The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #10339   Message #3760836
Posted By: keberoxu
25-Dec-15 - 07:29 PM
Thread Name: Lyr ADD: Heavenly Banquet (English & Irish)
Subject: RE: heavenly banquet
In the post that opens this thread, the English boils down to about four stanzas in Sean O'Faolain's translation.

In the preceding post, you can see that the old Irish adds up to seven stanzas. This message will add an English translation that is closer to the seven stanzas from the Gaelic original.

I wish I had a great lake of ale
for the King of Kings,
and the family of heaven
to drink it through time eternal.

I wish I had the meats
of belief and genuine piety,
and the threshers of penance
in my hall.

I wish I had the men of heaven
in my own house,
with basins full of peace
to be at their disposal.

I wish I had vessels of charity
to distribute
and caves of mercy
for their company.

I would like cheerfulness
to be in their drinking.
I would like Jesus also
to be here.

I would like to have
the three Marys, of great renown,
and the people of heaven
from all quarters.

I would like to be a tenant to the Lord,
so that should I suffer distress,
he would confer upon me
a good blessing.

When I am more certain of the source of this translation, I will add same to this thread.