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

• 
  Ceart go leor, nior mhilleán orthu bheith ag casaoid. Ba gránna an rud bheith ag plé leis an seanduine bocht. B’éigean é a thabhairt óna áit chodlata gach maidin ; é a ghlanadh agus a ghléasadh agus a chur ina shui i gclúid an teallaigh ar stóilín beag. B’éigean téadracha a cheangal faoina lár agus é ina shui, ar eagla go dtitfeadh sé sa tine. Ag am béile, b’éigean brúitín a dhéanamh da chuid bídh agus é a choinneáil leis le spúnóig. Bhí sé ag tuilleamaí orthu le haghaidh seirbhís ar gach uile bhealach ; go díreach glan mar bhí an naíonán nuabheirthe.
  

  Right enough, don’t blame them for complaining. It was the ugliest thing to deal with the poor old man. He had to be taken from his sleeping place every morning; cleaned and dressed and placed on a small stool by the fireplace. Ropes had to be tied around his waist while he was sítting, for fear he would fall into the fire. At mealtime, his food had to be mashed and held for him with a spoon. He depended on them for service in every way; exactly as clean as the newborn baby was.

  milleán	Blame, censure; responsibility for failure or misdeed	m
  casaoid	Complaint
  gránna	Ugly. (a) Unpleasing to senses; disagreeable, unsightly
  gléas	Adjust, arrange; fit out, equip; dress, array; prepare, make ready
  clúid	Nook, corner	f
  stól	stool	m
  téad	rope	f
  tuilleamaí	dependence	m

• 
  “Aie! A rud brocach!” adeiridís agus iad á ghlanadh. “Ba mhór an leas do mhuintir an tí seo dá nglaodh Dia ort.”

  D’fhan an seanfhear ceangailte sa gclúid i rith an lae ar fad; idir codladh agus dúiseacht, pislíní ag sí leadh lena bhéal, ag cur rachta cainte uaidh ó am go ham, ag bagairt lena mhaide, ag sciolladh ar dhaoine nach raibh beo ar chor ar bith, ag cur tíre agus talún trí chéile go seafóideach. Nior tháinig sé as a mhearbhall ach amháin nuair a chuala sé an naíonán ag fógairt tar éis duiseachta. Gheit sé ansin agus tháinig lasair an áthais ina shuile. [d.l. 42]
  

  “Aie! Dirty thing“ they would say as they cleaned him. “It would be of great benefit to the people of this house if God called you.“

  The old man stayed tied up in the corner all day long; between sleeping and waking, peas dripping from his mouth, with outbursts of speech from time to time, threatening with his stick, scolding people who were not alive at all, confusing country and land in a nonsensical way. He only came out of his bewilderment when he heard the infant calling after waking up. He jumped then and a flame of joy came into his eyes.

  brocach	Grey, speckled grey; Spotted, pock-marked; Dirty-faced, grimy
  leas	Good, well-being, benefit, interest	m
  sileadh	Drip, discharge; pus	m
  racht	Pent-up, violent, emotion; paroxysm, fit; outburst	m
  bagairt	threat	f
  sciolladh	scolding, abuse	m
  fógairt	Call; proclamation, declaration, announcement	f
  lasair	flame, blaze	f
  áthas	Joy, gladness	m

• 
  “Cé hé seo?” adeireadh sé agus cluas le éisteacht air. “Cé aige atá an gheonaíl seo?”

  Nuair a thógadh an mhathair an naíonán as an gcliabhán, le cíoch a thabhairt dhó sa gcúinne thall, d’aithníodh an seanfhear an maicín agus thagadh bród air.

  “O! O!” adeireadh sé. “Is tú féin atá ann. “O! Nach tú tá gleoite bail ó Dhia ort. Táir muis, agus scafánta. Sín buachaill óg breá amach ar m’aghaidh ansin thall, gan amhras ar bith.”
  

  “Who is this?” he said with an ear to listen. ”Who is murmuring?”

  When the mother took the baby out of the cradle, to breastfeed him in the corner over there, The old man recognized the little boy and was proud of him. [past hab]

  “O! O!” he said “It’s you Aren’t you beautiful, God bless you? You are indeed strapping. A handsome young boy stretched out in front of me over there, without any doubt.”

  geonaíl	(Act of) droning, murmuring; whining, whimpering; rumble in bowels	f
  scafánta	Strapping, tall and vigorous; Speed

• 
  Dhéanadh sé iarracht ansin ar ghabháil go dtí an leanbh. Thagadh fearg air nuair nach bhféadadh sé gabháil níos faide ná deireadh na téada bhí timpeall ar a ghoile.

