The original poem has been attributed to Eochaid Mac Colla (c. 530 – 598), who is better known as St. Dallán Forgaill, the chief poet of Ireland, although this fact is now disputed. It seems as though he was inspired by the story of St Patrick (387 – 461 AD), who lit the fire on Slane Hill one hundred years before. It is also possible that it was based on or a homage to the writing of St Patrick himself, a piece called ‘St Patrick’s Breastplate’ (alternatively termed St Patrick’s Lorica (the Latin for ‘Breastplate’), Prayer of St Patrick, or The Deer’s Cry).
It was first
translated into English by Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880 – 1935), before being
reworked into more modern grammar by Eleanor Hull (1860 – 1935) to become the
version that became the hymn ‘Be Thou my Vision’ which is sung today.
It is now
sung to the tune ‘Slane,’ an ancient Irish tune that is attributed to fourth
century monks at one of the earliest monasteries in Ireland on the Hill of
Slane.
‘Slane’
commemorates events on Slane Hill in Tara in 433 AD. The pagan King Loegaire
mac Neill forbade any fires to be lit before the pagan Beltane fires were lit
on the Hill of Tara. In defiance of the king’s orders, St Patrick lit the
Easter fire on Slane Hill opposite Tara Hill. There was an altercation with the
local druids and one of them was killed. The king sent out men to arrest St
Patrick and his followers in order that they would be brought before the king and,
thereafter, be executed. However, the king was impressed with St Patrick’s
devotion and bravery, so allowed him to live and even gave him permission to
continue to spread the Gospel.
Below are
the words in Middle Irish/Gaelic followed by the English translation:
1.
Rop
tú mo baile, a Choimdiu cride:
May
You be my vision, O Lord of my heart;
ní
ní nech aile acht Rí secht nime.
No
none is anything but the King of the seven heavens.
2.
Rop
tú mo scrútain i l-lo i n-aidche;
May
you be my meditation by day and night;
rop
tú ad-chëar im chotlud caidche.
May
it be You that I behold forever in my sleep.
3.
Rop
tú mo labra, rop tú mo thuicsiu;
May
you be my speech, be my understanding;
rop
tussu dam-sa, rob misse duit-siu
Be
You for me, so I may I be with You.
4.
Rop
tussu m’athair, rob mé do mac-su;
May
You be my father, may I be your son;
rop
tussu lem-sa, rob missel at-su.
May
you be mine, may I be Yours.
5.
Rop
tú mo chathscíath, rop tú mo chlaideb;
May
You be my battle-shield, may You be my sword;
rop
tussu m’ordan, rop tussu m’airer.
May
You be my honour, and my delight
6.
Rop
tú mo dítiu, rop tú mo daingen;
May
you be my shelter, may You my stronghold;
rop
tú non-thocba i n-áentaid n-aingel.
May
You raise me up to the company of angels.
7.
Rop
tú cech maithius dom churp, dom anmain;
May
You be every good to my body and soul;
rop
tú mo flaithius i n-nim ‘s talmain.
May
You be my kingdom in heaven and on earth.
8.
Rop
tussu t’ áenur sainserc mo chride;
May
You be my heart’s special love;
ní
rop nech aile acht Airdrí nime.
Let
there be no other but the High King of heaven.
9.
Co
talla forum, ré n-dul it láma,
To
see You, You alone!
mo
chuit, mo chotlud, ar méit do gráda,
May
I despise all time, all life, as a stinking corpse.
10. Rop tussu t’ aénur m’urrann úais amra:
May
You be my noble and wonderful estate;
ní
chuinngim daíne ná maíne marba.
I’m
not looking for men’s privilege or lifeless wealth.
11. Rop amlaid dínsiur cech sel, cech sáegul,
May
I be in the kingdom of heaven
mar
marb oc brénad, ar t’ fëgad t’ áenur.
In
the brightness of the sun.
12. Do serc in anmain, do grád im chride;
Your
love in my soul and in my heart!
tabair
dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime.
Grant
this to me, O King of the seven heavens.
13. Tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime,
Grant
this to me, O King of the seven heavens,
do
serc in anmain, do grád in chride.
Your
love in my soul and in my heart!
14. Go Rig na n-uile rís íar m-búaid léire;
To
the King of all with Him after victory obtained by piety;
ro
béo i flaith nime i n-gil gréine.
May
I be in the Kingdom of Heaven with the sun’s brightness.
15. A Athair inmain, cluinte mo núall sa:
Beloved
Father, hear my lamentations:
mithig
(mo-núarán!) lasin trúagán trúag-sa.
This
miserable wretch (alas!) gives out a timely cry.
16. A Christ mon chride, cip ed dom-aire,
O
Christ of my heart, whatever befalls me,
a
Flaith na n-uile, rop tú mo baile.
O
King of all, may You be my vision.
Comments