Cuirt an Mheán Oíche—The Midnight Court
le/by
Brian Merriman
Foclóir

Cuid a Trí: An Seanfhear

Preabann seanfhear anuas le freagra a thabhairt ar an ógbhean. Deir sé gur ar shaol mígheanmnaí na mná óga féin an milleán go bhfuil siad i gcruachás. Cuireann sé síos ar a phósadh féin agus faoi mar a bhí an bhrídeach torrach ó fhear eile i ngan fhios dó. (Dá ainneoin sin, molann sé leanaí tabhartha go hard níos déanaí mar chuid den impí aige ar Aoibheal deireadh a chur leis an bpósadh.)
Glossary

Part Three: The Old Man

Up jumps an old man to answer the young woman. He blames the dissolute life of young women for the predicament in which they find themselves. He recounts the circumstances of his own marriage at the time of which and unknown to him, his bride was pregnant by another. (In spite of this cuckoldry, he later praises bastards highly as part of his plea to Aoibheal to end the institution of marriage.)
Preabann anuas go fuadrach fíochmar357Then fiercely jumped up a grey old dodger
Seanduine suarach is fuadach nimhe faoi,358There was fire in the eyes of that greasy codger
A bhaill ar luascadh is luas anáile air,359His limbs were shaking, his breathing wild
Draighean is duais ar fud a chnámha.360It was clear that he was thoroughly riled.
Ba dhearóil an radharc go deimhin don chúirt é361He glared at the court with a look inflamed
Ar bord ina thaibhse im éisteacht dúirt sé:—362And, in my hearing, he then declaimed:—
Dochair is díobháil is síorchrá cléibhe ort363I wish you naught but damage and hurt
A thoice le místaid, a shíol gábha is déirce,364You miserable hussy, descended from dirt
Is dóigh nach iontas laigeacht na gréine365I suppose it’s no wonder the sun is weak
Is fós gach tubaist dar imigh ar Éire,366And that Ireland’s lot is unbelievably bleak
Mar mheath gach ceart gan reacht gan dlí againn,367Our rights are gone, the law’s a laugh
Ár mba bhí bleacht gan lacht gan laonna acu,368Our cows, once fertile, without milk or calf.
Is dá dtagadh níos mó de mhórscrios tíortha369It’s no great surprise about the country’s woes
Is gach faisean dá nuacht ar Mhóir is ar Shíle.370With Mór and Síle sporting the latest clothes.
A thoice gan chríoch nach cuimhin le táinte371You’re an absolute transcendental bitch
Olcas na síolrach daoine ó dtángais,372Everyone knows you were born in a ditch
Gan focal le maíomh ag do shinsear gránna373Your ugly ancestors can’t boast of their blood
Ach lopaigh gan bhrí, lucht míre is mála.374They’re aimless louts, sprung from the mud.
Is aithnid dúinne an snamhaire is athair duit,375Everyone knows your father’s a creep
Gan chara gan chlú gan chúl gan airgead,376Without friends or fame, common and cheap
Ina leibide liath gan chiall gan mhúineadh,377A grey old yo-yo with no erudition
Gan mheadar gan mhias gan bhia gan anlann,378Without cup or bowl, racked with malnutrition,
Gan faic ar a dhroim is a chabhail gan chóta,379Not a stitch his back, no coat on his body
Ach gad ar a choim is a bhonn gan bhróga.380A súgán for a belt, his footwear shoddy.
Creidigí, a dhaoine, dá ndíoltaí ar aonach381Believe me, people, if he was sold at the fair
Eisean is a bhuíon tar éis íoc gach éileamh,382Of all of his debts he couldn’t take care
Dar colainn na naoimh ba dícheall mór dó383By the saints who are holy, ’twould make the news
Pota maith dí lena fhuíollach d’fhuascailt.384If he then could afford a bottle of booze.
Nach mór an t-ábhacht is an gleo i measc daoine385It’s a cause of merriment, both loud and deep
Truaire de do shórt gan bhó gan chaoirigh,386That a reject like you, with no cows or sheep
Búclaí i do bhróga is clóicín síoda ort,387Sports buckles on your shoes, a fancy silk frock
Is ciarsúir póca ag gabháil na gaoithe ort!388And a protecting scarf the wind to block.
