Grace Nugent
| TYPE | 3 - Complex Melody |
| TOPIC | Praise |
| TUNE STRUCTURE | A8 B16 |
| VERSE STRUCTURE | 6v 4l |
| TIME SIGNATURE |
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| KEY SIGNATURE | ♯ |
| TONAL CENTRE | A |
| INCIPIT | GDGABBAGFD'GC |
| GENRE | Amhrán Mór |
| TEXT SOURCE | Joseph Cooper Walker, Historical Memoirs of the Irish Bards (Dublin: Luke White, 1786), pp.76-78 |
| TUNE SOURCE | A Collection of the Most Celebrated Irish Tunes (Dublin: John and William Neal, 1724), p.26 |
| FIRST LINE | As mian leam trácht air bhláth na finne |
| NOTATED INCIPIT | |
| Joseph Cooper Walker attributed this song to Carolan. Carolan’s biographer, Donal O’Sullivan, traces the subject to the youngest daughter of James Nugent of Coolamber, Co Westmeath and claims that the tune was earlier used as the tune for ‘The British Grenadiers’. See Nicholas Carolan, ed. Celebrated Irish Tunes (1986; 2010 revised ed.), pp.97-8. | |
For Gracey NugentAs mian leam trácht air bhláth na finne,Grási, an ainnir as súgaidh;‘S gurab í ‘rug barr a gcáil ‘s a dtuigsiAir mhnáibh breágha glice ó na chúigeadh.An té ‘bhíos ‘na haicesi d’oidhche is do ló,Ní baoghal dó athtuirsi choidhche nó brónAige a’ ríoguin tshéimh is aoibhne méin‘S í inghion na gcraebh ‘s na bhfáinnigh.Tá ‘taobh mar ael, ‘s a píob mur ghéis,‘S a gnaoi mar ghréin a’ tsamhraidh;Nach tapuidh don té dár gealladh mar spré‘Bheith aicidhsi, géug na gcam-dhlaoi.As suairc ‘s as sáimh do ráidthe geanamhail,As áluinn deas do shúil ghlas;‘S é ‘chluinim gach lá aig cách dá aithris,Gur fáinneach cas do chúl tais.Súd mar ‘deirim leis an óigmhnaoi shéimh,‘Bhfuil a glór níos binne ná ceol na n-én;Níl sions ná greann dár smuainidh ceann,Nach bhfuighthear go cinnte aig Grási.A lúb na séud as dlúthdheas déud,A chúl na gcraebh ‘s na chfáinnidh,Gidh ionmhuin liom féin thú, sdadam don sgéal,Acht d’ólfuinn gan bhréig do shláinte. RIA MS E ii I: folio 93 (Suggested in Nicholas Carolan, 2010, pp.97-8)
For Gracey NugentI wish to discourse on the flower of beauty, Gracey, the maiden who is merriest; And it is she who takes the prize for fame and intelligence From the fine clever women of all the provinces. The person who is with her by night and by day, Is in no danger ever of weariness or of sorrow With the gentle queen of the most beautiful mien; She is the girl of the tresses and the ringlets. Her side is like white-lime, and her neck is like that of a swan, And her countenance is like the sun of summer; Isn’t it fortunate for the person to whom she was promised as a dowry To be with her, the branch of the curling locks. It is merry and mild that your modest words are, It is fine and beautiful that your shining eyes are; It is what I hear every day being said by all, That your soft hair is curly and twisting. Thus I speak to the gentle young woman, Whose voice is sweeter than the music of birds; There is no amusement or fun that anyone ever conceived of That would not certainly be had with Gracey. O beautiful maiden of the jewels and fine regular teeth, and hair in tresses and ringlets, Although you are dear to me, I will finish my narration, But, no word of a lie, I would gladly drink your health.(Translation in Nicholas Carolan, 2010, p.98)