Similes, Metaphors & Kennings
Rot·naisc mar nasces idu feda!
Rot·naisc mar nasces idu feda!
(he bound you * as * binds * ivy (?) * trees)
He bound you the way ivy binds trees!
Duibithir dath a berrtha...
Duibithir dath a berrtha
bruinde brain, brollach n-aidchi,
édgad luin, lúaithe ngaimche,
caera finchi, fúan fuinche.
(as black as * color * of his haircut /
as breast * of raven * bosom * of night /
clothing * of blackbird * ashes * of winter night (?) /
berries * of vine (?) / tunic * of scaldcrow)
The color of his hair is as black
as a raven’s breast, as the bosom of night,
as a blackbird’s garment, as the ashes of a winter night,
as the berries of the vine, as a scaldcrow’s tunic.
duibithir éc, buidithir ór, glaisithir bun cuilinn
duibithir éc, buidithir ór, glaisithir bun cuilinn
(as black (as) * death * as yellow (as) * gold * as green (as) * trunk * of a holly tree)
as black as death, as yellow as gold, as green as a holly trunk
Ardithir immurgu...
Ardithir immurgu, remithir, tailcithir, tresithir, sithidir seólcrann prímluingi móri!
(as tall * indeed * as thick * as firm * as strong * as long * (as) a mast * of a main-ship * great)
Indeed as tall, thick, firm, strong, and long as the mast of a great sailing ship!
Luin oc elaib...
Luin oc elaib,
ungai oc dírnaib,
crotha banaithech
oc crothaib rignai,
ríg oc Domnall,
dord oc aidbse,
adann oc caindil,
colg oc mo chailg-se.
(blackbirds * at * swans / ounces * at * pounds / shapes * of peasant women * at * shapes * of queens / kings * at * Donald / humming * at * singing / a rushlight * at * candles / a sword * at * my * sword - emphatic)
Blackbirds next to swans,
ounces next to pounds,
peasant women’s appearance
next to the appearance of queens,
kings next to Domnall,
humming next to singing,
a rushlight next to a candle,
any sword next to my sword.
In folt amal in fíach...
In folt amal in fíach
ocus in grúad amal in fuil
ocus in corp amal in snechta.
(the * hair * like * the * raven / and * the * cheek * like * the * blood / and * the * body * like * the * snow)
Hair as black as the raven,
a cheek as red as blood,
and a body white as snow.