A Celebration of Women Writers

"The Hymn of Molling's Guest, The Man full of Trouble." translated by Lady Augusta Persse Gregory (1852-1932)
Publication: The Kiltartan Poetry Book. by Lady Gregory. New York: G. Putnam's Sons, 1919. pp. 66-67.

Editor: Mary Mark Ockerbloom

[Page 66] 

The Hymn of Molling's Guest, The Man full of Trouble

HE is clean gold, he is Heaven about the sun, he is a silver vessel having wine in it; he is an angel, he is the wisdom of saints; everyone that is doing the will of the King.

He is a bird with a trap closing about him; he is a broken ship in great danger; he is an empty vessel, he is a withered tree; he that is not doing the will of the King.

He is a sweet-smelling branch with its blossoms; he is a vessel that is full of honey; he is a shining stone of good luck; he who does the will of the Son of God of Heaven.

He is a blind nut without profit; he is ill-smelling [Page 67]  rottenness, he is a withered tree; he is a wild apple branch without blossom; he that is not doing the will of the King.

If he does the will of the Son of God of Heaven, he is a bright sun with summer about it; he is the image of the God of Heaven; he is a vessel of clear glass.

He is a racehorse over a smooth plain, the man that is striving for the kingdom of the great God; he is a chariot that is seen under a king, that wins the victory with golden bridles.

He is a sun that warms high heaven; the king to whom the great King is thankful; he is a church, joyful, noble; he is a shrine having gold about it.

He is an altar having wine poured upon it; having many quires singing around; he is a clean chalice with ale in it; he is bronze, white, shining, he is gold.

[Page 68]

Editor: Mary Mark Ockerbloom