Eachtraí Eilíse i dTír na nIontas

Caibidil VIII: Páirc Cróice na Banríona
The Queen’s Croquet Park

• Bhí crann mór róis [g] ina sheasamh gar do gheata an ghairdín [g]: is geal a bhí na rósanna ag fás air, ach bhí triúr gairneoirí ina thimpeall agus iad go gnóthach á bpéinteáil dearg. Chonacthas d’Eilís gurbh an-aisteach an rud é agus dhruid sí leo ionas gur fearr a d’fheicfeadh sí iad. Nuair a bhí sí ag teacht i láthair, d’airigh sí duine díobh á rá, “Fainic, a Chúig! Ná bí ag stealladh péinte [g] orm mar sin!”

  A large rose tree was standing near the gate of the garden: The roses growing on it were white, but there were 3 gardeners around it and they were busy painting them red. This was seen by Alice to be a very strange thing and she moved closer to them so she could see them better. When she came up to them, she heard one of them saying, “Watch out, Five! Don’t be splashing paint on me like that!”

  gar	near
  gairneoir	gardener	f
  láthair	Place, spot; site, location
  í láthair	present
  airigh	perceive, sense
  Fainic	beware, look out, watch out
  geal/bán

  
  

• “Ní raibh neart agam air,” arsa Cúig, agus pus air, “Thug Seacht sonc do m’uillinn.”
  Leis sin d’fhéach Seacht aníos agus dúirt sé, “Sin é an chaoi, a Chúig! Cuir an milleán ar dhaoine eile i gcónaí!”
  “Níor cheart duitse caint!” arsa Cúig. “D’airigh mé an Bhanríon á rá inné féin go mba chóir an cloigeann a bhaint díot!”
  “Cén fáth?” a dúirt an té ba thúisce a labhair.
  “Ní bhaineann sé leatsa, a Dhó!” a dúirt Seacht.

  “I could not control it,” said Five with a pout, “Seven poked my elbow.”
  With that, Seven looked up and it said, “That’s the way, Five, always blame other people!
  “You shouldn’t talk!” said FIve<. “I heard the Queen herself said yesterday that your head should be removed.”
  “Why?” said the one who had spoken first.
  “It doesn’t concern you, Two!” said Seven.

  neart	strength
  sonc	thrust, poke, nudge, push	m
  pus	sulky expression, pout
  túisce	sooner, rather, first
  An té is túisce a labhair	the person who spoke first

  
  

• [p 82] “Is é a bhaineann!” a dúirt Cúig, “agus inseoidh mé dó— ba mar gheall ar gur thug sé bleibíní tiúilipí chuig an gcócaire in ionad oinniún é.”
  Chaith Seacht a scuaibín uaidh le fuinneamh, agus bhí sé ag tosú ag rá, “Bhuel, ní éagóir go dtí é sin—” nuair a leag sé a shúil ar Eilís ina seasamh ag faire orthu, agus choisc sé é féin go tobann: bhreathnaigh an bheirt eile timpeall freisin, agus d’umhlaigh siad ar fad go híseal di.
  “An féidir libh a rá liom,” arsa Eilís, “cén fáth a bhfuil sibh ag péinteáil na rósanna [pl g – strong plural] sin?”
  

  “It is related/his business!” said Five, “and I will tell him— it was because he gave tulip bulbs to the cook instead of onions.”
  “Seven threw his brush from him forcefully, and he was beginning to say “No wrong to that—” when he laid his eyes on Alice standing watching them, and suddenly stopped himself: The other two looked around as well, and they all bowed low to her.
  “Can you tell me,” said Alice, “why are you painting those roses?”

  bleibín	Bulbil, bulb	m
  tiúilip	tulip	f
  cócaire	cook
  scuaibín	brush	f“little broom”
  fuinneamh	Energy; force, vigour; pep, spirit
  éagóir	injustice, wrong; unfairness, inequity	f
  leag	knock down, lay, set
  faire	watch	f
  coisc	Check, stop; prevent, restrain
  umhlaigh	humble, bow

  
  

• Ní dúirt Cúig ná Seacht dada ach d’fhéach siad ar Dhó. Thosaigh Dó de ghlór íseal, “Is í fírinne an scéil, an dtuigeann tú, a chailín uasail, go mba chóir gur rósanna dearga a bheadh ar an gcrann seo, agus ceann geal a chuireamar [p 83] isteach trí dhearmad; dá bhfaigheadh an Bhanríon amach, bhainfí [cond ait] an cloigeann dínn uile, tá a fhios agat. Mar sin, a chailín uasail, táimid ag déanamh ár ndíchill sula dtiocfaidh sí, chun—” Bhí Cúig tar éis a bheith ag féachaint trasna an ghairdín agus ag an nóiméad sin ghlaoigh sé amach “An Bhanríon! An Bhanríon!” agus chaith an triúr gairneoirí iad féin ar a n-aghaidh ar an talamh. Chualathas a lán coiscéimeanna agus bhreathnaigh Eilís timpeall go fiosrach go bhfeicfeadh sí an Bhanríon.

