Folk Tales and Fairy Lore/Ian Dubh Mor Mac Righ na Sorcha, Big Black John, son of the King of Sorcha,

by James MacDougall

Bha ann roimhe so Rìgh na Gréige a chaidh le thriùir mhac, Uthar, Art, agus Uilionn, do 'n bheinn-sheilge. An uair a ràinig iad a' bheinn, shuidh iad sìos air tolman bòidheach uaine air chùl gaoithe 's ri aodann gréine, far am faiceadh iad gach duine, 's nach faiceadh duine iad. Thubhairt am mac 'bu shine, 's e 'na shuidhe air làimh dheis 'athar, agus a dhà bhràthair air a làimh chlì: "Dh' fheumadh an duine sin a bhi glé mhath air a shon féin a thigeadh a nis agus a bhuaileadh buille air m' athair, agus a bheireadh fiacail á dorus a bheòil. Fhreagair am mac a b' òige: "Cha chuala sinn riamh iomradh air duine 'dheanadh sin ach Iain Dubh Mór mac Rìgh na Sorcha. Cha bu luaith' a chaidh am facal as a bheul na thàinig Iain Dubh Mór mar sheabhag na seilge bho 'n chreachann agus bhuail e n Rìgh anns a' bheul, agus thug e leis fiacail a chuir e á dorus a bheòil.

There was before now a King of Greece who went with his three sons, Uther, Arthur, and Ulin to the hunting hill. When they reached the ben they sat down on a pretty little green knoll, behind the wind and before the sun, where they would see every man, and no man would see them. The eldest son, as he was sitting on his father's right hand, and his two brothers on the left, said: "That man who would come and strike a blow at my father, and take a tooth out of the door of his mouth, would need to be well able to defend himself." The youngest son answered: "We never heard mention of any man who would do that unless Big Black John, son of the King of Sorcha." No sooner had the word gone out of his mouth than Big Black John came like the hunting falcon from the rocky summit, struck the king on the mouth, and took with him a tooth he sent out of the door of his mouth.

An sin dh' éirich triùir Mhac an Rìgh, agus bhòidich iad nach leigeadh iad poll á brog no lub á osan gus am faigheadh iad fiacail an athar. Shìn iad as dachaidh, agus chuir iad soitheach an òrdugh, agus shuidhich iad a cùrsa an taobh a shaoil iad anns an robh dùthaich Iain Duibh Mhóir suidhichte, agus:—

Then the king's three sons stood up and vowed that they would not let mire out of brogue or water out of hose until they would find their father's tooth. Home they stretched, got a vessel ready, and set her course in the direction where they thought Big Black John's country was situated, and—

Bu bhòidheach an sealladh an soitheach,
Mar eun air bhàrraibh nan tonn,
A' sgaoileadh o chéile na saile
Le guailnibh lìomharra lom;
A croinn chaola deagh-shnaithte
Cho dìreach ri saighead nach cam,
A' lùbadh fo h-aodach bréid-gheal.
Mar shéideadh an osag nach gann.

[The vessel was a beauteous sight,

Like bird upon the billows' height,

The salt sea cleaving wide asunder,

With smoothly-polished, bare prows under;

Her masts, well hewn, and slim and narrow,

As straight and faultless as an arrow,

Bending beneath the white sails' show,

What time the freshening breeze would blow.]

An déidh dhoibh a bhi seòladh fad mhóran làithean, dhìrich Uilionn òg an crann, feuch am faiceadh e fearann air bith anns an t-sealladh. An uair a fhuair e suas cho fad' 's a b' urrainn e dol, ghlaodh càch ris, an robh e 'faicinn dad idir. Fhreagair e gu 'n robh. "Gu dé 'tha thu 'faicinn?" ars iadsan. "Is beag e ma's eilean e, agus is mór e ma's eun e," thubhairt esan, agus theirinn e. An ceann greis mhaith chaidh e suas a ris, ach cha b' urrainn e 'ràdh fathast ach mar thubhairt e cheana, gu 'm bu bheag an ni 'bha e 'faicinn na 'm b' eilean e, ach gu m' bu mhór e, na'm b' eun e. An ceann ùine móire dhirich e 'n treas uair, ach mu'n d' ràinig e bàrr a' chroinn, ghlaodh e mach: "Is e fearann a th' ann," agus rinn iad dìreach air.

