The Triads of Ireland
1. The Head of Ireland—Armagh.
2. The Dignity of Ireland—Clonmacnois.
3. The Wealth of Ireland—Clonard.
4. The Heart of Ireland—Kildare.
5. The Seniority of Ireland—Bangor.
6. The Comfort19 of Ireland—Lusk.
7. The Sport of Ireland—Kells.
8. The Two Eyes of Ireland—Tallaght and Finglas.
9. The Sanctuary of Ireland—the House of Cairnech upon the Road of Asal.20
10. The Purity of Ireland—Scattery Island.
11. The Abbey-church of Ireland—Glendalough.
12. The Jurisprudence of Ireland—Cloyne.
13. The House of Wages21 of Ireland—Ferns.
14. The Singing the Litany of Ireland—Lismore.
15. The Lore of Ireland—Emly.
16. The Legal Speech of Ireland—Cork.
17. The Learning of Ireland—Roscarbery.
18. The Wantonness of Ireland—Terryglas.
19. The Spiritual Guidance of Ireland—Clonfert.
20. The Curse of Ireland—Lorrha.
21. The Judgment of Ireland—Slane.
22. The Severity of Piety of Ireland—Fore.
23. The Delight of Ireland—Ardbrackan.
24. The Simplicity22 of Ireland—Roscommon.
25. The Welcome of Ireland—Raphoe or Drumlane.
26. The Charity of Ireland—Downpatrick.
27. Trichtach Hérenn Dairchaill.
om. BM techtach E Durcaill N Darachill L
28. Fossugud Hérenn Mag mBile.
Mag Mile L
om. L
30. Ailbéimm Hérenn Cell Rúaid.
aulbeimnech L Ruadh N Ruadain L
31. Genas Hérenn Lann Ela.
32. Trí tairleme Érenn: Daire Calgaig ⁊ Tech Munna ⁊ Cell Maignenn.
om. HBM
33. Tri aithechpuirt Hérenn: Clúain Iraird, Glenn Dá Locha, Lugbad.
aithich Lec heathachbuirg M Lugmag NBM
34. Trí clochraid Hérenn: Ard Macha, Clúain Maic Nóis, Cell Dara.
clothraige BM clothrai N clochraid L clochraidi Lec
35. Trí háenaig Hérenn: áenach Tailten, áenach Crúachan, áenach Colmáin Ela.
haenaigi L Colman MSS
36. Trí dúine Hérenn: Dún Sobairche, Dún Cermna, Cathair Chonrúi.
duin NBM
37. Trí slébe Hérenn: Slíab Cúa, Slíab Mis, Slíab Cúalann.
sleibte BM
38. Trí haird Hérenn: Crúachán Aigli, Ae Chúalann, Benn mBoirchi.
hard N cích Cualann L benna LN
39. Trí locha Hérenn: Loch nEchach, Loch Rí, Loch nErni.
Rib BM Rig N
40. Trí srotha Hérenn: Sinann, Bóand, Banda.
41. Trí machairc Hérenn: Mag Midi, Mag Line, Mag Lifi.
maige HBM
42. Trí dorcha Hérenn: úam Chnogba, úam Slángæ, dercc Ferna.
doirchi L uaim Chruachan NL uaim Condba B uaim Cnodba HM Slaingai BM Slaine N Slaine ⁊ uaim Chruachan nó dearc Fearna add. H
43. Trí díthruib Hérenn: Fid Mór hi Cúailgni, Fid Déicsen hi Tuirtri, Fid Moithre hi Connachtaib.
dithreba BM Fid Dexin N
44. Trí dotcaid Hérenn: abbdaine Bendchuir, [A] abbdaine Lainne Ela, ríge Mugdorn Maigen.
dotchaid LHLec [A].i. ar imad argain air L abdaine Sláne nó Colmain Ela BM Laind Ela BM
27. The... of Ireland—Dairchaill.
28. The Stability of Ireland—Moville.
29. The Martyrdom of Ireland—Dulane.
30. The Reproach of Ireland—Cell Ruaid (Ruad’s Church).23
31. The Chastity of Ireland—Lynally.
32. The three places of Ireland to alight at: Derry, Taghmon, Kilmainham.
33. The three rent-paying places of Ireland: Clonard, Glendalough, Louth.
34. The three stone-buildings of Ireland: Armagh, Clonmacnois, Kildare.
35. The three fairs of Ireland: the fair of Teltown, the fair of Croghan, the fair of Colman Elo.
36. The three forts of Ireland: Dunseverick, Dun Cermna,24 Cathir Conree.
37. The three mountains of Ireland: Slieve Gua,25 Slieve Mis, Slieve Cualann.26
38. The three heights of Ireland: Croagh Patrick, Ae Chualann,27 Benn Boirche.28
39. The three lakes of Ireland: Lough Neagh, Lough Ree, Lough Erne.
40. The three rivers of Ireland: the Shannon, the Boyne, the Bann.
41. The three plains of Ireland: the plain of Meath, Moylinny, Moy-Liffey.29
42. The three dark places of Ireland: the cave of Knowth, the cave of Slaney, the cave of Ferns.
43. The three desert places of Ireland: Fid Mór (Great Wood) in Coolney, Fid Déicsen (Spy-wood) in Tuirtri,30 the Wood of Moher in Connaught.
44. The three unlucky places of Ireland: the abbotship of Bangor, the abbotship of Lynally, the kingship of Mugdorn Maigen.31
45. Trí huilc Hérenn: Crecraigi, Glasraigi, Benntraigi.
Grecraigi HBM
46. Trí cáemnai Hérenn: abbdaine Lusca, ríge trí Cúalann, secnabbóite Arda Macha.
ríge fer Cualann NL sechnap L segnab-i nArdmachai N
47. Trí trága Hérenn: Tráig Ruis Airgit, Tráig Ruis Téiti, Tráig Baili.
trachtai L
48. Trí hátha Hérenn: Áth Clíath, Áth Lúain, Áth Caille.
49. Trí sligid Hérenn: slige Dála, slige Asail, slige Midlúachra.
sligthi MSS
50. Trí belaige Hérenn: Belach Conglais, Belach Luimnig, Belach Duiblinne.i. Átha Clíath.
belaig L Conglaisi N Luimne N.i. Átha Clíath om. N
51. Trí drommanna Hérenn: Druimm Fingin, Druimm nDrobeoil, Druimm Leithe.
om. HBM
52. Trí maige Hérenn: Mag mBreg, Mag Crúachan, Mac Liphi.
53. Trí clúana Hérenn: Clúain Maic Nóis, Clúain Eois, Clúain Iraird.
54. Trí tellaige Hérenn: tellach Temrach, tellach Caisil, tellach Crúachan.
Temair Crúachu Caisel HBM
55. Trí hessa Hérenn: Ess Rúaid, Ess Danainne, Ess Maige.
56. Trí fothirbi Hérenn: Tír Rátha Laidcniáin, Slíab Commáin, Slíab Mancháin.
om. HBM fothairbe N
57. Trí tiprata Hérenn: Tipra na nDési, Tipra Húarbeoil, Tipra Úaráin Garaid.
tiubrai N tipra Cuirp N nDési HBM tipra Uarainn Garaid HBM t. Uaran nGarad N Breifene N tipra Braithcleasan Brigdi H Braichleasan Brigde BM
58. Trí haimréide Hérenn: Breifne, Bairenn, Bérre[A].
haimreid L Boirind M [A] Beandtraigi H
59. Trí hinbera Hérenn: Inber na mBárc, Inber Féile, Inber Túaige.
60. Trí hairderca Hérenn: Léimm Conculaind, Dún Cáin, Srub Brain.
hirrdraici H oirrdirc M
45. The three evil ones of Ireland: the Crecraige,32 the Glasraige, the Benntraige.33
46. The three comfortable places of Ireland: the abbotship of Lusk, the kingship of the three Cualu,34 the vice-abbotship of Armagh.
