| Ta‰ éiŠ ¢ei÷ tamall don ainni‰ ag éiŠtea¥t | 645 | After the girl had heard his harangue |
| Do léim ’n-a ŠeaŠaµ go tapa gan foi«nne, | 646 | With great impatience, to her feet she sprang, |
| Do la¢ai‰ Ší leiŠ aguŠ loiŠe ’n-a Šúile | 647 | With fire in her eyes on him she gazed |
| IŠ ‰a¢a‰taí fei‰ge feilice fú÷a:— | 648 | And spoke in a voice that was trembling and crazed:— |
| Da‰ Co‰óin na Ca‰‰aige ma‰ ’ea¥ le géillea« | 649 | By Craglea’s Crown, if I wasn't thinking |
| Dot ¥ló dot aindeiŠ ’Š d’eaŠnaµ do ¥éille | 650 | How your health is failing, your faculties sinking |
| IŠ d’am na hu‰‰aime ’on ¥uidea¥ta šéiµ Šeo | 651 | And of the respect that’s due to this court |
| An ceann lem ingin do Šciobfainn det ¥aolŠc‰og, | 652 | With my nails, I’d scratch your face and throat |
| Do leagfainn anuaŠ de ÷uai‰t fa/’n mbo/‰d ÷u | 653 | I’d knock you with a mighty crash to the ground |
| ’S iŠ fada le lua« ga¥ cuai‰t dá ngeo/¢ainn o‰t | 654 | And it would long be talked of how often you went down |
| Go Št‰óicfinn Š‰eanga do ¢ea÷a« le fonn cea‰t, | 655 | Until I had cut your mortal cord |
| ’S go Šeo/lfainn t’anam go A¥e‰on tonnta¥. | 656 | So that across Acheron you were being oared.. |
| Ní fiú liom f‰eag‰a f‰eaŠtail do ÷a¢ai‰t o‰t, | 657 | It’s beneath my dignity to answer you straight |
| A šnaµai‰e fleaŠcai³ na¥ ai÷iŠ do la¢a‰÷a! | 658 | You sniveling slimeball, your speech’s inchoate |
| A¥t ’neo/Šad me feaŠta do µai÷i¢ na cúi‰te | 659 | But I want to inform the worthies of the court |
| An nóŠ nu‰ caillea« an ainni‰ nበ¢’±iú ÷u:— | 660 | Of the horrible life of one above your sort:— |
| ¡í Ší lag, gan ¢a gan ¹untai¢, | 661 | She was vulnerable, without cattle or dough |
| ¡í Ší a¢fad gan teaŠ gan clúda«, | 662 | Always freezing without heat or a throw |
| Co‰÷a «á Šao³al, a‰ Št‰ae «á Šeo/la« | 663 | Tired of life, astray without direction |
| Ó ¹oŠta go pléa‰ gan ³aol gan ¥oµguŠ, | 664 | From pillar to post, with no relative’s affection, |
| Gan Šcí÷ gan Špአde lá na/ d’oi«¥e, | 665 | Without rest or comfort by day or by night |
| Ag Št‰íoca« an a‰áin ó µná nበ¥ui¢e léi. | 666 | Having to beg from strangers her daily bite. |
| Do ³eall an fea‰ Šo d‰eaŠ Šócaµail di, | 667 | This man promised her silver and gold |
| Do ³eall an Šp‰eaŠ di teaŠ iŠ clúda«, | 668 | He promised her heat and shelter from cold, |
| Co÷‰om glan iŠ ba le c‰ú« di, | 669 | A fair share of wealth and milk cows purebred |
| IŠ codla« fada a‰ leabain ¥lúiµ di, | 670 | Comfortable nights on a down-covered bed |
| Teallai³e teó aguŠ móin a doi/÷in | 671 | Warm hearths with turf so she wouldn’t freeze |
| Fallaí fód gan leo/i÷ne gaoi÷e, | 672 | Thick sod walls to keep out the breeze, |
| Fo÷ain iŠ díon ón Šín ’Š ón Špéi‰ «i, | 673 | Well-secured roofs and doors and windows |
| Olann iŠ líon le Šníoµ ¥um éadai³. | 674 | Wool and linen to weave for clothes |
