The Metrical Dindshenchas (Irish Place-Lore in Verse)

THE PLAIN OF THE BOYNE I. original: BRUG NA BÓINDE I. The "Brug" (modern Brú) refers to the Great Mound of Newgrange and the surrounding ritual landscape in County Meath.

Splendid is it here, O plain of the Son of the Young! The "Son of the Young" is Aengus Mac ind Óc, a god of the Tuatha Dé Danann associated with Newgrange.
Wide is your road, traveled by hundreds;
You have covered many a true prince
Of the kindred of every king who has possessed you.

Every noble wonder has adorned you, 5
O bright, pure plain with scores of hosts,
O glowing land of grass and wagons,
O virgin meadow of birds and islands! The "islands" likely refer to the bends and islands in the River Boyne.

The house of the Son of the Young stands above your estate,
A royal ground of true hospitality; 10
Truly, there come above your dark stream
Hostages from the fairy mounds original: sídib of all Ireland to that place.

Pharaoh's daughter This likely refers to Scota, the legendary Egyptian ancestor of the Goidelic (Irish) people. lies upon your ground;
A kind princess; precious was her crown; 15
Over her, the tower in that place was set;
The funeral song original: dirge above her head was not sparing.

I see the clear pool of Féic original: Fiacc. This refers to the "Pool of Féic" on the Boyne near Slane, where the Salmon of Knowledge was said to be caught. of the warriors
To your west—no feeble deed—
Until the Day of Judgment—a mighty boast— 20
Shall he remain on the slope of the royal fortress. original: rath

Here slept a married pair
After the battle of Moytura original: Mag Tuired. A famous mythological battle between the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians. yonder:
The great lady and the dark original: swart Dagda; The Dagda was the "Good God" and father-figure of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Their dwelling there is not obscure. 24

Variant Readings

luind] LU (Lebor na hUidre); luing in others. original: cæt. (ceteri), meaning "the rest" of the manuscripts. 14. cain (fair)] omitted in S₂. mál (prince)] LU, R, B "the prince," etc. in others.
ba (was)] da in M. molbthach (praiseworthy)] molfach in R; molbtha in BH; molta in S₂; mholaind in M.
in mind (the crown)] LU, H; mind mind in M; mind in others. 15. furri (upon her)] LU; impi (around her), etc. in others.
16. in nath (the song/poem)] BS₂; iná in R; anath in S₃V; inath in MS; annad in H; ignod in LU. Read perhaps "in gnod." ós (above)] uais in H. a (of)] do in LU. 17–20] These lines are found only in LU.
18. timm (feeble)] tim in LU. 21. contuiled (slept)] contuilled, etc. in R, B, M, S, S₂. sund (here)] sann in BS₃. 22. iar (after)] ria (before) in LU. cath (battle)] After this word, a leaf is missing from Manuscript S. 24. duaichnid (obscure)] duaithnid in R; duichnid in H; duithnidh in M.