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Eoghan Ruadh Ó Súilleabháín |
| Eoghan Ruadh Ó Súilleabháín 1748 – 1784 Is Fíor Trím Aisling & Ós Follus Do’n Chléir [Two Songs on Poet and Priest] Part 1 Translations by Pat Muldowney - 2 - Is Fíor Trím Aisling Page 3 Eoghan’s Encounter with the Goddess Clíona Page 4 The Rivers of Ireland and All Ireland in Mourning Page 8 Eoghan’s Emotional Breakdown Page 9 True Taoiseach Page 10 Learning & Education Page 11 Christian Pastor Page 12 Guide of the Éigse & Court of Poetry Page 14 Mná Sí Page 15 Noble Ancestors Page 17 Summary Page 18 Immediate Family Page 20 Eoghan’s Philosophic Resignation Page 21 Prayers & Devotions for the Dead Page 21 Epitaph Page 22 Ós Follus Do’n Chléir Page 23 - 3 - Iarghnó ar bhás an Athar Conchubhar Ua hArgáin .i. sagart Búidh-bhriathrach beath-mhúinte Cráibhtheach caomhach coisruighthe Diadha déirceach deagh-shomplach Fáthach fiosrach fíor-eolach Grianach greidhineach glémhianach Líomhtha léigheanta lán-taidhbhseach Measardha méinneamhail mór-chroidheach Niata nósfar neamh-iomarcach Planndamhail páirteach príomh-lóideach Ríoghdha ráthmhar réim-díreach reimh Soilbhir síothchánta Truathach tréitheamhail Noch d’éag i nDomhnach Mór An t-aonmhadh lá déag ós cionn 20 do Ianuair 1773. A lament on the death of Father Con Horgan, i.e. a priest who was sweet-spoken, well-educated, pious, kindly, blessed, devout, almsgiving, good example-giving, philosophic, knowledgable, truly well-informed, bright, jolly, pure-countenanced, polished, learned, fully magnificent, temperate, highminded, great-hearted, neat, well-mannered, humble, witty, affectionate, kingly, prolific, of just sway, mild, pleasant, peacable, princely, accomplished, of great substance, who died in Donoughmore 20 January 1773. - 4 - A: Eoghan’s Encounter with the Goddess Clíona Is fíor trím aisling gur feasadh aréir dham Nidh chuir sealad mé ar mearbhal céille Gur theasc an bhás, gan spás le Gaedhealaibh Polla is flaith do shleachtaibh Éibhir Bíodhgaim suas, monuar, níor léir dam Cia an seabhac do thuit tré nimh ’na shlaoda Gur chlos i ngleann cois abhann im thaobh-sa Caoin mná go cráidhte ’na haonar. Is éascaidh ritheas gan earradh, gan éadach Fá dhéin an ghuil dar liom ba fhraochda Do dhearcas sídh-bhean íoghmhar aordha Ar bhruach na Laoi is í ag caoi na mbraonta. A basa sá sníomh , is dlaoithe a céibhe Dá stathadh aici anuas go buan dá bhpréamhaibh Tuile deor tar fóir dá dtaoscadh Osnadh is áladh ar lár a chléibhe. 1. Truly in my vision was manifested to me last night/ something that for a while drove me out of my senses / that death cut down without reprieve, with darts / the stalwart and hero descended from Éibhear. 2. I sit up of a sudden, alas! it was not clear to me/ who was the hero who fell through poison in a heap / until I heard in a valley by a river near me / the keening cry of a woman, tormented, alone. 3. Swiftly I ran without a stich, without clothes / towards the crying that I thought was intense / I saw a distressed banshee of the spirit world / on the banks of the Lee and she in floods of tears. 4. Wringing her hands, and locks of her hair/ tearing by the roots, in a frenzy / floods of tears streaming without limit / sighs and wounding to the heart of her breast. - 5 - Ba ghreannta a gnaoi, ba mhíonla a héadan Ba gheárr a braoithe suidhte ar réalt-dhearc Ba lonnrach lile tré luisne na gcaora Ag caismirt ’na gruadh, is gan luadh cia ghéillfeadh. Do thóg a ceann cér canntlach céasta, Is d’amhairc mise bí ag druidim ’s ag téarnamh Fá n-a dáil an tráth soin, ’s d’éirighidh Is measann gluaiseacht uaim faoi néaltaibh. Gur fhiafruigheas di, do ghuth mar fhéadas Fáth a cumadh is cúis a géar-ghuil D’fhreagair dúinn go búch le séimhe: “Is follas gur duine thú ar uireasbaidh céille, “An tráth nách feas duit leagadh an phéarla Ón bhFrainnc thug clú go triúchaibh Éireann Conchubhar Ua hArgáin, sagart grádhach béasach Do chailleadh anocht, ciodh docht an méala.” 