Celtic Stencil J “Neither Gold Nor Horses Will Be More Numerous”

Moladh daoine is dó is moladh

an neach do-ní a gcruthoghadh;

ní bhí ar domhan ag duine

ní acht moladh a mhíorbhuile.

Gémadh bréag do bhiadh san duain,

is bréag bhuan ar bhréig dhiombuain;

breag uile gidh créad an chrodh,

bréag an duine da meantar.

Ní ba liaide ír ná each

ag duine dámadh doichleach;

gan sbéis i nduain ar domhan

dá mbuaibh ní ba buanughadh.

Dá mbáidhthó an dán, a dhaoine,

gan seanchas, gan seanlaoidhe,

go bráth, acht athair gach fhir,

rachaidh cách gan a chluinsin.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Praise of people, and you, is praise

of the Spirit that does the creating;

There is not one person in the world

that does not praise its marvels.

Even if it’s false, from being in a song,

it is a permanent falseness, not one that passes.

All is false, even cattle-riches;

the person is false, however complete.

Neither gold nor horses will be more numerous

for a person who does harm churlishly —

without interest in a poem in the world

if it isn’t breeding cattle.

If the Art is rejected, people —

Without history, without old lays,

forever even the father of all men

will go raiding without anyone hearing.