Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde

Subject: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 04:45 PM

A long shot: any of the Gaelic scholars among you know of a song of this title - possibly a Douglas Hyde translation of an Irish original? Point me towards a source? I'm short some of my usual resources and a long way from alternatives!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 05:07 PM

So far: I see a set of English words on the 'net, without any mention of Hyde or of an Irish original...

Long was last night in cold Elphin,
More long is tonight on its weary way.
Though yesterday seemed to me long and ill,
Yet longer still was this dreary day.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 06:40 PM

Looks like it may be in his "Religious Songs of Connacht"

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 03:08 PM

OK. Got it.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 03:50 PM

So...post it! I spent hours looking for the blamed thing yesterday! (I know, I should have said.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 04:03 PM

Thanks for trying! I was asked for it by A.N.Other . Once I pointed him to "Religious Songs of Connacht", he was closer to a suitable library than I was. He confirmed that it was there. I promise I'll post a copy when it reaches me!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: Windsinger
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 05:01 PM

Thanks, Martin. :)

Came onto this thread a little late, and was briefly beating my head against a wall on the "Gutenberg Project" website, in vain hopes that the copyright had expired on this book. If so, they might have listed the full thing for you in .txt format!

Sadly, neither Abhráin Diadha Chúige Chonnacht nor any Irish-language texts that I know of are listed there.

(Found ONE site that featured all the illustration-plates from that printing. But that was all. Phoo.)

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 05:03 PM

Here's the translation, for now:

Long was last night in cold Elphin,
More long is tonight on its weary way.
Though yesterday seemed to me long and ill,
Yet longer still was this dreary day.

And long for me is each hour new-born,
Stricken, sad and smitten with grief
For the hunting lands and the Fenian bands,
And the long-haired, generous Fenian chief.

I hear no music, I find no feast,
I slay no beast from my prancing steed,
I bestow no gold, I am poor and old,
I am sick and cold, without wine or mead.

I court no more, and I hunt no more,
These were before my great delight.
I cannot slay, and I take no prey;
Weary the day and long the night.

No heroes come in battle array,
No game I play; there is nought to win.
I swim no stream with my men of might;
Long is the night in cold Elphin.

Ask, O Patrick, thy God of grace,
To tell me the place he will place me in,
And save my soul from the Ill One´s might,
For long is tonight in cold Elphin.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: michaelr
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 07:13 PM

Is Elphin a real place? Any connection to "elfin"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 07:40 PM

It's real - and no connection.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: michaelr
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 07:51 PM

Where is it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 08:46 PM

Roscommon, Ireland! Check here.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Ossian in Elphin' / Douglas Hyde
From: Willie-O
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 08:43 AM

It's also a hamlet in Eastern Ontario about six miles from me. Gotta circulate those lyrics.

For a nowhere place it is peculiarly becoming a magnetic draw for some pretty well-known Canadian folk musicians.   

Guess they don't mind the winters...

W-O