5. Her countenance was well-formed, her face was gentle / her brows were fine, in place over bright eyes / The lily was resplendent through the flame of the berries / in contest in her cheek, and it was hard to tell which one would surrender. 6. She raised her head, though it was sorrowful and tormented / and she spied me in motion and drawing near / to her company at that time, and she arose / and considers evading me in the fog. 7. Until I questioned her in words I could command / the reason for her grief and the cause of her severe weeping / She answered me freely in kindness / “It is clear you are a person who lacks sense, 8. “That at this time you do not know that was laid low, the pearl / from France who brought fame to the lands of Ireland / Con Horgan, a kindly, civil priest / who died tonight, though hard the loss.” - 6 - Fochtaim a hainm go tapaidh don réilteann; Mise Clíodhna, ar sí, ón Léith-Chraig. Cráidheacht chughatsa, adubhart, a mhéirligh – Créad ná stracaim thú id bhallaibh ó chéile. An tráth i n-ar fhuilingis ursa na cléire Is comhairle dín na diadhachta naomhtha Bhí i réim ’s i ngradam fá thearmann tréimhse Do leagadh gan maidhm is feidhm-cath laochradh? Adubhairt an ainnir, dom fhreagairt, led shaor-chead Coisc dom ghearradh go n-aithrisfead scéal duit Is, d’éis mo thuarais, má thuigir gur daor mé I Déan do thoil is stroill mo ghéaga. An tan do buaileadh cuan na feile Do chorruig do bhíodhg, do líon-rith mé ann Níor fhágas bruidheann ná sídh-lios aerach Ráth ná beanna ó Ghaillimh go Béara 9. I swiftly requested her name of the beauty / “I am Clíodhna, said she, from Carraig Liath” / “Torment to you, said I, you harlot / why should I not tear you limb from limb? 10. “The hour that you should permit the stalwart of the clerics / the guard of holy divinity / who had status and esteem and patronage for a time / to be killed without warlike outburst or stout battle.” 11. The maiden said in reply to me: “By your leave / desist from attacking me until I tell you a tale / and, after my effort, if you believe I am a villain / do your will and rend my limbs. 12. “When the refuge of hospitality was stricken / my heart stirred, aroused, beat swiftly / there was not a fairy palace or ghostly fairy fort / a rath or pinnacle between Galway and Beara, - 7 - Nár thugas cuaird is luath-thuras éadtrom Síth go ráthmhar, is amus go héascaidh Is sluagh gach beanna fá a n-armaibh taobh liom I gcomhair cabhartha ó dheartaibh an éaga. Níor stadas dom ráig go dtáinig naomh-ghuth Chugham trím scím le díograis scéalta Nár bh’fuiláir dó freagairt go flaitheas dá chéile Is gur ghéarr Atropos snáith a shaoghail. Iar gclos dúinn go dtainig dát a laetha Is go ndéarna Clíodhna a dícheall saothair air D’éis maithimh don bháb, ár ngáir le chéile Do chuir a thásc tré Chlár Luirc Éibhir. 13. “Which I did not attend with light, speedy visit / in graceful swoop and speedy descent / and the host of every hill in arms beside me / in company to rescue him from the darts of death; 14. “I did not desist from my rampage until I heard a heavenly voice / in a vision, with urgent news / that he was compelled to answer to his heavenly guardian / and that Atropos severed the thread of his life.” 15. When I heard that his allotted time had arrived / and that Clíodhna had done her utmost to save him / after I had forgiven the lady, our cries together / proclaimed his death throughout Ireland. - 8 - B: The Rivers of Ireland and All Ireland in Mourning Uaill is gáir is crádh-ghol éagnach Is gruaim is glám is lán-tocht éighmhe Greadadh bas is stracadh céibhe Brón is caoi go cíocrach céasta. Do mhaitheadh spás ón Mháig go Léith-chloich Is ón Laoi ghil go himeal Léan-loch An bocht ’s an nocht go docht ’san mhéala Tré threascadh an bhile ceann urraidh na cléire. Tá glór is grásta i gClár Luirc Éibhir Caoi na mbruinneall sioscaidhthe séimhe Lachach doilbh is golairt ban aosta I ndiaidh an fhlatha do teaschadh go déidheanach. 