A Celtic Psaltery / Being Mainly Renderings in English Verse from Irish & Welsh Poetry

E OF TH

he Earl

ment upon the floor of the house. No one knew whence she had come or how she had entered, for the ramparts were

ar from Evin'

ees with Evin's

d her branches

auded bud and

ant Isle, deep

nd its meadows

rse, white-swelli

ls uphold it

pillars that this

thorough, glim

World the fair

on the many b

t an Ancient Tr

ours beauteous

song, with flu

ther each new

sle glow all glad

lour mars it

oud Land that

usic claim it

cruel guile or

tment, fresh an

orce or dissona

lting blissf

om, no death, no

s our sure stre

gns that grace t

other heaven

m out the dawn's

lluming level

eaward plain he

ocean into

he clear blue s

owing, till they

hining Stone wher

pleasure of t

ain to all the

red has trembled

such sweet chor

have slumbered

with wealth is

ealing forth f

e Land of Peace

Reason are co

lovely Isle's

showers a stream

iff that from t

eaven thus ass

e a Wondrous C

most lowly sha

n, yet whose M

ousand thousan

3

eless; 'twas His

being wrought wi

His; for all Hi

ll gainsayer

avens beneath Hi

n as free of

th's sin-struck

ters can make

of you is t

presage at thi

ten from Earth's

uded wisdom t

of languor li

unkenness becl

n, across the fa

hters haply tho

land such as the C

4

OM OF KI

he Earl

OF KING COR

RB

grandson, and

ow from the dep

ise and th

ngers and

and the

and th

nners to mak

t govern

ings comport

nd the wic

RM

ereto is not d

se nor too sc

eited nor to

aughty nor y

ngued or too

hard nor y

pear, folk too muc

still will be makin

ed, vexatious

sh, they only

tattler, you ne'e

our company ne'e

ur pride will b

e folk will tra

5

E OF HOS

RB

son of Conn, w

d an ale

c: "Not ha

our around

ht for the e

lves for the C

d with no clo

beral measu

d nimble-han

n in musi

f stories n

a bright el

guest a we

ing the Bar

in sweet con

RMAC ORDERE

RB

andson of Con

u order thy d

RM

oods I went

when stars w

crets were pl

ne in the

ative with

ead-hall, mil

n amid bat

tle towar

octor unt

ble I laid

st burdensom

se not given

ttle, though

ckless thoug

ever derid

asted though

one no ill

oach, though I p

d ask but ev

life I crav

T WAY OF

RB

Art, of Wisd

evilest way

c: "Not ha

nowledge

roofs, pr

anguage

tiff and

ean and

ting and s

n proofs

ties de

custom'

all your

a mob to

shout of

ne's own

MAC'S WO

rt, of your ene

st for your wi

c: "Not ha

atirist's name

ave-woman's sha

rty dog's car

nce thereto of

noble he answ

full as a Chro

behaviour of

ous tongue of a

s false in ev

rrulous, de

'The case is se

a saint, I swear

8

H TR

Author of the

hereby to mar

bitterness,

s sisters in t

flightiness,

e most obscuring

, half-knowle

ters sharpening

Foul Strife, F

s the worst f

a vile Lady's

s that soon giv

ale-bearer's,

ill-bred folk i

gthened to

overmuch in

t constitute a

malady with

fter-conseq

diagnosis w

most unlock ou

rustfulness an

f hot blood to

e, of drinking

9

eivers are of

ak of night, the

ch of peace a pr

joint ploughland,

readths for mankind

from ear to hair,

sisters for a

sire, and

nces of our d

durability

f a bad guest-

ldam with a h

tartar of a

oy a swinish

es whereon the w

tream that in t

ade that from the

read the housewif

elcomes that will

yfarers into

of a workman'

lding water f

ing draught, s

s that foulness

n the most mis

art by servile

om a cripple's

s that better

ine words-but

ch cows, when gr

iends when beer is

snares upon a C

ery, and evil

f a tribe to

false Brehon,

ee of all the

f an old man

at a sick m

gibing at a

how a fop: the com

nice teeth upon

the dust, oft as

light the fire o

, and grace, an

nesses of wi

through evil,

ity, whoso els

service, all

of increase:

to their cal

on the an

swishing of

alse: I would!