| Do b’±eaŠa¥ don tŠao³al ’Š don ¹éiŠt Šeo lái÷‰ea¥ | 675 | ’Twas known to the world and to this worm there |
| Na¥ taitneaµ ná téa«aµ ná éan¹ui÷ ³‰á«a «o | 676 | That not pleasure or warmth or a love affair |
| Do ¥eangail an péa‰la mao‰«a mná Šo | 677 | Drew this pearl of a woman to that block of ice |
| A¥t eaŠnaµ go léi‰,—ba déi‰c léi an tŠáŠta¥t! | 678 | But that a life of want left her without any choice. |
| Ba du/¢a¥ an fuada‰ Šuai‰ceaŠ oi«¥e | 679 | With him there would be no nights of pleasure |
| Smúit iŠ uala¥ duaiŠ iŠ líona«, | 680 | With this fat load, dropsical beyond measure; |
| Lúi÷ne luai«e aguŠ guailne caoila | 681 | With his leaden sinews and narrow shoulder |
| ’S glúine c‰uai«e ¥oµ fua‰ le hoi«‰e, | 682 | It was hard to see how the night could get colder. |
| CoŠa feo/i«te dói³te ón ng‰íoŠai³ | 683 | Along with knarly knees and decaying feet |
| ’S colann ¢‰eo/i«te «‰eo/i³te ¥‰íona. | 684 | His dry sickly body was no young woman’s treat. |
| A ¢fuil Štuai‰e beo ná feo/i«fa« lia÷ | 685 | Is there a beauty alive who wouldn’t grow old |
| Ag cuail dá šó‰t ¢ei÷ póŠta ‰iaµ? | 686 | If she were married to a crock so cold |
| Nበ¥ua‰dui³ fóŠ fa/ «ó le blia«ain | 687 | Who, even twice a year, didn’t have a wish |
| Cé bua¥aill óg í, feo/il nó iaŠc? | 688 | To see if she was a boy, whether flesh or fish? |
| ’S an feói«tea¥ fua‰ Šo ŠuaŠ léi Šínte | 689 | She had this cold bag of bones lying by her side |
| D‰eo/i³te duai‰c gan bua« gan bío«ga«. | 690 | Shriveled and woebegone, impotent, stupefied. |
| O¥! ca‰ µua‰ di buala« b‰ío³µa‰ | 691 | Oh! Wouldn’t she have loved just once a night |
| A‰ nóŠ ba «ual de uai‰ Šan oi«¥e. | 692 | A little affection as was her conjugal right. |
| Ní dó÷ go dtuig÷a‰ gu‰ab iŠe ba ¥ionta¥ | 693 | I don't believe people’ll think she was to blame |
| Ná fóŠ go gcliŠea« a‰ luige ’n-a tonnda¥t | 694 | That she was an icy and frigid dame |
| An mai³‰e maŠcala¥ ca‰÷anna¥ ciúintaiŠ— | 695 | This gentle girl with an amorous heart |
| IŠ deiµin go ¢feaca Ší a µalai‰t de µúinea«. | 696 | It wasn’t in her nature to shirk her part. |
| Ní la¢a‰fa« focal dá mb’ obai‰ an oi«¥e | 697 | With a lively lover she wouldn’t have quit |
| ’S ÷a¢a‰fa« co÷‰om do Štollai‰e ¢ío³µa‰. | 698 | Once she was lighted, you know she’d stay lit. |
| Go b‰á¥ a‰ Šiu¢al nío‰ «iúltui³ ‰iaµ é, | 699 | With the proper partner she’d never take flight |
| A‰ ¥náµ a cúil ’Š a Šúili¢ ia«ta. | 700 | Entranced on her back with her eyes shut tight |
| Ní ÷a¢a‰fa« p‰eab le Štailc µí¥uí¢Ša¥, | 701 | She wouldn’t jump with inappropriate fright |
| Fo³a ma‰ ¥at ná Št‰aic ná Šc‰íob ai‰, | 702 | Attack like a cat or scratch or bite, |
| A¥t í go léi‰ ’n-a Šlaod cóšínte, | 703 | But lie with him in embrace combined |
| Tao¢ a‰ ÷ao¢ ’Š a géag ’n-a ÷im¥eall, | 704 | Side by side with legs entwined, |
