Folk Tales and Fairy Lore/Cathal O' Cruachan agus Buachaille na Greighe, Cathal O'Cruachan and the Herd of the Stud
Bha Cathal O' Cruachan agus Buachaille na Greighe ann uair-eigin roimhe so.
Some time before now lived Cathal O'Cruachan and the Herd of the Stud.
Thachair iad air a chéile, agus chuir iad geall air-son camanachd. Bha a' chamanachd ri seasamh tri lìthean, agus aig ceann na tìm sin bha an t-each a b' fhearr 's a' ghreigh aig Cathal ri 'fhaighinn na 'm buidhneadh e, agus a' bhean aige r' a tabhairt do Bhuachaille na Greighe na 'n cailleadh e.
They met each other and laid a bet for shinnying. The shinnying was to last three days, and, at the end of that time, Cathal was to receive the best horse in the stud if he should win, and to give his wife to the Herd of the Stud if he should lose.
Choinnich iad air a' cheud là, agus bhuidhinn Cathal O' Cruachan. Choinnich iad a ris an dara là, agus chaill Cathal O' Cruachan, agus bhuidhinn Buachaille na Greighe. Air an treas là chaidh iad ris a' chluich aon uair eile, agus chuir iad an là glé theth, ach bhuidhinn Cathal, agus chaill am Buachaille.
They met on the first day, and Cathal O'Cruachan won. They met again on the second day, and Cathal O'Cruachan lost, and the Herd of the Stud won. On the third day they went at the game once more, and contested the day pretty hotly; but Cathal won, and the Herd lost.
An sin thubhairt Buachaille na Greighe ri Cathal: "Tachair orm-sa am màireach aig a' leithid so de dh' àite, agus gheibh thu na h-eich a chur seachad ort."
The Herd then said to Cathal: "Meet me to-morrow at such a place, and thou shalt get the horses sent past thee."
Mu 'n d' fhalbh Cathal 's a' mhaduinn, thubhairt a bhean ris: "Cuimhnich nach gabh thu gin de na h-eich gus an tig loth pheallagach, odhar, a bhitheas air dheireadh orra uile."
Before Cathal left in the morning, his wife said to him: "Remember that thou shalt not take any of the horses until there shall come a dun, shaggy filly, that shall be the last of all."
Choinnich iad, agus chuir Buachaille na Greighe na h-eich seachad air a bheulaibh; ach cha do ghabh e h-aon diubh, gus an d' thàinig an loth pheallagach, odhar, a bha air dheireadh. An sin thubhairt e: "Is e so mo roghainn de na h-eich," agus an uair a rug e oirre, dh' fhalbh e dhachaidh, làn-toilichte leatha. Ach mo thruaigh léir! cha b' fhada a mheal e a shòlas. An uair a ràinig e dhachaidh, dh' innis iad da gu 'n do ghoid Famhair a bhean an uair a bha e air falbh. Bhóidich e nach rachadh poll à 'bhròig no lub á 'osan gus am faigheadh e a bhean, air-neo gus an cailleadh e a bheatha 'san oidhirp.
They met, and the Herd of the Stud sent the horses past in front of Cathal; but Cathal took none of them till the dun, shaggy filly, that was last, came. Then he said: "This is my choice of the horses;" and, when he laid hold of her, he went away home, thoroughly pleased with her. But, alas! (my utter woe!) he did not long enjoy his happiness. When he reached home, they told him that a giant stole his wife while he was away. He vowed that mire would not go out of his shoe, or water out of his hose, till he should find his wife, or till he should lose his life in the attempt.
An camhanaich na maidne thog e air, agus bha e falbh, gus an robh dubhadh air a bhonnaibh, agus tolladh air a bhrògan, na h-eòin bheaga, bhuchallach, bhachlach, bhàrra-bhuidhe a' gabhail mu thàmh am bun nam preas 's am bàrr nan dos, na h-easagan lughach, laghach, mar a b' fhearr a thaghadh iad féin d'a chéile; ach ged bha iad-san cha robh Cathal O' Cruachan. Chunnaic e tigh beag soluis fada uaith, ach ged b' fhada uaith e, cha b' fhada 'ga ruighinn e.
In the dawn of the morning he set off, and he was travelling till there was blackening on his soles, and holing on his shoes, the little nestling, folding, yellow-tipped birds were taking to rest at the foot of the bushes, and in the tops of the trees; the little, nimble, pretty squirrels were choosing, as best they could, crevices for each other; but though they were, Cathal O'Cruachan was not. He saw a little house with a light in it, a long way from him, but though it was a long way from him, he was not a long time in reaching it.
Ciod an tigh a bha aige an so ach tigh Madadh na Maoile Móire. Thubhairt am Madadh còir: "A Chathail O'Cruachain, a dhuine bhochd, chaidh do bhean bhòidheach seachad an so an raoir aig an Fhamhair Mhór air a ghualainn.
