41. A Complete Account of the Various Colonizations of Ireland as Delivered by the Sage Fintan

SHOULD any enquire about Eirinn,

It is I who can tell him the truth,

Concerning the deeds of each daring

Invader, since Time was a youth.

First Cassir, Bith’s venturesome daughter,

Came here o’er the Eastern Sea;

And fifty fair damsels she brought her—

To solace her warriors three.

Bith died at the foot of his mountain,

And Ladra on top of his height;

And Cassir by Boyle’s limpid fountain,

Ere rushed down the Flood in its might.

For a year, while the waters encumber

The Earth, at Tul-Tunna of strength,

I slept, none enjoyed such sweet slumber

As that which I woke from at length.

When Partholan came to the island,

From Greece, in the Eastern land,

I welcomed him gaily to my land,

And feasted the whole of his band.

Again, when Death seized on the strangers,

I roamed the land, merry and free,

Both careless and fearless of dangers,

Till blithe Nemid came o’er the sea.

The Firbolgs and roving Fir-Gallians,

Came next like the waves in their flow;

The Fir-Dennans arrived in battalions,

And landed in Erris—Mayo.

Then came the wise Tuatha-de-Danann,

Concealed in black clouds from their foe;

I feasted with them near the Shannon,

Though that was a long time ago.

After them came the Children of Milé,

From Spain, o’er the Southern waves:

I lived with the tribes as their Filea

And chanted the deeds of their braves.

Time ne’er my existence could wither,

From Death’s grasp I always was freed:

Till Patrick, the Christian, came hither

To spread the Redeemer’s pure creed.

My name it is Fintan, the Fair-man,

Of Bochra, the son, you must know it;

I lived through the Flood in my lair, man,

I am now an illustrious poet.