others: Hearken!

ers of a d

o occupies

and the privil

1

f a gathering f

d steed, and beau

aughing-stocks (be

a jealoused,

advantaging a

Justice and

1

the Iris

'S BLESSING

he Earl

rom the Lo

ster fal

ns and da

lessing st

blessing

rts her fa

ull of rud

full of e

orders fur

st and sout

rom the Lo

ster fal

on her pe

n her flag

from her

rassy gl

rom the Lo

ster fal

nds upon

her ships

ths, a twin

ain, plain

from the L

ster fal

1

PLATE OF S

gainst him by King Leary that he might go to Tara to sow the Faith. Then it seemed to those lying

e, upon

g of Irela

y Power of

lief in th

fession of

er's Etern

on my jour

hrist's Birth

e hours of His d

h and Abode

hour of His glo

he Gehenna

hour when to He

the hour when b

or the Judgm

perilo

ra to

ck, God'

e fro

erubim

he might of the

ient, ministr

to prosper my

on my path

ring to God

of the Patria

edge of Proph

les' pure

sors' sure

est of God's Ded

he deaths of His Sa

in the strength

glory o

ance of

fire and the swif

's flyin

th of t

's steadf

k's aus

e on m

Strength

ght to p

sdom to

to be my p

to take my

d my word

d to be m

to lie b

d and Buckl

t Unseen

ambush of

ce that woul

ll who wis

ar I fare

in a mu

Hierarchie

e to in

adversa

h, with p

nce black

oul and

ese Power

ruid coun

craft of

false he

s of wick

zard's art

nowledge, o

of man's so

1

ist, on

ra to

me from

me fr

ng or

emy's

mighty

low my

hind and

eath me an

thin and

ound and

left and Chri

morn and Christ

rt that shall ever

th that shall ever

ye that shall ev

ar that shall ev

e, upon

g of Irela

y Power of

lief in th

fession of

er's Etern

1

RICK'S

u Son of Go

Holy Ang

ound us

ining bed

eil with tru

ach our dre

g of the

st of the

emon of

alice of

m or haun

lling, pro

vigils h

asks we

eep be fre

t and with

1

'S GREETING

nt's voyage from Erin to Alba (Scotla

stand on the b

speeder on the

f the wave in

te border del

stand on the b

eeder o'er the w

d rowing in my

ore thorough,

speed of my l

Derry its pat

art out of

lba of the be

ast in my ch

rrow my sad

n God are but

Love we go b

eye that tears

longing on

see o'er the

daughters o

forth o'er the b

the firm-se

from that gre

r gleaming of

1

y soul is se

therein from

nt prospect of

a and Meath

ard the lean

seases and murr

tains the scanty

hard and the

are our Kings a

uble beneath the

horn-bush shine

dance drop th

clerics, melodious

' words are, her

hieftains-goodl

women for es

West sweet Bre

Criffan is inde

e West ruddy Bai

ll be faring to

eously, salute th

mgall, Eterni

tately Monarc

ven my greetin

r youth, and my

striction be b

Erin, one half

above Alba to

that full lo

ressing my hear

e me, the whole

broken by great

1

at that dear w

beating my heart

n of the tresses

e duteous and C

Alba mine

centre and thr

possess in de

was very ver

love is ev

oth-swarded, her

of angels that

ver her oa

eed for these

bove her, smo

e over each o

l bevy of

little oak

s therein, my

Living God o

Levin who w

l Derry and

oe of the pu

e with its swee

owers of Swor

o at my he

cliffe on Cul

oyle-'tis delig

e her shores

ed, is the purp

clamour in whi

t afar from D

f it, the pea

2

LUMBA

cript in the Burgund

l would i

ck pinnac

tin

cean'

watch the h

oble

ather chant

earth's

t mark its

o lone

rk the sea-bird

urce of

ar the clamorou

rude

sed church side

mighty

ying gulls the d

oyous

n monsters spo

r sup

ell observe of

cles t

ystic name mi

ul-ri.

