The Celtic Riddle

The Celtic Riddle

By Lyn Hamilton

THE SONG OF AMAIRGEN

Ic tabairt a choisse dessi i nHerind asbert Amairgen Glúngel mac Miled in laídseo sís:

As he placed his right foot on Ireland Amairgen of the White Knee recited this poem:

Am gáeth i mmuir

I am the sea-swell

Am tonn trethain,

The furious wave

Am fúaimm mara

The roar of the sea

Am dam secht ndrenn

A stag of seven slaughters

Am séig i n-aill

A hawk above the cliff

Am dér gréne

A ray of the sun

Am caín lubae

The beauty of a plant

Am tore ar gàil

A boar enraged

Am hé i llind

A salmon in a pool

Am loch i mmaig

A lake in a plain

Am brí dánae

A flame of valor

Am gae i fodb feras fechtu

A piercing spear waging war

Am dé delbas do chin codnu

A god that fashions heroes for a lord

Cóich é no-d-gleith clochur sléibe

He who clears the mountain paths

Cía ón co-ta-gair áesa éscai

He who describes the moon's advance

Cía dú i llaig funiud gréne

And the place where the sun sets

Cía beir búar o thig Temrach

Who drives cattle off from Tara

Cía búar tethrach tibis cech dáin

That fine herd touches each skill

Cía dé delbas fáebru áine

A god that fashions weapons of glory

Commus caínte Cáinte gáeth

An able poet. Wise am I.

(Translation: Dr. Harry Roe)

PROLOGUE

HERE'S a story attached to that, you know. It happened a long, long time ago, before mairgen and the Sons of Mil set foot on these shores, 'efore the children of the goddess Danu retreated to xe sidhe. Not so far back as the plague that killed the ons and daughters of Partholan. Not so far back as lat. But a long time ago, even so.

In those days, there were giants roamed the earth, nd creatures with one leg and one arm, like serpents, ame out of the sea. Back then, unsheathed weapons told tales, the sky could rain fire, and the shrieks of ie Hag would be heard in the night. And it was then tat the fiercest of battles, the struggle of light over drkness, were fought and won by the Tuatha de Da-aan. First they routed the Fir Bolg, then banished the readed Fomorians in the Battles of Mag Tuired.

The tales of their heroes, their leaders in battle, we tell to this day: Lugh, luminous, shining, destroyer of the Evil Eye; Diancecht, the healer; Nuada Silver land; and first and foremost, the Dagda.

Now there was a god! An excellent one, by his own description. A giant, with appetite to match. It was the Dagda had a cauldron in which pigs were cooked. This was no ordinary cauldron, nor ordinary pigs. Was always a pig ready, and the cauldron never empty, no matter how many came to dine. And, to top it all, the cauldron's contents were said to inspire the poet and revive the dead.