|
Cuirt an Mheán Oíche—The Midnight Court le/by Brian Merriman |
Cuid a Ceathair: An Ainnir Arís
|
Part Four: The Young Woman Again
|
| Tar éis bheith tamall don ainnir ag éisteacht | 645 | After the girl had heard his harangue |
| Do léim ina seasamh go tapa gan foighne, | 646 | With great impatience, to her feet she sprang, |
| Do labhair sí leis agus loise ina súile | 647 | With fire in her eyes on him she gazed |
| Is rabhartaí feirge feilce fúithi:— | 648 | And spoke in a voice that was trembling and crazed:— |
| Dar Coróin na Carraige murach le géilleadh | 649 | By Craglea’s Crown, if I wasn't thinking |
| Dod chló dod ainnis is d’easnamh do chéille | 650 | How your health is failing, your faculties sinking |
| Is d’am na hurraime don chuideachta shéimh seo | 651 | And of the respect that’s due to this court |
| An ceann lem ingin do sciobfainn ded chaolscroig, | 652 | With my nails, I’d scratch your face and throat |
| Do leagfainn anuas de thuairt faoin mbord thú | 653 | I’d knock you with a mighty crash to the ground |
| Is is fada le lua gach cuairt dá bhfaighinn ort | 654 | And it would long be talked of how often you went down |
| Go stróicfinn sreanga do bheatha le fonn ceart | 655 | Until I had cut your mortal cord |
| Is go seolfainn t’anam go Acheron tonnach. | 656 | So that across Acheron you were being oared.. |
| Ní fiú liom freagra freastail do thabhairt ort, | 657 | It’s beneath my dignity to answer you straight |
| A shnamhaire fleascaigh nach aithis do labhartha! | 658 | You sniveling slimeball, your speech’s inchoate |
| Ach inseoidh mé feasta do mhaithe na cúirte | 659 | But I want to inform the worthies of the court |
| An nós inar cailleadh an ainnir nárbh fhiú thú:— | 660 | Of the horrible life of one above your sort:— |
| Bhí sí lag, gan bha gan phuint, | 661 | She was vulnerable, without cattle or dough |
| Bhí sí i bhfad gan teas gan clúdadh, | 662 | Always freezing without heat or a throw |
| Cortha dhá saol, ar strae dhá seoladh | 663 | Tired of life, astray without direction |
| Ó phost go piléar gan ghaol gan chóngas, | 664 | From pillar to post, with no relative’s affection, |
| Gan scíth gan spás de lá nó d’oíche, | 665 | Without rest or comfort by day or by night |
| Ag stríocadh an aráin ó mhná nár chuí léi. | 666 | Having to beg from strangers her daily bite. |
| Do gheall an fear seo dreas sócúlach di, | 667 | This man promised her silver and gold |
| Do gheall an spreas di teas is clúdadh, | 668 | He promised her heat and shelter from cold, |
| Cothrom glan is ba le crú di, | 669 | A fair share of wealth and milk cows purebred |
| Is codladh fada ar leaba chlúimh di, | 670 | Comfortable nights on a down-covered bed |
| Teallaigh teó agus móin a dóthain | 671 | Warm hearths with turf so she wouldn’t freeze |
| Fallaí fód gan leoithne gaoithe, | 672 | Thick sod walls to keep out the breeze, |
| Fothain is díon ón síon is ón spéir di, | 673 | Well-secured roofs and doors and windows |
| Olann is líon le sníomh chun éadaigh. | 674 | Wool and linen to weave for clothes |
| Do b’fheasach don tsaol is don phéist seo láithreach | 675 | ’Twas known to the world and to this worm there |
| Nach taitneamh ná téamh ná aonphuth ghrá dó | 676 | That not pleasure or warmth or a love affair |
| Do cheangail an péarla maorga mná seo | 677 | Drew this pearl of a woman to that block of ice |
