Fornocht do chonac th�
le P�draig Mac Piarais

Fornocht do chonac th�,
a �ille na h�ille,
is do dhallas mo sh�il
ar eagla go st�nfainn.

Do chualas do cheol,
a bhinne na binne,
is do dh�nas mo chluas
ar eagla go gclisfinn.

Do bhlaiseas do bh�al
a mhilse na milse,
is do chruas mo chro�
ar eagla mo mhillte.

Do dhallas mo sh�il,
is mo chluas do dh�nas;
do chruas mo chro�,
is mo mhian do mh�chas.

Do thugas mo ch�l
ar an aisling do chumas,
�s ar an r�d so romham
m�aghaidh do thugas.

Do thugas mo ghn�is
ar an r�d so romham,
ar an ngn�omh do-chim,
�s ar an mb�s do gheobhad.

P�draig 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: P�l � 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


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