| Ó Šcéal go Šcéal ag b‰éaga« Šmaointe, | 705 | Exchanging sweet nothings, little white lies |
| Béal a‰ ¢éal ’Š ag mea‰a¥t ŠíoŠ ai‰. | 706 | Lips to lips, fingers stroking his thighs. |
| IŠ minic do ¥ui‰ Ší coŠ tao¢ ’nonn de, | 707 | She’d often throw a leg over him in haste, |
| IŠ ¥uimil a b‰uiŠ ó ¥‰ioŠ go glún de; | 708 | Caress him with her brush from knee to waist |
| Do Šcioba« an ¹luid ’Š an ¥uilt dá ³únga | 709 | But with this one here, she’d tear quilt from his body |
| Ag Šp‰ionga‰ ’Š ag Šult le mui‰t gan Šu/¢¥uŠ. | 710 | Seeking to play with that cheerless dogsbody |
| Nío‰ ¥a¢ai‰ di coigilt ná cuimilt ná fáŠca«, | 711 | Fondling or embracing didn’t stir that beast |
| Fo³a da hingin, dá huillinn, dá Šála. | 712 | Tickling his feet didn’t help in the least |
| IŠ nበ«am ai÷‰iŠ ma‰ ¥ai÷ea« Ší an oi«¥e | 713 | I hate to tell you how she’d spend the night |
| Ag fáŠca« an ¥naiŠte, ag Šea‰‰a« ’Š ag Šínea«, | 714 | Tossing and turning in her hopeless plight |
| Ag feaca« na ngéag ’Š an t-éada¥ fúi÷i, | 715 | Clasping the linens, to the bed-rail clinging |
| A ballai¢ go léi‰ ’Š a déid a‰ lúi÷¥‰i÷, | 716 | Her body shaking and her sweet lips trembling |
| Go loinni‰ an lae gan néall go «ú¥a« ui‰÷i, | 717 | Till the dawn of the day without a wink of sleep |
| Ag imi‰t ó ÷ao¢ go tao¢ ’Š ag ionfai‰t. | 718 | Rocking to and fro in despair deep. |
| Na¥ fui‰iŠ don lo¢a‰ Šo la¢ai‰t a‰ µná | 719 | This leper speaks of women in casual tones |
| IŠ gan fuinneaµ ’n-a ¥om ná ca¢ai‰ ’n-a ¥náµa, | 720 | Without life in his loins or strength in his bones |
| Má d’im÷i³ an µo«µail ¢í t‰om ’n-a ³á¢a | 721 | If it was a gent with a heavy heart |
| ’S gu‰ deinea« an ±o³ail Šeo ga¢aimŠe a pái‰t. | 722 | Who had mounted this attack, I might take his part. |
| A ¢fuil Šionna¥ a‰ Šlia¢ nó iaŠc i dt‰ái³, | 723 | But is there a fox on the hill or a fish in the mere |
| Na/ fiola‰ le fia«a¥ nó fia« le fán | 724 | A hunting eagle or a wandering deer |
| ¤om fada gan ¥iall le blia«ain na/ lá | 725 | That’s so much without sense for a day or a year |
| Do ¥ai÷eaµ gan bia« ’Š a ¢fia«a¥ le fa³áil? | 726 | That it’d go hungry when sustenance is near? |
| An ai÷nid dí¢ féin Šan tŠaohgal Šo cá ±uil | 727 | Have any of you heard tell, in the west or the east, |
| An t-ainµi«e claon na/ an fe/i÷id fáin | 728 | Of any class or breed or kind of a beast |
| Do ¹iocfa« an ¥‰é an f‰ao¥ nó an ¹áil | 729 | That would search for food where nothing grows |
| IŠ fio‰÷ann ’n-a šlaoda iŠ féa‰ le fa³áil? | 730 | And ignore the feast beneath its nose? |
| Ai÷‰iŠ gan µoill, a ¥la«ai‰e ¥‰ái«te, | 731 | Answer me, you blackguard, without delay |
| F‰eagai‰ me, fa³aimŠe fei«m id ‰ái«te:— | 732 | I’d like to hear what you have to say:— |
| Ca ¢fuil do «í÷ ag Šui«e ¥um béile? | 733 | When you sup at an inn, is the food less nutritious |
