An Seabhac
The Hawk

• Chroch sé suas é féin os cionn bruaich an haille faoi dhianruathar eitíll agus rinne sé ar mhór-airde na spéire, ag cur timpeall agus timpeall ar bhord fada, nó gur mhothaigh sé íochtair sreamacha na néall ag gabháil go fuar fliuch thar a dhroim. Isteach leis ansin caol díreach tríd an tír
  

  He lifted himself above the edge of the cliff edge flying[?] under a strong gust of wind and made for the great heights of the sky, going around and around a long border{?}, until he felt the drizzly bottom of the cloud cold and wet across his back. Enter it then straight through the country.

  bruach	Bank, brink; edge	m
  aill	Cliff, precipice	f gs aille
  dian	Intense, vehement; hard, severe
  ruathar	Rush, onrush, onset, attack	m
  eitil	Fly; flutter	v
  íochtar	Lower part, bottom	m gs nplíochtair
  sramach	Clammy; damp, drizzly; …
  néal	cloud	m

• Cé nar thug sé anois ach corrbhuille fánach lena sciatháin agus é á scaoileadh féin go leisciúil le sruth an aeir, buailte suas le díon an domhain, bhí díocas agus saint mharfa an tseabhaic ina shúile buí; iad seo ag dearcadh síos go grinn ar urlár lonrach na talún a bhhí sínte amach faoi bholg folamh na spéire ; gan oiread na fríde i ndon é féin a cheilt ar a radharc damanta.

  Who now gave only the occasional stray beat of his wings and lazily released himself into the stream of the air, stuck up against the roof of the world, the eagerness and deadly greed of the hawk were in his yellow eyes; these looking down keenly at the shining floor of the earth that was stretched out beneath the empty belly of the sky; without the least effort to conceal itself from his damned gaze.

  corr-	Odd; Occasional; …
  buille	Blow, stroke	m
  fánach	Wandering, straying, vagrant
  leisciúil	Lazy, slothful; Reluctant, loath
  scaoileadh	Loosening, undoing; release, discharge	m
  sruth	Stream; current, flow	n
  buail	Hit, strike; beat; …
  díocas	Eagerness, keenness	m
  saint	Avarice, covetousness	f
  dearcadh	look, gaze	m
  grinn	Perceptive, discerning; clear, accurate
  lonrach	Bright, shining, luminous; brilliant, resplendent
  frid	Flesh-worm, mite	f gs fride
  i ndon	????
  ceil	Conceal; suppress, withhold
  damanta	damned

• Scairt an ghrian aon uair amháin ar a dhroim agus é ag gabháil trasna idir dhá néall, trí ghlaineacht aeir. Ansin arís, ní raibh ann ach taise dofheisce ag gluaiseacht gan torann tríd an gceo; éan álainn an bháis, gan trócaire ná faitíos ina chroí, ag soláthar creiche in aoibhneas an mhaidneachain.

  The sun shone out on his back one time as he went between two clouds, through the clearness of the air. Then again, there was only invisible moisture moving without noiselessly through the mist; a beautiful bird of death, without mercy or fear in his heart, procuring prey in the bliss of the dawn.

  néal	cloud	m
  glaineacht	Cleanliness
  taise	Dampness, moistness, humidity; Softness, smoothness, tenderness; Mildness, gentleness; kindness, compassion	f
  dofheicse = dofheicthe	Invisible, indiscernible
  gluaiseacht	movement; motion	f
  torann	noise	m
  ceo	Fog; mist, haze	n
  trócaire	Mercy; clemency, leniency, compassio	f
  soláthar	Collection, procurement; supply, provision	m
  creach	Foray, (cattle-) raid; Booty, plunder; prey	f gs creiche
  aoibhneas	Bliss, delight	m
  maidneachan	(Act of) dawning; dawn)/td>	m gs maidneachain

• Gheit sé go tobann agus d’éirigh a cholg nuair a chonaic sé fuiseog ag teacht chuige aníos as móinéar glas agus an drúcht ag lonradh ar dhroim an éin chanta [d.l. 16] faoin solas glégeal. Scaoil sé chun siúil é féin ar an bpointe a leag sé súil ar an gcreach. Choinnigh sé air chomh tréan agus ab fhéidir leis, nó go raibh sé díreach os cionn na fuiseoige. Ansin do thosnaigh sé ag cur timpeall go mall, gan cor as a sciatháin sínte agus a shúile ataithe le dúil. Bhí a chraiceann ag creathnú faoina chlúmhach tiubh; ar nós gadhair atá ag faire ar leaba dhearg.

