Page:Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry - Meyer.djvu/37

 DEIRDRE'S FAREWELL TO SCOTLAND

A beloved land is yon land in the east, Alba with its marvels. I would not have come hither out of it, Had I not come with Noisi.

Beloved are Dun Fidga and Dun Finn, Beloved is the fortress above them, Beloved is the Isle of the Thorn-bush, And beloved is Dun Sweeny.

Caill Cuan! Unto which Ainnle would go, alas! Short we thought the time there, Noisi and I in the land of Alba.

Glen Lay! There I used to sleep under a shapely rock. Fish and venison and badger's fat, That was my portion in Glen Lay.

Glen Massan! Tall is its wild garlic, white are its stalks: We used to have a broken sleep On the grassy river-mouth of Massan.

Glen Etive! There I raised my first house. Delightful its house! when we rose in the
 * morning

A sunny cattle-fold was Glen Etive.

Glen Urchain! That was the straight, fair-ridged glen! Never was man of his age prouder Than Noisi in Glen Urchain.