The Hide and Go Seek
Ar maidin inné ‘sea dhearcas an stuaire cailín,
Her limbs were complate, she was nately clothed in green,
A malaí ba chaol is a béilín ba ró-mhilis bhinn,
And I knew by her gaze she’d play at the hide and go seek.
Do dhruideas féin léi is d’iarraíos di póigín nó thrí,
She answered and said young man, you’re making too free.
‘Sé dúrt-sa féin léi, dá raghfá-sa liom-sa mar mhnaoi
I’d teach you to play a game they call hide and go seek.
Do fhreagair an bhé, sé dúirt gur bhaoth é mo shlí,
I’ll tarry a while until more of this world I’ll see.
Mar táim-se ró-óg, cúig déag chun an fhómhair seo do bhí;
Too young a great deal to play at the hide and go seek.
Ná codail ar a’ gcluais sin, tá muar-chuid caite ded’ ghnaoi,
Your mammy was younger than you when your face she did see.
Ná chreid-se ó éinne go ndéanfainn do mhalairt mar mhnaoi,
But come with me home and we’ll play at the hide and go seek.
Tá sluaite breá caorach ‘gam féinigh ba boga ‘gus laoi,
With no one to care for the milk, the butter or cheese.
Beir-se id’ charáiste is mise leat féinigh im shuí,
And when we come home from walking ’tis we’ll have a jolly good squeeze.
De réir do ráite tá mór-chuid com i do chroí.
By your false seduction, like Satan when he tempted Eve.
Dá mbeadh feiste chomh breá ort ‘s tá agat-sa á mhaoíomh
There’d be no chance at all you’d marry a girl like me.
Is mó cailín óg a shiúil le fear tamall slí
That fortune might later favour her progeny.
Féach Cupid is Venus do bhí le h-osna na gcroí
And if you don’t join me my ghost will torment you in sleep.
Bíonn adharca go leor ar na ba a bhíonn thar lear a dúirt sí.
The parents that rared me, controlled by them I will be.
Beir leat commendation is litir ó shagart leis thíos
And if it’s right with my parents then we’ll play while the rest are asleep!
This is a courting song in the macaronic tradition, combining English and Irish.
Foinse: Coiste Litríoctha Mhúsgraí
