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Chapter 1  
     
1.
Hill of Tara, from where is it named?  
2.
declare O sages!  
3.
when did it separate from the country-side?  
4.
when did Tara become Tara?  
5.
Was it under ancestors of the Parthians of the battles?  
6.
or at the first conquest by Cesair, daughter of Ibbi?  
7.
or under Nemed from Scythia of the fresh valour?  
8.
or under Cigal of the knocking knees?  
9.
Was it under the Fir Bolg (Hyksos) of the boats?  
10.
or from the line of the little stooping Lugh, leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann?  
11.
tell which conquest of these it was?  
12.
from which the name Tara was set on Tara?  
13.
O Duban, O generous Findchad,  
14.
O Bran, O quick Cualad,  
15.
O Tuain, ye devout five!  
16.
what is the cause from where Tara is named?  
17.
There was a time when it was a pleasant hazel-wood  
18.
in the days of the noble son of Ollcan,  
19.
until the tangled wood was cut down by Liath son of Laigne Lethan-glas.  
20.
Thenceforward it was called Druim Leith—  
21.
its corn was rich corn—  
22.
until there came Cain free from sorrow,  
23.
the son of Fiachu Cendfindan.
 
24.
Thenceforward it was called Druim Cain,  
25.
the hill whither chieftains used to go,  
26.
until Crofhind the chaste came,  
27.
the daughter of all-famous Allod.  
28.
Cathair Crofhind (it was not lost)  
29.
was its name under the Tuatha Dé Danann,  
30.
till there came Princess Tea Tephi, never unjust,  
31.
the wife of Erimon lofty of mien.  
32.
Round her house was built a rampart  
33.
by Princess Tea Tephi daughter of Zedekiah;  
34.
she was buried beyond the wall without,  
35.
so that from her is Tara named.  
36.
The Seat of the Kings was its name:  
37.
the kingly line of the Milesians reigned in it:  
38.
five names accordingly were given it  
39.
from the time when it was Fordruim till it was Tara.  
40.
I am Fintan the poet,  
41.
I am a salmon not of one stream;  
42.
it is there I was exalted with fame,  
43.
on the sod-built stead, over Tara.  

 
 
 

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