16. Wailing and screaming and distressful, bitter crying / grief and cursing and full fit of groaning / beating of hands and tearing of hair / sorrow and weeping, earnestly, in torment. 17. Extending for a time from the Maigue to Cloch Liath / and from the bright Lee to the banks of Lough Leane / the poor and the naked firmly in grief / because of the cutting down of the great man, the leader of the clergy. 18. There are shouting and screaming in Ireland of Éibhear / the keening of the choicest tender ladies / melancholy groaning and weeping of old women / for this gentleman lately cut down. - 9 - Níor bh’ionadh liom an tSiuir dá ngéimfeadh Abhainn Dá Luadh ’s an Chuanach chraosach An Fhéil ’s an Bhrighid ’s an Fhuinnseann fhéarmhar Is gleann Abhann Bige dá gcluainim tar aon-tsruth. Caoi na mban is greadadh na gcéad-fhear Uaill-ghuth báb i ngearán ’s i ngéar-ghol Níor lacht mo dhreac, ciodh feacht gur déarach Doilbh duairc do chuaidh an scéal dam. 19. It would be no surprise to me that the river Suir cried out / the river Dallow and the fierce Cuanach / the Feale, the Bride and the grassy Fuinseann / and the valley of the Awbeg, I hear as one stream. 20 The keening of women and the handwringing of hundreds of men / the wailing voice of girls lamenting and bitterly weeping / my eyes did not shed liquid, though indeed tearful / gloomy melancholy the news to me. C: Eoghan’s Emotional Breakdown Do chuala caoi-scread caointeach céasta Cathach cráidhte cásmhar fraochda Na mná na leanbh do dhalta na hÉireann Thug sugh a brollaigh gan choigilt ’s a saor-lacht Iar gclos na ngártha ngáibhtheach géar-ghuil Coitcheann, le fíoch, ón dtír go chéile Tig saor-sruth caoi-ghuil síos lem chaomh-dhreac Cnead is osnadh go sochair im thaoibh dheis. 21. I heard the screeching keening grievous / sorrowful, tormented, piteous, furious / of the woman who gave to the foster-child of the muses / the juice of her breast as unrestrained freely-flowing liquid. 22. On hearing the piteous cries of keen weeping / widespread, with ferocity, from one land to the next / a free stream of lamenting tears fell from my sad eyes / groaning and sighing fixed in my right side. - 10 - D: Fr. Con -True Taoiseach I ndiaidh an bhile ba chomairc dá thréadaibh Comhairle chaoin dá ndíon ar faolchoin I gcéill ba chosmhail le Solamh gan séanadh Is gach téics dá gcanadh dá tharraing ar Naomh-script. Bláth-ghas buidheanmhar bríoghmhar béasach Carthannach cáilmhear cráibhtheach caomhna Duineata diadha dian-cheart déarcach Flaitheamhail fáilteach fálach féastach. Grian-fhlaith gaoiseach gníomh-ghlan Gaedhealach Lasamhail lonnrach leomhanta léidmheach Measardha míonla mín-tais maordha Neartmhar i ngníomharthaibh naoidheanta naomhtha. Plannda oirdheirc, polla ’gus péarla Ráthmhar i riaghail, rianach, réim-cheart Soinneanda stuamdha suaimhneach séimh-dhreach Taithneamhac triathach siansach teicseach. 23. For the knight who was safeguard of his flocks / with tranquil counsel protecting them from wolves / in wisdom there is no denying he was like Solomon / and every text he recited was drawn from Holy Scripture. 24. A blossoming scion, sociable, lively, cultured / charitable, of good repute, pious, companionable / humane, devout, strictly just, alms-giving / generous, welcoming, protective, feast-giving. 