, speedy.' The epithet may refer to quickly changing colour.

10 THE CELTIC REVIEW

feadaib acus is na fidnemedaib umpu. Acus ua comartha duba acus do-broin do na bandsib accu-sum sin ar toin.^ As a h-aithli sin imorro tangadar mna in tire acus in talman i tempull mor-glan Menerua. Uair is ed ua bes acosum in tan sin na h-ingena oga ra f aetitis ^ re fearaib, ro theasctais ^ ni da faltaib is in tempull sin Menerba i comartha genmaigecht. Acus o thangadar-som is in tempoU sin ro thoitestar fadb airm acus etig* Eoraip rig na h-Arcaide, adrochair ^ ri h-Adraist fecht riam remi sin, acus ro thoitsetar ® airm acus ilfhaobair ar cheana batar is in tempull sin, acus ro crithnaigseadar riu stoc fhog- raigthi dermar do-fholachta as gach aird d'a n-indsaigid. Ua derb-airdeada demnacha sin, acus ua figrad "^ fir-uilc. Acus ro impatar-sum am mach do cum in rig o t' chualatar na h-idna uruada sin. Acus nir indisetar do'n rig sin, acht ro uadar fen a crithugud comraid etarru fen.

Acus ro bai airrdi ^ urbada aili ann sin. Uair is amlaid ro bai [in] ingen^ Argia .t. ban-chele^^ Polinices mic Eidip, acus cumtach alaind orda im a bragait .i. muntorc alaind ingantach Hermione. Ua feochair fir-chruthach in fnthi sin ; ua h-aindsech ^^ acus ua h-urbadach in n-aiscid sin do cech oen ac a m-(b)id. Uair is e Ulchan uruadach, gaba imneadach ifrin, ro airic in gnim sin. Acus is di do rigni Ulcan in comdach n-orda sin .t. d' Ermione, d'ingin Mairt mic loib da ^^ dei in chatha acus Uenerech ^^ ban-dei na toili. Acus is ime tuc-sum sin di ^^ sin dar ulcaib ria. Uair ua h-i caem-chele Ulcan Uenir uan- cumachtach. Acus is tar cend Ulchain do roigne Mairt in n-ingin Ermione re Uenir. Conid immi sin da rigni Ulcan in set sir-(bli)uan son-shercach sin re silliud sechtair fair co neimh ^^ nathrach, co lingur loiscend, co Foi. 5b 2. salchar slama-tened acus saignen, co mongaib dub- glasa duaibsecha dracon, co leccaib lasamna loiscthecha

1 Eg. omits. 2 faidhfidis. ^ tescidhdis.

* eidigh. 5 itorcair. « thoitset.

• fidradh. § airgedlia. ^ Eg. omits. ^^ cele. 11 h-ainnsglennach. ^^ Eg. omits.

^2 Uener. w dise. " Ed. indistinct

THE THEBAID OF STATIUS 11

occupied they heard noises and crashing in the woods and sacred groves around. They afterwards regarded this as a sign of dool and great sorrow to these nuptials. After that, moreover, the women of the land and country went into the great holy temple of Minerva. For at that time it was a custom among them that young maidens when about to wed should cut off a lock of their hair in the temple of Minerva in token of chastity. Now when they went into the temple the forfeited ^ weapons and armour of Euippus King of Arcadia, who was slain by Adrastus a long time before, fell, and the other weapons and spears which were in the temple fell, and loud sounding, very large, hoarse trumpets from every side caused them to tremble. These were to them sure tokens of disaster and premonitions of woe. They turned out towards the King when they heard these ominous signs. But they did not inform the King of the matter, though they spoke of it in whispers to one another.

And 2 there were other omens of evil besides. For thus was the girl Argia, the wife of Polinices son of Oedipus, with a lovely ornament of gold around her neck, viz. the beautiful, wondrous necklace of Harmonia. Superb, very beautiful was that jewel (?) ; unlucky and disastrous was that gift to every one who owned it. For it was baleful Vulcan, the dread smith of hell, who wrought out this deed. And it was for Harmonia the daughter of Mars, son of Jove, the god of war, and of Venus, the goddess of desire, that Vulcan made this golden ornament. And it was for bringing evil to her that he gave it to her. For Venus the goddess was the beloved spouse of Vulcan. And it was behind Vulcan's back that Venus had Har- monia by Mars. Whence it was that Vulcan, because of the dishonouring of him, made this durable, love-pro- voking jewel, from the venom of a serpent, the slime (?) of a toad, the refuse of flakes of fire and thunderbolt, with

* fadb^ now faohh, ' spoil, booty ' : the arms and armour of the vanquished were frequently spoken of as fadh in Gaelic. * Th., ii. 265.

