Maxims & Wise Counsel

Is doescair cach can etach n-imbe.

(is * common * everyone * without * clothing * around-him)

No one is noble in the nude.

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.

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:

Nirbat dergnat chuirmthigi...

Nirbat dergnat chuirmthigi
nir·fhácba do chlothaige;
nirbat muichnech i n-úathad
nirbat búaibnech sochaide.

(you should not be * flea * of ale house
you should not leave * your * fame
you should not be * melancholy * in * solitude
you should not be * boastful (one) * of crowd)

You should not be an ale-house flea.
You should not give up your reputation.
You should not mope in solitude.
You should not boast in a crowd.

Mairg abélaiges do dháinib.

(woe betide * (he) that flatters * to * people)

Woe to the one who flatters people.

Is mairg ailter cen ríagail.

(is * woeful * is reared * without * rule)

Woe to him who is raised without rules.

This maxim is found in ACL and is quoted in DIL s.v. “ailid”.

Dia dá mhaoin is mairg do·ní.

(god * of his * wealth * is * woeful * makes)

Woe to him who makes a god of his wealth.

Is ó mhnáib do·gabar rath nó amhrath.

(is * of * women * is taken * good fortune * or * bad fortune)

It is from women that fortune comes, good or bad.

Ní·ria clotha ar bíad.

(not should sell * reputations * for * food)

He should not barter his fame for food.