Beannacht duit, a Dháibhíth Óig

[40]

Caor aithleaghtha is uaisle fréamh;

ní heagal d’Eilís Puidhéar

a dearmad ar aoi ar n-annsa,

an tsaoi neamhghrod neamhfhallsa.

[41]

Aithnidh damh go ndlighthear dhi

a bheith d’fhágbhálaibh uirthe –

gnúis mar theinidh, gruaidh mar ghrís –

buaidh a einigh ar Eilís.

[42]

A-tá ag an aicme ór fhás sin

do bharr uaisle agus einigh;

gan a cuimhne nach cóir dhúin

ní fhuighle ar a dóigh dhíoghbhúidh.

[43]

Inghean Risdeird rún gceiníl

plannda ad chin ó Chaitilín,

glac is snadhma na séad nglan,

méad a hanma ní hiongnadh.

Narrative

Here are the final four quatrains of the poem Beannacht duit, a Dháibhíth Óig, which was written by Domhnall (mac Taidhg) Ó Dálaigh as a eulogy to Dáibhíoth mac Dáibhíth de Barra (David Fitz-David de Barry) who died c.1604–5. The metre is deibhidhe, meaning each line of the quatrain has seven syllables, with the second line of each half-quatrain ending on a word one syllable longer than the first line of the half-quatrain. The poem is in Dán Díreach, meaning each line has alliteration, and end-rhyme (rinn agus airdrinn) is required between lines a-b, and lines c-d. Internal rhyme (comhardadh slán) is required between all stressed words in the second quatrain, save the urlann (i.e. the first – and sometimes second – stressed word of the 3rd line), if there is one.

The poem survives in at least two manuscripts, the earliest being the 17th century MS 23 D 4 in the Royal Irish Academy, and the second being MS C 87b in the Russell Library, Maynooth.

The patron was son of David de Barry, 5th Viscount Buttevant. The patron's wife, and subject of these quatrains, was Eilís Puidhéar (Elizabeth Power) who was daughter of Richard Power (†1607), 4th Baron of Curraghmore, and of Katherine, Baroness of Curraghmore (†1610). Both Richard and Katherine (Risdeard and Caitilín) are mentioned in the final quatrain.

These four quatrains constitute an iargcomharc or "complimentary address" to Elizabeth Power. It was not uncommon for poets to attach a quatrain, or a number of quatrains, at the end of their poem which would be addressed to someone other than the patron. The person addressed in the iargcomharc of a poem is often the patron's wife, a saint, the Virgin Mary, or even a former patron. In this case, Elizabeth Power is celebrated for her nobility, beauty, and intelligence. It seems that the aim of the poet is to re-assure her that, even though her husband has died, she will continue to be looked after through her own family connections as well as by the poet himself. He assures her that her honour and reputation, which was earned by both her and her husband, will be upheld now that he is gone.

[40]

Caor aithleaghtha is uaisle fréamh;

ní heagal d’Eilís Puidhéar

a dearmad ar aoi ar n-annsa,

an tsaoi neamhghrod neamhfhallsa.

[41]

Aithnidh damh go ndlighthear dhi

a bheith d’fhágbhálaibh uirthe –

gnúis mar theinidh, gruaidh mar ghrís –

buaidh a einigh ar Eilís.

[42]

A-tá ag an aicme ór fhás sin

do bharr uaisle agus einigh;

gan a cuimhne nach cóir dhúin

ní fhuighle ar a dóigh dhíoghbhúidh.

[43]

Inghean Risdeird rún gceiníl

plannda ad chin ó Chaitilín,

glac is snadhma na séad nglan,

méad a hanma ní hiongnadh.

Translation

[40]

A glowing refined metal of the most noble ancestry;

because of my love, Elizabeth Power

has no need to fear her being forgotten;

the learned woman neither impetuous nor false.

[41]

A face like fire, cheeks like embers –

I recognise that she deserves

the virtue of his honour

to be among what is left to her.

[42]

The family with whom she grew up

is from the top of nobility and honour;

it is not just for me to forget her,

you (?) do not talk about the expectation of her ruin.

[43]

The daughter of Richard of friendly intentions,

a plant born of Katherine;

[she has] a helping hand and bonds of pure treasures,

the extent of her reputation is no wonder.

