Dúil
Desire

• Bhí naíonán fireann ag imirt le gligín ar an mbrat urláir, in aice le cathaoir ina raibh a mháthair suite agus í ag léamh leabhair. Chuir sé scairt mheidhreach as féin, gach uile uair a chuala sé an torann binn a tháinig as an deis tar éis a craite. Ansin thit an gligín as a lámha. Tugadh scathamh beag ar siúl é, trasna an urláir, ag sciorradh agus ag iompó. Thit an naíonán ar a bholg nuair a shin sé é féin amach roimhe, le breith ar an rud beag gleoite.
  

  A baby boy was playing with a little bell/rattle on the carpet, next to a chair where his mother was sitting and reading a book. He made a merry shout every time he heard the sweet noise that came from the right[deis??? hand] after its shaking. Then the bell fell from his hands. It was given a little while to walk, across the floor, slipping and turning. The baby fell onto his stomach as he reached out to grab the pretty little thing.

  Dúil	desire, expectation, hope; element (of creation), created thing, creature	f
  naíonán	infant	m
  fireann	Male; Manly, virile; Real, thorough
  gligín	Little bell, tinkler, rattle(r); Tinkle; Rattle-brained person	n
  scairt	Shout; call, summons; …	f
  meidhreach	Mirthful, merry, gay; frisky, sportive
  torann	noise	m
  binn	weet, melodious
  deis	Right hand; right-hand side; Suitable, convenient, position; facility; Proper condition	f
  croite	shaken
  scaitheamh	Space of time, while, spell	m
  sciorradh	Slip, slide, skid	m
  iompó = iompú	Turning, turn
  gleoite	Neat, pretty; lovely, charming, delightful

• Chuir teangabhśil tobann a choirp le cruacht an urláir fonn air scread a ligean. Ní hé an phian a mhothaigh sé bhí ciontach leis an bhfonn sin ar fad. Sé an fhothuiscint a bhí ann ó nádúir a d’ordaigh dhó glaoch go borb ar a mháthair nuair a bhí call aige le seirbhis. Cé gur oscail sé a bhéal, ina dhiaidh sin níor chuir sé uaidh an uaill, Ar an bpointe sin agus é sínte amach ar a bholg lena cheann in airde chonaic sé rud iontach a chuir a phluca ramhra ag craitheadh le gliondar.

  The sudden contact of his body with the hardness of the floor made him want to let out a scream. It wasn’t the pain he felt that was responsible for all that urge. It was the instinct of nature that commanded him to fiercely call his mother when he needed help. Although he opened his mouth, after that he did not yell. At that point, as he was stretched out on his stomach with his head raised, he saw something amazing that made his fat cheeks shake with joy.

  teagmháil	Meeting, encounter; communication, intercourse	f
  cruacht	Hardness; hardiness	f
  fonn	Desire, wish, inclination, urge	m
  tuiscint	Understanding; wisdom, discernment; thoughtfulness, consideration.
  borb	Fierce, violent; rude; Coarse, strong, pungent
  call	call, need	m
  seirbhís	service	f
  uaill	Wail; howl, yell	f
  pluc	cheek	f npl pluca
  ramhar	fat
  croitheadh	shake
  gliondar	Gladness, joyousness, mirthfulness	m

• Bhí gath gréine sínte trasna an urláir, timpeall le deich dtroigh uaidh. Tháinig sé trí fhuinneog ard, a bhí lánoscailte do réir nóis na Fraince agus a haghaidh ar ghairdín. Bhí an gath álainn seasta ar an aer, suas [d.l. 11] anuas ó dhíon go hurlár, mar bheadh cuirtín síoda ina raibh na mílte agus na mílte seod ag lonradh.

  A ray of sunlight was stretched across the floor, about ten feet from him. It came through a high window, which was fully open in the French style and faced a garden. The beautiful ray was standing in the air, up and down from roof to floor, like a silk curtain with thousands and thousands of jewels shining.

  ga	ray	m
  troigh	foot
  seasta	Standing, supporting; Steady, permanent, regular
  díon	Protection, shelter; roof
  síoda	silk	m
  seoid	jewel	f npl seod, gpl seoda
  lonradh	Brightness, radiance, resplendence	m

• Gan corr dá laghad as a chorp, bhreathnaigh sé ar an iontas seo ar feadh nóiméid agus sruth fairsing uisce ag sileadh anuas óna bhéal ar an naipcín a bhí ceangailte faoina mhuineál. Ansin tháinig glothar ina scornach le teann amplachta. Sháigh sé a lámh dheis amach roimhe le greim fháil ar an áilleacht lonrach. Nuair a dhún na méaracha beaga go santach, níor casadh leo ach an t-aer folamh. Baineadh treascairt as agus thit sé i ndiaidh a thaoibh.
  

