AN GAODHAL.
129
RIDIRE NA g-CLEASA.
Annsan t-sean-aimsir bhí duine-uas¬
al an, agus níor rabh aige ach aon mhac
amháin. Nuair i d'fhás an t-ógánach
suas chuaidh an t-athair a tóruigheacht
mná dhó. Ag triall dhó air an d-teachd¬
aireachd seo do thainic sé go teach feil¬
méaraidhe a rabh cailín breágh, áluinn óg
ann, agus d' iarr sé air a h-athair í do
thabhairt le pósadh d'a mhac. Dubhairt an
feilméaruidhe leis nach dtiubharfadh sé
a inghean le pósadh do fhear air bith ach
fear céirde.
Bhí mac an duin' uasail i n-grádh leis
an mnaoi óig, & dubhairt sé le n' athair
"Caithfidh mé ceird do fhóghluim, & fan¬
faidh an bhean óg liom"
Lá 'r na mhárach d' imthigh an duin' ua¬
sal 'sa mhac air thóir fear a mhúinfeadh
ceird do'n mhac, agus bhídh'dar a siúbhal
go d-tangadar go bruach na fairge, in
áit a rabh luing agus fear air a bord a
deasúghadh a seolta. D'fhiafruidh an
imáireulach dhíobh chreud do bhídheadar ag
iarruigh.
"Tá mé tóruigheacht duine a mhúinfeadh
ceird do mo mhac," ar san duin' uasal.
'Má leigfidh tú liom-sa é" ar san
Ridire (budh é sin ainm an mháirneul¬
aigh), "múinfidh mise ceird dhó, & bheár¬
fad dhuit arís é faoi cheann lá agus
bliadhain."
"Tá mé sásta," ar san duin' uasal.
Do thug an Ridire Cormac (b' é sin
ainm mhic an duin' uasail) air bhord
luinge leis, thóig a chrainn seol agus chuir
amach go fairge. Budh fear draoigheach¬
ta an Ridire; agus nuair do chuaidh sé
tamall beag amach do bhuail sé buille
de 'n t-slaitín dhraoigheachta air Chorm¬
ac, & rinne pocán gabhair dhé, agus rug
leis é go d-tangadar go oileán annsan
bh-fairge. Bhí caisleán breágh aig an Ri¬
dire air an oileán, & bhí dhá bhuachaill
deug eile air teurma aige ann
Do chuaidh Cormac air aghaidh go maith
go rabh an bhliadhain críochnuighthe, agus
bhí cuid mhaith draoigheachta fóghluimte
aige. Thug an Ridire Cormac leis air
an luing go d-tainiceadar go d-ti an
Translation.
THE DRUIDICAL KNIGHT.
In the olden times there lived a gen¬
tleman and he had but an only son.
When the youngster grew up the fath¬
er went in search of a wife for him. In
pursuance of this purpose, he came to
a farmer's house in which was a fine,
beautiful, young girl, and he asked her
father to give her in marriage to his
son. The farmer said to him that he
would not give his daughter in marr¬
iage to any one but a mechanic.
The gentleman's son was in love
with the young woman, and he said to
his father, “I must learn a trade, and
the young woman will wait for me."
On the morrow the gentleman and
his son went in quest of a man who
would teach the son a trade, and they
travelled until they came to the edge
of the sea, where there was a ship and
a man aboard mending her sails. The
sailor asked what were they wanting.
"I am looking for a man who would
teach my son a trade," said the gen¬
tleman.
"If you let him with me," said the
Knight (that was the sailor's name), I
shall teach him a trade, and I shall
give him to you again in a day and a
year."
"I am satisfied," said the gentleman
The Knight brought Cormac (that
was the gentleman's son's name) board
a ship with him, raised his sails and
put out to sea. The Knight was a sor¬
cerer; and when he proceeded a short
way out to sea, he stuck Cormac with
the sorcerer's wand and turned him in¬
to a puck goat, and brought him to an
island in the sea. The Knight had a
beautiful castle on the island, and he
had twelve other boys serving their
apprenticeship there.
Cormac got along well until the end
of the year, and had learned a good
deal of sorcery. The Knight brought
Cormac with him on the ship to where
he got him from his father. The gen¬