| Ach easnamh go léir,—ba déirc léi an tsástacht! | 678 | But that a life of want left her without any choice. |
| Ba dubhach an fuadar suairceas oíche | 679 | With him there would be no nights of pleasure |
| Smúit is ualach duais is líonadh, | 680 | With this fat load, dropsical beyond measure; |
| Lúithne luaidhe agus guaillí caol | 681 | With his leaden sinews and narrow shoulder |
| Is glúine crua chomh fuar le hoidhre | 682 | It was hard to see how the night could get colder. |
| Cosa feoite dóite ón ngríosach | 683 | Along with knarly knees and decaying feet |
| Is colainn bhreoite dhreoite chríona. | 684 | His dry sickly body was no young woman’s treat. |
| An bhfuil stuaire beo ná feoidhfeadh liath | 685 | Is there a beauty alive who wouldn’t grow old |
| Ag cual dá shórt bheith pósta riamh? | 686 | If she were married to a crock so cold |
| Nár chuardaigh fós faoi dhó le bliain | 687 | Who, even twice a year, didn’t have a wish |
| Cé buachaill óg í, feoil nó iasc? | 688 | To see if she was a boy, whether flesh or fish? |
| Is an feóiteach fuar seo suas léi sínte | 689 | She had this cold bag of bones lying by her side |
| Dreoite duairc gan bua gan bíogadh. | 690 | Shriveled and woebegone, impotent, stupefied. |
| Och! car mhór di bualadh bríomhar | 691 | Oh! Wouldn’t she have loved just once a night |
| Ar nós ba dhual de uair san oíche. | 692 | A little affection as was her conjugal right. |
| Ní dóigh go dtuigtear gurab ise ba chiontach | 693 | I don't believe people’ll think she was to blame |
| Ná fós go gcliseadh ar laige ina tonndacht | 694 | That she was an icy and frigid dame |
| An maighre mascalach carthanach ciúntais— | 695 | This gentle girl with an amorous heart |
| Is deimhin go bhfaca sí a mhalairt de mhúineadh. | 696 | It wasn’t in her nature to shirk her part. |
| Ní labharfadh focal dá mba obair an oíche | 697 | With a lively lover she wouldn’t have quit |
| Is a thabharfadh cothrom do stollaire bhíomhar. | 698 | Once she was lighted, you know she’d stay lit. |
| Go brách ar siúl níor dhiúltaigh riamh é, | 699 | With the proper partner she’d never take flight |
| Ar chnámh a cúil is a súile iata. | 700 | Entranced on her back with her eyes shut tight |
| Ní thabharfadh preab le stailc mhíchuíosach, | 701 | She wouldn’t jump with inappropriate fright |
| Fogha mar chat ná sraic ná scríob air, | 702 | Attack like a cat or scratch or bite, |
| Ach í go léir ina slaod cóshínte, | 703 | But lie with him in embrace combined |
| Taobh ar thaobh is a géag ina thimpeall, | 704 | Side by side with legs entwined, |
| Ó scéal go scéal ag bréagadh smaointe, | 705 | Exchanging sweet nothings, little white lies |
| Béal ar bhéal is ag méaraíocht síos air. | 706 | Lips to lips, fingers stroking his thighs. |
| Is minic do chuir sí cos taobh anonn de, | 707 | She’d often throw a leg over him in haste, |
| Is chuimil a bruis ó chrios go glún de; | 708 | Caress him with her brush from knee to waist |
| Do sciobadh an phluid is an chuilt dá ghúnga | 709 | But with this one here, she’d tear quilt from his body |
| Ag spriongar is ag sult le moirt gan subhachas. | 710 | Seeking to play with that cheerless dogsbody |
| Níor chabhair di coigilt ná cuimilt ná fáscadh, | 711 | Fondling or embracing didn’t stir that beast |
| Fogha da hingin, dá huillinn, dá sála. | 712 | Tickling his feet didn’t help in the least |