What house had he here but that of the Dog of the Great Mull? The kind Dog said: "Cathal O'Cruachan, poor man, thy pretty wife went past here last night with the Big Giant, she being on his shoulder."
Fhuair e gabhail aige gu math leis a' Mhadadh chòir, na 'n deanadh sitheann fhiadh agus earb, feòil chaorach agus mhult, gu leòir de bhoicionn ghabhar fodha agus de chraicionn chaorach thairis air sin. Chaidil e cho socrach 's a rinn e riamh. 'N uair a dh' éirich e 's a' mhaduinn, fhuair e deagh ghabhail aige leis a' Mhadadh agus 'n uair a bha e 'gabhail beannachd leis, thubhairt e ris: "Ma thig càs no éiginn ort am feasd, anns an dean luathas chas feum dhuit, cuimhnich orm-sa, agus bithidh mi ri d' thaobh."
Cathal got well treated by the kind dog, if the venison of red deer and roes, the flesh of sheep and wethers, abundance of goat-skin under him, and sheepskin over him, would suffice. He slept as comfortably as he ever did. When he got up in the morning he was well treated by the Dog, and when he was taking farewell with him he said to him: "If hardship or necessity shall ever come on thee, in which swiftness of foot will be of use to thee, think of me, and I will be at thy side."
Bha e a' falbh gus an robh dubhadh air a bhonnaibh agus tolladh air a bhrògan, na h-eòin bheaga, bhuchallach, bhachlach, bhàrra-bhuidhe a' gabhail mu thàmh am bun nam preas 's am bàrr nan dos; na h-easagan lughach, laghach, mar a b' fhearra thaghadh iad féin d'a cheile; ach ged bha iad-san, cha robh Cathal O' Cruachan.
He was travelling until there was blackening on his soles and holing on his shoes; the little nestling, folding, yellow-tipped birds, taking to rest at the root of the bushes, and in the tops of the trees; the little, nimble, pretty squirrels, as best they could, choosing sheltering places for each other, but though they were, Cathal O'Cruachan was not.
Chunnaic e tigh beag soluis fad' uaith, ach ged b' fhada uaith cha b' fhada 'ga ruighinn e.
He saw a little house with a light in it a long way from him, but though it was a long way from him, he was not a long time in reaching it.
Chaidh e stigh, agus gu dé bha an so ach tigh Seabhag Chreag na Sgeilpe. Thubhairt an t-Seabhag ris: "A dhuine bhochd, chaidh do bhean bhrèagh seachad an so an raoir aig an Fhamhair Mhór air a ghualainn." Fhuair e gabhail aige gu math le Seabhag Chreag na Sgeilpe na 'n deanadh eòin ruadha, 's tàrmachain, liath-chearcan, is gach seòrsa eun a b' annasaiche na chéile sin. Chuir an t-Seabhag a laighe e, air dùn iteag a thàinig thairis air. "Caidil thusa gu socair, a Chathail O' Cruachain; is fear-faire furachail Seabhag Chreag na Sgeilpe," ars i.
He went in, and what was this but the house of the Falcon of the Rock of the Ledge. The Falcon said to him: "Poor man, thy beautiful wife went past here last night on the shoulder of the Big Giant." He got well treated by the Falcon of the Rock of the Ledge, if grouse and ptarmigan, greyhens and every sort of birds that was rarer than another, would do that. The Falcon put him to bed in a heap of feathers which came over him. "Sleep peacefully, Cathal O'Cruachan, a vigilant watcher is the Falcon of the Rock of the Ledge."
Chaidil e gu socrach, agus 'n uair a dh' éirich e 's a' mhaduinn, fhuair e gabhail aige gu math, leis an t-Seabhaig. 'N uair a bha e a' falbh, thubhairt i ris: "Ma thig càs no éiginn ort am feasd anns an dean dà sgéith luath, làidir, feum dhuit, cuimhnich orm-sa, agus bithidh mise ri d' thaobh.
He slept peacefully; and when he rose in the morning, he got well treated by the Falcon. When he was going away she said: "If hardship or distress shall ever come upon thee, in which two swift strong wings will be of use to thee, think of me, and I will be at thy side."
Thog e an sin air, agus bha e a' falbh gus an robh dubhadh air a bhonnaibh, agus tolladh air a bhrògan, na h-eòin bheaga, bhuchallach, bhachlach, bhàrra-bhuidhe a' gabhail mu thàmh am bun nam preas 's am bàrr nan dos; na h-easagan lughach, laghach, mar a b' fhearr a thaghadh iad féin d'a chéile; ach ged bha iad-san, cha robh Cathal O' Cruachan. Chunnaic e tigh beag soluis fad' uaith, ach ged b' fhad' uaith e, cha b' fhada 'ga ruighinn e.