  “Ligí aige mé,” adeireadh sé agus é ag léimneach ar an stól. “Cé an fáth nach scaoileann sí bh an téad seo, a phaca diabhal. Tá sé thall ansin, fear de mo chine. Scaoiligí aige mé. Fear de mo chuid fola! Ligí aige me.”
  

  He then tried to carry the child. He became angry when he could not get any further than the end of the rope that was around his stomach.

  “Let me have him,” he said as he jumped onto the stool. “Why don’t you release this rope, you pack of devils. He is over there, a man of my race. Release him to me. A man of my blood! Let me have him.”

  gabháil	Catch, seizure, capture	f
  goile	Stomach	m
  téad	rope	f
  scaoil	Loose(n), release, discharge; Undo, untie, unfasten.

• 
  Ní fada a mhaireadh a bhuile. Thagadh gliondar air nuair d’fheiceadh sé an páiste á shíneadh féin agus á shearradh féin le sámhas ó bheith ag ól.

  “Dia leat, a mhaicín!” adeireadh an seanfhear, ag léimneach ar an stól. “Caith sí ar é sí n, a bhuachaill. Ná fág deor de sa sí ne. O! A leabharsa! Fear de mo chuid fola thú, ceart go leor. Ól leat, a chuid de mo chroi. Go méadaí Dia thú!”
  

  His madness did not last long. Gladness came on him when he saw the child stretching himself with pleasure from drinking.

  “God be with you, little son” said the old man, jumping on the stool. “Throw that back, boy. Don’t leave a drop in the nipple. Oh! Book! You are a man of my blood, all right. Drink with you, part of my heart. May God increase you!”

  m

  buile	Madness, frenzy	f
  gliondar	Gladness, joyousness, mirthfulness	m
  síneadh	Stretching, stretch; extension, prolongation
  searradh	Stretching of limbs	m
  sámhas	Bodily pleasure, voluptuousness	m

• 
  Bhí an geimhreadh i ngar do bheith caite sular chuir an naíonán aithne ar aon duine. Go dtí sí n níorbh eol dó ach ciocha a mháthar agus teoladas an chliabháin ; [d.l. 43] ŕudaí ab fhéidir leis mothú le baill a choirp. Cé gur mhinic a thug sé faoi deara gach ar thit amach thart timpeall, ní bhíodh aon tuiscint ina shúile móra gorma. Ansin faoi dheireadh tháinig an lá mór nuair a scairt an t-anam glégeal amach trína shúile.

  The winter was nearly spent before the infant recognized any person. Until then, he had only known his mother’s breasts and the warmth of the cradle; things he could feel with the parts of his body. Although he often noticed everything that happened around him, there was no understanding in his big blue eyes. Then finally came the big day when the brilliant soul called out through his eyes.

  gar	Nearness, proximity	m, a
  mothú	Feeling, perception; sensation, consciousness	m
  scairt	Shout, call	v, f
  gléigeal	Pure white, brilliant, transparently clear

• 
  Bhi sé ina lui ar a ghoile in ucht a mháthar, agus múisíom ar a ghoile faoin iomarca bheith ólta aige, nuair thug sé faoi deara geáitsí seafóideacha an tseanfhir sa gclúid thall. Rinne sé meangadh gáire ar dtús. Ansin do thosnaigh sé ag bualadh bos agus ag léimneach ag déanamh aithris ar an seanfhear. Lig sé béic bheag bhuacach.

  “Moladh le Dia Mór na Glóire !” adeir an mhathair.
  

  He was lying on his stomach on his mother’s bosom, and an upset stomach from drinking too much, when he noticed the old man’s nonsensical gestures over in the corner. He smiled at first. Then he began clapping and jumping, imitating the old man. He let out a small, luxuriant yell.

  “Praise be to the Great God of Glory!” said the mother.

  goile	Stomach	m
  ucht	Chest; breast, bosom	m
  múisiam	upset	m
  geáitse	Affected manner, pose, gesture; (pl.) airs, affectations, antics.	m
  seafóideach	Nonsensical, sí lly
  clúid	Nook, corner	f
  thall
  clúid	Nook, corner	f
  béic	Yell, shout	f, v
  buacach	Overtopping, lofty; Rich, luxuriant; Buoyant

• 
  Chruinnigh gach a raibh sa teach thart timpeall ar an teallach; iad ar fad ag breathnú ar an naíonán agus an seanfhear a bhí ag coimhlint lena chéile ; gan fios acu cé an duine den bheirt ba seafóidí nó ba páistiúla. Scairt gach uile dhuine amach ag gáirí ach amháin an tseanmhathair.

  “Aie! A Thiarna Dia!” adeir sí se i nglór an chaoineacháin. “Is breá an rud seafóid naíonáin d’fheiscint, ach níl rud ar bith ina dhíol truaighe níos cráite ná seanduine gan réasún.”
  

