Messe agus Pangur bán, / I and Pangur Bán, my cat
cechtar nathar fria saindán; / 'Tis a like task we are at;
bíth a menma-sam fri seilgg, / Hunting mice is his delight
mu menma céin im saincheirdd / Hunting words I sit all night.
Caraim-se fós, ferr cach clú, / Better far than praise of men
oc mu lebrán léir ingnu; / 'Tis to sit with book and pen;
ní foirmtech frimm Pangur bán, / Pangur bears me no ill will,
caraid cesin a maccdán. / He too plies his simple skill.
Ó ru-biam ¬ scél cén scis ¬/ 'Tis a merry thing to see
innar tegdias ar n-oéndis, / At our tasks how glad are we,
táithiunn ¬ dichríchide clius ¬ / When at home we sit and find
ní fris 'tarddam ar n-áthius. / Entertainment to our mind.
Gnáth-huaraib ar greassaib gal / Oftentimes a mouse will stray
glenaid luch ina lín-sam; / In the hero Pangur's way:
os me, du-fuit im lín chéin / Oftentimes my keen thought set
dliged ndoraid cu n-dronchéill. / Takes a meaning in its net.
Fúachaid-sem fri freaga fál / 'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
a rosc a nglése comlán; / Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
fúachimm chéin fri fégi fis / 'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
mu rosc réil, cesu imdis. / All my little wisdom try.
Fáelid-sem cu n-déne dul, / When a mouse darts from its den,
hi nglen luch ina gérchrub; / O how glad is Pangur then!
hi-tucu cheist n-doraid n-dil, / O what gladness do I prove
os mé chene am fáelid. / When I solve the doubts I love!
Cia beimini amin nach ré / So in peace our tasks we ply,
ní derban cách a chéle; / Pangur Bán, my cat, and I;
mait le cechtar nár a dán / In our arts we find our bliss,
subaigthiud a óenurán. / I have mine and he has his.
Hé fesin as choimsid dáu / Practice every day has made
in muid du-n-gní cach óenláu; / Pangur perfect in his trade;
do thabairt doraid du glé / I get wisdom day and night
for mumud céin am messe. / Turning darkness into light.
Anónimo, siglo IX
Hasta dónde llega tu entendimiento?
Has encontrado el Ojo y has entendido el Libro?
Te has parado a mirar con más atención?
Has visto el Trazo en el Rayo Verde?
Alabado el que penetra en el corazón mismo del Arte
y contempla el Rostro de la Magestad.
Amén
(A los libros, a las bibliotecas, a los monjes iluminadores; al Beato de Liébana y al Libro de Kells; a Tomm Moore por su maravillosa película).