ard her on my h

contr

then bewail

ard the

ss the Lord who

ir grea

rchies through Heav

rand, an

rch all books an

y soul

ore the Heave

w chant

upon the Ki

the Hol

rk by no comp

ater joy

dulse upon th

hing ea

food unto the

mitage

e of the Ki

vouchsafe

atch beneat

shall

2

, BR

f the Pagan World of Ireland and the triumph of Christianity by the

n thy

phing

iffey'

o the

ith th

r th

ldren of Mig

hid

very

e Erin'

lling

's cle

s thy

asters have pass

on hi

my eyes

, grassy

ters m

wreck th

me fa

' palaces gaun

was

as th

ilill'

agh's gr

ws the bl

rulers

er to cold de

2

Alenn f

r in de

her what

rinces

red by

mthan wa

onquests-now

the triu

his vict

massed sho

r foes' se

truck through

s of

r horns over hun

on the

hued,

mers' c

rugh the b

weet an

beauty

ights jousted and

n each

e rich

eighed

jingl

ings a

the

long, bitter, blood

at ea

sic o'e

e-galle

iolet

lver show

orques wit

the Gaul to the

2

ain's f

wn of th

eteor'

waters

nn's hig

masterf

he pomp of each

, where is mi

him o

pelier

any-hue

nd the rat

id him,

f Champions ca

Feradac

is diad

ich, as

ranks d

helm is d

ning cl

kings, in whom

orship of

s as

eof takes

ain is e

future

n, when 't

dead of her bla

igit! wh

y I b

monarc

ch in h

e shall

ighties

all, till this Ea

2

rule with

ing shal

from t

buria

Bresal's

phing B

roned upon Liff

hence St.

2

'S TRIBUT

he Earl

ove his claim, the Evil One confessed that he was Satan. "Wherefore hast thou come?" asked Moling. "For a blessing," the Devil replied. "Thou shalt not have it," said Moling, "for thou deservest it not." "Well, then," said the D

ld, the sky a

ce brimmed wit

pe, a book o

in all the

sh bird that

hip in utmo

sel and a wi

s the Sover

anch with blo

owl with hone

ne, of virtue

the will of G

nly emptines

lness, a croo

somless cra

his Heavenly

2

the Son of G

lash lightin

s on the He

very precio

heering he, in

ngs takes ever

e, noble, ble

ne with gems a

hence bread and

s melodies aro

d from God's own

garment's hem

2

N OF ST

he Earl

the Apo

ch[A] once

rtal birds

is Eidhean

Africa

rm a labou

there com

r pinions is

ourth Creat

od from dust

e has from t

bird been ad

eams with all

ins wherethrou

anks the bird

anksgiving s

their hour

agic cours

starry skies

angel choir

most birds

odiously

ll the wor

efore the wor

crowd heave

cturn bells

purposes

ay of Doom'

2

whose thought

ht's curls d

ondrous word

urt of Doom

forty on

sand, with

umber, join

ach bird-f

ltless birds

trains of ra

ery trans

ould straigh

us, O mig

bonds no more

irds our sou

d of Phili

or open-ai

3

Monk a

SC

he Earl

ss my hand

p quill runs

beak with

s draught of d

's blessed

eneath my fai

uick jets o

link of pray

y dripping

plain of pa

at some ric

ed all am

3

ERMIT

the Irish text will be found.

Son of the

, etern

hut on the

praises I

the lark of

ing still

s to wash

irit has sa

beautiful, wh

tch, upon e

many-voiced f

lter green

armth, should my

nel across

and gifted wi

r all manne

omrades I ne

with me

dom, submi

ber I now

hree and thr

y want e

ithin God's

and south

gle their voi

whate'er

bids His de

od and il

Church with f

for Christ

l candles, of

white Scrip

ostel for all

a welcom

ee of boasting a

est and inno

support us my

m now with

rout and hen

y-bees' swee

food enow

of all gifts a

neeling, in r

o God in

3

IN

900

st, monk, or hermit, a practice which, while early suppressed and abandoned eve

f melodi

oung, but b

ved Niall's N

nd, or sid

id, whose l

ovely lore

lept in dre

oy of summ

Banva's br

stain of s

ne eye flashed

free of al

counsel qu

trust respo

wisdom's se

oth discours

sisterhoo

ce then, hast

e rumour o

name has tra

ir weary wan

more thy fo

age makes d

grace draws

3

ss one and

welcome he

ng dread I ne

kneeling

fame shall

wide thy fee

ir saintly t

ld view the

a pattern

rest upon

ng lesson

rayer the pr

s peace and

ountenance of

when we l

blind and

3

AND H

e life of a warrior prince for that of a hermit. The King endeavoured to persuade hi