12 THE CELTIC EEVIEW

ar medon ann, comma (dh)ruited re daba, acus coma fiuchtugad fergi, acus coma grendugad galair do gach oen ac a m-bid. Acus is i cetna nech ar ar imir a h-airm(b)erta uruada u. Ermione, ban-chele chuanna Chathim mic Agenoir. Acus is le side ro cumdaiged in Teib ar tus, riam ar a soed in bean sin in nathraig n-granda n-geranaig aroen re Cathim mac Agenoir, co m-bitis aroen ac sir- fetgaire is na moigib cuana caithmecda. Acus as a h-aithli sin ro siacht in muntorc sin co Semile, ingin Cathim mic Agenoir. Acus is di sin tuc loib in grad n-dermar. Acus ni luaithi ranic in muntorc sin d'a h-indsaigid na thanic lunaind, ingean Shatuirn .i. bean loib, d'indsaigid na h-ingine ir-richt a mumi, acus is ed adrubairt re Semila : ' Cundig-siu,' ar si, ' comairle acus comriachtain rit is in delb i comraiceann re h-Iunaind.' Acus ro chuindig Samilia amlaid sin ar loib comriachtain ria. Acus ro comroic loib ria-si a richt saignen telctech tendtide amal da nid re h-Iunaind, cu ra loiscead fo chetoir Semile, uair nir fhaelastar-si delrud na diadachta do ben ria. Acus is tre bithin in muntorc sin ro loit loscend in n-ingen sin amar fhorglit na faibli guacha gentlidi sin. Acus indister CO roibi in cumdach comthnudach colach sin ac lochasta, mathair Polinices. Acus is tre na bithin sin ro ui si ace a mac uaden .t. ac Eidip co rue da mac do .t. Ethiocles acus Polinices. Et tuc Polinices ar sin h-e d'a ban-chele uadein .t. do Argia, da i ingin alaind Adraist. Ua dereoil acus ua dimicin re siair-si .t. Deifile,^ a cumdach brigach bannsi ac fegadh in muntuirc ingantaich orda sin. Et o t' chonnairc imorro Erifile caem-chele Amfiarus in ni sin tucasdair saint sir-chuindcheda ^ air co n-ar bh(fh)earrdi le a bethu 'n a ingnais. Acus tuc Argia disi in n-aiscid sin. Acus ro chuir si iar sin Ampiarus ar eigin do chum in chatha araon re h- Adraist acus re Polinices gus na sluagaibh acus gus na secht righaib do tabairt in chatha ind aghaidh na Tiabanda acus Eitiocles. Ro cuired iar toin in cath, acus ro meabhaid for Adraist acus for Polinices, acus ro marbad

* do. 2 Beifilen. 3 cungedha.

THE THEBAID OF STATIUS

13

the dark-grey hideous manes of dragons, with flaming, scorching jewels in the centre of it, so that it would be a presaging of sorrow and a kindling of wrath and a threaten- ing of disease to every one who possessed it. The first person who suffered from its destructive qualities was Harmonia, the winsome wife of Cadmus son of Agenor. He it was who founded Thebes, before his wife as well as himself was changed into a hideous, hissing serpent, when both were ever whistling among the fair, fruitful fields. Afterwards the necklace went to Semele, the daughter of Cadmus son of Agenor. It was she whom Jove greatly loved. No sooner did the necklace reach her than Juno, daughter of Saturn, and wife of Jove, went to the girl in the guise of her nurse, and spoke to Semele thus : ' Request him,' said she, ' to commune with you and approach you in the shape in which he approaches Juno.' And Semele made the request to Jove to visit her thus. And Jove embraced her in the guise of a hurling, fiery thunderbolt, as was his custom with Juno, and Semele was instantly burnt up, for she could not endure the touch of the divine brilliance. And it is because of that necklace that a toad wounded that girl, as the false, heathenish fables declare. And it is reported that Jocaste mother of Polinices possessed that contentious, sin-causing orna- ment. And it was because of it that she was (wife) to her own son Oedipus, and bore him two sons, Etiocles and Polinices. Polinices thereafter gave it to his own wife Argia, the beautiful daughter of Adrastus. Her sister Deiphile held her own rich bridal ornaments of little value and worth when she viewed that wonderful necklace of gold. And when Eriphyle the beloved wife of Ampiarus beheld it, such longing desire to possess it seized her that she preferred death than to be without it. Argia bestowed the gift upon her ; and she in turn sent Ampiarus per- force to the war with Adrastus and Polinices, together with the hosts and the seven kings, to wage war against the Thebans and Etiocles. The battle was afterwards fought,