After they had sailed for many days, young Ulin ascended the mast to see if he could espy any land in sight. When he got as high as he could go, the rest cried to him if he saw anything at all. He said that he did. "What dost thou see?" said they. "Little it is if an island, and big it is if a bird," replied he, and then descended. At the end of a good spell he went up again; but as yet he could only say, as he had done already, that what he saw was little if an island, but big if a bird. After a long while he ascended the mast the third time, but, before he reached the top, he cried aloud, "It is land," and they made straight for it.

Cho luath 's a ràinig iad an cladach, chaidh iad air tìr, agus dh' imich iad air an aghaidh feuch ciod a thachradh orra. Cha deachaidh iad ro fhada gus an d' thàinig iad gu beul creige móire, far am fac' iad, 'na sheasamh leis féin, bodachan beag, seacta, seargta; agus làimh ris, cliabh le taod fada 'n ceangal ris. Dh' fheòraich iad deth co e, agus ciod a bha e 'deanamh an sud? Fhreagair e gu 'm b' esan Portair Iain Duibh Mhóir, Mac Rìgh na Sorcha; agus nach b' urrainn duine air bith dol a dh' ionnsaidh a' Chaisteil, mur rachadh e sìos leis a' chreig anns a' chliabh. Chaidh am bràthair 'bu shine null gu beul na creige, agus dh' amhairc e sìos, ach an uair a chunnaic e 'n doimhneachd a bha fuidhe, dh' oilltich e cho mór is nach gabhadh e na chunnaic e riamh agus teàrnadh. An sin chaidh an dara bràthair a null gu beul na creige; ach an uair a dh' amhairc e thairis oirre, ghlac a leithid de dh' uamhunn esan mar an ceudna 's nach gabhadh e 'n saoghal mu 'n iadh a' ghrian is dol sìos anns a' chliabh. Mu dheireadh leum Uilionn òg flathail, do nach b' aithne geilt no giorag, a stigh do 'n chliabh; agus an uair a bha e dol thar beul na creige, ghlaodh e r' a bhràthraibh: "Tillibh dhachaidh leis an luing, agus ma bhitheas mise beò, ruigidh mi sibh luath no mall.

As soon as they reached the shore they landed, and travelled onwards to see what should occur to them. They had not gone very far when they came to the edge of a precipice, where they saw standing a little, shrivelled, withered, old manikin, and near him a creel with a long rope tied to it. They enquired of him who he was and what he was doing yonder. He replied that he was the gate-keeper of Big Black John, son of the King of Sorcha, and that no man could go to his castle unless he went down the precipice in the creel. The eldest brother went over to the edge of the precipice and looked down; but, when he saw the depth beneath, he was so filled with horror that he would not take all he ever saw and descend. Then the second brother went over to the edge of the precipice, but, when he looked over, such dread seized him that he would not take the world about which the sun revolves to go down in the creel. At length noble young Ulin, who was a stranger to fear or panic, went into the creel, and, when going over the edge of the rock, he cried to his brothers: "Return home with the ship, and, if I live, I will reach you soon or late."

Ràinig e bun na creige gu tèaruinte, agus b' ann an sin a bha 'n t-àite brèagh, le Caisteal mór, cuairtichte le balla àrd, goirid as. Rinn e air a' Chaisteal, agus co a choinnich e air an rathad ach a bhean féin, a ghoideadh uaidh le Iain Dubh Mór bliadhna roimh 'n am sin, agus a bha aige anns a' Chaisteal; ach cha robh fhios aige gus an sin co a ghoid i, no c’àit' a thugadh i. Chuir e ioghnadh mór air tachairt oirre anns an àit' ud, ach cha bu lugha an t-ioghnadh a chuir e oirre-se 'tachairt ris-san ann.

He arrived at the foot of the rock safely, and it was there that the fine place was, with a big castle surrounded by a high rampart at a short distance from him. He made for the castle, and whom did he meet on the way but his own wife, who was stolen from him by Big Black John a year before that time, and whom he had with him in the castle; but he knew not till then who stole her, or where she had been taken. He wondered greatly to meet her in that place, but not less did she wonder to meet him there.