  Without moving his body in the least, he watched this wonder for a minute as a wide stream of water dripped down from his mouth onto the napkin tied around his neck. Then came a gurgle in his throat with the strength of hunger. He thrust his right hand out in front of him to grab the shining beauty. When the little fingers closed greedily, they met with only empty air. He was overthrown and afterwards fell on his side.

  corraigh	move, stir	v
  sruth	Stream; current, flow	m
  fairsing	Wide, extensive; ample, spacious
  sileadh	Drip, drop, trickle
  muineál	neck	m
  glothar	Rattle (in throat), gurgle	m
  scornach	throat	f
  teann	Strength, force	n
  amplach	Hungry; Greedy.
  Sáigh	Thrust; stab; push, press; dart, lunge
  santach	Greedy; Covetous, avaricious; Intensely eager
  treascairt	Knock-down, overthrow, downfall, defeat	f
  bain as	Take, remove, from; …

• Anois níor chuir an teangabháil tobann leis an urlár cruaidh fonn screadaigh air in aon chor. Bhí an oiread sin samhnais ar a chroí, ó bheith ag breathnú ar an gcuirtín seodach lena shúile móra leata, nár thug sé aon aird ar an bpian. D’fhan sé mar sin ar aghaidh an iontais, nó gur neartaigh a dhúil chomh mór sin nach raibh adhradh a shúl i ndon a shásamh. Thosnaigh sé ag tnúthán, idir anam agus corp, le gabháil i dteannta leis an áilleacht. D’ardaigh sé suas é féin ar a lámha agus a ghlúine, le mórchaitheamh tola agus nirt. Sháigh sé amach a chlab íochtarach go cróga agus rinne sé ar an gcuirtín solais go díocasach.

  Now the sudden encounter with the hard floor didn’t give him any desire to scream at all. There was that much disgust in his heart, from looking at the jeweled curtain with his big broad eyes, that he paid no attention to the pain. He stayed like that, with a face of wonder, until his desire strengthened so much that the adoration of his eyes could not satisfy it [i ndon ??]. He began to yearn, both soul and body, to go along with the beauty. He raised himself up onto his hands and knees, with a great expense of will and strength. He stuck out his lower lip bravely and eagerly made for the curtain of light.

  teagmháil	Meeting, encounter; communication, intercourse	f
  scread	scream	f, v
  samhnas	Nausea; disgust	m gs samhnais
  leathadh	Spreading, spread; diffusion, scattering, broadcasting;	leata
  neartaigh	strengthen
  adhradh	Adoration, worship	m
  tnúthán	Act of) expecting, desiring, longing; expectancy	m
  gabháil	Catch, seizure, capture	f
  toil	Will; inclination, desire, wish	f gs tola
  neart	Strength; force, power	m gs nirt
  clab	open mouth
  íochtarach	Lower, low(-lying)
  cróga	Brave; Hardy; lively, spirited
  díocasach	Eager, keen

• Nior thug sé iarracht riamh roimhe sin ar lámhacán a dhéanamh. Dé bhrí sin, ba rí-ghearr nó gur mhothaigh sé pian chumasach ina ghéaga. Thosnaigh a chroí ag bualadh go tapaidh. Chuir an ghluaiseacht neamhchoitianta míobhán ina cheann. Ní raibh ach timpeall le dhá throigh siúlta aige nuair chinn ar a lámha meáchan a choirp d’iompar níos faide. Thit sé síos ar a bholg. [d.l. 12]
  

  He had never tried to crawl before. Therefore, it was a very short time until he felt a sharp pain in his limbs. His heart started beating rapidly. The unusual movement made him dizzy. He had only walked about two feet when his hands could not carry the weight of his body any farther. He fell down on his stomach.

  lámhacán	(Act of) creeping, crawling (in manner of child).	m
  Dé bhrí sin	therefore
  cumasach	Capable, powerful
  géag	branch, limb	f npl géaga
  gluaiseacht	movement	f
  neamhchoitianta	Uncommon, unusual
  míobhán	dizzy
  meáchan	weight	m
  cinn	Fix, determine, decree

• Cuireadh in iúl dó arís go bhfeilfeadh scread, le fios a chur ar chúnamh. D’oscail sé a bhéal, ach nior tháinig giog as a scornach. Bhí a dhiúl níos láidre ná a dhoilíos. Shín sé amach a lámha, rug sé greim cruaidh ar an mbrat urláir agus tharraing sé a chorp ar aghaidh troigh mhór eile; ag déanamh ar an gcuirtín míorúilteach. Lig sé scith ansin ar feadh tamaill, nó gur thug an tnúthán faoi aris agus gurbh éigean dó é féin a chrochadh suas ón urlár le lámhacán eile a dhéanamb.
  

