Lays of the red branch . al Taitis, among which the Tain-Bo-Cuailgne,or Cattle-SpoU of Quelgny, occupied the first place ; as in itwere recorded the exploits of all the personages most famous inthe earlier heroic cycle of Irish story,— Conor Mac Nessa, Maev,Fergus Mac Roy, Conall Carnach, and CuchuUin. iS* The earliest copies of the Tain-Bo-Cuailgne are prefaced bythe wild legend of its loss and recovery in the time of Guary,King of Connaught, in the sixth century, by Murgen, son of thechief poet Sanchan, amder circumstances which have suggestedthe following poem. The Ogham characters referred
Lays of the red branch . al Taitis, among which the Tain-Bo-Cuailgne,or Cattle-SpoU of Quelgny, occupied the first place ; as in itwere recorded the exploits of all the personages most famous inthe earlier heroic cycle of Irish story,— Conor Mac Nessa, Maev,Fergus Mac Roy, Conall Carnach, and CuchuUin. iS* The earliest copies of the Tain-Bo-Cuailgne are prefaced bythe wild legend of its loss and recovery in the time of Guary,King of Connaught, in the sixth century, by Murgen, son of thechief poet Sanchan, amder circumstances which have suggestedthe following poem. The Ogham characters referred to in thepiece, were formed by lines cut tally-wise on the corners of stonepillars, and somewhat resembled Scandinavian Runes, examplesof which, carved on squared staves, may still be seen in severalmuseums. The readers of the Tain-Bo-Cuailgne, as it nowexists, have to regret the overlaying of much of its heroic andpathetic material by turgid extravagances and exaggerations, theadditions apparently of later copyists.]. THE TAIN-QUEST. 143 TPIE TAIN-QUEST. EAR the cup to Sanchan Tor-pest; yield the bardhis poets meed;What weve heard was buta foretaste ; lays morelofty now my stores be emptied well-nigh, twin bright cups there yet remain,—Win them with the Raid of Cuailgne; chaunt us,Bard, the famous Tain ! Thus, in hall of Gort, spake Guary; for the king, let truth be though he was, was weary giving goblets, giving gold,Giving aught the bard demanded ; but, when for the Tai7i he calld,Sanchan from his seat descended; shame and anger fired-the Scald. Well, he said, tis known through Erin, known through Alba, main and coast,Since the Staff-Books disappearing over sea, the Tain is lost : 144 I-^YS OF THE RED BRANCH. For the lay was cut in tallies on the corners of the stavesPatrick in his pilgrim galleys carried oer the Ictian Avaves. Well tis known that Erins Ollaves, met in Tara Luachras hall,Faild to find the certain knowledge of the Tain among
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpu, booksubjectenglishpoetry