  He jumped suddenly and bristled when he saw a lark coming towards him from a green meadow and the dew glistening on the songbird’s back in the brilliant light. He let himself go the moment he laid eyes on the prey. He held on as strongly as he could, until he was just above the lark. Then he began to slowly go around, without a twist of his outstretched wings and his eyes swollen with desire. His skin was shivering under his thick feathers; like a dog watching a lair.

  m

  colg	sword; Bristle; anger, rage; ….	m
  móinéar	meadow	m
  drúcht	dew
  glégeal = gléigeal	Pure white, brilliant, transparently clear.
  tréan	Strong, powerful; intense, violent
  cor	Turn, turning movement; twist	m
  creathnaigh	Tremble (with fear), quake; take fright, flinch
  clúmhach = clúmh	Down, feathers; fur, coat	m
  tiubh	Thick, dense, closely set
  gadhar	(hunting) dog, harrier, beagle	m

• D’ardaigh an fhuiseog go místuama ar dtús agus gan le cloisint uaithi ach corrghíog gan rithim idir léimeanna. Ansin do thosnaigh sí ag canadh go hálainn le lán a scornaigh agus d’ardaigh sí caol[ceol?] díreach gan stró, mar bheadh bua a glóir á tarraingt suas ar neamh. Anois bhí sí ag eiteall ar nós an fhéileacáin, le mionchraitheadh sciathán. Bhí an spéir lán lena ceol.

  The lark rose hesitantly at first, without hearing from her, except for an occasional chirp without rhythm between leaps. Then she began to sing beautifully with a full throat and raised a song straight up without effort, as if the triumph of her voice was being pulled up to heaven. Now she was flying like a butterfly, with a slight flutter of wings. The sky was fyll with her music

  místuama	Thoughtless, impractical, imprudent; Clumsy
  cloisint = cloisteáil	Hearing, listening	f
  corr-	Odd; Occasional; Eccentric; Tapering, pointed; Angular, projecting; Rounded, curved
  gíog	Cheep, chirp, squeak	f
  rithim	rhythm	f
  scornach	throat	f
  féileacán	Butterfly	m
  mion-	Small, minute; minor, petty; micro-
  croitheadh	shake	m

• D’fhan an seabhac nó go raibh an fhuiseog chomh fada suas agus ab fhéidir léi gabháil. Thog sé marc uirthi ansin agus scaoil sé a neart. Tháinig sé anuas ina mullach ó na néallta mar bheadh lasair tintrí. Bhris an ceol ina scornach nuair a chonaic sí an seabhac ag déanamh uirthi. Lig sí scread agus léim sí i leataobh. Ní baileach go raibh sí sách sciobtha le iomlán an ruathair mharfa a sheachaint. Is beag nár baineadh an t-anam aisti le gach ar theangaigh léi den bhuille. Chrap sí a sciatháin agus scaoil sí síos i féin i ndiaidh a cinn, ag iarraidh talamh a bhaint amach sula mbuailfeadh a namhaid an dara buille. D’fhág sí slám clúmhaigh a stróiceadh as a heireaball ag snámhán ar an aer ina diaidh.

  The hawk waited until the lark was as high up as as she could get. He then put a target on her and unleashed his strength. He came down in his height from the clouds like a flash of lightning. The music broke in her throat when she saw the hawk making for her. She let out a scream and jumped to one side. She was just quick enough to avoid the entire deadly attack. Her soul was almost taken from her with every ??? with her the blow. She folded her wings and lowered herself down after her head, trying to get to ground before her enemy could strike a second blow. She left a feathery tuft torn from her tail floating in the air behind her.

  marc	Target, goal	m
  mullach	Top; Highest point, summit	m
  baileach	exact
  sách	Full, sated, satisfied
  sciobtha	Fast, rapid, prompt
  ruathar	Rush, onrush, onset, attack	nm
  seachaint	Avoidance; evasion, guardedness	f
  teangach	Tongued; Lingual; Wordy, loquacious
  crap	Contract, shrink; draw in or up
  slám	Lock, tuft; Lock, handful	m
  clúmhach	Downy, feathery; Hairy, furry; coated; Fluffy, fuzzy; fleecy
  stróiceadh	tear, rent	m
  snámhán	float	m