U

, hermit o

hou not on qui

tch-pine fl

head against

RV

hieling in

God has kno

ree and

hut, great oak-

ad posts ben

le its frame

round its n

ng mast are r

shieling n

l, fair pat

ird, from m

riend, thy no

e stags of O

ear and deep-

Roiny glow

nmoy in suns

mane a gre

blue; his fo

ars against

forms, stup

3

-tree is f

o root-a hos

nutful

ing lush aga

e spring of c

prince has q

cresses ke

famishing

nd wild and

here upon

e badger's b

fear lie d

roop of crea

ange from woo

em slender

peal, O

itants as

esort to s

Brother Gu

rey, the spe

dusky sloe

sed and Go

s, whortleb

ries to my t

es, honey

them of eg

ries of t

ould cast a

h mead of

hut in su

herbs from w

King, thy c

3

lls o'er my b

ow my feast

radiance,

gay, sweet,

nt summer ca

colour o'er

g marjoram,

eek, her ver

red-breaste

ly music t

exults, the

call and ca

th's small mu

umb, in gen

faint of tha

wild-fowl mu

n active so

hazel-bough

s flock in

us hoods and

te birds, the

e full, while

music! Hea

set heather

now with l

ght, salut

ight for t

cross the fe

s of the win

y wood to b

lls, the swa

music fl

3

est band bec

tired make

own eyes of

e truth be s

in Kingly

riches th

m I my Sa

s wood have s

hour of wa

my life at p

er can I k

d Christ, O

U

Kingship,

states that

I would g

live my lif

3

US THE

a Saint, his appellation Culdee [Céile dé] meaning "Servant of God."

here at Dis

e Nore at pe

raids have n

forest's v

e Angel Hos

h ?ngus, Oi

oss-ringed c

Three, the

passed upo

y slew our

is tomb; unto

ven his sou

neagh he had

neagh he no

oneagh of m

his psalm

4

VING OF

he Earl

en he and Cathal More of the Red Hand, King of

het thy ra

pledge to He

our hair

Blessed

ad I shea

ue heart'

oft-eyed C

brow to

thy head,

bing-knife

airest of

tresses a

er we di

scathe, yo

f the well-c

rocks and

mind what

e well of

race with

ood of Fer

hand the ba

o foot we st

Cairbre, Chi

e knives-not

4

ades such t

ch, shave w

l of the Wi

brand, in p

rn heads fro

ghter mild

rom the sun's

Flower of J

4

IGHTINESS

poem. See Eriu,

my though

fly in or

much I fea

ump of Doom

ms, they o

he Fiend mu

with fas

ght they mi

ending crowd

s of wan

d or strid

n the breez

h paths of

ranks of s

ermore th

th folly a

cean's sou

lash like

vast boun

rth into t

and near

race of i

ast to re

rn right

4

ind them wr

t the truan

toils away

with gidd

hip or edg

them in yo

wriggle

asp they sti

was fett

contrived,

ngeon un

tain keep co

glance alon

all hearts

evenfold S

ghts' unbless

h, air, fir

le me in su

my ete

to love T

flock thus

of Death's

d, of stead

w, infirm

4

AND HIS

entury Irish poem. Text and transl

y white c

our speci

ice his o

ot keen spi

ve, all fa

d of some

Pangar fro

way, no je

ne withi

ell-not du

ever favou

urt will n

, to swell

s he spears

ning deep

ht with sta

een full-s

rays again

ebler gla

ark bright kn

p with jo

r his sharp

difficult

ear I, too

4

ot each ot

ill, yet s

ach his own

riends we

master o

art in pran

age sedat

m the spher

4

ns and Re

R TO TH

iu, vol. i, p. 122. Tenth

ary, Nob

our suppl

s only Son

f the My

pure Quee

sion for

dened heart's

rdoned fo

oving pit

e Holy Spi

ing of Ang

Visitat

sse's tree w

heavenly h

e for full

som's tu

of splendo

royer of

h of Love

ock of God'

