Chapter 4

[87]Obscure and probably corrupt. Cf. § 219.

[87]Obscure and probably corrupt. Cf. § 219.

140.Three black husbandries: thatching with stolen things,[88]putting up a fence with a proclamation of trespass, kiln-drying with scorching.

[88]'with sods,' NML, perperam.

[88]'with sods,' NML, perperam.

141.Three after-sorrows: a wooer's, a thief's, a tale-bearer's.

142.Three sons whom folly bears to anger: frowning, ... ,[89]mockery (?).

[89]fidchell, the well-known game, gives no sense here.

[89]fidchell, the well-known game, gives no sense here.

143.Three sons whom generosity bears to patience: ... , blushing, shame.

144. Three sons whom churlishness bears to impatience: trembling, niggardliness, vociferation.

145.Three cold things that seethe: a well, the sea, new ale.

146.Three sounds of increase: the lowing of a cow in milk, the din of a smithy, the swish of a plough.

147.Trí hana antreinn: tipra i sléib, tene a liic, ana la fer calad.

luc MSS. anai la fear calaid N

148.Trí aithgine in domuin: brú mná, uth bó, ness gobann.

haitgine N aithgeinit L corathgen B coratgen M bru birite BM meas(!) BMLec

149.Trí diubarta forsná íada dílse: tinnscra mná, imthomailt lánamna, iarraid maicc.

hiad N imtomailt N iarraidmenicc(!) L

150. Trí cuir tintaiter do réir britheman: cor mná ⁊ micc ⁊ bothaich.

tinntaigter N

151.Trí nata[t] túalaing sainchuir: mac beo-athar, ben aurnadma, dóer flatha.

nad N

152. Trí maic nad rannat orbai: mac muini ⁊ aurlai ⁊ ingine fo thrilis.

erlai N

153.Trí ái nad eplet faill: ái dochuind, ⁊ dochraite, ⁊ anfis.

dochainn N docraite N

154. Trí fuile ná dlegat frecor: fuil catha, ⁊ eóit, ⁊ etargaire.

nad N etargaire N

155.Trí fuchachta nad increnat slabrai: a gabáil ar écin, a sleith tri mescai, a turtugud do ríg.

fúíchechta N slaibri N

156.Trí ná dlegat turbaidi: athchor maic, aicdi cherdai, gíallaigecht.

nad dlegait turbaid N aige cerda N

157.Trí aithne ná dlegat taisec: aithne n-écuind, ⁊ ardneimid ⁊ aithne fuirmeda.

haitne nad dlegait taisec N ecoind N fuirmidai L

158.Trí mairb direnaiter beoaib: aball, coll, fidnemed.

dorenatar beo N

159.Trí[ar] ná ditoing ná fortongar: ben, angar, amlabar.

dotoing na fortoingerL amlobar N

160.Trí ná dlegat athchommus: mac ⁊ a athair, ben ⁊ a céile, dóer ⁊ a thigerna.

na dlegait N

161.Trí nát fuigletar cia beith ar a ngáes: fer adgair ⁊ adgairther ⁊ focrenar fri breith.

nat fuigletar cia beit N fer adgair ⁊ adgair (sic) ⁊ adgairter ⁊ rocrenar N

162.Trí fors ná tuit aititiu 'na ré: bás, anfis, anfaitches.

anfuichches L anbaitces N

147.Three wealths in barren places: a well in a mountain, fire out of a stone, wealth in the possession of a hard man.

148.Three renovators of the world: the womb of woman, a cow's udder, a smith's moulding-block.

149.Three concealments upon which forfeiture does not close: a wife's dowry, the food of a married couple, a boy's foster-fee.

150. Three contracts that are reversed by the decision of a judge: the contracts of a woman, of a son, of a cottar.

151.Three that are incapable of special contracts[90]: a son whose father is alive, a betrothed woman, the serf of a chief.

[90]Or, 'of contracts on their own behalf.'

[90]Or, 'of contracts on their own behalf.'

152. Three sons that do not share inheritance: a son begotten in a brake,[91]the son of a slave, the son of a girl still wearing tresses.

[91]Cf. the expressionmeirdrech muine, 'a bush-strumpet,' Laws v. 176, 4.

[91]Cf. the expressionmeirdrech muine, 'a bush-strumpet,' Laws v. 176, 4.

153.Three causes that do not die with neglect: the causes of an imbecile, and of oppression, and of ignorance.

154. Three bloodsheds that need not be impugned: the bloodshed of battle, of jealousy, of mediating.

155.Three cohabitations[92]that do not pay a marriage-portion: taking her by force, outraging her without her knowledge through drunkenness, her being violated by a king.