  He was again informed that a scream would be suitable, to call for help. He opened his mouth, but only a squeak came out of his throat. His desire was stronger than his sorrow. He stretched out his hands, grabbed the rug firmly, and pulled his body forward another large foot; making for the miraculous curtain. He rested there for a while, until that the longing for it returned and he was forced to raise himself up from the floor with another crawl.

  gíog	Cheep, chirp, squeak	f
  doilíos	Sorrow, affliction; remorse, penitence; melancholy	m
  míorúilteach	miraculous
  tnúthán	Act of) expecting, desiring, longing; expectancy	m
  éigean	Force, violence	m
  crochadh	hanging; raising, erection	m
  lámhacán	(Act of) creeping, crawling (in manner of child)	m

• Chuaigh sé ar aghaidh ceithre troigh den iarraidh seo, in aon ruathar mór millteach amháin. Nuair a thit sé, is ar éigin bhí sé i ndon anál a tharraingt. Bhí a lámha agus a chosa ag preabadh le pian. Ba chuma leis, ina dhiaidh sin, faoin bpian agus faoin mbagairt bheag fhaiteach a bhí ag gabháil ar a intinn; ag rá leis éiri as an aistear contúirteach seo agus glaoch ar a mháthair. Ní raibh an t-iontas lonrach ach trí troigh uaidh anois, ag cur draíochta ar a shúile lena ghleoiteacht diaga. D’ardaigh sé suas é féin arís, le gach a raibh fágtha dá neart a chaitheamh ar iarracht deireannach. Chuaigh sé ar aghaidh ansin, ag cur orlaigh i ndiaidh orlaigh thairis gan sos, nó gur shroich sé an áit ar cheap sé an cuirtín álainn a bheith crochta.

  He moved forward four feet in this attempt, in one big extreme rush. When he fell, he could hardly draw a breath. [i ndon ??]. His arms and legs were throbbing with pain. It seemed to him, after that, under the pain and under the small fearful threat that had captured his mind; telling him to leave this dangerous journey and call his mother. The shining wonder was now only three feet away, enchanting his eyes with its divine loveliness. He raised himself up again, spending all that was left of his strength in one last attempt. He then went forward, inch after inch without stopping, until he reached the place where he thought the beautiful curtain would be hanging.

  ruathar	Rush, onrush, onset, attack	m
  millteach	Destructive; baneful, pernicious; Enormous, extreme
  preabadh	Jump, start; throb; Kick.	m
  bagairt	threat	f
  faiteach	fearful, apprehensive; timid, shy
  aistear	journey	m
  draíocht	Druidic art, druidism; Witchcraft, magic; charm, enchantment	f gs draíochta
  gleoiteacht	Neatness, prettiness, loveliness	f
  diaga	divine; godly, godlike; sacred, holy
  orlach	inch	m gs orlaigh
  sos	Rest, cessation; pause, interval; respite	m

• Mo léan géar! Nuair a bhuail sé isteach imeasc an tsolais lonraigh ba léar dá shúile scanraithe nach raibh rud ar bith ina sheasamh ar an aer. Ní raibh aon tuairisc feasta ar an gcuirtín glégeal a mheall é le áilleach a chuid seod. Bhí an solas chomh láidir gurbh éigean dó bheith ag caochadh a shúl agus é ag dearcadh, faoi bhriseadh croí, anseo agus ansiúd, ar thóir an iontais [d.l. 13] bhí caillte aige. Ansin chonaic sé an fhuinneog oscailte a thug aghaidh ar an ngairdín. Nuair a bhreathnaigh sé amach tríd, stad a chroí le scanradh, roimh méid uafásach an domhain taobh amuigh.