47. The three strands of Ireland: the strand of Ross Airgit,35 the strand of Ross Teiti, the strand of Baile.36
48. The three fords of Ireland: Ath Cliath (Hurdle-ford), Athlone (the Ford of Luan), Ath Caille (Wood-ford).37
49. The three highroads of Ireland: Slige Dala,38 Slige Asail, Slige Luachra.39
50. The three mountain-passes of Ireland: Baltinglass, the Pass of Limerick, the Pass of Dublin.
51. The three ridges of Ireland: Druim Fingin, Druim nDrobeoil, Druim Leithe.40
52. The three plains of Ireland: Moy Bray, Moy Croghan, Moy Liffey.
53. The three meadows of Ireland: Clonmacnois, Clones, Clonard.
54. The three households of Ireland: the household of Tara, the household of Cashel, the household of Croghan.
55. The three waterfalls of Ireland: Assaroe, Eas Danainne,41 Eas Maige.
56. The three fields (?) of Ireland: the land of Rathlynan, Slieve Comman, Slieve Manchain.
57. The three wells of Ireland: the Well of the Desi, the Well of Uarbel,42 the Well of Uaran Garaid.
58. The three uneven places of Ireland: Breffny, the Burren, Beare.
59. The three estuaries of Ireland: Inver na mBarc,43 Inver Feile,44 Inver Tuaige.45
60. The three conspicuous places of Ireland: Cuchulinn’s Leap,46 Dunquinn, Sruve Brain.47
61. Trí gnátha Hérenn: Tráig Lí, Lúachair Dedad, Slíab Fúait.
gnath N gnáith HM Líí N
62. Trí hamrai la Táin Bó Cúailnge:.i. in cuilmen dara héisi i nÉrinn; in marb dia haisnéis don bíu.i. Fergus mac Róig dia hinnisin do Ninníne éicius i n-aimsir Corbmaic maic Fáeláin; intí dia n-aisnéther, coimge bliadna dó.
om. HBMLec coimde N
63. Trí meinistri fer Féne:.i. cích, grúad, glún.
64. Trí dotcaid duine: deog therc d’uisci, ítu i cormthig, suide cumang for achad.
dotchaid L dodcaid BM luige dige BM luige re dig H
65. Trí dotcaid threbtha: gort salach, iarmur cléithe, tech drithlennach.
dotchaid L dodcaid B iarmor B
66. Trí hairgarta ecalse: caillech fri clocc, athláech i n-apdaine, banna for altóir.
hairgairt L hairgair H hurgoirt B ina habdaine B bainne NM bæn̄ for a haltoir B
67. Trí fáilti co n-íarduibi: fer tochmairc, fer gaite, fer aisnéise.
fochmairc NHBMLec aisneidsi N
68. Trí bróin ata ferr fáilti: brón treóit oc ithe messa, brón guirt apaig, brón feda fo mess.
is ferr H ita ferr L at ferr N broin MB ac aipgiudud BM ig messrugud H
69. Trí fáilti ata messu brón: fáilti fir íar ndiupairt, fáilti fir íar luga eithig, fáilti fir íar fingail.
measum B iar ndiubairt N iar mbreith diubarta BM iar mbreith a dibirta H failte fir luga eithig B fir om. BM failte fir iar marbad a bráthar a[c] cosnom a ḟeraind fris BM
70. Trí fiada co n-anḟiad: gréss i n-óentig fri muintir, uisce rothé dar cosa, bíad goirt cen dig.
fiad L anbfiad N tri fiaidaichi ad mesa H greasa BM for cosaib HM dar cosaib NB biad goirt doib B
71. Trí dotcaid maic athaig: clemnas fri hócthigern, gabáil for tascor ríg, commaid fri meirlechu.
dotchaid L dodca d B hoigthigearna MN tarscur BM tascor (nó tarcor) N tairrseach (!) L
72. Trí dotcaid threbairi: tarcud do drochmnái, fognam do drochḟlaith, cóemchlód fri drochḟerann.
dodchaidh B targad BM drochlaith M drochlaech H claechlud H caemclodh M drochírind B
73. Trí búada trebairi: tarcud do degmnái, fognam do degḟlaith, cóemchlód fri dagḟerann.
trebtha N targad B deadlaech H claechmod H deigferand HM degthigern (!) B
61. The three familiar places48 of Ireland: Tralee, Logher, the Fews.
62. Three wonders concerning the Táin Bó Cúailnge; that the cuilmen came to Ireland in its stead; the dead relating it to the living, viz. Fergus mac Róig reciting it to Ninníne the poet in the time of Cormac mac Fáeláin; one year’s protection to him to whom it is recited.
63. The three halidoms of the men of Ireland: breast, cheek, knee.
64. Three unfortunate things for a man: a scant drink of water, thirst in an ale-house, a narrow seat upon a field.
65. Three unfortunate things of husbandry: a dirty field, leavings of the hurdle, a house full of sparks.
66. Three forbidden things of a church: a nun as bellringer, a veteran in the abbotship, a drop upon the altar.
67. Three rejoicings followed by sorrow: a wooer’s, a thief’s, a tale-bearer’s.
68. Three sorrows that are better than joy: the heaviness of a herd feeding on mast, the heaviness of a ripe field,49 the heaviness of a wood under mast.
69. Three rejoicings that are worse than sorrow: the joy of a man who has defrauded another, the joy of a man who has perjured himself, the joy of a man who has committed parricide.50
70. The three worst welcomes: a handicraft in the same house with the inmates, scalding water upon the feet, salt food without a drink.
71. Three unfortunate things for the son of a peasant: marrying into the family of a franklin, attaching himself to the retinue of a king, consorting with thieves.
72. Three unfortunate things for a householder: proposing to a bad woman, serving a bad chief, exchanging for bad land.
73. Three excellent things for a householder: proposing to a good woman, serving a good chief, exchanging for good land.
74. Trí hóenaig eserte: célide hi tig gobann, célide hi tig ṡáir, dul do chennuch cen áirche.
hænaigi nasearta B neiseirti H haonaige neserte N esertai Lec airrdhe N
75. Trí cóil ata ferr folongat in mbith: cóil srithide hi folldeirb, cóil foichne for tuinn, cóil snáithe dar dorn dagmná.
foloingead imbith B is ferr isin mbith N sreibe LLec srithide B srithide foildeirb N
76. Trí duirn ata dech for bith: dorn degṡáir, dorn degmná, dorn deggobann.
for doman BM dorn sair dorn gabonn dorn daim N degdaim BM
77. Tréde conaittig fírinne: mess, tomus, cubus.
tri conaitig B
78. Tréde conaittig brethemnas: gáis, féige, fiss.
a tri conaitig B
79. Trí túarascbála étraid: osnad, cluiche, céilide.
osnaid N miad LBM
80. Tréde ara carthar escara: máin, cruth, innraccus.
a tri BM treidi H gnás alaig erlabra HM airdearcus B
81. Tréde ara miscnigther cara: fogal, dognas, dímainche.
treidi H a tri M tri L fogail H dimainecht HM
82. Trí buirb in betha: óc contibi sen, slán contibi galarach, gáeth contibi báeth.
contib BM contibe N gallrach BM gallrai N bæth contib gæth BM
83. Trí buidir in betha: robud do throich, airchisecht fri faigdech, cosc mná báithe do drúis.
urchuidme ria foidhech N ærcuidmed fri foigeaeh B mná druithi B
84. Trí cáin docelat éitchi: sobés la anricht, áne la dóer, ecna la dodelb.
doceilead eitig B handracht B dodealb B dodeilb N
85. Trí héitich docelat cáin: bó binnech cen as, ech án amlúath, sodelb cen tothucht.
doceiled BM beinnech N
86. Trí óible adannat seirc: gnúis, alaig, erlabra.
haibne adannaid searc B adanta serce N alaid N
87. Trí haithne co fomailt: aithne mná, aithne eich, aithne salainn.
haithneada Lec tomailt B ṡalainn L
88. Trí búada téiti: ben cháem, ech maith, cú lúath.
teite N buadnasa tétnai HBMLec
89. Trí ségainni Hérenn: fáthrann, adbann a cruit, berrad aigthe.
segaind M tri comartha segainn N segraind B Hérenn om. MB fatraind B fadbann N fadhbond MB aigthe om. BM a cruit om. MN
74. Three holidays51 of a landless man52: visiting in the house of a blacksmith, visiting in the house of a carpenter, buying without bonds.
75. Three slender things that best support the world: the slender stream of milk from the cow’s dug into the pail, the slender blade of green corn upon the ground, the slender thread over the hand of a skilled woman.
76. Three hands that are best in the world: the hand of a good carpenter, the hand of a skilled woman, the hand of a good smith.
77. Three things which justice demands: judgment, measure, conscience.
78. Three things which judgment demands: wisdom, penetration, knowledge.
79. Three characteristics of concupiscence: sighing, playfulness,53 visiting.
80. Three things for which an enemy is loved: wealth, beauty, worth.54
81. Three things for which a friend is hated: trespassing,55 keeping aloof,56 fecklessness.
82. Three rude ones of the world: a youngster mocking an old man, a healthy person mocking an invalid, a wise man mocking a fool.
83. Three deaf ones of the world: warning to a doomed man, mocking57 a beggar, keeping a loose woman from lust.
84. Three fair things that hide ugliness: good manners in the ill-favoured, skill in a serf, wisdom in the misshapen.
85. Three ugly things that hide fairness: a sweet-lowing cow without milk, a fine horse without speed, a fine person without substance.