| Is náir dom aithris mar chaitheadh sí an oíche | 713 | I hate to tell you how she’d spend the night |
| Ag fáscadh an chnaiste, ag searradh is ag síneadh, | 714 | Tossing and turning in her hopeless plight |
| Ag feacadh na ngéag is an t-éadach fúithi, | 715 | Clasping the linens, to the bed-rail clinging |
| A baill go léir is a déada ar lúithchrith, | 716 | Her body shaking and her sweet lips trembling |
| Go loinnir an lae gan néall go dhúchan uirthi, | 717 | Till the dawn of the day without a wink of sleep |
| Ag imirt ó thaobh go taobh is ag únfairt. | 718 | Rocking to and fro in despair deep. |
| Nach furasta don lobhar seo labhairt ar mhná | 719 | This leper speaks of women in casual tones |
| Is gan fuinneamh ina choim ná cabhair ina chnámha, | 720 | Without life in his loins or strength in his bones |
| Má d’imigh an mhodhúil bhí trom ina ghábha | 721 | If it was a gent with a heavy heart |
| Is gur deineadh an fhoghail seo gabhaimse a páirt. | 722 | Who had mounted this attack, I might take his part. |
| A bhfuil sionnach ar sliabh nó iasc i dtrá, | 723 | But is there a fox on the hill or a fish in the mere |
| Nó iolar le fiach nó fia le fán | 724 | A hunting eagle or a wandering deer |
| Chom fada gan chiall le bliain nó lá | 725 | That’s so much without sense for a day or a year |
| Do chaitheamh gan bia is a bhfiach le fáil? | 726 | That it’d go hungry when sustenance is near? |
| An aithnid díbh féin san tsaol seo cá bhfuil | 727 | Have any of you heard tell, in the west or the east, |
| An t-ainmhí claon nó an feithid fáin | 728 | Of any class or breed or kind of a beast |
| Do phiocfadh an chré an fraoch nó an pháil | 729 | That would search for food where nothing grows |
| Is feorainn ina shlaoda is féar le fáil? | 730 | And ignore the feast beneath its nose? |
| Aithris gan mhoill, a chladhaire chráite, | 731 | Answer me, you blackguard, without delay |
| Freagair mé, faghaimse feidhm id ráite:— | 732 | I’d like to hear what you have to say:— |
| Cá bhfuil do dhíth ag suí chun béile? | 733 | When you sup at an inn, is the food less nutritious |
| Ar caitheadh le mí aici a dtíos ina féile! | 734 | If others had found the same menu delicious? |
| An laigide an chúil nó an lúide an láithreach | 735 | Is the house weaker, the site less secure |
| Fiche milliún má shiúil le ráithe ann? | 736 | If twenty million had inspected it before |
| Mairg i do cheann a sheandaigh thamhanda, | 737 | Does it really bother you, you stiff old prude |
| An eagal leat ganntanas am do dhúile | 738 | Are you afraid of scarcity when you’re in the mood |
| An dóigh a ghliogaire buile gur bhaol duit | 739 | Do you think it possible, were you to try |
| Ól na Sionainne tirim nó a taoscadh? | 740 | To drain the Shannon by drinking it dry? |
| Trá na farraige is tarraingt an tsáile? | 741 | To ebb a neap tide with a jug? |
| Is clár na mara do scaipeadh le scála? | 742 | Or empty the ocean with a mug? |
| Breathain in am ar leamhas do smaointe | 743 | Next time, pause before saying what’s best unsaid |
| Is ceangail do cheann le banda timpeall! | 744 | Wrap a cold compress around your head |
| Seachain i dtráth, ná fág do chiall | 745 | Take a deep breath, don’t lose the rag |
| Le heagla mná bheith fáilteach fial; | 746 | At the thought of women who like to shag |
| Dá gcaitheadh sí an lá le cách do riar | 747 | If she spent the whole day entertaining all |