• Nuair a chonaic an seabhac gur chinn air an marú a dhéanamh den chéad iarraidh sin, d’oscail sé a sciatháin [d.l. 17] agus leag sé iad in aghaidh na gaoithe lena ruathar a chosc. Ansin do chuir sé timpeall arís os cionn na creiche, thóg sé marc go deifreach agus scaoil sé a neart. An babhta seo ní raibh an fhuiseog i ndon[??] aon cheo a dhéanamh leis an mbuille a sheachaint. Criogadh í, ar nóiméad díreach a buailte. Síos léi bun os cionn, a cuid sciathán ag seachrán agus a ceann casta timpeall ar a scornach fhada, as ar tháinig ceol álainn tamaillín beag roimhe sin.

  When the hawk saw he had not made a kill on the first attempt, he opened his wings and laid them against the wind to prevent its onset. Then he circled again over the prey, he quickly took a mark and released his strength. This time the lark was not going to make any effort to avoid the blow. She was beaten, at just the moment she was struck. Down with her upside down, her wings fluttering and her head twisted around her long throat, out of which had come beautiful music a little while before.

  coisc	Check, stop; prevent, restrain
  ruathar	Rush, onrush, onset, attack	m
  creach	Foray, (cattle-) raid; Booty, plunder; prey	f gs creiche
  marc	Target, goal	m
  deifreach	hurried, in a hurry
  ceo	Fog; mist, haze; Anything, nothing
  cniog	Rap, tap; strike	vn, past aut cniogadh
  seachrán	Wandering, straying	m
  casta	Twisted, wound
  tamail	Space of time, while, spell	m

• Lean an seabhac titim na fuiseoige, ag gabháil timpeall agus timpeall ar bhord gearr, luite isteach go dlúth leis an gcreach ; nó gur bhuail siad talamh araon ar thrá bheag ghainimheach le taobh abhann. Ansin do chuir an t-éan troda cos go gaisciúil ar bhrollach na fuiseoige mairbhe. D’fhan sé seasta mar sin ar feadh tamaill, a shúile beagnach dúinta, a theanga gháirsiúil ag sliobarnaigh lena ghob agus a chroí ag bualadh go tréan faoi na barraí dubha ar a chliabh. Nuair a bhí a scíth ligthe aige, rug sé greim crúibe ar an gcorp agus chroch sé leis é suas san aer. As go brách leis ansin go dtí a nead, ina raibh a chéile suite ar gor.

  The hawk followed the fall of the lark, going around and around on a short tack****, stuck in closely with the prey; until they both hit the ground on a small sandy beach on the side of a river. Then the fighting bird stepped boastfully on the dead lark’s chest. He stayed standing like that for a while, his eyes almost closed, his filthy tongue hanging loose with his beak and his heart beating violently under the black bars on his chest. When he had taken a rest, He grabbed the body by a claw and lifted it up in the air. Off he went to his nest, where his mate was sitting incubating.

  dlúth	Close, compact; dense, solid; tight, near
  creach	Foray, (cattle-) raid; Booty, plunder; prey	f gs creiche
  araon	both
  trá	Strand, beach	f
  gainmheach		sandy
  gaisciúil	Warlike, valiant; Boastful, vaunting, vainglorious
  brollach	Breast, bosom	m
  seasta	Standing, supporting
  gáirsiúil	Lewd, obscene, filthy
  liobarnach	Hanging loose; Tattered, slovenly; Lubberly, clumsy; Blubbering, crying.
  tréan	Strong, powerful; intense, violent
  barra	bar	m pl barraí
  cliabh	Ribbed frame; Body; chest, bosom	m
  crúb	claw	f gs crúibe

• 
  Bhí an nead déanta in áit fhíor-ríoga, istigh ar thulán buí faoi bhruach bolgach aille móire, ag an bpointe ab airde de chuan fada cúng. Bhí sé chomh fada suas sin os cionn na farraige nach raibh i mórthorann feargach na dtonn ach sioscadh ciúin nuair a shroich sé an tulán. Ní raibh torann ar bith eile le cloisint sa gcró ard siúd a d’éirigh suas caol díreach ón uisce ; leac aoil leagtha os cionn leice dá samhail ar feadh cheithre chéad troigh. Dhá mhí roimhe sin bhí plod mór éan ag maireachtain [d.l. 18] sa gcuan; éanacha de gach saghas dá bhfeictear ag neadú bhfarragáin aille. Ansin do[??] tháinig an dá sheabhac óg as an aer thoir agus iad ag gabháil lena chéile faoi chuthach macnais.
  

