.

huir Seán na ba tríd an mbeárnáin ansan agus chomáin sé leo abhaile agus chuaidh sé ag triall ar a mháistir.Bhí sé deannach nuair a tháinig an feirmeóir abhaile um thráthnóna agus nuair a tháinig sé isteach d'fhiafraigh sé de Sheán an raibh gach ní sa cheart aige. Duirt Seán go raibh ochras air agus thug an feirmeóir a shuipéir dho agus chuaidh sé a chodladh ansan. Nuair déirigh Seán ar maidin amáireach, bhí an feirmeóir 'n-a shuí roimis. "Is moch atánn tu id' shuí," a duirt Seán. "Níl leigheas agam air a Sheáin," ars' eisean," tá droch-scéal agam." "Cad é sin airiú," arsa Seán, "nó cad imthigh ort ?" "Á" ar seisean, "iníon an rí atá le cur chun báis inniu." "Cad do chuirfeadh chun báis í ?" arsa Seán. "I gcionn gach aon seacht mblian i gcomhnuí," ars' an máistir, "tigeann piast amach as an bhfairrge insan chuan atá ansan ar an dtaobh thiar theas dínn agus do bháfeadh sí an náiuín le chéile mara bhfaghadh s'í maighdean le n-ithe an uair sin. 40. Seán drove the cows back through the little gap then and took them home, then he went looking for the master. It was late when the farmer returned that evening and when he came in he asked if everything was all right with him. Seán said that he was hungry and when the farmer had given him his supper, he went to bed. When Seán rose next morning, the farmer was already up before him. "Isn't it early you are up and about ?" Seán asked. "I have no cure for it, Seán," he said, "I have bad news," he said. "What is that then...Did anything happen to you ?" asked Seán. "Ah," he said, "The king's daughter is to be killed today." "What would kill her ?" asked Seán. "Always, every seven years," said the master," a monster comes out of the sea in that bay there to the south west of us and he would kill our whole nation all together if he didn't get a maiden to eat at that time,..." 41. Ar an tarna iníon an rí chuaidh sé de chrann, an iarracht seo, í thabhairt suas do'n pheist - caithfear í ceangal do chrann ar an dtráigh agus ar a dá uair dheag a chloig sa lá inniu, tiocfaidh an phiast d'á hiarraidh. Dá mbeadh aon gaisce fóghanta ann do throidfeadh an phiast ar feadh trí lá as a chéile, do bheadh iníon an rí saor agus chaithfeadh bean éigin eile do bheith i gcomhair na péiste i gcionn seacht mblian eile." "Ba chóir," arsa Seán," go bhfaghfaidhe duine éigin fuaid an náisiúin do throidfeadh an spadálach péiste sin thar a ceann." "B'fhéidir ná faghfaidhe," duirt an máistir, "Beidh cnuasach mór daoine inniu ann agus caithfir dul i n-einfheacht liom inniu ag féachaint ar an bpéist mar b'fhéidir na faghfá an chaothúmhalacht cheanna go brách arís chun í fheicsint." "Am bhriathar ! ní raghaidh mé," arsa Seán," agus nach gádh liom é. Dá n-imtheóghadh aon- ní ar na ba an fhaid do bheinn ag feachaint ar an bpéist sin, ba dheachair tusa bhearradh anocht. Ní fheicimse gur b'é an tsult a bheith ag feachaint ar an bpéist sin ag breith na mná san lei, má is rud é go mbéirfaidh sí leí í." 41. By lottery, this time, it fell on the king's second daughter, that she must be given up to the monster. She must be tied to a post on the strand and at twelve o'clock this day, the monster will come to get her. If there were any hero who would fight the monster for three days in succession, the king's daughter would be freed and some other woman would have to be given to the monster in another seven years." "It must be possible to find some person in the whole nation to fight that worthless monster for her life," said Seán. "Perhaps they might not find such a man," said the master. "There will be a great collection of people there today and you must go with me to see the monster because maybe you won't get such an opportunity again." "Indeed, I won't go !" said Seán, "and there is no need for me to do so. If anything happened to the cows whilst I was looking at that monster, you would be abusing me over it tonight. I don't see any enjoyment in watching that monster seizing that woman and taking her with it.". 