25. Sun-prince, talented, of pure deeds, Irish / brilliant, resplendent, lion-like, valiant / temperate, mild, tender, dignified / strong in innocent, holy acts. 26. A noble scion, a champion and pearl / prosperous in rule, influential, in true order / serene, wise, calm, of peaceful countenance / amiable, of good qualities, good-humoured, fond of texts. - 11 - E: Fr. Con’s Learning & Education Réilteann solais, is eochair na ndaor-cheist Céir na n-ollamh, is tobar na héifeacht Féinics forusta, soitheamh gan saobhadh Déas gan choigilt, is polla gan staonadh. Ré gan daoilcheas teimheal ná éiclips Riaghluidhe cáidh i gcásaibh léigheanta Scéaluidhe suairc is suadh nár aontuigh Céim tar ceart ná samhail chlaonta Saoi do mheabhruigh eagar is éifeacht Eagnadh is iul i bpúnncaibh dreachta Laidin is diadachta, Gaedhilge is daonnacht Cneastacht le cuimhne is mílseacht Béarla. 27. A star of illumination, and the key of difficult problems / most excellent of savants, and the well of good sense / a paragon of basic knowledge, persistent in calmness / a man not stingy, an unchanging stalwart. 28. Illumination without darkness, blemish or eclipse / a noble arbiter in learned issues / a jolly storyteller and an expert who never condoned / a wrong turning or a false comparison. 29. A learned person who ponders order and sense / wisdom and knowledge in points of verse / Latin and divinity, Irish and humanity / kindness to remember and sweetness of English. - 12 - F: Fr. Con - Christian Pastor Flaith do bhocht do choisceadh geibheann Scaoilteoir ceasa do lagaibh le daonnacht Órdaidhe diadha liaigh na ndaor-chnead Is diadhaire daingean an anama ar dhaor-bhruid. Easna don cheap nár mheath a phréamha Géag do bhile tá bileamhail craobh-ghlas Plannda caoin don fhíodh nár chlaochluigh Duille ná dreach gur gearradh a shaoghal. Rós gan teimheal is ursa na cléire Grian gan smúit ná dubhchan éiclips Réilteann eolais óg is aosta Is naomh mar Eoin i gclódh ’s i gcéimibh. 30. A decent man to the poor, who would put a stop to distress / reliever of hardship with humanity to the weak / a holy ordained person, healer of severe cases / and strong pastor of souls in dire difficulty. 31. A timber of the block that did not decay from its roots / a branch of the tree that is tree-like and greenbranched / a gentle sapling of the forest who did not a change / a leaf or an aspect until the ending of his life. 32. A rose without blemish and the defender of the clergy / a sun without cloud nor darkening of eclipse / a star of knowledge to young and old / and a saint like John in form and degree. - 13 - Tobar gan trághadh bhí lán do dhaonnacht Peadar i ngníomh is Maois i dtréithibh Níl acht cumha i dtriúchaibh Éibhir Ó teascadh go hóg é i bhflós a shaoghail. Taca mar Phól ba chomhairleach tréada Mar Naomh Lúc do scrúdadh na naomh-téics Mar Eoin do bhaist an Mac do céasadh Nó mar Phádraig, fáith na hÉireann. Comairce an chreidimh an chreidimh gon teibeadh do shaothruigh Eochair na bhflaitheas ón Arad-Mhac éachtach Taca mar Philib ba thuigseanach téasca Is do chaill a theanga tre theagsc na naoimh-cheacht 33. A well never empty who was full of humanity / a Peter in deeds and a Moses in qualities / there is nothing but grief in the lands of Éibhear / since he was cut off in his youth, in the flowering of his life. 36. A support like Paul in counselling his flock / like John who baptised the Son who was crucified / like Saint Luke in examining holy scripture / or like Patrick, prophet of Ireland. 