The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #43818   Message #2299396
Posted By: Thompson
28-Mar-08 - 04:49 AM
Thread Name: Explore: Raglan Road 2
Subject: RE: Explore: Raglan Road 2
Again, Wiki - the full version of Fáinne Gheal an Lae. My knowledge of 18th-century Irish isn't great - or even modern Irish - but I think some of the spellings may be the result of mistaken scanning. My translation is rough and loose.

    Maidin moch do ghabhas amach,
    Ar bruach Locha Léin;
    An Samhradh teacht's an chraobh len'ais,
    Is ionrach te ón ngréin,

    Ar thaisteal dom trí bhailte
    poirt is bánta mine réidhe,
    Cé a gheobhainn le máis ach an chúileann deas,
    Le fáinne geal an lae.

(Early morning, I went out by the banks of Loch Lein. Summer coming, the branch beside me wonderfully warm from the sun; me travelling through the village, fields and medows smooth and tidy, who comes towards me but that nice girl, at the bright dawn of the day.)

    Ní raibh bróg ná stoca, caidhp ná clóc;
    Ar mo stóirin óg ón spier,
    Ach folt fionn órga sios go troigh,
    Ag fás go barr an théir.

    Bhí calán crúite aici ina glaic,
    'S ar dhrúcht ba dheas a scéimh,
    Do rug barr gean ar Bhéineas deas,
    Le fáinne geal an lae.

(My young darling from the sky wore no shoe or stocking, cap or cloak, but a fair mass of golden hair fell feet to the grass. A milking-pail in her grasp, and the dew nicely ....dunno... some comparison to Venus... at the bright dawn of the day.)

    Do shuigh an bhrideog sios le m'ais,
    Ar bhrinse glas den fhéar,
    Ag magadh léi bhios dá maiomh go pras,
    Mar mhnaoi nach scarfainn léi.

    'S é dúirt í liomsa, "imigh uaim,
    Is scaoil ar siúl mé a réic",
    Sin iad aneas na soilse ag teacht,
    Le fáinne geal an lae.

(The maiden sat down by my side, on a green grassy bench, I was prompt in flirting with her, to be my wife and not to separate. She said to me: "Go from me, and let me go, you rake." That's it, with the light coming up, at the bright dawn of the day.)