Compert Con Culainn (English: The Conception of Cú Chulainn) is an early medieval Irish narrative about the conception and birth of the hero Cú Chulainn. Part of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, it survives in two major versions.
Compert Con Culainn
"The Conception of Cú Chulainn"
Also known as
Feis Tige Becfholtaig (2nd recension); Gineamain Chonculainn
Language
Old and Middle Irish
Manuscript(s)
Recension I: LU, RIA 23 N 10, D IV 2, BL Egerton 1782, BL Egerton 88, TCD MS 1363, NLI Phillipps G 7, TCD MS 1287. Recension II: Egerton 1782 and D IV 2.
The tale exists in two main recensions. The earliest witness of the first version is the Lebor na hUidre (LU), compiled in the 12th century. The principal scribe (M) was responsible for writing down the main text, while a later reviser (H) erased the ending to make room for his own sequel from the time of Cú Chulainn's birth. According to H's notes, the text was included in the Cín Dromma Snechtai, an 8th-century manuscript now lost. Further copies of Recension I have come down in six manuscripts of the 15th and 16th centuries, all of them in some way associated with Connacht.[1]
The second recension survives in Egerton 1782 and D IV 2, where they immediately follow the first.[2] This recension is also called Feis Tige Becfholtaig “The feast of (or: passing of the night in) Becfholtach's house” in D IV 2.
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, D IV 2 (Stowe 992): f 46rb-47vb. Both versions.
London, British Library, Egerton 1782: f 78v-80r. Both versions.
London, British Library, Egerton 88: f 12vb-13rb. Entitled Gineamain Chonculainn.
Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, MS 1363 (olim H 4.22): IV, pp. 46–47.
Dublin, National Library of Ireland, (Phillipps) G 7: col. 7–9.
Cf: Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, MS 1287 (olim H 1.13), p. 342 ff.
Summaryedit
In the earliest version of Compert Chon Culainn, Cú Chulainn's mother Deichtine is the daughter and charioteer of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, and accompanies him as he and the nobles of Ulster hunt a flock of magical birds. Snow falls, and the Ulstermen seek shelter, finding a house where they are made welcome. Their host's wife goes into labour, and Deichtine assists at the birth of a baby boy. A mare gives birth to two colts at the same time. The next morning, the Ulstermen find themselves at the Brug na Bóinde (the neolithic mound at Newgrange). The house and its occupants have disappeared, but the child and the colts remain. Deichtine takes the boy home and raises him to early childhood, but he falls sick and dies. The god Lug appears to her and tells her he was their host that night, and that he has put his child in her womb, who is to be called Sétanta. Her pregnancy is a scandal as she is betrothed to Sualtam mac Róich, and the Ulstermen suspect Conchobar of being the father, so she aborts the child and goes to her husband's bed "virgin-whole". She then conceives a son whom she names Sétanta.[3] This has been interpreted as a triple conception, marking the child out as someone special.[4]
In the later, and better-known, version of Compert Con Culainn, Deichtine is Conchobar's sister, and disappears from Emain Macha, the Ulster capital. As in the previous version, the Ulstermen go hunting a flock of magical birds, are overtaken by a snowstorm and seek shelter in a nearby house. Their host is Lug, but this time his wife, who gives birth to a son that night, is Deichtine herself. The child is named Sétanta.[5]
The nobles of Ulster argue over which of them is to be his foster-father, until the wise Morann decides he should be fostered by several of them: Conchobar himself; Sencha mac Ailella, who will teach him judgement and eloquent speech; the wealthy Blaí Briugu, who will protect and provide for him; the noble warrior Fergus mac Róich, who will care for him and teach him to protect the weak; the poet Amergin, who will educate him, and his wife Findchóem, who will nurse him. He is brought up in the house of Amergin and Findchóem on Muirthemne Plain in modern County Louth, alongside their son Conall Cernach.[6]
Hamel, A.G. van (ed.). Compert Con Culainn and other stories. MMIS 3. Dublin, 1933 (reprinted 1978). pp. 1–8. Based on Lebor na hUidre. Edition available from CELT.
Windisch, Ernst (ed. and tr.). “Die Geburt Cuchulainn's.” Irische Texte mit Wörterbuch I. Leipzig 1880. pp. 134–45. LU and Egerton 1782. Errata published in Revue Celtique 5: p. 237.
Thurneysen, Rudolf (ed.and tr.). “[VII] Compert ConCulainn nach der Handschrift von Druim Snechta.” and “[VIII] Compert ConCulaind nach D. 4. 2.” In Zu irischen Handschriften und Literaturdenkmälern. Berlin, 1912. pp. 31–41 (LU, Egerton 88, 23 N 10 and H 4.22) and 41-8 (first version of D IV 2).
