C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

From a ‘Colloquy of Oisin and St. Patrick’

By Ossian and Ossianic Poetry

ONCE more, readers may care to see a fragment of an authentic old Ossianic ballad, that of the ‘Colloquy of Oisin and St. Patrick,’ with literal translation by its side. Oisin and St. Patrick are at feud throughout; Oisin in effect ever telling the Christian saint that he cannot believe his unworthy tales, and above all his disparagements about Fionn and his heroes: and St. Patrick in turn assuring him that Fionn and all his chivalry “now have hell for their portion.”

13

’Nuair a shuig headh Fiunn air chnochd
Sheinnemid port don Ord fhiann
Chuire nan codal no slòigh
’S Ochòin ba bhinne na do chliar.

13

When Fionn sat upon a hill, and sang a song to our heroes which would enchant the multitude to sleep, oh how much sweeter was it than thy hymns!

14

Smeorach bheag dhuth o Ghleann smàil
Faghar nom bàre rie an tuinn
Sheinnemid fein le’ puist
’Sbha sinn feinn sair Cruitt ro bhinn.

14

Sweet are the thrush’s notes, and long the sound of the rushing waves; but sweeter far the voice of the harps, when we struck them to the sound of our songs.

15

Bha bri gaothair dheug aig Fiunn
Zugradhmed cad air Ghleann smàil
’Sbabhenne Glaoghairm air còn
No do chlaig a Cleirich chăidh.

15

Loud of old we heard the voices of our heroes among the hills and glens; and more sweet in mine ears that noise, and the noise of your hounds, than thy bells, O cleric!

Students of old Gaelic literature in the original should consult in particular the ‘Transactions of the Ossianic Society’ (Dublin), and the late J. F. Campbell’s superb and invaluable ‘Leabhar na Feinne.’

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