Ní geb-sa didu, ar isi, óm Thigerna, co tuca a Mac a ním i r-richt noíden dia altraim dam dono. Co táinic in t-aíngel no gnathaiged tímtirecht disi ara hamus. Míthig em, athered sí fris. Co n-erbairt frin: doberthar duit inní conaigihi. Co táinic Críst cuicce i r-richt noíden, conid ann as-bert-si: Ísucán alar lium im dísiurtán; cía beith cléirech co lín sét, is bréuile acht Ísucán. Altram alar lium im thig, ní altram nach dóerathaig -- Ísu co feraib nime, frim chride cech n-óenadaig. Ísucán óc mo bithmaith: ernaid, ocus ní maithmech. In Rí con-ic na uili cen a guidi bid aithrech. Ísu úasal ainglide, noco cléirech dergnaide, alar lium im dísiurtán, Ísu mac na Ebraide. Maic na ruirech, maic na ríg, im thír cía do-ísatán, ní úaidib saílim sochor: is tochu lium Ísucán. Canaid cóir, a ingena, d' fir dliges bar císucán; atá 'na phurt túasucán cía beith im ucht Ísucán.
Confirmed with Volume 29 of the Henry Bradshaw Society : The Martyrology of Oengus, or Félire Óengusso Céli Dé. Translator and editor: Whitley Stokes. London: Henry Bradshaw Society, 1905, pages 42-45. Manuscript of origin: The Speckled Book, or Leabhar Breac (note: there are many alternative spellings).
Notes (provided by Melanie Trumbull): The first part is the recitative excerpted from the prose commentary. The hymn/poem/'aria' embedded in the commentary to the liturgical calendar follows it.
There are at least six manuscripts that have this poem in them. One of these is: Royal Irish Academy, Dublin: MS 23. P. 16. The "martyrology" is a liturgical calendar, assigning to each date of the year the name-day of various saints. 15 January is the name-day for St. Ita. Copious commentary is attached to the rather cut-and-dried liturgical calendar. It is from the commentary that the context is given for St. Ita and her hymn. This includes a lengthy explanation in Old Irish prose, followed by the poetic lyric for the "Jesukin" hymn.
Text Authorship:
- possibly by St. Ita (flourished 8th century), "Ísucán" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Chester Kallman (1921 - 1975) , copyright © [an adaptation] ; composed by Samuel Barber.
- Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Edmund Duncan Rubbra.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Whitley Stokes) , "Infant Jesus"
Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2016-09-09
Line count: 34
Word count: 152
I will not take from my Lord, says she, until He give me His Son out of heaven in the form of a babe to be nursed by me. Then came towards her the angel who used to attend her. 'Tis time indeed, she said to him. Whereupon he said to her: What thou askest will be given to thee. So Christ came to her in the form of a babe, and then she said: Infant Jesus nursed by me in my little hermitage, though it be a cleric with worldly treasures, all is a lie save infant Jesus. The nursling that is nursed by me in my house, is not the nursling of a base clown -- Jesus with the angels of heaven before my heart every single night. Infant Jesus, my eternal good: for heed of Him, He is not remiss. The King who controls all things, not to beseech him will cause repentance. Jesus, noble, angelic, no faded common cleric, nursed by me in my little hermitage, Jesus, son of the woman of the Hebrews. The sons of princes, the sons of kings, should they come into my country, not from these do I expect profit: more likely to me is infant Jesus. Sing a chorus, daughters [virgins/maidens], to Him that has the right to your modest tribute. He is in his place above, though in my bosom is infant Jesus.
Confirmed with Volume 29 of the Henry Bradshaw Society : The Martyrology of Oengus, or Félire Óengusso Céli Dé. Translator and editor: Whitley Stokes. London: Henry Bradshaw Society, 1905, pages 42-45.
Text Authorship:
- by Whitley Stokes (1830 - 1909), "Infant Jesus" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Irish (Gaelic) possibly by St. Ita (flourished 8th century)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2016-09-09
Line count: 34
Word count: 233