  My bitter woe! When he fell into the shining light, it was clear to his greedy/frighted eyes that nothing was standing on air. There was no more trace of the brilliant curtain that had charmed him with the beauty of its jewels. The light was so strong that he had to blink his eyes as he looked, heartbroken, here and there, in search of for the wonder he had lost. Then he saw the open window that faced the garden. When he looked out through it, his heart stopped with fear, at the astonishing size of the world outside.

  léan	Deep affliction; grief, anguish, woe	m
  géar	sharp
  tuairisc	Information, tidings; account of whereabouts	f
  feasta	From now on, henceforth; (with neg.) no more, not any more
  gléigeal	pure white, brilliant, transparently clear
  meall	Beguile, charm; entice
  caochadh	winking	m
  dearcadh	Look, gaze	n
  tóir	Pursuit, chase; hunt, search; pursuing party	f
  scanradh	Rout; scattering, dispersal; Fright; Astonishing thing, terror; astonishing amount; greed, avarice	m
  méid	Amount, quantity, extent, degree, number; size, magniturde	m
  uafásach	Horrible, terrible; vast, astonishing

• Amach uaidh agus amach, do shroich éadan an domhain gan teora, amach thar an ngairdín bláthach, síos trí ghleann mór doimhin a bhí brataithe le crainnte agus suas arís thar sléibhte arda ag a raibh na beanna gorma buailte le díon cumasach na spéire agus seod mór cruinn amháin ag lonradh ansin thuas, mar bheadh súil Dé na Glóire.
  

  Away from him and away, the face of the world reached without limits, out beyond the flowering garden, down through a great deep valley covered with trees and up again over high mountains whose blue peaks met the mighty roof of the sky and a single great round jewel shone there above, as if it were the eye of God’s Glory.

  teorainn	Boundary, limit; border, frontier	f
  bláthach	Floral; flowering
  beann	Horn, antler; Regard; dependence	f
  cumasach	Capable, powerful

• D’fhan sé gan corr as ar feadh tamaillín agus é lán le eagla, ag breathnú ar an iontas nua seo a bhí thar chumas a thuisceana. Ansin do dhún sé a shúile lena gcosaint ar sholas na gréine. Le teacht an dorchadais thosnaigh an bhagairt fhaiteach ag gabháil arís ar a intinn. Thug sé aird uirthi anois agus a dhúil imithe i léic. Mhothaigh sé na pianta a bhí ag crá a choirp. Thuig sé go raibh achar mór siúlta aige go dtí an áit seo ina raibh sé aonraic. Thosnaigh sé ag craitheadh le uafás, d’oscail sé a bhéal agus leag sé air ag screadach. Chaith a mháthair uaithi an leabhar agus rith sí chuige go mear. Thóg sí suas idir lámha é agus i á phógadh go ceanúil. Choinnigh sé air ag béiciú fad bhí sí á thabhairt sall go dtí an chathaoir. Níor tháinig aon fhoighid ann nó gur shuigh sí síosagus é ar a hucht aici. Nuair a thosnaigh sí ag crónán os íseal agus á bhogadh go réidh anonn agus anall, d’imigh an t-uafás de agus is gearr go raibh sé ina thost. Phioc sí suas an gligín ansin denurlár agus chraith sí é amach roimhe. Rinne sé meangadh [d.l. 14] beag gáire agus rug sé ar an deis[??] torainn ina dhá lámh. Thosnaigh sé á craitheadh.
  

  He stayed withot moving for a little while, filled with fear, watching this new wonder that was beyond his understanding. Then he closed his eyes to protect them from the light of the sun. With the coming of darkness, the fearful threat began to take hold of his mind again. He paid attention to it now and his desire went away in neglect. He felt the pains that tormented his body. He realized that he had gone on a great journey to this place where he was alone. He began to shake with terror, opened his mouth and lay down screaming. His mother threw the book away from her and ran to him quickly. She picked him up in her arms and kissed him affectionately. He kept on yelling while she was carrying him to the chair. No patience came until she sat down with him on her lap. When she began to hum softly and move him gently back and forth, the terror vanished and he was soon silent. She then picked the rattle up from the floor and shook it out in front of him. He made a little smile and grabbed the noisy [??] in both hands. He started shaking it.

  corraigh	move, stir	v
  cosaint	Defense, protectio	f
  bagairt	threat	f
  faiteach	fearful, apprehensive; timid, shy
  gabháil	Catch, seizure, capture	f
  léig	decay, neglect	f
  crá	Anguish, torment; distress, sorrow	m
  achar	Distance, journey	m
  aonraic	Solitary; alone
  croitheadh	shake	m
  mear	Quick, fast, nimble, lively, spirited; Precipitate, hasty, rash; quick-tempered, fiery
  ceanúil	Loving, affectionate
  béic	yell, shout	f, v
  sall	To the far side, over, across
  foighne	patience	f
  ucht	Chest; breast, bosom	m
  crónán	(Act of) humming; hum, murmur, drone, purr.	m
  meangadh	smile	m
  torainn	noise	m gs npl torainn

• Anseo le taobh na bruinne ina bhfuair sé an beo ní raibh aon bheann aige ar phian ná ar chontúirt an tsaoil. Anois ba hé glór binn a mháthar bhí á chur faoi dhraíocht; ach go raibh an mealladh seo ciúin agus cineálta. Scuabadh glan amach as a mheabhair cuimhne ar an dochar a d’fhulaing sé agus é ag déanamh mórthriail go doras an domhain. Tháinig samhnas air agus leisce. Shín sé amach a chosa go righin, lig sé osna fada agus theann sé isteach go dlúth le corp teolaí a mháthar. Thosnaigh sé ag taibhreamh agus a shúile móra gorma lánoscailte.
  

