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29. The Account of The Brown Bull of Cualnge
Aus in Duib Cualngni

It was not long before the men of Erin, as they were there early on the morrow, saw coming over Cruachan from the west the Brown Bull of Cualnge with the Whitehorned of Ai in torn fragments hanging about his ears and horns. The men of Erin arose, and they knew not which of the bulls it was. "Come, ye men!" cried Fergus "leave him alone if it be the Whitehorned that is there and if it be the Brown of Cualnge, leave him his trophy with him!"

Nir bho chían d'feraib hErend da m-bátar and mochrád arna bárach, go faccatar in Dond Cualngi dar Cruachain aníar & in Findbennach Ái ina ascarnaig ar a bhennaib & ar a adarcaib. Ra éirgetar fir hErend & ni fetatar chia dina tarbaib ra bae and. Maith a firu, bhar Fergus, leicid a oenur mase in Findbennach Ái fail and, acus mas é in Dond Cualngi, léicid a choscor leis.

Then it was that the seven Manè arose to take vengeance on the Brown Bull of Cualnge for his violence and his valour. "Whither go yonder men?" asked Fergus. "They go to kill the Brown of Cualnge," said all, "because of his evil deeds." "I pledge my word," shouted Fergus: "what has already been done in regard to the bulls is a small thing in compare with that which will now take place."

As annsin ro ergetar na (seacht) Maine do diogail a aigh et a (irgla) ar in donn Duailgne. Caít i tiagait na fir (úd), ar Fergus. Tiagait do marbadh in Duinn Cuailgne, (ar cách,) accionaidh a mhígniomha. Natiur-sa brethir is bec in-dernad im na taraib i farrad na n-dingentar innossa.

Then the Brown Bull of Cualnge gave forth the three chiefest bellowings of his throat in boast of his triumph and fear of Fergus held back the men of Erin from attacking the Brown Bull of Cualuge.

Is ann sin do léig in donn Chúailgne a thri priomhgheimenna gotha dá chomhmaoidhemh a choscair agus nír léic eagla Fergusa d'feruibh Erionn in Donn Cuailgne d'ionnsaighidh.

Then went the Brown Bull of Cualnge. He turned his right side towards Cruachan, and he left there a heap (crúach) of the liver of the Whitehorned, so that thence is named Cruachan Ai.

Tanic in Dond Cualngi. Tuc a dess ri Cruachain. Acus ra facaib crúach da óeib and, go rop de atá Cruachna Ae.

Next he came to the river Finnglas ('Whitewater'), and he drank a draught from the river, and, so long as he drank the draught he let not one drop of the river flow by him. Then he raised his head, and the shoulder-blades (lethe) of the Whitehorned fell from him in that place. Hence, Sruthair Finnlethe is the name given to it.

(Tainic) roime iersin co sruthair Fionnglaisi (& ro) ibh digh asin sruth agus an ccom(airet) boi ac ibe na dighe, nir leg (ban)da don t-sruth thairis. Ro tocaibh a cend (iar sin), cur tuitetar slindena in Finnbea(nnaigh) uadha ann sin, conidh Sruthair in lethe (aderar) fría.

He pursued his way to the brink of Ath Mor ('the Great Ford'); and he left behind the loin (lúan) of the Whitehorned in that place, so that thence cometh Athione.

Tanic reme go himmárgain Átha móir, acus ra fácaib a lón in Findbennaig and, go rop de dátá Áth luain.

He continued eastwards into the land of Meath to Ath Truim. And he left behind there the liver (tromm) of the Whitehorned.

Tanic sair reme i crích Mide co Ath troim, go ro facaib a thromm ind Findbennaig and.

He raised his head haughtily and shook the remains of the Whitehorned from him over Erin. He sent its hind leg (lárac) away from him to Port Large. He sent its ribs (clíathac) from him to Dublin, which is called Ath Cliath.

Tuargaib a chend go diing & ra chroth in Findbennach de fo hErind. Ra chuir a láraic de co Port large. Ra chuir a chliathaig uad go Dublind rissa raiter Ath clíath.

He turned his face northwards then, and he knew the land of Cualnge, and he went his way towards it. In that place were women and youths and children lamenting the Brown Bull of Cualnge. They saw the Brown of Cualnge's forehead approaching them. "The forehead (taul) of a bull cometh towards us!" they shouted. Hence is Taul Tairb ever since.

Tuc a aged fa thuaíd fair assa aithle, acus tuc aichni far tír Cualngi, acus tanic da hindsaigid. Is and ra batar mnaa & meicc & mindóene ac cóiniud in Duínd Chualngi. Atchondcatar-som a thaul in Duind Chualngi dá saigid. Taul tairb chucaind, bar iat-som. Conid de ata Taul Tairb ó sein anall.

Then turned the Brown of Cualnge on the women and youths and children of the land of Cualnge, and he effected a great slaughter amongst them. He turned his back to the hill then and his heart broke in his breast, even as a nut breaks. Such, then, is the account and the fate of the Brown Bull of Cualnge and the end of the Tain.

And-sain imsóe in Dond Cualngi fa mnáib, & maccaib & minddoenib tíri Cualngi, acus curis ár mór furri. Tuc a druim risin tilaig assa aithle, acus ro maid cnomaidm da chride na chliab. Go roib a hús & a imthusa & a deired na tanad gonici sein.


A blessing be upon all such as shall faithfully keep the Táin in memory as it stands here and shall not add any other form to it.

Bendacht ar cech óen mebraigfes go hindraic taín amlaidseo & na tuillfe cruth aile furri.

I, however, who have copied this history, or more truly legend, give no credence to various incidents narrated in this history or legend. For, some things herein are the feats of jugglery of demons, sundry others poetic figments, a few are probable, others improbable, and even more invented for the delectation of fools.

Sed ego qui scripsi hanc historiam aut uerius fabulam, quibusdam fidem in hac historia aut fabula non accommodo. Quaedam enim ibi sunt praestrigia demonum, quaedam autem figmenta poetica, quaedam similia uéro, quaedam non, quaedam ad delectationem stultorum.


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