He then set off, and he was travelling until there was blackening on his soles, and holing on his shoes; the little nestling, folding, yellow-tipped birds were taking to rest at the foot of the bushes and in the tops of the trees; the little, nimble, pretty squirrels as best they could chose resting places for each other, but if they were, Cathal O'Cruachan was not. He saw a little house with a light in it a long way from him; but though it was a long way from him, he was not a long time in reaching it.
Chaidh e stigh, agus gu dé bha so ach tigh Dreathan-donn Sruth an t-Siubhail. Fhuair e a shuipeir o an Dreathan de phronnaig arain agus chàise. Chuir e laighe e ann an dùn cóinnich, a bha cho socrach aige ri leabadh iteag na Seabhaige.
He went in, and what was this but the house of the Brown Wren of the Stream of Flowing. He got from the Wren his supper of crumbs of bread and cheese. He put him to bed in a heap of moss, which he found as comfortable as the feather bed of the Falcon.
Air an la màireach 'n uair a bha e 'gabhail beannachd leis, thubhairt e ris: "Ma thig cas no éiginn ort ri d' thìm, anns an dean mise feum dhuit, cuimhnich orm-sa, agus bithidh mise ri d' thaobh."
On the morrow when he was taking farewell with him, he said: "If hardship or distress come upon thee in thy time, in which I can do thee good, think of me, and I will be at thy side."
Air feasgar an là sin ràinig e tigh an Fhamhair. 'N uair chunnaic a bhean e, thubhairt i ris: "Feumaidh tu dol am falach, oir marbhaidh am Famhair thu, cho luath 's a thig e." Chuir i an sin am falach e cho math 's a dh' fhaodadh i.
On the evening of that day he reached the Giant's house. When his wife saw him, she said: "Thou must hide thyself, for the Giant will kill thee as soon as he will come." She then hid him as well as she might.
'N uair a thàinig am Famhair as a' Bheinn-sheilge, agus a chaidh e stigh, thubhairt e: "I! Ho! Hothagaich! tha mi a' faireachdainn fàile arrabhalaich an so an nochd." "Cha'n 'eil ann ach eun a thug an cat a stigh 's a tha mise a' ròstadh."
When the Giant came from the Hunting-hill and went in, he said: "E! Ho! Hoagich! I feel the smell of a traitor here to-night." "It is only a bird which the cat brought in, and which I am roasting," said the woman.
'N uair a chaidh am Famhair a laighe, thòisich a' bhean ri ràdh ris: "Cha ghabh thu marbhadh leis cho làidir 's a tha thu." "Cha ghabh mi marbhadh le leum orm féin aghaidh ri aghaidh," ars am Famhair. "Ach am faca thu an stoc a tha mach mu choinneamh an doruis? Tha caora am broinn an stuic, agus tha eun am broinn na caorach, agus tha ubh am broinn an eòin: agus co fhad' 's a bhitheas an t-ubh slàn, tha mo bheatha-sa tèaruinte.
When the Giant went to bed, the woman began to say to him: "Thou canst not be killed, as thou art so strong." "I can not be killed by attacking me face to face," said the Giant. "But hast thou seen the stock outside opposite the door? There is a sheep in the centre of the stock, and there is a bird in the belly of the sheep, and there is an egg in the belly of the bird; and as long as the egg remains whole my life shall be safe."
Dh' éirich am Famhair 's a' mhaduinn, agus thog e air do 'n Bheinn-sheilge. Cha bu luaithe a chaidh e as an t-sealladh thar gualainn na beinne na bha Cathal a mach leis an tuaigh. 'N uair a sgoilt e *n stoc, leum caor' air falbh as le luathas mór. Sheall e as a déidh, agus chunnaic e nach robh ann ach faoineachd dha dol 'ga ruith. An sin thubhairt e ris féin: "Nach bu mhath an so Madadh na Maoile Móire," agus mu 'n gann bha am facal a mach á 'bheul, bha 'm Madadh am broilleach na caorach. Thàinig e leatha, agus dh' fhàg e i eadar a chasan. Dh' fhosgail Cathal an sin a' chaora, ach cha bu luaithe a rinn e sin na leum eun a mach aisde, agus a sgiath e air falbh. Thubhairt e an sin ris féin: "Nach bu mhath an so Seabhag Chreag na Sgeilpe. Mu 'n gann bha 'm facal a mach as a bheul, thàinig an t-Seabhag chòir, agus thug i air ais an Calman marbh, agus dh' fhàg i aig a chasan e. Cha bu luaithe a dh' fhosgail Cathal an t-eun na thuit ubh a mach as, agus rol e stigh do chàrn mór chlach a bha dlùth do 'n àite.