  Everyone in the house gathered around the fireplace; all of them watching the infant and the old man who were competing with each other; without knowing which of the two was more sí lly or more childish. Everyone shouted with laughter except the grandmother.

  “Aie! Lord God!” she said in a voice of lamentation. “It is fine to see a baby’s nonsense, but there is nothing more pitiful than an old person without reason.”

  tr>

  cruinnigh	Gather; Assemble
  coimhlint	Race, contest; rivalry, competition	f
  seafóideach	Nonsensical, sí lly
  páistiúil	Child-like, childish
  scairt	Shout, call	v, f
  caoineachán	(Act of) crying, mewling; lamentation	m
  cráite	Agonized, tormented, grieved

• 
  Ón lá sí n amach, do chaith an seanfhear agus an naíonán scaite móra agus iad ag imirt go sí mplí; ag bualadh bos agus ag clabaireacht chainte agus ag pislíneacht. Nuair a dealaíodh an leanbh, b’é an brúitin céanna tugadh dhóibh le n-ithe. Ach do réir mar neartaigh an naíonán, chuaigh an seanfhear chun laige. Bhuail plúchadh é san Earrach agus ceapadh go [d.l. 44] raibh sé ag saothrú báis. Cuireadh an Ola Bheannaithe air. D’éirigh sé as an tinneas sí n, ina dhiaidh sí n. Is gearr go raibh sé i ndon an leaba d’fhágaint agus cur faoi arís sa gclúid, amach ar aghaidh an linbh. Anois ní raibh ann ach taise. B’fhéidir é a chrochadh le leath lámh.
  

  From that day on, the old man and the infant spent long hours together, playing símply; clapping and chattering and talking nonsense. When the baby was separated, they were given the same mash to eat. But as the infant grew stronger, the old man became weaker. Asthma hit him in the spring and it was thought he was cultivating death. He was given holy oil. He recovered from that illness, after that. He was soon ready to leave the bed and be put back in the corner, out in front of the child. Now there was only weakness. Perhaps he was hanging on with one hand.

  scaitheamh	Space of time, while, spell	m
  clabaireacht	(Act of) prattling, talking volubly; garrulousness	f
  pislíneacht = prislíneacht	(Act of) dribbling (at mouth); drivel	f
  brúitín	Mashed potatoes, mash	m
  dealaigh	Part, separate	v
  plúchadh	Suffocation; Heavy downfall; Asthma
  taise	Dampness, moistness, humidity; Softness, smoothness, tenderness; Mildness, gentleness; kindness, compassion; Weakness, faintness	f

• 
  Tháinig lá breá Bealtaine agus trá mór ann. Bhí an mhuirín ar fad ag baint charraigín, cé is moite den leanbh agus an seanfhear agus an tseanbhean a bhí ag tabhairt aire don teach.

  “Tabhair amach ar an sráid mé,” adeir an seanfhear lena mhnaoi.

  “Céard tá uait anois?” adeir sí leis.

  “Ba mhaith liom an ghrian fheiscint,” adeir sé, “aon uair amháin eile sula caillfear mé.”

  A fine May day came and there was a big beach. The whole family was out gathering carrageen moss, except for the child and the old man and the old woman who was taking care of the house.

  “Take me out onto the street,” the old man said to the woman.

  “What do you want now?” she said to him.

  “I want to see the sun,” he said, “one more time before I die.”

  trá	Strand, beach	f
  muirín	family; charge, encumbrance; burden, load	f
  carraigín	Carrageen moss	m
  Cé is moite (de)	except (for)

• 
  Ghoil sí beagán agus ansin thug sí amach ar an sráid é. Chuir sí ina shuí an fear bocht ar chathaoir shúgáin le taobh an dorais. Shuigh sí féin in aice leis agus an leanbh ar a hucht. Thosnaigh sí ansin ag glaoch ar na héanlaithe tí.

  “Tiuc! Tiuc!” adeir sí. “Fit! Fit! Beadaí ! Beadaí ! Beadaí !”
  

  She cried a little and then took him out into the street. She sat the poor man on a rope chair by the door. She sat next to him with the baby on her bosom. She then began calling the house/farmyard birds.

  “Chuck! Chuck!” she shouted. “Fit! Fit! Beadaí ! Beadaí ! Beadaí !”

  goil	Weep, cry (softly)
  súgán	straw-rope	m
  ucht	Chest; breast, bosom	m
  éanlaith	birds, fowl	f gs éanlaithe
  Tiuc	Chuck [call to hens]
  Beadaí	(Pet name and call name for a) goose.