Do dhallais an saol go léir le do thaibhse,389You dazzle the whole world with your face
Is is aithnid dom féin tú i dtaobh le coife390But I know for a fact you’re for a bloody disgrace.
Is deacair dom labhairt, do lom is léir dhom,391Your mendacity’s so clear, it’s hard to address
Is fada do dhroim gan chabhair ón léine;392Your back is a stranger to a decent dress
Is togha drochduine do thuigfeadh ina gá thú393But that deficiency, no one believes
Is feabhas do rufa le do mhuinchille cáimric.394It’s hidden with ruffs and cambric sleeves.
Tá canbhás saor chun sraod go bhásta395Canvas as a waist binder is low in price
Is cá bhfios don tsaol nach stays é do do fháscadh?396And maybe it’s stays that’s the flattening device.
Feiceann an tír ort frínse is fáinne397The world spies your rings and fringes of gauze
Is ceileann do laímhne gríos is gága.398While your gloves cover up the dirt on your paws.
Ach aithris ar bord, nó inseoidh mé féin é,—399But tell the court, or I myself will reveal,—
An fada nár ól tú deoir le do bhéile?400How long since you’ve had a drink with your meal
A chonnartaigh bhoicht na gcos gan ionladh,401You miserable slob with the dirty feet
Dóchas id chorp le Bucks gan anlann402Unseasoned Bucks aren’t much of a treat
Is furasta dar liom dod chúl bheith taibhseach,403It’s plain to me why you should hang your head
Do chonnac lem shúile an chúil ina luíonn tú;404I saw with my own eyes where you make your bed
Garbh nó mín ní síntear fút ann,405With no sheet beneath you, either fine or rough
Barrach nó líon dár sníomhadh le tuirne,406Spun on a wheel from even the coarsest stuff
Ach mata ina smoirt gan chuilt gan chlúdach,407But a dirty mat without a quilt or a spread
Dealbh gan luid gan phluid gan tsúsa,408Without a blanket or comforter to cover the bed.
I gcomhar botháin gan áit chun suí ann409Your cabin is without a place for a seat
Ach súiche sileáin is púscadh aníos ann,410Dripping soot from above; oozing mud from beneath
Fiaile ag teacht go fras gan chuimse411Rank weeds flourishing in profusion galore
Is rian na gcearc air trasna scríobtha,412And chicken tracks scratched across the floor
Lag ina dhroim is na gabhla ag lúbadh413The roofline sagging; the gables leaning
Is clagarnach dhonn go trom ag tuirlingt.414The brown rain pouring down through the ceiling.
A chumainn na bhfáidhithe! nach ard do labhair sí!415O company of seers, how loud she does shout
Gustalach gálbha gárthach gabhann sí416A blustery braggart who goes about
I ndathanna i gcóir is i gclócaí síoda,417In colourful clothes and silken cloaks
Faire go deo orthu! fóill, cár fríth é?418It is certain the money didn’t come from her folks.
Aithris cá bhfuair tú an radharc seo mhaíonn tú,419From where the look of which you crow
Is aithris cár thuill tú an leadhb gan bhrí seo;420And how did you earn the necessary dough;
Is deacair a shuíomh gur fríth go cóir iad—421It’s hard to believe it’s from an honest stroke
Is gairid ó bhí tú gan síol an orlaigh.422It’s not long since you were totally broke
Aithris cá bhfuair tú luach na húda,423Where did you get the price of the hoods
Is aithris cá bhfuair tú luach do ghúna,424Tell us how you came by the expensive duds.
Ach leagaimid uainn cár ghluais an cóta,425I won’t make the cost of your coat my affair
Is aithris cá bhfuair tú luach na mbróga.426But how could you afford the fancy footwear?
