THE PLAIN OF THE BOYNE I. original: BRUG I. This refers to Brú na Bóinne, the ritual landscape in County Meath containing the great mounds of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth.

You hide a brave and noble company,

O plain of the son of the swift Dagda:

original: mag mic in Dagda déin. The "son of the Dagda" is Aengus Mac Óg, the deity traditionally associated with Newgrange (Síd in Broga). 75

because they did not perform the worship of the great God,

it is hard for them where they now lie in pain.

This reflects a medieval Christian perspective: although the pagan kings were heroic, they were believed to be in Purgatory or Limbo because they lived before the arrival of Christianity.

They are transitory, but you are enduring;

every healthy host travels around you.

They were deceived by their own worldly wisdom,

but you shall achieve a noble age.

The Boyne, strong, bright green and clear,

is a sign that flows past you with its healthy stream;

the head of the proud descendant of Indas is away from you,

even Senbecc from the Mound of noble inspiration.

original: Senbic a túaim immais áin. Senbecc was a mythical dwarf-poet; "Imbas" refers to the sacred poetic inspiration of the ancient Irish poets. Noble. original: Án-s. A "dúnad" or closing device where the poem ends with the same word it began with, "Án" (Noble).

Congalach, the splendid head of war-bands—

original: Congalach. Likely a reference to a king of the Brega region or a famous warrior of that name.

swift was his blow, noble his assembly;

it is an enclosure of noble towers reaching to the sea;

it is a company of high-bred hounds; it is noble.

Noble.

73-76] Found in Lebor na hUidre original: LU. The "Book of the Dun Cow," a 12th-century manuscript. only. 73. calma (brave)] colma in LU. 75. ná (not)] na in LU. dersat] read perhaps dernsat (did not perform): see Notes. 77. iat (they)] LU; siat in other manuscripts. 78. immotréide (travels around you)] LU; imdasraidhi in M; amraidhit in S$_2$; imusraidi in others. 79. iat (they)] LU; siat in other manuscripts. dosrogáeth (deceived them)] edited form; dosrogæd in LU; dosrubaid in RB; dosrulaid in S$_3$V.