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Four Treasures of Erin:
The title "Four Jewels~" does not occur in the Irish text and is supplied by the text editor. I made a guess on the Irish form but I can't vouch for accuracy. I have adapted the CELT: The Corpus of Electronic Texts version, which Lebor Buide Lecáin or "The Yellow Book of Lecan" version only. I've proofed this in order to reflect Vernam Hull's edition more closely, and included Hull's addition of footnotes which notes text variants in the BB = Book of Ballymote and Eg = Egerton 105 mss.

Hull's translation was also available online at →Mary Jones's site;I've proofed it and made minor corrections.

[Bibliography: Dublin, Trinity College, 1318 "The Yellow Book of Lecan"
Vernam Hull, The four jewels of the Tuatha Dé Danann. in Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie. vol 18, Halle/Saale, Max Niemeyer (1930) 73-89]

 

Ceithre seoda
na Tuath dé Danann [?]

The Four Jewels
of the Tuatha Dé Danann

{p.83}
  1) Punctuation and capitalization have been made to accord with modern usage, and all MSS contractions have beeen silently resolved. The compendium 7 has always been expanded as ocus.
  1 The scribe of BB has carelessly omitted from 'uair is' to 'druidectht ocus' Then in order to make sense he has added: 'ocus is iad sin.' But to preserve the grammatical structure of the sentence, he should have substituted 'diabaldanachta', the genitive singular of 'diabaldanacht', dependent like 'fheasa' and 'druidecthat' on 'foglaim'.
  2 gach BB.     3 rí BB.  
  4 ern¯ BB.     5 coírí BB.
    6 i BB.     7 i BB.  
  8 m-b˙id˙ BB. The dot over the 'b', which usually indicates aspiration, here denotes that this consonant is eclipsed by the preceding nasal.  
  9 claidem BB.     10 n-dergtha BB.     11 dhe BB.  
  12 gebhtha BB.  
  13 risint-i BB.     14 uadha BB.  
{p.84}
  1 seanchaibh BB.  
  2 mor-loingís BB.  

  3 ro·loisceahdh BB.  
  4 a BB.  

  5 om. BB.
 

  6 foghail BB.  
  7 fria BB.  



  8 fuarídar BB.

  
  9 druidhecht BB.  


  10 Adnamoin BB.  











  11 d'fhoghlaim BB.  





{p.85}


  1 n-gairmBB.  
  2 i na slúagh Eg.  
  3 om. Eg.     4 saer-fheasa BB.  
  5 om. BB.
    6 Erus BB. In YBL, the 's' is written above the word.  



  7 haidi BB.  




  8 claidem BB.     9 luigh BB.  







  10 rí BB.  



  11 Tuata YBL.  
  12 om. YBL.  
{Irish text}

Ceithri seuti n-Tuath De Danann [?] *

Text1)

Ceithri cathracha i rro·badar Tuatha De Danand ic foglaim fheasa ocus druidechta, uair1 is fis ocus druidecht ocus diabaldanacht ro fhogain doib. it e-seo anmanna na cathrach .i. Failias, ocus Findias, ocus Goirias, ocus Murias. Ocus is a Failias tucad in Lia Fail, fil i Temraig, no·gesed fo cech2 rig3 no·gebead hErind4. A Gorias tucad in claidheb bai ic Nuadaid. A Findias tucad sleg Loga. A Murias tucad coire5 in Dagda.

Ceithri fiseda badar isna cathrachaib sin .i. Fessus bai hi6 Failias, Esrus bai ic7 Gorias, Uscias bai a Findias, Semias bai a Murias. Is aco sin ro·foglaimsed Tuatha De Danand fis ocus eolus. Sleg Loga, ni gebthea cath fria na fris inti a m-bid8 laim. Claidheb9 Nuadad, ni·thernad neach ara n-dergad10 …11. O da·berthea asa thindtig bodba, ni gebti12 fris13 inti a m-bid laim. Coiri in Dagda, ni teigead dam dimdach uad14. An Lia Fail, fil i Temraig, ni labrad acht fa rig Erenn.