  Five and Seven said nothing but looked at Two. Two began in a low voice. “The truth of the matter, do you understand, gentle girl, that this tree should have red roses, and we planted a white one by mistake; if the Queen would find out, we would all have our heads removed, you know. So, dear girl, we are doing our best before she comes [irish wants future], in order to —” Five had been looking across the garden and at that moment he called out “The Queen! The Queen!” and the three gardeners threw themselves on their faces on the ground. Many footsteps were heard and Alice looked around curiously so that she would see the Queen.

  dícheall	Best endeavour	m gs díchill
  fiosrach	Inquiring, inquisitive

  
  

• Tháinig deichniúr saighdiúirí ar dtús le smachtíní ina lámha; bhí siad uile ar aon dul leis na gairneoirí, leathfhada cothrom agus lámha is a gcosa ag na cúinní: ansin tháinig na cúirteoirí; bhí muileataí mar mhaisiúcháin orthu sin uile, agus shiúil siad mar a rinne na saighdiúirí, ina mbeirt is ina mbeirt. Ba iad na páistí ríoga a tháinig ina ndiaidh sin: bhí deichniúr go baileach díobh ann, agus tháinig na muirníní beaga ag léimneach ar a mbealach lámh i lámh i mbeirteanna: bhí hairt orthu sin uile mar mhaisiúcháin. Ansin is ea a tháinig na haíonna, Ríthe agus Banríonacha den chuid is mó, agus d’aithin Eilís an Coinín Bán ina measc: bhí sé ag caint go deifreach neirbhíseach, ag déanamh meangadh gáire le gach focal dá ndúradh, agus chuaigh sé thart gan Eilís a thabhairt faoi deara. An Cuileata Hart a tháinig ansin agus coróin an Rí á iompar aige ar chúisín veilbhite; AN RÍ HART AGUS AN BHANRÍON HART a tháinig ag deireadh an mhórshiúil uile.

  Ten soldiers came first with clubs in their hands; they were all like the gardeners, equally oblong/half long [width/height] and with hands and feet at the corners: then came the courtiers; they all had diamonds as decorations on them, and they walked as did the soldiers, two by two. The royal children came after that: there were exactly ten of them, the little darlings jumping hand in hand one their in pairs. They had hearts on them as decorations. Then came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens and Alice recognized the White Rabbit among them: it was talking in a hurried and nervously, smiling faintly with every word they said, and it went past without noticing Alice. Then came the Jack of Hearts carrying the crown of the King on a velvet cushion. THE KING OF HEARTS AND THE QUEEN OF HEARTS came at the end of the whole procession.

  /i>

  smachtín	Bludgeon, club, cudgel	m
  leathfhada	fairly long
  cothrom	level, balance, equal, fairness
  muileataí	diamond	m [cards]
  maisiúchán	Adornment, decoration, ornamentation	m
  baileach	exact
  muirnín	Darling, beloved, sweetheart	m
  léimneach	jumping
  deifreach	Hurried, in a hurry
  meangadh	smile	m
  Cuileata = cuireata	jack	m [cards]
  coróin	crown	f
  iompar	carrying	m
  mórshiúl	procession	m

  
  

• Bhí Eilís idir dhá chomhairle ar cheart di luí síos ar a haghaidh ar an talamh mar a rinne an triúr gairneoirí ach níor chuimhin léi gur chuala sí riamh faoi riail den chineál sin le linn mórshiúlta; “agus ar aon dath,” a smaoinigh sí, “cén mhaith mórshiúl dá mbeadh gach duine ina luí ar a n-aghaidh sa chaoi nach bhfeicfidís [cond] an morshiúl in aon chor?” Mar sin d’fhan sí mar a raibh sí.

  Alice was unsure if she should lie face to the ground like the three gardeners but she did not remember that she had ever heard of such a rule during parades; “and in any case,” she thought, “what good is a parade if everybody would be lying on their faces and could not see the parade in any case.” So she stayed where [mar] she was.

  comhairle	Advice, counsel; direction, influence	f
  riail	rule, principle	f
  mórshiúl	procession	m pl mórshiúlta
  cor	turn; agreement; Tiredness, exhaustion

  
  

• [p 84]Nuair a tháinig an mórshiúl os comhair Eilíse [g], stop siad go léir agus bhreathnaigh uirthi, agus “Cé hí seo?” a dúirt an Bhanríon go géar. Is leis an gCuileata Hart a bhí sí ag caint, agus ní dhearna seisean mar fhreagra ach umhlú le meangadh gáire ar a bhéal.
  “Amadán!” a dúirt an Bhanríon agus bhain sí croitheadh as a cloigeann go mífhoighneach. Chas sí ansin ar Eilís agus dúirt, “Cén t-ainm atá ort, a linbh?”

  When the parade came in front of Alice, they all stopped and looked at her, and “Who is this?” said the Queen sharply. She was talking to the Jack of Hearts, and he made no answer except to bow with a smile on his mouth.
  “Fool!” said the Queen and she shook her head impatiently. She turned to Alice and said, “What is your name, child?”

  umhlú	Humbling; Genuflection, curtsey, obeisance; Submission	m
  meangadh	smilw
  croitheadh	shake	m
  mífhoighneach	impatient

  
  

• “Eilís is ainm dom, le toil do Mhórgachta [g],” a dúirt Eilís go han-mhúinte; ach is [ba?] éard a dúirt sí léi féin, “Féach, i ndeireadh na dála níl iontu ach paca cártaí. Ní gá scanrú rompu!”
  “Agus cé hiad seo?” a d’fhiafraigh an Bhanríon agus í ag díriú a méire i dtreo an triúr gairneoirí a bhí ina luí timpeall an chrainn róis; tuigeann tú gur ar a n-aghaidh a bhí siad, agus ba mhar a chéile an patrún ar a ndroim agus patrún an chuid eile den phaca [fronting], mar sin ní fhaca sí cé acu gairneoirí, saighdiúir, cúirteoirí nó triúr dá bpáistí féin a bhí iontu.

