The Coming of Lugh

by Gofraidh Fionn O'Dlaigh

"East in Eamhain
Tara's lover, Lugh beheld
Tua's fortress Tara
and leaving other lands he sought it.

He found the city closed before him,
our chosen hero;
against its portals, smooth and tapering
he strikes the hammer.

Said the doorman to the hero,
stout in combat:
'Whence comes the youth so tall and stawart,
smooth, bright, red-cheeked?'

To the doorman answered Lugh
who feared no combat:
'A poet I from Appled Eamhain
of swans and yew-trees.'

When he heard the youth's recital,
great and famous,
haste he made to Danu's people
with the message.

'A youth is coming,' said the doorman,
'hard to match him.
All the arts are in his power,
comely strong one.'

'Were it Lugh, the gentle-rivered,
Ireland's lover,
that were there,' said Danu's people,
'it were timely.'

'To match in beauty him who stands there
were cause for slowness,
no creature made of earth or water
yet can dare it.'

'His face, his hair, his body,
key of choosing,
like blood and bronze, and lime for whiteness
is the triad.'

"His tongue is sweeter
than lute-strings finely fashioned
for gentle sleep
and ever played by expert fingers.'

'It is he,'
said Tara's people, 'ourgoal of loving
Eithne's lone son,
noble scion never conquered.'

'Doorman of Tara, let you hasten,'
said Danu's people,
'to receive the branch of fragrance,
guest from Eamhain.' "

Translation by James Carney in "Medieval Irish Lyrics"

This poem was written around 1354 to describe by allegory the visit of Marice FitzMaurice to the court of the English king in London. It clearly demonstrates that the skill of the Fili was little abated, even in that late time frame (though the use of Ethne for Ethlinn may well be for metrical purposes and a poetical device). The Filidh studied much of what was called the coimgne in their 7 to 12 years of formal training. Much of it had to do with tradition. tales, myths, histories, genealogies, place-names, as well as poetic meters and forms.

Searles O'Dubhain