86. Three sparks that kindle love: a face, demeanour, speech.
87. Three deposits with usufruct: depositing a woman, a horse, salt.
88. Three glories of a gathering: a beautiful wife, a good horse, a swift hound.
89. Three accomplishments of Ireland: a witty stave, a tune on the harp,58 shaving a face.
90. Trí comartha clúanaigi: búaidriud scél, cluiche tenn, abucht co n-imdergad.
tri comartha cluanaide N clu ænaigh M cluænaige B teinn L tind BM abocht HLec abhacht M co n-imnead nó imdergad HLec co n-uaithiss L co n-aitis N
91. Trí gena ata messu brón: gen snechta oc legad, gen do mná frit íar mbith ḟir aili lé, gen chon ḟoilmnich.
ad meassam HMB mesom L drochmna LN frit om. L iar fes le fer n-aili H iar mbeith fri araile BM foleimnighe N foilmig dot letrad H foleimnigh (foilmnig B) agud rochtain dott ithe MB
92. Trí báis ata ferr bethaid: bás iach, bás muicce méithe, bás foglada.
ad HBM beatha H iaich L bás iaich bás muici meithi bás fodhladlu L fogladai N fodalada B bás bithbenaig B luifenaich Lec
93. Trí húathaid ata ferr sochaidi: úathad dagbríathar, úathad bó hi feór, úathad carat im chuirm.
uath ada N ad M is H deagbriathar H degflaith MB
94. Trí brónaig choirmthige: fer dogní fleid, fer dia ndéntar, fer ibes menip sáithech fleid om. B fer nostairbir H fer teid dia tairtiud minab saitheach M
95. Trí cuitbidi in domain: fer lonn, fer étaid, fer díbech.
cuidmidi H
96. Trí cuil túaithe: flaith brécach, breithem gúach, sacart colach.
flaitheamh BM sacart tuisledach N sagart diultach B diultadhach M
97. Trí fuiric thige degduni: cuirm, fothrucud, tene mór.
fuiric.i. fleadh nó féasta B daghduine N
98. Trí fuiric thige drochduni: debuid ar do chinn, athchosan frit, a chú dot gabáil.
achmusan NBM a cu dod ledrad N do congabail M drochscel lat immach L
99. Trí gretha tige degláich: grith fodla, grith suide, grith coméirge.
tri grith L tri gartha M fogla L suigidhe BM
100. Trí dorchæ ná dlegat mná do imthecht: dorcha cíach, dorcha aidche, dorcha feda.
nach dleguid N narfacad do mnai imteact B d’imtecht NM
101. Trí sailge boccachta: imgellad, immarbág, imreson.
soilge BM imgellad bag L imarbaid imreasain BM imarbaigh imressain N imreason nó imraichni L
102. Trí airisena boccachta: sírchéilide, sírdécsain, síriarfaige.
hærsenna BM hairisin N sirfiarfaighe M sirfiarfaigid N
90. Three ungentlemanly things: interrupting stories, a mischievous game, jesting so as to raise a blush.
91. Three smiles that are worse than sorrow: the smile of the snow as it melts, the smile of your wife59 on you after another man has been with her,60 the grin of a hound ready to leap at you.61
92. Three deaths that are better than life: the death of a salmon, the death of a fat pig, the death of a robber.62
93. Three fewnesses that are better than plenty: a fewness of fine words, a fewness of cows in grass, a fewness of friends around ale.63
94. Three sorrowful ones of an alehouse: the man who gives the feast, the man to whom it is given, the man who drinks without being satiated.64
95. Three laughing-stocks of the world: an angry man, a jealous man, a niggard.
96. Three ruins of a tribe: a lying chief, a false judge, a lustful65 priest.
97. Three preparations of a good man’s house: ale, a bath, a large fire.
98. Three preparations of a bad man’s house: strife before you, complaining to you, his hound taking hold of you.66
99. Three shouts of a good warrior’s house: the shout of distribution, the shout of sitting down, the shout of rising up.
100. Three darknesses into which women should not go: the darkness of mist, the darkness of night, the darkness of a wood.
101. Three props of obstinacy67: pledging oneself, contending, wrangling.
102. Three characteristics of obstinacy67: long visits, staring, constant questioning.
103. Trí comartha meraigi: slicht a chíre ina ḟolt, slicht a ḟíacal ina chuit, slicht a luirge ina diaid.
comarthadha M meraigthe N ‘na cend BM ‘na cuit BM inandiaig B na diaidh M
104. Trí máidme clúanaigi: ató ar do scáth, rosaltrus fort, rotflinchus com étach.
cluainige BM ato BM atu L rodsaltar M rosaltrur ort L rosflinchus com edach N rofliuchus com ediuch BM comh edach L
105. Trí bí focherdat marbdili: oss foceird a congna, fid foceird a duille, cethra focerdat a mbrénḟinda.
om. BMHLec
106. Trí scenb Hérenn: Tulach na nEpscop, Ached Déo, Duma mBúirig.
om. BMHLec achad N
107. Trí hingnad Hérenn: lige inn abaic, lige nEothuili, allabair i foccus.
om. BMHLec hinganta N allubuir a fogus N
108. Trí daurthige Hérenn: daurthech Birra, daurthech Clúana Eidnech, daurthech Leithglinde.
om. BMHLec
109. Trí hingena berta miscais do míthocod: labra, lesca, anidna.
do mitocuid N do togud BM lesce N anidna N nemidna BM.i. esinrucas add. H
110. Trí hingena berta seirc do cháintocud: túa, éscuss, idnæ.
beres L berta seircce de caintogud BM serc N caintocaid N tri hadbair serci Lec tóa esces idna N esca BMLec
111. Trí túa ata ferr labra: túa fri forcital, túa fri hairfitiud, túa fri procept.
labrai N sproicept B sproicepht M fri aithfrend N
112. Trí labra ata ferr túa: ochán rig do chath, sreth immais, molad iar lúag.
uchan N oconn BM hairfidiud nó fís BM luadh B
113. Trí hailgesa étúalaing.i. éirg cen co dechais, tuc cenitbé, déna ceni derna.
haisgeadha edualaing B erg gen cotis H tuc gen gud beirg (?) gen go gaemais dena gen go heda B tuca gen cobe N gen gudbe M gen [go] dernais N gen go feta HM
114. Trí hamaite bít[e] i ndrochthig óiged.i. sentrichem senchaillige, roschaullach ingine móile, sirite gillai.
hamaide drochtoighe BM sentriche caillige BM sentrichim N rosc cailleach ingine siridhe gillai BM siride N sirithe L
115. Trí hairig na ndúalche: sant, cráes, étrad.
103. Three signs of a fop: the track of his comb in his hair, the track of his teeth in his food, the track of his stick68 behind him.
104. Three ungentlemanly boasts: I am on your track, I have trampled on you, I have wet you with my dress.
105. Three live ones that put away dead things: a deer shedding its horn, a wood shedding its leaves, cattle shedding their coat.69
106. Three places of Ireland to make you start: Tulach na n-Escop,70 Achad Deo,71 Duma mBuirig.
107. Three wonders of Ireland: the grave of the dwarf,72 the grave of Trawohelly,73 an echo near.74
108. Three oratories of Ireland: the oratory of Birr, the oratory of Clonenagh, the oratory of Leighlin.
109. Three maidens that bring hatred upon misfortune: talking, laziness, insincerity.
110. Three maidens that bring love to good fortune: silence, diligence, sincerity.
111. Three silences that are better than speech: silence during instruction, silence during music, silence during preaching.
112. Three speeches that are better than silence: inciting a king to battle, spreading knowledge (?),75 praise after reward.76
113. Three impossible demands: go! though you cannot go, bring what you have not got, do what you cannot do.
114. Three idiots that are in a bad guest-house: the chronic cough of an old hag, a brainless tartar of a girl, a hobgoblin of a gillie.
115. The three chief sins: avarice, gluttony, lust.
116. Tréde neimthigedar crossán: rige óile, rige théighe, rige bronn.
117. Tréde neimthigedar círmaire: coimrith fri coin hi[c] cosnum chnáma, adarc reithi do dírgud dia anáil cen tenid, dichetal for ochtraig co rathochra a mbí ina íchtur for a úachtar do choṅgna ⁊ cnámaib ⁊ adarcaib.
om. BMHLec dirge N otrach N corotochra N a mbid na hichtar N huachtar N congnaim N
118. Tréde nemthigedar sáer: dlúthud cen fomus, cen fescred, lúd lúadrinna, béimm fo chommus.
om. BMHLec tri ara neimiter N dluthugud N feiscre N ludh luaithreand N
119. Tréde neimthigedar liaig: dígallræ, díainme, comchissi cen ainchiss.
om. BMHLec ara neimiter liagh N coimcisin gin ainces N
120. Tréde neimthigedar gobainn: bir Neithin, fulacht na Morrígna, inneóin in Dagda.
om. BMHLec ara neimiter gobaind N bir ndechin N
121. Tréde neimthigedar cerdai: fige ronn, cær comraic, plett for fæbur.
om. BMHLec cerd N flet N
122. Tréde neimthigedar cruitire: golltraige, gentraige, súantraige.
om. BMHLec
123. Tréde neimthigedar filid: immas forosna, teinm læda, dichetal di chennaib.
124. Dá mígairm míthocaid: commáidem do chétguine, do ben la fer n-aile.
atte dá ní igairm (!) do neoch.i. maidem a chétguine ⁊ a bean do beith fri fer n-aill BM mitocaid N a cedgona N a ben la fer n-aile N
125. Teora airi[se]na iarnduba: comar, cocless, clemnas.
tri hairnadmand BMN iardubha M coicless LM coicle M
126. Trí bainne cétmuintire: bainne fola, bainne dér, bainne aillse.
banda NBM
127. Trí coiri bíte in cach dúini: coire érma, coire goriath, coire áiged.
core B duini L duine B goiriat N aitiu N notead B notheadh M
116. Three things that constitute a buffoon: blowing out his cheek, blowing out his satchel, blowing out his belly.
117. Three things that constitute a comb-maker: racing a hound in contending for a bone; straightening a ram’s horn by his breath, without fire; chanting upon a dunghill so that all antlers and bones and horns that are below come to the top.