| Bheadh tuilleadh is do sáith-se ar fáil ina ndiaidh. | 748 | There’d be still enough for you to have a ball. |
| Mo chumha is mo chrá ba bhreá san éad | 749 | Bejasus, such jealousy could be understood |
| Ar lúbaire láidir lánmhear léadmhar | 750 | In a strapping, stout-hearted, sterling stud |
| Shantach sháiteach shásta sheasmhach | 751 | Panting, pushing, pulsing, preening |
| Ramsach ráflach rábach rabairneach, | 752 | Roistering, romping, rollicking, riproaring |
| Lascaire luaimneach, cuardaitheoir cuimseach, | 753 | A roving rogue, a sensitive searcher |
| Balcaire buan nó buailteoir bríomhar, | 754 | A steadfast stalwart, a topnotch thresher |
| Ach seanduine seanda cranda creimneach, | 755 | Not in an ossified oldster, a grumpy grunt |
| Fámaire fann is feam gan féile. | 756 | An incompetent idler, a reclusive runt. |
| Is mithid dom chroí bheith líonta de léithe, | 757 | Now, there’s another matter on my mind |
| Is m’iontas trí gach smaointe baotha | 758 | That should give pause to womankind: |
| Cad a bheireann scaoilte ó chuibhreach céile | 759 | Why are they free of the married state |
| In eaglais sinsir suim na cléire. | 760 | All of those priests of our ancient faith. |
| Mo chrá gan leigheas, mo threighid dom fháscadh, | 761 | Granted that I might rightly cry and bawl |
| Is láidir m’fhoighne is laghad mo ráige, | 762 | My patience is great, my rage is small |
| Is méid a mbímid ar díth gan éinne, | 763 | That, given how much we need a mate, |
| Is mian ár gcroí faoi shnaidhm na héide. | 764 | Those heart-throbs are taken off the plate. |
| Nach bocht an radharc do mhaighdean ghábhair | 765 | It’s a pathetic sight for a needy maid |
| Toirt is taibhse a mbaill is a mbreátha, | 766 | To see how well these priest are made |
| Bloscadh a n-aghaidh agus soilse a ngáire, | 767 | Their rosy cheeks, their smiles so bright |
| Corp is coim is toill ar támhchrith, | 768 | Their slender waists, their buttocks tight |
| Úire, áille, bláth agus óige, | 769 | Their beauteous forms, their youth so fresh |
| Ramhadas cnámh is meáchan feola, | 770 | Their straight bones, their well-fed flesh |
| Martas trom is droim gan suathadh, | 771 | Their solid torso and steady back |
| Neart gan dabht is fonn gan fuarú. | 772 | Their undoubted strength, their love of the craic |
| Bíonn sealbh gach sú acu ar bhord na saoithe, | 773 | They’re a welcome guest at the table of the seer |
| Earra agus ór chun óil is aoibhinis, | 774 | They’ve got silver and gold for whiskey and beer |
| Clúmh chun luí acu is saill chun bia acu, | 775 | Down for their beds and salt for their food |
| Plúr is milseacht meidhir is fíonta. | 776 | The best of wine to put them in the mood |
| Is gnáthach cumasach iomadúil óg iad | 777 | Mostly they’re not long past their boyhood |
| Is tá fhios againne gur fuil agus feoil iad. | 778 | And we girls know that they’re flesh and blood |
| Cumha ní ghlacfainn le cafairí coillte, | 779 | If I thought they were angels or sexless saints |
| Snamhairí galair ná searraigh gan soilse, | 780 | Or sickly creeps, I’d have no complaints |
| Ach malra bodacha, stollairí tréana, | 781 | But they’re lusty youngsters with appetites unsated |
| I dtámhghail chodlata is obair gan déanamh! | 782 | In a torpid sleep while maids are unmated! |
| Creidim gan bhréag gur mhian le roinn díobh | 783 | Most of these fellows, I truthfully believe, |