A Aoibheal cheanasach charthannach chumhachtach,427O Aoibheal, peerless, kindly queen
Guím thú, gairim thú, freagair is fóir mé,428I beg you, call on you, please intervene
Is fíor gur feasach mé forairí Fóla429I know that all in Ireland who reach man’s estate
Suite greamaithe ag sladaithe den tsórt seo.430Is firmly hooked by such a reprobate
Dar láimh mo chara! is aithnid dom comharsa431One of my friends who lives up the road
Láimh le baile agam, gairid do chóngar,432Not very far from my own abode
Buachaill soineanta sruimile saonta433Among the nicest boys you ever spied
Ar buaileadh duine acu chuige mar nuachar.434Was snared into taking one as his bride
Is searbh lem chroí nuair a fheicim im radharc í—435It pains my heart to see her around
A gradam, a críoch, a poimp is a taibhse;436Her hauteur, her pomp, her stuck-up frown
Sealbhach bó aici is eorna ag fás di,437Cattle in her possession, her barley growing
Airgead póca is ór idir lámha aici.438Money in her pocket and gold overflowing.
Do chonnaic mé inné í ar thaobh na sráide,439I saw her yesterday on the side of the street
Is cumasach tréan an léire mná í,440She was a large woman, in no way petite;
Malpaire másach mágach magúil,441She shook her huge hips in a taunting way
Marbh le cámas lán de ladús,442With as much impertinence as she could display
Murach gur claon liom éad do mhúscailt,443Were it not that I am the soul of discretion
Scannal do scéith nó scéalta scrúdú,444Unwilling to comment on any transgression
Do b’fhuras dom insint cruinn mar chuala445I could easily tell what I’ve heard told
An chuma na mbíodh sí sraoillte suaite,446How she carried on as a harlot bold
Sractha ar lár is gáir ina timpeall,447Stretched on the floor, causing a hullabaloo
Sraite ar an sráid nó i stábla sínte.448In the street or the stable, her clothing askew.
Mairfidh a tásc is tráchtfar choíche449Her story will live, she’ll be the subject of lore
Ar mharthain ar cháil is ar gháir a gníomhartha450She will be spoken of for evermore
In Uí Bhreacáin an aráin is an fhíona,451In Ibrickane of the bread and wine
I dTír Mhachláin na mbánta míne,452In Tirmaclane of the meadows so fine
Ag ísle is ársa Mháinse is Ínse,453By Manishmore’s and Ennis’ lowly and quality
Chill Bhreacáin, an Chláir is Chuinche,454In Killbracken, in Quin, and in Clareabbey
Ag connsaigh ainmhíche Threadraí an phónra455In Tradree of the beans where there are wild young fellows
Is fonsaí falchaí Chreatlaighe an chorda.456And in Cratlea where outlaws hang from the gallows
Faire, ba chlaon í, tar éis a ndúirt mé457Now, look, that’s all in the past, I know
Ghlacfainn gur saor í faoi na cionta458And I might be willing to let it all go
Ach beirim don phláigh í lá mar chím í459But the other day I saw her on her ass
Leagaithe láimh le Gárus sínte,460Outside of Garus lying on the grass
Caite ar an ród gan orlach fuithi461Spread on the ground without a stitch, so bare,
Ag gramasc na móna ar bhóithre Dhubhdhoire.462With a bogman from Doora in the County Clare.
M’iontas ann os ceann mo chéille463It's a wonder to me, past all comprehension
Is crithim go fann le scanradh an scéil seo,—464Just to think of it fills me with hypertension,—
Ise bheith seang nuair theann gach éinne í465After fornicating with all, I just don’know
Is druidim le clann nuair shanntaigh féin í.466How she didn’t conceive till she wished it so.
Is mór ina grása é ag rá na mbriathar,467It’s saying a lot for the power of the word
Nóiméad de spás níor ghá le hiarraidh468That not a minute of unnecessary delay was incurred
Ó léadh ar bord os comhair na coinnle469From the reading before the candles bright
An tEgo Vos seo d’ordaigh Íosa470Of the Ego Vos of the marriage rite
Gur shéid sí lacht go bleacht ina cíocha471Her breasts were bursting with milk, I swear
Ach naoi mí beacht is seachtain go cinnte!472After nine months with just a week to spare!