118. Three things that constitute a carpenter: joining together without calculating (?), without warping (?); agility with the compass; a well-measured stroke.
119. Three things that constitute a physician: a complete cure, leaving no blemish behind, a painless examination.
120. Three things that constitute a blacksmith: Nethin’s spit, the cooking-hearth of the Morrigan, the Dagda’s anvil.77
121. Three things that constitute an artificer: weaving chains, a mosaic ball,78 an edge upon a blade.
122. Three things that constitute a harper: a tune to make you cry, a tune to make you laugh, a tune to put you to sleep.79
123. Three things that constitute a poet: ‘knowledge that illumines,’ ‘teinm laeda,’80 improvisation.
124. Two ominous cries of ill-luck: boasting of your first slaughter, and of your wife being with another man.
125. Three things betokening trouble: holding a plough-land in common, performing feats together, alliance in marriage.
126. Three drops of a wedded woman: a drop of blood, a tear-drop, a drop of sweat.
127. Three caldrons that are in every fort: the caldron of running, the caldron goriath,81 the caldron of guests.
128. Trí comartha láthraig bendachtan: clocc, salm, senad.
lathrach bennachtan H bendacht L senad NBMH ocsenad L
129. Trí comartha láthraig mallachtan: tromm, tradna, nenaid.
mallachtan HM neanad B neanntoch M tradnai BM tradna H
130. Teora muimmecha táide: caill, coim, adaig.
tri muime BM tri buime gaiti H coill HM
131. Teora ranna sluinte fri cáintocad: trumma, toicthiu, talchaire.
sloindti caintocaid N toicte N
132. Teora ranna sluinte dotcaid: tlás, áes, airbire.
dotcaid N tlass ois oirbire N
133. Dí derbṡiair: tlás ⁊ trúaige.
siair L tlas ⁊ trousca N truaighe BMH
134. Dá derbráthair: tocad ⁊ brugaide.
brathair M toice ⁊ blailaige N togud B tacad H
135. Trí fuidb dotcadaig: ráthaiges, etargaire, fiadnaise. Dotoing dia fiadnaisi, íccaid dia ráthaiges, doberar béimm n-etaigaire ina chinn.
foidb dothcadaigh M toindid a fiadnaisi BM iccaid a rathaigecht beiridh builleadha etargaire ina cind BM.
136. Trí sethraeha góa: béss, dóig, toimtiu.
toimdi L
137. Trí bráthair uamain: sta! sit! coiste!
braitri N omain BM ist sta ⁊ coisde BM sta sit coist N
138. Trí mairb fortgellat for bíu: med, airmed, forrach.
forgellait H for fiu BM meid armeid BM forach H
139. Trí brothcáin rátha: rothicc, rosiacht, rotochtaig.
brothcain ratha N raithi L rodícc rosiacht rotoncai N
140. Trí dubthrebtha: tuga co fúatchai, imme co forṅgaire, tírad co n-aurgorad.
doidbtrebtai tugai co fodaib imed co forrngaire N tuighe go foidibh M co foitib Lec tiriudh M
141. Trí hiarnduba: fer tochmairc, fer gaite meirle, fer hic aisnéis.
fear fochairc Lec fer aisneisi N
142. Trí maic beres drús do lonnus: tuilféth, fidchell, dulsaine.
lundus N tulfeith N dullsaine L
143. Trí maic beres féile do ainmnit: grúss, rúss, rucca.
ainmned N grús rús rucad N
144. Trí maic beres neóit do deinmnait: crith, dochell, grith.
deinmnet N grith crith doicell N
145. Trí húar fíchte: tipra, muir, núæ corma.
huara N
146. Trí fúammann móaigthe: fúam bó mblecht, fúam cerdchæ, fúam aratbair.
fuamandu moaigti N moigthi L fuaim bo mblicht N
128. Three tokens of a blessed site: a bell, psalm-singing, a synod (of elders).
129. Three tokens of a cursed site: elder, a corncrake, nettles.82
130. Three nurses of theft: a wood, a cloak, night.
131. Three qualities83 that bespeak good fortune: self-importance,..., self-will.
132. Three qualities84 that bespeak misfortune: weariness, (premature) old age, reproachfulness.
133. Two sisters: weariness and wretchedness.
134. Two brothers: prosperity and husbandry.
135. Three unlucky...:85 guaranteeing, mediating, witnessing. The witness has to swear to his evidence, the guarantor has to pay for his security, the mediator gets a blow on his head.86
136. Three false sisters: ‘perhaps,’ ‘may be,’ ‘I dare say.’
137. Three timid brothers: ‘hush!’ ‘stop!’ ‘listen!’
138. Three dead things that give evidence on live things: a pair of scales, a bushel, a measuring-rod.
139. Three pottages of guaranteeing....87
140. Three black husbandries: thatching with stolen things,88 putting up a fence with a proclamation of trespass, kiln-drying with scorching.
141. Three after-sorrows: a wooer’s, a thief’s, a tale-bearer’s.
142. Three sons whom folly bears to anger: frowning,...,89 mockery (?).
143. Three sons whom generosity bears to patience:..., blushing, shame.
144. Three sons whom churlishness bears to impatience: trembling, niggardliness, vociferation.
145. Three cold things that seethe: a well, the sea, new ale.
146. Three sounds of increase: the lowing of a cow in milk, the din of a smithy, the swish of a plough.
147. Trí hana antreinn: tipra i sléib, tene a liic, ana la fer calad.
luc MSS. anai la fear calaid N
148. Trí aithgine in domuin: brú mná, uth bó, ness gobann.
haitgine N aithgeinit L corathgen B coratgen M bru birite BM meas(!) BMLec
149. Trí diubarta forsná íada dílse: tinnscra mná, imthomailt lánamna, iarraid maicc.
hiad N imtomailt N iarraid menicc(!) L
150. Trí cuir tintaiter do réir britheman: cor mná ⁊ micc ⁊ bothaich.
tinntaigter N
151. Trí nata[t] túalaing sainchuir: mac beo-athar, ben aurnadma, dóer flatha.
nad N
152. Trí maic nad rannat orbai: mac muini ⁊ aurlai ⁊ ingine fo thrilis.
erlai N
153. Trí ái nad eplet faill: ái dochuind, ⁊ dochraite, ⁊ anfis.
dochainn N docraite N
154. Trí fuile ná dlegat frecor: fuil catha, ⁊ eóit, ⁊ etargaire.
nad N etargaire N
155. Trí fuchachta nad increnat slabrai: a gabáil ar écin, a sleith tri mescai, a turtugud do ríg.
fúíchechta N slaibri N
156. Trí ná dlegat turbaidi: athchor maic, aicdi cherdai, gíallaigecht.
nad dlegait turbaid N aige cerda N
157. Trí aithne ná dlegat taisec: aithne n-écuind, ⁊ ardneimid ⁊ aithne fuirmeda.
haitne nad dlegait taisec N ecoind N fuirmidai L
158. Trí mairb direnaiter beoaib: aball, coll, fidnemed.
dorenatar beo N
159. Trí[ar] ná ditoing ná fortongar: ben, angar, amlabar.
dotoing na fortoinger L amlobar N
160. Trí ná dlegat athchommus: mac ⁊ a athair, ben ⁊ a céile, dóer ⁊ a thigerna.
na dlegait N
161. Trí nát fuigletar cia beith ar a ngáes: fer adgair ⁊ adgairther ⁊ focrenar fri breith.
nat fuigletar cia beit N fer adgair ⁊ adgair (sic) ⁊ adgairter ⁊ rocrenar N
162. Trí fors ná tuit aititiu ‘na ré: bás, anfis, anfaitches.
anfuichches L anbaitces N
147. Three wealths in barren places: a well in a mountain, fire out of a stone, wealth in the possession of a hard man.
148. Three renovators of the world: the womb of woman, a cow’s udder, a smith’s moulding-block.
149. Three concealments upon which forfeiture does not close: a wife’s dowry, the food of a married couple, a boy’s foster-fee.
150. Three contracts that are reversed by the decision of a judge: the contracts of a woman, of a son, of a cottar.
151. Three that are incapable of special contracts90: a son whose father is alive, a betrothed woman, the serf of a chief.