| Filleadh le féile, daor ní bheinnse. | 784 | Are lonely Adams asking God for an Eve |
| Cothrom, ní cóir an t-ord le chéile | 785 | To be fair, it wouldn’t do |
| Chrochadh le córda, ghabháil nó dhaoradh, | 786 | To hang the lot because of the few |
| Bás na droinge, is deimhin, ní ghráfainn | 787 | Sinking the ship wouldn’t be the right plan, |
| Lán na loinge chun duine ní bháfainn, | 788 | Drowning the whole crew to get one man |
| Cuid acu bíodh gur rícigh riamh | 789 | Some have always been a right shower |
| Is cuid eile bhíos gan ríomh gan riail, | 790 | Who are in the priesthood for the power |
| Cinntigh chrua gan trua gan tréithe, | 791 | Tough old buzzards without any heart |
| Fíochmhar fuar is fuath do bhéithe. | 792 | Who think every woman is just a tart. |
| Tuilleadh acu atá níos fearr ná a chéile, | 793 | But others are from a different race |
| Tuilte le grá is le grásta féile. | 794 | Full of love and full of grace. |
| Is minic a buaitear ba is gréithe | 795 | Often the well-being of a farm is increased |
| Cuigeann is cruach de chuairt na cléire. | 796 | Without just one visit from such a priest. |
| Is minic lem chuimhne maíodh a dtréithe | 797 | I can recall well their virtues being lauded |
| Is iomad dá ngníomhartha fíorghlic féithe, | 798 | The number of their good works applauded, |
| Is minic do chuala ar fud na tíre | 799 | I often heard throughout the land |
| Siosarnach luath dá luadh go líonmhar, | 800 | A buzz of appreciation for this band, |
| Is chonnaic mé taibhseach roinn dá ramsach | 801 | I’ve seen incontrovertible evidence that many a son |
| Is uimhir dá gclainn ar shloinnte falsa. | 802 | Could call a priest a father in more ways than one. |
| Baineann sé fáscadh as lár mo chléibhse | 803 | Still, it bothers me greatly at the time |
| A gcaithtear dá sláinte ar mhná treasaosta | 804 | They spend on women past their prime, |
| Is turraing san tír chun díth na mbéithe, | 805 | While many a woman at best stage in life |
| Ar cuireadh gan bhrí tsíolrach naofa. | 806 | Is left husbandless when she could be a wife. |
| Is dealbh an diachair dianghoirt d’Éire | 807 | In Ireland it has been demonstrably cruel |
| Ar chailleamar riamh le riail gan éifeacht! | 808 | The damage that’s done by this aimless rule. |
| Fágaim fútsa a chnó na céille | 809 | The trouble, I assert, O Fount of Wisdom |
| Fáth na cúise is cumha na cléire. | 810 | Is that clerical celibacy is the bane of Christendom |
| Is meallta meillte luí dom dhóighhse. | 811 | And is nothing if not an abomination. |
| Is dall gan radharc mé, soilsigh m’eolas, | 812 | I know I’m blind, I need an explanation |
| Aithris, ós cuimhin leat, caínt na bhfáithe | 813 | Tell us, if you know, the prophets’ sayings |
| Is aspal an Rí ba bhíogach ráite. | 814 | What were the Lord’s apostles’ teachings |
| Cá bhfuil na cumhachta d’órdaigh an Dúileamh,— | 815 | Where is it written that the Creator said |
| Is calcadh na feola i gcoróin na cumha seo; | 816 | That the desires of the flesh shouldn’t be fed |
| Pól dar liom ní dúirt le héinne | 817 | Paul, in my opinion, never held that a vocation |
| An pósadh dhiúltú ach drús do shéanadh, | 818 | Required abnegation of marriage, just fornication |
| Scaradh led ghaol dá mhéid do ghnaoi | 819 | To leave your relations and your parents’ house |
