{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/celt/pt3/pt333.htm","path":"neu/celt/pt3/pt333.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/pt3/pt333.htm","text":"From Donald MacPhie, Breubhaig, Barra.\nThere came a stranger the way of the Finne, and he asked what sort of man Goll was, and Fionn said--\n1 High mind of Goll, Fionn's man of war,\n2 Broad, burly hero, dauntless and hardy;\n3 Fair generous hero, of sweetest speech.\n4 His mildness mild, harmless his grace.\n5 Of brightest mood, teacher of schools.\n6 King-like is Goll, hide it not Fionn.\n7 Might of the waves, by valour bright.\n8 Lion like hind, valiant in deed.\n9 Powerful his hand, choice of the kings.\n10 Man friendly kind, forsakes not his friend.\n11 In strife of kings, not slack his hand.\n12 Crushing his shout, hound-like his might.\n13 Youthful and soft, warlike and great.\nThainig coigreach an rathad na Finne a dh' fheoraich de'n saeorsa duine a bha ann an Goll 's thuirt Fionn-\n| 1530 | 1787 | 1860 | | \n| MS. | Gillies. | Oral. | | \n| 71 lines | 18 lines | 13 lines | | \n| 1 | 1 | 1 | Ard aigne Ghuill fear cogaidh Fhinn; | \n| 2 | 2 | 2 | Laoch leothar, lonn, 1 fulangach nach tim; | \n| 9 | 3 | 3 | Laoch, fionn, fial, a's misle gloir; | \n| | 5 | 4 | A-mh\u00ecne m\u00ecn; sg\u00e8imh gun chron. | \n| 12 | 6 | 5 | \u2019S e 's glaing gean, 2 oide na sgoil. | \n| 26 | 7 | 6 | Amhuil righ a's Goll na ceil ort Fhinn; | \n| 27 | 8 | 7 | Treise nan tonn; air ghaisge grinn. 3 | \n| 36 | 9 | 8 | Leomhan mar agh; crodha 'na ghniomh; | \n| 37 | 10 | 7 | Neartar a lamh; rogha nan righ. | \n| 55\u00bd | 15 | 10 | Fear daimheil, caomh, nach treig a dhaimh; | \n| 56 | 11 | 11 | An cogadh righ nach lag a lamh. | \n| | | | p. 311 | \n| 30 | 17 | 12 | Pronntach a ghair; conach 1 a threoir; | \n| 31 | 18 | 13 | Fiurants m\u00ecn; mileanta mor. | \nFrom Donald MacPhie, Breubhaig, Barra, who says he learnt it from his uncle, Hector MacLaine, Breubhaig, Barra. October I, 1860.--H. M\u2018L.\nThis is a traditional fragment of the poem given at page 29 of the selections from the Dean of Lismore's MSS. 1530. Of the thirteen lines here given, nine are almost identical with the Gaelic, as given by Mr. MacLauchlan. There are seventy-one lines in the oldest version. The corresponding numbers are here placed opposite to the lines for reference. Another version is printed in Gillies' collection, 1784. Page 34, there are eighteen lines, of which thirteen appear here slightly modified, and in a different order. There are considerable variations in several of the lines, for example, damhail, friendly, is deud-gheal, white-toothed. A fourth version, eighteen lines, was published by MacCallum, 1816, and has five lines which I have not.\n310:1 Lonn, strong.\n310:2 Perhaps GEIN, a sword, of brightest sword, or of purest kin.\n310:3 Grinn, means excellent and beautiful, and is the superlative of praise, applicable to anything.\n311:1 Conach, canine. The old stag-hounds were powerful, large active animals, and they are constantly represented on old stones in Scotland. (See ante.)","title":"Popular Tales of the West Highlands Vol. III: LXXIX. The Praise of Goll","type":"page"}