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Cuirt an Mheán Oíche—The Midnight Court le/by Brian Merriman |
Cuid a Cúig: An Breithiúnas is an Réiteach
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Part Five: The Judgment and Resolution
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| 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 | She had 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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 This task of editing and translating was completed on February 27, 1998. I bid farewell to the work and wish it well on its journey around the wide world. |
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