ORIGINAL MANKS.
|
(Train’s) LITERAL TRANSLATION.
|
MANNANAN BEG
|
LITTLE MANNANAN
|
MAC Y LEIRR;
|
SON OF LEIRR;
|
NY, SLANE COONTEY JEH
|
OR, AN ACCOUNT OF THE
|
ELLAN VANNIN;
|
ISLE OF MAN;
|
SOILSHAGHEY,
|
SHOWING,
|
Cre’n Mayll v’er ny Mannanee da Man-
|
What rent the Manks Inhabitants paid to
|
nanan; kys ren Noo Parick eshyn
|
Mannanan; and how St. Patrick ban-
|
y imman ersooyl as e Heshaght; kys
|
Ished him and his company away; and how St. Patrick established Christianity first in the Island.
|
hug Parick ayn Creestiaght; as Coon-
|
|
tey jeh ny chied Aspickyn va ’syn Ellan.
|
|
Myrgeddin coontey jeh’n chied Ree va
|
Also, an account of the first King that was in the Island, and his posterity; and how the Island came to the Stanley Family.
|
Mannin, as E Lhuight; coontey jey
|
|
ny Chiarnyn, as kys kaink yn Ellan
|
|
gys Clein Stanley
|
|
The following is a translation of the lines as they stand in the Manks song, without any regard to the poetry in English:—
|
|
1
|
1
|
Dy neaishtagh shiu agh rish my Skeayll,
|
If you would listen to my story,
|
As dy ving lhieu ayns my Chant:
|
I will pronounce my chant
|
Myr share dy voddyms lesh my Veeal,
|
As best I can, I will, with my mouth,
|
Yinnin diu geill da’n ELLAN SHEEANT.
|
Give you notice of the enchanted Isle.
|
2
|
2
|
Quoi yn chied er ec row rieau ee,
|
Who he was that had it first,
|
Ny kys eisht myr haghyr da;
|
And then what happened to him;;
|
Ny kys hug Parick ayn Creestiagh,
|
And how St. Patrick brought in Christianity,
|
Ny kys myr haink ee gys Stanlaa.
|
Or how as it came to Stanley.
|
3
|
3
|
Mannanan beg va Mac y Leirr,
|
Little Mannanan was the Son of Leirr,
|
Shen yn chied er ec row rieau ee;
|
That was the first that ever had it;
|
Agh myr share oddym’s cur-my-ner,
|
But as best as I can observe,
|
Cha row eh hene agh An-chreestee.
|
He himself was a heathen.
|
4
|
4
|
Cha nee lesh e Chliwe ren eh ee reayll,
|
It was not with his sword he kept it,
|
Cha nee lesh e Hideyn, ny lesh e Vhow;
|
Neither with arrows or bow;
|
Agh tra aikagh eh Lhuingys troailt,
|
But when he would see ships sailing,
|
Oallagh eh ee my geayrt lesh Kay.
|
He would cover it round with a fog.
|
5
|
5
|
Yinnagh eh Dooinney ny hassoo er Brooghe
|
He would set a man, standing on a hill,
|
Er-lhieu shen hene dy beagh ayn Keead;
|
Appear as if he were a hundred;
|
As shen myr dreill Mannanan keoie,
|
And thus did wild Mannanan protect,
|
Yn Ellan shoh’n-ayn lesh cosney Bwoid.
|
That Island with all its booty.
|
6
|
6
|
Yn Mayll deeck dagh unnane ass e Cheer,
|
The rent each landholder paid to him was,
|
Va bart dy Leaogher-ghlass dagh bleiu;
|
A bundle of coarse meadow grass yearly;
|
As eisht shen orroo d’eeck myr keesh,
|
And that, as their yearly tax,
|
Trooid magh ny Cheery dagh Oie-Lhoine,
|
They paid to him each midsummer eve.
|
7
|
7
|
Paart ragh lesh y Leoagher seose,
|
Some would carry the grass up
|
Gys yn Slieau mooar ta heose Barrool;
|
To the great mountain up at Barrule:
|
Paart elley aagagh yn Leoagher wass,
|
Some others would leave the grass below,
|
Ec Mananan erskyn Keamool.
