{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/celt/cdm/cdm04.htm","path":"neu/celt/cdm/cdm04.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/cdm/cdm04.htm","text":"The Celtic Dragon Myth, by J.F. Campbell, [1911]\nOn Cluan Fraoich\u00a02 a friend doth sigh\n Where doth lie a warrior low\n On his bier;\n And his moan makes warriors grieve\n And bereft of love his spouse.\n For Idad's son she doth keen\n For whom is named Cairn Laive:\n Fraoch mac Idad of soft locks,\n Idad's son of raven hair.\n Westward there lies Fraoch mac Idad\n Who fulfilled proud M\u00e8ve's behest.\n On Cruachan Shee (S\u00eddh) a mother weeps:\n Sad the tale\u2014a mother's wail\n She grieves sore for Fraoch her son.\n Many a field in strifes of old\n He had won and behold\n Fraoch mac Idad lieth cold.\nTo Cluan Fraoich comes Find-abair:\n She doth weep\u2014a sad ladye;\n With tresses soft and curling locks\n And her hand\n Of Queen M\u00e8ve proud heroes sought.\nAuctor hujus an Caoch O Cluain\n1. H-osnadh caraid an Cluan Fhraoich \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H-osnadh laoich an caiseal chr\u00f3\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H-osnadh dheanann tuirseach fear,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Agus da\u2019n guileann bean \u00f3g.\n2. Aig so shear\u00a02 an carp fa\u2019n bh-feil\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fraoch mac Fhiodhaich an fhuilt mhaoith,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fear a rinn buidheachas baoibh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is bho\u2019n sloinntear Carn Fraoich.\n3. Gul aon mhna an Cruachan soir\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Truagh an sgeul fa bh-feil a\u2019 bhean\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is se bheir a h-osnadh gu trom\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fraoch mac Fiodhaich nan colg sean.\n4. \u2019Si \u2019n aon bhean do nidh an gul\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ag dol d\u2019a fhios gu Cluan Fraoich,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fionnabhair an fhuilt chais ail\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Inghean Mhaoidhbh\u00a03 g\u2019am biaid laoich.\nFind-abair of golden hair\n Ailill's one daughter she\n Lies side by Fraoch to-night:\n Of many loved, of many sought\n But never a love\n But Fraoch had Find-abair.\nHer cause of hatred unprovoked M\u00e8ve found\n For Fraoch the best of knights,\n Bravest and friendliest:\n When love for him she found\n Her passion he did scorn\n And hence his wound:\n Fraoch lies a corpse to-night.\n Great was the wrong thus wrought by M\u00e8ve:\n Simply we still unfold\n The story old:\n (With woman-kind side not in ill)\n His death her scheme foretold.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(On Cluan Fraoich a friend doth sigh.)\nA rowan tree grew on Loch M\u00e8ve\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0Southwards is seen the shore\u2014\n Every fourth and every month\n \u00a0\u00a0Ripe fruit the rowan bore:\n Fruit more sweet than honey-comb,\n Its clusters\u2019 virtues strong,\n Its berries red could one but taste\n Hunger they staved off long.\n5. Inghean Orla\u00a01 as \u00far folt\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is Fraoch an nochd taobh air thaobh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ge m\u00f3r fear dha\u2019 dtairgeadh i\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nior ghr\u00e1dhaich si fear ach Fraoch.\n6. Faigheas Meadhbh a muigh fuath\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cairdeas Fhraoich fa fearr an gliadh,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u2019 ch\u00fais fa\u2019n chreuchd-ta a chorp\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tre gun lochd a dh\u00e8anamh ria.\n7. Do chuireadh e gu sa\u2019 bh\u00e1s\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Taobh re mnaibh na tug an olc\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is m\u00f3r am pudhar a thuit le Meadhbh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Inne\u00f3sad gun cheilg a nos.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H-osnadh.\n8. Caorrunn do bhi air Loch M\u00e1i,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do chidhmist an traigh fa dheas;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gach[a] r\u00e1idh [agus] gach m\u00ed,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Toradh abaidh do bhi air.