The Cycles of the Kings

Of the four cycles of Irish sagas, only the Ulster Cycle is really well known, and that as a result of Thurneysen’s great study, "Die irische Helden- und Königsage". The Fenian and Mythological Cycles have engaged the interest of modern writers and are therefore also more or less familiar. But the Historical Cycle — more properly the Cycles of the Kings, for there are a number of separate cycles — is still comparatively unknown except to a few specialists. There is no good account of it beyond what O’Curry was able to supply in his "Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History" (Dublin, 1878). The historical sagas rise sometimes to a level of emotion and expression rarely excelled in stories of the other cycles, and they contain much that is of interest for the study of political and social history. The scope and purpose of this book are limited. It is not exhaustive. I have not attempted to do here for the Cycles of the Kings what Thurneysen did for the Ulster Cycle. Before that is possible a great deal of preliminary study must be made. Unpublished recensions of some of the texts must be published or examined, and the relation between the various recensions of a text and between different texts must be established, and a chronological order set up. There are indeed some important texts that have never been published at all. But much that has been published finds no mention here. I have chosen the stories that seem to me to have the greatest value as literature, with some regard also to their historical importance; for the book is intended not primarily for Irish scholars, but rather for the larger public whose interest may extend to this sort of knowledge, and who are not familiar with the Celtic journals. I have sought to include any details that might be of importance for students of history, anthropology or mythology, and the notes call attention to points of special interest. My chief aim has been to present the stories as well as the summary form permits, while adhering strictly to the original. Where the literary quality of a passage seemed to justify it, a literal translation is given. Almost all of the texts summarized have been translated already by others, and these translations have been of great assistance in the preparation of the summaries. But except in a few instances, as indicated in the notes, I have preferred to make fresh translations of the passages chosen. References to the standard editions and translations are supplied. Questions of manuscript tradition, sources, and date are merely presented. Here the specialist will find at least the mention of matters that await investigation. I have occasionally added a brief account of kindred sources, but without any attempt at completeness.