Hull, Eleanor (tr.). "The Birth of Cuchulainn." The Cuchullin Saga. 15–20. Adapted from Duvau's (French) translation. PDF available from Google Books (US only).
Gantz, Jeffrey (tr.). "The Birth of Cú Chulaind." Early Irish Myths and Sagas. 1981 (1983 repr.). pp. 130–2.
Kinsella, Thomas (tr.). The Táin. Dublin: Dolmen, 1969.
Cross, T.P. and C.H. Slover (eds). Ancient Irish Tales. New York, 1936. 134–6.
Thurneysen, Rudolf (tr.). “Setantas Geburt." Sagen aus dem alten Irland. Berlin, 1901. 6.-6.
Duvau, Louis (tr.). "La légende de la conception de Cûchulainn." Revue Celtique 9 (1888): 1-13.
Duvau, Louis (tr.). L'Épopée celtique en Irlande. pp. 22–33 [A].
Duvau, Louis (tr.). L'Épopée celtique en Irlande, pp. 33–38 [B].
Guyonvarc'h, Christian-J. (tr.). "La conception de Cuchulainn." Ogam 17 (1965): pp. 363–91. Version 1 (LU, Egerton 1782) and version 2 (Egerton 1782, D IV 2). Followed by commentary by F. Le Roux, pp. 393–410.
Even, Arzel (tr.). “La conception de Cuchulainn.” Ogam 4 (1952): pp. 273–6. Egerton 1782, version 2.
Even, Arzel (tr.). “La conception de Cuchulainn, selon le Libur Dromma Snechta.” Ogam 5 (1953): pp. 313–4.
Referencesedit
Ó Concheanainn, Tomás. "The textual tradition of Compert Con Culainn." Celtica 21 (1990): 441–55.
MS Omit
Further readingedit
Hollo, Kaarina. “Cú Chulainn and Síd Truim.” Ériu 49 (1998): pp. 13–22.
Zimmer, Heinrich. “Keltische Studien V. Über den compilatorischen charakter der irischen sagentexte im sogenannten Lebor na hUidre .i. Compert Conculaind.” Zeitschrift für vergleichende Sprachforschung 28 (1887): pp. 419–26.
January 01, 1970
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Compert Con Culainn English The Conception of Cu Chulainn is an early medieval Irish narrative about the conception and birth of the hero Cu Chulainn Part of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology it survives in two major versions Compert Con Culainn The Conception of Cu Chulainn Also known asFeis Tige Becfholtaig 2nd recension Gineamain ChonculainnLanguageOld and Middle IrishManuscript s Recension I LU RIA 23 N 10 D IV 2 BL Egerton 1782 BL Egerton 88 TCD MS 1363 NLI Phillipps G 7 TCD MS 1287 Recension II Egerton 1782 and D IV 2 PersonagesCu Chulainn Setanta Conchobor Deichtine Lug Contents 1 Manuscripts 2 Summary 3 Notes 4 Sources 4 1 Editions and translations 4 2 References 4 3 Further readingManuscripts editThe tale exists in two main recensions The earliest witness of the first version is the Lebor na hUidre LU compiled in the 12th century The principal scribe M was responsible for writing down the main text while a later reviser H erased the ending to make room for his own sequel from the time of Cu Chulainn s birth According to H s notes the text was included in the Cin Dromma Snechtai an 8th century manuscript now lost Further copies of Recension I have come down in six manuscripts of the 15th and 16th centuries all of them in some way associated with Connacht 1 The second recension survives in Egerton 1782 and D IV 2 where they immediately follow the first 2 This recension is also called Feis Tige Becfholtaig The feast of or passing of the night in Becfholtach s house in D IV 2 Cin Dromma Snechtai lost Dublin Royal Irish Academy Lebor na hUidre 23 E 25 p 128a b H End missing Dublin Royal Irish Academy 23 N 10 pp 62 63 Dublin Royal Irish Academy D IV 2 Stowe 992 f 46rb 47vb Both versions London British Library Egerton 1782 f 78v 80r Both versions London British Library Egerton 88 f 12vb 13rb Entitled Gineamain Chonculainn Dublin Trinity College Dublin MS 1363 olim H 4 22 IV pp 46 47 Dublin National Library of Ireland Phillipps G 7 col 7 9 Cf Dublin Trinity College Dublin MS 1287 olim H 1 13 p 342 ff Summary editIn the earliest version of Compert Chon Culainn Cu Chulainn s mother Deichtine is the daughter and charioteer of Conchobar mac Nessa king of Ulster and accompanies him as he and the nobles of Ulster hunt a flock of magical birds Snow falls and the Ulstermen seek shelter finding a house where they are made welcome Their host s wife goes into labour and Deichtine assists at the birth of a baby boy A mare gives birth to two colts at the same time The next morning the Ulstermen find themselves at the Brug na Boinde the neolithic mound at Newgrange The house and its occupants have disappeared but the child and the colts remain