30. Now Ireland was waste
thereafter, for a space of three hundred years, (or three hundred and twelve, quod verius est) till Partholon s. Sera s. Sru came to it. He is the first who took Ireland after the Flood, on a Tuesday, on the fourteenth of the moon, in Inber Scene: (for three times was Ireland taken in Inber Scene). Of the progeny of
Magog son of
Jafeth was he, ut dixi supra: in the sixstieth year of the age of Abraham, Partholon took Ireland.
31. Four chieftains strong came Partholon: himself and Laiglinne his son, from whom is Loch Laighlinne in Ui mac Uais of Breg; Slanga and Rudraige, the two other sons of Partholon, from whom are Sliab Slanga and Loch Rudraige. When the grave of Rudraige was a-digging, the lake there burst forth over the land.
32. Seven years had Partholon in Ireland when the first man of his people died, ti wit, Fea, from whom is Mag Fea; for there was he buried, in Mag Fea.
33. In the third year thereafter, the first battle of Ireland, which Partholon won in Slemna of Mag Itha against Cichol clapperlag of the Fomoraig.
Men with single arms and single legs they were, who joined the battle with him.
34. There were seven lake bursts in Ireland in the time of Partholon: Loch Laighlinne in Ui mac Uais of Breg, Loch Cuan and Loch Rudraige in Ulaid, Loch Dechet and Loch Mese and Loch Con in Connacht, and Loch Echtra in Airgialla; for Partholon did not find more than three lakes and nine rivers in Ireland before him - Loch Fordremain in Sliab Mis of Mumu, Loch Lumnig on Tir Find, Loch Cera in Irrus; Aba Life, Lui, Muad, Slicech, Samer (upon which is Ess Ruaid), Find, Modorn, Buas, and Banna between Le and Elle. Four years before the death of Partholon, the burst of Brena over the land.
35. Four plains were cleared by Partholon in Ireland: Mag Itha in Laigen, Mag Tuired in Connacht, Mag Li in Ui mac Uais, Mag Ladrand in Dal nAraide. For Partholon found not more than one plain in Ireland before him, the Old Plain (of Elta) of Edar. this is why it is called the "Old Plain" for never did branch of twig of a wood grow through it.
36. And it is there that Partholon died, five thousand men and four thousand women, of a week's plague on the kalends of May. On a Monday plauge killed them all except one man tantum - Tuan son of Starn son of Sera nephew of Partholon: and God fashioned him in many forms, and that man survived alone from the time of Partholon to the time of Findian and of Colum Cille. So he narrated to them the Takings of Ireland from the time of Cessair, the first who took, to that time. And that is Tuan son of Cairell son of Muiredach Muinderg. Of him the history-sage sang the following song -
Ye scholars of the Plain of fair, white Conn, of the land of the
men of Fal, as I relate, what company, after the creation of
the world, first lighted upon Ireland?
Ireland before the swift Flod, as I reckon her courses,
knowing, pure-white kemps found her, including Cessair
daughter of Bith.
Bith son of Noe of the many troops, though he overcame with
a trench-achievement, he died in warlike Sliab Betha; Ladra
died in Ard Ladrann.
Fintain went on a journey of weakness, his grave was found,
it ws a leap of impetuosity; he was not in haste into the
trench of a churchyard, but a grave over Tul Tuinde.
To Dun na mBarc for a separation-festival faring without scale
of reckoning brought them; at the stone-heap, beside a
fruitful sea Cessair died in Cul Cessrach.
Forty days full-scanty the slender and graceful troop arrived
in their ship, before the noise of the Flood they landed on a
place of the land of Ireland.
He rose on a journey for truth-deciding by the might of the
King whom he used to adore; Fintan, who was a man with
tidings for lords, for mighty ones of the earth.
Three hundred years, I boast of it, I speak through the rules
which I reckon, pleasant Ireland, I proclaim it against the
soothsayers was waste, after the Flood.
Partholon the eminent came, a royal course across an oar-
beaten sea: his quartet of heroes, fair and faithful -among
them was the free-born Slanga.
Slanga, Laiglinne the brilliant, boardlike, noble and strong was
his canoe; these were his ready trio of chieftains, along with
the lordly Rudraige.
Plains were cleared of their great wood, by him, to get near to
his dear children; Mag Itha southward, a hill of victory-head,
Mag Li of ashes, Lag Lathraind.
Seven lake-bursts, thouugh ye measure them, with renown of
name, though ye should set them forth they filled, amid the
fetter of valleys, insular Ireland in his time.