| A‰ cai÷ea« le mí aici a dti³eaŠ ’n-a féile! | 734 | If others had found the same menu delicious? |
| An luigide an ¥úil nó an lu³aide an lái÷‰ea¥ | 735 | Is the house weaker, the site less secure |
| Fi¥e milliún má šiu¢ail le ‰ái÷e ann? | 736 | If twenty million had inspected it before |
| Mai‰g it ¥eann a šeandai³ ÷onnda, | 737 | Does it really bother you, you stiff old prude |
| An eagal leat ganntan am do «úla! | 738 | Are you afraid of scarcity when you’re in the mood |
| An dó÷ a ³liogai‰e buile gu‰ ¢ao³al duit | 739 | Do you think it possible, were you to try |
| Ól na Sionainne ti‰im nó a taoŠca«? | 740 | To drain the Shannon by drinking it dry? |
| T‰á³a« na fai‰‰ge iŠ ta‰‰aint an tŠáile? | 741 | To ebb a neap tide with a jug? |
| IŠ clበna ma‰a do Šcaipea« le Šcála? | 742 | Or empty the ocean with a mug? |
| B‰ea÷ain in am a‰ leaµuŠ do Šmaointe | 743 | Next time, pause before saying what’s best unsaid |
| IŠ ceangail do ¥eann le banda tim¥eall! | 744 | Wrap a cold compress around your head |
| Sea¥ain i dt‰á÷, ná fág do ¥iall | 745 | Take a deep breath, don’t lose the rag |
| Le heagla mná ¢ei÷ fáiltea¥ fial; | 746 | At the thought of women who like to shag |
| Dá gcai÷ea« Ší an lá le cᥠdo ‰ia‰ | 747 | If she spent the whole day entertaining all |
| ¡ea« tuillea« ’Š do Šái÷-Še a‰ fáil ’n-a ndiai«. | 748 | There’d be still enough for you to have a ball. |
| Mo ¥uµa iŠ mo ¥‰á« ba« ¢‰ea³ Šan éad | 749 | Bejasus, such jealousy could be understood |
| A‰ lúbai‰e láidi‰ lánµea‰ léadµa‰ | 750 | In a strapping, stout-hearted, sterling stud |
| Shannta¥ šái÷tea¥ šáŠta šeaŠµa¥ | 751 | Panting, pushing, pulsing, preening |
| RamŠa¥ ‰áfla¥ ‰ába¥ ‰abai‰nea¥, | 752 | Roistering, romping, rollicking, riproaring |
| LaŠcai‰e luaimnea¥, cua‰do/i‰ coimŠea¥, | 753 | A roving rogue, a sensitive searcher |
| Balcai‰e buan nó buailteo/i‰ b‰ío³µa‰, | 754 | A steadfast stalwart, a topnotch thresher |
| A¥t Šeanduine Šeanda c‰annda c‰e/im÷ea¥, | 755 | Not in an ossified oldster, a grumpy grunt |
| Feamai‰e fann iŠ feam gan féile. | 756 | An incompetent idler, a reclusive runt. |
| | | |
| IŠ mi÷id dom ¥‰oi«e ¢ei÷ líonta ’e léi÷e, | 757 | Now, there’s another matter on my mind |
| IŠ m’iongantuŠ t‰í ga¥ Šmaointe bao÷a | 758 | That should give pause to womankind: |
| Cad do-¢ei‰ Šcaoilte ó ¥oiµ‰ea¥ céile | 759 | Why are they free of the married state |
| In eagluiŠ ŠinŠi‰ Šuim na cléi‰e. | 760 | All of those priests of our ancient faith. |
| Mo ¥‰á« gan lei³eaŠ, mo ÷‰ei³id dom ±áŠca«, | 761 | Granted that I might rightly cry and bawl |
| IŠ láidi‰ m’±oi«nne iŠ lai³ead mo ‰áige, | 762 | My patience is great, my rage is small |
| IŠ méid a mbíom a‰ dí÷ gan éinne, | 763 | That, given how much we need a mate, |
| IŠ méin በgc‰oi«e fé šnai«m na héide. | 764 | Those heart-throbs are taken off the plate. |
