Bailiff collecting rent -- Cobbler Story... Chapter 4.
In this fourth chapter Séadna is at home and content that he did not
acquire the horse or the cow at the fair. They would only have caused him trouble. He continued
in the cobbler shop, hired apprentices and prospered beyond belief.
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huise, an bhfeaca aon Chríostaí riamh a leithéid sin d'obair? "
ar seisean, agus tharraing sé amach é. Cuardach ! Níor chuardach
go dtí é! Aon ní ach mo mhéireanna a chur amach trí
chúinnibh na bpocaí !... Bhíodar comh follamh agus a bhíodar
riamh agus níor bheag dóibh sin. Ní fhéadfaidís bheith
níos follamha... Cár imigh sé ? Cé thug thar n-ais é?
Cad é an tairbhe dhomsa sparán trom teann bheith agam im phóca agus
ansan mé a dhul ar an aonach agus spreallairín fir na mearacán
mé caineadh os comhair na gcomharsan, agus 'greasaí beag buí' a
tabhairt orm ná raibh pinginn im phóca !... Agus anois, caithfidh mé
dul in éineacht leis an bhFear Dubh i gceann trí bliana déag !... Cad
é an saghas mhargadh é sin nuair nach féidir liom aon usáid a
bhaint as an sparán ? Beidh sé comh teann an lá deannach agus
atá sé anois... ní hiúnadh dhó san a rá !
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27. "Well, did any Christian ever see the likes of that for work ? " he said, and he drew it out. Search ! There was never a search like it! I almost put my fingers out through the corners of my pockets! They were as empty as ever they were and that's saying a lot. They couldn't be emptier... Where did it go ? Who put it back ? What is the use of having a full, heavy purse in my pocket and going to the fair for any fool of a thimble-rigger to be able to shame me out in front of the neighbours and call me 'little, yellow cobbler without a penny in his pocket' ! And now, I must go with the Dark Man in thirteen years time. What sort of bargain is that when I can't make any use of the purse ? "It'll be as full on the last day as it is now"... no wonder he could say that ! " |
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28. Bhí Séadna ag machtnamh dó féin... B'fhéidir, tar
éis an tsaoil, gurb amhlaigh mar is fearr é nar cheannaíos an
capall...mharódh an capall úd mé agus ansan ní bheidís
na trí bliana déag féin agam... agus... b'fhéidir óir
nar cheannaíos an bhó, ní gá dhom bheith ag lorg mná
chun a chrúite. B'fhéidir narbh fhearr riamh é mar scéal !..
.Déanfad brógaí agus beidh fhéidir liom a chuid airgid a
thabhairt do Uí Marlaigh arís... gan bacadh cor ar bith leis an t-airgead i
sporán an fhir dhuibh
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28. Séadna was thinking to himself... Perhaps, after all, it might be that it was better
that I didn't buy that horse... It would kill me and then I wouldn't even have the thirteen
years !... And perhaps it was just as well that I didn't buy a cow, because I would have
had to look for a wife to milk it... I'll just make the boots and be able to pay back the
money to Marley without bothering at all with the Dark Man's purse.
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29. Ag gabháil an bóthar abhaile dó, do bhí a aigne agus a
intinn trína chéile. I gcaitheamh na slí, níor scar an
lámh clé leis an taobh an veist go raibh an sparán laistigh de.
Nuair a tháinig se abhaile, bhí a aigne déanta suas. Shuí
sé isteach sa cathaoir... thóg úll agus greim den mhín... agus
bhí é ag cogaint ... agus chaith sé sparán an Fhir Dhuibh
treasna an seomra isteach sa choirnéal – áit ina fhán sé le
blianta fada ina dhiadh sin – deannach agus leaba an deamhain alla air. Tharraing sé
cuige a chuid leathair agus a chuid chéarach agus a chuid snáithe agus chrom
sé ar obair. Nuair a bhí dá fhéire bróg criochnaithe
aige, d'imthig sé agus dhíol sé iad agus thug sé luach
dhá phúnt leathair abhaile leis, agus ansan luach cheithre bpunt. Ansan do
thug sé leis beirt ghréasaí eile ar a bpá lae agus fé
cheann tamaill beirt eile. Ba ró ghearr go raibh a ainm in airde sa dúthaigh
le feabhas agus le saoire a bhróg.
