Ogal neach re ráidhtear olc.

(riled-up * one * to-whom * is said * evil)

One spoken harshly to will take offence.

So explains one poet to his poetic adversary in “Iomarbhágh na bhFileadh ~ The Contention of the Bards” (poem 14, verse 3). He completes the half-stanza by adding:

Aibriosg fa ríor an daonnacht.

(fragile * alas * the * humanity).

Lambert McKenna translates this as “Alas! human nature is frail!”

Topics: Maxims & Wise Counsel