 
Breathain gur bhaol don té tá scaoilte473It’s the greatest peril to the single and sane
Ceangal go héag faoi thaobh den chuing seo,474To be tied till death to the ball and chain,
I sealbh gach saoth, is éad dá shuathadh—475In the grip of misfortune, jealousy rife,
In aisce, mo léan! mo léann ní bhfuaireas,476As I learned for myself at a terrible price.
Is feasach don taobh seo den tsaol mar bhí mé477Everyone round here knows how I used be,
Sealad dem réim is dem laethanta roimhe seo,478When I was single and gloriously free,
Leitheadach láidir lán de shaibhreas,479An important man, much wealth I did own
Feisteas le fáil is fáilte im theaghlach,480My door was wide open, my table did groan
Cara i gcúirt is cúnamh dlí agam,481A friend at court and the law on my side
Ceannas is clú agus comhar sa saoithe,482Dominion and fame, with seers as my guide.
Tathach im chaint is suim is éifeacht,483My words with wit and wisdom teemed
Talamh is maoin ag suíomh mo chéille!484All the land and wealth of which I dreamed
M’aigne sítheach is m’intinn sásta—485My mind at ease, my brain without strife—
Chailleas le bean mo bhrí is mo shláinte!486I lost it all when I married my wife!
Ba thaitneamhach leabhair an crobhaire mná í,487She was a pleasant and graceful strip of a lass
Bhí seasamh is com is cabhail is cnámha aici,488Her posture and presence betokened class
Casadh ina cúl go búclach trilseach,489The toss of her head showed off ringlets and curls
Lasadh ina gnúis go lonrach soilseach,490And the sheen on her cheeks fairly glowed like pearls,
Cuma na hóige uirthi is só ina gáire,491She had the vitality of youth and a smile of bliss
Is cuireadh ina cló chun póige is fáilte!492And all her demeanour invited a kiss.
Ach chreathas le fonn gan chonn gan chairde493I shook with desire, my mind did reel
Ó bhaithis go bonn go tabhartha i ngrá dhi.494I fell besottedly in love, head over heel.
Is dearbh gan dabht ar domhan gur díoltas495It’s certain, no doubt, it was retribution
Danartha donn dom thabhairt ar m’aimhleas496For all my bad actions, my dissolution
D’fhearthainn go trom ar bhonn mo ghníomhartha497Which fell with a vengeance for my transgression
Ó Fhlaitheas le fonn do lom do líon mé.498From heaven above with cruel repression.
Do snaidhmeadh go suite snaidhm na cléire,499The clergy tied us tightly with the knot
Is ceangladh sinn i gcuing le chéile,500In a damnable yoke we were firmly caught,
Ghlanas gan chinnteacht suim gach éileamh501I cleared all the debts without demur or delay
Bhaineas le baois gan ghaois an lae sin.502From the extravagant folly of that fateful day
Cothrom go leor, níor chóir mé a cháineadh—503Give me due credit, I was able to treat
Stopas an gleo bhí ag cóip na sráide,504All of the rabble who came in from the street
Bacaigh go léir, bhí an cléireach sásta,505Beggars all, the clerics were sated
An sagart róbhuíoch is b’fhéidir fáth leis!506The priest was delighted at how he was feted.
Lasamar tóirsí is comharsana go cruinn ann,507With torches lit, the neighbours around
Leagadh ar boird mórchuid bia chugainn508The table with all sort of foodstuffs was crowned
Clagarnach cheoil is ól gan chuimse,509The music was mighty, much drink was imbibed
Is chaitheadar cóisir mhórtach mhaoiteach.510It was a bash on a scale that can’t be described.
Mo dhíth gan easpa nár tachtadh le bia mé511But the day I was baptised I wish I had died
An oíche baisteadh nó as sin gur iarras512Or some day since then before I had tried
Síneadh ar leaba le hainnis do liath mé513To bed with a trollop who turned me gray
Is do scaoil le gealaigh gan chara gan chiall mé.514Deprived me of friends, caused my mind to decay.
