2015-02-03

Sir Patrick Spens

File/Cumadóir: Anonymous. 17th Cent
The King sits in Dunfermline town,
Drinking the blood-red wine.
"O! where shall I get a captain bold
To sail this new ship of mine?"

Then up and spake an eldern knight,
Sat at the King's right knee:
"Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor
That ever sail'd the sea!"

The King has written a broad letter,
And seal'd it with his hand,
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
Who was walking on the strand.

"To Noraway, to Noraway,
To Noraway, o'er the foam,
The Princess fair of Noraway,
'Tis thou must bring her home."

"O! who is it has done this deed,
And told the King of me?
To send us out at this time of the year,
To sail upon the sea!"

They had not sail'd a league, a league,
A league but barely three,
When the sky grew dark, and the wind blew loud,
And gurly grew the sea.

The anchors brake, the topmasts lap,
'Twas such a deadly storm.
And the waves came o'er the broken ship,
Till all her sides were torn.

The ladies wrang their fingers white,
The maidens tore their hair,
All for the sake of their true loves,
For them they'll see no more.

O! forty miles from Aberdeen
'Tis fifty fathom deep.
And there lies brave Sir Patrick Spens,
With his comrades at his feet.
Is i nDùn Phàrlain atá an rí
Is é ag ól an fhíon’:
‘Ó cá bhfaighinnse an captaen groí
Chun mo bhárc a sheol’ thar toinn?’

Do sheas ansin an ridire críon,
Shuigh in aice an rí:
‘Níl fear níos fearr ná Sir Patrick Spens
Ag treabhadh na bhfarraigí!’

Tá litir scríofa aige lena lámh
Is uirthi séala atá
Á seoladh chuig Sir Patrick Spens
A bhí ag siúl cois trá.

‘Chuig an Iorua, an Iorua
An Iorua leat i gcéin!
Banphrionsa bhreá na hIorua
Is mian liom í faoim’ dhéin.’

‘Ó! Cé a dhein an feall orm
Nó cé labhair leis an Rí
Chun sinn a chur ar an bhfarraige ghorm
Tráth garbh seo sa bhliain!’

Ní rabhadar rófhada ón dtír
Léig nó dhó nó trí
Nuair ba dhubh an spéir is nuair b’ard an ghaoth
Os cionn na bhfarraigí.

Is bhris ansin na hancairí
A leithéid sin de chreach
Do scoilt an crann is do bhúir an mhuir
Is níor spáráladh neach.

Is d’fháisc na maighdeana a lámh’
Is stróiceadar a ngruaig
Is sileadh deora bróin is grá
Don dream a bádh ó thuaidh.

As Obar Dheathain daichead míl’
Síos síos sa duibheagán
Is ann atá Sir Patrick Spens
Is a chriú ina gcodladh sámh.