|
With Mannanan’s self, above Keamool.
|
8
|
8
|
Myr shen eisht ren adsyn beaghey,
|
Thus then did they live;
|
O er-lhiam pene dy by-veg nyn Geesh;
|
O I think their tribute very small,
|
Gyn Kiarail as gyn Imnea,
|
Without care and without anxiety,
|
Ny doggyr dy lhiggey er nyn Skeeys.
|
Or hard labour to cuase weariness.
|
9
|
9
|
Eisht haink ayn Parick nyn meayn,
|
Then came Patrick into the midst of them:
|
She Dooinney-noo v’eh lane dy Artue,
|
He was a saint, and full of virtue,
|
Dimman eh Mannanan er y Tonn,
|
He banaished Mannanan on the wave,
|
As e ghrogh Vooinjer dy lieh-chiart.
|
And his evil servants all dispersed.
|
10
|
10
|
As jeusyn ooilley dy row olk,
|
And of all those who were evil,
|
Orroo cha ren eh veg y Ghrayse;
|
He showed no favour or kindness,
|
Dy row jeh sluight ny Buch-chrout,
|
That were of the seed of the conjurers,
|
Nagh ren eh stroie as coyrt dy baase.
|
But what he destroyed or put to death.
|
11
|
11
|
Vannee eh’n Cheer veih Kione dy Kione,
|
He blessed the country from end to end,
|
As rieau cha daag eh Boght ayn-jee;
|
And never left a beggar in it:
|
Dy row jeh lhuirid Lhannoo beg,
|
And, also, cleared off all those
|
Dy dob rieau dy ve ny Creestee.
|
That refused or denied to become christians.
|
12
|
12
|
Shen myr haink y chied Chredjue Mannin,
|
Thus it was that christianity first came to Man,
|
Ec Parick Noo er ny chur ayn;
|
By Saint Patrick planted in,
|
As Creest dy niartagh aynin eh,
|
And to establish Christ in us,
|
As neesht myrgeddin ayns nyn Gloan.
|
And also in our children.
|
13
|
13
|
Eisht vannee Parick Karmane noo,
|
He then blessed saint German,
|
As daag eh eh nyn Aspick ayn;
|
And left him a bishop in it,
|
Dy niartagh yn Credjue ny smoo as ny smoo,
|
To strengthen the faith more and more,
|
As Cabballyn ren eh anrick ayn.
|
And faithfully built chapels in it.
|
14
|
14
|
Ayns dagh treen Balley ren eh unnane,
|
For each four quarterlands he made a chapel
|
Da’n Sleih shen-ayn dy heet dy ghuee;
|
For people of them to meet to prayer;
|
Myrgeddin ren eh Keeil Charmane,
|
He also built German Church, in Peel Castle,
|
Ta ayns y Pheeley foast ny soie.
|
Which remaineth there until this day.
|
15
|
15
|
My dug Karmane er e Obbyr kione,
|
Before German had finished his work,
|
Hug Jee fys er as hooar eh baase;
|
God sent for him, and he died,
|
Myr shoyn diu hene yn Chaghter chion
|
As ye, yourselves, know that this messenger,
|
Cha vel fer ain hed jeh lesh Saase.
|
Cannot be put of by using means.
|
16
|
16
|
Hooar eshyn baase as t’eh ny lhie,
|
He died, and his corpse was laid,
|
Raad by vooar y treih ve cha leah er n’in shley
|
Where a great bank had been, but seen was levelled;
|
Crosh dy Chlagh te’c e gha Chass,
|
A cross of stone is set at his feet
|
Ayns e Cheeill hene foast ayns y Pheeley.
|
In his own church, in Peel Castle.
|
17
|
17
|
Eisht hank Maughold ayn myr beer,
|
Then came Maughold, we are told,
|
As ghow eh Thalloo ec y Chione;
|
And came on shore at the Head;
|
As hrog eh Keeill as Rollick mygeayrt,
|
And he built a church and yard around,
|
Yn Ynnyd by-vian lesh beaghey ayn.