  The nest was made in a truly royal place, inside a yellow knoll under the steep bank of a large cliff, at the highest point of a long, narrow bay. He/It was so far up above the sea that the great noise of the angry waves was only a quiet whisper when it reached the knoll. There was no other noise to be heard in that high hollow that rose straight up from the water; a slab of limestone laid over a similar slab for four hundred feet. Two months earlier there had been a large flock of birds living in the bay; birds of all kinds are seen nesting on cliff ledges. Then the two young hawks came out of the eastern air, pursuing each other in a frenzy of playfulness.

  m

  tulán	Protuberance; mound, knoll, hummock	m
  bruach	Bank, brink	m
  bolgach	Big-bellied; bulging
  aill	Cliff, precipice	f gs aille
  cuan	Haven; Harbor; Place of refuge; bow, curve	m
  cúng	narrow
  tonn	wave	f
  sioscadh	Fizz, sizzle; whisper, rustle	m
  aol	lime	m gs aoil
  leac	Flat stone or rock; flagstone, slab	f gs leice
  samhail	Likeness, semblance, similitude
  cró	eye, socket; hollow; …	m
  troig	foot	f
  plod = plód	Crowd, throng
  maireachtáil	Living, livelihood, subsistence	f
  farragán = fargán	Ledge; (pl.) steep slope with ledges	m gs npl fargáin
  cuthach	Rage, fury	m
  macnas	playfulness, sportiveness, dalliance; act of playing, frolicking; Wantonness, voluptuousness; Ease, luxuriousness

• Lán le scanradh, sheas na héin aille ó mhaidneachan go dtí ard na gréine agus iad ag faire ar choimhlint cholla na seabhac ; iad seo ag déanamh ruathair i ndiaidh ruathair ghrá tríd an aer os cionn an chuain ; ag scaoileadh a nirt ar a chéile anuas ó na néallta go dtí bruach uisce agus ag cur timpeall in éineacht arís suas ; iad ag casadh agus ag iompó ar a chéile ; brollach le brollach agus sciathán le sciathán; mar bheidís á gceangal féin le cion. Ar uair an mheán lae, chonaic lucht na faire an bhaineannach ag tabhairt an fhireannaigh isteach i bprochlais agus chualadar a scréach nuair a chuaigh an bodach ina teannta. Bhí fios acu ansin go raibh an dá éan troda ag braith ar nead a dhéanamh sa gcuan agus nach raibh aon rogha, dá bharr sin, ach teitheadh ; rud a rinne an slua ar fad gan mhoill. Faoi ard an tráthnóna agus an dá sheabhac ag siamsa go fánach agus ag déanamh aeir ar fuaid an chuain, ní raibh aon chréatúr eile fágtha ina ngaobhar. Bhí an áit álainn sin ar fad mar ríocht ag an gcúpla barbartha. Ag gabháil faoi don ghrian, thug an t-éan fireann leis a chéile suas go dti an tulán buí; áit a raibh dhá fhiach ina gcónaí sular imíodar ar a dteitheadh uaidh an anachain.

  Full with fright, the birds stood on the cliff from dawn until the sun rose, watching the hawks’ contest ???; these making rush after rush of love through the air above the bay; releasing their strength upon each other down from the clouds to the water’s edge and circling together again up; they twist and turn on each other; breast with breast and wing with wing; as if they were binding themselves with love. Ar noon, The watchers saw the female leading the male into a hole and heard her scream as the churl went along with her. They knew then that the two quarreling birds were hoping to build a nest in the bay and that there was no choice, consequently, but flight, which the whole crowd did without delay. In the late afternoon, as the two hawks frolic and wander and enjoy themselves throughout the bay, There were no other creatures left in their vicinity. That entire beautiful place was the kingdom of the barbarous couple. Going under the sun, the male bird took them together up to the yellow knoll; where two ravens had lived before they left fleeing the disaster.

