I know very little of the Irish myths; they seem weirdly strange to me.
I knew which translation I wanted of The Seafarer, the one in my English Lit book, but I didn't want to violate any copyrights. I found it online in a downloadable version, but couldn't copy the link, just could download the poem. Here it is; sorry it's so long.
THE SEAFARER
A song I sing of my sea-adventure, 1
The strain of peril, the stress of toil, 2
Which oft I endured in anguish of spirit 3
Through weary hours of aching woe. 4
My bark was swept by the breaking seas; 5
Bitter the watch from the bow by night 6
As my ship drove on within sound of the rocks. 7
My feet were numb with the nipping cold, 8
Hunger sapped a sea-weary spirit, 9
And care weighed heavy upon my heart. 10
Little the land-lubber, safe on shore, 11
Knows what I've suffered in icy seas 12
Wretched and worn by the winter storms, 13
Hung with icicles, stung by hail, 14
Lonely and friendless and far from home. 15
In my ears no sound but the roar of the sea, 16
The icy combers, the cry of the swan; 17
In place of the mead-hall and laughter of men 18
My only singing the sea-mew's call, 19
The scream of the gannet, the shriek of the gull, 20
Through the wail of the wild gale beating the bluffs 21
The piercing cry of the ice-coated petrel, 22
The storm-drenched eagle's echoing scream. 23
In all my wretchedness, weary and long, 24
I had no comfort of comrade or kin. 25
Little indeed can be credit, whose town-life 26
Pleasantly passes in feasting and joy, 27
Sheltered from peril, what weary pain 28
Often I've suffered in foreign seas. 29
Night shades darkened with driving snow 30
From the freezing north, and the bonds of frost 31
Firm-locked and land, while falling hail, 32
Coldest of kernels, encrusted earth. 33
Yet still, even now, my spirit within me 34
Drives me seaward to sail the deep, 35
To ride the long swell of the salt sea-wave. 36
Never a day but my heart's desire 37
Would launch me forth on the long sea-path, 38
Fain of far harbors and foreign shores. 39
Yet lives no man so lordly of mood, 40
So eager in giving, so ardent in youth, 41
So bold in his deeds, or so dear to his lord, 42
Who is free from dread in his far sea-travel, 43
Or fear of God's purpose and plan for his fate. 44
The beat of the harp, and bestowal of treasure, 45
The love of woman, and worldly hope, 46
Nor other interest can hold his heart 47
Save only the sweep of the surging billows; 48
His heart is haunted by love of the sea. 49
Trees are budding and towns are fair, 50
Meadows kindle and all life quickens, 51
All things hasten the eager-hearted, 52
Who joyeth therein, to journey afar, 53
Turning seaward to distant shores. 54
The cuckoo stirs him with plaintive call, 55
The herald of summer, with mournful song, 56
Foretelling the sorrow that stabs the heart. 57
Who liveth in luxury, little he knows 58
What woe men endure in exile's doom. 59
Yet still, even now, my desire outreaches, 60
My spirit sours over tracts of sea, 61
O'er the home of the whale, and the world's expanse. 62
Eager, desirous, the lone sprite returneth; 63
It cries in my ears and it calls to my heart 64
To launch where the whales plough their paths through the deep. 65
But fairer indeed are the joys God has fashioned 66
Than the mortal and mutable life of this world. 67
Truly earth's blessings are never abiding; 68
To the day of fulfillment remaineth a doubt 69
Whether old age, or sickness, or sword-edge shall ravish 70
Man's life when the fall of his fate is at hand. 71
Of memorials the noblest for man is the praise 72
Of men who survive him, who speak of his deeds, 73
That striving on earth ere the hour of death 74
He carry on boldly the battle with Satan, 75
And put to confusion the malice of fiends. 76
So, in ages long after, men still shall exalt 77
His fame, and his glory eternally gleam 78
Among angels forever, a splendor unending, 79
A joy with the heavenly hosts on high. 80
Gone are the days of earth's grandeur and pomp; 81
Gone are the princes, and givers of gold, 82
The kings of the past in pageant of glory 83
Living in splendor in lordly wise. 84
The heroes have fallen, the hall-joys have vanished, 85
Weaker men linger possessing the world 86
In days that are troubled; all glory is dead. 87
Earth's grandeur withers and wanes in decay 88
As man's earthly fate droops and dwindles toward death. 89
Old age oppresses, man's countenance pales, 90
Gray are his locks, and he grieves in his heart 91
For the friends of his prime, the children of princes, 92
Long since laid in the arms of earth. 93
And the flesh at last, when the life has fled, 94
Savors not sweet, suffers not pain; 95
The hand does not strive, the mind does not stir. 96
Though one strew with gold the grave of his brother, 97
With manifold treasure endowing the dead, 98
It will not go with him; gold hoarded on earth 99
Is no help to a soul that is burdened with sin, 100
In the terror of doomsday; and dreadful shall be 101
The fear of the Judge whereby earth is transformed. 102
For He it was fashioned the firm foundations, 103
The borders of earth, and the heavens above it. 104
Foolish is he who fears not his God; 105
All unready he runs toward death. 106
But blessed the heart that is humble, for mercy 107
Cometh upon him from heaven on high. 108
His heart God will stablish who trusts in His strength. 109
Man must rule a fierce mood, and hold it in rein, 110
Loyal to comrade, in cleanness of life; 111
Love of friend or hatred of foe 112
He must lock within limits, though longing in heart. . . 113
For his dear lord laid in the funeral flame. 114
Firmer is fate, greater is God, 115
Than the thoughts of man can ever imagine. 116
Let us muse in our hearts on our heavenly mansions, 117
Thitherward planning our pilgrimage, 118
Seeking the way to the blessed stronghold 119
Of life and joy in the love of the Lord. 120
And thanks be to God, the Giver of glory, 121
The Lord everlasting, the holy King, 122
Who hath granted us honor through ages to come. 123
Amen.
Charles W. Kennedy, Trans. Old English Elegies. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1936.