14 THE CELTIC REVIEW

na secht righa ann acus Polinices. Acus ni taineic duine no bethadach as acht Atraist a aenar. Acus ro baidhedh Ampiarus. Almeon dno mac Aimpiarus ro marbh seic a mathair .t. Enifilie, ar as i fodera a athair do bhadhadh •t. Aimpiarus. Ro ghabh iar sin cuthach Almeon^ a h-aithli a mathair do marbadh do. Ro tothlaig iar Foi. 6ai. sin a bean for Almeon .t. Cailliore isidhe, in muntorc, ar ro ba doigh le co b-fuighbed se slainte da scara^Z an muntorc ris. Tugad disc h-e iar sin in muntorc acus ar aoi ^ ni moite ^ fuair-siom slainte. Taineic iar sin athair a mathar go h- Almeon .t. Pleigh, acus ro marbhustar Almeon .u mac a ingine a cinta a ingine, mathar Almeon fen. Ro tothlaig ben ^ Almeon .t. Calliore ar loip co ro coimededh a da mac bega di co tisadh dhibh dighailt a n-athar ren,^ acus soc a n-anmanna sidhe. Atrachtatar sidhe iar sin, acus ro tinolatar sidhe sluagh mor dermhair do cum Pleighe, acus ro fuagratar cath fair. Ro tinoil dno Pleighi a muinntir acus a mileda ar aoi. Ro cuinneigh Pleighe cairde bliadna for na macaibh gan cath do cur ris. Adrubratar-samh do bherdaois, da m-beith a chend-sam aca-samh ris in bliadain sin ar n-a buain da meidhe. Adubairt Pleighi nach tibrad a cend doibh da dheoin. Ro cuirsit iar sin cath go fichdo feochair f ergach leth for leth, acus ro marbadh sluagh dirim di-airmhe etorra ar aoi. Ro meabaid in cath for Pleighi. Acus ro siachtatar da mac Almeon chuige acus adubhratar ris : ' In tucus let,' ar siat, ' Almeon ? ' ' Ni tucas,' ar se, ' acus da m-beith agum ^ do beroinn.' Ro bensat iar sin maca Almeon a cend do Pleighi, acus tucsat ar dermhair for a muinntir (etir) macaibh (ocus) mnaibh. Tancatar iar sin d'a tigh, ar m-breith buadha acus coscair. Finit do seel an muinntuirc'

As a h-aithle sin imorro ro chuir Polinices ag cinn bliadna techtaire do chum a bhrathor .t. Eitiocles. Tit

1 Ed. has .1. Caillidire isidhe scraped out. ^ ^i^ 3 moidi.

* setid. ^ ioT fen, due to the influence of the preceding 'r' (?).

6 Eg. adds a trath sa, "^ Eg. adds ann sin.

THE THEBAID OF STATIUS 15

and Adrastus and Polinices were defeated, and the seven kings were slain, and Polinices as well. And neither man nor beast escaped save Adrastus only. And Ampiarus was overwhelmed. Further Alcmaeon son of Ampiarus slew his mother Eriphyle, she being the cause of his father Ampiarus's destruction. Then Alcmaeon went mad after he slew his mother. Thereafter his wife Callirrhoe requested Alcmaeon to give her the necklace, for she was certain that he would get well again if the necklace and he were parted. It was given to her thereafter, but he did not any the more regain health because of that. Then the father of his mother, Phegeus, came to Alcmaeon and slew his daughter's son, for the crime of his daughter, Alcmaeon' s own mother. Alcmaeon's wife Callirrhoe requested Jove to protect her two little boys, until they would be able to avenge their father's death. (Thus) their minds were at peace. ^ After- wards they arose and mustered a great host against Phegeus and challenged him to battle. Phegeus also gathered his people and warriors to oppose them. Phegeus asked the youths a year's respite from battle. They replied that this would be granted, provided that during that year they had possession of his head cut off his neck. Phegeus said that he would not willingly surrender his head to them. The battle was thereupon fought fiercely, viciously, wrathfully on either side, and a great, innumer- able host was slain in that fight. Phegeus was defeated. The two sons of Alcmaeon approached him and said : ' Have you brought,' said they, ' Alcmaeon ? ' 'I have not,' said he, ' but if I had him I would have brought him.' Thereupon the sons of Alcmaeon beheaded Phegeus, and made great slaughter of his people, upon boys and women. Thereafter they returned home with victory and triumph. Here ends the story of the necklace.