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29. As he went home, his mind was in a whirl. The whole way his left hand never left the
side of his waistcoat where the purse was. When he got home, his mind was made up. He sat
down in his chair... took an apple and a fistful of meal...
and whilst he was chewing, he
took the purse of the Dark Man... and threw it across the room into the corner, where it
stayed for long years gathering dust and cobwebs. He pulled a sheet of leather towards him
together with his wax and thread and got down to his work. When he had two pairs of boots
made he went and sold them and took two pounds-worth of leather home with him, and then
four pounds worth. Then he took two other cobblers on a daily wage and after a little
while, two more. In a very short time, his name was widely known in the area for the
excellence and cheapness of his boots.
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30. Is cuige a thagadh ag triall air na daoine ba shaibhre agus dob uaisle ag ceannach
bróg mar is ortha a bhíodh an déanamh ba deise. Is ag triall air a
thagadh na daoine bochta nâ bhíodh airgead na mbróg oiriúnach acu,
mar do thugadh sá cairde breá fada dóibh. Thug sé cabhair do
gréasaíthe eile ná raibh airgead acu chun leathar a cheannach is
mó gréasaí bocht a bheadh go minic gan bia ag a chlainn ná muc
sa doras aige mára mbeadh Séadna. Ag dul go dtí Aifreann an Domhnaigh
no lae shaoire nó ar margadh ag díol bróg dó, is mó
duine a bhiodh ag teacht roimis ar an mbóthar agus ag glaoch i leathaoibh air, a
rá, Gabh mo leithscéal, a Shéadna... bheadh an dá phunt
úd agam duit ach gur theip orm an mhuc a dhíol. nó Go deimhin, a
Shéadna tá náire orm teacht chun cainnte leat agus gan leathphinge
ded chuid airgid fós agam duit ach do buaileadh mo mhac breóite...
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30. It was to him that the richest and highest came to buy boots for they were known for
the excellence of workmanship. The poor people came also who had not the right money for
boots since he gave fine, long credit. He helped other cobblers who lacked the money to
buy leather many a poor cobbler wouldn't have food for child or pig at home but for
Séadna. Going to mass on Sunday or High day or at the market selling boots, many a
person would come over to him on the road and call him to one side, Excuse me
Séadna... I would have had that pound for you but I failed to sell the pig. or
Indeed, Séadna I'm ashamed to come talking to you and not having a halfpenny of
your money yet, but my son fell ill...
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31. Bhí aon fhear amháin gur thug Séadna an t-eiteachas dó.
Tháinig sé sin i gculaith éadaigh uasail a dhá láimh go
breá bog gan rian oibre orthu. Go deimhin a Sheadna, ar seisean, tá cheann
fé orm go gcaithfinn teacht ag triall ortsa ag lorg airgid ar iasacht. Ach do
dhéanfadh céad punt áise mhór anois dom... Ní hé
gach lá a thiocfaidh mo leithéidse á iarraidh ort. Is oth liom
ná fuil céad punt agam oiriúnach anois le thabhairt duit, arsa
Séadna.
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31. There was one man to whom Séadna gave a refusal. He came in elegant clothes and
his two hands were soft and without the marks of labour on them. Indeed Séadna, I'm
embarrassed to come looking for you seeking the loan of money. It isn't every day that a
man of my quality comes asking you, but a hundred pounds would be of great assistance to
me at the moment. I regret that I haven't a hundred pounds that I could conveniently give
you, said Séadna.
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32. Do stad an duine uasal agus d'fhéach sé ar Shéadna. Ní
raibh aon choinne aige in aon chor aige leis an bhfreagra san. D'fhéach sé
ar Shéadna mar a fhéachfadh sé ar ainmhí éigin
neamhchoitianta. D'fhéach Séadna go seasmhac idir an dhá súil
air... Ó, ar seisean, do dhéanfadh deich bpuint is daichead an gnó.
Is oth liom, arsa Séadna, na bhfuil deich bpuint is is daichead... na deich bpuint...
ná aon punt amháin le fáil agat. Tháinig an féachaint
úd i súilibh Shéadna. Tabhair do bhóthar ort ! Is beag nar
léim sé an doras amach.
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32. The gentleman stopped and looked at Séadna. He had not expected any such reply at all.
He looked at Séadna as if he were some unusual sort of animal. Séadna looked
back at him steadily between the eyes. Oh, said the gentleman, Fifty pounds would do... I
regret, said Séadna, that you cannot have fifty pounds... nor ten pounds...
nor even a single pound ! That look came into Séadna's eyes. Get out ! The man
almost jumped out through the door.
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33. Maidin amháin níor tháinig Micheál, fear den a chuid
ghréasaí, isteach chun obair. D'fhéach Séadna ina thimpall.