Loch Laiglinne, bold Loch Cuan, the Loch of Rudraige,
a lord without law-giving, Loch Techet, Loch Oese
abounding in mead, Loch Cou, Loch Echtra full of swans.
Over Ireland of beauty of colour, as I relate every foundation
on the fortress of Bith he found not more than three lakes
before him.
Three lakes, vast and tideless (?) and nine rivers full of
beauty: Loch Fordremain, Loch Luimnig, Findloch over the
borders of Irrus.
The river of Life, the Lee let us mention, which every druid
humms who knows diana senga; the history of the old rivers
of Ireland has demonstrated the true height of the Flood.
Muad, Slicech, Samer, thou dost name it, Buas, a flood with the
fame-likeness of a summit, Modorn, Find with fashion of a
sword-blade (?) Banna between Lee and Eille.
He died after pride, with warriors, Partholon, of the
hundredfold troop: they were cut down with possessions, with
treasures, on the Old Plain of Elta of Edar.
This is why it is the forutnate Old Plain It is God the
fashioner who caused it: over its land which the sea-mouth cut
off no root or twig of a wood was found.
His grave is there according to men of truth, Although he had
no power among saints: Silent was his sleep under resting
places which are no pilgrimage-way for our scholars.
Three hundred years, though ye should know it, over lands
secret to the exalted, had the troop, brightly tuneful and
lasting, over age-old, noble Ireland.
Men, women, boys and girls, on the calends of May, a great
hindrance, the plaguing of Partholon in Mag Breg was no
unbroken summer-apportionment of peace.
It was thirty lean years that she was empty in the face of
war-champions, after the death of her host throughout a week,
in their troops upon Mag Elta.
P>Let us give adoration to the King of the Elements, to the good
Head, the Fortress of our people, whose is every troop, every
generation, whose is every head, every scholarship.
I am Ua Flaind who scatters truths; an apportionment with
kings hath he chosen; may everything whatsoever he may say
be a speech of grace, may it accord with holiness, ye scholars!
37. It was the four sons of Partholon who made the first division of Ireland in the beginning, Er, Orba, Fergna, Feron. There were four men, namesakes to them, amoung the sons of Mil, but they were not the same. From Ath Cliath of Laigen to Ailech Neit, is the division of Er. From Ath Cliath to the island of Ard Nemid, is the division of Orba. From Ailech to Ath Cliath of Medraige, is the division of Feron. From that Ath Cliath to Ailech Neit, is the division of Fergna. So that is that manner they first divided Ireland.
38. Partholon had four oxen, that is the first cattle of Ireland. Of his company was Brea, son of Senboth, by whom were a jouse, a flesh cauldron, and dwelling first made in Ireland. Of his company was Samailiath, by whom were ale-drinking and suretyship first made in Ireland. Of his company was Beoir, by whom a guesthouse was first made in Ireland. As the poet saith
Partholon, whence he came
to Ireland, reckon ye!
on the day when he reached across the sea,
what was the land from which Partholon came?
He came from Sicily to Greece
--a year's journey, with no full falsehood:
a month's sailing from Greece
westward, to Cappadocia.
From Cappadocia he journeyed,
a sailing of three days to Gothia,
a sailing of a month from white Gothia,
to three-cornered Spain.
After that he reached Inis Fail,
to Ireland from Spain: on
Monday, the tenth without blemish
one octad took Ireland.
He is the first man who took his wife
in the time of Partholon without falsehood:
Fintan, who took the woman through combat
--Aife, daughter of Partholon.
Parthlolon went out one day,
to tour his profitable land:
His wife and his henchman together
he leaves behind him on the island.
As they were in his house,
the two, a wonder unheard-of,
she made an advance to the pure henchman,
he made no advance to her.
Since he made her no answer promptly the henchman,
stubborn against an evil intention,
she doffs her in desperation
--an impusive action for a good woman!
The henchman rose without uncertainty,
a frail thing is humanity--
and came, a saying without pleasure,
with Delgnat to share her couch.
Insolent was the prank for a pleasant henchman
which Topa of tuneful strings wrought:
to go by a rough trick, a happiness
without pleasure, with Delgnat, to share her couch.
Partholon, who was a man of knowledge,
had a vat of most sweet ale:
out of which none could drink
aught save through a tube of red gold.
Thirst seized them after the deed,
Topa and Delgnat, according to truth:
so that their two mouths drank
their two drinks (?) in the tube.
