| Tugann Aoibheal a breithiúnas ar na fadhbanna a bhí pléite sa chúirt. Tairngríonn sí go mbeidh cead ag na sagairt pósadh go luath agus ceadaíonn sí géarleanúint ar fhir nach bhfuil sásta pósadh. Sé an file an chéad duine a thoghtar le sciúirseáil a dhéanamh air. |
Aoibheal issues her judgment on the issues brought before the court. She foretells that priests soon will be allowed to marry and she gives permission for the persecution of recalcitrant bachelors. The poet finds to his horror that he is the first to face the music. |
| D’éirigh an mhánla ar bharr a bínse, | 855 | The day was dawning out in the street, |
| Is do shoilsigh an lá san áit ina timpeall, | 856 | As Aoibheal rose up from her seat |
| B’álainn óg a cló is a caoindreach, | 857 | A youthful glow on her form and face |
| B’ard a glór ba bheo is ba bhíogach. | 858 | Her voice was strong and full of grace |
| D’fháisc a dóirne is d’ordaigh deimhneach | 859 | She clasped her hands and with vehemence |
| Báille ar bord ag fógairt Silence. | 860 | Instructed the bailiff to order Silence |
| Adúirt a béal bhí ag séideadh soilse,— | 861 | The whole of the court gradually grew quiet |
| An chúirt go léir go faon ag éisteacht:— | 862 | And she spoke these words in a voice so bright— |
| Faghaimse díreach brí chun buaite | 863 | I find lot’s of merit in the case you bring |
| Is feidhm id chaíntse a bhrídeach bhuartha. | 864 | It was a hell of a speech, you poor young thing. |
| Feicím, is is dóigh gur dóite an radharc liom, | 865 | I see, and it’s a sight that’s certainly grave, |
| Síolrach Órfhlaith Mhóire is Mheidhbhe, | 866 | That the descendants of Orla, Mór and Meave |
| An seifteoir caol is an créatúr cladhartha, | 867 | Are now sly connivers and spineless creatures |
| An ceisteoir claon is an déirceoir daigheartha, | 868 | Creepy characters and poor alms-seekers |
| Sú na táire is tál na coimse | 869 | The lowliest of the low and the fairly well off |
| Ag súil le sárfhuil sámh na saoithe. | 870 | Desperately coveting the bloodlines of the toff. |
| Achtáimid mar dlí do bhéithe | 871 | These are the laws that will govern from this date: |
| An seacht faoi thrí gan chuibhreach céile | 872 | One: He who reaches twenty-one without a mate |
| Do tharraing ar cheann go teann gan trua | 873 | Shall be dragged off by the hair of his head |
| Is a cheangal don chrann seo i dteannta an tuama. | 874 | And tied to a tree there among the dead |
| Bainigí lom de a chabhail is a chóta, | 875 | His coat to be taken and he be made to strip |
| Is feannaigí a dhroim is a choim le córda. | 876 | And the daylights beaten out of him with a whip. |
| An chuid acu tharla báite i mblianta | 877 | Two: Those of the men who are old and sick |
| Is cheileas go táir an tairne tiarpa, | 878 | Who shamelessly failed to use their prick |
| Chuireas amú gan subhachas d’éinne | 879 | And wasted the best years of their youth |
| Buile na hútha is lúth a ngéaga, | 880 | Without giving pleasure however minute |
| Do mhilleas a gcáil is fáil ar bhean acu | 881 | With women willing, they could have had a spree |
| Ag feitheamh gan fáth ar bharr na craoibhe, | 882 | But hung round like Mad Sweeney in the tree |
| Fágaim fúibhse tionscal páise | 883 | The design of their torture to you I entrust, |
| A mhná na dúile dúbhadh le háilíos; | 884 | You women of dashed and disappointed lust; |
| Ceapaigí fír-nimh tinte is tairní, | 885 | Use female ingenuity to plan the details |