Phill i leis dh' ionnsaidh a' Chaisteil, agus an déidh dhi gabhail aige gu math le biadh agus le deoch, dh' innis i dha gu 'n robh Iain Dubh Mór agus a cheathrar ghaisgeach anns a' bheinn-sheilg', agus gu'n tigeadh iad dhachaidh 'san fheasgar. "Ach," ars i, "druididh sinn na geatachan rompa, agus ged tha iad cho foghainteach, cha'n urrainn iad teachd a stigh gun taing dhuinn."

She returned with him to the castle, and, after she had tended him well with meat and drink, she told him that Big Black John and his four warriors were in the hunting ben, and that they would come home in the evening. "But," said she, "we will shut the gates before them, and, though they are mighty, they cannot enter in spite of us."

Thàinig am feasgar agus Iain Dubh Mór 's a ghaisgich leis. An uair a fhuair e na geatachan druidte air thoiseach air, ghlaodh e ris a' bhoirionnacham fosgladh dha: ach cha d' fhuair e uibhir agus freagradh. Ghlaodh e 'n dara agus an treas uair; ach ma ghlaodh, b' ann an dìomhain. Mu dheireadh thuig e gu'n d' thàinig Uilionn òg, agus gu 'n robh e stigh anns a' Chaisteal. Le sin ghlaodh e ris: "Géill no còmhrag." "Géill no còmhrag," ars Uilionn òg, "cha'n fhaigh thu 'n nochd, ach cuir air do shon féin glé mhoch am màireach."

The evening came, and Big Black John and his companions with him. When he found the gates closed before him, he called on the woman to open them for him. But he got not as much as an answer. He cried a second and a third time, but, though he did, it was in vain. At last he understood that young Ulin had come, and that he was in the castle. With that he cried to him: "Surrender or combat." "Surrender or combat," said young Ulin, "thou shalt not get to-night; but prepare to defend thyself early enough to-morrow."

Le éirigh na gréine air an ath latha dhìrich Uilionn òg air a' bhalla, agus ghlaodh e: "Am faigh mi cothrom na Féinne?" Fhreagair Iain Dubh Mór: "Gheibh thu còmhrag aon fhir, no còmhrag dithis, no triùir fhear, mar is àill leat." Cha d' éisd Uilionn òg ri tuilleadh cainnt, ach leum e thar a' bhalla, agus ghlaodh e gu 'n gabhadh e còmhrag ri aon fhear. Fhuair e sin, agus chaidh e féin agus Gaisgeach na Sgéithe-deirge an caraibh a chéile. Ghleac iad gu cruaidh fad an là; ach mar bha 'm feasgar a' dlùthachadh, bha Uilionn òg a' fàs sgìth agus fann; ach an uair a chuimhnich e gu 'n robh e fad' o 'chàirdean agus dlùth d'a naimhdean, ghlac e misneach, thug e aon bheum fuilteach, agus chuir e 'n ceann de Ghaisgeach na Sgéithe-deirge.

With the rising of the sun next day young Ulin ascended the rampart and cried: "Shall I get the fair play of the Féinn?" Big Black John replied: "Thou shalt get a combat with one man, or a combat with two or three men, as it liketh thee." Young Ulin listened not to more talk, but sprang over the rampart and cried: "I'll take a combat against one man." He got that, and he and the champion of the Red Shield closed with one another. They fought hard the day long; but, as evening was nearing, young Ulin was growing faint and wearied. But, when he remembered that he was far from his friends and near to his foes, he took courage, dealt a bloody blow, and struck the head off the champion of the Red Shield.

Leum e 'n sin thar balla a' Chaisteil ach mu 'n gann a bha e stigh, ràinig dùbhlan Iain Duibh Mhóir e: "Géill no còmhrag." Fhreagair e mar air an oidhche roimhe. "Géill no còmhrag cha'n fhaigh thu uam-sa 'n nochd, ach cuir air do shon féin glé mhoch am màireach, agus gheibh thu sin."

Then he sprang over the castle rampart; but, before he was barely in, there reached him Big Black John's defiance—"Surrender or combat." He replied as he had done on the night before: "Surrender or combat thou shalt not get from me to-night, but make ready to defend thyself early enough to-morrow morning."