42. D'imigh an máistir air ansan agus chomáin Seán leis na ba. Do dhein sé deithneas maith chun iad a chur isteach sa choill agus d'imigh sé roimis ag cuardach chun go dtí go bhfuair sé amach cúirt na n-athach. Fuair sé each, culaidh airm agus eadaigh an chead-athaigh a mharbh sé agus chuir sé uime iad agus tháinig i n-áirde ar an each. Níor bh'é a dhearmhad a chleith a bhreith leis mar ba mhó an ionntaoibh a bhí aige aisti ná as aon arm eile. Do bhí cnoc mór, árd idir é féin agus an chuan go ndúirt an máistir go dtiocfadh an phiast chun iníon an rí a bhreith léi agus do thug sé aghaidh a chapaill ar an gcnoc agus fé dhéin an chuain. Nuair tháinig sé i radharc an chuain, chonaic sé na daoine go léir ar cliathán an chnoic agus chonnaic sé uaidh an óig-bhean ceangailte do chrann bhí ar an dtrá. Chomáin sé sé trí na daoine go léir isteach agus theitheadar ar gach aon taobh uaidh, nuair a chonnaiceadar an imeacht chúiteach do bhí fé. Níor stop sé go dtí gur dheacaidh sé isteach i bhfiadhnaise na hóg-mná.. 42. The master departed then and Seán continued to drive the cows. He hurried on as best he could to get them into the forest and then he went to search for the giant's palace until he found it. He got the weapons and armor of the first giant whom he had killed and he put them on and got up on the steed. He didn't forget to bring his club with him because he had more confidence in it than he had in any other weapon. There was a great big, high hill between him and the harbour where his master had said the monster would come to get the king's daughter and he turned his horse's head towards hill and harbor. When he came within sight of the harbour, he saw all the people on the side of the hill and also the young woman who was tied to a post on the shoreline. He rode straight through the crowd and they fled from him on every side when they saw how determinedly he rode on. He never paused until he came right up to the young maiden.       43. "Cad do thug tusa annsan ?" ars' an gaiscíoch, "nó cad tá uait ann ?" "Thug m'athair," ars' ise "agus is é an chúis le n-a bhfuilim annseo, ta piast ag teacht as an bhfairrge chun mé bhreith léi agus d'ithe ar nómat." "Cad ba ghá dhuit teacht ann ag thriall ar an bpéist chun tu bhreith léi ?" ars' eisean. "Mar is orm do chuaidh sé de thoradh crainn," ars' ise, "agus mara bhfaghadh sí mo leithéid le bhreith léi, uair ins na seacht mbliana, do bháidhfeadh sí an náisiún." "An mb'fhéidir tú shábháil ar an bpéist ?" duirt an gaiscíoch. "Do b'fhéidir," a duirt an óig-bhean," dá dtigfeadh aon gaiscíoch fónta agus í throid thar mo cheann trí lá do bheinnse saor; do bheinn féin le posadh aige agus gheobhadh sé leath-riocht m'athar agus a riocht go léir ó n-a bhás amach." "Triallfadsa í throid," ars' an gaiscíoch, "mara ndeanfaidh mé maith, ní dhéanfaidh mé aon díobhaill." "Is dealraitheach leat, a ghaiscigh onóraigh," ars' ise, "go bhfuilleann tú cortha agus tar anuas ded' chapall agus leig do cheann am' ucht mar tá uair agus trí ceathramha aimsire fós agat sar a dtiochfaidh an phiast."     