Texts

Tecosca Cormaic

Incoming data

A collection of Old Irish maxims presented as words of advice by the legendary judicious king of Ireland Cormac mac Airt in reply to questions asked by his son and successor Cairpre (Lifechair). The maxims cover a variety of topics relating especially to the nature of good kingship.

Manuscript witnesses

MS

Dublin, National Library of Ireland, MS G 138

p. 121–p. 123a

Text

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 D 2

The catalogue description notes that its arrangement differs somewhat from that in Meyer’s edition.

pp. 5–25

Text

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 N 10

Meyer writes "23 N 17", but it is clear from his references in the footnote that 23 N 10 is intended.

pp. 1–2, [lacuna], 3–5.m

MS

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 N 27

Glossed copy

f. 7v11–f. 16v

Text

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 N 27

An extensively glossed copy written by Domhnall ó Duinn mac Eimuinn (1714).

ff. 7v–16v

Text

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 O 20

Transcript of the former written in 1828 by O'Donovan.

Text

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 2

ff. 420r–422r

Text

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 12

pp. 62a–65a

MS

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 12

rubric: Ar Cormmac rothothlaigh Cairpri Lifeachar a mac an teagasgsa incipit: A ua Chuind

Fragment: (a) text corresponding to §§ 1-18 of Meyer’s edition (1909); (b) an interpolation of a text of Senbríathra Fíthail (see separately below); (c) on f. 41ra.13 ff, (part of) § 19 of Meyer’s edition.

f. 39v(62)a.inf–f. 41r(65)a

Text

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1283

pp. 59–end

Text

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1289

Teagasg Riogh, written by Tadgh ua Nechtain (1745).

pp. 149–174

MS

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1295

with Fíthal's instructions

p. 131

Text

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1298/376-456

pp. 420a–422a

MS

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1298/376-456

Fragment corresponding to the opening paragraphs of Meyer’s edition (where this manuscript is not used). This copy was mentioned by Gwynn and has been discussed by Maxim Fomin (2010). It is written in the same hand as Audacht Morainn.

p. 420a–p. 422a

Text

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1319/pp. 172-187, 192-194

pp. 179–180

MS

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1319/pp. 172-187, 192-194

p. 179

Text

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339

pp. 343–345

MS

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339

p. 343a–p. 345b

Text

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1349

Text

Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, Adv. MS 72.1.7

ff. 9ra–9vb

Sources

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[ed.] [tr.] Meyer, Kuno [ed. and tr.], The instructions of King Cormac mac Airt, Todd Lecture Series, 15, Dublin, 1909.

CELT – edition: <link> CELT – English translation: <link> Internet Archive: <link>

Secondary sources (select)

Thurneysen, Rudolf [ed.], Zu irischen Handschriften und Litteraturdenkmälern [I], Abhandlungen der königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Philologisch-Historische Klasse, 14.2, Berlin, 1912.

comments: Continued by Rudolf Thurneysen, Zu irischen Handschriften und Litteraturdenkmälern II (1913).