Cá bhfuil Micheál? ar seisean. D'fhán sé sa bhaile, arsa an
fear a labhair. Tá báille ag teacht ann ag tógailt cíosa,
agus ní deirim go bhfuil leathphinge airgid fé iadhadh an tí acu.
Níor dhéin Séadna ach casadh agus imeacht an doras amach. Baintreach
dob ea mathair Mhíchil. Do dhéin sé ceann ar aghaidh ar thigh na
baintrí. D'fháiltigh an baintreach roimis. Ní raibh an báille
ann go fóill. Cad tá uaidh sin ? arsa Séadna. Tá an
cíos, ar sise. An mór é ? ar seisean. Fiche punt,ar sise. Seo,ar
seisean.Tá punt sa tseachtain ag dul do Mhicheál. Sin fiche punt dá
phá roimh ré agat. Ariú, ar sise, cad ar a shon go dtabharfá
an oiread san airgid dom roimh ré ? Ar son an tslánaitheora, ar seisean.Go
dtuga an Slánaitheor a luach dhuit ! ar sise. Bhí sé imithe sara
raibh uain aici ar a thuilleadh a rá.
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33. One morning, Micheál, one of his cobblers, didn't come come in to work.
Séadna looked around. Where is Micheál ? he said. He stayed at home, said
one of the men.The bailiff is coming to collect the rent and I tell you, there isn't a
halfpenny in the house. Séadna did nothing but turn on his heel and go out the
door. Micheál's mother was a widow. She welcomed him in. The bailiff hadn't come
yet. What does that fellow want? asked Séadna. The rent, she replied. How much is
it ? he asked. Twenty pounds, she said. Here, he said. Micheál gets a pound a
week. That's twenty pounds in advance you have. Heavens ! she exclaimed. Why would you
give so much money in advance ? For God's sake, he said. May God give his reward to you!
she replied and he was out the door before she could say more.
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34. Tháinig an báille isteach. Hata bán air. Pluic air. Pus
mórchúiseach air. Caincín ramhar air. Muineál beathathaithe
air. Casóg bhréide ghlaschaorach air. Bolg mór air. Tarr leathan air.
Colpaí air. Bata trom draighin duibh ina láimh. É ag cneadaigh agus
ag séideadh. Cíos no seilbh, a bhean an tí, ar seisean. Do ghlaoigh
sí ar a mac. Seo, a Mhicil, ar sise, comhairimh é sin agus tabhair don duine
mhacánta seo é. Do leath a shúile ar Mhicil, mar ní fheaca
sé Séadna ag tabhairt an airgid dá mhathair, agus do leath a
shúile ar an mbáille, mar ní raibh aon choinne aige go raibh aon
leathphinge airgid sa tígh. Ghlac sé an cíos agus thug sé a
bhothar air, agus is é a bhí go cráite cancrach, mar bhí an
áit geallta aige an mhaidin cheanna do dhuine eile ar bhréib mhaith.
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34. The bailiff came in. A white hat on him. Bulging cheeks he had. A self-important face
on him. A frieze coat of sheepswool. A big belly on him and a wide front to him. Thick
legs he had and a heavy blackthorn stick in his hand, panting and blowing.
Rent or eviction, woman of the house ! he growled.
She called for her son. Here Micheál, she said, Count that and give it
to this honest man. Micheál blinked for he hadn't seen Séadna giving the
money to his mother, and the bailiff blinked too, because he had no expectation of there
being a halfpenny in the house. He took the money and hit the road, and he was tormented
and cantankerous, because he had already promised the place to someone else for a good
bribe.
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35. Ar an Domhnach a bhí cugainn, bhí mathair Mhicil ag caint le bhean
béaldorais agus innis sí an scéal díreach mar do thit
sé amach...Agus iúnadh an scéal go léir, nuair a bhí
Séadna ag díol na bhfear aréir, do shin sé punt chun Michil
mar ba gnáth. Ó arsa Micil, táim díolta cheana. Glach
é sin uaim, arsa Séadna, agus b'éigean dó !
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35. On the next Sunday, Micheal's mother was talking to her next door neighbour and she
told the story exactly as it happened... And the wonder of it all was , when he was paying
the men last night, he handed a pound to Micheál as usual. Oh, said
Micheál, I'm paid already. Take that now from me, said Séadna, and
Micheál had to !
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We would like to acknowledge that, because of unavoidable condensing, necessary for
fitting this tale into the space available, some alteration in plot has had to be made. We
have, however, tried to use An tAth Peadar's own beautiful West Cork Gaelic as far as possible.
Courtesy of Jack & Vivian, IrishPage.com Jan 1. 2024
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