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hí Madra na nOcht gCos ag siúl i gcaitheamh an lae sin gan focal cainte a
chuir ar a mhnaoi go dtí tráthnóna go thángadar go himeall
coillte. 'Seadh anois, arsa an Madra,Táir anuas dem'dhrom anois. Biodh fhios agat
gur thugadar 'Madra na nOcht gCos' ormsa acht ní hé sin m'ainm ceart mar
atáim im' mhac rí comh maith le haoinne aca sud tá posta ag do bheirt deirfiúr. 'Sé an draoiocht atáimse fé ndeara dhom bheith im' Mhadra mar a cíonn tú mé, acht táim im' chló féin gach oiche.
Anois, féach uait soir ó dheas tríd an gcoill agus abair liom an
bhfeicfá aoinne ann.” Dhéin sí comh maith. Cím soluisín
comhgarach dom. a duirt sí. Tá dreifiúr domsa ina comhnuí ansan.
Téigh go dtí an teach sin agus iarr bheith istigh uirthe ar son Mhadra na
nOcht gCos agus gheóbhair. Táirse thar nais go dtí an ait seo
amárach tar éis do bhreicfásta a dh'ithe agus beadsa annseo romhat.
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30. The Dog with Eight Legs kept going throughout the day without saying a single word to his wife until
they came to the edge of a forest. Now, he said, Get down off my back. You must know that
they call me 'The Dog with Eight Legs' but that is not my real name. I am a prince as good
as any your sisters married. The spell that is on me is to be a Dog as you see me, but I
am in my own shape every night.. Now, look to he north east through the forest and tell
me if you see anyone there. I can see a little light not far away, she said.
A sister of
mine lives there. Go to that house and ask for lodging for the night 'for the sake of the
Dog with Eight Legs'. Come back to this spot tomorrow after your breakfast and I will be
here waiting for you.
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31. Dhein sí amhlaidh agus nuair a chuaidh sí isteach insan teach, d'iarr sí bheith istigh ar
son an Mhadra na nbOcht gCos mar a dubhra lei agus fuair sí failte mor o bhean an tí. Nuair
d'eirigh sí ar maidin, la ar na mhaireach bhí beile brea ar an mbord roimpi Nuair a
chuasiudh sí thar nais go dtí an ait sa choill, bhí an Madra ag feitheamh uirthe mar a
dhuirt sí roimhe. Bhuaiol sé a lapa tosaigh fe n-a crios agus bhuaiol cuige ar a dhrom í
agus comain sé leis ar feadh an lae go dtí trathnona agus dorcadas na h-oiche. Duirt sé lei
feachaint uaithe soir ó dheas go bhfeicfeadh tig ann. Agus go mbeidh dreifiur eile do ina
comhnui ann. Beadh loistin na h-oiche ansan ar son Mhadra na nOcht gCos le fail ansan dí.
Agus do bhí go direach mar a dhuirt sé. Lá 'na mhaireach, nuair a thainig sí thar n-ais, bhi
sé ann roimpi ag feitheamh uirthe agus chomain siad ar aghaidh mar ba gnathach leo agus
tharla an run ceadna um thrathnona arís. Bhí dreifiur eile 'na comnui í dtig eile nios
fuide anonn..
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31. She followed his instructions and when she went into the house, she asked for shelter
for
the night for the sake of the Dog with Eight Legs as she had been told ,and she received
a great welcome from the woman of the house. When she arose next morning there was a fine
meal waiting on the table for her. When she went back to the agreed spot in the woods,
there was the Dog waiting for her as he had said. He put his fore-paw under her girdle
and hoisted her up on his back and he continued throughout the day until evening and the
darkness of the night. He told her to look out to the north-east for a house and that
there would be another sister of his living there where, once more, she should ask for
lodging for the night for his sake and there was exactly as he had told her. Next day,
when she came back, he was there before her waiting for her and they kept on as usual and
the same thing happened again that evening. He had another sister living in yet another
house further on. This happened three times and she received hospitality for the night in
each place for his sake.
