Page:Kuno Meyer - Cath Finntrága.djvu/16

xii prophetic skill. They came to Erinn in clouds of mist (ina caipaib ciach, LL. p. 4 b), and in settling on Slíab Conmacne Réin in Connaught, they caused a solar eclipse of three days and three nights. They had in their possession the spells of druids and charioteers, and cooks and cup-bearers. They brought the great fál with them, &c. They are then finally overcome by the Goidels, or Maic Miled, and are compelled to take up their abode under ground in hills and síd-mansions, whence they are called ‘síde, under ground’ (LL. p. 261 b). Thus they are here clearly identified with the áes síde. As they are imagined to live under earth, the growth of all fruit is thought to be their special care and interest. Thus in the poem on the Fair of Carmun, LL. p. 315 a, beginning Estid, a Laigniu nal-lecht, Carmun and her three sons (their names imply evil) ‘who came from remote Athens westward to Erinn,’ bring evil upon the Túatha Dé Danand by blighting the fertility of their land:

no miltis im Thuathaib Dé, in t'aes duachair naimtide, torud cach thalman co traig: ba fogal adbal ecair.

A tale may here be inserted which has not been published before. Though it belongs to the mythological cycle, it is, curiously enough, in the Stowe MS. 992, fo. 50 a 2, whence I take it, enumerated and given as one of the remscéla of the Táin Bo Cúalnge.

Bui rig amra for Erinn ⁊ for Tuathaibh De Donand .i. in Daghdha Mor mac Eithlend. Bá mór dono cumachta in Daghdha do maccaib Miledh iar n-gabail righi doib ar eigin dar Tuatha D. D. Ar coillsit Tuatha D. D. ith ⁊ blicht im macca Miled conn-dernsat cairrdes frisin Daghda. Dorat sidhe dono ith ⁊ blicht doib ar culu. Ba mor dono a cumachta in tan ro ghab righi for Tuatha D. D., conidh he ro ḟoghail sighdha Erenn do Thuathaib D. D. Lugh mac Eitlend a Sidh Fodrubain, Ogma a Sidh Airchelltrai. Sidh Leithet Lachtmhaighe ⁊ Óo Cualann ⁊ Cnoc Baine ⁊ Brú Ruair. Sigh in Brogha oc in Daghdha bodhein. Is ann sin do luidh Aengus a mac chuigi do cuingidh feraind fair ⁊ ba dalta side do Midhir Brí Leith ⁊ do Ninidh faid. ‘Nimtá-sa ferann duit,’ ol in Daghda ‘⁊ tairnic lim mo ferann do ḟoghail do T. D. D.’ ‘Tabair gid