| Is ceangal led shaol is claoí led mhnaoi. | 820 | And live for life with your wedded spouse. |
| Is obair gan bhrí do bhean mar táimse | 821 | Of course, it’s meaningless for a woman like me |
| Focal den dlí seo suíomh dod láthair, | 822 | To explain the law to your majesty, |
| Is cuimhin leat féin a phéarla an taibhse | 823 | O Spectral Pearl, you remember well |
| Suíomh gach scéil is léir dhuit soilseach | 824 | All of the stories that make up the Gospel |
| Binnghuth buan is bua na mbriathra | 825 | The meaning of the everlasting word |
| Is caínt an Uain ná luafar bréagach, | 826 | The parables of the Lamb you have heard |
| Dia nárbh áil leis máthair aonta, | 827 | I give God’s married mother as the beau ideal |
| Is riail gach fáidh i bhfábhar béithe. | 828 | And the prophets’:rules promote women’s weal. |
| Guím go hard tú, a fháidhbhean tsíthe, | 829 | O Ghostly Seer, to you I plead |
| A shíolrach neamhda a barr na ríthe, | 830 | You who’re descended of heavenly seed |
| A shoilse glóire a choróin na sluaite, | 831 | O Glorious Light, O Crown of the Throng |
| Éist lem ghlórsa, fóir is fuaraigh dúinn; | 832 | Hear my voice and help us along |
| Meá i do intinn díth na mbéithe | 833 | Keep women’s plight firmly in your mind |
| Is práinn na mílte brídeach aonta, | 834 | The predicament of single womankind. |
| Is toicí mar tá siad ar bhráid a chéile | 835 | The number of maids, if this system doesn’t cease, |
| Ag borradh is ag fás mar ál na ngéanna; | 836 | Will increase and grow like a flock of geese. |
| An tál is lú tá ag siúl na sráide, | 837 | The smallest mite that you see in the street |
| Gárlaigh dhubha is giúnach gránna, | 838 | Dirty urchins that are decrepit and not neat |
| An aga dá laghad má fhaigheann siad a ndóthain | 839 | You’d see how they’d improve, if they had for a day |
| Glasraí, meadhg, is briodar borrfaidís; | 840 | Their fill of vegetables, curds and whey; |
| D’urchar neimhe le haois gan éifeacht | 841 | Like a bolt from the blue, all of a sudden |
| Tiocfaidh na cíocha, scinnfidís, sceithfidís. | 842 | Their breasts would grow, they’d blossom and strengthen |
| Scalladh mo chléibh! is baoth mo smaointe! | 843 | It wounds my heart and raises my ire |
| Ag tagairt ar chéile i gcaora tinte! | 844 | And burns my mind with a mass of fire |
| Is deacair dom súil le subhachas d’fháil | 845 | To see so little prospect for much fun |
| Is gan fear in aghaidh triúir sa Mhumhain dá mná. | 846 | With Munstermen outnumbered three to one. |
| Ó tharla an ceantar gann seo ghábhair, | 847 | Since the area is so poor and impotent |
| Fánlag fann, is an t-am seo práinneach, | 848 | So utterly weak in this time so urgent |
| Fóla folamh is fothram ag fiaile, | 849 | An empty Ireland where wastrels bray |
| Is óige an phobail ag cromadh is ag liathadh, | 850 | And the youth of the country growing grey |
| Aonta fada go dealbh gan foighne | 851 | A long spinsterhood seems a likelihood. |
| D’éinne ar talamh is fear éigin faighimse. | 852 | If I could find a man, either bad or good |
| Ceangail i dtráth go tláith faoin úim iad, | 853 | I’ll cart him straight away to the altar |
| Is as sin go brách fágtar fúinne iad. | 854 | And tie him for life in a conjugal halter. |
|
|
|
|
Ar Aghaidh go Cuid a Cúig
 |
On To Part Five
|
Fill ar ais ar Chlár Chinn na Cúirte/ Return to the Midnight Court Main Page