|
At the place he thought to have his dwelling.
|
18
|
18
|
Ny Cabballyn doardee Karmane noo,
|
The chapels which Saint German ordered,
|
Da’n Sleih Shen-ayn dy heet dy ghuee;
|
For the people to come to prayers in them,
|
Hug Maughold shiartanse jeu ayns Unnane,
|
Maughold put a parcel of them into one,
|
As myr shen ren eh Skeeraghyn cooie.
|
And thus made regular parishes.
|
19
|
19
|
Hooar Maughold baase as t’eh ny lhie,
|
Maughold died and he is laid
|
Ayns e Cheeill hene neesht ec y Chione;
|
In his own church too, at the Head;
|
As y nah aspick haink ny-yei,
|
And the next bishop who came after,
|
Myr share shioune dooys she eh va Lonnan.
|
To the best of my knowledge, was Lonnan.
|
20
|
20
|
Connanghan yn nah er eisht haink ayn;
|
Connaghan then came next,
|
A haink Marooney reesht yn trass;
|
And then Marown the third;
|
T’ad shen nyn droor ayns Keill Marooney
|
There all three lieth in Marown,
|
As ayns shen vees ad dy bra vaght.
|
And there forever lieth unmolested.
|
21
|
21
|
Nish lhig mayd shaghey ny Deiney-noo,
|
Now we will pass by these holy men,
|
As chymney mayd nyn Anmeenyn gys Mac Yee,
|
And commit their souls to the Son of God,
|
Cha nheeu Fir agglish voylley ny smoo,
|
It profiteth not to praise them more
|
Derrey hig ad fenish Ree dagh Ree.
|
Until they appear before the King of Kings.
|
22
|
22
|
Myr shen eisht ren adsyn beaghey,
|
Thus then did they live or pass their time,
|
Gyn Dooinney ayn yinnagh orroo corree;
|
No man that would molest or anger them,
|
Agh goll dy gheddyn pardoon veih’n Raue,
|
But going to get a pardon from Rome,
|
Er-derry haink eh huc Ree GORREE.
|
Until there came to them King Gorree.
|
23
|
23
|
Lesh e Lhuingys hrean as Pooar y Ree,
|
With his strong ships and king’s command,
|
As ghow eh Thalloo ec y Laane;
|
And came on shore at the Laane;
|
Shen y chied er ec row rieau ee,
|
He was the first that ever had it,
|
Dy ve ny Ree er yn Ellan.
|
To be a King of the Island.
|
24
|
24
|
Cha geayll mee dy ren eh skielley ec Purt,
|
I never heard that he did any injury at a harbour,
|
Chamoo ren eh marroo ayn jee;
|
Neither did he kill any in the Island;
|
Agh aym sis dy daink jeh Sluight,
|
But I know that there came of his race,
|
Three Reeaghyn jeig jeh Ree GORREE.
|
Thirteen Kings of King Gorree.
|
25
|
25
|
Eisht haink ayn Quinney as haink ayn Quaill,
|
Then came Quinney, and then came Quayle,
|
Haink towse dy Lheigh as Reill ayn jee;
|
There came a measure of law and rule,
|
Ny Keeshyn mooarey as y Mayll
|
With greater taxes and greater rents,
|
Vees dy hirrey dy bragh er Dooinney dy bee.
|
That will forever be demanded of the men that be.
|
26
|
26
|
My ta red erbee jannoo Skielley diu,
|
If anything doeth you harm,
|
Cur-jee nyn Mollaght er Mannanee;
|
Give your curse upon the Manksmen;
|
She ad by-vessey da’n Ellan Sheeant
|
They were the worst for the enchanted Island,
|
Ec dagh drogh Leigh ’yannoo ayn jee.
|
By making each bad law in her.
|
27
|
27
|
Eisht haink ayn Ollister mooar Mac Ree Albey,
|
Then came Great Ollister, son of the King of Scotland,
|
Lesh Lhuingys hrean dy braue ayn jee;
|
With strong shipping he bravely came;
|
As er-lhiam pene dy by-voo lesh Foalsaght,
|
But I think myself it was more by falsehood,
|
Cha nee lesh Dunnallys smoo chragh eh ee.