\n9. S\u00e1sadh b\u00eddh na caora sin,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ba mhillse na mhil a bhl\u00e1th;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do chongbhfadh an caorrann dearg\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fear gun bhiadh gu ceann naoi tr\u00e1th.\nIts berries\u2019 juice and fruit when red\n For a year would life prolong:\n From dread disease it gave relief\n If what is told be our belief.\nYet though it proved a means of life\n \u00a0\u00a0Peril lay closely nigh;\n Coiled by its root a dragon lay\n \u00a0\u00a0Forbidding passage by.\nA messenger for Fraoch was sent\n \u00a0\u00a0By Eochaidh's daughter keen\u2014\n When sickness sore M\u00e8ve rent:\n \u00a0\u00a0\"What ails?\" quoth Fraoch, \"the Queen?\"\nAnd Eochaidh's daughter made reply\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0Eochaidh of the festive horns\u2014\n That ne\u2019er would she be whole\n \u00a0\u00a0Till her soft palm were full\n Of berries from the island in the lake\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0Fraoch's hand alone to pull.\n\"Such I ne\u2019er cull\u2019d,\" said Idad's son\n \u00a0\u00a0Of blushing face;\n Yet will I what I yet ne\u2019er willed,\"\n \u00a0\u00a0Quoth Fraoch, out of grace.\nSir Fraoch moved forward to his fate\n \u00a0\u00a0Forth to the lake and swam the tide;\n He found asleep the dragon-snake\n \u00a0\u00a0Around the tree, mouth open wide.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(On Cluan Fraoich a friend doth sigh.)\n10. Bliadhain air shaoghal gach fir\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do chuireadh sin fa sgeal dearbh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gum bu fh\u00f3irinn do luchd cneidh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fromhadh a mheas is e dearg.\n11. Do bhi ansh\u00e1stacht\u00a01 \u2019na dh\u00e9igh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ge ba leigh a chobhar an t-sluaigh,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P\u00e9ist nimh do bhi \u2019na bhun\u00a02\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bhacadh dha c\u00e1ch dhul d\u2019a bhuain.\n12. L\u00e9an easlainte throm throm\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Inghean Eochaidh nan corn saor,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do chuireadh fios leath air Fraoch,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dh\u2019 fhiosraich an laoch ciod thainig ri.\n13. A dubhairt Meadhbh nach bi sl\u00e1n\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mur faigh l\u00e1n a boise maoith\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do chaoraibh an locha fhuair\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gun duine ga bhuain ach Fraoch.\n14. Cnuasachd riamh ni dhearnadh mi\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ar Mac Fiodhaich go ngn\u00e9 dheirg\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ge gar dh\u00e9arnas e ar Fraoch\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Rachsad do bhuain chaor do Mheidhbh.\n15. Gluaiseas Fraoch, b\u2019e fear an \u00e1igh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bhuain a shn\u00e1mh air an loch\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fhuair a\u2019 ph\u00e9ist is i \u2019na suain\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is a ceann suas ris an dos.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H-osnadh.\nFraoch, Idad's son, of weapon keen\n \u00a0\u00a0Of the beast being unperceived,\n Of berries red a lapful brought\n \u00a0\u00a0M\u00e8ve's longing to relieve.\nThough good be that which thou hast brought,\"\n \u00a0\u00a0Quoth M\u00e8ve of form so fair,\n \"Nought me relieves, O Champion bold\n \u00a0\u00a0Save branch from trunk thou bear.\"\nFraoch gave consent: no fear he knew\n \u00a0\u00a0But swam the lake once more:\n But hero never yet did pass\n \u00a0\u00a0The fate for him in store.\nThe rowan by the top he seized\n \u00a0\u00a0From root he pulled the tree;\n And the monster of the lake perceived\n \u00a0\u00a0As Fraoch from the land made free.\nWith his gaping maw the hero's hand\n \u00a0\u00a0He seized in the liquid tide:\n Fraoch seized the monster by the jaw,\n \u00a0\u00a0Would a knife were by his side!\n16. Fraoch mac Fiodhaich an airm gh\u00e9ir\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Th\u00e1inig o\u2019n ph\u00e9ist gun fhios di,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Thug a h-anultach chaor dearg\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Far an robh Meadhbh dh\u2019 a tigh.