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| Scél Baili
Binnbérlaig "The Story of Baile Binnbérlach" Editions
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Though they have never met, Ailill of Leinster and Baile of Ulster fall in love and make arrangements to meet one another at Ros na Ríg in Brega. While awaiting his lover at the appointed place, Baile and his men are rapidly approached by something called an elpait (an obscure Irish word presumably indicating some sort of supernatural entity). The creature falsely tells Baile that Aillinn has been killed. He further says that druids had predicted that the two lovers were not destined to meet in life, but would become inseparable after death. At this news, Baile mac Buain drops over dead. His men bury him in the traditional style of Ulster warriors--his grave is dug, his ogam stone is erected, and his funeral games are celebrated. Soon a yew tree grows up from his grave, the top of which comes to bear the likeness of Baile’s head. Next the elpait hastens to Leinster and tells Aillinn that Buan is dead, whereupon she too dies and is buried. An apple tree sprouts from her grave, the top of which forms the shape of Aillinn’s head. After seven years, the filid cut down each tree, making each into a taball filed (poet’s tablet), upon which they write the ‘visions, feasts, loves, and wooings of the Ulaid’ (físe 7 fese 7 serca 7 tochmarca Ulad). At Samain, the filid take these tablets to the feast being held by Art mac Cuinn (Cormac mac Airt in another version). As the king holds the tablets in his hands, the one jumps upon the other. They fuse together such that they cannot be separated. Art has it deposited in the treasury at Tara, where it remained until Dúlaing destroyed the maidens of Tara. |
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| Copyright 2004-5 Dan M. Wiley. Last updated 11/14/05 | |