Is é tásc do gheobhainn ag óg is ag aosta515But then I was warned by the young and the old
Gur bhreallán spóirt ag ól is ag glaoch í516That she was a drunkard and a constant scold
I mbotháin ósta is boird á bpléascadh,517With the rabble in sheebeens she was wont to mingle
Ar lár ina lóiste ag pósta is aonta.518And lay on the floor with the married and single
Do b’fhada dá meilt a teist is a tuairisc519It took a while before her name was destroyed
Do b’fhada gur chreid mé a bheag nó a mhór de,520The stories about her I long could avoid
Do b’eaglach le gach beirt dá gcuala é521Everyone kept mum who knew the situation
Go rachainn im pheilt im gheilt gan tuairisc.522Afraid I would vanish, naked, in extreme agitation.
Fós ní ghéillfinn, caoch mar bhí mé,523I would not listen, too blind to see
Do ghlór gan éifeacht éinne mhaoidh é;524To the few who ineffectively told me;
Ach magadh nó greim gan feidhm gan chéill525I believed they were only slagging the groom
Gur aithris a broinn dom deimhin gach scéil!526Until the whole story was told by her womb.
Níor chúrsaí leamhais ná durdam bréige é,527It was not a prank or idle prattle
Ná dúirt bean liom go ndúradh léi é528Or a woman engaging in tittle-tattle
Ach labhair an bheart i gceart is in éifeacht—529But the deed itself spoke loud and clearly
Do bhronn sí mac i bhfad roimh ré dom!530She gave me a son who was way too early!
Mo scanradh scéil gan féith dem chroí air—531God almighty, I nearly died of fright
Clann dá dtéamh dom tar éis na hoíche!532To find a family at the end of that night!
Callóid anfach ainigí scólta,—533There was a mighty commotion around the house
Bunóc ceangailte is bean an tí breoite,534With a swaddled child and a retching spouse,
Posóid leagaithe ar smeachóidí teo acu535A draught of medicine on the coals being warmed
Cuinneog bhainne dá greadadh le fórsa536A can full of cream was being forcefully churned
Is mullach ar lánmhias bánbhia is siúicre537A dish heaped high with sugar and goody
Ag Muirinn Ní Cháimliaith báinliaigh an chrúca538For the greedy midwife, Muireann Ní Cháimlia
Bhi coiste cruinnithe ag tuilleadh dem chomharsain539A group of my other neighbours were gathered
Cois na tine agus siosarnach dhamhsa.540Beside the fire where they quietly whispered.
Scaoileann siad cogar i bhfogas dom éisteacht:—541One of them said, loud enough to hear:—
Míle moladh le Solas na Soilse!542“Praise be to the stars that shine so clear,
Bíodh nach baileach a d’aibigh an chré seo543Even though the nipper didn’t wait for the clock
Feicimse an t-athair ina sheasamh ina chéadfa.544He looks like he’s a chip cut off the old block.
A bhfeiceann tú, a Shadhbh arú, luigheamh a ghéaga!545Don’t you see now, Saiv, how the kid is the image
A dheilbh gan draighean a bhaill is a mhéara!546Of the old man’s form, his limbs and his visage!
Cumas na lámh ba dána dóirne!547The cut of his hands and those bold fists
Cuma na gcnámh is fás na feola.548And look at those legs and arms and wrists.”
Do cheapadar cruinn gur shíolraigh an dúchas549They pondered long on the child’s supposed lineage
Maise mo ghné agus íor mo ghnúise,550How he looked like me, inherited my image
Filleadh mo shróine is glónra m’éadain,551The shape of my nose and how my brow glowed
Deise mo chló, mo shnua agus m’fhéachana,552The elegant form which on him I bestowed
Leagadh mo shúl is go fiú mo gháire553The lay of my eyes and even my grin
Is as-sin do shiúil ó chúl go sáil é.554How he was my very picture from head to shin.
Amharc nó radharc ní bhfaghainn den chréice,—555Of course, not hide nor hair did I see of the pup,—
Is baileach gan leigheas do mhillfeadh gaoth é!—556They said the draughts would screw him up!—
Ag cuideachta an teaghlaigh i bhfeighil mo chaochta,557The crowd in the house kept him out of my sight
Siolla dá laghad di leáfaidh an créatú+B222ir!558With their claim that the air would harm the mite.