2 Afterwards Polinices, at the end of the year, sent Tydeus as ambassador to his brother Etiocles. The

^ The reading seems clear, but the meaning is not so. Sochty ' silence,' is common, but I have not met a verb soc, ^ Th., ii. 414.

16 THE CELTIC REVIEW

ainm an techtaire. Acus adubhairt an techtaire fris in flaites do leigen d'a brathair. Ro ghabh ferg mor Eitiocles acus adubhairt (in) ni tairredh,^ ni leicfedh uadha, acus ni dhenadh cert na dligedh uime, acht muna rucadh iom- arcraidh t-sluaigh no catha uadha e. ' Acus nocha denaim-si ' ar se, * fich na f ormad um aird-cendas na Gregi uili tre charadrad an rig Adraist, acus leigid damsa bruigi cairrgeacha cumga na Teibi tonn-glaisi. Acus is iris limsa go rip'e m'athair Eidip, (acus) bid dai(t)rebachaib aigimsim,' ar se, ' .t. Pelops mor mac Tantail acus loif mac sona Saduirnn. Acus is misi,' ar se, ' ra clechtsad an t-oirecht-sa orra, acus ni h-ail leo,' ar se, * f o mamugadh ^ do choraid chundtabartach, acht beith ag aen rig dilis derr- scaitheach, uair each flaithius na ba feidil ni choiglend do chineadaib, (acus) nach faiceann tusa an t-adhuath acus in n-egla ^ ata ar m'oirecht-sa ar mo dul-sa dib ? Agus dno ni leigfed maithi na treb Tiabanda misi dib itir na rigi do thabairt dosum.'

Acht tra ni ro damastair do Thid a chloisteacht na eisteacht ris na baith-cheileabraib briathar sin Eitiocles. Is and sin imorro adubairt Titt : ' Do bera,' ar se, ' an flaithus uaid, acus gid tri mtiir adbal mora iaraind ro beidis ad timcheall ar n-a cumdach do Impion airigda. Foi. 6a 2. 4 Acus is cisidc * cet duine ^ ris ar ^ cumdaigead mur na Teibi ar tus. Acus ni denad sin (acht) a chruith cheol-bind choguasta do sheinm, acus ticdis croinn acus clocha ua cheol a chruiti-sim co teigdis ar an ® mur. Acus cid airm acus ilfhaebar acus teinti an talman, ni dad t'aincfed co robais "^ marbtha mugaigthi o'r n-armaib-ni. Acus biaid do mind rig a t'egmais araen re d' chenn. Acus is truaigi lem,' ar se, ' an digail do berthar ar na cethernaib croda cara donda do bera let is in chath ad t'(fh)arrad bodein. Uch tra,' ^ ar se Tid, ' bud adbal na h-air acus na h-esraigi ar slesaib sleibi ^ Chit^ron. Acus biaid tuili falcmar fala i sruith alaind Ismen do'n chomrac sin. Acus

^ ta,TTadh. ^ madmugw^. ' umegla. *~* Eg. omits.

^"^ sisir. ^ oen. '' rabhdais. ^ Eg. omits. ^ t-sleibi.

THE THEBAID OF STATIUS 17

ambassador said to Etiocles to give over the dominion to his brother.^ Etiocles became very angry. He said that he would not. He would not yield (the sovereignty), nor would he do right nor justice with respect to it, unless superior numbers or the fortune of war would snatch it from him. ' And I shall not,' said he, ' make quarrel nor dispute about the supreme rule of the whole of Greece, (in which you have interest) because of (your) alliance with King Adrastus, only leave to me the rocky, contracted confines of green-surfaced Thebes. Moreover my father, as I do not forget, is Oedipus, while you trace your origin to the great Pelops son of Tantalus, and to Jove the happy son of Saturn. Besides,' added he, ' the people have become accustomed to my rule, and they do not desire,' he continued, ' to displace me for a champion of uncertain ways ; they prefer to be under one devoted, distinguished monarch, for no dominion not under continuous rule escaped (the attacks of) other tribes. Do you not see the terror and fear of my people at (the thought of) my ceasing to rule them ? Moreover the chiefs of the Theban race will on no account suffer me to give over the sovereignty to him.'