When they did it, a couple without remorse,
there came upon them very great thirst;
soon they drank a bright coal-drink,
through the gilded tube.
Partholon arrived outside,
after ranging the wilderness;
there were given to him,
it was a slight disturbance, his vat and his tube.
When he took the straight tube,
he perceived upon it at once,
the taste of Topa's mouth as far as this,
and the taste of Delgnat's mouth.
A black, surly demon revealed
the bad, false, unpleasant deed:
"Here is the taste of Topa's mouth" said he,
"And the taste of Delgnat's mouth."
Then said the sound son of Sera,
the man called Partholon:
"though short the time we are outside,
we have the right to complain of you."
The man smote the woman's dog with his palm--
it was no profit--he slew the hound,
it was a treasure that would be slender;
so that is the first jealousy of Ireland.
Degnat answered her husband:
"Not upon us is the blame,
though bitter thou thinkest my saying it,
truly, but it is upon thee."
Though evil thou thinkest my saying it to thee,
Partholon, its right shall be mine:
I am the 'one before one' here,
I am innocent, recompense is my due.
Honey with a woman, milk with a cat,
food with one generous, meat with a child,
a wright within and an edged tool
one before one, 'tis a great risk.'
The woman will taste the thick honey,
the cat will drink the milk,
the generous will bestow the pure food,
the child will eat the meat.
The wright will lay hold of a tool,
the one with the one will go together:
wherefore it is right to guard
them well from the beginning.
That is the first adultery to be heard of
made here in the beginning:
the wife of Partholon, a man of rank,
to go to an ignoble henchman.
He came after the henchman
and slew him with anger: to him
there came not the help of God
upon the Weir of the Kin-murder.
The place where that was done,
after its fashioning certainty--
great is its sweetness that was there
of a day in the land of Inis Ssaimera.
And that, without deceit,
is the first judgement in Ireland so that thence,
with very noble judgement,
is "the right of his wife against Partholon."
Seventeen years had they thereafter,
till there came the death of that man;
the battle of Mag Itha of the combats
was one of the deeds of Partholon.
Further of the voyaging of Partholon -
Good was the great company
that Partholon had:
maidens and active youths,
chieftains and champions.
Totacht and strong Tarba,
Eochar and Aithechbel,
Cuaille, Dorcha, Dam,
the seven chief ploughmen of Partholon.
Liac and Lecmag with colour,
Imar and Etrigi,
the four oxen, a proper group,
who ploughed the land of Partholon.
Beoir was the name of the man,
with his nobles and with his people,
who suffered a guest in his firm house,
the first in Ireland's island.
By that Brea son of Senboth a house was first,
a cauldron on fire;
a feat that the pleasant Gaedil desert not,
dwelling in Ireland.
By Samaliliath were known
ale-drinking and surety-ship:
by him were made thereafter
worship, prayer, questioning.
The three druids of Partholon of the harbours,
Fiss, Eolas, Eochmarc:
the names of his three chamions further,
Milchu, Meran, Muinechan.
The names of the ten noble daughters
whom Partholon had,
and the names of his ten sons-in-law
I have aside, it is a full memory.
Aife, Aine, lofty Adnad,
Macha, Mucha, Melepard,
Glas and Grenach,
Auach and Achanach.
Aidbli, Bomnad and Ban,
Caertin, Echtach, Athchosan,
Lucraid, Ligair, Lugaid the warrior,
Gerber who was not vain of word.
Beothach, Iarbonel, Fergus,
Art, Corb, who followed (?) without sin,
Sobairche, active Dobairche,
were the five chieftains of Nemed, good in strength.
Bacorb Ladra, who was a sound sage,
he was Partholon's man of learning:
he is the first man, without uncertainty,
who made hospitality at the first.
Where they ploughed in the west was at Dun Finntain,
though it was very far:
and they grazed grass of resting
in the east of Mag Sanais.
Bibal and Babal the white,
were Partholon's two merchants:
Bibal brought gold hither,
Babal brought cattle.
The first building of Ireland without sorrow, was made by Partholon:
the first brewing, churning, ale,
a course with grace, at first,
in good and lofty Ireland.
Rimad was the firm tall-ploughman,
Tairle the general head-ploughamn:
Fodbach was the share, no fiction is that,
and Fetain the coulter.
Broken was the name of the man, it was perfect,
who first wrought hidden shamefulness:
it was destroyed with a scattering that was not evil,
Partholon thought this to be good.
So these are the tidings of the first Taking of Ireland after the Flood.
On to The
Book of Invasions V: The Coming of the Nemedians