43. "What brought you here ?" asked the hero, "and what do you want ?" "My father brought me here," she said, "and the reason for that is that a monster will be coming out of the sea shortly to get me and eat me." "Why did you come so that the monster could get you and take you away ?" he asked. "Because the lot fell upon me," she said, "and if the monster doesn't get someone like me once every seven years it would kill the whole nation." "Is it possible to save you from the monster ?" asked the hero. "It would be possible," she said, "if a good hero would come and fight for me for three days, then I would be free - and I would be his bride and he would have half of my father's kingdom and he would get the whole of the kingdom when he died." "I will fight for you," said the hero, "and if I don't do any good, I won't do any harm." "You're just the man for the job, fine, honorable hero that you are and you're dressed for combat too !" she said. "Why don't you come down from your horse and lay your head on my breast, because it's another hour and three quarters yet till the monster is to come." 44. Do tháinig comh maith agus ceangail sé a chapall do chrann. Do leig sé a cheann 'na hucht agus leig sé air titim i 'n-a dhubha-chodhladh. Nuair a shamhlaigh sí go raibh sé 'n-a chodladh do thóg sí an hata d'á cheann agus d'aimsigh sí deimheas beag gearr a bhí aice 'na póca agus bhain sí loca gruaige de mhullach a chinn agus do chuir sí i gcoimeád go daingeann chúiche an loca. Nuair a bhí an aimsir caithte, d'airigh sí an liúgh ar na hardaibh ar an dtaobh amuigh dhi go raibh an phiast ag teacht agus ghlaoch sí ar an ngaiscioch agus duirt sí," Anois an t-am agat a ghaiscioch, tá sí ag teacht chúgainn!" Do léim sé 'na shui go tapaidh agus tharraing sé chuige a chleith agus shiúlaigh sé isteach go dtí port na fairrge i gcoinnibh na péiste. Do bhí an fhairrge aice d'á scolthadh 'n-a cnocaibh ar gach taobh di le n-a méid agus leis an bhfuineamh a bhí innti. Do chuirfeadh sé eagla ar aoinne chífeadh í - acht níor chuir sí aon eagla ar Sheán. Nuair a chuir sí a ceann amach as an bport do bhí Seán 'n-a sheasamh roimpe ann. D'eirigh sé as a chorp agus do bhuail sé pleasc d'á chleith annsa cheann uirthi agus do thit isteach thar n-ais insa bhfairrge. Do chuir na daoine go léir a bhí bailithe ann ana-liúgh suas do'n gascioch i dtaobh an ghním a bhí déanta aige. 44. He dismounted and tied his horse to the post, then he laid his head on her breast and let on that he was fast asleep. When she thought that he was fast asleep, she took his hat off and with a little pair     of scissors she had, she cut a lock of his hair off and kept it in a secret place. When the time was up, she heard the shouting on the hillside that the monster was coming and she called on the hero and said," Now is the time for you my hero, the monster is coming !" He jumped up quickly and grabbed his club and rode into the water to meet the monster It whipped up the sea into mountains on either side with its size and the speed of its coming. It would terrify anyone who saw it - but Seán wasn't afraid. When it reared its head out of the water, Seán was there before it and he raised himself to his full height and struck it a blow on the head and the monster fell back into the sea. All the people who were gathered on the the hillside gave a great shout at the great deed which he had just done.     45. Ní fheadair aoinne cia 'ca ag imeacht nó ag teacht a bhí an phiast acht go bhfeachadar an fhairrge go leir dearg i ndiaidh a cuid fola. D'fhan an gascioch 'n-a sheasamh ar bhruach na fairrge go dtí gur bh'fhiosach do an tiocfadh sí a thuileadh an lá san. D'iompaigh sé thar n-ais ansan agus do tharraig sé amach claidheamh a bhí ceangailte d'á chulaidh airm agus ghearr sé na teadracha a bhí ag ceangal na mná óige agus duirt Sé léi dul abhaile ná raibh aon baol inniu uirthi ar aon chuma ó'n bpéist. Chuaidh de léim ar a chapall agus thug sé a aghaidh ar an gcnoc chun imeacht. " Á ná himigh uainn," duirt an bhean óg, "agus teanam ort i n-einfheacht liom féin agus le m'athair. Ba mhaith le m'athair suim eigin a dheanamh díot toisc na hoibre iontach atá deanta agat dom - agus d'á mbé do thoil mé chosaint ar an bpéist amáireach." "Biodh do 'seans'; agat amáireach," duirt Seán," Caithfeadsa dul abhaile dom féin." As go brach