Texts
Tecosca Cormaic‘The instructions of Cormac’
- Old Irish
- Medieval Irish wisdom literature
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.
Manuscripts
- Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339 (H 2. 18) = Book of Leinster [s. xii2]pp. 343–345
- Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 12 = Book of Ballymote [1384 x 1406]pp. 62a–65a
- Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 2 = Book of Lecan [s. xvin]ff. 420r–422r
- Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 N 10 (Betham 145, 967) = Book of Ballycummin [s. xvi]pp. 1–2, [lacuna], 3–5.mMeyer writes "23 N 17", but it is clear from his references in the footnote that 23 N 10 is intended.
- Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 N 27 (966) [1714]ff. 7v–16vAn extensively glossed copy written by Domhnall ó Duinn mac Eimuinn (1714).
- Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1289 (H 1. 15) = The Psalter of Tara [1745]pp. 149–174Teagasg Riogh, written by Tadgh ua Nechtain (1745).
- Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1298 pp. 376-456 [s. xv]pp. 420a–422a
- Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1283 (H 1. 9) [s. xvii]pp. 59–end
Language
- Old Irish
- “I think there can be no doubt that Tecosca Cormaic in the form in which it has come down to us was compiled during the Old-Irish period of the language and so far as I can judge, not later than the first half of the ninth century. The later forms of the infixed pronouns which Strachan has pointed out [...], such as -das- or -dos-, do not appear in our text” (Meyer).(2)n. 2 Kuno Meyer, The instructions of King Cormac mac Airt (1909): xi, referring to John Strachan, ‘The infixed pronoun in Middle Irish’, Ériu 1 (1904).
Date
"so far as I can judge, not later than the first half of the ninth century" (Meyer).(1)n. 1 Kuno Meyer, The instructions of King Cormac mac Airt (1909): xi.
Textual relationships
Sources
Notes
Kuno Meyer, The instructions of King Cormac mac Airt (1909): xi.
Kuno Meyer, The instructions of King Cormac mac Airt (1909): xi, referring to John Strachan, ‘The infixed pronoun in Middle Irish’, Ériu 1 (1904).
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.
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).
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Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
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