|
And not by courage he made most havoc.
|
28
|
28
|
Cha daag eh bio jeh sluight y Ree,
|
He left not living, of the King’s seed,
|
Mac ny Inneen d’ymmyrkey Kiona;
|
A son or daughter to carry his head;
|
Agh un Unnane myr baare dod ee,
|
Excepting one, who, as best she could,
|
Hie dy hirrey Cooney gys Ree Goal.
|
Went to seek for help to the King of France.
|
29
|
29
|
O Albanee my vow uss feeu,
|
O, Scotchman, if thou wert worthy,
|
As dy Haghter ec dy heet ayn;
|
And as a messenger when thou didst come,
|
Cammah nagh durree oo as ve dy Ree,
|
Why didst thou not stop and be our king,
|
Myr vow O ree, as Mac Ree Laughlin.
|
As thou, O, King, wert son of king Laughlin.
|
30
|
30
|
Agh s’beg eh lhiam, dy veg eh lhiat,
|
But I care but little, that hou thought’st it little,
|
Ny Fee ’ve rock, rock erskyn dy Ching;
|
The ravens to croak, croak above thy head,
|
Agh lhig dooys loayrt jeh’n Inneen gring
|
But let me speak of the mentioned girl,
|
Neeayr as nagh daag oo bio agh ee;
|
Since thou didst not leave alive but she;
|
Haink jeh Sluight Ree Laughlin,
|
Of all the seed of King Laughlin,
|
As v’ee Inneen da Ree Gorree.
|
And she was daughter to King Gorree.
|
31
|
31
|
Chia leah as chragh y Noid y Cheer,
|
As soon as the enemy spoiled the country,
|
Nagh jagh eh roish as daag eh ee;
|
Did he not go away and leave it?
|
Myr yinnagh y Sowin choo rish e Quallan,
|
As the she greyhound would do with her whelp,
|
Eh aagail ny lhie er Beggan Bree.
|
And leave him lying with little strength.
|
32
|
32
|
Cha leah as chragh y Noid y Cheer,
|
As soon as the enemy spoiled the country,
|
Nagh jagh eh roish noon gys Nolbin;
|
Did he not go over to Scotland?
|
As ghow ish Lhuingys neesht myr beer,
|
And she too shipping, and to the best that I know,
|
As hie ee rhimbee gys Ree Hocsyn.
|
And she went over to the King of England.
|
33
|
33
|
Cha leah as raink ee gys y Choort,
|
As soon as she arrived at court,
|
Ren eh j’ee soiagh dy feer choar;
|
He entertained her with great kindness,
|
As daa ny Deiney haink maree,
|
And to the men that came with her,
|
Hug y Ree palchey dargid’s d’oar.
|
He gave plenty of silver and gold.
|
34
|
34
|
Nagh ren eh fenaght j’ee quoi v’ee,
|
He then asked her who she was,
|
Ny cre vo heilkin gys e Choort;
|
Or what was her business to the court?
|
Ta mish dooyrt un Inneen da Ree,
|
She answered, I am a King’s daughter,
|
Erreish ve Spooilt, as gyn Kiannoort.
|
I have been robb’d, and without a protector.
|
35
|
35
|
She mysh dty Vyghin as dty Ghrayse,
|
It is to thy mercy and thy grace,
|
Ta mish nish lhoobey hoods, O Ree;
|
That I do humbly sue to thee, O King;
|
Cha vel mee geearree Mie ny Maase,
|
I do not ask for good or wealth,
|
Agh geearee ort dty Chymmey, Ree.
|
But crave of thee for thy pity, O King.
|
36
|
36
|
She dty Vea hooin, dooyrt Ree Hoscyn,
|
Welcome to us, says the King of England,
|
As ren eh poosey ish myr beeu;
|
And he married her very soon,
|
Vee Sluight Laughlin, Inneen Gorree,
|
She was of the seed of Laughlin, the daughter of King Gorree,
|
Rish Sir William dy Vountegue.
