G 240

Tales (translations)

19th cent. Paper. 21.5 × 13 cms. Cash book, 308 pp. ([ii] + 1-7 (repeated), 8- 303 skipping two pages following 294; another numbering 1[303]-82[233] beginning at the end of the manuscript). Pp. 206-32 blank. Scribe: P. W. Joyce, 1877 (p. 200). Bound in boards with `163' labelled on front and back cover, and `translations at both ends of ms' on label on back cover. Inside front cover is written `Geo. Philip & Son ? Caxton Buildings South John Street Livirpool' [sic] and shelf-numbers of some RIA manuscripts; the relevant excerpt from a sale-catalogue is pasted there also; `Rev. J. Holahan CC Ballycallan' inside back cover. Purchased from Fred Hanna Oct. 1924 for seven shillings and sixpence.

Page

i Preface: `I heartily adopt Matthew Arnolds maxim (Lectures p. 16). I wish these stories to stand or fall on their intrinsic merits. I send them forth not with the hope that they will be read on a/c of their being Irish. ... I have endeavored to select these pieces with impartial eyes, and I think I have not yielded at all to any prejudices'.

ii Scribal entries: (i) `I have translated this hastily in the R.I.A. evening after evening from 3¼ to 4¼ o'clock from two MSS 24 B 28 and 23 L 39': Begun 8 Oct. 77'. (ii) `I calculate that I translate 1½ pp. per hour of the 1721 mss - small close writing - the story occupies 39 pages'. On top of the page is written `14,000 words'.

1 The Pursuit of the Giolla Deacair and of his horse down here. 8 Oct. 1877.' Beg. One day that F. McC. son of Trenmor O'Baoisgne was in the broad sided Almha of Leinster. Ends (p. 200) So that this is the adventures of G.D. and Taise Taobhgheal with the King of the World and the daughter of the Gruagach an ghaisce. `Translated from 24 B 28 R.I.A. written by Edmund Terry in 1728. Finished transl. 10 Nov. 1877 P. W. Joyce.' Followed by brief notes on the manuscripts used.

201 Some Ossianic quatrains extracted from `Lay. See p. 49' and `p. 82'. Breaks off top of p. 202.

203-5 Phrases in English, one attributed to `Arnold', several to `Swift'.

1 (303, beginning at the end) `In translating the following I had before me a transl. made by Edward O Reilly 24 D 15 R.I.A. But his language is very bad - grandiloquent and totally wanting in any flavour of antiquity. / Mac na Miochomhairle headed as follows (in Ms. 23 I 47): Siabhra Sighe ... Chearbhaill.'

2(302) Mac na Miochomharle. `Begun 1 Dec. 1877.' Beg. As ye have heard no harm for ye to ask. Ends (p. 82[233]) with `Coimhcheangal' (not fully translated into English). `Finished 15 Dec. 1877.' Followed by a note on the manuscripts used and on O'Reilly's translation.