The Characters Speak

Scéfe día·tuidchis ní bus mó!

(I will vomit * if you were to come * anything * that would be * more)

I’ll vomit if you come any closer!

Nipa úar th’fhuil-siu lim-sa for talmain in tan not digél.

(will not be * cold * your * blood * with me * on * earth * the * time * that I will avenge you)

Your blood will not be cold on the ground by the time I avenge you.

(do not * attend to * the * compassion * that does not help you)

Do not entertain the pity that does you no good.

Nípsa chú-sa imlomtha fuidell.
Basa chú-sa tairdbe buiden.

(not was I * hound * of gnawing * remnants * was I * hound * of tearing * of companies)

I was not a hound for gnawing at scraps.
I was a hound for tearing into troops.

(not * anger * against * rage * for you * that)

You won’t get wrath in return for rage.

La firu ferdacht. La mná mifre.

(with * men * manliness / with * women * despondency)

Men are meant to be manly. Women are meant to be sad.

(he bound you * as * binds * ivy (?) * trees)

He bound you the way ivy binds trees!

Acht ropa airdirc-se, maith limm cen co beinn acht óenlá for domun.

(but * that I were * famous - emphatic * good * with me * without * that * I be * but * one day * on * earth)

If I were famous, I’d gladly have just one day on earth.

(not * between * slab * and * kneading trough * has me been reared - emphatic)

I was not raised between the kneading slab and the kneading trough!

(the * man * (who) ate * the * little * past me - emphatic * would eat * the * great)

The man who ate a little bit behind my back would eat the lot.
(If you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile. He’s not to be trusted.)