The Four most generous men whom Flann found
The four most generous men whom Flann found from the day he sold his first quatrain, when the slender-fingered poet of Maonmhagh had traversed all of Ireland: Maol Doraidh, noble Eigneachan, Aonghus, generous and fierce Flaithbheartach — a noble family that rewarded every poem — of the progeny of Conall of Connluan. Flann, son of Lonan, brought a pure lay to Eigneachan, Dalach's heir, having praised each most excellent spirit, having tried the generosity of Ireland. ├ëigneachan of Eas Ruaidh gave at once to the ollave of Ireland — few to whom the judgment is given — seven ploughlands to till. Five cups he brought from the king of Teamhair, five rings of multiform gold, fifteen horses — no niggardly wealth — a hundred cows being milked. Without dissension miracles of generosity were done to ├ëigneachan: the coldness of every chill meadow-land became fervid; he found berries in the month of Faoidhleach. At Easter in a lean year a hundred poets came to the son of Dalach; when the Creator saw the head of the golden chessmen
in dire straits he came to his assistance. ├ëigneachan of the steeds found on the slope above Loch Beathach a herd lying on the side of the hill, the load of a horse in each single pig. Ten score pigs were killed — it was an enormous and splendid feast — by the son of Dalach of the palace of Breagha for the bright poet-bands of the Irish. Every bed, every dark vat, every slender, overflowing casket in front of the excessive poet-bands in the house was quite full of ale and rushes. In the evening he went forth; he happened upon a brindled steed; the circuit of generous good furtune was not a meeting without prosperity. Foreigners fill Gleann Maghair of the salmon about Eigneachan; great sorrow overcame the noble scion at the size of the fleet from Lochlann. Fear filled his nobles at their extent and great numbers; then Fearghas makes a match on behalf of the navy. He took with him to his house for a season Duibhleann, the daughter of the son of Dalach; he offered her a hundred ounces of gold; he could not keep her to him. She made for Cathalan, son of Maol Fabhaill, with the foreigner's gold; the foreigner she got was not her love; nobler to her were children by Cathlan. The man of Lochlann very fiercely told noble ├ëigneachan that he would not depart from the host of the men of Ireland without getting his wife and his gold. " I will go", said the son of tawny Dalach, " with you to-morrow to Malainn; I on land and you at sea, it is from them both it will be easier to plunder it." Eagerly in their ships the men of Lochlann make their way with him; there rise up about the great, swift hero two large hosts to destroy it (i.e. Malainn). ├ëigneachan and the foreigner see a dark oak-tree sapling; " Let us find out which of us has the better blow against the sapling", said the chief of Connluan. Past the tree the king of Fanaid gave a wry, oblique blow with his sword; he did not unstring his treachery until he had smitten off the head of his son-in-law. Not one man went unscathed from the seven score laden ships; in great Ceann
Maghair the Foreigners are slain by the fair-haired host. After the Foreigners were slaughtered, the high king of the post-host of Cnodhbha went into Inis Eoghain to seek the foreign gold. He gave to Cathalan his request: Duibhleann with her father's consent; though no army came to land, the gold reached the high king. The son of Dalach of Fionnros of the swift steeds gave ten ounces to every tuath — his house should be above every house — and its ten to Doire as a tithe. When he had shared the store of gold among the nobles of the great host, he saw Flann, the poet, busy about his lay; he thought he would be shamed there. Ceineal Conaill immediately turns towards him with his own share of gold; gold is poured in great masses by the people with him into the lap of the poet. When he had filled his purse with the high king's gold, the great son of Lonan gave the palm for Ireland's generosity to yellow-haired ├ëigneachan. There were four men to whom Flann, the poet, gave the palm for generosity above every family of
renown; as a shield sheltering the bright Irish was one man above the four. The four best I have found myself are of one family and one offspring, of the same progeny of curly Dalach, of the brave descendants of the warrior of Bearnas: Domhnall, son of mighty ├ëigneachan, and his son, Maol Seachlainn; a pair whom men's violence did not overwhelm are Gofraidh and Domhnall at last. Often from this Domhnall in reward for a poem — and I am not the son of Lonan — I got copious rewards in my house: milch cows with their calves. ├ô Domhnaill of Doire gave me twenty cows each Mayday; after that there were twenty calves for me — beautiful was the Maytime cattle. Seven score cows — it was a right judgment — beside what his nobles gave, from over the Finn and across Gleann Gearg, I possess so far from the melodious, red-lipped one. Though it were thanks I performed, I would have three score cows as well as ...; twenty cows or a pair of dogs, no greater one than the other to Domhnall of Dobhar. ├ô Domhnaill of Eas Ruaidh is not inconstant in his love to me; I am constantly in his house of feasting, honoured like a guest for one night. We kinged Domhnall of the ├ëirne in Rath Both in the spring; the church was filled with us as we made the chief of Creibhlinn king. I declare this to ├ô Domhnaill: he has not taken the land of mighty Eoghan; one might say: " What is the conquering of the Ui Neill, but the receiving of hostages from Aileach?" The kingship has not left us since the chieftain of Conall has got it; the kingly career never leaves us; these I Neill and we are of one family. I would owe my utmost of poetry to the stately-visaged son of Domhnall; to him who is most generous to every people I should be, as it were, a church sanctuary.
