Rang Gaeilge, 23ú lá Mí Mheiteamh 2026

Bás na Bó
Death of the Cow

• Rugadh marbh an lao. Tháinig sé in aghaidh a chos agus luigh sé ar an bhféar glas ina mheall dearg sleamhain, a cheann casta siar ar a dhroim.
  
  Sheas siad timpeall air, ag craitheadh a gceann, gan focal astu. ”Sé toil Dé é,” adúirt bean an fhir ar leis an bhó.
  
  Thosnaigh an bhó ag éagaoine; ar mire le tinneas beirthe. Ansin chas sí go tromchosach, a crúba ag brú síos na talún faoi mheáchan a coirp.
  

  The calf was born dead. It came feet first and lay on the green grass in a slippery red lump, its head turned back on its back.

  They stood around it, shaking their heads, without a word. “It is God’s will,” said the wife of the man who owned the cow.

  The cow began to moan; mad with the pains of birth. Then she turned heavily, her hooves pressing down on the ground under the weight of her body.

  lao	(Young) calf	n
  meall	Ball, globe; Lump, mass.
  sleamhain	Smooth, slippery
  toil	Will; inclination, desire, wish	f
  éagaoin	Moan; lament, complaint	f
  mire	Quickness, rapidity; spiritedness, ardour; Madness, frenzy	f
  crúb	claw; hoof	f
  meáchan	weight	m

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An Beo (tuilleadh)
The Living (continued)

• 
  Ní fearacht sí n don tseanduine bocht. Is beag an [d.l. 41] t-ómós a bhí dhósan. Nuair a déanadh freastal air, ba le grá Dé é agus ní le fonn. Ba mhór leo an chomaoin is lú a chuireadar air.

  “Féach ar an seandiabhal sí n,” adeiridís. “Níl brabach ag Dia ná ag duine air, caite ina smíste cois an teallaigh ó mhaidin go hoíche. B’fhearr dhuit bheith ag iarraidh na déirce ná bheith ag freastal air.”
  

  That’s not like the poor old man. There was little respect for him. When he was served, it was out of love for God and not out of desire. They liked the smallest favor they gave him.

  “Look at that old devil,” they used to say. ”There is no profit for God or man in him, spent as a large lump by the fireplace from morning to night. It would be better for you to beg for alms than to serve him.”

  fearacht	Like, as, in the manner of
  ómós	Homage; reverence, respect	m
  fonn	Desire, wish, inclination, urge	m
  comaoin	Favor, obligation	f
  brabach	Gain, profit	m
  smíste	… Large lumpish object….	m
  teallach	Fire-place, hearth	m
  déirc	Charity, alms(-giving)	f gs déirce

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