3. Óen Dún Cen Tene (Ancient Celtic)

[Intro — the single horn note becomes a slow marching pulse] Óen guth in tSlóig. Óen bríathar don chath. Grian cen teas. Tene re sligid. [Verse 1] Téit in slóg ó Bibracte. Brata dar mag. Vercingetorix for ech. Céo ina diaid. Labraid fri cach túath: “Cen biad do Róim. Loiscid tech is arbhar. Fácaid luaith re sligid.” [Pre-Chorus] Máthair oc dorus. Mac oc thenid. Gabid in t-athair brand. Ní labair nech. [Chorus] Loiscid in t-arbhar. Loiscid in tech. Tene remib. Luaith ina ndegaid. Cen biad don iolar. Cen fos do Róim. Loiscid in talam— mairid in túath. [Verse 2] Bailte fiche, óen ló. Tene ó chnoc co cnoc. Tuitid díon, tuitid crann. Dordaid in fid. Ainm cach baile i ngaíth. Deór for brat. Téit in slóg cen amharc síar. Luaith for a lorg. [Pre-Chorus 2 — the frame drum falls silent] Táncatar na Bituriges. Tuitid for glún. “Trócaire d’Avaricum. Ná loiscid ár ndún. Abainn oc a múr. Móin im cach leth. Óen dorus cumang. Seasfam fri bás.” [Chorus 2 — divided voices] Loiscid in t-arbhar. Loiscid in tech. Tene remib. Luaith ina ndegaid. Acht cluinid in cenn guth na Bituriges: “Avaricum cen tene. Fácaid in dún.” [Bridge — close and prophetic] At-chíu iolar for múr. At-chíu túr tar céo. At-chíu báistech for iarn. At-chíu fuil i sráid. Do-léci a chend. Ní labair corn. “Mairid Avaricum.” Is trom in tost. [Instrumental Break — tenor sax circles the horn motif as the harp pulse grows uneasy] [Final Chorus — the gathering answers in a low murmur] Óen dún cen tene, i lár na luaithre. Avaricum, Avaricum, solus do Róim. Óen dún cen tene, óen dorus cumang. Cluinim fiodh for cloich. Tic in t-ilar. Tene for cach cnoc (tene remib) Luaith for cach mag (luaith ina ndegaid) Avaricum cen tene. Tic in t-ilar. [Outro — rain, solitary horn and distant wooden blows] Corn i n-aidche. Báistech for múr. Fiodh for cloich. Tic in t-ilar!~~~ ———————— English Translation ———————— ONE FORTRESS WITHOUT FIRE [Intro — the single horn note becomes a slow marching pulse] One voice of the host. One word for the war. A sun without warmth. Fire before the road. [Verse 1] The host departs from Bibracte. Standards cross the plain. Vercingetorix rides on horseback. Mist trails behind him. He speaks to every tribe: “No food for Rome. Burn house and grain. Leave ash along the road.” [Pre-Chorus] A mother stands at the doorway. A child waits beside the fire. The father takes up a burning brand. No one speaks. [Chorus] Burn the grain. Burn the house. Fire before them. Ash behind them. No food for the eagle. No rest for Rome. Burn the land— so the people may endure. [Verse 2] Twenty towns, a single day. Fire passes from hill to hill. Roofs fall; trees fall. The forest murmurs. The name of every town rides the wind. A tear stains a cloak. The host moves on without looking back. Ash marks its trail. [Pre-Chorus 2 — the frame drum falls silent] The Bituriges come before them. They fall to their knees. “Mercy for Avaricum. Do not burn our fortress. A river guards its wall. Marshland surrounds it. There is only one narrow entrance. We will stand against death.” [Chorus 2 — divided voices] Burn the grain. Burn the house. Fire before them. Ash behind them. But the leader hears the voice of the Bituriges: “Avaricum without fire. Spare the fortress.” [Bridge — close and prophetic] I see an eagle upon the wall. I see a tower above the mist. I see rain falling upon iron. I see blood upon a street. He lowers his head. The horn does not speak. “Let Avaricum live.” The silence is heavy. [Instrumental Break — tenor sax circles the horn motif as the harp pulse grows uneasy] [Final Chorus — the gathering answers in a low murmur] One fortress without fire, amid the ashes. Avaricum, Avaricum, a beacon for Rome. One fortress without fire, one narrow entrance. I hear timber striking stone. The eagle is coming. Fire on every hill (fire before them) Ash upon every plain (ash behind them) Avaricum without fire. The eagle is coming. [Outro — rain, solitary horn and distant wooden blows] A horn in the night. Rain upon the wall. Timber striking stone. The eagle is coming.