| Na¥ bo¥t an ‰a«a‰c do µai³din ³á¢µai‰ | 765 | It’s a pathetic sight for a needy maid |
| Toi‰t iŠ tai«¢Še a mbaill ’Š a mb‰ea³÷a, | 766 | To see how well these priest are made |
| BloŠca« a n-a³ai« aguŠ ŠoillŠe a ngái‰e, | 767 | Their rosy cheeks, their smiles so bright |
| Co‰p iŠ coim iŠ toill a‰ táµ¥‰i÷, | 768 | Their slender waists, their buttocks tight |
| Úi‰ea¥t, áilnea¥t, blá÷ aguŠ óige, | 769 | Their beauteous forms, their youth so fresh |
| RaµduŠ cnáµ iŠ meá«¥an feóla, | 770 | Their straight bones, their well-fed flesh |
| Ma‰tuŠ t‰om iŠ d‰oim gan Šua÷a«, | 771 | Their solid torso and steady back |
| Nea‰t gan do¢ta iŠ fonn gan fua‰a«. | 772 | Their undoubted strength, their love of the craic |
| Bíonn Šeal¢ ga¥ Šó³a aca a‰ ¢o/‰d na Šaoi÷e, | 773 | They’re a welcome guest at the table of the seer |
| Ea‰‰a« aguŠ ó‰ ¥um óil iŠ aoi¢iniŠ, | 774 | They’ve got silver and gold for whiskey and beer |
| Clúµ ¥um lui³e aca iŠ Šaill ¥um bíhd aca, | 775 | Down for their beds and salt for their food |
| Plú‰ iŠ milŠea¥t mei«i‰ iŠ fíonta. | 776 | The best of wine to put them in the mood |
| IŠ gná÷a¥ cumuŠa¥ iomada¥ óg iad | 777 | Mostly they’re not long past their boyhood |
| ’S tá ±ioŠ againne gu‰ fuil aguŠ feo/il iad. | 778 | And we girls know that they’re flesh and blood |
| Cuµa ní ³lacfainn le cafai‰í coillte, | 779 | If I thought they were angels or sexless saints |
| Snaµai‰í galai‰ ná Šea‰‰ai³ gan ŠoillŠe, | 780 | Or sickly creeps, I’d have no complaints |
| A¥t mal‰ai« boda¥a, tollai‰í t‰éana, | 781 | But they’re lusty youngsters with appetites unsated |
| I dtáµ³ail ¥odlata iŠ obai‰ gan déanaµ! | 782 | In a torpid sleep while maids are unmated! |
| C‰eidim gan ¢‰éig gu‰ µéin le ‰oinn dío¢ | 783 | Most of these fellows, I truthfully believe, |
| Feillea« le féile, dao‰ ní ¢einnŠe. | 784 | Are lonely Adams asking God for an Eve |
| Co÷‰om, ní cói‰ an t-o/‰d le ¥éile | 785 | To be fair, it wouldn’t do |
| ¤‰o¥a« le có‰da, ³ó¢áil na/ «ao‰a«, | 786 | To hang the lot because of the few |
| Bአna d‰oinge, iŠ deiµin, ní ³‰á«finn | 787 | Sinking the ship wouldn’t be the right plan, |
| Lán na luinge ¥um duine ní ¢ái÷finn, | 788 | Drowning the whole crew to get one man |
| Cuid aca bío« gu‰ ‰íci³ ‰iaµ | 789 | Some have always been a right shower |
| IŠ cuid eile ¢ío« gan ‰íoµ gan ‰ia³ail, | 790 | Who are in the priesthood for the power |
| Cinnti³ ¥‰ua« gan t‰ua³ gan t‰éi÷e, | 791 | Tough old buzzards without any heart |
| Fío¥µa‰ fua‰ iŠ fua÷ do ¢éi÷e. | 792 | Who think every woman is just a tart. |
| Tuillea« aca atá níoŠ fea‰‰ ’ná a ¥éile, | 793 | But others are from a different race |
| Tuilte le g‰á« iŠ le g‰áŠa féile. | 794 | Full of love and full of grace. |
| IŠ minic a buai«tea‰ buai« iŠ g‰éi÷e | 795 | Often the well-being of a farm is increased |
| Cuigeann iŠ c‰ua¥ de ¥uai‰d na cléi‰e. | 796 | Without just one visit from such a priest. |