  “Alice is my name, by your Manesty’s will [may it please your majesty],” said Alice very politely; but what she said to her self was, “in the end they are nothing but a pack of cards. No need to be scared of them!”
  “And who are these?” asked the Quenn pointing her finger at the three gardeners that were lying around      the rose tree; you realize they were on their faces, and the pattern on their backs was the same as the rest of the pack, so she did not see which of them were gardeners, soldiers, courtiers, or three of her own children.

  mórgacht	majesty	f gs mórgachta
  múinte	Well-taught, well-behaved, mannerly, polite
  éard	what, it	← é rud
  dáil	meeting, assembly	f gs dála
  scanrú	frightening
  méar	finger	f gs méire
  patrún	pattern, model, example, design	m

  
  

• “Cén chaoi a mbeadh a fhios agamsa,” a dúirt Eilís agus chuir a misneach féin iontas uirthi. “Ní bhaineann an scéal liomsa.”
  D’éirigh an Bhanríon dúdhearg san éadan le báiní, agus tar éis di breathnú ar Eilís ar feadh tamaillín mar a bheadh beithíoch allta, “Baintear an cloigeann di!” a scread sí, “Baintear—”
  “Ráiméis!” a dúirt Eilís an-ard agus an-daingean, agus d’éist an Bhanríon a béal.
  Leag an Rí a lámh ar a huillinn agus dúirt léi go faiteach, “Smaoinigh, a chroí: níl inti ach leanbh!”
  Chas an Bhanríon uaidh le fearg agus dúirt leis an gCuileata “Iompaigh thart iad!”

  “How would I know,” said Alice surprised by her own courage. “It is none of my business.”
  The Queen became dark red in the face with fury, and after watching Alice for a while like a wild beast, “Off with her head!” she screamed, “Off—”
  “Nonsense!” said Alice very loudly and strongly, and the Queen shut up [éist … béal].
  The King laid his hand on her arm and said timidly, “Think, dear: she’s just a child!”
  The Queen turned angrily from him and said to the Jack “Turn them over!”

  misneach	courage	m
  dúdhearg	dark red
  éadan	face, front	m
  báiní	Wildness, frenzy	f
  dul le báiní	to become furious, frantic
  beithíoch	beast	m
  allta	wild
  scread	scream	f & v
  Raiméis	nonsense
  Iompaigh	turn	v

  
  

• Rinne an Cuileata rud uirthi go han-cháiréiseach le leathchos.
  “Éirígí!” arsa an Bhanríon de ghlór géar ard, agus d’éirigh an triúr gairneoirí ar a gcosa gan mhoill, agus thosaigh ag umhlú don Rí, don Bhanríon, do na páistí ríoga agus do gach uile dhuine eile.

  The Jack did so for her very carefully with one foot.
  “Get up!” said the Queen in a sharp loud voice, and the three gardeners rose to their feet without delay, and began to bow to the King, the Queen, the royal children and to every other person.

  cáiréiseach	careful
  leathchos	one leg

  
  

• [p 85]“Stadaigí de sin!” a scread an Bhanríon, “Tá sibh ag cur meadhráin ionam.” Chas sí ansin chuig an gcrann róis agus lean uirthi, “Agus cad a bhí sibh a dhéanamh anseo?”
  “Le toil do Mhórgachta,” arsa Dó go han-umhal agus é ar leathghlúin le linn na cainte dó, “is amhlaidh a bhíomar ag iarraidh—”
  “Feicimse!” arsa an Bhanríon, a bhí ag breathnú ar na rósanna. “Baintear an cloigeann díobh!” agus ghluais an mórshiúl ar aghaidh. D’fhan triúr saighdiúirí siar chun na gairneoirí mí-ámharacha a chur chun báis, ach rith siad sin chuig Eilís chun dul ar a coimirce.

  “Stop that!” screamed the Queen, “You are making me dizzy.” She then turned to the rose tree and she continued to it, “And what were you doing here?”
  “By Your Majesty’s will/May it please your Majesty,” said Two very humbly and on one knee while talking, “the fact is we were trying—”
  “I see!” said the Queen, looking at the roses. “Off with their heads!” and started the procession forward. Three soldiers stayed back to put the unfortunate gardeners to death, but they ran to Alice to seek her protection.

  meadhrán	Dizziness, giddiness, vertigo	m
  umhal	humble
  leathghlúin	one knee
  amhlaidh	thus, so
  gluais	move, set in motion, stir
  mórshiúl	procession, parage
  fan	stay, wait, remain
  ámharach	Lucky, fortunate
  mí-ámharach	Unlucky, unfortunate
  coimirce	Protection, guardianship; patronage

  
  

• [p 86]“Ní dhéanfar sibh a dhícheannadh!” a dúirt Eilís agus chuir sí isteach i bpota mór bláthanna iad a bhí in aice láimhe. Bhí an triúr saighdiúirí ag fánaíocht thart ar feadh cúpla nóiméad á dtóraíocht, agus ansin mháirseáil siad chun siúil i ndiaidh na coda eile.
  “Ar baineadh [past aut] an cloigeann díobh?” a d’fhiafraigh an Bhanríon.
  “Tá na cloigne imithe, le toil do Mhórgachta!” a dúirt na saighdiúirí mar fhreagra.
  “Tá sin go maith!” a ghlaoigh an Bhanríon. “An bhfuil cróice agat?”
  Ní raibh focal as na saighdiúirí ach d’fhéach siad ar Eilís. Is chuicise a bhí an Bhanríon.