• 
  Tháinig sí ad ar fad ina treo, ag rith ar a ndícheall ; idir chearca agus lachain agus géabha. Chaith sí blúiríní bídh amach ar an tsráid acu, as méis mhór a bhí aici. Bhí sé ina chogadh dearg ansin ag na héanlaithe agus iad ag cliobadh a chéile agus ag screadach. Tháinig gliondar ar an naíonán, nuair a chonaic sé an plod éan thart timpeall air Thosnaigh sé ag bualadh bos, ag léimneach agus ag béiciú. Rinne an seanfhear amhlaidh [d.l. 45] agus é chomh bainte leis an leanbh ag gleo agus fursadh na n-éan.

  “Go bhfóire Dia orainn !” adeir an tseanbhean go dúbhrónach.
  

  They all came towards her, running as fast as they could; between chickens and ducks and geese. She threw bits of food to them out onto the street, from a large dish she had. It was all-out war then among the birds as they ??? at each other and screamed. The infant was filled with gladness, when he saw the crowd of birds around him. He began clapping, jumping and shouting. The old man did likewise, as he was so caught up in the child’s uproar and the tussle [???] of the birds.

  “God bless us! ” said the old woman sorrowfully.

  dícheall	Best endeavour	m
  blúire	Bit, fragment	m
  méise = mias	Board, slab; table; dish	f
  gliondar	Gladness, joyousness, mirthfulness	m
  plod = plód	Crowd, throng	m
  amhlaidh	thus, so
  gleo	Fight, combat, battle; Noise, clamour, uproar, tumult	m

• 
  Is gearr gur thit an seanfhear ina thost go tobann. Nuair a bhreathnaigh an tseanbhean sall, chonaic sí go raibh sé ag iarraidh éirí. Sular fhéad sí breith air, thit sé amach as an gcathaoir i ndiaidh a chinn roimhe. Nuair a chrom sí os a chionn agus an leanbh faoi ascaill aici, chuala sí glothar an bháis ina scornach. Ansin arís ní raibh dada le cloisint uaidh.

  Dhírigh an tseanbhean í féin agus thosnaigh sí ag caoineadh an mhairbh.
  

  Soon the old man suddenly fell silent. When the old woman looked over, she saw that he was attempting to get up. Before she could catch him, he fell out of the chair head first. When she bent over him with the child in her arms, she heard the death-rattle in his throat. Then there was nothing to be heard from him.

  The old woman straightened herself up and began crying for the dead.

  sall	To the far side, over, across
  crom	Bend, stoop	v, a
  ascaill	armpit	f
  glothar	Rattle (in throat), gurgle	m
  glothar an bháis	death rattle
  dírigh	straighten, direct	v
  caoineadh	Keen, lament; crying, weeping

• 
  “Och! Ochón !” a chaoin sí go cráite. “Is leatsa do shiúil mé tríd an saol, faoi lúcháir agus faoi dhúbhrón. Och! Ochén! Tá tú imithe anois agus tá mise fagtha, cé nach fada go mbeidh mé ad leanacht. Ochón ! Ochón! Mo mhuirmín! Nach thú bhí dathúil láidir lá do phósta! Nach thú bhí fiúntach ceanúil ! Nach thú bhí…”
  

  “O! Alas!” she cried in agony. “It is with you that I have walked through life, in joy and in sorrow. O! Alas! You are gone and I remain, although it won’t be long before I follow you. Alas! Alas! My family! Weren’t you handsome and strong on your wedding day! Weren’t you worthy and loving! Weren’t you….”

  och	Och! O! Alas!
  ochón	Alas!; Woe is me!; Cry, wail, lament
  cráite	Agonized, tormented, grieved
  lúcháir	Welcoming joy, gladness, exultation	f
  muirín	family	f
  fiúntach	Worthy; decent, respectable; generous
  ceanúil	loving, affectionate

• 
  Choinnigh sí uirthi mar sin, né gur tháinig na comharsana, ag géarchaoineadh an mhairbh ; ina suí ar an stóilín agus an leanbh idir lámha in aghaidh a brollaigh ; na héanlaithe ag léimneach agus ag smalcadh an bhídh sa mhéis agus ag sclabhadh a chéile.
  

  She kept on like that, until the neighbors came, mourning the dead man bitterly; sitting on the stool with the baby in her arms against her chest; the birds jumping and gobbling the food in the dish and snapping at each other.

  smailc	Gobble; pull, puff
  méise = mias	Board, slab; table; dish	f
  sclamh	Bite, nip, snap	f

• 
  Choinnigh an naíonán air ag léimneach agus ag béiciú agus ag iarraidh breith ar chleiteacha gleoite na n-éan a bhí ag fursadh thart. Ní raibh fios ar bith ag a chroí óg láidir go raibh an beo tar éis imeacht as an seanchroí. [d.l. 46]
  

  The baby kept jumping and screaming and trying to catch the pretty feathers of the birds that were flying around. His strong young heart had no idea that the life was gone from the old heart.

Notaí Faoi Scéalta