| Caithigí smaointe is intleacht mhná leis, | 886 | Of a hell of fire and a rack of nails |
| Cuirigí bhur gcomhairle i gcomhar le chéile, | 887 | Put your heads together and stay the course |
| Is tugaimse cumhachta an fórsa dhéanamh. | 888 | I’ill give you the power to put it in force |
| Beirim gan spás díbh páis na gciantach,— | 889 | You are free to punish the old men at will |
| Is beag liom bás gan barrghoin pian dóibh. | 890 | In their case, I don’t care if you torture or kill. |
| Ní chuirimse i bhfáth de bharr mo chainte | 891 | In my commission to you, I don’t mind |
| An foirfeach fálta cás-lag claoite, | 892 | How you treat the oldsters, blighted and blind |
| An gabhal gan gotha ná an gola gan geall shuilt, | 893 | With their bony bodies and grimacing grins |
| An toll gan toradh ná an tormach falsa, | 894 | Their lifeless loins and scabrous skins. |
| Ach ligtear an óige i gcóir chun síolraigh | 895 | Three: If the young go about the job of copulation |
| Is déanfaidh an sórt seo clóca is díon dóibh. | 896 | Then my law will protect them from condemnation. |
| Is minic a fheicimse rinsigh bhaotha | 897 | I’m grateful when I see working men, sometimes poor |
| Ag titim le tíos, is bímse buíoch díobh, | 898 | Labouring so hard you’d think they’d faint for sure |
| Gafa le mná de lá agus d’oíche | 899 | Affectionate with their wives by day and by night |
| Ag cosaint a gcáil is ar scáth a ngníomhartha; | 900 | Protecting their good name with all their might |
| Ag seasamh ina bhfeidhil is bhfeidhm go fálta, | 901 | Standing by their side because it is right |
| A n-ainm ar chlann is bheinnse sásta. | 902 | To see these guys with kids would be such a delight |
| Do chuala siolla is do cuireadh i bhásta é— | 903 | Four: I heard a rumour that I’ve kept under wraps— |
| Is fuath liom baineannach iomadach ráiteach— | 904 | I can’t stand women who can’t close their traps— |
| Labhair go réidh is glaoigh go híseal, | 905 | Don’t be too loud in spreading it around |
| Bos ar do bhéal, is baol bheith caínteach! | 906 | Button the lip, safer to stay underground! |
| Seachain go fóill na cumhachtaigh íogair | 907 | Don’t push it too hard with the bishops yet |
| Is caithfidh siad pósadh fós pé chífeas. | 908 | That they’ll soon be married is a pretty safe bet. |
| Tiocfaidh an lá le lánchéad comhairle | 909 | The day will come if you’re quiet diplomats |
| Is cuirfidh an Pápa lámh na gcumhacht air, | 910 | When the Pope will issue the necessary diktats |
| Suífidh an chuideachta ar thubaiste na tíre, | 911 | A commission will examine the country’s state |
| Is scaoilfear chugaibh faoi urchall cuibhrigh | 912 | And there’ll be released to you, free to mate, |
| Fiántas fola agus fothram na feola | 913 | Priests with fire in their blood and pulsing flesh |
| Is mian bhur dtoile na stollairí teo seo. | 914 | And the pick of these heart-throbs will fall into your mesh. |
| Aon duine eile dar hoileadh ó bhean ar bith— | 915 | Five: Anyone else who is of woman born |
| Léigh a ndeirim is feicim do bhíogadh; | 916 | Read him the riot act if he doesn’t reform |
| Ar shlí mo chumais ná fulaing i gcaoi ar bith | 917 | Don’t have anything to do with sons of bitches |
| Sraoill gan urraim nó Muirinn i mbríste, | 918 | Slovens without honour or Muireanns in britches |
| Ach lean sa tóir na feoitigh liatha | 919 | And Six: Keep on the track of the old greybeards |
| Is glanaigí Fóla ón sórt seo fiaile! | 920 | And be sure to clear Ireland of all such weeds. |
Glanaigí Fóla ón sórt seo fiaile!
