War

D’fior chogaidh comhailtear síothcháin.

D’fior chogaidh comhailtear síothcháin.

(to / for * man * of-war * is kept / maintained / observed * peace)

By a man of war is peace maintained.

 
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Nocha comhain cath fiora.

Nocha comhain cath fiora.

(not * preserve/protect * battle * men)

Battle does not spare men.

 
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Sonus lomma ...

Sonus lomma is lenna lir,
buáid comairle in cech caingin,
búaid comperta, clú co mbail,
búaid creiche adiu, buáid slúagaid.

(luck * of milk * and * of ale * plentiful
victory * of counsel * in * every * affair
victory * of conception * fame * with * prosperity
victory * of raid * from here * victory * of military expedition)

Luck of milk and of plentiful ale,
successful advice in every matter,
success in procreation, fame with prosperity,
success in raiding hence, and victory in war.

 
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Ba h-álgen curmthigi is ba dúr debtha.

Ba h-álgen curmthigi is ba dúr debtha.

((he) was * gentle * of ale-house * and * (he) was * hard * of * strife)

He was a gentle man in the ale house and a tough one in battle.

 
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Ní·fríth ní·fuigébthar brithem bas fíriu cathroí.

Ní·fríth ní·fuigébthar brithem bas fíriu cathroí.

(not was found * not will be found * judge * that might be * more true * (than) battle-field)

A truer judge than the battle field has never been found, and never will be.

 
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Isat craebsa nar craithead fa cnomheas.

Isat craebsa nar craithead fa cnomheas.

(you are * branch * that not * was shaken * for its * nut-mast)

You are a branch that has not been shaken for its nut crop.

 
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Doilig dán láechdacht.

Doilig dán láechdacht:
ní suthain a mbí,
ifernnaig a mairb.

(grim * profession * warriorship *
not * long-lived * their * living ones *
hell-damned * their * dead ones)

Warriors have a hard profession:
their life is short and then they go to hell.

 
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Deog a topur éca itib...

Deog a topur éca itib
i cath Detna la Lagnib.

(draught * from * well * of death * he drank /
in * battle * of Detna * with * Leinstermen)

He took a drink from the well of death
in the Battle of Detna against Leinster.

 
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Ní gnáth orgain cen scéola.

Ní gnáth orgain cen scéola.

(not * usual * massacre * without * survivor)

However harsh the battle, someone usually survives to tell the tale.

 
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Na sluaig na saiget segair.

Na sluaig na saiget segair.

(the * armies * that not * attack * is/are attacked)

Armies that don’t attack are attacked.

 
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