leis do dhruim an chnoic go dtáinig sé abhaile go dtí cúirt na n-athach. Chaith sé dhe a chulaidh eadaigh agus chuir sé air a sheana-bhalcaisí. Chuimil sé a chapall agus do ghlan agus chomáin sé leis abhaile a bha. 45. No one knew whether the monster was coming or going but that they could see that the sea was all red with its blood. The hero stayed standing at the edge of the sea until he knew if it would come again that day. He turned back then and drew a sword which was by his side and he cut the ropes which were binding the young lady and he told her to go home and that there as no danger from the monster anyway. He leaped up on his horse and turned its head towards the hills to go. "Oh, don't leave us," said the young woman, "but hasten with me to my father. He would like to give you some recognition for the wonderful deed which you did for me this day - and to know if you wish to defend me from the monster tomorrow." "Tomorrow can take care of itself," said Seán," I must go home now for myself." Away with him then over the hills until he came t the giant's court. He took off the armour and put on his old rags of clothes again. He looked after his horse and cleaned it and then drove his cows home. 46. Bhí sé ana-dhéanach nuair a tháinig an máistir abhaile an oiche sin agus bhí ochras ar Sheán ag feitheamh leis mar níor faghadh sé pioc le n'ithe ó mhaidin. Bhí an t-athas go léir ar an máistir ag teacht agus chrom sé ar bheith ag insint cúrsai an lae do Sheán. "Níl aon toradh agam ar do scéalta acht tabhair dom rud éigin le nithe," duirt Seán. D'imigh an máistir agus thug sé cuige a shúipeir. Ar maidin amáireach, nuair a bhí Seán ag comáint a bha amach, ghlaoch an máistir air: "Stop a Sheain," ars' eisean, "agus cuirfeam na ba i bpairc eile inniu ná feadfaidh siad gabháil amach as agus caithfir-se dul go dtí an cuan i n-éinfheacht liom ag féachaint ar sport an lae inniu. Leithéid an ghaiscioch a tháinig inné ní raibh sa domhan. Tiochfaidh sé arís inniu gan dabht agus do b'fhiú d'aoinne dul ag féachaint air." "Briathar féin ná raghad," arsa Seán, "agus nach gá liom é ! Níl aon dúil sa saghas spóirt agam, agus a mháistir tá ionadh agat á chur orm agus spórt a ghlaoch i n-aon chór air, má tá tiospach ortsa, níl aon phioc de ormsa. Comáin leat agus leig dom féinig." 46. It was very late when the master came home that night and Seán was very hungry waiting for him because he hadn't had a scrap to eat since morning. The master was highly delighted coming home and he began to tell the things that had happened that day to Seán. "I have no interest in your tales, but give me something to eat," said Seán. The master went and got him his supper. Next morning, when Seán was driving his cows out, his master called him. "Stop, Seán," he said, "and I'll put the cows in another field where they won't be able to get out and you must come to the harbor with me to see the day's sport. Such a hero as came yesterday was never in the world before. He will come again today without a doubt and it would be worth anyone's time to go and see him." "Upon my word, I won't go," said Seán," and I don't need to do so. I have no interest in that sort of sport and, master, I'm amazed that you would call it sport at all and if you have any interest in it I haven't the slightest. Go on now, and leave me alone." We would like to acknowledge that, because of unavoidable condensing, necessary for fitting this tale into the space available, some alteration in plot has had to be made. Courtesy of Jack & Vivian, IrishPage.com March 2024 Ar mbuiochas le Caoimhghín Ó Brolcháin ar son a chabhair leis an nGaedhilge Click here for A menu of all Episodes. Replay background music: The Mountains of Mourne Filleadh go clár scéalta Click icon above to go back to story index