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Searc's Web Guide to 17th Century Ireland - Phiarais Feirtéir (1600-1653)
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Email: info@searcs-web.com Searc's Web Guide to 17th Century Ireland - Phiarais Feirtéir (1600-1653) |
| Phiarais Feirtéir was born in the Dingle Peninsula of County Kerry. He became Chieftain to the Feirtéir clan and a leader in the West Kerry Catholic Party. In 1641 he laid seige to Tralee Castle which surrendered to him in 1642. Feirtéir held the Castle for eleven years, making him the last Irish Chieftain to hold out against Cromwell's army. In 1653 Feirtéir surrendered to Cromwellians on a promise of safe conduct but was imprisoned and hanged at Killarney. Feirtéir's poetry consists largely of a type of Irish elegy known as 'Caoineadh' or 'Marbhna'; and Courtly Love poems of the type below. This translation from the Irish of Léig Dhíot Th'arm, a mhacaoimh mná was made by the Earl of Longford and published in his Poems from The Irish (1945). Feirtéir's poetry can also be found in Dánta Phiarais Feirtéir edited by Patrick O'Duinnín (1903) and Dánta Grádha edited by T.F.O'Rathaille (1926).© |
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muna fearr leat cách do lot, muna léigfir na hairm sin díot cuirfead bannaidhe d'airighthe ort Má chuireann tú t'airm ar gcúl foiligh féasta do chúl cas, ná léig leis do bhrághaid bhán, nár léig duine do chách as. Má shíleann tú féin, a bhean nár mhairbhis aon theas ná thuaidh, do mhairbh sile do shúl rinn cách uile, gan scín gan tuaigh. Dar leat acht cé maol do ghlún, dar fós acht cé húr do ghlar, do loit gach n-aon dá bhfaca iad. Ní fearra dhuit sciath is ga. Foiligh orm t'ucht mar aol, ná feicthear fós do thaobh gheal, ar ghrádh chríost ná foiceadh cách do chíoch ró-gheal mar bhláth dos. Foiligh orm do rosc rinn, má theid ae marhas diobh leat, ar ghrádh t'anma dún do bhéal, ná faiceadh aon do dhéid gheal. Má's leor leat ar churis tim, sul a gcuirtear sinn i gcré, a bhean atá ream-ró-chlaoidh, na hairm sin díota-sa léit. |
I charge you, lady, young and fair straightway to lay your arms aside. lay by your armour, Would you dare to spread the slaughter far and wide? O lady, lay your armour by, conceal your curling hair also, for never was a man could fly the coils that o'er your bosom flow. And if you answer, lady fair that north or south you ne'er took life, your very eyes, your glance, your air can murder without axe or knife. And oh if you but bare your knee, if you your soft hand's palm advance, you'll slaughter many a company. What more is done with shield and lance? Oh hide your bosom limey white, your naked side conceal from me. Ah, show them not in all men's sight, your breasts more bright than flowering tree. And if in you there's shame or fear for all the murders you have done, let those bright eyes no more appear, those shining teeth be seen of none. Lady, we tremble far and near! Be with these conquests satisfied, and lest I perish lady dear, Oh lay those arms of yours aside. |
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