Do labhras garg is do thagras Íosa,559By this time I was mad and breathing fire
Is stollta garbh do bhagras gríosach,560I told them the consequences would be dire
D’fhógras fearg le hainbhios cainte,561I thundered, I stormed, I blustered, I swore
Is is dóigh gur chreathadar cailleacha an tí romham.562Till the women of the house could stand it no more.
De leisce an achrainn leagadar chugam é,—563They brought me the boy to settle me down,—
Beir go haireach air, seachain ná brú é,564“Take him gently, don’t shake him around
Is fuiris a shuaitheadh, luaisc go réidh é,565He’s easily hurt; he’s close to dying
Turraing do fuair sí ruaig roimh ré é;566Don’t pick him up, leave him lying
Seachain nó faisc é, fág ina luí é,567Since she had a fall that brought on his birth
Is gairid an bás do, is gearr do raghaidh sé;568He’s close to death, not too long for this earth
Dá maireadh go lá idir lámha ina chló569We hope he’ll survive till the morning at least
Is an sagart ar fáil níorbh fhearr a bheith beo.570When we’ll have a chance to call the priest.”
Do bhaineas an tsnaidhm dá chuibhreach cumhdaigh571I loosened the confining bands and set him free
Is bhreathain mé cruinn é sínte ar ghlúin liom,572I looked at him carefully there on my knee
A Muaireach d’airigh mé tathagach tamhanda é,573My God, I saw he was full of vim and vigour
Fuair mé feargach fearradach lúitheach574And he looked like he had a healthy figure
Láidir leathan mo leanbh ina ghuaillí,575The baby’s shoulders were stout, I declare,
Sála daingeana is an-chuid gruaige air!576He was firm in the feet, had a fine head of hair!
Cluasa cruinnithe is ingne fásta,577Well-formed ears and nails that were long
Chruadhdar a uillinneacha a chroibh is a chnámha,578His hands, his wrists and his elbows were strong
D’aibigh a shúile is fiú a pholláirí,579His eyes and his nostrils were both healthily wide
Is d’airigh mé a ghlúine lúfar láidir.580I could see from his knees he’d have a powerful stride.
Coileán cumasach cuisleach cóiriúil581In short and in closing, it’s all I can say
Folláin fuinneamhach fulaingeach feolmhar.582That he was as fine a child as you’d see any day.
Screadaim go hard le gáir na tíre583O Aoibheal, I beg you on behalf of my race
Is leagaim dod láthair cás na ndaoine,584I place before you the people’s case
Breathain go caoin, is bí truamhéileach,585Judge us kindly, show us mercy
Beanna a gcinn is suim a gcéille;586We’ve little sense but much jealousy
Athraigh an dlí seo chuinge na cléire587Change this law of the clergy’s yoke
Is ainic an bhuíon nár fuarthas sa ngéibheann.588And allow his freedom to the unmarried bloke.
Má lagaigh an síolrach díonmahr daonna589If the population is on the wane
I dtalamh dath-aoibheann fhíorghlais Éireann,590In Ireland’s green and fertile terrain,
Is furasta an tír d’aithlíonadh le laochra591Her race of warriors could be reborn yet
D’uireasa eangaí gan bhrí gan éifeacht,—592Absent the inanity of the marriage net,—
Cá bhfuil an gá le gáir na bainse,593Why do we need those nuptial traditions
Cárta biotáille is pá lucht seinnte,594Paying for liqour and for musicians
Somacháin ar bord go fóiseach taibhseach,595Idlers eating all of your food
Glugar is gleo acu is ól dá shaighdeadh,596Guzzling your malt till thoroughly stewed.
Ó d’aibigh an t-ábhar do bhronn Mac Dé597When the Mother of God first conceived
Gan sagart ar domhain dá dtabhairt dá chéile;598No priestly blessing was received.
Is leathanmhar láidir lánmhear léadmhar599Many who are strong and altogether fine
Fairsing le fáil an t-álmhach saor seo.600Sprang from an illegitimate line
Is minic a fheicimse bríomhar borrtha601For love is a lustier sire than creed
Cumasach líonta i gcroí is i gcóir iad;602And produces a healthier, heartier breed
Creim ní fheicim nó daille nó caoiche603The deaf or dumb or lame or blind
I léim ar leithre dár hoileadh ó bhean ar bith;604Among love children you generally won’t find;
Is mó is is mire, is is teinne is is tréine605They are stronger and faster, more right in the head
A gcló is a gclisteacht ná dlisteanaigh éinne.606Than many begotten in a married bed.
