Back at Tara, Díarmait asks Becc mac Dé to ascertain the manner of his death once again. Becc mac Dé repeats the earlier prophecy in verse, beg. ‘Cichse a Temair tar fert a fert fogamraig’.
Devices
verse embeddingpoetic device, verse
verse embedding
verse embedding
id. 26200
Agents
Places
Temair
Temair ... Tara
County Meath
See more Included
Beg. Cichse a Temair tar fert a fert fogamraig
Verse beg. Cichse a Temair tar fert a fert fogamraig, attributed to: Becc mac DéBecc mac Dé
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more
Díarmait also asks his seer to describe the fate of the kingdom of Ireland in the wake of his death. Becc mac Dé recites another verse prophecy, beg. ‘Olc bith aromthá’. This includes verse lines [that are also known from Baile Chuind], painting a future of violence from one Níall to another: ‘a Niall by sea, a Niall in fire, and a Niall to hew down’, after the ruin of Ailech.
Devices
verse embeddingpoetic device, verse
verse embedding
verse embedding
id. 26200
Agents
Places
Related texts
Baile Chuind ChétchathaigBaile Chuind Chétchathaig
(Probable) sources
Tairngire Bic mic Dé ar deireadh dhomainTairngire Bic mic Dé ar deireadh dhomainA verse prophecy attributed to the seer Becc mac Dé on evil things to come
Included
Beg. Olc bith aromthá
Verse beg. Olc bith aromthá, attributed to: Becc mac DéBecc mac Dé
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more
Still unsatisfied by Becc’s answer, Díarmait calls his magicians (dráithe) to him again. Becc is angered at the king’s attitude, leaves him and is followed by a crowd that craves a prophecy of him.
He meets Colum Cille, who informs him that the great gift of prophecy comes to him from God. Asked if he can foretell the day of his death, Becc responds that he has seven more years to live, but realising he has erred, he corrects this to seven months and subsequently, to seven hours. Having thus made three false attempts, Becc requests communion from the saint, who tonsures him and gives him communion (comman) and the sacrament (sacarbaic). Becc mac Dé is taken up in Heaven.
Agents
Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
See more Becc mac DéBecc mac Dé
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more Colum CilleColum Cille
(fl. 6th century)
Colum Cille;Columba
founder and abbot of Iona, Kells (Cenandas) and Derry (Daire).
See more
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
See more Becc mac DéBecc mac Dé
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more Colum CilleColum Cille
(fl. 6th century)
Colum Cille;Columba
founder and abbot of Iona, Kells (Cenandas) and Derry (Daire).
See more
The text explains that Becc had never told a lie before; that it was prophesied that Becc would utter three false statements on the day of his death; and that because of this, Colum Cille had come to meet Becc.
Agents
Becc mac DéBecc mac Dé
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more
The three magicians confirm the prophecy made earlier by Becc: one refers to death by bloodshed and the shirt worn by the king; the second one to death by drowning and the ale presented to the king; and the third one to death by burning and the bacon on the king’s dish. Nevertheless, Díarmait dismisses these prophecies as unlikely to come true.
Agents
Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
See more
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
See more
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