An Buachaill Caol-Dubh

Nuair teim ar aonachA ceannach éadaighIs bíonn an éirneirAgam am láimh,Sínenn taobh liomAn buachaill caol-dubh'S do huir a chaol chrobhIsteach am láim:Ar gearr 'na dhéigh sinGo m-bím am égcoinn,Gan prinn dam chéillIs ar ceann an chláirA díol na n-éileamhDo bhíonn am céradh,Seacht gan léine,'San fuacht am chrádh.

Do casadh Aoibhell,Na Craige Léithe orainn,Agabháil na slighe;'S do ghaibh liom báigh,Is dúbhairt da n-géilleadhAn buachaill caol-dubh,Go d-tabharfadh céd fearGho gonta géar ,Is dubhairt tréigfeadhA chairid ghnáith;Ghur shiubhail EireTré choillte is réidhtigh,Le cumann cléibhe,Is le searc, am dheáigh.
An Buachcaill caol-dubhWhen I go to the fairTo buy me some clothes,And I have the earnestIn my hand,Up struts beside meThe Black Slender Boy,And puts his slender handwithin my hand:In a short time afterI am a maniac,Without a particle of my senses,Over the board,Paying demandsWhich ever tease me,Seven months wihtout a shirt,and the cold freezing me.We met AoibhellOg Creig LeithA going the way;And she took my part,And said, and if the Black Slender BoyWould resign me,She would give him an hundred menUp in my place:Spoke the slender manCuttingly and sharply to her,And said that he would not forsakeHis constant friend;That he had traversed ErinnThrough forests and plains,With heartfelt loveAnd affection, after me.

Translation by George Petrie, The Ancient Music of Ireland (Dublin: M. H. Gill, 1855) p. 21.