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32. Sa deire thainig siad go dtí cúirt bhreá aolta cúirt ba bhreátha da bhfeacha an
bhanphrionsa riamh agus chuaidh siad isteach. Duirt an Madra lei go mbeidh saol iontach
aice ansan ach bhi aon comhairle amhain aige le thabhairt di – pe rud imtheocadh uirthe gan
aon bhuadhairt do theacht uirthe agus go mor mhor gan aon deor a sileadh agus gheall si go
ndeanfaidh si a chomairle.Ní raibh aoinne eile le feiscint ann agus bhiodar ar a naonar
agus an Madra ina chló féin i gcomhnuí nuair a thainig sé abhaile istoiche. Dfhánadar
ansan go cheann i bhfad agus sa deire bhí mac óg aici. Bhí san go maith go dtí roinnt
laethannta agus do tháinig lá ana-bhrothallach agus do bhí sí istigh ag luascadh an
cliabháin.
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32. At last they came to a fine white palace finer than the princess had ever seen before
and they entered. The Dog told her that she would have a wonderful life there on one only
condition, that whatever happened to her, she must never show the slightest sorrow nor shed
a single tear.
She agreed to accept his advice. There was no-one else to be seen and they
lived alone there with the Dog being in his own shape when he came home in the evening. They
lived there for a long while and at last the princess had a little son.
That was grand until
once there came a very hot day and she was inside rocking the cradle and a long, yellow dog
came to the door with its tongue hanging out with the heat and she felt sorry for it.
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33. Mhuise mo thrúa thú, a mhadra bhoicht arsa sise leis an gcoin.Tár aníos annseo agus
lig do lapa ar an gcliabhán agus é luascadh agus tiúbhrainn deoch chughat. Do tháinig an
chú cómh maith agus do bhuail sí ar é luascadh agus d'imigh an Bhanphrionsa go dtí
seómra an bhainne chun deoch a thabhairt chun na con agus nuair a tháinig sí thar nais
leis an mbainne bhí an chú imithe agus an leanbh lei aici. Rith sí go dtí an doras agus
d'fhéach sí suas síos ins gach aon bhall féacaint an bhfeicfeadh sí an chú no an
leanbh ach má féach, ba bheag an chabhair dí é, ní raibh dtasc na dtuairisc i n-aon
ball timcheall an bhaill.
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33. Wisha, my pity on you you poor dog, she said to the hound. If you come over here and
put your paw on the cradle and rock it, I'll get you a drink. The dog came over and
commenced rocking and the princess went to the dairy to get a drink for the hound and when
she returned, the hound was gone and the child with her. She ran to the door and she looked
up and down in every place to see if the hound or the child might be seen but if she did,
it was small help to her. Hide nor hair of either of them was to be seen about the place.
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34. Mhuise mo chéad mallachtaí cugat a chú bhig granna mar is granna do dhéinis mo
leanbh a bhreith uaim. Dá mbeadh fhios agam-sa gur bh'é sin a bhí le déanamh agat,
d'fhágfainn-se an tart ort go fóill !” D'fhán sí go brónach ach chuimhnigh si aris lei
feinig cad dubhairt an Madra lei gan aon bhuairt a theacht uirthe aguschroth si suas i
feinig agus d'atharaig si a h-aigne agus nior fhan aon bhuairt uirthe.Bhi an saol ag
imtheacht mar sin go cheann blian eile agus do rugadh mac óg arís di. Bhi sin go maith
agus athas an domhan uirthe go dtáinig lá ana-brothallach go léir agus bhí sí n-a suí
i naice an chliabhán 'a luascadh nuair a tháinig chú fhada bhán go dtí an doras agus a
teanga amach aici le brothalán an lae.
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34. Musha, my hundred curses on you, you ugly little hound for it is horrible the way you took
my child from me. If I had known what you intended to do, I should have left the thirst on
you still. She was full of sorrow, but then she remembered the warning that the Dog had
given her not to let anything upset her and she made up her mind not to let any sorrow
remain on her. That was all right and when another year had passed she had another little
son and it was grand until a day that was very hot all together came and she was sitting by
the cradle rocking it when a long, white hound came to the door and its tongue hanging out
with thirst.
