t h e  g r e a t  b o o k  o f  g a e l i c

a n  l e a b h a r  m ò r

Ealaíontóir / Artist: Simon Fraser
Peannaire / Calligrapher: Frances Breen
Aistritheoir / Translator: Gerard Murphy
Ainmníodh ag / Nominator: Seamas Heaney

 

Messe ocus 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 cen 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 chéle:

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 mud céin am messe.

I and white Pangur
practise each of us his special art:
his mind is set on hunting,
my mind on my special craft.

I love (it is better than all fame)
to be quiet beside my book, diligently pursuing knowledge.
White Pangur does not envy me:
he loves his childish craft.

When the two of us (this tale never wearies us)
are alone together in our house,
we have something to which we may apply our skill,
an endless sport.

It is usual, at times, for a mouse to stick in his net,
as a result of warlike battlings.
For my part, into my net falls
some difficult rule of hard meaning.

He directs his bright perfect eye
against an enclosing wall.
Though my clear eye is very weak
I direct it against keenness of knowledge.

He is joyful with swift movement
when a mouse sticks in his sharp paw.
I too am joyful when I understand
a dearly loved difficult problem.

Though we be thus at any time,
neither of us hinders the other:
each of us likes his craft,
severally rejoicing in them.

He it is who is master for himself
of the work which he does every day.
I can perform my own work
directed at understanding clearly what is difficult.