| IŠ minic lem ¥uiµne maoi«ea« a dt‰éi÷e | 797 | I can recall well their virtues being lauded |
| IŠ iomad dá ngníoµa‰÷a f퉳lic féi÷e, | 798 | The number of their good works applauded, |
| IŠ minic do ¥uala a‰ ±uaid na tí‰e | 799 | I often heard throughout the land |
| SioŠa‰na¥ luai÷ dá lua« go líonµa‰, | 800 | A buzz of appreciation for this band, |
| IŠ ¥onnai‰c me tai«¢Šea¥ ‰oinn dá ‰amŠa | 801 | I’ve seen incontrovertible evidence that many a son |
| IŠ uiµi‰ dá gclainn a‰ šloinnte fallŠa. | 802 | Could call a priest a father in more ways than one. |
| Baineann Šé fáŠca« aŠ lበmo ¥léi¢-Še | 803 | Still, it bothers me greatly at the time |
| A gcai÷ta‰ dá Šláinte a‰ µná t‰eaŠaoŠta | 804 | They spend on women past their prime, |
| IŠ tu‰‰aing Šan tí‰ ¥um dí÷ na mbéi÷e, | 805 | While many a woman at best stage in life |
| A‰ cui‰ea« gan ¢‰í³ tŠíol‰a¥ naoµ÷a. | 806 | Is left husbandless when she could be a wife. |
| IŠ deal¢ an dia¥ai‰ dian³ui‰t d’Éi‰e | 807 | In Ireland it has been demonstrably cruel |
| A‰ ¥ailleamai‰ ‰iaµ le ‰ia³ail gan éifea¥t! | 808 | The damage that’s done by this aimless rule. |
| Fágaim fút-Ša a ¥nú na céille | 809 | The trouble, I assert, O Fount of Wisdom |
| Fá÷ na cúiŠe iŠ cuµa na cléi‰e. | 810 | Is that clerical celibacy is the bane of Christendom |
| IŠ meallta meillte lui³id dom «ói³h-Še. | 811 | And is nothing if not an abomination. |
| IŠ dall gan ‰a«a‰c me, ŠoillŠi³ m’eoluŠ, | 812 | I know I’m blind, I need an explanation |
| Ai÷‰iŠ, ó’Š cuiµin leat, caínt na ¢fái«e | 813 | Tell us, if you know, the prophets’ sayings |
| IŠ apŠtol an Río³ ba ¢ío«ga¥ ‰ái«te. | 814 | What were the Lord’s apostles’ teachings |
| Ca ¢fuil na coµa¥ta d’ó‰dui³ an Dúileaµ,— | 815 | Where is it written that the Creator said |
| IŠ calca« na feóla i gco‰óin na cuµa Šo; | 816 | That the desires of the flesh shouldn’t be fed |
| Pól da‰ liúm ní du¢ai‰t le héinne | 817 | Paul, in my opinion, never held that a vocation |
| An póŠa« «iúlta« a¥t d‰úiŠ do šéana«, | 818 | Required abnegation of marriage, just fornication |
| Sca‰a« let ³aol dá µéid do ³naoi | 819 | To leave your relations and your parents’ house |
| IŠ ceangal let šao³al iŠ clae« let µnaoi. | 820 | And live for life with your wedded spouse. |
| IŠ obai‰ gan ¢‰í³ do ¢ean ma‰ táimŠe | 821 | Of course, it’s meaningless for a woman like me |
| Focal den dli³e Šeo Šui«eaµ ’ot lá÷ai‰, | 822 | To explain the law to your majesty, |
| IŠ cuiµin leat féin a ¹éa‰la an tai«¢Še | 823 | O Spectral Pearl, you remember well |
| Sui«eaµ ga¥ Šcéil iŠ léi‰ «uit ŠoillŠea¥ | 824 | All of the stories that make up the Gospel |
| Binn³u÷ buan iŠ bua« na mb‰éi÷‰e | 825 | The meaning of the everlasting word |
| IŠ caínt an Uain ná lua«fa‰ b‰éaga¥, | 826 | The parables of the Lamb you have heard |
| Dia nበ¢’áil leiŠ má÷ai‰ aonta, | 827 | I give God’s married mother as the beau ideal |
