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Ach achon ach am toirsech monuar!
Ach achon ach am toirsech monuar!
oh * alas * oh * I am * tired * alas
Alas, I’m weary, alas, alas.
Ná séit oíbell cen atúd.
Ná séit oíbell cen atúd.
(not * blow * ember * without * (power of) kindling)
Do not blow on an ember that has no fire in it.
Ad·fenar fó fíu...
Ad·fenar fó fíu.
Ad·fenar olcc anmoínib.
Ad·fenar maith moínib.
(is repayed * good * (by) worthiness
is repayed * evil * (by) un-treasures
is repayed * goodness * (by) treasures)
Value repays virtue.
Waste repays wickedness.
Gain repays goodness.
Sét no·tíag...
Sét no·tíag,
téiti Críst;
crích i mbéo,
bith cen tríst.
(path * that I go
Christ * goes;
land * in * which I am
let it be * without * curse)
The path I walk,
Christ walks;
The land I am in,
let it not be blighted.
Is bé carnae cluas cáich.
Is bé carnae cluas cáich.
(is * woman * of flesh * hearing/ear * of everyone)
Everyone’s hearing is a whore.
Is bun baisi ai cin toga...
Is bun baisi ai cin toga.
Is gnim for gaineam toga gin asta.
Is uball a nairear fasta gin cuindrech.
(is * base * of foolishness * lawsuit * without * agreement
is * deed * on * sand * agreement * without * binding
is * apple * in * borderland * binding * without * power)
This triad of alliterating lines is found in CIH 1921.41f (= Trinity College MS H 3.17, p 433). Neil McLeod rid the five-line grouping in the MS of two interloping lines, and provided the following translation, which tracks much of the structure of the original:
Tussu d’éc, missi d’anad...
Tussu d’éc, missi d’anad,
sírdursan ar sírscarad.
(you * to die * I * to remain
eternal sadness * our * eternal separation)
For you to die, for me to remain,
The everlasting sadness of our separation.
Íarus fis, túathus cath, airthius bláth, teissius séis.
Íarus fis, túathus cath, airthius bláth, teissius séis.
(in the west * knowledge * in the north * battle * in the east * blossom * in the south * melody)
Knowledge in the west, battle in the north, prosperity in the east, music in the south.
Fo chen aí...
Fochen aí,
ilchrothach,
ilgnúisech,
ilbrechtach,
bé shóer shonaisc.
(welcome * poetic art
many-shaped
many-faced
many-hued
lady * noble * well-linked)
Welcome, poetry,
multiform,
multifaceted,
multihued,
noble, well-linked lady.
Ba h-álgen curmthigi is ba dúr debtha.
Ba h-álgen curmthigi is ba dúr debtha.
((he) was * gentle * of ale-house * and * (he) was * hard * of * strife)
He was a gentle man in the ale house and a tough one in battle.