\n17. \"Ach ge maith na tugais leat,\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Adubhairt Meadhbh as geal cruth,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Ni fh\u00f3ir mis, a laoich luain\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ach slat a bhuain as a bun.\"\n18. Togras Fraoch, \u2019s nior ghille tiom,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Shn\u00e1mh a r\u00eds air an linn bhuig\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is nior fheud [ne]ach\u00a01 ge m\u00f3r \u00e1gh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Theachd o\u2019n bh\u00e1s an robh a chuid.\n19. Gabhas an caorrann air bharr,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tharruing an crann as a fhr\u00e8imh,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tabhairt d\u00f3 [a] chos do\u2019n t\u00f3r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mothaicheas do ris a\u2019 ph\u00e9ist.\n20. Beireas air agus e air snamh,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is gabhas a lamh \u2019na craos,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do ghabh se-san is\u2019 air ghiall,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Truagh gun an sgian aig Fraoch!\nFind-abair of lovely tresses\n \u00a0\u00a0For Sir Fraoch her love,\n Unperceived, a knife she bore;\n \u00a0\u00a0Fraoch's fair skin the monster tore\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And gnawing shore his arm away.\nFraoch, Idad's son, in conflict dire\n \u00a0\u00a0With the monster's woeful ire:\n On the southern strand they fought and fell\n \u00a0\u00a0And blood the boulders dyed.\nNor short the conflict: in his hand\n \u00a0\u00a0Fraoch held the monster's head;\n Which when the maiden did perceive\n \u00a0\u00a0On the strand she swooned as dead.\nThe maid then spake as she awoke\n \u00a0\u00a0In her palm his hand she placed,\n \"Though now but food for birds-of-prey,\n \u00a0\u00a0Thy renown on earth is traced.\"\nAnd from the death the hero died\n \u00a0\u00a0The lake doth take its name;\n For ever is it hight Loch M\u00e8ve,\n \u00a0\u00a0And thus resounds his fame.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(On Cluan Fraoich a friend doth sigh.)\n21. Fionnabhair an fhuilt chais \u00e1il\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do ran chuige sgian gun fhoir,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Liodair a\u2019 ph\u00e9ist a chneas ban\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is theasgadh a l\u00e1mh air leodh.\n22. Do thuiteadar bonn re bonn\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Air traigh nan clach corr fo dheas;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fraoch mac Fiodhaich is a\u2019 ph\u00e9ist,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Truagh, a Dh\u00e9, mar thug an treas!\n23. Ga c\u00f3mhrag ni c\u00f3mhrag g\u00e9arr:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do rug leis a ceann \u2019na laimh;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nar chunnaic an nighean e\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do chaidh \u2019na neul air an traigh.\n24. \u00c9ir\u2019eas an nighean o\u2019n tamh,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gabhas an lamh, ba lamh bhog;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ge ta so \u2019na cuid nan eun\u00a01\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is m\u00f3r an t-euchd a rinn a bhos.\n25. O\u2019n bh\u00e1s sin do fhuair am fear\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Loch Maidhbh gun lean de\u2019n loch\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ata an t-ainm sin deth gu luan\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2019Ga ghairm a nuas gus a nos.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H-osnadh charaid.\nHis body to Cluan Fraoich is borne\n \u00a0\u00a0A hero on his bier laid low;\n And still the mead his name makes known\n \u00a0\u00a0Ah! pity the survivor's woe.\nCairn-of-the-Hand beside me here\n \u00a0\u00a0Is named from Fraoch Cairn Laive,\n Back he ne\u2019er turned his hand but fought\n \u00a0\u00a0The foremost when alive.\nBelov\u2019d the mouth that friends ne\u2019er scorned\n \u00a0\u00a0The lips which woman's lips had pressed;\n Belov\u2019d the chief, of hosts the lord,\n \u00a0\u00a0Belov\u2019d the cheeks the rosiest.\nCheek redder than the blood of fawn\n \u00a0\u00a0Hair darker than the raven's crest,\n And softer than the streaming foam,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whiter than snow Fraoch's waist.