[92]fuchacht, orfuichecht, usually means 'cuckoldry,' a meaning which does not seem to suit here.

[92]fuchacht, orfuichecht, usually means 'cuckoldry,' a meaning which does not seem to suit here.

156.Three that are not entitled to exemption: restoring a son, the tools of an artificer, hostageship.

157.Three deposits that need not be returned: the deposits of an imbecile,[93]and of a high dignitary, and a fixed deposit.[94]

[93]i.e.a deposit made by an imbecile.Cf.Plato, Republic: "But surely you would never give back to a mad friend a sword which he had lent you?"

[93]i.e.a deposit made by an imbecile.Cf.Plato, Republic: "But surely you would never give back to a mad friend a sword which he had lent you?"

[94]But in the Heptads (Laws v. 196, 3)aithne fuirmida, there rendered by 'a deposited charge,' is enumerated as one of those to be restored even if there are no bonds to that effect.

[94]But in the Heptads (Laws v. 196, 3)aithne fuirmida, there rendered by 'a deposited charge,' is enumerated as one of those to be restored even if there are no bonds to that effect.

158.Three dead ones that are paid for with living things: an apple-tree, a hazle-bush, a sacred grove.[95]

[95]there is nothing in the laws to explain this.

[95]there is nothing in the laws to explain this.

159.Three that neither swear nor are sworn: a woman, a son who does not support his father, a dumb person.

160.Three that are not entitled to renunciation of authority: a son and his father, a wife and her husband, a serf and his lord.

161.Three who do not adjudicate though they are possessed of wisdom: a man who sues, a man who is being sued, a man who is bribed to give judgment.

162.Three on whom acknowledgment does not fall in its time: death, ignorance, carelessness.

163.Trí foimrimme ná dlegad díre: homan, robud, toxal.

foimrime N foimrenn L na dlegaid N robad N

164.Trí duilgine conrannat gníaid: duilgine coiri, duilgine muilinn, duilgine tige.

duilcinne N conrenad gnia N

165.Trí nóill doná dlegar frithnóill: nóill mná fri húaitni, nóill fir mairb, nóill díthir.

naill nad dlegad fritnáill luige mna N luide N luige ditire N

166.Trí gráda coillte túath ina ngói: gói ríg, gói ṡenchada, gói bretheman.

om.HBMLec inango N go N

167.Trí sóir dogníat dóeru díb féin: tigerna renas a déiss, rígan téite co haithech, mac filed léces a cheird.

daoir dib fein N des N deissi L teid N treiges a cerd N

168.Trí ruip conberat duinechinaid: cú áraig, reithe lonn, ech daintech.

araid N reithid N daindtech N

169. Trí ruip ara tíagat cinta: cú foilm[n]ech, sleg caille, slissén chomneibi.

170.Trí imuserenat: saill, imm, iarn, fechemnas toisc leimmid eicsi.

imus crenait saill N sall L iaronn N feitemnus toisc leine im eiccsi N

171.Trí comartha aragella i tig britheman: ecna, aisnéis, intlecht.

comardda L aragellat a tig bretheman N taig L aisnesen intliuchtach L

172.Trí dlegat aurfocrai: aél coire, fidba cen ṡeim, ord cen dimosc.

dlegait urfogræ N fidbaigh can tseim ord gan dimosc N dinsem L

173.Trí doruis gúa: tacra fergach, fotha n-utmall n-eolais, aisnéis cen chuimni.

fothad utmall N eolus aisena ocancoimni N

174.Trí doruis a n-aichnither fír: frecra n-ainmnetach, ái fossad, sóud fri fíadnu.

an aithniterfiorinne N freaccra n-ainmnedach N ainmeta L ai fosaid sodad N

175.Trí búada airechta: brithem cen fúasnad, etirchert cen écnach, coma cen diupairt.

fuasna L

176.Trí tonna cen gáissi: tacra calad, breth cen eolas, airecht labar.

tonna gaisi N donnadgaissi L tonna gan gaoise H. 1. 11 brethem N

177.Trí búada insci: fosta, gáis, gairde.

buadad innsce N gois N

178. Trí cumtaig gáisse: immed n-eolais, lín fássach, dagaigni do airbirt.

lion fasaid N

163.Three usucaptions that are not entitled to a fine: fear, warning, asportation.

164.Three wages that labourers share: the wages of a caldron,[96]the wages of a mill, the wages of a house.

[96]i.e.of making a caldron, &c.

[96]i.e.of making a caldron, &c.

165.Three oaths that do not require fulfilment[97]: the oath of a woman in birth-pangs, the oath of a dead man, the oath of a landless man.