152. Three sons that do not share inheritance: a son begotten in a brake,91 the son of a slave, the son of a girl still wearing tresses.
153. Three causes that do not die with neglect: the causes of an imbecile, and of oppression, and of ignorance.
154. Three bloodsheds that need not be impugned: the bloodshed of battle, of jealousy, of mediating.
155. Three cohabitations92 that do not pay a marriage-portion: taking her by force, outraging her without her knowledge through drunkenness, her being violated by a king.
156. Three that are not entitled to exemption: restoring a son, the tools of an artificer, hostageship.
157. Three deposits that need not be returned: the deposits of an imbecile,93 and of a high dignitary, and a fixed deposit.94
158. Three dead ones that are paid for with living things: an apple-tree, a hazle-bush, a sacred grove.95
159. Three that neither swear nor are sworn: a woman, a son who does not support his father, a dumb person.
160. Three that are not entitled to renunciation of authority: a son and his father, a wife and her husband, a serf and his lord.
161. Three who do not adjudicate though they are possessed of wisdom: a man who sues, a man who is being sued, a man who is bribed to give judgment.
162. Three on whom acknowledgment does not fall in its time: death, ignorance, carelessness.
163. Trí foimrimme ná dlegad díre: homan, robud, toxal.
foimrime N foimrenn L na dlegaid N robad N
164. Trí duilgine conrannat gníaid: duilgine coiri, duilgine muilinn, duilgine tige.
duilcinne N conrenad gnia N
165. Trí nóill doná dlegar frithnóill: nóill mná fri húaitni, nóill fir mairb, nóill díthir.
naill nad dlegad fritnáill luige mna N luide N luige ditire N
166. Trí gráda coillte túath ina ngói: gói ríg, gói ṡenchada, gói bretheman.
om. HBMLec inango N go N
167. Trí sóir dogníat dóeru díb féin: tigerna renas a déiss, rígan téite co haithech, mac filed léces a cheird.
daoir dib fein N des N deissi L teid N treiges a cerd N
168. Trí ruip conberat duinechinaid: cú áraig, reithe lonn, ech daintech.
araid N reithid N daindtech N
169. Trí ruip ara tíagat cinta: cú foilm[n]ech, sleg caille, slissén chomneibi.
170. Trí imuserenat: saill, imm, iarn, fechemnas toisc leimmid eicsi.
imus crenait saill N sall L iaronn N feitemnus toisc leine im eiccsi N
171. Trí comartha aragella i tig britheman: ecna, aisnéis, intlecht.
comardda L aragellat a tig bretheman N taig L aisnesen intliuchtach L
172. Trí dlegat aurfocrai: aél coire, fidba cen ṡeim, ord cen dimosc.
dlegait urfogræ N fidbaigh can tseim ord gan dimosc N dinsem L
173. Trí doruis gúa: tacra fergach, fotha n-utmall n-eolais, aisnéis cen chuimni.
fothad utmall N eolus aisena ocan coimni N
174. Trí doruis a n-aichnither fír: frecra n-ainmnetach, ái fossad, sóud fri fíadnu.
an aithniter fiorinne N freaccra n-ainmnedach N ainmeta L ai fosaid sodad N
175. Trí búada airechta: brithem cen fúasnad, etirchert cen écnach, coma cen diupairt.
fuasna L
176. Trí tonna cen gáissi: tacra calad, breth cen eolas, airecht labar.
tonna gaisi N donnadgaissi L tonna gan gaoise H. 1. 11 brethem N
177. Trí búada insci: fosta, gáis, gairde.
buadad innsce N gois N
178. Trí cumtaig gáisse: immed n-eolais, lín fássach, dagaigni do airbirt.
lion fasaid N
163. Three usucaptions that are not entitled to a fine: fear, warning, asportation.
164. Three wages that labourers share: the wages of a caldron,96 the wages of a mill, the wages of a house.
165. Three oaths that do not require fulfilment97: the oath of a woman in birth-pangs, the oath of a dead man, the oath of a landless man.
166. Three ranks that ruin tribes in their falsehood: the falsehood of a king, of a historian, of a judge.
167. Three free ones that make slaves of themselves: a lord who sells his land, a queen who goes to a boor, a poet’s son who abandons his (father’s) craft.
168. Three brutes whose trespasses count as human crimes: a chained hound, a ferocious ram, a biting horse.
169. Three brutish things that atone for crimes: a leashed hound, a spike in a wood, a lath....98
170. Three things that... salt-meat, butter, iron....99
171. Three signs that... 99 in a judge’s house: wisdom, information, intellect.
172. Three things that should be proclaimed: the flesh-fork of a caldron, a bill-hook without a rivet, a sledge-hammer without....99
173. Three doors of falsehood: an angry pleading, a shifting foundation of knowledge, giving information without memory.
174. Three doors through which truth is recognised: a patient answer, a firm pleading, appealing to witnesses.
175. Three glories of a gathering: a judge without perturbation, a decision without reviling, terms (agreed upon) without fraud.
176. Three waves without wisdom: hard pleading, judgment without knowledge, a talkative gathering.
177. Three glories of speech: steadiness, wisdom, brevity.
178. Three ornaments of wisdom: abundance of knowledge, a number of precedents, to employ a good counsel.
179. Trí miscena indsci: rigne, dlúithe, dulbaire.
miscne indsce N raighni L
180. Trí fostai dagbanais: fosta thengad ⁊ gensa ⁊ airnberntais.
fosta N fostadh tengad N airbertais N
181. Trí fóindil drochbanais: fóindil scél ⁊ ataid ⁊ airberntais.
om. N
182. Trí búada étaig: maisse, clithcha, suthaine.
buadhad N cliche N
183. Trí ná dlegat othras: fer aslúi flaith ⁊ fini ⁊ fili.
nad dlegait dire fer doslaig flaith ⁊ file ⁊ fine N feili L
184. Trí tharsuinn archuillet othras: echmuir, mil, saillti.
tharsunn L tarsuind aircaillti othiais N
185. Trí mná ná dlegat díri: ben lasma cuma cipé las fái, ben gatach, ben aupthach.
nat dlegait N cia las f(a)oi N optach N
186. Trí dofortat cach flaith: góu, forsnaidm, fingal.
dofortad gach flatha N
187. Trí túarascbait cach ngenmnaide: fosta, féile, sobraide.
tuarascbála genmnaid fostad N
188. Trí ara n-aichnider cach fergach: ír, crith, imbánad.
tri aichnider L aranaithnentur N hir L
189. Trí thúarascbait cach n-ainmnetach: sámtha, túa, imderead.
tuarascbalai gach nainmnedaigh samtad N tuai L
190. Trí thúarascbait cach n-úallach: mórthu, maisse, máine.
tuaruscbalai cach ndubalcai mortha N
191. Trí forindet cach n-umal: bochtatu, dínnime, humallóit.
forinded N bochtai N
192. Trí airdi gáisse: ainmne, faiscsiu, fáthaige.
hairdhe N faicsi fathaidhi N
193. Trí airdi drúisse: bág, imresain, condailbe.
om. N
194. Tréde immifoilnge gáis do báeth: ecna, fosta, sochoisce.
imfuilnge N
195. Tréde immifoilnge báis do gáeth: fúasnad, ferg, mesca.
imfailnge baoth N
196. Tréde faillsiges cach ndagḟeras: dán, gaisced, crésine.
cach degferus N cresenai N
197. Tréde faillsigedar cach ndrochḟeras: serba, miscais, midlachas.
faillsighus cach drochferus N
198. Trí foglúaiset fóenledchu: ingreim, dolud, dommatu.
fainnelca N dolai N
179. Three hateful things in speech: stiffness,100 obscurity, a bad delivery.
180. Three steadinesses of good womanhood: keeping a steady tongue, a steady chastity, and a steady housewifery.
181. Three strayings of bad womanhood: letting her tongue,101 and... and her housewifery go astray.
182. Three excellences of dress: elegance, comfort, lastingness.
183. Three that are not entitled to sick-maintenance: a man who absconds from his chief, from his family, from a poet.
184. Three sauces that spoil a sick-bed:...,102 honey, salt food.
185. Three women that are not entitled to a fine: a woman who does not care with whom she sleeps, a thievish woman, a sorceress.