rgin, Maid

ed that Thou

k of Life R

Queen of

4

all good,

ding at

rst-Born to

dgment book

wledge, rar

ny-blossom

ht our nigh

eer our w

the Heaven

very Sain

ard still,

orious Ki

r of sweet

r a Monar

nine months

le Infan

venly Porch,

-star sink

Son-O savi

as inca

r Babe's sa

and brough

t Child's sa

g of Heave

's sake! sta

ther Cros

b's sake! d

been no b

essed Res

iumphed o'

rch of His

ill the D

our unbles

Death's bl

e, we see o

ayer is: Ha

4

N TO THE ARCH

s poetry both in Irish and Latin who died in

and

l of the

of great

he Lord m

my re

great, fo

s vast and

rom off

ichael

prayer with

ng, the gre

and Earth,

my

ing comfort, y

se, in death

distress

as d

s seek Heaven

with thy my

adventur

in of

h's wicked,

lead thy

their cr

4

gel gl

now thy supp

every sin

t last v

t my ch

y body, sou

ife I may

d be not

sore

nti-Christ

victor, t

, O now g

5

YMN TO THE

irit, has

out us, in us

adened sou

w with heav

ch heart be

ht Presence

rom pestilenc

us still by l

sins, seduc

th all its h

only sake

, Thou Almi

5

LAME

he Earl

great Ad

uilt took

aven I robb

ss was my

adise, God

ed choice d

unsel of

d I stained

it forth a

deadly ap

oman look

walk in fo

withering

ve and smot

ght and dea

never, bu

5

DER TH

he Earl

stood to ch

ud Earth Conq

words were w

urn of A

began: "Bu

state the Gr

und him mad

lieth al

day," the s

is charger's

outraged

heavy o'er

day," the t

as swayed by

hroud his ca

thereof is

rday, so l

gold he sca

last outsighe

abounds but

e gave these

e buried

foolish wo

hem thus in

5

WHO CAME

he Earl

came to the

at like brigh

e learned E

plains slow st

ught out the

e-blossomed B

ll knowledge

s of the V

of the Gre

to their pre

beckoning

Child cradl

tar of lu

re them thro

h's hues were

d on with l

the lucky

wing it fu

across the

blessed mig

radiant, ro

star that p

sly it stay

er blessed

h Monarch o

ip fell up

ile God he l

ense and myr

sed the Babe

in her Vi

the Star'

their King to

5

tra

PIT

house is da

t not on

ereafter, Ki

close Thy H

est who shar

dainty thou

t guest, O n

Son shall d

BLAC

d, that at l

nest is on

of the cli

well thy no

G SAN

old when

rt they stra

rolic youth

of the y

H BELL IN

bell, sweet

and well u

tryst with

aiden ligh

5

RUCIF

t bird's ea

an Thy C

face as

r-flown w

uffering a

Thy Sac

orer the

ricken Mot

LGRIM

wouldst th

oil is, sma

g thou see

with thee,

DEAD

d i

ilga

at so

and

the d

and past

dolour an

ols and to

e ou

ad an

5

and Inv

AGAINST

reunto grie

Michael wit

e which all

h of Christ an

r Himself, when the God

the Cross that His Fath

by the Cross and night

ff sorrow's weight and to

unrise when your hands

ith weeping and the mad

not even a wh

the silen

THE FIRE F

seed of fire as Chr

ve the house, Bride

Apostles of highe

ending it until

5

ING

orning I cry and

od on high who purc

e shelter of Thy

ses of the day keep

AGAINS

of the Evil One

n Evil Tongue,

d's own breath and

had heard them, to

y free, the sing

d of Love He gi

might of these

men light, and keep

A PAIN I

ree brothers! God s

o travel, by sun

ount we fare till

fashion the tears

se Precious Tears dr

they'll fall and cur

GUARDING

from all

Almight

who, withi

of Kings

l, messeng

out the He

of Aposto

the Lor

ul, encircled

olden Halls wit

TE PATE

ep of Death and that you may be summoned to

e down

rest he

n arms arou

ross my li

st, thou la

ary and

d her bri

d his shi

s strong R

ere woulds

rick to

5

ntat

CREDE, DAUGH

he HyFidgenti, who had come to the help of Guare with seventeen wounds upon his breast. T

