Texts and Translations from Pádraigín Haicéad

TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM PÁDRAIGÍN HAICÉAD SEÁN Ó TUAMA Translations of short extracts and occcasional single stanzas from the work of Pádraigín Haicéad (c. 1600–1653) 1. The poet in exile remembers his Butler patron Mór mo thnúth-sa lem Thoil féin, ó thánag tar tuinn n-aigéin; ise mar a bhfuil a fonn, is mise fá oil eachtrann. Ise i n-Éirinn na ríogh, is mise i bhFraingc na bhfiairbhriogh; ise i n-iathaibh a síthe, is mise i gcliathaibh coigcríche. O do fhágbhas Inis Fáil mo Thoil níor chinn im chomhdháil; fuair fear oile ar a annsa gean mo Thoile thoram-sa. I am greatly jealous of my own desire since I journeyed across the sea: she lives where she wills to be; I endure contempt from foreigners. She remains in princely Ireland, I remain in devious France; She is in the areas of her tranquillity, I in alien clutches. TEXT AND TRANSLATIONS FROM PÁDRAIGÍN HAICÉAD 79 Since I departed Irish soil my desire has not kept me company; another man, much beloved, she cherishes in preference. 2. The poet laments his patron Adeir léireólach léightheóra sgríbheann nach bhfuil cáil ná dáil ná dícheall is fearr mar ghléas ná daonnacht díreach, d’fhagháil cumainn go cluthar ó dhaoinibh. A n-abair an t-ughdar úd, más fíor dhó: níor tháinig fear ód fearadh dílinn dár chóra grádh d’fhagháil go díleas ná m’fhear cumainn-se, an curadh so chaoinim. Tré bheith socair i gcochall a chlí istigh, ’na n-alt féin, ’na bpréimh, ’na bhfíorsmior, don daonnacht, don fhéile, don aoibhe, don oineach fhialghrod dian chum díola. To gain the protective love of people —declares a lucid literary expert— no quality, device or situation can compare with straight humaneness. If this be so (and the sage speaks truly) no man has surfaced since the earth was flooded who deserves from us a love so sterling as my cherished one, the hero I weep for. Humaneness, open heart and humor, generosity—quick and prompt in action— all jointed, rooted to the marrow fixed in the web of his very body. TEXT AND TRANSLATIONS FROM PÁDRAIGÍN HAICÉAD 80 3. The loss of status of an exile Ag ríoghraidh cé bhínn-se, do bharr ar chéad, fá dhíol ceana i gcríochoirear Tháil is Té, ní saoiltear sa tír seo ach mar gharlach mé, gan aoinfhios i gcríonacht tar “as er se.” Though I, above others, got preferment from princes, loved for my worth in the country of Ireland, in this land I’m deemed a mischievous urchin with small broken Flemish, devoid of all wisdom. 4. Companionship A aicme ar ar dhoirt mo thoil-se a tionnghrádh dil, nár aisig dham nod do chomhall cineáltais, don bhathlach bheag bhocht gan chomhthrom compánaigh, is mairg do loisg a shop ’s a thiompán libh. Your clique out here to whom I gave my intense affection and who returned nought in fulfilment of friendship to this miserable poor lout in want of companionship, woe betide the man who burned his boats for you. 5. His status as poet A fhir mh’éilighthe i ndéanamh na rann do-ním, cad é dhuit mo shaothar-sa fann nó fíor, faonlocht im ghréasa nó faill dá mbí? an baoghal go mbéarthar do gheall-sa i n-íoc? Léig thort nó sméid ar gach cam do-chír, ’s do-ghéanam-na an céadna red chaill-se arís; feadh réitigh giodh aobhdha is giodh ceannsa bhím, níor thaobhtha le faobhar mo mhaint i bhfíoch. You who censure me severely for the rhymes I make, what concern is it of yours if my work is poor or sterling; even if my verse were weak or badly crafted— how could that be detrimental to your...