The Celtic Literature Collective

Scél lém dúib

ut dixit Find hu Baiscne

1. Scél lém dúib
dordaid dam.
snigid gaim
ro faith sam.

2. gáeth ard huar
ísel grian
gair a rrith
ruthach .i. tondgarach rían. .i. muir

3. roruad rath .i. raithnech
ro cleth .i. ro cheil cruth.
ro gab gnath
giugrand guth.

4. ro gab uacht
ete. én
aigre ré.
e. mo scle.

scél lem duib


Translation

As Finn, descendent of Baíscni, said:

My tidings for you: the stag bells,
Winter snows, summer is gone.

Wind high and cold, low the sun,
Short his course, sea running high.

Deep-red the bracken, its shape all gone,
The wild-goose has raised his wonted cry.

Cold has caught the wings of birds;
Season of ice - these are my tidings


SOURCES
Lebor na hUidre, ll.849-856.

Meyer, Kuno. Four Old-Irish Songs of Summer and Winter. London, 1903. reprinted from Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry. London, 1911.