Pangur Bán,
Written by an unknown Irish Monk, a student of the monastery
of Carinthia, on a copy of St Paul's Epistles 8th Century.
to hear this sung on You Tube go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xFhd8RfCqVg from The Secret of Kells
Gaelic
Messe agus Pangur Bán, cechtar nathar fria shaindán: bíth a menmasam fri seilgg, mu menma céin im shaincheirdd. Caraimse fos, ferr cach clú oc mu lebrán, léir ingnu; ní foirmtech frimm Pangur bán caraid cesin a maccdán Ó ru biam, scél gan scís innar tegdais, ar n-óendís, táithiunn, díchríchide clius ní fris tarddam ar n-áthius Gnáth, húaraib, ar gressaib gal glenaid luch inna línsam; os mé, du-fuit im lín chéin dliged ndoraid cu ndronchéill Fúachaidsem fri frega fál a rosc, a nglése comlán; fúachimm chéin fri fégi fis mu rosc réil, cesu imdis. Fáelidsem cu ndéne dul hi nglen luch inna gérchrub; hi tucu cheist ndoraid ndil os mé chene am fáelid. Cia beimmi a-min nach ré ní derban cách a chéile maith la cechtar nár a dán; subaigthius a óenurán Hé fesin as choimsid dáu; in muid du-ngní cach óenláu; du thabairt doraid du glé for mu muid céin am messe. Aistrithe ag Robin Flower |
English
I and Pangur Bán, my cat
'Tis a like task we are at; Hunting mice is his delight Hunting words I sit all night. Better far than praise of men 'Tis to sit with book and pen; Pangur bears me no ill will, He too plies his simple skill. 'Tis a merry thing to see At our tasks how glad are we, When at home we sit and find Entertainment to our mind. Oftentimes a mouse will stray In the hero Pangur's way: Oftentimes my keen thought set Takes a meaning in its net. 'Gainst the wall he sets his eye Full and fierce and sharp and sly; 'Gainst the wall of knowledge I All my little wisdom try. When a mouse darts from its den, O how glad is Pangur then! O what gladness do I prove When I solve the doubts I love! So in peace our tasks we ply, Pangur Bán, my cat, and I; In our arts we find our bliss, I have mine and he has his. Practice every day has made Pangur perfect in his trade; I get wisdom day and night Turning darkness into light. Translated by Robin Flower |
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