Page:Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge vols 5+6.djvu/41

This page has been proofread.
37
THE GAELIC JOURNAL.

§ 179. A tree and a wood. Do not lose the young brown horse. There is not a wood at the well now. Conn O’Quinn is going down to Kildare. Put the wheel down on the floor, and put a stool at the door. Oaten bread (arán coirce) is strong and wholesome. The barley is fresh and green now, the oats is long and heavy. There is no barley growing on the cliff—the cliff is bare. and there is no tree growing on the other cliff. There are oats and barley in the barn now, and Niall and Peter are working in the barn. Put the oats in the barn, on the floor, and leave a flail at the door.

EXERCISE XXVII.

§ 180. The Verb “To Have.”

There is no verb “to have” in modern Irish. The want is supplied thus: The sentence, “Con has a horse,” is translated, “There is a horse at Conn.” The same construction is found in Greek, Latin, and other languages.

Examples.

Atá capall ag Seumas, James has a horse; níl túirne ag Nora anois, Nora has not a wheel now; atá capall óg aige, he has a young horse.

§ 181.

“At me” is translated by agam (og′-ăm, Munst., og-ŭm′)
“At thee, you” agat (og′-ăth, og-ŭth′)
“At us” againn (og′-ăn, og-in′)
“At them” aca (ok′-ă, ok-ŭ′)
“At him” aige (eg′-ĕ, eg-e′)
“At her” aici (ek′-ee, ek-ee′)

Notice that the pronunciation of aige and aice is exceptional, the ai being sounded like e and not like a (§ 132).

Atá capall agam, I have a horse; níl bó aici, she has not a cow; níl bád aca, they have not a boat.

§ 182. Atá bád mór láidir agam, agus atá mé ag dul síos do’n sáile anois. Níl bád agam; atá bó agam, agus capall, agus asal, agus leuna; agus atá feur fada, trom ins an leuna. Níl an sgioból lán fós, atá coirce agsu eorna ins an sgioból eile. Níl seamróg agat fós. Fuair mé seamróg ar an aill; níl seamróg ag fás ar an aill eile. Atá cóiste mór ag Seumas O’Brian, agus atá an cóiste ar an ród anois. Atá uan óg deas ag Máire anois, fuair sí caora agus uan ar an ród. Níl capall donn agam, atá capall bán agam, atá sé sean, agus atá sé láidir fós. Atá siad tinn, níl sláinte aca. Atá bád ag Conn, agus atá crann agus seol ag Niall.

§ 183. James and Peter are not going to the island, they have not a boat now. The ship is lost, she is not going to Derry. I have a young horse; William has not a horse now, he has a mare and a new coach. We have health. We have oats and barley, and he has a barn, and Peter has a new flail. Una has a new strong spinning-wheel; put the broken wheel in the barn. Do not put the other wheel in the barn yet. Conn is strong, he has bread, butter, cheese, wine and water. Una has a new shoe. They have a pretty boat. I have a wren, James has another bird.


POPULAR PROVERBS, CO. KERRY.


Translationcontinued.

80. A house (business) can’t be kept without talk (lit., tongue.)

81. When you go to Rome, act the Roman.

82. Drunkenness hides not a secret (when wine, etc).

83. The (cuckoo-waiter) tit-lark can't attend two strands (at the same time).

84. It is not always yellow Dan is marrying.

85. Grief has no care, but to kill it with patience.

86. A hasty retreat is better than a bad stand (like James II. at the Battle of the Boyne).

87. The lion’s beard is easily pulled, when he is asleep.

88. Justice or equity is preferable to litigation.

89. The people meet, but the hills or mountains don’t.

90. Thirst is the end of drink, and sorrow of love.

91. The raven-messenger from the Ark—said of a slow messenger.

92. Give to a youngster, and he’ll come (call) to-morrow.