The Celtic Riddle
By Lyn Hamilton
<p>THE SONG OF AMAIRGEN</p>Ic tabairt a choisse dessi i nHerind asbert Amairgen Glúngel mac Miled in laídseo sís.
Am gáeth i mmuirAr domni.Am tond trethan i tír.Am fúaim mara.Am dam secht ndírend.Am séig i n-aill.Am dér gréne.gAm caín.Am torc ar gail.Am hé i llind.Am loch i mmaigAm briandai.Am bri danae.Am gai i fodb. feras feochtu.Am dé delbas do chind codnu.Coiche nod gleith clochur slébe.Cia on cotagair aesa éscaiCia dú i llaig funiud grene.Cia beir búar o thig Tetrach.Cia buar Tethrach. tibi.Cia dain.Cia dé delbas faebruA ndind ailsiu.Cáinté im gaí cainte gaithe.As he set his right foot upon Ireland, Amairgen Glúngel son of Míl recited this poem:
I am the sea swell, the furious waveThe murmur of it's surgesI am the roar of the seaI am a stag of seven slaughtersI am seven battalionsThe hawk on the cliffI am a ray of the sunI am the forest abloomI am the boar enragedI am a salmon with in the lakeI am the lake upon the plainI am the flame of valorI am the piercing sword waging wasrI am a god that fashions herosHe who drives the cattle off from TaraThat heard touches each skillHe who fashions weapons of gloryCan shift his shapeI am the wisest of poets[1]<p>PROLOGUE</p>HERE'S a story attached to that, you know. It happened a long, long time ago, before mairgen and the Sons of Mil set foot on these shores, 'efore the children of the goddess Danu retreated to xe sidhe. Not so far back as the plague that killed the ons and daughters of Partholan. Not so far back as lat. But a long time ago, even so.
In those days, there were giants roamed the earth, nd creatures with one leg and one arm, like serpents, ame out of the sea. Back then, unsheathed weapons told tales, the sky could rain fire, and the shrieks of ie Hag would be heard in the night. And it was then tat the fiercest of battles, the struggle of light over drkness, were fought and won by the Tuatha de Da-aan. First they routed the Fir Bolg, then banished the readed Fomorians in the Battles of Mag Tuired.
The tales of their heroes, their leaders in battle, we tell to this day: Lugh, luminous, shining, destroyer of the Evil Eye; Diancecht, the healer; Nuada Silver land; and first and foremost, the Dagda.