in dire straits he came to his assistance. ├ëigneachan of the steeds found on the slope above Loch Beathach a herd lying on the side of the hill, the load of a horse in each single pig. Ten score pigs were killed — it was an enormous and splendid feast — by the son of Dalach of the palace of Breagha for the bright poet-bands of the Irish. Every bed, every dark vat, every slender, overflowing casket in front of the excessive poet-bands in the house was quite full of ale and rushes. In the evening he went forth; he happened upon a brindled steed; the circuit of generous good furtune was not a meeting without prosperity. Foreigners fill Gleann Maghair of the salmon about Eigneachan; great sorrow overcame the noble scion at the size of the fleet from Lochlann. Fear filled his nobles at their extent and great numbers; then Fearghas makes a match on behalf of the navy. He took with him to his house for a season Duibhleann, the daughter of the son of Dalach; he offered her a hundred ounces of gold; he could not keep her to him. She made for Cathalan, son of Maol Fabhaill, with the foreigner's gold; the foreigner she got was not her love; nobler to her were children by Cathlan. The man of Lochlann very fiercely told noble ├ëigneachan that he would not depart from the host of the men of Ireland without getting his wife and his gold. " I will go", said the son of tawny Dalach, " with you to-morrow to Malainn; I on land and you at sea, it is from them both it will be easier to plunder it." Eagerly in their ships the men of Lochlann make their way with him; there rise up about the great, swift hero two large hosts to destroy it (i.e. Malainn). ├ëigneachan and the foreigner see a dark oak-tree sapling; " Let us find out which of us has the better blow against the sapling", said the chief of Connluan. Past the tree the king of Fanaid gave a wry, oblique blow with his sword; he did not unstring his treachery until he had smitten off the head of his son-in-law. Not one man went unscathed from the seven score laden ships; in great Ceann
Maghair the Foreigners are slain by the fair-haired host. After the Foreigners were slaughtered, the high king of the post-host of Cnodhbha went into Inis Eoghain to seek the foreign gold. He gave to Cathalan his request: Duibhleann with her father's consent; though no army came to land, the gold reached the high king. The son of Dalach of Fionnros of the swift steeds gave ten ounces to every tuath — his house should be above every house — and its ten to Doire as a tithe. When he had shared the store of gold among the nobles of the great host, he saw Flann, the poet, busy about his lay; he thought he would be shamed there. Ceineal Conaill immediately turns towards him with his own share of gold; gold is poured in great masses by the people with him into the lap of the poet. When he had filled his purse with the high king's gold, the great son of Lonan gave the palm for Ireland's generosity to yellow-haired ├ëigneachan. There were four men to whom Flann, the poet, gave the palm for generosity above every family of
renown; as a shield sheltering the bright Irish was one man above the four. The four best I have found myself are of one family and one offspring, of the same progeny of curly Dalach, of the brave descendants of the warrior of Bearnas: Domhnall, son of mighty ├ëigneachan, and his son, Maol Seachlainn; a pair whom men's violence did not overwhelm are Gofraidh and Domhnall at last. Often from this Domhnall in reward for a poem — and I am not the son of Lonan — I got copious rewards in my house: milch cows with their calves. ├ô Domhnaill of Doire gave me twenty cows each Mayday; after that there were twenty calves for me — beautiful was the Maytime cattle. Seven score cows — it was a right judgment — beside what his nobles gave, from over the Finn and across Gleann Gearg, I possess so far from the melodious, red-lipped one. Though it were thanks I performed, I would have three score cows as well as ...; twenty cows or a pair of dogs, no greater one than the other to Domhnall of Dobhar. ├ô Domhnaill of Eas Ruaidh is not inconstant in his love to me; I am constantly in his house of feasting, honoured like a guest for one night. We kinged Domhnall of the ├ëirne in Rath Both in the spring; the church was filled with us as we made the chief of Creibhlinn king. I declare this to ├ô Domhnaill: he has not taken the land of mighty Eoghan; one might say: " What is the conquering of the Ui Neill, but the receiving of hostages from Aileach?" The kingship has not left us since the chieftain of Conall has got it; the kingly career never leaves us; these I Neill and we are of one family. I would owe my utmost of poetry to the stately-visaged son of Domhnall; to him who is most generous to every people I should be, as it were, a church sanctuary.
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