* Please note that the translation provided above may stray at times from strictly literal translations in order to be more natural in English. Alternative and sometimes more literal translations are provided when you select specific words and phrases from the text.

[40]

Caor aithleaghtha is uaisle fréamh;

ní heagal d’Eilís Puidhéar

a dearmad ar aoi ar n-annsa,

an tsaoi neamhghrod neamhfhallsa.

[41]

Aithnidh damh go ndlighthear dhi

a bheith d’fhágbhálaibh uirthe –

gnúis mar theinidh, gruaidh mar ghrís –

buaidh a einigh ar Eilís.

[42]

A-tá ag an aicme ór fhás sin

do bharr uaisle agus einigh;

gan a cuimhne nach cóir dhúin

ní fhuighle ar a dóigh dhíoghbhúidh.

[43]

Inghean Risdeird rún gceiníl

plannda ad chin ó Chaitilín,

glac is snadhma na séad nglan,

méad a hanma ní hiongnadh.

Translation

As we explore the language of the poem in more detail, it is worth noting that the full translation provided under the "Translation" tab may stray at times from strictly literal translations in order to be more natural in English. Alternative and sometimes more literal translations are provided when you select specific words and phrases from the text.

[40]

The envoi, or iargcomharc, begins towards the end of the poem. This quatrain should be read as three parts – the first line and the fourth line are both independent lines simply in praise of the subject: Caor aithleaghtha is uaisle fréamh "A glowing refined metal of the most noble ancestry" and an tsaoi neamhghrod neamhfhallsa "the learned woman neither impetuous nor false". The subject of this praise is identified in the second line as Eilís Puidhéar, Elizabeth Power. The second and third lines of the quatrain read as one phrase, which opens with the copula in the present tense in the negative (Ní heagal d'Eilís Puidhéar a dearmad "Elizabeth Power has no need to fear her being forgotten"), and the phrase ar aoi ar n-annsa "as a result of my affection/because of my love" qualifies the main clause.

[41]

This quatrain can be read in two parts – lines 1, 2 and 4 should be read together as part of one sentence, and line 3 is an independent line of praise: gnúis mar theinidh, gruaidh mar ghrís "A face like fire, cheeks like embers". There are three verbs in the first two lines: Aithnidh damh "I recognise", go ndlighthear di "that she deserves" in the first line and a bheith "to be" in the following line. The subject of the verb a bheith is later in the quatrain and the phrasing of these three lines reads more naturally in this structure: Aithnidh damh go ndlighthear di buaidh a einigh a bheith d'fhágbhálaibh ar Eilís "I recognise that she deserves the virtue of his honour to be among what is left to her". Note that there is a repetition of the preposition ar (uirthe "on her", ar Eilís "on Elizabeth") which is not reflected in the translation.

[42]

The third quatrain of the iargcomharc opens with the verb a-tá in the present tense. It is used with the preposition ag to give the equivalent of the verb "to have"; in this case an aicme "the class" has do bharr uaisle agus einigh "from the top of nobility and honour" i.e. "the greatest nobility and honour", though syntactically there seems to be a noun missing, or implied, in these opening two lines. The third line is a copula phrase with two copula elements, the first being implied and the second (nach) being the dependent negative [is é] gan a cuimhne nach cóir dhúin "[it is] not remembering her that is not right for me [to do]". The fourth line can be read independently and opens with the verb fuighlidh ar "speaks about, utters" in the negative.

[43]

Each of the four lines in this last quatrain of the iargcomharc can be read independently of each other. The first half of the quatrain provides us with the names of Eilís Puidhéar's mother and father, as she is described as Inghean Risdeird "Richard's daughter" in the first line, and plannda ad chin ó Chaitilín "a plant born of Katherine" in the second line. The third line praises the connection between Eilís and her parents and how she will be supported now that her husband has died: glac is snadhma "a helping hand and bonds/connections". The final line of the quatrain is a copula phrase in the present tense in the negative (ní) and reads more naturally in this structure: Ní hiongnadh méad a hanma "no wonder is the extent of her reputation/no wonder is the greatness of her name".

Chunk Title Goes Here, the Original Text

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