steed his bridle, to the sheep its fleece, to the body its reason. (The Connaught version is better: ní truimide fear a ḃrat, ní t. eaċ a ṡrian, ní t. c. a lomra, ní t. c. ciall, not heavier is a man for his garment, etc. Sometimes the first line is, ní truimide an loċ an laċa, not heavier is the lake for the duck (that floats in it). Is feirrde an teaċtaire mall druidim ’na ċoinne, the slow messenger will be better if you go meet him. Ní féidir an rud ḟaġḃáil aċ mar a mbiḋeann sé, you can’t find a thing except in the place it is. Is mairg ṫugas droiċ-ṁeas do’n óige, woe to him who gives bad example to youth.
IV. Some old Gaelic Hymns from Beara, S.W. Cork Mr. P. O'Leary.
A. When “raking” the fire at night, the following is said:—
Coiglim an teine so mar ċoigleann Críost
cáċ,
Muire ar ḋá ċeann an tiġe, a’s Briġde in
a lár,
Gaċ a ḃfuil d’aingliḃ ’s de naoṁaiḃ i
gcaṫair na ngrás
Ag cosaint ’s ag coimeád luċt an tiġe so
go lá.
I rake (lit. spare) this fire as Christ spares (us) all
Mary (be) on the two gables of the house, Brigid in its
middle
(May) all the angels and saints in the city of graces
(Be) defending and keeping the folk of this house till day.
Two other versions of the above, collected in the Arann Islands, were printed in the Tuam News some years ago, and Mr. O’Flaherty has a fourth version.
B. A Ṁuire, a ġeal-ṁáṫair, mo ṁíle
gráḋ ṫú!
A’s mo ṁór-ċoḃair ċonganta as linn
gaċ gátair,
Mo ḃan-liaiġ léiġis, tinn a’s slán, ṫú,
A’s m’ urraḋ breaġ beannuiġṫe i
gcaṫair na ngrás ṫú.
Mary, bright Mother, my thousand loves art thou; my great help and (of) aid from every time of distress; my healing physicianess, in sickness and health, art thou; and my (fine) blessed support in the city of graces.
V. Proverbs sent by Mr. Lloyd:—
Is feárr fuiġeall an ṁadaiḋ ’ná fuiġeall an ṁagaiḋ (Armagh).
This refers to the extreme sensitiveness of the native Irish to ridicule.
Dearc roime leat so’ má (sol má) léimfiḋ tú (Louth), ... sol a ... (Armagh).
Aṁairc sol má léimfiḋ tú (Armagh).
Feuċ roṁat sol a léimfir (Cork).
Aṁairc sol má luḃraiḋ (laḃairfiḋ) ṫú, choose before you speak. (Armagh).
Is coṁgaraiġe (no foisge) caḃair Dé ’ná an doras (Armagh).
’Sé deireaḋ gaċ luiġe (luinge) a báṫaḋ,
’Sé deireaḋ gaċ áiṫe a losgaḋ,
’Sé deireaḋ gaċ cuirme a cáineaḋ,
’Sé deireaḋ gaċ gáire osnaḋ (Armagh).
[An older version is often found on the margins of Irish manuscripts:—
Tosaċ luinge clár, tosaċ aiṫe cloċa,
Tosaċ flaṫa fáilte, tosaċ sláinte codlaḋ,
Deireaḋ luinge báṫaḋ, deiraḋ aiṫe losgaḋ,
Deireaḋ flaṫa cáineaḋ, deireaḋ sláinte osna.
The beginning of a ship (is) a plank; of a kiln, stones; of a prince (i.e., preparation for his coming), welcome; of health, sleep. The end of a ship (is) drowning; of a kiln, burning; of a prince (i.e., after his departure), fault-finding; of health, a sigh.—E. O’G.]
Mar ġeall air féin ġaḃas an cat luċóg (Armagh).
Fuaraiġ sol a n-ólfaiḋ tú (Armagh).
Cruṫuiġeann sé go maiṫ an té ċruṫuiġeas go sciobṫa (Galway and Mayo).
He acts well who acts quickly.
Níor ḋóirt donóg mórán ariaṁ (donóg, a stingy, miserly woman, Galway).
She never spilt much, because she never went near filling the glass.
Tá na fataiḋe do-ḃainte, do-ṗiuċta,
Do-niġte, do-ċurṫa síos;
Tá an ṁóin ar an b-portaċ,
Agus an pota leigion ṫríd (Galway).
