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.]1 Co táinic Críst cuicce i r-richt noíden, conid ann as-bert-si:2 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.]1 [Ísu úasal ainglide, noco cléirech dergnaide, alar lium im dísiurtán, ]1 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).
Note (provided by Melanie Trumbull: 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. 1 Omitted in the "Hermit Song" version by Chester Kallman and Samuel Barber.2 This first part is the recitative excerpted from the prose commentary. The hymn/poem/'aria' embedded in the commentary to the liturgical calendar follows it.
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 © ; 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 text: Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2016-09-09
Line count: 34
Word count: 153
I will take nothing from my Lord," said she [ ... ]
View original text (without footnotes)
1 The lines not set by Barber have not yet been located.
Authorship:
- by Chester Kallman (1921 - 1975), copyright © [author's text not yet checked 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):
- by Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981), "Saint Ita's vision", op. 29 no. 3 (1953), published 1954 [voice and piano], from Hermit songs, no. 3. [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Sol Crespo) , title 1: "St. Ita's Vision", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , title 1: "Vision de Sainte Ita", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
This text was added to the website: 2004-01-18
Line count: 28
Word count: 143