Page:The poem-book of the Gael - Hull.djvu/76

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34
THE SALTAIR NA RANN

“Provided that I fall (just the measure)
for my sins, for my transgression,
clearly the greater mercy
will thy God shew towards thee.”

“Greatly have we offended the King,”
said he, said Adam, without contempt,
“O Wife, I will not commit murder on thee,
though I be famished, though I be naked.

“I will not lift my hand
upon my own blood, my own flesh;
how great soever thy crime,
it is from my body thou art.

“It is not fitting for us in any way
to outrage Him again;
so that the true Prince, O wife,
may not cut us off and utterly destroy us.

“That we go not from Him a distant journey
with demons into the abyss of torment,
nor that God give us back
into the power of Lucifer.”

“There is no good in our life,[1] O Adam,”
said she, said Eve;
“without clothing, without warm dwelling,
without food, we shall perish of hunger.

“We had food, we had garments,
as long as we were without sin;
since our fall and our going astray,
we have neither clothing nor good food.


  1. Lit. “gatherings” or “proceedings.”