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.

Am gáeth i mmuirAr domni.
Am tond trethan i tír.
Am fúaim mara.
Am dam secht ndírend.
Am séig i n-aill.
Am dér gréne.g
Am caín.
Am torc ar gail.
Am hé i llind.
Am loch i mmaig
Am briandai.
Am bri danae.
Am gai i fodb. feras feochtu.
Am dé delbas do chind codnu.
Coiche nod gleith clochur slébe.
Cia on cotagair aesa éscai
Cia dú i llaig funiud grene.
Cia beir búar o thig Tetrach.
Cia buar Tethrach. tibi.
Cia dain.
Cia dé delbas faebruA ndind ailsiu.
Cáinté im gaí cainte gaithe.

As he set his right foot upon Ireland, Amairgen Glúngel son of Míl recited this poem:

I am the sea swell, the furious wave
The murmur of it's surges
I am the roar of the sea
I am a stag of seven slaughters
I am seven battalions
The hawk on the cliff
I am a ray of the sun
I am the forest abloom
I am the boar enraged
I am a salmon with in the lake
I am the lake upon the plain
I am the flame of valor
I am the piercing sword waging wasr
I am a god that fashions heros
He who drives the cattle off from Tara
That heard touches each skill
He who fashions weapons of glory
Can shift his shape
I am the wisest of poets[1]

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.