Caoineann Cú Culainn Fer Diad (Cuchulainn's lament for Ferdia)

In the Táin Bó Cúalnge (the Cattle-raid of Cooley), the longest and most important tale of the Ulster cycle of stories, Cuchulainn fights in single-combat his foster-brother Ferdia and kills him. This is his lament for Ferdia.

Is é an Táin Bó Cúalnge an scéal is fuide agus is tábhachtaí a bhaineann leis an tSraith Ultach. Sa scéal seo cuireann Cú Culainn comhrac aonair ar a chomhalta Fer Diad agus maireann sé é. Seo an caoineadh a cheapann sé i ndiaidh bhás Fhir Diad.

Your thick yellow hair
was curly - a fair jewel.
Your soft, leaf-patterned belt
was round you till your death.

Our true friendship was
a delight for the eye of a nobleman.
Your shield with its golden rim,
your chess-board worth much treasure.

That you should fall by my hand
I acknowledge was not just.
Our fight was not gentle.
Alas for the golden brooch.

Dursan a eó óir
a Fhir Diad na ndám,
a balcbémnig búain,
ba búadach do lám.

Do barr bude brass
ba cass, ba caín sét,
do chriss duillech máeth
immut táeb gut éc.

Ar comaltus cain
radarc súla saír,
do scíath go mbil óir,
th' fhidchell ba fíu maín.

Do thuittim dom láim
tuicim nárb é chóir,
nírba chomsund cháin,
dursan a eó óir.