Moch air an ath latha dhìrich Uilionn òg balla 'Chaisteil, agus dh' iarr e rithist cothrom na Féinne. Fhuair e sin, agus chaidh e féin agus Gaisgeach na Sgéithe-uaine an dàil a chéile. Bha e 'buidhinn air a' Ghaisgeach an toiseach an là, ach mu chromadh na gréine s an àird-an-iar dh' fhairich se e féin 'fàs sgìth agus fann. Ach an uair a smuaintich e gu 'n robh e fad' o'chàirdean agus dlùth d'a naimhdean, thug e brosglachadh air féin, agus le aon bheum fuilteach thilg e 'n ceann de 'n Ghaisgeach. Leum e 'n sin a stigh thar a' bhalla, ach chuir Iain Dubh Mór dùbhlan 'na dhéidh mar air an oidhche roimhe.

Early next morning young Ulin ascended the rampart of the castle, and again asked the fair play of the Féinn. He got that, and he and the champion of the Green Shield encountered one another. He was getting the better of the champion in the beginning of the day, but, about the going down of the sun in the west, he felt himself growing wearied and faint. But, when he thought that he was far from his friends and near to his foes, he roused himself, and with one bloody stroke he struck the champion's head off. He then sprang over the rampart, but Big Black John sent a defiance after him as on the preceding night.

Air an ath làtha agus air an la 'na dhéidh thachair gach ni mar air a' cheud dà là, agus chuir e na cinn bhàrr Gaisgeach na Sgéithe-gile agus Gaisgeach na Sgéithe-duibhe.

On the next day and the day following, everything happened as on the first two days, and he struck the heads off the champion of the White Shield and the champion of the Black Shield.

Bha nis na Gaisgich uile marbh, agus air an ath mhaduinn bha Iain Dubh Mór féin aige ri choinneachadh. Leum e stigh thar a' bhalla, agus air an oidhche sin ghabh a bhean aige cho math 's a b'urrainn i. Air an ath mhaduinn leum e mach mar b' àbhaist da, agus tharruinn e féin agus Iain Dubh Mór an dàil a chéile. Chòmhraig iad air tùs le 'n loinn, ach uaireigin air feadh an là thàinig iad cho dlùth air a chéile 's gu 'n deachaidh iad an spàirn chruaidh ghleac. Dheanadh iad bogain á bhogain agus creagain á chreagain, far am bu bhuige e 'dol fodha gu ruig an sùilean, agus far am bu chruaidhe e gu ruig an glùinean, agus far am bu mheadhonaiche e gu ruig ceann reamhar na sléisde. Mu chromadh na gréine chuir Uilionn òg Iain Dubh fodha, agus thilg e 'n ceann dheth.

The champions were all dead now, and next morning he had to meet Big Black John himself. He sprang in over the rampart, and that night his wife treated him as well as she could. Next morning he sprang out as usual, and he and Big Black John drew near each other. They fought first with their swords, but sometimes during the day they came so close to one another that they went into a hard wrestling bout. They would make quagmires of quagmires and knolls of knolls; where it was softest sinking to the eyes, and where it was hardest to the knees, and where it was most intermediate to the thick end of the thigh. At the going down of the sun young Ulin put Big Black John under him, and struck off his head.

An uair a chunnaic a bhean so, ruith i dh' ionnsaidh a' gheata agus dh' fhosgail i e, air chor 's nach do ruig a fear leas am balla leum air an oidhche sin. Dh' fhuirich iad le chéile anns a' Chaisteal gus an do leithiseadh creuchdan Uilinn òig. An sin rinn iad deas air-son pilltinn dachaidh, agus thug iad leò gach òr agus airgiod a bh' anns a' Chaisteal. Thug iad leò mar an ceudna each agus mialchu agus seabhag-sheilge Iain Duibh Mhóir; agus, ni 'bu phrìseile leò na gach ni eile, fiacail Rìgh na Gréige. Bha 'n t-astar fada, agus ghabh iad uine mhath air an t-slighe. Mu dheireadh thàinig iad an sealladh àite Righ na Gréige. Ach an àite dol dh' ionnsaidh a' Chaisteil, chaidh iad gu tigh a' mhuilleir, far an do chuir iad rompa fuireachd gus am faiceadh iad ciamar a bha gnothaichean a' dol mu thimchioll an àite. Cha do ghabh iad orra co iad, ni mó dh' aithnich am muillear iad, ged b' eòlach orra e roimhe sin.

