Pangur Bn

This poem was found in the margins of a manuscript in the Monastery of St

Paul, Carinthia, Austria. It seems to have been written by an Irish monk,
sometime around the ninth century.

English Translations by Frank O'Connor and Eavan Boland

Messe [ocus] Pangur bn,

cechtar nathar fria saindn;
bth a menma-sam fri seilgg,
mu menma cin im saincheirdd
Caraim-se fs, ferr cach cl,
oc mu lebrn lir ingnu;
n foirmtech frimm Pangur bn,
caraid cesin a maccdn.
ru-biam scl cn scis
innar tegdias ar n-ondis,
tithiunn dichrchide clius
n fris 'tarddam ar n-thius.
Gnth-huaraib ar greassaib gal
glenaid luch ina ln-sam;
os me, du-fuit im ln chin
dliged ndoraid cu n-dronchill.
Fachaid-sem fri freaga fl
a rosc a nglse comln;
fachimm chin fri fgi fis
mu rosc ril, cesu imdis.
Felid-sem cu n-dne dul,
hi nglen luch ina grchrub;
hi-tucu cheist n-doraid n-dil,
os m chene am felid.
Cia beimini amin nach r
n derban cch a chle;
mait le cechtar nr a dn
subaigthiud a enurn.
H fesin as choimsid du
in muid du-n-gn cach enlu;
do thabairt doraid du gl
for mumud cin am messe.
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"The Scholar and "From the Irish of

the Cat" Pangur Ban"

by Frank O'Connor by Eavan Boland

Each of us pursues Myself and Pangur,

his trade, cat and sage
I and Pangur my Go each about our
comrade, business;
His whole fancy on I harass my beloved
the hunt, page,
And mine for He his mouse.
learning ardent.
Fame comes second
More than fame I to the peace
love to be Of study, a still day
Among my books Unenvying, Pangur's
and study, choice
Pangur does not Is child's play.
grudge me it,
Content with his own Neither bored, both
merit. hone
At home a separate
When a heavenly skill
time! we are Moving after hours
In our small room alone
together To the kill
Each of us has his
own sport When at last his net
And asks no greater wraps
comfort. After a sly fight
Around a mouse;
While he sets his mine traps
round sharp eye Sudden insight.
On the wall of my
study On my cell wall
I turn mine, though here,
lost its edge, His sight fixes,
On the great wall of burning,
knowledge. Searching; my old
eyes peer
Now a mouse drops At new learning,
in his net
After some mighty And his delight when
onset his claws
While into my bag I Close on his prey
cram Equals mine when
Some difficult sudden clues
darksome problem. Light my way.

When a mouse comes So we find by

to the kill degrees
Pangur exults, a Peace in solitude,
marvel! Both of us, solitaries,
I have when some Have each the trade
secret's won
My hour of He loves: Pangur,
exultation. never idle
Day or night
Though we work for Hunts mice; I hunt
days and years each riddle
Neither the other From dark to light.
hinders;
Each is competent
and hence
Enjoys his skill in
silence.

Master of the death

of mice,
He keeps in daily
practice,
I too, making dark
things clear,
Am of my trade a
master.