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35. Ní hé gur fé dhéin an leinbh seo bhreith uaim atánn tú,” arsa sise leis an gcoin,
mar do dhéin an chú bhuí cheanna agus má's eadh ní leigfad-sa leat é ! Ach bhí an
tart go léir ar an gcoin mboicht agus a teanga ar síleadh chun talamh lei agus go dhóigh
leat gach nóimeat go dtuitfeadh an t-anam aisti, agus do tháinig trua ag an mBanphrionsa
di agus sa deire duuirt sí, ó mhuise, tá ana-trua agan duit agus ní fhéadfainn
fánúint ag féachaint ort mar atánn tu. Má dtiocfá aníos agus an cliabhán a luascadh
go dtiúbhrainn deoch chugat... Do tháinig comh maith agus do rith an bhanphrionsa comh
tiubh agus d'fhéad sí agus thug sí lei báisín bainne ach nuair a tháinig sí thar
nais, bhí an chú agus an leanbh imithe roimpe .
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35. It isn't to steal this child from me that you are come is it like the yellow hound did
once already ..because if it is I won't let you ! she said. But terrible thirst was on the
hound with its tongue hanging down to the ground so that you would think any minute that
the soul would go out of her. The princess felt terribly sorry for it and at last she said,
O Wisha, if you come over and lay your paw on the cradle and give it a rock, I'll get a
drink for you... The dog came over and the princess ran as fast as she was able but when
she returned carrying a basin of milk, the hound and the child were gone before her.
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36. Do bhuail sí síos suas ar fud an tí agus cathú ag teacht uirthi in ndiadh a beirt
leanbh chun go dtí gur chuímhnigh sí ar cad dubhairt an Madra lei gan aon buairt a
theacht uirthe. D'fhán sí mar sin chun go dtí do rugadh an triú mac di. Bhí sí ansan
n-a haonar, í féin agus an leanbh ar feadh roinnt laethanta agus do bhuail cúichi isteach
lá breá brothallach cú chaol dhubh agus a teanga ar sileadh lei. Tánn tusa ag teacht
anois, arsa sise leis an gcoin, agus is baolach gur fé dhéin mo leinbh abhreith uaim
atánn tú mar a dhein an dá chú eile agus ní leigfadsa leat é ma fhéadaim é, dá
mhéid tart agus trioblóid atá ort. Caithfidh tú imtheacht !
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36. She ran up and down the house and great anxiety coming on her searching for her two
children until she remembered what the Dog had said to her about not allowing herself to
become upset. She remained like that until she had a third son. She was on her own, herself
and the child for a few days when in to her on a fine hot day, came a thin, black hound and
her tongue hanging out. You are come now ! she said, and it is likely that it is to take
away my child that you are come as the other two hounds did and I'll not allow it if I am
able, no matter how much thirst and trouble you have.You must clear off !
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37. D'fhán an chú ansann ar feadh tamall agus níor fhuair sí aon deoch. Fé dheireadh
thuit sí anuas ar an dtáirsig le tart agus le tuirse agus i gcionn i bhfad do tháinig
trua ag an mbeanphrionsa dí agus duirt sí lei teacht agus a lapa a bhualadh ar an
gcliabhán agus go tabharfaidh sí deoch chuiche. Do phreab an chú ina suí agus do bhuail
sí a lapa ar an gcliabhán agus do luaisg sí go breá é. Do thóg an bheanphrionsa
báisín agus d'imthigh sí fé dhéin an seomra bhainne. Nuair a chuaidh sí thar an doras
d'fhéach sí n-a dhiaidh agus is amhlaigh a bhí an chú ag gabháil an doras amach agus
an leanbh aici Do liúig an mháthair agus do bhí sí ag glaoch thar nais ar an gcoin chun
an leanbh fhágaint n-a diaidh. Má bhí, ba bheag an cabhair di é. Níor leig an chú
uirthe gur airig sí í acht cuir is na reathaibh comh maith in éirinn agus d'fhéad sí é.
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37. The hound stayed like that for a a while and she got no drink. At last she fell down
across the door threshold with thirst and after a while the princess felt sorry for her and
said that she should come and put her paw up on the cradle and she would get a drink for
her. The hound got up and put hef paw on the cradle and she rocked it nicely. The princess
took a basin and set off for the dairy. As she crossed the threshold, she glanced back and
didn't she see the hound going out the door and the child with her. The mother screamed
calling on the hound to leave the child behind, but if she did, it is small the help it was
to her. The hound didn't let on that she heard her but set off racing away as best she
could.
to be continued
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