  scanradh	Rout; scattering, dispersal; Fright	m
  aill	Cliff, precipice	f gs aille
  coimhlint	Race, contest; rivalry, competition	f
  colainn	Body; Living body; flesh; trunk; main part; person	f
  ruathar	Rush, onrush, onset, attack	nm
  brollach	Breast, bosom	m
  cion	Love, affection; share, amount	m
  prochóg	Hole, den, cave; hollow	f
  bodach	Churl, lout; beggar; lad
  teannta	Strait, difficulty, predicament; Prop, support	m
  ina teannta	along with
  troid	Fight, quarrel	troda
  dá bharr sin	consequently
  teitheadh	Flight, retreat; escape, evasion	m
  siamsa	(Musical) entertainment; pleasant diversion, amusement	m
  fánach	Wandering, straying, vagrant
  gaobhar	Nearness, proximity; vicinity	m
  tulán	Protuberance; mound, knoll, hummock	m
  fiach	raven	m
  anachain	Mischance, calamity, disaster; loss	f

• 
  Anois, nuair a chaith an fireannach bródúil corp na fuiseoige síos ar an tulán le taobh na nide, níor tugadh aird dá laghad air. Bhí a chéile chomh suantrach sin le gor go raibh mothú thar a cumas. Is beag nach raibh [d.l. 19] sí ina codladh ar an nead mídhéanta ; a gob leagtha ar chipín agus í ag breathnú síos ar an bhfarraige trína súile leathdhúnta. Thosnaigh seisean á dúiseacht. Scaoil sé a sciatháin síos le cois agus chuaigh sé timpeall ar an nead go basach, ag glaoch uirthi go ceanúil, á maoidheamh agus ag brú in aghaidh a taoibh lena ghuaille. Thug sé corrphrioc lena ghob dá cír agus chimil sé a droim le clúmhach síodúil a scornaí. Chuaigh sé thart timpeall uirthi ceithre bhabhta sular dhúisigh sí i gceart. Ansin d’ardaigh sí a ceann go tobann, d’oscail sí a béal agus lig sí scread. Chuir seisean scread uaidh freisin agus chuaigh sé de léim i mullach na fuiseoige. Scuab sé an ceann di go tapaidh, tharraing sé an clúmhach lena chrúba agus thairg sé an fheoil úr fhuilteach dá chéile. D’oscail sí amach a béal agus shloig sí an phlaic d’aon iarraidh amhain. Nuair bhí sin déanta aici, leag sí a ceann arís ar an gcipín, scar sí amach a corp os cionn na n-ubh agus thug sí don ghor iomlán a coinsiais.
  

  Now, when the proud male threw the lark’s body down onto the knoll on the side of the nest, he was not noticed in the least. His mate was so sleepy with incubating that feeling was beyond her power. She almost fell asleep on the unfinished nest; her beak laid on a little stick as she looked down at the sea through her half-closed eyes. He started waking her up. He let his wings down by his feet and walked around the nest flat-footed, calling to her affectionately, ??? her and pressing against her side with his shoulders. He gave an occasional prick to her comb with his beak and stroked her back with the silky feathers of his throat. He went around her four times before she woke up properly. Then she raised her head suddenly, opened her mouth and let out a scream. He also let out a scream and jumped onto the top of the lark. He quickly removed its head, pulled the fluff with his claws and he offered the fresh, bloody meat to his companion. She opened her mouth wide and swallowed the mouthful in one try. When she had done that, she laid her head again on the little stick, spread her body out over the eggs and gave the entire brood her conscientiousness.

  bródúil	proud
  tulán	Protuberance; mound, knoll, hummock	m
  suantrach	sleepy
  gor	incubating
  mothú	Feeling, perception; sensation	m
  cumas	Capability, power
  déanta	Complete, finished
  mí-	Bad, ill, evil, dis-, mis-, un-
  cipín	Little stick	m
  gob	Beak, bill	m
  basach = bosach	Bladed; Flat-footed
  ceanúil	Loving, affectionate
  cír = cíor	comb	f
  cimil = cuimil	Rub; stroke, fondle; wipe	v
  clúmhach = clúmh	Of birds) Down, feathers; …	m
  scornach	throat	f gs scornaí
  mullach	top; Highest point, summit;…	m
  crúb	claw	f npl crúba
  tairg	Offer; Proffer, tender; …	v
  fuilteach	Bloody
  slog	Swallow	v
  plaic	Large bite, mouthful	f
  scar	Part, separate; spread	v
  coinsiasacht	Conscientiousness	f

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