When his wife saw this she ran to the gate and opened it, so that her husband required not to leap over the rampart that night. They stayed together in the castle until young Ulin's wounds were healed. Then they made ready to return home, and they took with them all the gold and silver in the castle. They also took with them Big Black John's horse, and hound, and hunting falcon, and (what they reckoned more precious than all other things) the tooth of the King of Greece. The distance was long, and they took a long time on the way. At length they came in sight of the place of the King of Greece. But, instead of going to the castle, they went to the miller's house, where they purposed staying until they would see how things were going on about the place. They did not let on who they were, and the miller did not recognise them, well acquainted with them though he was before then.

An uair a thàinig an oidhche, agus a bha iad a' còmhradh ri chéile taobh an teine, thubhairt am muillear ri Uilionn òg: "Tha each agad cho brèagh 's a chunnaic mi riamh. Bu chòir dhuit dol leis am màireach gu réis nan each aig Caisteal an Rìgh." "Cha téid mis' ann," ars Uilionn òg, "ach faodaidh thusa an t-each a thoirt leat, agus dol ann, ma thoilicheas tu." Cha robh dhìth air a' mhuillear ach an tairgse, agus ghabh e ris le 'uile chridhe.

When night came, and they were talking together beside the fire, the miller said to young Ulin: "Thou hast as handsome a horse as I ever saw. To-morrow thou shouldst go with him to the horse-race at the king's castle." "I will not go," said young Ulin, "but thou mayest take him with thee, and go, if thou pleasest." The miller wanted nothing but the offer, and he accepted it with all his heart.

Air an ath latha dh' fhalbh am muillear leis an each dh' ionnsaidh na réis. Ràinig e 'n Caisteal ann an àm. Chaidh na h-eich a tharraing suas aig ceann a' bhlàir-réis, agus an t-òrdugh falbh a thoirt seachad. Le sìnteig no dhà shaighdich each a' mhuilleir a mach roimh chàch uile, agus dh' fhàg e iad na b' fhaide 'na dhéidh leis gach ceum a thug e gus an d' ràinig e 'n ceann-uidhe. Bha e 'n sin astar mór air thoiseach air a' mharcaiche 'bu dlùithe dha, agus fhuair e 'n duais.

Next day the miller went to the race with the horse. He reached the castle in good time. The horses were drawn up at the end of the racing field, and the order to start was given. With a stride or two the miller's horse shot out ahead of all others, and left them further behind him with every step he took, until he reached the winning-post. He was then a long distance before the rider next to him, and he got the prize.

Thill e dhachaidh 'san fheasgar le moit mhóir air, a chionn gu 'n do bhuidhinn e 'n réis. Dh' innis e do Uilionn òg gach gaisge a rinn e leis an each, agus an sin thubhairt e: "Tha réis-chon ri bhi aig a' Chaisteal am màireach. Tha tri daimh fhiadh ri 'n leigeil as roimh na con, agus an cù 's luaithe, agus is mó a mharbhas, is e a gheibh an duais. Bu chòir dhuit dol ann leis a' chù agad." "Cha téid mis' ann," ars Uilionn òg, "ach thoir leat an cù, agus rach féin ann leis." Cha robh tuilleadh dhìth air a' mhuillear, agus an uair a thàinig an t-àm, dh' fhalbh e leis a' chù air éill. Ràinig e'n t-àite. Chaidh na féidh a leigeil as, agus na coin 'nan déidh. Ach mu 'n deachaidh iad ro fhada mharbh cù a' mhuilleir dà fhiadh, agus an cù a b' fhaigse dha aon fhiadh.An uair a bha 'n réis seachad, thàinig an Rìgh far an robh am muillear, agus dh' fheòraich e dheth c’àit' an d' fhuair e 'n t-each, agus an cù a bh' aige. Fhreagair e gu 'n d' fhuair e coingheall dhiubh o dhuine 'thàinig a dh' ionnsaidh a thighe, agus a fhuair cead fuireachd ann; agus gu 'n robh seabhag-sheilg' aige cho brèagh 's a chunnaic duine riamh. "Falbh dhachaidh, agus innis dha gu 'm bi réis-sheabhag an so am màireach," ars an Rìgh, "agus bi cinnteach gu 'n toir thu leat e féin agus a sheabhag chum na réis."