| IŠ ‰ia³ail ga¥ fái« i ¢fá¢a‰ béi÷e. | 828 | And the prophets’:rules promote women’s weal. |
| Gui«im go há‰d tu, a ±ái«¢ean tŠí«÷e, | 829 | O Ghostly Seer, to you I plead |
| A šíol‰a¥ neáµda a ba‰‰ na ‰í³÷e, | 830 | You who’re descended of heavenly seed |
| A šoillŠe glói‰e a ¥o‰óin na Šluai³te, | 831 | O Glorious Light, O Crown of the Throng |
| ÉiŠt lem ³ló‰-Ša, fói‰ iŠ fua‰ «úinn; | 832 | Hear my voice and help us along |
| Meái« it intinn dí÷ na mbéi÷e | 833 | Keep women’s plight firmly in your mind |
| IŠ p‰áinn na mílte b‰ídea¥ aonta, | 834 | The predicament of single womankind. |
| IŠ toici¢ ma‰ táid a‰ ¢‰á³aid a ¥éile | 835 | The number of maids, if this system doesn’t cease, |
| Ag bo‰‰a« iŠ ag fአma‰ ál na ngéanna; | 836 | Will increase and grow like a flock of geese. |
| An tál iŠ lu³a tá ag Šiu¢al na Š‰áide, | 837 | The smallest mite that you see in the street |
| Gá‰lai³ «u¢a iŠ giúna¥ g‰ánna, | 838 | Dirty urchins that are decrepit and not neat |
| An aga dá lai³ead má ³ei¢id Šiad a ndói÷in | 839 | You’d see how they’d improve, if they had for a day |
| GlaŠ‰ai«, mei«g, iŠ bea³dai‰ bó‰‰faid; | 840 | Their fill of vegetables, curds and whey; |
| D’u‰¥a‰ niµe le haoiŠ gan éifea¥t | 841 | Like a bolt from the blue, all of a sudden |
| Tiocfa na cío¥a, Šcinnfid, Šcéi«fid. | 842 | Their breasts would grow, they’d blossom and strengthen |
| Scalla« mo ¥léi¢! iŠ bao÷ mo Šmaointe! | 843 | It wounds my heart and raises my ire |
| Ag tagai‰t a‰ ¥éile i gcao‰÷ai¢ teinte! | 844 | And burns my mind with a mass of fire |
| IŠ deacai‰ dam Šúil le Šú¢¥uŠ d’±a³áil | 845 | To see so little prospect for much fun |
| ’S gan fea‰ in a³ai« t‰iúi‰ Šan ´uµain dá mná. | 846 | With Munstermen outnumbered three to one. |
| Ó ÷a‰la an ceannta‰ gann Šeo ³á¢µa‰, | 847 | Since the area is so poor and impotent |
| Fánlag fann, ’Š an t-am Šo p‰áinnea¥, | 848 | So utterly weak in this time so urgent |
| Fódla follaµ iŠ fo÷‰am ag fia«aile, | 849 | An empty Ireland where wastrels bray |
| IŠ óige an ¹obail ag c‰oma« iŠ ag lia÷a«, | 850 | And the youth of the country growing grey |
| Aonta fada go deal¢ gan foi«nne | 851 | A long spinsterhood seems a likelihood. |
| D’éinne a‰ talaµ iŠ fea‰ éigin fa³aimŠe. | 852 | If I could find a man, either bad or good |
| Ceangail i dt‰á÷ go tlái÷ fén ú³aim iad, | 853 | I’ll cart him straight away to the altar |
| ’S aŠ Šan go b‰á÷a¥ fágta‰ fúinne iad. | 854 | And tie him for life in a conjugal halter. |
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Dei‰ea« le Cuid a Cea÷ai‰
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End of Part four
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A‰ A³ai« go Cuid a Cúig
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On To Part Five
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