Irish foras feasa ar Éirinn
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Foras feasa ar Éirinn - 0 - Prologue
I (1) concerning foreign writers on Ireland
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0 - Prologue —
An díonbhrollach: a vindicatory introduction in 9 subdivisions (ailt), ed. and tr. David Comyn, Foras feasa ar Éirinn: The history of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating D. D. Volume I, containing the introduction and first book of the history, vol. 1 (1902).
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Incipit
Cibé duine 'san mbioth chuireas roimhe Seanchus nó Sinnseardhacht críche ar bioth do leanmhain nó do lorgaireacht [...]
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Cibé duine 'san mbioth chuireas roimhe Seanchus nó Sinnseardhacht críche ar bioth do leanmhain nó do lorgaireacht, is eadh dhligheas cinneadh ar an slíghe is soiléire nochtas fírinne stáide na críche, agus dáil na foirne áitigheas í, do chur go soléir síos: agus do bhrígh gur ghabhas rém' ais Foras Feasa ar Éirinn d'fhaisnéis, do mheasas ar dtús cuid d'á leathtrom agus d'á heugcómlann d'eugnach; agus go háirithe an t-eugcomhthrom atá ag a dhéanamh ar a háitigtheoiribh, mar atáid na Sean-Ghaill atá 'na seilbh tuilleadh agus ceithre chéad bliadhan ó ghabháltas Gall i leith, mar aon re Gaedhealaibh atá 'na seilbh (beagnach), re trí mhíle bliadhan. Óir ní fhuil stáraidhe ó shoin i leith d'á scríobhann uirre nach ag iarraidh lochta agus toibhéime do thabhairt do Shean-Ghallaibh agus do Ghaedealaibh bhíd.
WHOSOEVER proposes to trace and follow up the ancient history and origin of an country ought to determine on setting down plainly the method which reveals most clearly the truth of the state of the country, and the condition of the people who inhabit it: and forasmuch as I have undertaken to investigate the groundwork of Irish historical knowledge [Foras Feasa ar Éirinn], I have thought at the outset of deploring some part of her affliction and of her unequal contest; especially the unfairness which continues to be practised on her inhabitants, alike the old foreigners [Sean-Ghaill] who are in possession more than four hundred years from the Norman invasion [ghabháltas Gall] down, as well as the native Irish [Gaedhealaibh] who have had possession during almost three thousand years. For there is no historian of all those who have written on Ireland from that epoch that has not continuously sought to cast reproach and blame both on the old foreign settlers and on the native Irish.
– Transcription provided by CELT
Bíodh a fhiadhnaise sin ar an dteist do-bheir Cambrens, Spenser, Stanihurst, Hanmer, Camden, Barclaí, Morison, Davis, Campion, agus gach Nua-Ghall eile d'á scríobhann uirre ó shoin amach, ionnus gur b'é nós, beagnach, an phroimpiolláin do-ghníd, ag scríobhadh ar Éireannchaibh. Is eadh, iomorro, is nós do'n phroimpiollán, an tan thógbhas a cheann i san samhradh, bheith ar foluamhain ag imtheacht, agus gan cromadh ar mhion-scoith d'á mbí 'san machaire, nó ar bhláth d'á mbí i lubhghort, gémadh rós nó líle uile iad, acht bheith ar fuaidreadh go dteagmhann bualtrach bó nó otrach capaill ris, go dtéid d'á unfairt féin ionnta.
Whereof the testimony given by Cambrensis, Spenser, [p.5] Stanihurst, Hanmer, Camden, Barckly, Moryson, Davies, Campion, and every other new foreigner who has written on Ireland from that time, may bear witness; inasmuch as it is almost according to the fashion of the beetle they act, when writing concerning the Irish. For it is the fashion of the beetle, when it lifts its head in the summertime, to go about fluttering, and not to stoop towards any delicate flower that may be in the field, or any blossom in the garden, though they be all roses or lilies, but it keeps bustling about until it meets with dung of horse or cow, and proceeds to roll itself therein.
– CELT
Mar sin do'n droing thuas; ní cromadh ar shubhailcibh nó ar shoibheusaibh na n-uasal do Shean-Ghallaibh agus do Ghaedhealaibh do bhí ag áitiughadh Éireann re n-a linn do rinneadar,
mar atá scríobhadh ar a gcródhacht agus ar a gcrábhadh, ar ar' thógbhadar do mhainistreachaibh, agus ar a dtugadar d'fhearann agus d'fhódaibh re haltóir dhóibh; ar ar' bhronnadar do thearmannaibh d'ollamhnaibh Éireann agus ar gach cádhas d'á dtugsad do phearsannaibh agus do phreuláidibh eaglaise: ar gach comhall síotha d'á dtugdaois d'á n-ollamhnaibh, agus ar gach cothughadh d'á n-ollamhnaib, agus ar gach cothughadh d'á dtugdaois do bhochtaibh agus do dhílleachtaibh; ar gach bronntanas d'a dtugdaois d'éigsíbh agus do lucht iarratais, agus ar mhéid a n-einigh d'aoidheadhaibh, ionnus nach féadtar go fírinneach a rádh go raibhe lucht a s ruighthe i bhféile nó i n-eineach 'san Eoraip riamh do réir a gcumais féin i gcomhaimsir dhóibh.