  “You will not be beheaded!” said Alice and she put them in a large flower pot near to hand. The three soldiers were wandering about for a few minutes in pursuit, and then they marched to walk after the rest.
  “Were their heads removed?” asked the Queen.
  “Their heads are gone, by your Majesty’s will!” said the soldiers as an answer.
  “That is well!” cried the Queen, “Do you know croquet?”
  No word from the soldiers, but they looked at Alice. The Queen was [talking] to her.

  dícheann	behead
  fánaíocht	wandering, rambling; Casualness, haphazardness; Aimlessness, purposelessness; decline	f
  tóraíocht	Pursuit; hunt, search
  máirseáil	march
  cuid	part, share, portion	f gs coda
  chuicise ← chuici ← chun	to her

  
  

• “Tá!” a dúirt Eilís.
  “Gabh i leith uait, mar sin!” a bhéic an Bhanríon agus ghlac Eilís a háit sa mhórshiúl agus í ag fiafraí di féin cad é an chéad rud eile a tharlódh.
  “Is—is breá ar fad an lá é!” a dúirt glór faiteach taobh léi. Is amhlaidh a bhí sí ag siúl le hais an Choinín Bháin [g], agus bhí seisean ag gliúcaíocht go himníoch isteach san aghaidh uirthi. “An-bhreá,” a dúirt Eilís: “—cá bhfuil an Bandiúc?”
  “Fuist! Fuist!” arsa an Coinín de ghlór íseal deifreach. Bhíodh [past hab] sé ag breathnú go himníoch thar a ghualainn agus é ag caint, ansin d’ardaigh sé é féin ar bharr a mhéar, chuir a bhéal gar dá cluas agus dúirt “Tá sí faoi bhreith bháis.”

  “Yes!” said Alice
  “So come here [from you???]!” shouted the Queen and Alice took her place in the procession and asked herself what would happen next.
  “It—it is altogether a fine day, “said a shy voice beside her. So she was walking next to the White Rabbit, and he was peering anxiously into her face. “Very fine,” said Alice “—Where is the Duchess?
  “Hush! Hush!” said the Rabbit in a low hurried voice. He was [would be] anxiously looking over his shoulder while speaking, then he raised himself to the tip of his toes put his mouth close to her ear and said “She is under a death sentence.”

  béic	yell, shout	v
  fiafraí	asking, inquiry, question	m
  faiteach	Fearful, apprehensive; timid, shy
  amhlaidh	thus, so
  ais	back
  le hais	beside, compared wit
  gliúcaíocht	peering; furtiveness
  imníoch	anxious, concerned
  méar	finger	f

  
  

• “Cad a rinne sí?” a d’fhiafraigh Eilis.
  “An ndúirt tú ‘Nach mór an trua é!’?” a dúirt an Coinín.
  “Ní dúirt,” arsa Eilís, “Ní dóigh liom gur trua ar bith é. ‘Cad a rinne sí?’ a dúirt mé.”
  “Thug sí boiseog sa chluas don Bhanríon—” a thosaigh an Coinín. Lig Eilís scread gháire aisti. “Fuist!” arsa an Coinín de chogar faiteach. “Cloisfidh an Bhanríon thú! Tháinig sí beagán déanach agus dúirt an Bhanríon—”

  “What did she do?” asked Alice.
  “Did you say, ‘Isn’t it a great pity’?” said the Rabbit.
  “I did not say [that], “I don’t think it is a pity at all. I said ‘What did she do’?”
  “She slapped the ear of the Queen—” began the Rabbit. Alice let out a scream of laughter. “Hush!” said the Rabbit in a fearful whisper. “The Queen will hear you! She came a little late and the Queen said—”

  boiseog	slap	f from palm
  cogar	whisper	m
  faiteach	Fearful, apprehensive; timid, shy
  déanach	last

  
  

• [p 87]“Gach duine chuig a ionad!” a liúigh an Bhanríon de ghlór toirniúil, agus thosaigh na daoine ag rith timpeall deiseal agus treiseal, agus iad ag baint tuisle as a chéile; shocraigh siad síos tar éis tamaill, áfach, agus thosaigh an cluiche. Ba dhóigh le hEilís nach bhfaca sí cluiche cróice chomh haisteach leis lena beo; ní raibh sa pháirc imeartha ach iomairí agus claiseanna; gráinneoga beo a bhí in ionad liathróidí agus lasairéin in áit máilléad, agus bhíodh ar na saighdiúirí iad féin a lúbadh agus seasamh ar a lámha agus a gcosa chun na háirsí a dhéanamh.