186. Three things that ruin every chief: falsehood, overreaching, parricide.103
187. Three things that characterise every chaste person: steadiness, modesty, sobriety.
188. Three things by which every angry person is known: an outburst of passion, trembling, growing pale.
189. Three things that characterise every patient person: repose, silence, blushing.
190. Three things that characterise every haughty person: pompousness, elegance, (display of) wealth.
191. Three things that tell every humble person: poverty, homeliness, servility.
192. Three signs of wisdom: patience, closeness, the gift of prophecy.
193. Three signs of folly: contention, wrangling, attachment (to everybody).
194. Three things that make a fool wise: learning, steadiness, docility.104
195. Three things that make a wise man foolish: quarrelling, anger, drunkenness.
196. Three things that show every good man: a special gift,105 valour, piety.
197. Three things that show a bad man: bitterness, hatred, cowardice.
198. Three things that set waifs a-wandering: persecution, loss, poverty.
199. Trí slabrada hi cumregar clóine: cotach, ríagail, rechtge.
racht N
200. Trí all frisa timargar béscna: mainister, flaith, fine.
tri frisa N mineistir N flatha N
201. Trí caindle forosnat cach ndorcha: fír, aicned, ecna.
202. Tréde neimthigedar ríg: fonaidm ruirech, feis Temrach, roimse inna ḟlaith.
tri aranemiter rí N
203. Trí glais foríadat rúine: náire, túa, dochta.
ruini L
204. Trí heochracha aroslicet imráitiu: mescca, tairisiu, serc.
oslaice imraite N
205. Trí orbai rannaiter fiad chomarbaib: orba drúith ⁊ orba dásachtaig ⁊ orba sin.
rannait fia comarbaoibh (sic) N
206. Trí seithir óited: tol, áilde, féile.
aide toil N
207. Trí seithir sentad: cnet, genas, éitche.
208. Trí seithir sognáise: feidle, soithnges, cuinnmíne.
feili soingtes connamno N soithgnes L
209. Trí seithir dognáise: luinne, cétludche, tairismige.
cetluithche N
210. Trí seithir sotcaid: sognas, sochell, súarcus.
sottch N sothchaidh L sognais L
211. Trí seithir sochlatad: léire, trebaire, rathmaire.
212. Trí seithir dochlatad: laxa, díbe, prapchaillte.
doclata N
213. Trí seithir ferge: écnach, augra, doithnges.
doingteas N
214. Trí seithir deirmiten: tromdatu, espatu, utmaille.
215. Trí seithir airmiten: torbatu, airétrumma, fosta.
216. Trí banlæ: lúan, mairt, cétáin. Mná co firu innib, bid mó a serc la firu indá serc a fer leo-som ⁊ beit a mná tar éis na fer sin.
bandla N at mna beit tara n-eiseiu N
217. Trí ferlæ:.i. dardáin, áine, domnach. Mná co firu intib, beitit na mná sin fo dígrad ⁊ beitit a fir dia n-éisi. Satharn immorro is laithe coitchenn. Is comlíth dóib. Lúan sáer do dul fri cach les.
aoine satharn nó domnach N innib N beidis N
218. Trí gníma rátha: fosta, féile, lobra. Fosta i n-árus, féile, arná ebra góe, lobra hícce.i. lécud a lomartha i n-indligud dar a ḟechimain.
om. ratha L lubrai N anarus N heibre gói N lubrai ice.i. leacadh lomartha anindliged dar cenn feichiman N
199. Three chains by which evil propensity is bound: a covenant, a (monastic) rule, law.
200. Three rocks to which lawful behaviour is tied: a monastery,106 a chieftain, the family.
201. Three candles that illumine every darkness: truth, nature, knowledge.
202. Three things that constitute a king: a contract with (other) kings, the feast of Tara, abundance during his reign.
203. Three locks that lock up secrets: shame, silence, closeness.
204. Three keys that unlock thoughts: drunkenness, trustfulness, love.
205. Three inheritances that are divided in the presence of heirs: the inheritance of a jester, of a madman, and of an old man.
206. Three youthful sisters: desire, beauty, generosity.
207. Three aged sisters: groaning, chastity, ugliness.
208. Three well-bred sisters: constancy, well-spokenness, kindliness.
209. Three ill-bred sisters: fierceness, lustfulness, obduracy.
210. Three sisters of good fortune: good breeding, liberality, mirth.
211. Three sisters of good repute: diligence, prudence, bountifulness.
212. Three sisters of ill repute: inertness, grudging, closefistedness.
213. Three angry sisters: blasphemy, strife, foulmouthedness.
214. Three irreverent sisters: importunity, frivolity, flightiness.
215. Three reverent sisters: usefulness, an easy bearing, firmness.
216. Three woman-days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. If women go to men on those days, the men will love them better than they the men, and the women will survive the men.
217. Three man-days: Thursday, Friday, Sunday. If women go to men on those days, they will not be loved, and their husbands will survive them. Saturday, however, is a common day. It is equally lucky to them. Monday is a free day to undertake any business.
218. Three duties of guarantorship: staying (at home), honesty, suffering (?); staying in one’s residence, honesty lest he utter falsehood, suffering (?) payment, viz. letting oneself be stripped for an illegal action instead of the debtor.
219. Trí brothcháin rátha: éir[i]c nó thogním fecheman no díthechte.
brocain N no no thognim L ditechta N dithechdi L
220. Trí húais rátha ⁊ aitiri ⁊ nadma.i. dul fri dénam dúine ríg ⁊ daurthaige ⁊ choiri. Ar is úais do fir fine do thabairt fria céili.
eiteri N nadmadh fri N
221. Trí as anergnaid do neoch: slaide a eich ríana thigerna co salaig a étach, dul ina chocar cen gairm, a sírdéicsiu ina agaid oc caithem neich.
is ainergna N tri saineargnaidh M slaige BN rena BMN sirdeicsin N sirdegsain BM caithium BM aeaitniem a coda N
222. Trí bassa téchtai: bass etir a assa ⁊ a ochrai, bass etir a ó ⁊ a berrad, bass etir chorthair a léined ⁊ a glún.
corrthair M
223. Cia mesam hi trebod? Maic mná méile, fleda menci, clemna ile, immat meda scéo fína: notchrínat, ní thormaiget.
cidh is messa do trebad ni hansa N mic B imad fianna nodcrinaid ⁊ nítoirmuigid BM imchiana (!) N nitormaigett N
224. Trí galair ata ferr sláinti: seola mná for mac, gríss bronn-galair glanas broinn, gríss timgaire olc dia maith.
seol N sceola(!) for fermac BM galar timargur olc do maith N timgaire B di maith B do maith M
225. Trí fáilti coirmthige: immed ⁊ dúthracht ⁊ elathó.
ealathaoi N ealado do neoch carthar BM
226. Trí fognama ata messam dogní duine: fognam do drochmnái ⁊ do drochthigerna ⁊ do drochgobainn.
mesa N drochflaith B drochferann N
227. Trí ata ferr i tig: daim, fir, béla.
dam N
228. Trí ata messum i tig: maic, mná, méile.
measum bite a taig mic BM
229. Trí comartha tirdachta.i. immargal ⁊ immarbág ⁊ meraichne.
imurcal imurbaid imraithne N imabad LBM
230. Cenéle amus: salanaig buale ⁊ buicc brodnai ⁊ eóin erchoille ⁊ seiche corad.
cenela BM buale om. BM earcaille M córadh M
231. Cenéle dáileman: mórmenmnach meda, bolcsrónach brocóiti, itfa eserni, cúacroessach, donndabach, bolcra paitte, abartach escrai, geir grainne, cranndretel cuirn.
cenela BM metha H bolgsronach BM itfa eserne BM cuachroeasach BM cuachrochesach H baite BM haiti H abarthach easgraidh M gearr grandai B grenn graindi H crand rebartach H treiteal cuirnd M cuirnn L
219. The pottages of guarantorship: wer-geld or a debtor’s... or non-possession (?)107
220. Three things hard to guarantee and to become a hostage and to make a contract for: to go security for constructing the fort of a king, an oratory, and a caldron. For it is hard for a man of a family to be given with (?) his fellow.108
221. Three things that are undignified for everyone: driving one’s horse before one’s lord so as to soil his dress, going to speak to him without being summoned, staring in his face as he is eating his food.
222. Three lawful handbreadths: a handbreadth between shoes and hose, a handbreadth between ear and hair, a handbreadth between the fringe of the tunic and the knee.
223. What is worst in a household? Sons of a bawd, frequent feasts, numerous alliances in marriages, abundance of mead and wine. They waste you and do not profit.
224. Three illnesses that are better than health: the lying-in of a woman with a male child, the fever of an abdominal disease that clears the bowels, a feverish passion to check evil by its good (?).