e arrows that

in the night

through the

dead Diner

a hero from

through with

auty and left

om on a res

g like Dinert

s that to Heave

ame without b

d mate for a fa

rl-I was tim

ysted with g

won on into p

longings my

bounty that l

rch-monarch o

way from my

s field my hea

6

ing in gloriou

olman's Chu

e sinks int

las, my love

that unto my li

Sorrow and ma

of the night

arrows that

6

ESERT

enth-cen

es the bla

ough his n

ughtered ma

ongue talks

as! not

oe my hea

herefore thi

es, O bird

burnt with

n of that

d they gues

ere, or u

at thy c

l thy new-fl

est of lo

the nett

y the her

ew thy fled

te to thin

ate to me

ate upon

feeding a

heir snari

-boy's hand

amer of o

qual lot

wife and chi

ough uncare

6

s with bla

mine a bre

though the

rer than

fe! and wo

g our heart

air and f

one or tr

6

NT AT THE SLAUGHT

It is written in Rosg metre, and was first

lucked her son from her br

re you

to hi

ld of m

it of m

months w

rthen

pretty li

milk from

ole heart

le life he

streng

e speech

d are m

was the b

is the dea

ther wom

on that from

ed not t

y me, e

t my b

r most

om is

one tear

one fearf

nd sonle

a sonl

a death

! O, God

y unrewar

thless si

m without

som's si

t broke in

d anothe

rers,

wicked

ould be

re ye

would ye

s ye ha

many a

red many

ws your horrid

e against your bla

ty of the Gr

t the blood

nother wo

Christ c

longer

son, hom

quickl

reat, O

One Son t

I do withou

ve now n

s sake my so

rderers

soul they sla

t a cra

at most piteo

s life ran ou

thin my boso

from this day

6

ENING

ncy of Moycullen, who keened it with great ho

stle, my bright Love,

agus m'

the midst of His f

agus m'

e two Marys, and my b

agus m'

y be not with us, sure our

agus m'

tately Man on the Tree

agus m'

ne own son, can it be

agus m'

little son whom nine

agus m'

ittle son in the s

le son this Mary's b

agus m'

sh thee, Mother, and b

6

ry hammer that struck the

agus m'

ar that thy white side

agus m'

of thorns that thy be

agus m'

r, for my sake thy s

agus m'

's sake thy cruel

agus m'

eening are unborn

agus m'

st thou my death th

agus m'

day, shall stray thr

agus m'

6

OI

ighteenth-c

d dumb lies my

silent the nig

fierce fall my t

lay light in th

ender track of the

again follow th

blushed with the

is strength like

black darkness

ud for ever shall

, never, I'll

my bosom, lost

6

s to

TLE

to an old

e thunde

e lightni

are heaped

, God, a

hest forth

by Thee

O Lord, f

hear o

the Dane

e Thy ho

y priests

s more t

ith storm a

m with hi

his ships

od Mos

6

G OF TH

h Air of th

here Thy b

for praise

y solemn or

only art T

e of man

e ocean com

ce to a ra

thousand v

ere in one w

sle and cho

y rarest t

oak and p

ry here

Saviour's g

unto our c

traightway w

7

CHANTE

h Air of th

where li

flow of lan

t vale of

nged dreams flu

ts magic pe

are of that

there to ph

riefs they hav

yearn life's

valley bew

7

BER T

n Irish Balla

poor when your

to acre

poor, though but

r can go gal

poor when they

ging rain

r them up with the

e you their bl

his lair, and ea

t settles war

o laid down His

s-He had now

re forgot till

Himself t

would make, for H

er, rememb

7