  “Everybody to their place!” shouted the Queen in a thundering voice,” and the people started running around in all directions, and they began to trip each other; they settled down after a while, however, and the game began. Alice thought she had never seen such a strange game of croquet in her life. The playing field was only ridges and ditches; living hedgehogs in place of balls, and flamingos in place of mallets, the soldiers had to bend themselves and stand on their hands and feet to make the arches.

  ionad	place
  liúigh	yell, shout	v
  toirniúil	thundering, noisy
  deiseal agus treiseal	on all sides, in every direction
  tuisle	Fall, stumble; trip	m
  socraigh	settle, calm; arrange
  áfach	however
  cluiche	game	m
  aisteach	peculiar, queer; wonderful, surprising
  imeartha	played; Tricky, prankish; Practised, clever
  iomaire	ridge	m
  clais	ditch	f
  gráinneog	hedgehog	f
  liathróid	ball	f
  lasairéan	flamingo	m“flame bird”
  máilléad	mallet	m
  lúbadh	bending, bend	m
  áirse	arch	f

  
  

• Fuair Eilís amach go luath gurbh é láimhseáil an lasairéin an chéad deacracht: d’éirigh léi a cholainn a bhrú as an mbealach sách compordach faoina hascaill agus a cosa ar crochadh anuas, ach go hiondúil, ní túisce a bhíodh a mhuineál go deas díreach aici, agus í ar tí buille a bhualadh ar an ngráinneog, ná chasadh an lasairéan thart go mbreathnaíodh aníos san aghaidh uirthi agus dreach [p 88] mearaithe air; ní fhéadfadh sí ansin gan gáire a dhéanamh; agus nuair a d’éiríodh léi a chloigeann a chur síos chun tosú arís, b’olc léi fáil amach gur oscail an ghráinneog í féin agus go raibh sí ag imeacht de scodal: ina theannta sin uile bhíodh iomaire nó clais sa bhealach uirthi cibé áit a dteastaíodh uaithi gráinneog a chur, agus, toisc gur nós leis na saighdiúirí lúbtha éirí gach uile nóiméad agus siúl chuig codanna eile den fhaiche, níorbh fhada gur thuig Eilís go rímhaith a dheacra [comp] is a bhí an cluiche.

  Alice soon found out that handling the flamingo was the first difficulty: She was able to manage to push its body comfortably way under her arm and its legs hanging down, but usually, no sooner than she had its neck straight, as she was about to strike a blow on the hedgehog, but the flamingo turned its head to look up in her face with a bewildered expression; she had to laugh; when she managed to put its head down to start again she was shocked to find the hedgehog had opened itself and it was gone dashing about: in addition she had a ridge or ditch in her path wherever she wanted to put a hedgehog, because the bent soldiers tended to get up every minute and walk to other parts of the playing field, it was not long before Alice understood how very difficult the game was.

  láimhseáil	handling, management	f
  colainn	body	f
  brú	press, crush	m
  compordach	comfortable
  sách	full, satisfied
  ascaill	armpit	f
  crochadh	hanging	m
  go hiondúil	usually
  túisce	sooner, rather, first
  muineál	neck	m
  buille	blow, stroke	m
  ar tí	about to
  dreach	look, [facial] expression	m
  mearaigh	Derange, distract; bewilder, confuse
  scodal	dash, activity	m
  teannta	Strait, difficulty, predicament
  iomaire	ridge	m
  clais	ditch	f
  cibé	whoever, whatever
  faiche	Green, lawn; (playing-) field

  
  

• D’imríodh [past hab] na himreoirí uile ag an aon am amháin gan fanacht lena seal féin, agus bhídís de shíor ag argóint lena chéile agus ag troid faoi na gráinneoga; ní fada go raibh an Bhanríon oibrithe ar fad ar fad, agus bhí sí ag dul timpeall ag greadadh a cos agus ag béiceadh “Baintear an cloigeann de!” nó “Baintear an cloigeann di!” thart ar uair amháin in aghaidh an nóiméid.

  All the players played all the same time without waiting for their own turn, and they were constantly arguing with each other and fighting about the hedgehogs; it was not long until the Queen was completely worked up, she was going around stamping her foot and shouting “Off with his head! Off with her head!” about once per minute.

  seal	turn	m
  síor	Eternal, perpetual; continual
  argóint	arguing, argument
  troid	fight, quarrel	v & f
  ar fad	length; entirely; all along, alway
  ar fad ar fad	ever and always
  greadadh	beating, trouncing
  béic	yell, shout	v
  in aghaidh	against
  thart	about, approcimately [here]

  
  

• Tháinig an-imní ar Eilís: is cinnte nach raibh aighneas ar bith aici leis an mBanríon fós, ach bhí a fhios aici go bhféadfadh a leithéid titim amach am ar bith, “agus ansin,” a smaoinigh sí, “cad a tharlódh dom? Tá dúil chráite sa dícheannadh acu anseo; is é an t-iontas mór go bhfuil duine ar bith fanta ina bheatha!”

  Alice became very worried: she certainly had no argument with the Queen yet, but she knew there could be such a falling out at any time, “and then,” she thought, “what would happen to me? They have a keen desire for beheading here. It is a great wonder anyone is left alive.”

  aighneas	Argument, discussion	m
  leithéid	like, counterpart, equal, such	f
  dúil	element; Desire, fondness, liking, craving; Expectation, hope	f
  cráite	Agonized, tormented, grieved
  dícheannadh	decapitation	m
  iontas	wonder, suprise	m

  
  

• Bhí Eilís ag féachaint timpeall ag lorg bealach éalaithe agus í ag fiafraí di féin arbh acmhainn di imeacht i ngan fhios, nuair a thug sí feic aisteach san aer: ba mhór an mearbhall a chuir sé uirthi ar dtús, ach tar éis féachaint air ar feadh cúpla nóiméad, rinne sí amach gur cár gáire a bhí ann, agus is éard a dúirt sí léi féin “Is é an Cat Clárach atá ann; anois beidh duine agam le labhairt leis.”
  “Conas tá tú ag teacht ar aghaidh?” a d’fhiafraigh an Cat, a thúisce is a bhí a dhóthain béil aige le labhairt tríd.