[97]Literally, 'a counter-oath, a second oath.'

[97]Literally, 'a counter-oath, a second oath.'

166.Three ranks that ruin tribes in their falsehood: the falsehood of a king, of a historian, of a judge.

167.Three free ones that make slaves of themselves: a lord who sells his land, a queen who goes to a boor, a poet's son who abandons his (father's) craft.

168.Three brutes whose trespasses count as human crimes: a chained hound, a ferocious ram, a biting horse.

169. Three brutish things that atone for crimes: a leashed hound, a spike in a wood, a lath....[98]

[98]comneibiis a ἁπαξ λεγομενον to me.

[98]comneibiis a ἁπαξ λεγομενον to me.

170.Three things that ... salt-meat, butter, iron....[99]

171.Three signs that ...[99]in a judge's house: wisdom, information, intellect.

172.Three things that should be proclaimed: the flesh-fork of a caldron, a bill-hook without a rivet, a sledge-hammer without....[99]

[99]Obscure and probably corrupt.

[99]Obscure and probably corrupt.

173.Three doors of falsehood: an angry pleading, a shifting foundation of knowledge, giving information without memory.

174.Three doors through which truth is recognised: a patient answer, a firm pleading, appealing to witnesses.

175.Three glories of a gathering: a judge without perturbation, a decision without reviling, terms (agreed upon) without fraud.

176.Three waves without wisdom: hard pleading, judgment without knowledge, a talkative gathering.

177.Three glories of speech: steadiness, wisdom, brevity.

178. Three ornaments of wisdom: abundance of knowledge, a number of precedents, to employ a good counsel.

179.Trí miscena indsci: rigne, dlúithe, dulbaire.

miscne indsce N raighni L

180.Trí fostai dagbanais: fosta thengad ⁊ gensa ⁊ airnberntais.

fosta N fostadh tengad N airbertais N

181. Trí fóindil drochbanais: fóindil scél ⁊ ataid ⁊ airberntais.

om.N

182.Trí búada étaig: maisse, clithcha, suthaine.

buadhad N cliche N

183.Trí ná dlegat othras: fer aslúi flaith ⁊ fini ⁊ fili.

nad dlegait dire fer doslaig flaith ⁊ file ⁊ fine N feili L

184.Trí tharsuinn archuillet othras: echmuir, mil, saillti.

tharsunn L tarsuind aircaillti othiais N

185. Trí mná ná dlegat díri: ben lasma cuma cipé las fái, ben gatach, ben aupthach.

nat dlegait N cia las f(a)oi N optach N

186.Trí dofortat cach flaith: góu, forsnaidm, fingal.

dofortad gach flatha N

187.Trí túarascbait cach ngenmnaide: fosta, féile, sobraide.

tuarascbála genmnaid fostad N

188.Trí ara n-aichnider cach fergach: ír, crith, imbánad.

tri aichnider L aranaithnenturN hir L

189.Trí thúarascbait cach n-ainmnetach: sámtha, túa, imderead.

tuarascbalai gach nainmnedaigh samtad N tuai L

190.Trí thúarascbait cach n-úallach: mórthu, maisse, máine.

tuaruscbalai cach ndubalcai mortha N

191.Trí forindet cach n-umal: bochtatu, dínnime, humallóit.

forinded N bochtai N

192.Trí airdi gáisse: ainmne, faiscsiu, fáthaige.

hairdhe N faicsi fathaidhi N

193. Trí airdi drúisse: bág, imresain, condailbe.

om.N

194. Tréde immifoilnge gáis do báeth: ecna, fosta, sochoisce.

imfuilnge N

195.Tréde immifoilnge báis do gáeth: fúasnad, ferg, mesca.

imfailnge baoth N

196.Tréde faillsiges cach ndagḟeras: dán, gaisced, crésine.

cach degferusN cresenai N

197.Tréde faillsigedar cach ndrochḟeras: serba, miscais, midlachas.

faillsighuscach drochferus N

198.Trí foglúaiset fóenledchu: ingreim, dolud, dommatu.

fainnelca N dolai N

179.Three hateful things in speech: stiffness,[100]obscurity, a bad delivery.

[100]In Mod. Ir.righneas labharthameans 'an impediment in speech.' See Dinneen's Dictionary, s.v.

[100]In Mod. Ir.righneas labharthameans 'an impediment in speech.' See Dinneen's Dictionary, s.v.

180.Three steadinesses of good womanhood: keeping a steady tongue, a steady chastity, and a steady housewifery.