2 But Tydeus could not endure to hear or listen to these wild ravings of Etiocles. So Tydeus then said : ' The dominion,' said he, ' will be taken from you, even though the three huge, vast iron walls which were built by the renowned Amphion surround you. It was he who first built the walls of Thebes originally. And all he had to do was to play his sweet, melodious, hollow lyre, and trees and stones followed the music of the lyre and took their place on the wall. Notwithstanding your weapons and many spears and stjrongholds, they shall not protect you, but you will be slain and destroyed by our arms. And you shall lose your crown as well as your head. And more do I lament,' added Tydeus,

^ The original text is largely compressed. 2 Th., ii. 452. VOL. VIII. B

18 THE CELTIC EEVIEW

ni h-ingnad lem,' ar se, ' each olc do dentai, uair ba ^ croda colach each ^ eineadh or' geineadbair. Acus ni fhuil do Tiabandaib uiH duine nach indtamlaigenn ^ d'a athair ar ule, acht mad Polinices. Is digeltar ortsa,* a Etiocles,' ar se, ' th'ule fein, can rigi na ^ bhadna-sa do thabairt duindi, uair nocha sirmid acht sin.'

Et ^ o ra labair Tid dana derrsgaidteaeh amlaid sin ar tairrseach an tigi rig,*^ tainig roime eo dian acus eo debil,^ amal tanig an tore tren ^ adbal allaid do chuir Dean d'innrad agus d'osubad ^^ erich na Calidone, ar ba ferg le can idbairt do denam di do lueht na Cailidoine, eo n-eirgid a guairi gairb-liath gaisideach amal fhidbaid os a eind, eo n-taidlidis saignena solusta as a fiaelaib cromad ^^ eruaid- gera im a leicenib lan-granna re glonn-beimnig ^^ a claideam no ^2 a clomair, an trath eo n-tuindsned ar a cheih h-e eo n-taehlad acus eo n-togluaiseadh cairgi troma thuinidi an talman acus fualascada fada na fidbaidi a h-eoehair-imhb srotha ^^ Achileus, an tan eo n-tuairgidis sealgaireda sir- luatha gasraigi Greg, eo n-fhagaib in tore sin Tailemon tar a h-eis, acus eo ra traseair an coraid eurata Ixion eo ra marb an miHd mor-ehalma Meliager ^^ ua deoig h-e. Acus is fa'n samla sin tanig an tren-fer ealma Cailidonda a h-oirecht thnuthach na Teibi, mar bad air fein do bertha era ma ^^ fhlaithus. Acus ua tindisnach toirbert ^^ an fhir sin is na sHgthib soineamlaib so-imtheachta. Acus do diubraich uadh ^'^ an fleisc n-ola-crainn ro bai 'n a laim a comartha sidha. Acus ro badar mna na Tiabanda seal ag sith-silleadh an gilla sin, acus do badar ag eadarguidi eacha h-uile do Thid. Acus do badar ag imragad uilc an a n-aigentaib da rig bodein .t. Etiocles.

Is and sin imorro ra bai an fer meblaeh mi-eomairleeh neimdeach naeimdigi .c Etiocles ag sgrudad an a menmain eindus do beradh imdeall aoigeaga ^^ m' an teehtairi togaidi

1 is. 2 in ^ innsamluigec?. * Ed. adds acus.

^ Eg. omits. ^ Eg. omits. ^ rigi sini. ^ dedhbel.

^ Eg. omits. ^^ do fhasugud. " croma. ^2-12 jjg omits.

i3^t-srotha. ^* Ed. Meiag^r. ^^ ma'n. ^^ tairberta.

^■^ Ed. indistinct. ^^ innell a6igedha.

THE THEBAID OF STATIUS 19

* the fate of the brave, loyal, valorous troops which you will bring to the battle by your side. Alas indeed,' continued Tydeus, ' terrible will be the slaughter and disasters on the slopes of Mount Cythaeron ! And the lovely stream of Ismen will run in torrents of blood after that conflict. Nor do I wonder,' continued Tydeus, 'at the many evils you have done, for cruel and wicked were the race from whom you have sprung. And there is not a single Theban, save Polinices alone, who does not equal his father in crime. And your own evil deeds will be avenged on you, Etiocles,' concluded Tydeus, ' since you refuse to yield this year's rule to us, seeing we ask nothing more.'

Now after the bold, distinguished Tydeus spoke thus on the doorstep of the palace, he went forward swiftly and speedily like the mighty, huge, wild boar which Diana sent to harry and lay waste the country of Calydon (she being wroth because the people of Calydon did not sacrifice to her), with his rough-grey hairy mane like a forest above his head, with his curved, hard, sharp tusks gleaming like lightning flashes in his hideous cheeks, and with his crunch- ing jaws, by which, when he squeezed them against each other, he could dig up and remove heavy boulders fixed in the earth and the tall brushwood of the forest on the banks of the river Achelous when the nimble huntsmen of the Grecian populace chased him. That boar laid Telamon on his back, and overthrew the heroic champion Ixion, but was at length killed by the very brave warrior Meleager. In this wise the brave, mighty man of Calydon left the stern assembly