  Alice was looking around for a way to escape and asking herself if she had the ability to leave unknown, when she noticed a strange sight in the air: it was very confusing to her at first, but after looking at it for a few minutes, she realized [made out] there was a toothy smile there, and what she said to herself was “The Clare Cat is there, now I will have someone to talk to.”
  “How are you doing?” asked the cat,as soon as he had enough mouth to talk through.

  éalaigh	escape	v
  lorg	Track, trace; seek, search for
  fiafraí	inquiry, question	m
  acmhainn	capacity, endurance	f
  mearbhall	Bewilderment, confusion, wandering	m
  cár	grin, grimace; teeth	m
  éard ← é rud	what, thing	with copula
  túisce	Sooner, rather; first
  dóthain	Enough, sufficiency	f

  
  

• D’fhan Eilís gur nocht na súile agus ansin chlaon sí a ceann. “Cén mhaith caint leis go nochtfaidh a chluasa, nó leathchluas leis ar a laghad?” Faoi cheann scaithimh eile bhí an cloigeann go léir le feiceáil agus ansin leag Eilís a [p89] lasairéan uaithi, agus thosaigh ag tabhairt cuntais ar an gcluiche dó. Bhí an-áthas uirthi go raibh duine aici a d’éistfeadh léi. Dhealraigh sé gur cheap an Cat go raibh a dhóthain de ann agus níor nocht aon chuid eile.

  Alice waited for the eyes to appear and then nodded her head. “What good is speaking until its ears appear, or one ear at least?” After another while the whole head was visible and then Alice let her flamingo go, and Alice began to give an account of the game to it. She was delighted that she had someone who would listen to her. The Cat seemed to think there was enough of it there and no other part appeared.

  v/a/m

  nocht	bare, appear [v]	v/a/n
  claon	incline, slope, slant
  scaitheamh	scaithimh	m gs scaithimh
  lasairéan	flamingo	m
  cuntas	count, account	m gs cuntais
  áthas	joy, gladness	m
  feadh	Extent, distance, space, duration	m
  Dealraigh	Shine forth; illuminate; appear, judge
  dóthain	Enough, sufficiency	f

  
  

• “Ní dóigh liom gur cothrom an chaoi a n-imríonn siad,” a dúirt Eilís ar dtús agus iarracht den chlamhsán ar a glór, “agus bíonn siad go léir ag aighneas lena chéile chomh fíochmhar sin nach féidir le duine a chaint féin a chloisteáil—ach feictear dom nach bhfuil aon riail faoi leith acu; ar a laghad, má tá rialacha ann, ní thugann aon duine aird ar bith orthu—agus ní chreidfeá an mearbhall a chuireann sé ar dhuine na rudaí uile a bheith beo; sin é an áirse, cuir i gcás, ar gá dom dul tríd agus tá sé ag siúl timpeall ag an gceann thall den fhaiche—agus ba chóir dom gráinneog na Banríona a thiomáint ar baillín beag, ach gur rith sí léi [yes, it is redundant, but usual] nuair a chonaic sí mo cheannsa ag teacht.”

  “I don’t think how they play is fair,” said Alice with a bit of grumbling in her voice, “and they are all arguing together so fiercely that one cannot hear oneself speak—” but it seems to me that they have no particular rules, at least, if there are rules, nobody pays any attention at all to them— you would not believe the confusion everything being alive gives a person; that is the arch, for example, that I have to go through and it is walking around at the far end of the green—and I should have driven the Queen’s hedgehog just now, but it ran [with it?] when it saw mine coming.

  f

  cothrom	level, fairness, balance, equality	m
  clamhsán	Grumble, complaint	m
  aighneas	Argument, discussion	m
  fíochmhar	furious, ferocious
  cloisteáil	hearing, listening
  riail	rule, regulation	f
  faoi leith	apart, separate; several, distinct; remarkable, special
  aird	attention	f
  áirse	arch	f
  faiche	green, lawn, playing-field	f
  thall	over, beyound
  baillín	little ball	m
  ar baillín	just a moment ago; in a moment

  
  

• “Conas a thaitníonn an Bhanríon leat?” a d’fhiafraigh an Cat de ghlór íseal.
  “Ní thaitníonn ar chor ar bith,” arsa Eilís, “tá sí chomh huafásach—” Thug sí faoi deara ag an nóiméad sin go raibh an Bhanríon ina seasamh taobh thiar di: mar sin lean sí uirthi “—maith ag an gcluiche; is cinnte gurb ise a ghnóthóidh, agus ní fiú mar sin leanúint ar aghaidh ag imirt.”
  Rinne an Bhanríon meangadh gáire agus chuaigh ar aghaidh.