| Caithfidh mé gluaiseacht uaibh chun siúil, | 921 | That’s it, I must get going, I’ve appointments to keep, |
| Is fada mo chuairtse ar fud na Mumhan; | 922 | Many a mile to go before I sleep |
| An turas tá rómham ní fhónann moill do, | 923 | The journey before me won’t brook delay |
| Is iomad den ghnó anseo fós gan éisteacht. | 924 | Unfinished business here will wait a new day |
| Casfaidh mé arís is is fíor nach fáilteach | 925 | I’ll be back, which to some is not good news |
| D’fhir nach díon mé theacht don áit seo; | 926 | Those to whom I give the blues; |
| An chuid acu atá go táir ina smaointe, | 927 | Who burnish their reputations when they spread |
| Foireann nach foláir leó a gcáil bheith sínte, | 928 | Stories about girls they’ve had in bed |
| Mhaígh mé le fothram a gcothrom ar bhéithe, | 929 | Who noisily boast having their way with maids |
| Feicfidh an pobal a gcogar is a sméidte. | 930 | So the public will judge them dashing blades |
| Is taitneamhach leo is is dóigh gur laochas | 931 | It gives these poltroons such a rush to the head |
| Scannal na hóige pósta is aonta, | 932 | To scandalize the young, both single and wed |
| Mian a dtoile ní sporann a gcionta, | 933 | Their motives are not out of concupiscence |
| Bréantas fola ná borradh na drúise, | 934 | The desires of the flesh or crazed tumescence |
| Taitneamh don ghníomh nó fíoch na féithe | 935 | The pleasure of the act or fire in the veins |
| Ach magadh na mílte, maíomh a n-éachta. | 936 | But the notoriety that their conduct attains. |
| Ní saint dá só bheir beo na céadfa | 937 | It’s not pursuing enjoyment that excites their senses |
| Ach caint is gleo agus mórtas laochais, | 938 | But the general hullabaloo caused by their offences. |
| Mustar is ábhacht is ráig gan riail, | 939 | Of course, it’s all ostentation, exhibitionism and show |
| Is a gcumas go tláth gan tál gan triall, | 940 | With no more justification than that a chicken should crow |
| Go tuisleach tárrlag támh ina n-iall, | 941 | Stumbling, bumbling, impotent, cold |
| Is cuthach le gá ar a mhná ina ndiaidh. | 942 | They couldn’t arouse a woman for silver or gold. |
| Glacfaidh mé go réidh an méid seo láithreach, | 943 | I’d deal with these miscreants right now, right here |
| Caithfidh mé géilleadh do mhéid mo phráinneach, | 944 | But I’m out of time, have to pack my gear |
| Cuirfidh mé an bhuíon so i gcuing is in úim | 945 | I’ll throw the lot of them in the hoosegow |
| Nuair thiocfaidh mé arís sa mhí seo chugainn. | 946 | When I come back here a month from now. |
| Do breathain mé cruinn an rí-bhean réilteach, | 947 | I had observed Aoibheal closely through the night |
| Is do lagaigh mo chroí le linn bheith réidh dhi, | 948 | When she finished, I began to feel very uptight |
| D’airigh mé dásacht ghráinmhear éigin | 949 | I experienced a profound fit of agitation |
| Is pairilis bháis im chnámha is im chéadfaí; | 950 | My body paralyzed, my mind in consternation |
| Chonnaic mé an tír is an tíos ar luascadh, | 951 | I thought that the ground and the building were shaking |
| Is fuinneamh a caínte ag rince im chluasa. | 952 | And with the import of her words, I was also quaking. |
| Tagann an bíoma bíogach báille, | 953 | The giant bailiff woman strides across the hall |
| Is leath mo líthe ar shíneadh a láimhe; | 954 | When she stuck out that paw, I thought I’d fall. |
| Tharraing ar chluais go stuacach storrúil | 955 | She angrily grabbed me by the lug |
| Sracaithe suas léi ar uachtar boird mé. | 956 | And to the front of the room, I was drug. |
Tharraing ar chluais go stuacach storrúil, sracaithe suas léi ar uachtar boird mé.