225. Three welcomes of an ale-house: plenty and kindliness and art.
226. Three services the worst that a man can serve: serving a bad woman, a bad lord, and a bad smith.109
227. Three things that are best in a house: oxen,110 men, axes.
228. Three that are worst in a house: boys, women, lewdness.111
229. Three signs of boorishness: strife, and contention, and mistaking a person for another (?)112
230. Various kinds of mercenaries:....113
231. Various kinds of dispensers:....113
232. Trí as anso bís do accallaim.i. rí imma gabáil ⁊ Gall ina lúirig ⁊ athech do muin commairchi.
annsom (andso H) do agallaim bís BHM rig M cumairce N a chumairci H
233. Trí as mó menma bís.i. scolóc íar légad a ṡalm ⁊ gilla íar lécud a erraid úad ⁊ ingen íar ndénam mná dí.
trede BMHN scolaigi N scolaidi H íar lecun a eri uada H íar leccad a arad uad N
234. Cetharda forná bí cosc nó ríagail.i. gilla sacairt ⁊ cú muilleórach ⁊ mac bantrebthaige ⁊ gamain gamnaige.
fornach bi BM ná BM gamnaidhe M
235. Tri húais dóib: dul ar ríg nó úasal nemid, ar is lethiu enech ríg aidbriud; dul fri cath, ar ní túalaing nech glinni fri cath acht ríg lasmbíat secht túatha foa mám; dul fri cimmidecht acht nech lasa mbí mug dóer. Secht n-aurgarta dóib: dul ar deoraid, ar drúth ⁊ ar dásachtach, ar díaraig, ar angar, ar éconn, ar essconn. Imnedach dano cach ráth, ar is écen dí díanapud im cach ngell dobeir, aill riam, aill íarum.
nemi N it lethai L lethe N aidbriu N tulaing N glinde N acht nech laisimbiad N fo mammi N cimbidheacht acht nech lasambiad mogh daor diles N dasachtaig N imnedach dono cech raith N imni dano L dianapad N dobeir N
236. Trí hamra Glinne Dalláin i tír Eogain: torcc Dromma Leithe, is ass rochin ⁊ is dó-side forḟéimid Finn ní, co torchair im Maig Lii la aithech búi hic tírad, ut dixit Finn:
Ní mad biadsam ar cono. ní mad ríadsam ar n-echa
tan is aithechán átha. romarb torcc Dromma Letha.
Míl Leittreach Dalláin, cenn duine fair, dénam builc gobann olchena.i. ech usci robói isind loch i tóeb na cille, is hé dochúaid ar ingín in tṡacairt co ndergene in míl frie. Dam Dili in tres ingnad. Asind loch cétna táinic a athair co ndechaid for boin do búaib in brugad robói i fail na cille, co ndeirgenai in dam de.
as as rocin N forfeimdi N Muig Hi N Muig Hith H. 1.15 ma biasam N ma riadsim ar n-eacha N ricsam andechi L Lethæ N Leithi L ase docoid N fria N isin N co nderrna an dam fria N
232. Three that are most difficult to talk to: a king about his booty, a viking in his hauberk, a boor who is under patronage.
233. Three whose spirits are highest: a young scholar after having read his psalms, a youngster who has put on man’s attire,114 a maiden who has been made a woman.
234. Four on whom there is neither restraint nor rule: the servant of a priest, a miller’s hound, a widow’s son, and a stripper’s calf.
235. Three hard things115: to go security on behalf of a king or highly privileged person, for a king’s honour is wider than any claim; to go security for battle, for no one is capable of any security for a battle save a king under whose yoke are seven tribes; to go security for captivity, except one who owns a serf.
Seven prohibitions: to go security for an outlaw, for a jester and for a madman, for a person without bonds, for an unfilial person, for an imbecile, for one excommunicated. Troublesome moreover is every security, for it is necessary for it to give sudden notice as regards every pledge which he gives, now beforehand, now afterwards.
236. Three wonders of Glenn Dallan116 in Tirowen: the boar of Druim Leithe. It was born there, and Finn was unable to do aught against it, until it fell in Mag Li117 by a peasant who was kiln-drying. Whence Finn said:
“Not well have we fed our hounds,
Not well have we driven our horses,
Since a little boor from a kiln
Has killed the boar of Druim Leithe.”
The Beast of Lettir Dallan. It has a human head and otherwise the shape of a smith’s bellows. The water-horse which lived in the lake by the side of the church cohabited with the daughter of the priest and begot the beast upon her.
The Ox of Dil118 is the third wonder. Its father came out of the same lake, and went upon one of the cows of the landholder who lived near the church, and begot the ox upon her.
237. Trí hamra Connacht: lige nÉothaili ‘na thrácht. Comard hé frisin trácht. Intan atraig in muir, comard hé fria lán. Dirna (.i. cloch) in Dagdai, cia fochertar im-muir, cia berthair hi tech fo glass, dodeime a tiprait oca mbí. In dá chorr i n-Inis Cathaig, nocha légat corra aili leo inna n-insi ⁊ téit in banchorr isin fairrgi síar do duth, co tóet cona heisínib essi ⁊ nocon fagbat curaig eolus cia airm in doithi.
comaird i frisin lan N focerda a muir no cia bertar N no do deime no dogeibter a tibraid oca mbid N do nó todeime L corr N chuirr L Ceitig N leigitt N do doich N heisenaib eisib ⁊ nochan fagbuid N eolus om. L hairm in doich N
238. Trí luchra ata mesa: luchra tuinde, luchra mná bóithe, luchra con foléimnige.
om. LHBM luchra duine H1 foleimnigh N
239. Cisne trí ana soitcedach? Ní handsa són. Immarchor erlam, cuirm cen árus, cummairce for sét.
a tri N
240. Trí maic beres genas do gáis: gal, gart, gaire.
241. Trí airfite dála: drúth, fuirsire, oirce.
druith H1
242. Trí ata ferr do ḟlaith: fír, síth, slóg.
adda H1
243. Trí ata mesa do ḟlaith: lén, brath, míairle.
adda H1 ada N
244. Ceithre báis breithe: a breith i ngó, a breith cen dilse, a breith cen ailig, a breith cen forus.
disle H1 disliu N
245. Trí adcoillet gáis: anfis, doas, díchuimne.
a tri N ainbhḟes H1 duas H1
246. Trí muime ordain: delb cháin, cuimne maith, creisine.
ordan H1 chaoin H1
247. Trí muime menman: sotla, suirge, mesce.
socla.i. sochlú H1
248. Cetheora miscne flatha:.i. fer báeth utmall, fer dóer dímáin. fer gúach esindraic, fer labor dísceoil; ar ní tabair labrai acht do chethrur:.i. fer cerda fri háir ⁊ molad, fer coimgni cuimnech fri haisnéis ⁊ scélugud, brethem fri bretha, sencha fri senchas.
249. Trí dorcha in betha: aithne, ráthaiges, altrom.
237. Three wonders of Connaught: the grave of Eothaile119 on its strand. It is as high as the strand. When the sea rises, it is as high as the tide.
The stone of the Dagda. Though it be thrown into the sea, though it be put into a house under lock,... out of the well at which it is.
The two herons in Scattery island. They let no other herons to them into the island, and the she-heron goes on the ocean westwards to hatch and returns thence with her young ones. And coracles have not discovered the place of hatching.
238. Three worst smiles: the smile of a wave, the smile of a lewd woman, the grin of a dog ready to leap.120
239. What are the three wealths of fortunate people? Not hard to tell. A ready conveyance(?), ale without a habitation(?), a safeguard upon the road.
240. Three sons whom chastity bears to wisdom: valour, generosity, laughter (filial piety?).
241. Three entertainers of a gathering: a jester, a juggler, a lap-dog.
242. Three things that are best for a chief: justice, peace, an army.
243. Three things that are worst for a chief: sloth, treachery, evil counsel.
244. The four deaths of judgment: to give it in falsehood, to give it without forfeiture, to give it without precedent, to give it without knowledge.
245. Three things that ruin wisdom: ignorance, inaccurate knowledge, forgetfulness.
246. Three nurses of dignity: a fine figure, a good memory, piety.
247. Three nurses of high spirits: pride, wooing, drunkenness.
248. Four hatreds of a chief: a silly flighty man, a slavish useless man, a lying dishonourable man, a talkative man who has no story to tell.121 For a chief does not grant speech save to four: a poet for satire and praise, a chronicler of good memory for narration and story-telling, a judge for giving judgments, an historian for ancient lore.122
249. Three dark123 things of the world: giving a thing into keeping, guaranteeing, fostering.
250. Trí urgarta bíd: a chaithem cen altugud, a chaithem d’éis óiged, a chaithem réna thrath cóir.
haurgartho N1 hurgairt HM hurghairrthe H2 d’aithli aidead H cóir om. NH2 iarna coir M
251. Cetheora aipgitre gáise: ainmne, sonmathe, sobraid[e], sothnges; ar is gáeth cach ainmnetach ⁊ sái cach somnath, fairsing cach sobraid, sochoisc cach sothengtha.
somna sobraicch H2 sobés N soingthes H2 somnoigh H2 farsigh [leg. farsing].i. sgaoiltech H2
252. Cetheora aipgitre báise: báithe, condailbe, imresan, doingthe.
253. Teora sírechta flatha: cuirmthech cen aisnéis, buiden cen erdonail, dírim cen chona.
airdanail N erdanail N1
254. Trí indchoisc ordain do duine:.i. sodelb, sáire, sulbaire.
a tri ina coisceadh ordan M suirbire H
255. Trí gúala doná fess fudomain: gúala flatha, gúala ecalse, gúala nemid filed.
dana H fodhomain M
256. Trí féich nach dlegar faill: féich thíre, duilgine achaid, argius aiste.
nat eple faill M aichid M arguius H
250. Three prohibitions of food: to eat it without giving thanks, to eat it before its proper time, to eat it after a guest.