37. Protection of the faith who sought ceaselessly / the key of heaven from the almighty noble Son / a support like Philip who was understanding of scripture /and who lost his tongue from dint of teaching the holy gospel. - 14 - G: Fr. Con – Guide of the Éigse & Court of Poetry Ughdar ársa i gcás nár aosuigh Tré iomarca tuigsiona i dtuisibh na héigse Seanchuidhe suairc is suadh na saor-bheart Is ceap-rí cáidh do dhámhaibh dréachta. Tuigseach dáin tar bhárdaibh dhaor-cheist Dá fheabhas le faghbháil i n-áitreabh Fhéidhlim Do chuireadh le slacht ’na gceart gach Gaedheal-treabh I mBanba ghluais anuas ó Éibhear. Flaith gan mheang gan cham gan chlaontacht Gan ghangaid gan phuimp gan teimheal ná éalaing Acht modhamh mhín is mílseacht bréithre Féile shíor is aoidheacht gan éaradh. Níor bh’ionadh an líog ag maoidheamh le géim-ghuth A haiteas ’s a gean tré shearc go scléipeach Ó thaisceadh fúithe, cúis mo dhéara An cholann ’na raibh gach maith dár léigheas-sa. 38. A veteran author who was not made senile by the difficulty / of poetic measures overladen with meaning / a jolly storyteller and creator of great works /and noble chief of poetic academies. 39. Interpreter of poems, greater than rigorously correct bards / the best to be found in the habitation of Feidhlim / who would add to the true elegance of every Gaelic tribe / in Ireland, descended from Éibhear. 40. A noble man without deceit or crookedness or treacherous deed / without spite, without arrogance, without blemish or flaw / but gentle modesty and sweetness of speech / true generosity and hospitality without refusal. 41. No wonder the headstone was declaring in bellowing voice / her pleasure and affection through love ostentatious / since deposited beneath her, cause of my tears / the corpse which contained evey virtue that I have recited. - 15 - H: Mná Sí Níl báb ghlan-ghrúadhach ná cuairsce aerach I gcill, i gcarcair, i gcathair, ná i maol-lios Ó chuan Fionn-trágha go tráigh Locha Éirne Nach clos a ngáir ’s a ngláimh ’san éacht so. Do scread Badhb gan mheidhir san Léith-chloic Do mhúscail suas gach buadach-bhean aerdha Ar gcloistin gháir a crádh-ghuil éignigh Do dhruideas spás i ndáil na béithe. D’fhiosruigheas, is í ag sileadh déara Cár ghaibh suim ban chaointe Éireann? D’fhreagair dam go doilbh fraochda Tá an t-éacht ró obainn le cloistin, cíodh méala. Níor bh’fada dúinn fá smúit ’n-ar n-aonar Gur gháir scaoth go caointeach taobh linn – Aoibhill Craige ’s a scata ban aosta Madhlion Eala is ceann beanna-chnuic Gréine. 42. There is not a pure-countenanced girl or wraith / in a churchyard, a prison, a stone fort or an unprotected fort / from Ventry harbour to the shores of Lough Erne / that did not hear her cry and lament for this sorrowful event. 43. Badhbh shrieked without happiness in Cloch Liath / Every triumphant fairy-woman was aroused / on hearing her distressful tormented cry / I moved a step closer in the company of the lady. 44. I asked her, as she wept tears / “Where is the company of the keening women of Ireland?” / She answered me in fierce grief / “This event is too sudden (for them) to hear of it, alas!” 45. We were not too long alone in our grief / until a flock cried out in lamentation near us / Aoibheall of Carraig (Liath) and her host of fairy women / Madhlion of Ealla and the summit of the peaked hill of Gréine (??). - 16 - Bainríoghan bruidhne Caroibhe an éirligh Bean sidhe sinsear clainn Mhic Shéamais Mis inghean Dáire, Gráinne is céile Curanta calma, cailleadh le claon-bheart. A n-áireamh súd dar liom ní fhéadfainn Acht tháinigh chugainn gach bruinneall baoth-ghein Ó thaobh Chnuic Loinge go himealaibh Béara Ag caoineadh an tsagairt bhí geanmnach tréitheach. Ag lachtadh a ndearc i bhfarradh a chéile Go pras ag caoi ’s ag sníomh a gcaol-bhas Iad-san uile ‘gus mhise ’san méala Tré bhás Chonchubhair chruthamhail léigheanta. 46. The battle-queen of the Branch given to slaughter / the banshee of the ancestors of the clan of Mac Shéamais / Mis, the daughter of Dáire, Gráinne and the wife / of the brave warrior, who died through treachery. 47. To count them all I believe I could not / but every tenderly fashioned lady came to us / from the sides of Knocklong to the coasts of Beara / lamenting for the priest who was chaste and virtuous. 