Baile of the Clear Voice
Summary by Myles Dillon

(1—30) Baile of the Clear Voice was the only son of Buan grandson of Caba. He was the chosen lover of Ailinn, daughter of Lugaid son of Fergus of the Sea, and he was beloved of all who saw him or heard of him, both men and women. Baile came south from Emain Macha with his companions. When they had reached the trysting-place and were making merry, they saw a fearful spectre approaching from the south, darting like a hawk from the cliff or like the wind from a grey sea. His left side was towards them.1 They accosted him and asked for news. He said that he had come north from Mount Leinster, and had no news save only that Ailinn had given her love to Baile and was on her way to meet him, when she was over­taken and killed by the warriors of Leinster. Druids and seers had foretold that they would not meet in life, but that they would meet after death, never to part.

Baile died of grief, and he was buried and his tomb was raised and his funeral games were held by the Ulstermen. And a yew tree grew out of his grave, and the likeness of Baile’s head was in its branches.

(31—44) Then the spectre went south to where Ailinn was. She asked for news. He said he was going to Mount Leinster and had no news save only that he had seen the Ulstermen dig the grave of Baile son of Buan, heir to the kingdom of Ulster, and celebrate his funeral games; for he had died on his way to meet a girl to whom he had given his love. Ailinn fell dead, and she was buried, and out of her grave there grew an apple-tree. After seven years it was a strong tree, and the likeness of Ailinn’s head was in its branches.

(45—75) After seven years poets and seers cut down the yew that was over Baile’s grave, and made a poet’s tablet from it, and the vision-tales and feasts and loves and wooings of Ulster were written on it. Likewise the wooings of Leinster were written on the wood of the apple-tree. When the feast of Samain was held by Art son of Conn, the poets and men of every craft came, and brought their tablets with them. The two tablets were brought to him, and as he held them face to face they sprang together and were joined like woodbine round a branch. It was impossible to part them. They were kept in the treasury at Tara with all the other treasures, until Dünlang son of Enna burned them, when he slew the maidens.