181. Three strayings of bad womanhood: letting her tongue,[101]and ... and her housewifery go astray.

[101]Literally, 'stories.'

[101]Literally, 'stories.'

182.Three excellences of dress: elegance, comfort, lastingness.

183.Three that are not entitled to sick-maintenance: a man who absconds from his chief, from his family, from a poet.

184.Three sauces that spoil a sick-bed: ...,[102]honey, salt food.

[102]I believeechmuirto be the name of a plant: but I cannot find the reference.

[102]I believeechmuirto be the name of a plant: but I cannot find the reference.

185. Three women that are not entitled to a fine: a woman who does not care with whom she sleeps, a thievish woman, a sorceress.

186.Three things that ruin every chief: falsehood, overreaching, parricide.[103]

[103]Or rather 'murder of relations.'

[103]Or rather 'murder of relations.'

187.Three things that characterise every chaste person: steadiness, modesty, sobriety.

188.Three things by which every angry person is known: an outburst of passion, trembling, growing pale.

189.Three things that characterise every patient person: repose, silence, blushing.

190.Three things that characterise every haughty person: pompousness, elegance, (display of) wealth.

191.Three things that tell every humble person: poverty, homeliness, servility.

192.Three signs of wisdom: patience, closeness, the gift of prophecy.

193. Three signs of folly: contention, wrangling, attachment (to everybody).

194. Three things that make a fool wise: learning, steadiness, docility.[104]

[104]Cf.dán ecna dogni ríg do bocht, dogni gáeth do báeth, &c., LL. 346a35.

[104]Cf.dán ecna dogni ríg do bocht, dogni gáeth do báeth, &c., LL. 346a35.

195.Three things that make a wise man foolish: quarrelling, anger, drunkenness.

196.Three things that show every good man: a special gift,[105]valour, piety.

[105]Such as art, poetry, &c.

[105]Such as art, poetry, &c.

197.Three things that show a bad man: bitterness, hatred, cowardice.

198.Three things that set waifs a-wandering: persecution, loss, poverty.

199. Trí slabrada hi cumregar clóine: cotach, ríagail, rechtge.

racht N

200.Trí all frisa timargar béscna: mainister, flaith, fine.

tri frisa N mineistir N flatha N

201. Trí caindle forosnat cach ndorcha: fír, aicned, ecna.

202.Tréde neimthigedar ríg: fonaidm ruirech, feis Temrach, roimse inna ḟlaith.

tri aranemiterrí N

203.Trí glais foríadat rúine: náire, túa, dochta.

ruini L

204.Trí heochracha aroslicet imráitiu: mescca, tairisiu, serc.

oslaice imraite N

205.Trí orbai rannaiter fiad chomarbaib: orba drúith ⁊ orba dásachtaig ⁊ orba sin.

rannait fia comarbaoibh (sic) N

206. Trí seithir óited: tol, áilde, féile.

aide toil N

207.Trí seithir sentad: cnet, genas, éitche.

208.Trí seithir sognáise: feidle, soithnges, cuinnmíne.

feili soingtes connamno N soithgnes L

209.Trí seithir dognáise: luinne, cétludche, tairismige.

cetluithche N

210.Trí seithir sotcaid: sognas, sochell, súarcus.

sottch N sothchaidh L sognais L

211.Trí seithir sochlatad: léire, trebaire, rathmaire.

212.Trí seithir dochlatad: laxa, díbe, prapchaillte.

doclata N

213.Trí seithir ferge: écnach, augra, doithnges.

doingteas N

214.Trí seithir deirmiten: tromdatu, espatu, utmaille.

215. Trí seithir airmiten: torbatu, airétrumma, fosta.

216.Trí banlæ: lúan, mairt, cétáin. Mná co firu innib, bid mó a serc la firu indá serc a fer leo-som ⁊ beit a mná tar éis na fer sin.

bandla N at mna beit tara n-eiseiu N

217.Trí ferlæ: .i. dardáin, áine, domnach. Mná co firu intib, beitit na mná sin fo dígrad ⁊ beitit a fir dia n-éisi. Satharn immorrois laithe coitchenn. Is comlíth dóib. Lúan sáer do dul fri cach les.

aoine satharnnódomnach N innib N beidis N

218.Trí gníma rátha: fosta, féile, lobra. Fosta i n-árus, féile, arná ebra góe, lobra hícce .i. lécud a lomartha i n-indligud dar a ḟechimain.

om. ratha L lubrai N anarus N heibre gói N lubrai ice .i. leacadh lomartha anindligeddar cenn feichimanN

199. Three chains by which evil propensity is bound: a covenant, a (monastic) rule, law.

200.Three rocks to which lawful behaviour is tied: a monastery,[106]a chieftain, the family.