251. Four elements124 of wisdom: patience, docility, sobriety, well-spokenness; for every patient person is wise, and every docile person is a sage, every sober person is generous, every well-spoken person is tractable.
252. Four elements124 of folly: silliness, bias, wrangling, foulmouthedness.
253. Three tabus of a chief: an ale-house without story-telling, a troop without a herald, a great company without wolfhounds.125
254. Three indications of dignity in a person: a fine figure, a free bearing, eloquence.
255. Three coffers whose depth is not known: the coffer of a chieftain, of the Church,126 of a privileged poet.
256. Three debts which must not be neglected:127 debts of land, payment of a field, instruction (?) of poetry.
Notes
19 Or, perhaps, ‘good cheer.’
20 A road running from Tara westward into Westmeath.
21 Or ‘hire.’
22 Or ‘uprightness.’
23 ‘Ruadan’s Church,’ L.
24 On the Old Head of Kinsale.
25 i.e. the Knockmealdown mountains.
26 The Wicklow mountains.
27 ‘The Liver (‘Pap,’ L.) of Cualu,’ either the Great Sugarloaf or Lugnaquilla.
28 i.e. Slieve Donard.
29 i.e. the plain of Kildare.
30 The Húi Tuirtri were settled in the four baronies of Upper and Lower Antrim, and Upper and Lower Toome in county Antrim.
31 Now Cremorne barony, county Monaghan.
⁂
32 A tribe settled in the barony of Coolavin, county Sligo, and in the adjacent part of county Roscommon.
33 Either Bantry in county Cork, or Bantry in county Wexford.
34 ‘Of the men of Cualu,’ NL.
35 A territory in the barony of Upper Ormond, county Tipperary.
36 Now Dundalk.
37 Perhaps Áth Caille Rúaide on the Shannon.
38 The great south-western road from Tara into Ossory.
39 A road running northward from Tara.
40 In Breffny.
41 On the Shannon opposite Dunass, co. Clare.
42 Probably near Sescenn Uarbéoil in Leinster (Mountseskenn?).
43 Dún na mBárc is in Bantry Bay.
44 The estuary of the Feale.
45 ‘The axe-shaped estuary,’ i.e. the mouth of the Bann.
46 i.e. Loop Head.
47 In the west of Kerry (i n-iarthar Hérenn, YBL. 123b31).
⁂
48 Or, perhaps, ‘places of common resort.’
49 ‘Of a ripening field,’ BM.
50 ‘Of a man who has slain his brother in contesting his land,’ BM.
51 Or, perhaps, ‘fairs, foregatherings.’
52 Or ‘vagrant.’
53 Or ‘dalliance.’
54 ‘distinction,’ B. ‘familiarity, fame (leg. allad), speech,’ H.
55 Or ‘encroaching.’
56 Literally, ‘unfamiliarity.’
57 ‘pitying,’ L.
58 Literally, ‘out of a harp.’
⁂
59 ‘Of a bad woman,’ LN.
60 ‘After sleeping with another man,’ H.
61 ‘To tear you to pieces,’ H. ‘Coming up to devour you,’ MB.
62 ‘Of a criminal,’ B.
63 ‘good ale,’ MB.
64 ‘Who goes to it unsatiated,’ M. i.e. who drinks on an empty stomach.
65 ‘Stumbling, offending,’ N. ‘Fond of refusing,’ B.
66 ‘Tearing you,’ N. ‘A bad story to speed you on your way,’ L.
67 Literally, ‘buckishness.’
⁂
68 Or ‘cudgel.’
69 Literally, ‘stinking hair.’
70 A hill near Kildare. See Thesaurus Palæo-hibernicus ii.. p. 335.
71 At Tara. See Todd’s Irish Nennius, p. 200.
72 Somewhere in the west (i n-iarthar Erenn, Fél., p. clvii).
73 See Todd’s Irish Nennius, p. 199, and Zeitschrift für Celt. Phil, v., p. 23.
74 Nothing is known to me about this wonder.
75 Sreth immais, which I have tentatively translated by ‘spreading knowledge,’ is used as a technical term in poetry for connecting all the words of a verse-line by alliteration, as e.g. slatt, sacc, socc, simend, saland. See Ir. Texte iii., p. 30.
76 Cf. LL. 344a: Carpre asks Cormac what are the sweetest things he has heard, and Cormac answers: ‘A shout of triumph after victory, praise after reward, the invitation of a fair woman to her pillow.’
77 For a description and pictures of these appliances, see YBL., p. 419a, and Egerton, 1782, fo. 46a.
78 O’Curry, Manners and Customs, ii., p. 253, thought that a caer comraic was ‘a ball of convergent ribs or lines,’ perhaps such a bead or ball of mosaic glass as is depicted in Joyce’s Social History of Ancient Ireland, vol. ii., p. 32, fig. 171. A cáer comraic of eight different colours is mentioned in LB. 108b 20.
79 Cf. H. 3. 18, p. 87: tréide nemtighther cruit; goltraiges, gentraiges, suantraiges.
80 The names of various kinds of incantations. See Cormac’s Glossary and Ancient Laws, s.v.
81 Quite obscure to me. There is a heavily glossed poem in H. 3. 18, beginning Coire goriath. In H. 2. 15, p. 117b, after the colophon to Dúil Laithne (Goid.,2 p. 79), there are some further glosses, among which I find: goiriath.i. gardhamh in gach iath, erma.i. uasal-iompú no iar-iompa. But érma seems the genitive of érim, ‘a course.’ ⁂
82 See my edition of Cáin Adamnáin, p. 13, note 3, and p. 38.
83 Literally, ‘parts.’
84 Literally, ‘heaviness, weight.’
85 The usual meanings of fodb, ‘accoutrement, equipment, arms,’ do not seem to suit here.
86 Literally, ‘the blow of mediation is dealt on his head.’
87 Obscure and probably corrupt. Cf. § 219.
88 ‘with sods,’ NML, perperam.
89 fidchell, the well-known game, gives no sense here.
90 Or, ‘of contracts on their own behalf.’
91 Cf. the expression meirdrech muine, ‘a bush-strumpet,’ Laws v. 176, 4.
92 fuchacht, or fuichecht, usually means ‘cuckoldry,’ a meaning which does not seem to suit here.
93 i.e. a deposit made by an imbecile. Cf. Plato, Republic: “But surely you would never give back to a mad friend a sword which he had lent you?”
94 But in the Heptads (Laws v. 196, 3) aithne fuirmida, there rendered by ‘a deposited charge,’ is enumerated as one of those to be restored even if there are no bonds to that effect.
95 there is nothing in the laws to explain this.
96 i.e. of making a caldron, &c.
97 Literally, ‘a counter-oath, a second oath.’
98 comneibi is a ἁπαξ λεγομενον to me.
99 Obscure and probably corrupt.
100 In Mod. Ir. righneas labhartha means ‘an impediment in speech.’ See Dinneen’s Dictionary, s.v.
101 Literally, ‘stories.’
102 I believe echmuir to be the name of a plant: but I cannot find the reference.
103 Or rather ‘murder of relations.’
104 Cf. dán ecna dogni ríg do bocht, dogni gáeth do báeth, &c., LL. 346a35.
105 Such as art, poetry, &c.
106 ‘The credence-table,’ N., perperam.
107 Obscure and probably corrupt. Cp. § 139.
108 I cannot make out the meaning of doberim fri.
109 ‘bad land,’ N.
110 ‘an ox,’ N.
111 ‘Or, perhaps, as in § 223, ‘sons of a lewd woman,’ only in that case we have no triad.
112 Or, perhaps, ‘slight or superficial knowledge.’
113 As I could only offer unsatisfactory guess-work as a translation of these passages, I omit them altogether. ⁂
114 Literally, ‘who has doffed his (boy’s) clothes.’
115 I do not understand the force of dóib, ‘to them,’ either here or below after secht n-aurgarta.
116 Now Glencar, six miles to the north of the town of Sligo.
117 The territory of the Tir Lí, west of the river Bann.
118 The oxen of Dil, daughter of Míl or Legmannair, are mentioned in the Dindsenchas, No. 44 and 111 (Rev. Celt. xv.). ⁂
119 Cf. § 197.
120 Cf. § 91.
121 i.e., who has nothing worth hearing to say.
122 See a similar passage in Ancient Laws i., p. 18, and in the tale called, ‘The Conversion of Loegaire to the Faith’ (Rev. Celt. iv., p. 165).
123 i.e., uncertain what will come of them.
⁂
124 Literally, ‘alphabets.’
125 This triad has been wrongly read (faiscre instead of faisneis) and rendered by O’Grady in his Catalogue of Ir. mss. in the British Museum, p. 91.
126 “Die Kirche hat einen guten Magen,” Goethe, Faust.
127 ‘Which do not die by neglect,’ M.
⁂