48. Wth eyes liquefying in each others company / weeping copiously and wringing their graceful hands / all of them, and I, in grief / because of the death of creative, learned Conchubhar. - 17 - I: Fr. Con’s Noble Ancestors Beartaid lucht eoluis fós is léighte Réime ríomhtha, ríoghradh is réacsa Gur eascair an fhlaith de cheap na Seasar Do riaghluigh sealad i dTeamhair na dtréan-fhear. I dtaoibh a ghaolta, a n-áireamh ní dhéanfad Ciodh gur síor-scoth taoiseach saor é Is flatha ba ghnáthach tráthach tréitheach Bronntach bríoghmhar fíontach féastach. Oscailt do ghnáth roimh dáimh is éigse Taisteal bárd is táirdíol cléire Cistin lucht siubhail is cú na n-éagnach Is cabhair na mbaintreabhach bhfeidhn-lag céasta. 49. They reckon, persons of knowledge, and also of learning, calculating dynasties, lineage and kingships / that this noblemen descended from the ancestry of the Caesars / who once ruled in Tara of the valiant men. 50. Regarding his kinsmen, I will not recount them / though he is of the truly choicest of noble chieftains / and gentlemen who followed custom, who were protective, of good quality / generous, vigorous, plentiful of wine, feast-giving. 51. Customarily open to scholars and poets / travelling bards and visiting clergy / the kitchen of vagrants, and the hound of the miserable / and the saviour of tormented, helpless widows. - 18 - An gabhal fine ór geineadh an glé-ghas Meanmnach múirneach múinte méinneach Croidhe glan ceannsa cabharthach céimeach Líonta ’ghreann gan leamhas ’na bhréithribh; Eoluidhe eagnach eachrach éideach Prionnsa sámh na bhfaidhe bhféastach Treoruidhe cuimseach, croidhe na féile Is dochtúir díodhachta i ngníomh ’s i n-éifeacht; Fiannuidhe forusta foistineach faobhar-neart Grian-ráib shoilbhir shocharach shéadach Dalta na ríobh ó fhíoradh an réidh-chnuic Do hoileadh go húr i bponncaibh naomhtha. 52. The family tree from which was descended the bright scion / spirited, amiable, educated, of fair mien / of pure heart, beloved, helpful, dignified / full of humour and levity in his sayings. 54. A learned guide, knowledgeable of horses, well-clothed / tranquil prince of festive experts / competent guide, hear of generosity / and a doctor of divinity in actions and in effect; 55. Solid, serious, well-armed warrior / happy, wealthy, bright-scion, abounding in jewels / pupil of the muses in the settlement of (linguistic) difficulties / trained as a young man in points of divinity. - 19 - J: Summary Úr-ghas óg, gan feodh ná staonadh Biadhtach fairsing na ndealbh do réidhteach Bleachtaidhe buadhach ar dhuanaibh éifeacht Is nósaidhe ceart ar reachtaibh cléire. Ceann banna na sluagh is cuan a saortha Re seanmóir chaoin, mílseacht bhréigthre Le sompla thabhairt tré rún dá thréada Is re sna beartaibh lean aspail Aonmhic. Dá mb’eol dam laoidhthe a ríomhadh le héifeacht Damhna cathach, nó marbhna céasta Trian a ghníomh ná suim a thréite Do ghrian-chur síos go cruinn ní fhéadfainn. 56. Young, noble scion, not in decline or cessation / generous provider who gave succour to the poor / eminent supporter of (those who compose) poems of substance / and a true guide to the laws of the clergy. 57. Leader of multitude and their saving resort / by gentle discourses, by sweetness of words / for giving example in confidence to his congregations / and by his deeds which adhered to the apostles of the Only Son. 58. If I knew how to compose powerful verses / a poem of lamentation or tormented elegy / (Not so much as) a third of his deeds or of all his qualities / would I be unable to clearly and accurately express. - 20 - K: Fr. Con’s Immediate Family Is truagh a athair go foirbhthe aosta Díombáidheach diachrach dian ’sa mhéala Lacht a rosc le tocht dá thaoscadh Tré fheochadh an ubhaill ba chlú dá phréamh-stoc. Dar Duach, is abhar cáis le héistracht Uaill a mháthar atá gan éiféacht Gan mheabhair, gan chiall, ’na dhiaidh go céasta Is níor bh’ionadh linn-ne dá sileadh ’na braontaibh. Tá bráithre ag screadaigh ar mearbhall céille Gan tábhacht ná suim i maoin ná saoghaltacht An bháb do bhí aige ós cionn tighe fé chion ’Na collainn gan cheann go canntalacht céasta. Ní hiongnadh liom fá phúdair a ghaolta Is go follas fá shubh-bhrat cúmhadh na céadta Is gan comhgas aca le ceachtar dá ghaolta Acht tré n-a theist nár theip ón bhféile. 