Lyr Req: Ur-Chnoc Chein Mhic Cai (in English)

Subject: Lyr Req: Translatation of Úr-Chnoc Chéin Mhic Cái
From: GUEST,Justin
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 11:01 PM

Can anyone translate the following and send it to me? [e-mail]

text belwo or at: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/1813/urchnoc.htm

Úr-Chnoc Chéin Mhic Cáinte

A phlúr na maighdean is úire gné,
Fuair clú le scéimh ón Ádhamhchlainn,
A chúl na bpéarla, a rún na héigse,
'Dhúbhlas féile 's fáilte;
A ghnúis mar ghréin le dúsach a' lae,
A mhúchfadh léan le gáire,
'Sé mo chumha gan mé 's tú, a shiúr, linn féin,
Sa dún sin Chéin Mhic Cáinte.

Táim brúite i bpéin, gan suan, gan néal
De do chumha, a ghéag is áille;
'S gur tú mo roghain i gcúigibh Éireann
A' chúis nach séanaim ás de;
Dá siúlfá, a réalt gan smúid, liom féin,
Ba súgach saor ár sláinte
Gheofá plúr is méad is cnuasach craobh
Sa dún sin Chéin Mhic Cáinte.

A chiúin-bhean tséimh na gcuachann péarlach,
Gluais liom féin ar ball beag,
Nuair bheas uaisle is cléir is tuataí i néal
In a suan faoi éadaí bána;
Ó thuaidh go mbéam i bhfad uafa araon
Teacht nua-chruth gréine amárach
Gan duais linn féin in uaigneas aerach
San uaimh sin Chéin Mhic Cáinte.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translatation of Úr-Chnoc Chéin Mhic Cái
From: Alba
Date: 04 Jun 06 - 12:06 AM

Úrchnoc Chéin Mhic Cáinte by Peadar Ó Doirnín

(rough Translation- corrections welcomed...*smile*)

Chosen maiden, face full of coolness
Adam's descendents praise your beauty
Your tresses, my pearl, heart of poetry
And your forever generous heart
Your face like the sun at a luminous dawn
That drowns all sadness with laughter
What a pity, my love, that we're not together
In the fort of Cian Mac Cáinte
   
The pain depresses me and I can't sleep
Because of your beauty, the beauty of your limbs
And you are my chosen of all of the provinces of Ireland
Which I cannot deny
Oh star without blemish, if you'd come with me
How happy we'd be, how vigorous
I'd bring you flour, mead and berries
To the Hills of Cian Mac Cáinte
   
Pleasant woman of the resplendent tresses
Come at once to live with me
When the nobles, the clergy and the peasants
Are all asleep in their beds
We'll be far to the north of all of them
When the first rays of the sun break the morning
And happily isolated, we'll have no worries
In the fort of Cian Mac Cáinte

There is another translation: Click here
which differs from the one I have posted.


The Air/Tune of the same name (Written much later) is as beautiful as the Poem

I am sorry I cannot email you this information as I do not give out my email addy, Nothing personal. I hope you understand. So I hope you pop back in!
My Best Wishes to you however.
Alba

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Ur-Chnoc Chein Mhic Cai
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 07:39 AM

just to note that there is some previous discussion
lyric and abc added
info on the author ( http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/1813/peadar.htm )
tune request
bit of discussion

Justin doesn't seem to know that he should look back here and that it isn't wise to post one's e-mail address on a public forum. Has anyone written to him?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Ur-Chnoc Chein Mhic Cai
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 09:42 AM

Both translations look good to me

After a few checks of the dictionary (example, "Brian bearnach" means a hare), I trusted the translation at www.standingstones.com and didn't look up a couple of bird species I was unsure of in the Ó Neachtain poem which follows the poem by Ó Doirnín

minor quibbles with Alba's work:

"Géag" can mean a limb (both animal or vegetable kinds) but it can also mean a beautiful youth. The "a" in this case shows that the poet is addressing someone, so I would translate "a ghéag is áille" in verse 2 as "oh beautiful maiden"

"Tá cumha agam ort" means "I am missing you" and "Tá mé ag déanamh cumha." means "I am repining" or "I am sorrowing". "Cumhaidh" derives from "cumha" (as you realised in translating verse 1) and although the poet says "de do ..." , " of your ..", I would say the wording is closer to "I can't sleep for thinking on you" (or as the other translation has it, "I ... am unable to sleep because I am pining for you" than "I can't sleep because of your beauty" (yu may be thinking of "de do chumadh"?)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Ur-Chnoc Chein Mhic Cai
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 04:53 PM

How beautiful this is. I am entranced by it. Burl

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Ur-Chnoc Chein Mhic Ca
From: GUEST,Justin
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 08:41 AM

Thanks all, you've been very helpful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ur-Chnoc Chein Mhic Cai (in English)
From: GUEST,brian
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 01:23 PM

There's a more actuate translation of a longer six verse version in: "A Hidden Ulster; Songs, Traditions and people of Oriel", by Dr. Pádraigin Ní Uallachain. It also includes the original text and prints from manuscripts.
For example the first verse translates:
   
'The Green Hill of Cian Son of Cáinte

Flower of maidens of fairest face,
Famed for human splendor,
Head of curls, beloved of poets,
Enhances warm and welcome;
Face as the sun each bright new dawn,
Banishes grief with laughter;
It is my sad woe, love, that we're not alone,
In that fort of Cian, son of Cáinte.'

hope that is of help