Deichtine takes the boy home and raises him to early childhood but he falls sick and dies The god Lug appears to her and tells her he was their host that night and that he has put his child in her womb who is to be called Setanta Her pregnancy is a scandal as she is betrothed to Sualtam mac Roich and the Ulstermen suspect Conchobar of being the father so she aborts the child and goes to her husband s bed virgin whole She then conceives a son whom she names Setanta 3 This has been interpreted as a triple conception marking the child out as someone special 4 In the later and better known version of Compert Con Culainn Deichtine is Conchobar s sister and disappears from Emain Macha the Ulster capital As in the previous version the Ulstermen go hunting a flock of magical birds are overtaken by a snowstorm and seek shelter in a nearby house Their host is Lug but this time his wife who gives birth to a son that night is Deichtine herself The child is named Setanta 5 The nobles of Ulster argue over which of them is to be his foster father until the wise Morann decides he should be fostered by several of them Conchobar himself Sencha mac Ailella who will teach him judgement and eloquent speech the wealthy Blai Briugu who will protect and provide for him the noble warrior Fergus mac Roich who will care for him and teach him to protect the weak the poet Amergin who will educate him and his wife Findchoem who will nurse him He is brought up in the house of Amergin and Findchoem on Muirthemne Plain in modern County Louth alongside their son Conall Cernach 6 Notes edit o Concheanainn The textual tradition p 441 o Concheanainn The textual tradition p 442 A G van Hamel ed Compert Con Culainn and Other Stories pp 3 8 Jean Markale The Epics of Celtic Ireland Ancient Tales of Mystery and Magic 2000 p 76 Cross and Slover Ancient Irish Tales pp 134 6 Kinsella The Tain pp 23 5 Sources editEditions and translations edit Hamel A G van ed Compert Con Culainn and other stories MMIS 3 Dublin 1933 reprinted 1978 pp 1 8 Based on Lebor na hUidre Edition available from CELT Windisch Ernst ed and tr Die Geburt Cuchulainn s Irische Texte mit WorterbuchI Leipzig 1880 pp 134 45 LU and Egerton 1782 Errata published in Revue Celtique 5 p 237 Thurneysen Rudolf ed and tr VII Compert ConCulainn nach der Handschrift von Druim Snechta and VIII Compert ConCulaind nach D 4 2 In Zu irischen Handschriften und Literaturdenkmalern Berlin 1912 pp 31 41 LU Egerton 88 23 N 10 and H 4 22 and 41 8 first version of D IV 2 Meyer Kuno ed and tr Feis Tige Becfoltaig Zeitschrift fur celtische Philologie 5 1905 500 4 Second version of D IV 2 Hull Vernam The Version of Compert Con Culainn in MS Phillipps G 7 Zeitschrift fur celtische Philologie 24 1954 pp 128 31 Phillipps G 7 Nettlau Max ed Revue Celtique 10 457 H 4 22 Hull Eleanor tr The Birth of Cuchulainn The Cuchullin Saga 15 20 Adapted from Duvau s French translation PDF available from Google Books US only Gantz Jeffrey tr The Birth of Cu Chulaind Early Irish Myths and Sagas 1981 1983 repr pp 130 2 Kinsella Thomas tr The Tain Dublin Dolmen 1969 Cross T P and C H Slover eds Ancient Irish Tales New York 1936 134 6 Thurneysen Rudolf tr Setantas Geburt Sagen aus dem alten Irland Berlin 1901 6 6 Duvau Louis tr La legende de la conception de Cuchulainn Revue Celtique 9 1888 1 13 Duvau Louis tr L Epopee celtique en Irlande pp 22 33 A Duvau Louis tr L Epopee celtique en Irlande pp 33 38 B Guyonvarc h Christian J tr La conception de Cuchulainn Ogam 17 1965 pp 363 91 Version 1 LU Egerton 1782 and version 2 Egerton 1782 D IV 2 Followed by commentary by F Le Roux pp 393 410 Even Arzel tr La conception de Cuchulainn Ogam4 1952 pp 273 6 Egerton 1782 version 2 Even Arzel tr La conception de Cuchulainn selon le Libur Dromma Snechta Ogam 5 1953 pp 313 4 References edit o Concheanainn Tomas The textual tradition of Compert Con Culainn Celtica 21 1990 441 55 MS Omit Scela Further reading edit Hollo Kaarina Cu Chulainn and Sid Truim Eriu 49 1998 pp 13 22 Zimmer Heinrich Keltische Studien V Uber den compilatorischen charakter der irischen sagentexte im sogenannten Lebor na hUidre i Compert Conculaind Zeitschrift fur vergleichende Sprachforschung 28 1887 pp 419 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Compert Con Culainn amp oldid 1193128186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
