Lyrics & Knowledge Personal Pages Record Shop Auction Links Radio & Media Kids Membership Help
The Mudcat Cafesj



User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Philippa Tune Req: Snowy Breasted Pearl (29) Lyr Add: PÉARLA AN BHROLLAIGH BHÁIN 08 Dec 99


SNOWY BREASTED PEARL, 18th c Irish poem, well-known by the George Petrie translation. That's in the DT database, though Petrie isn't credited. Here are Irish language lyrics as published in Dónal O'Sullivan, "Songs of the Irish":

Péarla an Bhrollaigh Bháin

Tá cailín deas am chrá
Le bliain agus le lá
'S ní fhéadaim a fáil le bréaga;
Níl aiste chlis le rá
Dá gcanaid fir le mná
Nár chaitheamhar gan tábhacht lé-si,
Don Fhrainc nó don Spáinn
Dá téadh mo ghrá,
Go raghainn-se gach lá dá féachain;
'S maran dúinn atá i ndán
An ainnir chiúin seo d'fháil,
Och! Mac Muire na ngrás dár saora!

Is a chailín chailce bhláith,
Dá dtugas searc is grá,
Ná tuir-se gach tráth dhom éara;
'S a liacht ainnir mín 'n-a láimh,
Dá ngabhaimis id áit-se céile.
Póg is mile fáilte
Is barra geal do lámh
'Sé ' n-iarrainn-se go bráth mar spré leat;
'S maran domh-sa taoi tú i ndán,
A phéarla an bhrollaigh bháin,
Nár thí mise slán ón aonach!

literal translation by O'Sullivan:

There is a pretty girl tormenting me For a year and for a day, And I cannot win her by cajolery; There is no clever poem that could be mentioned Of the kind that men compose for women That I have not vainly tried with her. to France or to Spain If my love should go, I would fare every day to see her, And if it be not my destiny To win this modest maid, Oh! may Mary's Son of graces save me!

And O gentle white girl To whom I have given passionate love, Do not keep ever refusing me; There are many fair maids that seek me, Who possess cattle and treasure, If I would take them to wed in your place. A kiss and a thousand welcomes, And the white tips of your fingers, Are all that I would ever ask as a dowry with you; And if you are not fated to be mine, O pearl of the white bosom, May I not return from the fair!


Post to this Thread -

Back to the Main Forum Page

By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.

By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.

By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.

By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.

Try it all, you will see.