Bíodh a fhiadhnaise sin ar gach gairm scoile d'á dtugadar uatha (nós ná'r chlos ag aon droing eile 'san Eoraip), ionnus go raibhe an oiread soin d'éigean féile agus einigh i Sean-Ghallaibh agus i n-Gaedhealaibh Éireann ná'r lór leo nídh do thabhairt do gach aon d'á dtiocfadh d'iarraidh neith orra, [p. 6] gan cuireadh coitcheann do thabhairt dóibh d'á dtoghairm re bronnadh seod agus maoine dhóibh.
Thus it is with the set above-named; they have displayed no inclination to treat of the virtues or good qualities of the nobles among the old foreigners and the native Irish who then dwelt in Ireland;
such as to write on their valour and on their piety, on the number of abbeys they had founded, and what land and endowments for worship they had bestowed on them; on the privileges they had granted to the learned professors of Ireland, and all the reverence they manifested towards churchmen and prelates: on every immunity they secured for their sages, and the maintenance they provided for the poor and for orphans; on each donation they were wont to bestow on the learned and on petitioners, and on the extent of their hospitality to guests, insomuch that it cannot truthfully be said that there ever existed in Europe folk who surpassed them, in their own time, in generosity or in hospitality according to their ability.
Bear witness the literary assemblies which were proclaimed by them, a custom not heard of among any other people in Europe, so that the stress of generosity and hospitality among the old foreigners and the native Irish of Ireland was such that they did not [p.7] deem it sufficient to give to any who should come seeking relief, but issued a general invitation summoning them, in order to bestow valuable gifts and treasure on them. Agents
Gerald of Wales <strong>Gerald of Wales</strong> <br>(<em>c.</em> 1146–1220 x 1223) <br><em class="text-muted">No short description available</em>
Spenser (Edmund) <strong>Spenser (Edmund)</strong> <br>(<em>d</em>. 1599 AD) <br><em class="text-muted">No short description available</em>
Stanihurst (Richard) <strong>Stanihurst (Richard)</strong> <br>(1547–1618) <br>Anglo-Irish author of a number of (Neo-)Latin works, including <em>De rebus in Hibernia gestis</em>.
Camden (William) <strong>Camden (William)</strong> <br>(d. 1623) <br>English antiquarian and author, known best for his <em>Britannia</em>.
Hanmer (Meredith) No associated entry available from the subject index
Moryson (Fynes) <strong>Moryson (Fynes)</strong> <br>(1565/66–1630) <br>English official, traveller and travel writer born in Lincolnshire, who is best known for his <em>Itenerary </em>(1617<em>)</em>,a multi-volume work in which he offers descriptions of and observations on the many lands he visited abroad. This includes an account of his experiences in Ireland, where he had been secretary to Lord Mountjoy, the Lord Deputy of Ireland.
Spenser (Edmund) <strong>Spenser (Edmund)</strong> <br>(<em>d</em>. 1599 AD) <br><em class="text-muted">No short description available</em>
Stanihurst (Richard) <strong>Stanihurst (Richard)</strong> <br>(1547–1618) <br>Anglo-Irish author of a number of (Neo-)Latin works, including <em>De rebus in Hibernia gestis</em>.
Camden (William) <strong>Camden (William)</strong> <br>(d. 1623) <br>English antiquarian and author, known best for his <em>Britannia</em>.
Hanmer (Meredith) No associated entry available from the subject index
Moryson (Fynes) <strong>Moryson (Fynes)</strong> <br>(1565/66–1630) <br>English official, traveller and travel writer born in Lincolnshire, who is best known for his <em>Itenerary </em>(1617<em>)</em>,a multi-volume work in which he offers descriptions of and observations on the many lands he visited abroad. This includes an account of his experiences in Ireland, where he had been secretary to Lord Mountjoy, the Lord Deputy of Ireland.
Lexical items
Ir. foras feasa ar Éirinn
Related texts
(probable) source: The description of Ireland (Fynes Moryson)The description of Ireland (Fynes Moryson)View incoming data