Is furasta a luaimse d’fhuascailt go suite607I brought with me the proof of my stand
Is duine acu an uair seo ar fud an tí agam!608I have here with me one of that band!
A bhfeiceann tú thall go ceansa ciúin é!609Do you see him there, so quiet and polite?
Deisigh anall i dteannta an bhoird é.610Bring him here so we can see him right.
Breathain go cruinn é, bíodh gurab óg é611Look at him carefully, though he’s a youth
Is dearfa suite an píosa feola é,612You will see indeed that I tell the truth
Is preabaire i dtoirt i gcorp is i gcnámh é613He’s a comely boy in form so grand
Cá bhfuil a locht i gcos nó i lámh de?614Can you see a flaw in his foot or hand?
Ní seargach fann ná seandach feosach,615He wasn’t sired by a sap with consumption
Leibide cam nó gandal geoiseach,616A worthless tramp, a gander without gumption
Meall gan chuma nó sumach gan síneadh é617A formless lump who’s riddled with cancer
Ach lansa cumasach buinneamhach bríomhar.618But a lively, powerful, active lancer.
Ní deacair a mheas nach spreas gan bhrí619It would be such a farce to tie for life
Bheadh ceangailte ar nasc ar tasc ag bean,620This sire of his to only one wife
Gan chnámh gan chumas gan chuma gan chom,621Shapeless, spineless, waistless, sexless
Gan ghrá gan chumann gan fuinneamh gan fonn,622Friendless, mindless, loveless, listless
Do scaipfeadh i mbronn d’aon mhaighre mná623To use his seed for only one womb
Le catachas draighin an graíre bhreá624When he could be in many a bedroom.
Mar chuireann sé i bhfeidhm gan mhoill gan bhréig625This young lad proves without a lie
Le cumas a bhaill is le luigheamh a ghéag626With his goodly arms and shapely thigh
Gur crobhaire é cruthaíodh go cothrom gan cháim627That he’s a sapling who was the upshot
Le fonn na fola is le fothram na sláinte.628Of a fevered coupling when the blood was hot.
Leis-sin ná hiarrse a ríon réilteach629So please don’t subject millions, O Queen of the Sky
Milleadh meiriad le riail gan éifeacht!630To a stupid rule with which they must comply
Scaoil ó chodladh gan chochall gan chuibhreach631Awake to a life without a bond or chain
Síol an bhodaigh is an mhogall-fhuil mhaoiteach,632The country’s people, both mighty and plain
Scaoil fá chéile de réir nádúra633Allow them to be naturally combined
An síolbhach séad is an braon lábúrtha,634Couples from the peasantry and the refined.
Fógair go féiltiúil trí na tíortha635Throughout the land may a new rule unfold
D’óg is d’aosta saorthoil síolraigh.636Of sexual freedom for young and for old.
Cuirfidh an dlí seo gaois sa nGaeil,637This new law will make the Irish proud,
Is tiocfaidh an brí mar bhí ina laochra,638The new race will once again be endowed
Ceapfaidh sé com is droim is doirne639With all the prowess of the heroes of old,
Ag fir an domhain mar Gholl mac Móirne,640The likes of Goll mac Móirne the bold.
Gealfaidh an spéir, beidh éisc i líonta,641The sky will brighten, the fish will bite
Is talamh an tsléibhe go léir faoi luibhne,642The mountainy land will bloom with no blight
Fir is mná go brách dá mhaíomh,643Men and women will sing your praise
Ag seinnm do cháil le gairdeas aoibhnis.644And in joyful celebration their voices raise.
Deireadh do Chuid a Trí
End of Part Three
Ar Aghaidh go Cuid a Ceathair
On To Part Four
Fill ar ais ar Chlár Chinn na Cúirte/ Return to the Midnight Court Main Page