|
By Sir William de Montague.
|
37
|
37
|
Eisht Sir William va Ree Vannin,
|
Then Sir William was King of the Isle of Man,
|
Cha hoie eh jee agh beggan feeu;
|
But he thought but little of it,
|
Son chreck eh ee, as ghow eh Maase,
|
For he sold it, and bought cattle,
|
O ree red bastagh dy ren rieau.
|
Which was a pity that ever he did.
|
38
|
38
|
Rish yn Chiarn Scroop chreck eshyn ee,
|
To Lord Scroop he sold it;
|
O ree nagh moal hug saynt da Maase;
|
O King, how simple to covet cattle;
|
Ga ve ayns foayr mooar rish y Ree,
|
Altho’ he was in great favour with the King,
|
Gerrit ny-yei hur eshyn baase.
|
It was but a short time until he suffered death.
|
39
|
39
|
Agh fys nyn Gooishyn cha vel aym,
|
But their matters I do not know,
|
Lhig dauesyn sailliu fysseree;
|
Let those who please prophesy;
|
Agh aym ta sys er shoh dy feer,
|
But this I know right well;
|
Dy row lane Maase seihlt ec y Ree.
|
That the King had a vast number of cattle.
|
40
|
40
|
Haink yn Ellan eisht gys y Ree,
|
Then the Island came to the King,
|
Conaant Scroop myr shoh dy jarroo,
|
Scroop’ss covenant appointed so,
|
Nagh beagh ny sodjey echey j’ee
|
That he should have no more of it,
|
Ny veagh e vio-hys er y Thalloo.
|
Than during his life on Earth.
|
41
|
41
|
Haink yn Ellan reesht gys y Ree,
|
The Island then came to the King;
|
As mooar y bree cha row echey ayn;
|
But he had no great authority in it;
|
Hug eh da Earl Northumberland ee,
|
Because he gave it to the Earl of Northumberland;
|
Agh cha dug eh ee da e Chloan.
|
But he did not give it to his children.
|
42
|
42
|
Adsyn veagh dunnal ayns Caggey,
|
Those who would be courageous in wars
|
Yioghe ad Giootyn mooar myr bailliu;
|
They get great presents if they would;
|
Agh ayns Caggey mooar Sal’sbury,
|
But in the great war at Salisbury,
|
Va Earl Northumberland er ny varroo.
|
The Earl of Northumberland was killed.
|
43
|
43
|
Quoi hagher eisht gys y Vagher,
|
Who happened then to come to the field,
|
Agh Sir Juan Stanley cosney Bwoid;
|
But Sir John Stanley, well fitted;
|
Myr by-vannee haink er y Laa,
|
As that day proved a blessing to him,
|
Lesh e Chliwe geyre ve sheer goll trooid.
|
As he went by with his sharp sword.
|
44
|
44
|
My Ree, by-veg er hene nyn Mea,
|
My King, he lttle thought of life,
|
Yiaragh eh Dooinney sheese dyn Glare;
|
He would cut a man down without speaking,
|
Varragh eh lesh un vuilley Shleiy,
|
He would with one blow of spear;
|
Cabbyl as Dooinney gys y Laare.
|
Take to the ground both man and horse.
|
45
|
45
|
Cre dy aase veagh Claiggin e Ching,
|
Whatever growth his head might be;
|
Gyn King cha ragh eh-ass;
|
Without heads he would not go away;
|
Ny cre by eillit veagh e Ghreem,
|
Or however harnessed his back might be,
|
Roashagh e Chliwe geyre e Chress.
|
His sharp sword would reach his girdle.
|
46
|
46
|
Tra scuirr y Magher, as ghow eh fea,
|
When the field was quiet and had taken rest,
|
Eisht boggey mooar ayn hene ghow’n Ree;
|
There the king rejoiced greatly himself;
|
As deie eh huggey Sir Juan Stanley,
|
And he called to him Sir John Stanley,
|
Dy ghoaill eh Leagh jeh Maase as Nhee.
|
To take his pledge of cattle and goods.
