A new translation is presented here of ‘Cabhair ni Ghoirfead’ (Poem XXI) by the great Irish poet of the late 17th and early 18th century Aodhagán Ó Rathaille. Patrick Dinneen, lexicographer and translator of Ó Rathaille, considered it the pinnacle of his work. The verse dates from late in the poet’s life (c.1670–1726) and is included in the excellent Dánta Aodhagáin Uí Rathaille published by the Irish Texts Society, an early off-shoot of the ILS, of which Dinneen was a leading member. O’Connor’s earlier translation for us of Ó Rathaille’s Ar Choileach do Goideadh Ó Shagart Mhaith is available here.
By BRIAN O’CONNOR
Cabhair ni Ghoirfead / I Will Not Cry for Help
An File ar Leabaidh a Bhais ag Scriobhadh gus a Charaid iar ndul i n-Eadothchas do i gcuisibh airithe / The poet on his death-bed writing to his friend, having from certain causes fallen into despondency.
| Cabhair ni ghoirfead go gcuirtear me i gcruinn-chomhrainn Dar an leabhar da ngoirinn nior ghoiride an nidh dhamh-sa Ar gcodhnach uile, glacchumasach shil Eoghain Is tollta a chuisle agus d’imthigh a bhri ar feochadh. | I will not cry for help till the coffin lid is sealed over And by God, if I begged for it, help would not be any closer Our protector and excellent shield of the seed of Eoghan His strength ebbed, his vigour weakened and broken. |
| Do thonnchrith m’inchinn, d’imthigh mo phriomdhothchas Poll im ionathar, biorrannaibh trim dhrolainn Ar bhfonn, ar bhfoithin, ar monga ‘s ar mionchomhgair I ngeall le pinginn ag fuirinn o chrich Dhobher. | My mind is a-quiver, the end of all I had hoped for Insides shivering, pain keeps me doubled over Our bowers, our shelter, the pleasant trees that enclose us Pawned for a penny to men who blew in from Dover. |
| Do bhodhar an tSionainn, an Life, is an Laoi cheolmhar Abhainn an bhiorra dhuibh, Brice agus Brighid, Boinne Com Loch Dirg ‘na ruide, agus Tuinn Toime O lom an cuireata cluiche ar an righ coroineach. | Howling, the Shannon, Liffey, the Lee once melodious Blackwater, Boyne, Brick and Bride rivers loud in protest The maw of Lough Derg running red, and the waves of Toime Since the coward swindled the game from its royal owner. |
| Mo ghlam is minic is silim-se sirdheora Is trom mo thubaist, ‘s is duine me ar miochomhthrom Fonn ni thigeann im ghoire is me ag caoi ar bhoithribh Acht foghar na muice nach gointear le saigheadoireacht. | Grief is a shout that fills me, weeping and groaning Deepest misfortune, iniquity bitterly woeful Without even a tune to lighten the cheerless roadside Just the pig that cannot be killed and its fearsome roaring. |
| Goll na Rinne, na Cille, agus criche Eoghanacht Do lom a ghoile le huireasbhaidh ar dith cora an seabhach ‘g a bhfuilid sin uile is a gciosoireacht Fabhar ni thugann don duine, ce gaol do-san. | The Lord of Ring, of Kill and the reaches of Eoghanacht His power stripped with a pitiless lack of due process And the hawk who seized rents and lands from their rightful holder Would favour no one, not even those of his own kind. |
| Fa’n dtromlot d’imthigh ar chineadh na riogh mordha Treabhann om uiseannaibh uisce go scimghlorach Is lonnmhar chuirid mo shruithibh-se foinseoga ‘S an abhainn do shileas o Thruipill go caoin-Eochaill. | Since the downfall of those who loved the kings most noble Drowned are my sodden features with bitter tears showing The power of my weeping seems to me as copious As the proud river from Truipill to Youghal flowing. |
| Stadfad-sa feasta, is gar dom eag gan moill O treascradh dreagain Leamhan, Lein, is Laoi Rachad-sa a haithle searc na laoch don chill Na flatha fa raibh mo shean roimh eag do Chriost. | I will stop this now, death is not far away Since the loss of the dragons of Laune, of Lee and Lein I will follow these gallant heroes beneath the clay The warriors my ancestors served ever since Christ’s day. |
Brian O’Connor has been a member of the Irish Literary Society since the time of Professor Raymond Chapman’s Chairmanship. He was born in Cork, graduated from UCC and worked as a journalist and researcher.