\nMore fringed than meadow-sweet his locks,\n \u00a0\u00a0Than violet his eye more blue;\n Than rowans ripe his lips more red,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whiter his teeth than woodbine hue.\n26. Beirear an sin gu Cluan Fraoich\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Corp an laoich gu caisil chr\u00f3;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Air an gcluain tugadh a ainm\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is mairg a mhaireas d[a \u00e9is be\u00f3].\n27. Carn-laimh, an carn so re m\u2019 thaobh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0O laimh Fhraoich do bhidheast son,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fear nar iompodhadh an treas\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fear ba dheise neart an trod.\n28. Ionmhuinn am beul nar ob d\u00e1imh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0D\u2019am bidis mnai a\u2019 toirbheart ph\u00f3g\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ionmhuinn Tighearna nan sluagh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ionmhuinn gruaidh nar dheirg an r\u00f3s.\n29. Duibhe na fitheach barr a fhuilt\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Deirge a ghruaidh na fuil laoigh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fa mhine na cobhar sruth\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gile na an sneachd cneas Fhraoich.\n30. Caise na an caisean \u2019fholt\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Guirme a rosg na eidhr\u2019-leac\u00a01\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Deirge na partan a bheul\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gile a dheud na bl\u00e1ith feith.\n\u00a0\u00a0Than mast his spear was higher; his voice\n More musical than lute:\n \u00a0\u00a0No swimmer that with Fraoch could vie\n His side by water put.\n\u00a0\u00a0Broader than door-leaf was his shield,\n Whoso could wield it, happy lord!\n \u00a0\u00a0Long as his lance the arm of Fraoch\n Than ship's plate more broad his sword.\nWould that Fraoch by heroes bold,\n \u00a0\u00a0The bestower of gold\u2014fell;\n Alas and alas! through a monster's hold\n \u00a0\u00a0We hear his funeral knell.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(On Cluan Fraoich a friend doth sigh.)\n31. Aird\u2019 a shleagh na cranna si\u00fail\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Binne na teud chi\u00fail a ghuth\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Snamhaidhe do b\u2019fhearr na Fraoch\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cha do sh\u00edn a thaobh re sruth.\n32. Ba leithn\u2019 na comhla a sgiath\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ionmhuinn triath a bhi re druim\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Co fad a lann is a lamh\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Leithn\u2019 a cholg na cl\u00e1r dhe luing.\n33. Truagh nach an comhrag re laoich\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Do thuit Fraoch a phronnadh \u00f3r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tuirs\u2019 sin a thuiteam le p\u00e9ist\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Truagh, a Dh\u00e9, nach maireann f\u00f3s.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H-osnadh.\n18:1 Retold after the Book of the Dean of Lismore, a sixteenth century text. The tale might be entitled: The Tree of Life in Gadhelic Legend. Its teaching might be summarised: Thou shalt not break off the branches from the Tree of Life, nor attempt to uproot it; in the day that thou disturbest it thou shalt surely die. Its guardian is the serpent, the Dragon-Snake (the Mother of Mankind possibly thus typified).\n18:2 Fraoch's mead, i.e.\n19:1 From the Book of the Dean of Lismore after Dr Cameron's transcription and transliteration in Reliqui\u00e6 Celtic\u00e6 (i. 63). His transliteration is in several places corrected; mac Fhiodhaich is dialectal for mac Fhiodhaidh, mac Idhaidh, old nominative Idad.\n19:2 Shiar?\n19:3 Recte Maoidhbh.\n21:1 Recte Ailell\u2019.\n23:1 Amsy = aimiseachd; aimsiughadh, \"temptation\": fascination? \u2019N aimcheist mh\u00f3r a bha na dhiaidh (Gillies; MacLagan).\n23:2 A\u2019 Bheithir gharg is miosa nimh (Cameron's Reliq. Celt., i., p. 225).\n25:1 or, ach = howsoever.\n27:1 na chodaibh \u00e9un (traditional variant).\n29:1 Yr\u2019 lak (Dean of Lismore\u2019s spelling). A plant is apparently meant as in the other lines: feith \"woodbine, honeysuckle (Hogan\u2019s Luibhleabhr\u00e1n): partan, \"berry of the mountain ash\" (ib., p. 60).","title":"The Celtic Dragon Myth: The Death of Fraoch","type":"page"}