The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #12541   Message #146626
Posted By: Philippa
08-Dec-99 - 01:29 PM
Thread Name: Tune Req: Snowy Breasted Pearl
Subject: Lyr Add: PÉARLA AN BHROLLAIGH BHÁIN
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!