Hello, could you please help me translate a couple of lines from my favorite poem?:



it's by Sir Walter Scott

Thanks!

Maybe a bit too literally translated -

Is fiú uair a chlóig amháin glórmhar is plódaithe ná cian gan ainm.

Wait for confirmations or corrections !

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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Is fiú uair i lár an aonaigh,
saol gan cé dhar dhíobh ar an mbéal.

An idiomatic approach.

wooow thankyou Rossaí and Bríd Mhór!!

Rossaí, I like idiomatic! Could I ask, what changes did you make to make it better? I speak no irish, I can't tell the changes made in the poem.. (I'm interested in getting a tattoo of this)

I'd hold on a while there Dagda. There are some excellent translators in this site who do top quality work. The price one must pay for this is to see how the discussion is teased over time. Let people come to some sort of concensus to begin with about what type of phrase should be used and then how to tweak it to the best of their ability.

My own interpretation means literally....

An hour in the middle of the fair is worth a life without who does he belong to on their mouths.

...i lár an aonaigh is an idiom for to be in the middle of the action or the middle of a thronging life or to live life fullt.
...cé dhar dhíobh é.....means who does he belong to, meaning who are his tribe or people...without this tribe you are no-one.



I wish you all the best on your search, but do hang on for the other guys who will have many splendid ideas, no doubt.

Is fiú uair i lár an aonaigh,
ná saol gan ainm in airde

Just tweaking Rossaí's suggestion a little. "An hour in the middle of the fair is worth more than a life without a high name." A high name means a famous name or reputation.

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Táim ag foghlaim fós. Fáilte roimh gach aon cheartúchán.

Thanks!! I don't know if it means a high name though.. I might be wrong, but this is my interpretation of the poem

"One crowded hour of glorious life
Is worth an age without a name"

for me, is:

An hour lived to the fullest, is more than a life without meaning.. (what could be a translation of this?)

(my personal interpretation, I might be wrong!!)


ps. thanks for the advice Rossaí, will wait

I agree with this interpretation.

and so tweaking Rossaí's and Mick's again.....

Is fiú uair i lár an aonaigh,
ná saol fada gan fiúntas

An hour in the middle of the fair
is worth more than a long worthless life.

Wait for more; there is plenty more to be thrown into this pot!

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great stuff there lads...we're on the right track alright...nice rendering.