Celtic Stencil Design A—“Soft Hair the Color of Amber”

ANCIENT CELTIC POETRY*

I mbrat an bhrollaigh ghil-se

ní bhiadh an dealg droighin-se

dá mbeith, a Mhór bhéildearg bhinn,

an éindealg d’ór i nÉirinn.

San mbrat-sa níor chóir do chur

acht dealg d’fhionndruine uasal,

nó dealg iongantach d’ór cheard,

a Mhór bhionnfhoclach bhéildearg.

A fholt lag ar lí an ómra,

a chur id bhrat bhreacórdha

a stuaigh chobhsaidh nár chealg fear,

nior chosmhail dealg don droighean.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

In a cloak, that bright breast of yours–

it should not be the blackthorn brooch;

for you it is, sweet redmouthed Mór,

the one brooch of gold in Éire.

In your cloak, the proper equipment is

only a brooch of noble finndruinna

or a wondrous brooch made of gold,

sweetworded redmouthed Mór.

Oh, soft hair the color of amber,

oh, furrow in the dapplegold cloak,

oh, resolute arch which may never betray a man,

a brooch of blackthorn is not fitting.