Ad-beraid, imorro, aroile do seanchaidib1 conid a n-dluim ciach tistais Tuatha De Danann i n-Erind. Ocus ni h-ead on, acht a longaib na morloinges2 tangadar, ocus ro·loiscsed3 a longa uili iar tuidecht i4 n-Erind. Ocus is don dluim ciach bai dib side, at-dubradar aroile conid a n-dluim chiach tangadar. Ocus ni h-ead iar5 fir5. Ar is iad so da fhochaind ara·r-loiscsead a longa na-r·fhagbaidis fine Fomra iad do fodail6 forro, ocus na ro·thisad Lug do cosnum rigi fri7 Nuagaid. Conid doib do chan in seanchaid:

    1. “ Tuath De Danand na set soim.
      Cait a fuaradar8 fogloim?
      Do·rangadar suigecht slan
      A n-druigecht9 , a n-diabaldan.
    2. Iardanel find, faith co feib,
      Mac Nemid, mac Agnomain10,
      D'ar mac baeth Beothach bertach,
      Ba loech leothach, lanfhertach.
    3. Clanna Beothaich,—beoda a m-blad—
      Rangadar sluag niath nertmar,
      Iar snim is iar toirrsi truim,
      Lin a loingsi co Lochluinn.
    4. Ceithri cathracha,—clu cert—
      Gabsad a rem co ronert.
      Do curdis comlann co cas
      Is d'foglaim11 a fireolas.
    5. Failias ocus Goirias glan,
      Findias, Murias na morgal,
      O maitea madmann amach,
      Anmanna na n-ardchathrach.

    1. Morfis ocus Erus ard,
      Uscias i(s) Semiath sirgarg,
      Re n-garmand1,—luag2 a leasa—
      Anmann suad a3 ssarfeasa4.
    2. Morfis fili a5 Failias fen,
      Esrus6 a Goria(s), germen,
      Semiath a Murias, dind dias,
      Uscias fili find Findias.
    3. Ceithri haisceda leo anall,
      D'uaislib Tuaithi De Danand:
      Claideb, cloch, coiri cumal*,
      Sleag ri haidid7 ardcurad.
    4. Lia Fail a Failias anall,
      Gesed fo rigaib Erend.
      Claideb8 lama Loga luidh9
      A Goirias,—roga rocruid.
    5. A Findias tar fairrgi i fad
      Tucad sleg nemneach Nuadat.
      A Murias, main adbol oll,
      Coiri in Dagda na n-ardglond.
    6. Ri Nime, Ri na fer fand,
      Rom·aince, Rig10 na rigrand,
      Fear ca fuil fulang na fuath,
      Ocus cumang na caemtuath. ”

      Tuatha11 De 12 Danann12 Finit. Amen12.

{English text}

The Four Jewels of the Tuatha Dé Danann

Translation

There were four cities in which the Tuatha Dé Danann learnt wisdom and magic, for wisdom and magic and deviltry were of service to them. These are the names of the cities: Failias and Findias, Goirias and Murias. From Failias was brought the Lia Fail, which is at Tara, and which used to cry out under each king who assumed the sovereignty of Ireland. From Gorias was brought the sword which belonged to Nuada. From Findias was brought the spear of Lug. And from Murias was brought the caldron of the Dagda.

Four wizards were in these cities. Fessus was in Falias, Esrus was in Gorias, Uscias was in Findias, and Semias was in Murias. From them the Tuatha Dé Danann learnt wisdom and knowledge. No battle was maintained against the spear of Lug or against him who had it in his hand. No-one escaped from the sword of Nuada after he had been wounded by it, and when it was drawn from its warlike scabbard, no-one could resist against him who had it in his hand. Never went an assembly of guests away unsatisfied from the caldron of the Dagda. And the Lia Fail, which is at Tara, never spoke except under a king of Ireland.

Some of the historians, indeed, say that the Tuatha Dé Danann came to Ireland in a cloud of mist. But this is not so; for they came in a great fleet of ships, and after arriving in Ireland, they burnt all of their vessels. And from the cloud of mist that arose from them, some said that they came in a cloud of mist. This, however, is not true; for these are the two reasons why they burnt their boats: that the race of the Fomorians might not find them in order to prey upon them, and that Lug might not come in order to contend against Nuada for the sovereignty. Concerning them, the antiquary composed this lay:


  1. "The Tuatha Dé Danann of the precious jewels, 
    Where did they find learning?
    They came upon perfect wisdom
    In druidism (and) in deviltry.
  2. Fair Iardanel, a prophet of excellence,
    Son of Nemed, son of Agnoman,
    Had as a foolish offspring the active Beothach,
    Who was a hero of cleaving, full of wonders.
  3. The children of Beothach, —long-lived their fame—
    The host of valiant heroes came,
    After sorrow and after great sadness,
    To Lochlann with all of their ships.
  4. Four cities,—just their renown—
    They held in sway with great strength.
    On this account they passionately made competition
    For learning their genuine wisdom.
  5. Failias and bright Gorias,
    Findias (and) Murias of great prowess,
    From which battles were won outside,
    (Were) the names of the chief cities.
  6. Morfis and noble Erus,
    Uscias and Semiath, ever-fierce,
    To name them,—a discourse of need—
    (These were) the names of the sages of noble wisdom.
  7. Morfis (was) the poet of Failias itself,
    In Gorias (was) Esrus of keen desire,
    Semiath (was) in Murias, the fortress of pinnacles,
    (And) Uscias (was) the fair seer of Findias.
  8. Four presents (were fetched) with them hither,
    By the nobles of the Tuatha Dé Danann:
    A sword, a stone, a caldron of worth,
    (And) a spear for the death of great champions.
  9. From Failias (came) hither the Lia Fail,
    Which shouted under the kings of Ireland.
    The sword in the hand of the nimble Lug
    From Gorias (it was procured), —a choice of vast riches.
  10. From far-away Findias over the sea
    Was brought the deadly spear of Nuada.
    From Murias (was conveyed) a huge and mighty treasure,
    The caldron of the Dagda of lofty deeds.
  11. The King of Heaven, the King of feeble men,
    May he protect me, the King of royal parts,
    The Being in whom is the endurance of spectres,
    And the strength of the gentle race. "

    Tuatha Dé Danann.

    The End. Amen.

from the Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland, ed. Macalister

* Tyronian et symbol (looks like ¯| or 7) is replaced with ampersand.
{p.106}





304. 1 badar iarmh 2 Beothaig
3 Iarbonel Fathaig 4 Nemidh
5 inindsib tuascertacha 6 ac
7 draidechta & fesa & fithnasta & amhannsechn comtar
8 fortailli 9cerdddib L -Aibh F
10-tliucta L, genntlachta F.

305. This ¶ in F only.









1 The a sbs.


2 The m written over an s written first in error.









(a) Written do, and the stroke partly erased.
{Irish text}

SECTION VII.
TUATHA DE DANANN.
Min (begins with ¶310), μV 18 γ 18: μλ 27 γ 30: μR 93 a 10.
R1, L 4 δ 50: F 11 γ 3.
  304. 1Batar iarum clanda 2Bethaig meic 3 Iarboneōil Ḟāda meic 4Nemid 5in insib tūascertachaib in domain, 6oc foglaim 7druidechta & fessa & fāstini & amainsechta, combtar 8fortaile for 9cerdaib sūithe 10gentliuchta.

  305. Ceitri cahtrachhach i rabadar ie foglaim ḟis & eolas & diabalachdacht; it iad so a n-anmanna, .i. Falias & Goirias & Findias & Muirias. A Failias tucadh in Lia Fail fil i temrig, no gessidh fo cach rig no gebidh Erinn. A Goirias tucad in tlegh bi ic Lug; ni geibtha cath frisin ti a mbid laim. A Findias tucadh claidhim Nuada: ni thernadh nech uadha; o dobertha as a intig bodba, ni gebtha fris. A 1Muirias tucead coiri in Dagda: ni theigidh damh dimdhach uad. Ceitri fisidh is na eathrachaib sin : Morfesa bi a Failias, Esrus bai in Goirias, Usicias bi a Findias, Semhias bi a Muirias. Is iad sin na ceitri filidh, aear 2foglaimsed Tuatha De Danann fis & eolus.

L F
306.Combtar ist Tuatha De Danand tancatar Herind.   Tancatar an Erinn iarum Tuatha De Danann.
& ni fes bunadas doibh, in do demnaib no do dainibh, acht a radh is do(a) chlaind Beothagh meic Iarbonel Fathaigh doib.
{English tr.}






  304. Thereafter the progeny of Bethach s. Iarbonel the Soothsayer s. Nemed were in the northern islands of the world, learning druidry and knowledge and prophecy and magic, till they were expert in the arts of pagan cunning.




  305. There were four cities in which they were acquiring knowledge and science and diabolism: these are their names, Failias, Goirias, Findias, Muirias. From Failias was brought the Lia Fail which is in Temair, and which used to utter a cry under every king thant should take Ireland. From goirias was brought the spear which Lug had: battle would never go against him who had it in hand. From Findias was brought the sword of Nuadu: no man would escape from it; when it was drawn from its battle-scabbard, there was no resisting it. From Muirias was brought the cauldron of The Dagda; no company would go from it unsatisfied. There were four sages in those cities: Morfesa, who was in Failias, Esrus in Goirias, Usicias in Findias, Semias in Muirias. Those are the four poets, with whom the Tuatha De Danann acquired knowledge and science.

L F
306.   So that they were the Tuatha De Danand who came to Ireland.
  Thereafter the Tuatha De Danann came into Ireland.

  Their origin is uncertain, whether they were of demons or of men; but it is said that they were of the progeny of Beothach s. Iarbonel the Giant (sic).
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