  “How do you like the Queen?” asked the Cat in a low voice.
  “I do not like her at all,” said Alice, “she is so horrible that—” She noticed at that moment that the Queen was standing behind her: so she continued “—good at the game; it is certain that she will win, and it is not worth continuing to play.”
  The Queen laughed and went forward/moved on.

  lean ar	continue
  huafásach maith	damn good
  ise	she, her	emph. Cannot be subject of an active verb.
  gnóthaigh	work, labor; win, gain, earn, achieve
  leanúint	Following, pursuit; adherence; continuation

  
  

• “Cé leis a bhfuil tú ag caint?” a d’fhiafraigh an Rí di, agus é ag teacht aníos chuig Eilís agus ag breathnú ar chloigeann an Chait go fiosrach.
  “Cara liom atá ann—is Cat Clárach é,” arsa Eilís. “Lig dom é a chur in aithne duit.”
  “Ní maith liom ar chor ar bith an chuma atá air,” a dúirt an Rí; “ach más maith leis, tá cead aige mo lámh a phógadh.”
  “B’fhearr liom gan,” a dúirt an Cat.

  “Who are you talking to?” the King asked her, coming up to Alice and looking at the cat’s head inquisitively.
  “It’s a friend of mine — it’s a Clare Cat,” said Alice. “Let me introduce him to you.”
  “I do not like at all what it looks like.” said the King; “but if it likes, it may kiss my hand.
  “I’d rather not,” said the Cat.

  fiosrach	Inquiring, inquisitive

  
  

• [p 90] “Ná bí deiliúsach,” arsa an Rí, “agus ná féach orm mar sin!” Sheas sé taobh thiar d’Eilís le linn na cainte dó.
  “Tá cead ag cat féachaint ar an rí,” a dúirt Eilís. “Léigh mé é sin i leabhar éigin, ach ní cuimhin liom cén ceann.”
  “Bhuel, ní mór é [it is necessary] a thabhairt chun siúil,” a dúirt an Rí go diongbháilte, agus ghlaoigh sé ar an mBanríon, a bhí ag dul thar bráid ag an nóiméad sin, “A stór! Ba mhaith liom go dtabharfaí an cat seo chun siúil!”

  “Don’t be impudent,” said the King, “and don’t look at me like that!” He stood behind Alice while speaking to it.
  “A cat is allowed to watch the king,” said Alice, “I read that in some book, but I don’t remember which one.”
  “Well, it must be taken away,” the King said firmly, and he called to the Queen, who was passing by, “Treasure! I want this cat to be taken away!”

  deiliúsach	Saucy, impudent
  diongbháilte	Worthy, fitting; firm, steadfast
  bráid	neck	f
  dul thar bráid	pass by

  
  

• Ní raibh ach bealach amháin ag an mBanríon le gach uile fhadhb a réiteach, ba chuma cé acu beag nó mór í. “Baintear an cloigeann de!” a dúirt sí gan breathnú timpeall fiú amháin.
  “Gheobhaidh mé féin an básadóir,” arsa an Rí agus d’imigh sé leis faoi dheifir.

  “The Queen had only one way to solve every problem, no matter whether it was large or small. “Off with his head!” she said without even looking around.
  “I will get the executioner myself,” said the King and he left in a hurry.

  básadóir	executioner	m

  
  

• Shíl Eilís go mb’fhearr di dul ar ais go bhfeicfeadh sí conas mar a bhí an cluiche ag teacht ar aghaidh, mar chuala sí glór na Banríona i bhfad i gcéin agus í ag scréachaíl le teann feirge. Chuala Eilís ag daoradh triúr imreoirí chun báis cheana féin í, toisc gur chaill siad a seal [turn] imeartha, agus níor thaitin léi an chuma a bhí ar chúrsaí ar chor ar bith, mar bhí an cluiche chomh trína chéile sin nach mbíodh a fhios aici an é a seal féin a bhíodh ann nó nach é. D’imigh Eilís léi [usual redundancy] ar thóir a gráinneoige féin.

  Alice thought she should go back to see how the game was progressing, as she heard the voice of the Queen far in the distance screaming in anger. Alice had already heard three players condemned to death because they had lost/missed their turns and she didn’t like the look of things at all because the game was so confused that she didn’t know if it was her own turn or not. Alice left in search of her own hedgehog.

  i bhfad i gcéin	far in the distance
  teann	strength
  daoradh	condemning
  tóir	Pursuit, chase; hunt, search; pursuing party	f

  
  

• Is ag troid le gráinneog eile a bhí a gráinneog sise, agus chonacthas d’Eilís gurbh iontach an deis é sin ceann díobh a thiomáint leis an gceann eile: ba é an t-aon fhadhb a bhí aici go raibh a lasairéan féin imithe leis chuig an taobh thall den fhaiche, agus chonaic Eilís é ag iarraidh go mí-éifeachtach eitilt suas i gcrann.

  Her hedgehog was fighting another hedgehog, and this was seen by Alice to be a wonderful opportunity to drive one with the other: The only problem she had was that her own flamingo had gone to the far side of the green, and Alice saw it trying ineffectively to fly up into a tree.

  v & f

  troid	fight, quarrel
  gráinneog	hedgehog	f
  iontach	Wonderful; surprising, strange
  deis	ight hand; right-hand side; opportunity	f
  faiche	Green, lawn; (playing-) field
  éifeachtach	Forceful, significant; efficacious, effective; important; Great, powerful; highly capable.

  
  

• Faoin am ar rug sí ar an lasairéan agus é a thabhairt ar ais, bhí deireadh leis an troid agus bhí an dá ghráinneog imithe as amharc: “Ach is cuma dáiríre,” a smaoinigh Eilís, “mar tá na háirsí imithe den taobh seo den pháirc.” Shac sí an lasairéan mar sin as an tslí faoina hascaill, ionas nach [p 91] n-éalódh sé arís, agus chuaigh ar ais arís chun tuilleadh comhrá a dhéanamh lena cara.