| Preabann an bháb seo chráigh an t-aonta, | 957 | There was the babe who was bummed at her fate |
| Greadann a lámha is is ard do léim sí. | 958 | She clapped her hands, and jumping up straight |
| Is aibí adúirt—A chrústa chríona | 959 | She fiercely said: You old bag of slime |
| Is fada mé ag súil led chúlsa chíoradh, | 960 | I’ve had my eye on you for a very long time |
| Is minic do sluíomh thú, a chroí gan daonnacht, | 961 | It’s often I urged you, you heartless carrion |
| Is mithid duit stríocadh do dhlí na mbéithe. | 962 | That it was time for you to think of marrying. |
| Cosaint cá bhfaighfidh tú in aghaidh na cúise? | 963 | Who will speak for you against the indictment? |
| Focal níor thuill tú a leadhb gan lúthchleas. | 964 | You don’t merit one word, you indolent serpent |
| Cá bhfuil do shaothar saor le suíochan? | 965 | Where is the proof of your amorous labours? |
| Cá bhfuil na béithe buíoch de do ghníomhartha? | 966 | Where are the women who appreciate your favours? |
| Breathainse a bhaill seo a mhaighdean mhaorga,— | 967 | Let’s examine him carefully, O Royal Lady, |
| Ainimh ní bhfaighimse mhill ar bhéithe é; | 968 | We won’t find on him a disabling malady |
| Breathain go cruinn a ghnaoi is a ghéaga | 969 | Give him a once-over, thorough and complete |
| Ó bhaitheas a chinn go boinnn a chaolchos. | 970 | From the top of his head to the soles of his feet. |
| Bíodh gurab ainimheach anmhíchumtha é | 971 | Grant you he’s no maiden’s prayer |
| Feicimse ceangailte a bharra gan diúltú | 972 | But all the essential bits are there. |
| A ghile ní ghráfainn, b’fhearr liom buí é, | 973 | He’s too pale for me; I’d prefer him brown, |
| Is cuma na gcnámh—ní cháinfinn choíche | 974 | About the cut of his physique—well, I don’t frown |
| Duine mbeadh dronn ina dhroim is fánadh— | 975 | On people who have a hump on their back— |
| Is minic sin togha fir cromshlinneánach; | 976 | It’s often the one with a bod out of whack |
| Ba mhinic sin gambach lansa gníomhach | 977 | Who is most proficient at wielding the lance |
| Is ioscaidí cam ag strompa bhríomhar. | 978 | And bandy legs don't tell what’s in the pants. |
| Is fáithe folacha uireasach éigin | 979 | Is there a secret nefarious plan |
| D’fhág an doirfeach foirfe in aonta, | 980 | That keeps unmarried this aging man |
| Is méid a cheana idir mhaithe na tíre,— | 981 | Given how he’s liked by the lords of the barony |
| A réim le sealad i gcairdeas daoine, | 982 | And how he lives with other classes in harmony, |
| Seinm ar cheolta spórt is aoibhneas | 983 | His single state lets him sport and play |
| Imirt is ól ar bhord an saoi, | 984 | Lets him eat and drink and romp all day |
| I gcóir na foirne fuineadh as féile, | 985 | In the quality’s company to dawdle and tarry |
| An snamhaire ar b’fhuarasta dom urraimse géilleadh. | 986 | This shirker who could easily marry |
| Is taibhseach taitneamhach tairbheach tréitheach | 987 | Merryman seems a name for a merry man |
| Meidhreach meanmnach a ainm is is aerach. | 988 | But, in your case, I must say it just doesn’t scan |
| Ainmhí de do shórt níor ordaigh an Tiarna,— | 989 | A creature like you is not in God’s design |
| Geanmnaí fós i gcóngar liaithe! | 990 | A gray-haired virgin is not at all divine |
| Creathaim go bonn le fonn do dhaortha, | 991 | I’m dying to get you in my grip |
| Is gairid an chabhair do labhartha baotha, | 992 | Your quick lip won’t let you give me the slip |
| Is coir módh is díreach suite id éadan— | 993 | Your crime is stamped in the lines on your forehead— |
| Deich faoi thrí gan cuibhreach céile. | 994 | That you are age thirty and still not wed. |
| Éist liomsa a chlú na bhfoighneach, | 995 | Listen to me, O fellow sufferers |
| Faighimse cúnamh i gcúis na maighdne; | 996 | This guy is one among those who torture us |
| An crá is an dúladh mhúch gan bhrí mé, | 997 | The sorrow that has burdened me down, |
| A mhná na muirne, is rún liom íoc air. | 998 | Girls, I want to take it out on this clown. |
Gearraigí domhain, níor thuill sé fábhar!