The Giant rose in the morning and set off to the Hunting-hill. No sooner did he go out of sight over the shoulder of the ben than Cathal was out with the axe. When he split the stock, a sheep sprang away with great speed. He looked after her, and saw that it was but folly for him to go and chase her. Then he said to himself: "How useful the Dog of the Great Mull would be here!" and almost before the expression was out of his mouth, the Dog was in the breast of the sheep. He came with her, and left her between his feet. Cathal then opened the sheep, and no sooner had he done so than a bird sprang out of her, and flew away. Then said he to himself: "How useful would be here the Falcon of the Rock of the Ledge!" Almost before the word was out of his mouth the kind Falcon came, and brought back the dove dead, and left it at his feet. No sooner did Cathal open the bird than an egg fell out of it, and rolled into a cairn, which was near the place.
Ghlaodh an sin a' bhean ris: "A Chathail O' Cruachain, greas ort: tha am Famhair an déidh tighinn thar faobhar na beinne a' gabhail gach sligh' a's giorra na chéile." An sin thubhairt Cathal: "Nach bu mhath an so Dreathan-donn Sruth an t-Siubhail," agus mu 'n gann a thubhairt e 'm facal, sud an Dreathan a stigh do 'n chàrn, agus a mach thàinig e, is an t-ubh aige 'na ghob. Cha mhór nach robh am Famhair aig an Dreathan cho luath ri Cathal O' Cruachan. Ach shìn an Dreathan an t-ubh do Chathal, chuir e fo bhròig e, agus bhrist e e. Cha luaithe a bhrist Cathal an t-ubh na thuit am Famhair marbh an taobh a stigh do leth-cheud ceum dha.
The wife then cried: "O! Cathal O'Cruachan! make haste, the Giant is after coming over the edge of the ben, taking each way that is shorter than another." Then said Cathal: "How useful would be here the Brown Wren of the Stream of Flowing!" and almost before he had uttered the words, there was the Wren within the cairn, and out he came with the egg in his bill. The Giant was almost as soon as Cathal near the Wren; but the Wren reached the egg to Cathal, who put it under his shoe, and broke it. No sooner had he broken the egg than the Giant fell dead within fifty paces of him.
Dh' fhuirich Cathal O' Cruachan agus a bhean an oidhche sin an tigh an Fhamhair. Air an ath latha thug iad leò gach òr is airgiod a bh' ann. Thug iad leò, mar an ceudna, Dreathan-donn Sruth an t-Siubhail, Seabhag Chreag na Sgeilpe, agus Madadh na Maoile Móire. Agus an uair a ràinig iad an dachaidh féin, rinn iad cuilm mhór, thlachdmhor dhoibh féin, d' an coimhearsnaich, is d' an càirdean.'N uair a theirig a' chuilm, thubhairt am Madadh: "Feumaidh sinne 'bhi falbh." Ach thubhairt Cathal: "Cha bhi." "Feumaidh mise falbh co dhiùbh," deir am Madadh, "oir bithidh mo thigh air a robadh aig sionnaich, aig feòcullain, is aig taghain." Thubhairt an t-Seabhag: "Feumaidh mise falbh cuideachd, oir bithidh mo dhachaidh air a robadh aig feannagan, 's aig fithich." Agus thubhairt an Dreathann: "Bithidh mise 'falbh an cuideachd mo chàirdean, o'n tha iadsan làidir agus mise lag. Bithidh iad 'nan cuideachd dhomh air an t-slighe." Thubhairt an t-Seabhag ris: "Leum an àird cùl mo dhà sgéithe, agus cha bhean eun eile dhuit, gus an ruig thu dhachaidh."
Cathal O'Cruachan and his wife stayed that night in the Giant's house. The next day they took all the gold and silver they found there. They also took with them the Brown Wren of the Stream of Flowing, the Falcon of the Rock of the Ledge, and the Dog of the Great Mull. And when they reached their own home, they made a great liberal feast for themselves, their neighbours, and their friends. When the feast came to an end, the Dog said: "We must be going." But Cathal said: "You will not be going." "I must go, at anyrate," said the Dog. "My house will be robbed by foxes, pole-cats, and martins." The Falcon said: "I also must go, for my house will be robbed by hooded crows and ravens." "I will be going in the company of my friends," said the Wren, "since they are strong and I weak. They will be company for me on the way." The Falcon said to the Wren: "Spring up between my two wings, and no other bird will touch thee, till thou shalt reach home."
Ghabh an sin Cathal O' Cruachan an cead càirdeil r' a chàirdean. Dhealaich mise riu aig an dorus, agus thug mi dhachaidh orm.
Cathal O'Cruachan then took leave of his friends. I parted with them at the door, and betook myself home.