|
47
|
47
|
Kyndagh dy vel uss er my rere,
|
Because thou hast served me well,
|
Sheer cosney Bwoid dooys, as dhyt hene;
|
And gained booty for me and for thyself;
|
Gow son dy Leagh Ellan Vannin
|
Take for thy portion the Isle of Man,
|
Son Leagh dy hogher dy bragh beayn.
|
To be for thee and thine for ever.
|
48
|
48
|
Shen myr haink yn Ellan gys nyn Laue
|
Thus the Island came to their hands,
|
As shen myr haink Clein Stanley ayn;
|
And thus the Stanley’s name came in;
|
As Ree lurg Ree freayal shin veih Gaue,
|
And King after King keeping us from danger,
|
As mooarane Bleeantyn Chiarnane ayn.
|
And many years Lords in it.
|
49
|
49
|
Eisht tra hooar Sir Juan Stanley baase,
|
Then, when Sir John Stanley died,
|
Haink reesht Sir Juan geiyrt er e Vac;
|
Then came again Sir John, his son,
|
Va mooarane Blein heear ayns Neirin,
|
Who had been many years in Ireland;
|
Ny Lieutenant feer ooasse oc.
|
A very noble Lieutenant there.
|
50
|
50
|
Eisht haink Thomase Derby Ruggerey Ree,
|
Then came Thomas Derby, born King,
|
Eh-hene va ceau yn Cribble Oar;
|
’Twas he that wore the golden crupper;
|
Cha row un Chiarn ayns Socsyn ’sthie,
|
There was not one Lord in England itself
|
Lesh whilleen Gymman-glioon cheet ny chear,
|
With so many knee-guineamen coming in his country.
|
51
|
51
|
Er Albanee chooilleen eh Clea,
|
On Scotchmen he avenged himself;
|
As hie eh noon gys Keel choobragh;
|
And he went over to Kirkcubright,
|
As ren eh lheid y chladdagh Thie’n,
|
And he made such havoc of houses,
|
Dy vel paart ayn foast gyn Mullagh.
|
That some of them are yet unroofed.
|
52
|
52
|
Nagh bwaagh shen dasyn Dooiney-aeg,
|
Was not that pretty in a young man
|
Yn Clea chooilleen my by-vooar e Ghraine;
|
To revenge himslef while he was but young,
|
Roish haink rieau er o Ghob Faasaag,
|
Before he beard had grown round his mouth,
|
As e gheiney ’chur lesh as dy slane.
|
And to carry his men home with him whole.
|
53
|
53
|
Ayns un Thousane Queig Cheead as Shiaght,
|
In one thousand five hundred and seven,
|
She ayns Mee ny Boaldiney ve;
|
And it was in the month of May,
|
Ghow eh Thalloo ayns Roonyssvie,
|
He came on shore at Derbyhaven,
|
Er Boirey’n Theay hug eh slane Fea.
|
And put a full end to the commotion of the public.
|
54
|
54
|
Lheid y Thie as dreill eshyn hene,
|
Such a house as he kept himslef,
|
Dy Ree ny Ruggerey dy hreg ny nrean;
|
For a King, or down to a low degree,
|
Cha vaik sleih lhied rish Milley Blein,
|
People never saw for countless years,
|
Chamoo hee reesht ’syn Earish ain.
|
Neither will again in our days.
|
55
|
55
|
Agh arragh dy voylley cha jean yms ny smoo,
|
But any more praise I will not give
|
Choud as sbooie dooiney seanish my Hooill;
|
So long a I live among men,
|
Er-aggle dy dagher daue rhym y ghra,
|
For fear they may tell me
|
Dy nee son Leagh vein sheer brinooile.
|
That it is for gain I make so much flattery.
|
56
|
56
|
Agh faag-ym da’n nagh Ghooinney hig my Yei
|
But I leave the man that cometh after me
|
Dy voylley hene myr sheagh chur da;
|
To praise him as he will find him worth;
|
Tra vees e Chress ny lhie ’syn oaie,
|
When his crest will be laid in the grave,
|
Yiew’n Dooinney Bwoid myr sheagh cur da.
|
He will get the glory he deserveth to have.
|