Bainigí an leadhb ó rinn go sáil de!
| Cúnaigh deirim libh, beir air, tóg é, | 999 | Help me, I ask you, grab the dope; |
| A Úna gairim thú is faigh dom córda; | 1,000 | Úna, hurry, fetch me a rope |
| Cá bhfuil tú a Áine, ná bí ar iarraidh! | 1,001 | Anne, where are you, don’t get lost |
| Ceangailse, a Mháire, a lámha ar dtaobh thiar de! | 1,002 | Mary, tie his hands to the post |
| A Mhuirinn, a Mheadhbh, a Shadhbh is a Shíle, | 1,003 | Muireann, Meave, Shiela and Saiv |
| Cuirigí i bhfeidhm le daigheartha díograis | 1,004 | Feel free, go ahead, and skin him alive |
| Barr gach scólta d’ordaigh an tsíbhean, | 1,005 | As the fairy lady authorized last night, |
| Báigí sa bhfeol gach córda snaidhmeach, | 1,006 | Knot the rope good and tight |
| Tomhais go fial na pianta is cruatan | 1,007 | Be generous with the pain that you deal out |
| Le tóin is le tiarpa Bhriain, gan trua ar bith; | 1,008 | To the ass of Brian, the heartless lout; |
| Tóg na lámha is ardaigh an sciúirse, | 1,009 | Raise your hands high and lay on the whip |
| Is sampla sámh é a mhná na muirne! | 1,010 | Use elbow grease to give it some zip |
| Gearraigí domhain, níor thuill sé fábhar! | 1,011 | He deserves no less, cut him deep with each blow |
| Bainigí an leadhb ó rinn go sáil de! | 1,012 | Flay him evenly from head to toe! |
| Cloistear a chling i gcríocha Éibhir | 1,013 | Let the crack of the whip be heard throughout Ireland |
| Is critheadh a gcroí sna críontaigh aonta. | 1,014 | Put the fear of God in the unmarried band. |
| Is ciallmhar ceart an t-acht é, sílim, | 1,015 | This new legislation is such a blast |
| Bliain an achta seo is ceart a scríobh dúinn:— | 1,016 | We have to record the year it was passed:— |
| Réitigh, ceil, nó goid de sceimhle | 1,017 | Figure: one thousand less one hundred and ten |
| Céad is deich faoi leith as míle, | 1,018 | Leaves eight hundred and ninety which when |
| Dúbail ceart an freastal fuidhlaigh, | 1,019 | Doubled gives the year Seventeen Eighty |
| Is thúirling Mac an tseachtain roimhe-sin. | 1,020 | From which we’ll date Year One of our history. |
Do réidheas mo shúile, do phreabas de léim ón bpéin dom dhúiseacht!
| Glacann sí a peann is mo cheannsa suaite | 1,021 | As she grabbed a pen my head did hang |
| Ar eagla m’fheannta is scanradh an bhuailte; | 1,022 | In terror of more torture from that gang; |
| An feadh do bhí sí ag scríobh an dáta | 1,023 | While she was writing down the date |
| Is maithe an tí aici suite ar gárdaí, | 1,024 | Which the court members round her could corroborate |
| Do scaras lem néal, do réidheas mo shúile, | 1,025 | I woke from my sleep, my pit of despair |
| Is do phreabas de léim ón bpéin dom dhúiseacht! | 1,026 | And realized with relief—it was just a nightmare. |
This task of editing and translating was completed on February 27, 1998. Farewell to the work and may it fare well on its journey around the wide world