THE LAY

OF

TALC MAC TRONE.

OMENS OF HIS APPROACH.

"TAILC-MAC-TREOIN signifies The Firm, son of the Mighty." A Duan, or part of the Lay of Talc Mac Trone, was published by Theophilus O'Flanagan in the Transactions of the Gaelic Society, Dublin, 1808, with a versified translation by Mr. William Leahy. It is given as a "genuine effusion of the genius that produced the poems attributed to Ossian," with which however, it may be fairly presumed, the genuine Ossian had no concern. It is added that "vast numbers of these poems are still preserved in Ireland, written and by rote. They are even still the great source of long nights' entertainment in the Irish parts of Ireland; together with the old romances or Fenian stories (sgela fianaidecta), upon all the exploits of the Fenian heroes, or ancient Irish militia.”

DUAN FIRST.

ARGUMENT.-The Lay commences with a request from Patrick to Ossian, to inform him how the strife, which was the subject of a former conversation, commenced. Ossian replies that the Fenians had assembled, as usual, on a green hill, when the Druid of Tara suddenly arising in their assembly, said that he observed certain signs in the clouds prognostic of some approaching calamity. Finn replied, as became an intrepid warrior, that he had no fear of any such portents; but on having his attention directed to them more particularly, he perceived that the signs were ominous. He expressed his fears to Oscar, who at first thought with Finn that they should be disregarded; while some of the Fenians pursued their various sports, and others expressed their apprehensions by their melancholy aspect. Conan treats their fears with ludicrous scorn. The more prudent Druid advises that one-half of their host should retire to rest, and the other half should keep watch

and ward. Finn, in compliance with this advice, desires Oscar to watch during the night, and in reply to an objection of Oscar as to Finn's retiring to repose, says that night is the season in which he enjoys prophetic visions. He then desires Dermuid Dun and Gaul to be companions to Oscar. Conan is asked to take his station on a neighbouring dun, or fortified eminence, whence his voice of alarm, in case of an enemy's approach, could be heard in the most remote part of the camp. Conan absolutely refuses compliance, in spite of the remonstrances of MacLuay and Dermuid, but, by the persuasion of Oscar, is at last induced to go, being accompanied by little Hugh, and Finn's two favourite dogs Sgeolan and Brann.

I.

PATRICK.-0 Ossian, sweetest voice of Song,
Thy tales of olden time prolong,

And tell us now-for thou canst tell

How rose the strife-what warriors fell?

OSSIAN. With Finn, our chieftain wise and good,

We Fenians, all in joyous mood,

Had met upon yon verdant hill

To play at games of strength and skill;
When sudden Tara's Druid rose,

Prophetic of impending woes,

And cried, in anguish strong"Dark fears my boding soul oppress, That soon some sad and dire distress

Will come our ranks among.'

"What wo," said Finn, our fearless chief,

"Can us befal, what cause of grief?

We ne'er from face of danger flee,

Nor dread a foe by land or sea."

DRUID." Yet trust me, chief renowned in war,

The mischief is not distant far.

Behold yon clouds of crimson dye,

With threats dense-crowding in the sky;

Upon the gathering storms they ride

In close battalions side by side."

II.

With eyes upturned, my noble sire
Beheld the sanguine omen dire,

Dense clouds of mingled blood and fire;
"Too true," he cried, "those signs portend
Sad woes that o'er our host impend.'

In haste to Oscar then he spoke:
"Brave warrior, as thou art,
I fear, against some awful stroke,
Thou now must arm thy heart;
Behold, careering in the air,

Yon clouds of red portentous glare."

OSCAR.- "Great chieftain of puissant arm,
What should we dread of grief or harm
From omens in the sky?

And we the potent Fenians-here,
Who never bowed our souls to fear,
But dare all foes defy."

III.

With musing thoughts and eyes upraised,
Long on the storm-borne clouds we gazed;
But some in frolic mood were seen
Light-capering on the grassy green;
Apart sat others on the hill
With rueful visage, boding ill.
Then out bald Conan loudly spoke:-
"A cloud who blenches to behold,
Dear comrades, 'tis a pretty joke

To rank him high with heroes bold!
Next spoke the Druid, grave and wise-
"Great Cumhall's son, I this advise :
Let half the host find strength in sleep,
And half in arms their station keep;
And each, in turn, keep watch and ward,
The camp against all foes to guard."

Then loud the Fenian trumpet blew,
Re-echoing far through hill and vale:
The Fenians round their chieftain drew,
All clad in burnished mail.

Then Finn his Oscar thus addressed;

66

Brave, generous youth, our shield and boast, Here wilt thou till the morning rest,

To watch the foe and guard our host?
While I my eyes in slumber close,
And give my frame a brief repose."

OSCAR." If bold invading foes you
Ere purple morn arise,

dread

Should Fenian chieftain hide his head,
Or close in sleep his eyes?*

Great chief, may such inglorious tale,

Ne'er shame the sons of Innisfail!"

FINN." Oh! well thou knowest, or shouldst know,

That Finn ne'er feared, nor fears a foe;

But, in the tranquil hour of night,

He sees full many a vision bright,

And, gifted with a prophet's eye,
Sees far into futurity."

IV.

Then Finn, in accent mild and bland,
Asked Dermuid Dunn if he would stand

By Oscar's side, till morn arose,

To guard the camp from coming foes.
"'Twas ne'er my way," the chief replied,

From foeman's path to turn aside.

* Thus the Dream accosts Agamemnon in the Second Book of the Iliad:

"Canst thou with all a monarch's care opprest,

Oh Atreus son! canst thou indulge thy rest?
Ill fits a chief who mighty nations guides,
Directs in council, and in war presides,
To whom its safety a whole people owes,
To waste long nights in indolent repose.'

POPE.

With Oscar, to my soul most dear,
Will I no danger shun;

With him no warrior's arm I fear,
That ever brandished sword or spear,
No, none beneath the sun.

FINN.

Wilt thou, too, Gaul, in arms renowned,

To great achievements born,

With Oscar pace our tent around,

Till blush the orient morn ?

To guard a camp or tower from harm,
No bulwark like a hero's arm."t

GAUL." Gladly will I strict vigil keep,
Till shines the morning light,
In happy dreams your senses steep;
Sweet visions charm your sight!"
"I too," cried Fillan, "ready stand,
With watchful eye and trusty brand,
Obedient to our chief's command,
Lest friend or foe, with entrance rude,
Upon his precious rest intrude,

While in his tent entranced he lies,

Rapt in sublimest ecstasies."

FINN." Bald Conan, thou whose voice from far

Sounds like the trumpet-blast of war,

On yonder dun thy station hold,

Fast by the promontory bold,

And if a coming foe you spy,

Shout till the rocks and woods reply."

$ Ajax, about to meet Hector in single combat, boasts thus:

"Lives there a chief whom Ajax ought to dread,

Ajax, in all the toils of battle bred?

From warlike Salamis I drew my birth,

And born to combats fear no force on earth."

Iliad VII., 235.-POPE,

+ The classical reader may recollect a similar sentiment in the Persians of Eschylus, in Edipus Tyrannus, and in Thucydides, but none more pithy than the declaration of the Irish chieftain who said that he preferred

A castle of bones,

To a castle of stones.