59. The weeping of his aged, feeble father is pitiful/ In grief, bereft, sorrowful, vehement / the liquid of his eyes flowing in floods / because of the withering of the apple who was the pride of his kin. 60. By Jove, it is a cause of lamentation to hear the wailing of his mother, who is stricken, out of her mind, without sense for the loss of him, tormented. And, no wonder to us that she is weeping great drops. 61. Brothers are screaming, out of their minds / without regard or interest in wealth or worldliness / The well-regarded lady who was in charge of his household / is a headless body, sad and miserable. 62. It is no surprise to me that his kinfolk are bereft / and hundreds clearly under a black pall of grief / though unrelated to either of his parents / because of his unfailingly hospitable character. - 21 - L: Eoghan’s Philosophic Resignation Is é deireadh gach smúite dúire a thréigean Is ó cuireadh mo pheann nach teann chum saothair Gur folamh mo cheann ó ogham dréachta Is gan eagar ná umhail ionnam ná éifeacht. Is gur sladaidhe an bás atá i ndán dár dtéarnamh Ó geineadh Ádam ársa is Ébha Níl agam acht guidhe le hinntinn eagnaigh Chun aingil is naoimh bheith síor dá aodhaireacht. 63. The end of every cloud is the abandonment of melancholy / and since my feeble pen was put to work / my head is devoid of the letters of verses / and there is no order or expression or purpose in me. 64. Death is the thief that is the destiny of all who survive / of the progeny of Adam and Eve / I can only pray with plaintive intent / to angels and saints to be ever-watchful of him M: Prayers & Devotions for the Dead Is athchuinge chur, tré nimh a chéasta Chun Éin-Mhic Mhuire fuair iomaraca péine Anam an diadhaire dhiadha shéimh seo Do ghlacadh go humhal ’na chúirt gan éaradh. Scaoilim feasta mo phaidir gan séanadh Sailm Dáibhí is páis an Éin-Mhic Fáilte an Aingil is ceachta na Cré anois Mar ghárda ar a anam go Flaitheas na Naoimh ngeal. 65. And to make entreaty, by the anguish of His passion / to the Only Son of Mary who endured excess of agony / the soul of this gentle, holy divine / to receive in His court without refusal. 66. I despatch also my prayer, not to be denied / the Psalms of David and the Passion of the Only Son / The Angelus and the message of the Creed / as escort for his soul the the Paradise of the holy Saints. - 22 - N: Epitaph An feart laoidh Fad chom i dtaisce atá adhbhar cáis suadh, A líogh Crobhaire ceannais cáidh blásta buadhach binn Plannda is leabhar d’fhás do mhaithibh Ráib uaisle is laoich. Conchubhar Ua hArgáin, Sagart sámh suaimhneach síothac. 67. The Epilogue. O gravestone, under your length is the reason for the trouble of fine people / an authoritative, famous, elegant in speech, polished, lofty, sweet-voiced champion / a plant which grew gracefully in the eyes of gentlemen, noble heroes and warriors / Conchubhar Ó hArragáin, priest, benign, tranquil, peaceful - 23 - Ós Follus do’n Chléir Ós follus do’n chléir gur mé ná tabhrann sógh Fiestas na féasta, béile, bainis ná póit Má amharcaim bé, is clé mo theastas gan ghó ’S an aicme do ghéinn, táid saor, má bhreabaid an tÓrd. A bhile gan chodam, gan chogal, gan chlaon-chéime A choinneal na n-ollamh, is a eochair na suibhscéalta Gan teimheal do folcadh i dtobar na Naoi mBéithe Is deimhin gur follus an donas ar shíol Éibhir. 