Fornocht do chonac thú
le Pádraig Mac Piarais
Fornocht do chonac thú, a áille na háille, is do dhallas mo shúil ar eagla go stánfainn. Do chualas do cheol, a bhinne na binne, is do dhúnas mo chluas ar eagla go gclisfinn. Do bhlaiseas do bhéal a mhilse na milse, is do chruas mo chroí ar eagla mo mhillte. Do dhallas mo shúil, is mo chluas do dhúnas; do chruas mo chroí, is mo mhian do mhúchas. Do thugas mo chúl ar an aisling do chumas, ‘s ar an ród so romham m’aghaidh do thugas. Do thugas mo ghnúis ar an ród so romham, ar an ngníomh do-chim, ‘s ar an mbás do gheobhad. Pádraig Mac Piarais |
I gazed on your form and the beauty therein I averted my eyes for fear I would sin I heard your sweet tones and the music you made but I shut out the sound of the passing parade I tasted your lips with their sweetness divine but I hardened my heart not to drink that sweet wine I shuttered my eyes I blocked up my ears I hardened my heart I confronted my fears I then turned away from my earlier life I took to the road and a future of strife I took to the road I knew where it led I would wake in the morning among Ireland's dead Translation: Pól Ó Duibhir |
Naked I saw thee, O beauty of beauty, And I blinded my eyes For fear I should fail. I heard thy music, O melody of melody, And I closed my ears For fear I should falter. I tasted thy mouth, O sweetness of sweetness, And I hardened my heart For fear of my slaying. I blinded my eyes, And I closed my ears, I hardened my heart And I smothered my desire. I turned my back On the vision I had shaped, And to this road before me I turned my face. I have turned my face To this road before me, To the deed that I see And the death I shall die. Translation: Patrick Pearse |