  Here by the side of the bosom where he found life, he had no regard for the pain or danger of life. Now it was the sweet voice of his mother that was enchanting him; but this alurement was quiet and kind. The memory of the harm he had suffered while making a great attempt on the door of the world was swept clean away from his mind. Nausea and reluctance came over him. He stretched out his legs slowly, let out a long sigh and tightened himself close to his mother’s warm body. He began to dream with his big blue eyes wide open.

  bruinne = broinne	Breast, bosom; Brink, verge
  beann	regard; dependence	f
  contúirt	Doubt; Danger	f
  binn	Sweet, melodious
  mealladh	Beguilement, allurement, enticement; Deception; disappointment.	m
  cineálta	kind; Pleasant, mild; True to kind; of good quality
  meabhair	Mind, memory	f
  cuimhne	memory	f
  dochar	Harm; hurt, injury; loss, distress	m
  fulaing	bear, endure, suffer, tolerate	v
  triall	Journey, expedition; Proceeding, attempt	m, v
  samhnas	Nausea; disgust	m
  leisce	Laziness, sloth; Disinclination, reluctance; shyness, embarrassment ….	f
  righin	Tough; tenacious; unyielding, stubborn; Slow, deliberate; lingering, tardy
  teann	Tighten, tauten
  dlúth	Close, compact; dense, solid; Close, tight; near
  teolaí	Warm, cosy, comfortable; Fond of comfort, coddled, soft; delicate, unrobust
  taibhreamh	dream; Manifestation, revelation, vision	m

• Chonaic sé aris an cuirtín lonrach agus mhothaigh sé an t-áthas a chuir rince na seod ar a chroí. Chonaic sé méid cumasach an domhain ag sroicheadh amach ón bhfuinneog, thar an ngairdín bláthach agus thar ghleann mór na gcrann, go beanna gorma na gcnoc. Chonaic sé súil ghlégeal Dé ag scairteadh, thuas amach i bhfairneacht na spéire.
  

  He saw the shining curtain again and felt the joy that the dance of the jewels put in his heart. He saw the great expanse of the world reaching out from the window, across the flowery garden and over the great valley of trees, to the blue peaks of the hills. He saw the brilliant eye of God shining, up out in the ??? of the sky.

  áthas	Joy, gladness	m
  cumasach	Capable, powerful
  beann	Horn, antler; Regard; dependence	f
  glégeal = gléigeal	Pure white, brilliant, transparently clear
  fairneacht	???

• Nuair a dhún sé a shúile faoi dheireadh agus é ag titim ina chodladh, bhí sé ag craitheadh le duil in aistear eile a thabhairt amach ón mbroinn, tríd an domhan a bhí taobh thiar den chuirtín lonrach, aistear i ndiaidh aistir, go deireadh a bheatha corpartha, ag comhlíonadh dualgais an chine dhaonna, le eagla agus doilíos agus áthas, trí ghairdíní bláthacha agus gleannta iargúlta, go dtí beanna na sliabh ag bun na spéire agus suas as sin, nó go seasfadh sé os comhair súile Dé. [d.l. 15]
  

  When he finally closed his eyes and fell asleep, he was shaking with the desire to take another journey out of the womb, through the world that was behind the shiny curtain, journey after journey, until the end of his corporeal life, in fulfillment of the duties of the human race, with fear and sorrow and joy, through flowery gardens and remote valleys to mountain peaks at the foot of the sky and up from there, until he stood in front of the eyes of God.

  aistear	journey	m
  broinn	womb	f
  corpartha	Corporal; corporeal
  comhlíonadh	Fulfilment; Performance, observance; Completion; Satisfaction, requital	m
  dualgas	Natural right, due; customary fee or reward; duty	m gs npl dualgais
  doilíos	Sorrow, affliction; remorse, penitence; melancholy	m
  iargúlta	Backward, remote, isolated
  beann	Horn, antler; Regard; dependence	f