Verse
Rop soraid in sét-sa...
Rop soraid in sét-sa,
rop sét lessa im lámaib;
Críst credal fri demnaib,
fri armaib, fri áraib!
(may be * smooth/pleasant * the * road-this /
may be * road * of benefit * in my * hands /
Christ * holy * against * demons /
against * weapons * against * slaughters)
May this journey be pleasant,
may it be a journey of profit in my hands;
holy Christ against demons,
against weapons, against slaughters!
Áluinn duille an liubhair-si...
Áluinn duille an liubhair-si,
psaltair Cháoimhghin cháidh.
Áille duille mh’iubhair-si
i nGlinn Bolcáin báin.
(beautiful * leaf * of the * book-this /
psalter * of Caoimhín * holy /
more beautiful * leaf * of my yew /
in * Gleann Bolcáin * fair)
Beautiful is the leaf of this book,
the psalter of holy Kevin.
More beautiful the leaf of my yew
in fair Glen Bolcáin.
Cuilén caitt...
Cuilén caitt
nod·n-aile hé comba haitt;
ó ro·gaib míadugad
téit úait fri fíadugad.
(cub * of cat /
that you raise it * him * that it might be * pleasant /
after * it has gotten * honoring /
it goes * from you * to * acting wild)
A kitten
that you raise to be companionable;
after getting the royal treatment,
it leaves you to go off prowling!
Bid co h-eistechtach cailli...
Bid co h-eistechtach cailli,
bid co féchsanach muigi,
oir ní fedrais, mór in mod,
nach biad t’ escara it fharrad.
(be * hearingful * of forest /
be * watchful * of plain /
for * not * you know - great * the * deed /
that not * would be * your * enemy * in your * presence)
Keep your ears open in the forest
and your eyes open on the plain,
for you don’t know – this is important –
whether your enemy is near.
Dá trian do mhíne re mnáibh...
Dá trian do mhíne re mnáibh
is re h-echlachuib urláir,
re h-aes dána dénta duan;
nárbhat dian re daescar-shlúagh.
(two * third * of * gentleness * to * women /
and * to * attendants * of floor /
to * folk * of poetry * of making * songs /
be not * severe * to * lowly people)
Two thirds of your gentleness to women,
and to domestic servants,
and to the poets who make songs;
don’t be hard on common folk.
Maircc chuindges ní for carait...
Maircc chuindges ní for carait
minab lainn leis a tabairt;
is é déde nostá de,
miscais ocus oirbire.
(woeful * who requests * thing * upon * friend /
if not is * desire * with him * its * giving /
is * it * two things * which he has * of it /
hatred * and * reproach)
Woe to him who asks a friend
for something he doesn’t wish to give;
the two things he gets for it
are ill feeling and rebuke.
Ropadh maith lem...
Ropadh maith lem
cormlind mór do rígh na rígh;
muinntir nimhe
aca hól tre bithe sír.
(would be * good * with me/
ale-lake * big * for * king * of the * kings/
family * of heaven/
at-its * drinking * through * ages * eternal)
I would like
a great lake of ale for the King of Kings;
and the household of heaven
drinking it throughout eternity.
Cendaig in mes mór...
Cendaig in mes mór
ocus tess in gréin;
cendaig ith is blicht
for slicht cech ríg réil.
(buy * the * mast * great/
and * warmth * of the * sun/
buy * grain * and * milk/
on * track * of every * king * shining)
Earn fruits and nuts in plenty
and the heat of the sun;
earn grain and milk
in the way of every famous king.
Ná luig, ná luig...
Ná luig, ná luig
fót fora taí:
gairit bía fair,
fota bía faí.
(not * swear * not * swear/
sod * on which * you are/
short * you will be * on it/
long * you will be * under it)
Do not swear, do not swear
by the sod on which you stand;
a short time you’ll be on it,
a long time you’ll be under it.
Uch a lám...
Uch a lám,
ar scribis de memrum bán!
Béra in memrum fá buaidh,
is bethair-si id benn lom cuail cnám.
(och * o * hand/
all that * you wrote * of * parchment * white/
you will carry * the * parchment * under * fame/
and * you will be * in-your * tip * naked * of heap * of bones)
Alas, hand,
so much white parchment you’ve written!
You will make the parchment famous,
and you will be the naked tip of a heap of bones.