  By the time she caught the flamingo and brought it back, the fight had ended and the two hedgehogs had disappeared/were gone from sight: “But it [isn’t?] serious,” thought Alice, “as the arches are gone from this side of the park.” So she packed the flamingo [so] out of the way under her arm, so that it would not escape, and she went back again for more conversation with her friend.

  dáiríre	Earnest, serious; in earnest, in reality
  áirse	arch	f
  ascaill	armpit	f
  sac	put in sack, pack
  ionas nach	so that … not
  éalaigh	escape

  
  

• Nuair a tháinig sí ar ais chuig an gCat Clárach, b’ionadh léi go raibh slua mór bailithe ina thimpeall: bhí argóint ar siúl idir an básadóir, an Rí agus an Bhanríon; bhí siad uile ag caint in éineacht, fad is a bhí na daoine eile ina dtost ar fad, agus dreach fíor-mhíchompordach orthu.

  When she came back to the Clare Cat, she was surprised that there was a big crowd gathered around it: There was an argument between the executioner, the King and the Queen; they were all talking at the same time, while the other people were silent, and looking very uncomfortable.

  ionadh	wonder, surprise	m
  argóint	argument	f
  in éineacht	at the same time, at once; together, altogether
  tost	silence	m
  dreach	look, [facial] expression	m

  
  

• A thúisce is a tháinig Eilís, d’agair an triúr í ag lorg a comhairle chun an cheist a réiteach, agus chuir siad a gcuid [p 92] argóintí faoina bráid [right under her nose], ach ó bhí siad go léir ag caint ag an aon am amháin, ba rídheacair di meabhair ar bith a bhaint as rud ar bith dá ndeiridís.

  As soon as Alice came, the three pleaded to her for her advice to settle the issue, and they submitted their arguments to her, but since they were all talking at the same time, it was very difficult for her to make any sense at all from anything they were saying.

  agair	plead, entreat
  comhairle	counsel	advice, counsel
  bráid	neck	f
  meabhair	mind, memory; sense, meaning	f

  
  

• Ba é áitiú an bhásadóra nach bhféadfaí ceann a bhaint mura mbeadh colainn ann freisin chun an ceann a bhaint di: nach raibh air a leithéid a dhéanamh riamh cheana, agus nach dtosódh sé á dhéanamh ag an aois sin dá shaol.
  Ba é a dúirt an Rí, go bhféadfaí aon ní a dhícheannadh a raibh ceann aige, agus nár cheadmhach ráiméis a labhairt.[Note copulas]

  The argument of the executioner was that a head could not be removed unless there was a body to remove it from; he had never had to do the like beforehand, and he would not start doing it at this point in his life.
  What the King said was that anything could be beheaded that had a head, and it was not permissible to speak nonsense.

  áitiú	occupation; Argument, persuasion	m
  colainn	body	f
  leithéid	like, counterpart, equal, such	f
  cheana	already; beforehand
  ceadmhach	Permissible
  ráiméis	nonsense	f

  
  

• Ba é a dúirt an Bhanríon, mura ndéanfaí rud éigin faoin scéal go hachomair, go n-ordódh sí féin go mbainfí an cloigeann de gach uile dhuine a bhí i láthair. (Ba é an ráiteas deireanach sin a chuir cuma na himní agus an mhí- shuaimhnis ar an gcomhluadar uile.)
  Níor fhéad Eilís smaoineamh ar aon rud a déarfadh sí ach, “Is leis an mBandiúc an Cat; ba chóir daoibh fiafraí dise faoi.”

  What the Queen said was, unless something was done briefly [soon?], she would order the heads be removed from everyone present. (It was this last statement that made the entire company look worried and uneasy.)
  Alice could not think of anything to say but “The Cat belongs to the Duchess. You should ask her about it.”

  achomair	concise, brief
  	Place, spot; site, location	f
  i lathair	present
  ráiteas	statement	m
  imní	anxiety, concern	f
  suaimhneas	peace, tranquillity; quietness, rest	m gs suaimhnis
  míshuaimhneas	Uneasiness, restlessness, perturbation	m gs
  comhluadar	[social] company	m
  cuma	Shape, form; appearance, look, effect	f
  fiafraí	inquiry, question	m

  
  

• “Sa phríosún atá sí sin,” arsa an Bhanríon leis an mbásadóir: “tabhair chugamsa anseo í.” D’imigh an básadóir leis mar a bheadh saighead ann.
  Ní túisce a d’imigh sé, ná thosaigh cloigeann an Chait ag dul as amharc, agus faoin am ar tháinig an básadóir ar ais agus an Bandiúc fairis, bhí sé imithe ar fad; thosaigh an Rí agus an básadóir ag rith suas is anuas mar sin á thóraíocht, fad is a chuaigh an chuid eile díobh ar ais chuig an gcluiche.

  “She is in prison,” the Queen said to the executioner: “Bring her here to me.” The executioner left like an arrow.
  No sooner had he left, than the head of the Cat began to disappear, and by the time the executioner came back and the Duchess in his company, it was all gone. The King and the executioner began to run up and down in search of it, while the rest of them went back to the game.

  saighead	arrow	f
  fara	in the company of; as well as, besides
  faoin am	by the time
  tóraíocht	Pursuit; hunt, search	f

  
  

Nótaí faoi scéalta