1. Since it is clear to the clergy that it is I who does not contribute comfort / entertainment or feasting, food, party or liquor / if I see a lady, my reputation is wicked without doubt / and the crowd that does - they’re grand - if they bribe the Church! 2. O hero without blemish, without weeds, without false standards / O candle of the learned, and key to the gospels / without defect, who was bathed in the well of the Nine Muses / certainly it is clear (to you) the harm to the seed of Éibhear. - 24 - Tá síol Éibhir Fhinn fó cheas Drong do chleacht gaois is oircheas Saoithe suairce chanadh ceol Laoithe is duanta deagh-eol. Do b’eol dam Eaglais charthannach dhaonnachtach Bhórdach bhainiseach fhreastalach shaor ’na dtigh N-ar mhór a gceannas ’s a gcaradas d’éigsibh suilt Is mo bhrón! Tá a malairt ar marthain dá éis againn. 3. The seed of Éibhear Fionn are under affliction / a tribe who practised wisdom and propriety / pleasant sages who would sing music / verses and learned poems. 4. I knew of a charitable humane Church / generous in provisions, festive, provident, honourable in their house / Where great was their affection and friendship to jovial poets / My sorrow! The opposite is living after their passing from us. Is again dá n-éis atá Bárr fascnadha gach rilleáin Díoscar daoithe is fiar gur feadh Fá éide Chríost, mo dhíombádh. Is díombáidheach dubhach liom cúrsa sleachta na nGaoidheal Na buinneain úra chumhduigh Caiseal na Ríogh Go cionn-árd congantach clúmhamhail calma is d’íoc Bith-dháimh scrúdta ponncta go rathmhar ’san ríoghacht. 5. We have, after their passing / the chaff of giddy people / a rabble of churls and the flaw is found / in the apparel of Christ, alas. 6. Melancholy, sad to me is the fate of the race of Gaels / the Chiefs (fresh saplings) that built Cashel of the Kings / loftily, helpfully, protectively, bravely, and who rewarded / the everlasting academy that investigated difficult points successfully in the kingdom. - 25 - I ríoghacht ’s i réimeas ríogh Fáíl Ba ghnáth an chléir i sítheach-páirt Damhna ollmhain is druadh Gur iompuigh mádh na míodh-chuard. Ag cuaird má castarar eagnach gear-fhriotal Gan bhuar gan rachmas, ós dearbh an chléir mar sin Stuaire chalice, is go mblaisidh a béal le sult Sin ruagairt reatha air is eascaine chléire is chluig Clog ní baoghal ná coinneal-bhádhadh Madh lán d’ionnmhar is d’éadáil Do’n daoiste, gan reacht, gan riaghail Tré ghnáthughadh cléir do bhith-riar 7. In the rule and sway of the Irish kings / the clergy were commonly in peaceful alliance / with poets, learned folk and bards / until the trump turned to ill luck. 8. On his travels if a sage of keen discourse should meet / he without cattle or wealth, as the clergy know very well / a beautiful girl, and if he should taste her lips in joy / he is expelled at a run, with the curse of clergy and bell. 9. Bell, no danger, nor candle quenching / if full of wealth and profit / the clown, lawless, unruly / who is in the habit of constantly entertaining the clergy. - 26 - Ag riar ’s ag freastal ar Eaglais salm-ráidhteach D’fhíor-stoc fleascach dá gcaitheadh an aicme ó dtánga Trian a mbeathadh, is go mbainfeadh dham easbaidh fagháltais ’Na ndiaidh is searbh leo m’aiste ciodh blasta táithte. Táithte it chroidhe nár chogail meang Crábhadh, caoine is ollamh-ghreann Tréithe treall nach feas do’n chóip Ciodh tréan na hamhais ar altóir. 10 Entertaining and serving the psalm-reciting Church / of genuine peasant stock, casting off from themselves the class from which they came? / with a third of their livings, and they would take causing me loss of means / nevertheless bitter to them my poem though well constructed. 11 Firm in your heart that never concealed deceit / are piety, kindness and love of poetry / qualities that are not usually apparent to the multitude / though powerful are the mercenaries on the altar. |