[106]'The credence-table,' N., perperam.

[106]'The credence-table,' N., perperam.

201. Three candles that illumine every darkness: truth, nature, knowledge.

202.Three things that constitute a king: a contract with (other) kings, the feast of Tara, abundance during his reign.

203.Three locks that lock up secrets: shame, silence, closeness.

204.Three keys that unlock thoughts: drunkenness, trustfulness, love.

205.Three inheritances that are divided in the presence of heirs: the inheritance of a jester, of a madman, and of an old man.

206. Three youthful sisters: desire, beauty, generosity.

207.Three aged sisters: groaning, chastity, ugliness.

208.Three well-bred sisters: constancy, well-spokenness, kindliness.

209.Three ill-bred sisters: fierceness, lustfulness, obduracy.

210.Three sisters of good fortune: good breeding, liberality, mirth.

211.Three sisters of good repute: diligence, prudence, bountifulness.

212.Three sisters of ill repute: inertness, grudging, closefistedness.

213.Three angry sisters: blasphemy, strife, foulmouthedness.

214.Three irreverent sisters: importunity, frivolity, flightiness.

215. Three reverent sisters: usefulness, an easy bearing, firmness.

216.Three woman-days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. If women go to men on those days, the men will love them better than they the men, and the women will survive the men.

217.Three man-days: Thursday, Friday, Sunday. If women go to men on those days, they will not be loved, and their husbands will survive them. Saturday, however, is a common day. It is equally lucky to them. Monday is a free day to undertake any business.

218.Three duties of guarantorship: staying (at home), honesty, suffering (?); staying in one's residence, honesty lest he utter falsehood, suffering (?) payment, viz. letting oneself be stripped for an illegal action instead of the debtor.

219.Trí brothcháin rátha: éir[i]c nó thogním fecheman no díthechte.

brocain Nnono thognim L ditechta N dithechdi L

220.Trí húais rátha ⁊ aitiri ⁊ nadma .i. dul fri dénam dúine ríg ⁊ daurthaige ⁊ choiri. Ar is úais do fir fine do thabairt fria céili.

eiteri N nadmadh fri N

221.Trí as anergnaid do neoch: slaide a eich ríana thigerna co salaig a étach, dul ina chocar cen gairm, a sírdéicsiu ina agaid oc caithem neich.

is ainergna N tri saineargnaidh M slaige BN rena BMN sirdeicsin N sirdegsain BM caithium BM aeaitniem a coda N

222.Trí bassa téchtai: bass etir a assa ⁊ a ochrai, bass etir a ó ⁊ a berrad, bass etir chorthair a léined ⁊ a glún.

corrthair M

223.Cia mesam hi trebod? Maic mná méile, fleda menci, clemna ile, immat meda scéo fína: notchrínat, ní thormaiget.

cidh is messa do trebadnihansaN mic B imad fianna nodcrinaid ⁊ nítoirmuigid BM imchiana (!) N nitormaigett N

224.Trí galair ata ferr sláinti: seola mná for mac, gríss bronn-galair glanas broinn, gríss timgaire olc dia maith.

seol N sceola(!) for fermac BM galar timargur olc do maith N timgaire B di maith B do maith M

225.Trí fáilti coirmthige: immed ⁊ dúthracht ⁊ elathó.

ealathaoi N ealado do neoch carthar BM

226. Trí fognama ata messam dogní duine: fognam do drochmnái ⁊ do drochthigerna ⁊ do drochgobainn.

mesa N drochflaith B drochferann N

227.Trí ata ferr i tig: daim, fir, béla.

dam N

228. Trí ata messum i tig: maic, mná, méile.

measum bite a taig mic BM

229.Trí comartha tirdachta .i. immargal ⁊ immarbág ⁊ meraichne.

imurcal imurbaid imraithne N imabad LBM

230.Cenéle amus: salanaig buale ⁊ buicc brodnai ⁊ eóin erchoille ⁊ seiche corad.

cenela BM bualeom.BM earcaille M córadh M

231.Cenéle dáileman: mórmenmnach meda, bolcsrónach brocóiti, itfa eserni, cúacroessach, donndabach, bolcra paitte, abartach escrai, geir grainne, cranndretel cuirn.

cenela BM metha H bolgsronach BM itfa eserne BM cuachroeasach BM cuachrochesach H baite BM haiti H abarthach easgraidh M gearr grandai B grenn graindi H crand rebartach H treiteal cuirnd M cuirnn L

219.The pottages of guarantorship: wer-geld or a debtor's ... or non-possession (?)[107]


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