The miller returned home in the evening, full of pride because he had won the race. He told young Ulin all the brave things he had done with the horse, and then he said: "A dog race is to be held at the castle to-morrow. Three stags are to be let go before the dogs, and the dog that is fastest and that kills most will get the prize. Thou shouldst go with thy dog." "I'll not go," said young Ulin; "but take thou the dog and go with him." The miller wanted nothing more, and when the time came he went away with the dog on a leash. He reached the place. The deer were let go, and the dogs after them. But before they had gone very far the miller's dog killed two deer, and the dog next him one. When the race was over the king came where the miller was and inquired of him where he had found the horse and the dog he had. He replied that he got the loan of them from a man who had come to his house and got permission to stay; and that he had as fine a hunting falcon as any man ever saw. "Go home and tell him that a falcon race will be held here to-morrow," said the king, "and be sure that thou wilt take with thee himself and his falcon to the race."

Dh' fhalbh am muillear dhachaidh, agus dh' innis e do 'n choigreach mar chaidh dha aig an réis, agus am fios a chuir an Rìgh leis.

The miller went home, and told the stranger how it fared with him at the race, and the message the king had sent.

Air an ath mhaduinn dh' fhalbh Uilionn òg agus am muillear leis an t-seabhaig, agus ràinig iad an Caisteal an am. Chaidh sè calmain a leigeil as, agus na seabhagan as an déidh. Ach mu 'n deachaidh iad ro fhada, spad seabhag Uilinn òig an t-sè.

Next morning young Ulin and the miller went away with the falcon, and in due time reached the castle. Six pigeons were let off, and the falcons after them. But, before the pigeons had gone far, young Ulin's falcon killed the six.

An sin chaidh an Rìgh far an robh an coigreach aig an robh i, agus nach d' aithnich duine 'làthair, agus thubhairt e ris: "An reic thu 'n t-each, 's an cù, agus an t-seabhag a th' agad, agus bheir mi dhuit prìs mhath orra?" Fhreagair an coigreach nach reiceadh; ach gu 'n tugadh e dha rud beag eile a bh' aige, gun dad idir. Thug e 'n sin an fhiacail a mach as a phòc', agus shìn e i do 'n Rìgh, ag ràdh: "Feuch ciamar a fhreagras sin duibh."

Then the king went where stood the stranger whose it was and whom no one present knew, and said to him: "Wilt thou sell thy horse, dog, and falcon? and I will give thee a handsome price for them." The stranger replied that he would not, but that he had another small thing that he would give him for nothing. He then took the tooth out of his pocket and handed it to the king, saying: "See how that will suit you."

Air ball dh' aithnich an Rìgh a mhac, agus rinn e gàirdeachas mór r' a fhaicinn slàn, fallain. Mhol e 'n sin e air-son na h-oibre a rinn e air a sgàth-san. "Rinn mi obair a tha cheart cho math ri sin. Thug mi dhachaidh mo bhean, a ghoideadh uam, bliadhna mu 'n d' fhalbh mi o 'n tigh." "Ma thug" ars an Rìgh, "thoir an so i gun dàil, chum 's gu 'm faic mi i." Chuireadh fios oirre gu tigh a' mhuilleir, agus an uair a thàinig i, rinn an Rìgh gàirdeachas mór r' a faicinn a rìs. Ghabh ise an fhiacail, agus chuir i i anns a' cheart àite anns an robh i, an dorus a bheòil. An sin rinneadh cuirm mhór dhaibh-san uile 'bh' aig na réisean, agus an uair a bha 'chuirm seachad, dh' fhalbh mise dhachaidh.

Immediately the king knew his son, and rejoiced greatly to see him safe and sound. He then praised him for the service he had done him. "I have done as good a service as that. I have taken home my wife who was stolen from me a year before I left home." "If so, bring her here without delay, that I may see her." She was sent for to the miller's house, and when she arrived the king rejoiced greatly to see her again. She took the tooth and placed it where it first was in the door of his mouth. Then a great feast was made for all who were at the races, and when the feast was over I went home.