Strachan (ed.), Ériu 2 (1905) pp.227-229 — translated from the Irish with the editor’s suggested readings; a few lines remain uncertain

The two following Rules are found in the ms. 23 P. 3, R.I.A. A critical edition and translation of such a text from a single MS. is almost an impossibility, particularly from a MS. of the character of 23 P. 3. At the same time, it is very desirable that such texts should be made accessible to Celtic scholars. Hence I have contented myself with printing the text of the MS., together with some corrections and suggestions: many of the difficulties will be solved only when a second independent text is discovered. I am indebted to Mr. R. I. Best for a careful collation of a proof with the MS.

THE RULE OF CIARÁN here

¹ If you say, O pilgrim, … my garment in rules,
what you would give to men — better that witnesses be not.

² To heaven you would be sent, before your flesh shall be;
a man for his own advantage according to his body —
that is what profits every man.

³ The stone of your body in the beginning — be in fasts and vigils;
it is with Christ that the cleric is, with the good deeds of men.

⁴ In the three or four cowls, in the goodly folds(?),
the call of each to the wrestling of help, and sweet taste to consume.

⁵ Great cities upon your conscience, monks with many sins;
in the rule I am learned, with tears not few.

⁶ No son of man disdains; alas for him that bears testimony;
save small things nor …; you shall not witness what you have not seen.

⁷ By the Son of Mary who suffered, on whom he sets no dishonour —
that is the reward of the prince of heaven to each: his pure heart.

⁸ Preach to each his sins, that every soul may be healed;
for you to go on the Lord’s day — let not your soul be idle.

⁹ Unless it be to the church, which is an eye for every leech;
and the reverence of elders, and the going round the graveyard.

¹⁰ The Sabbath of the Son of God you shall not hurt,
at the hour of the plea of your work;
let it be according to your rule of beholding that you read and write.

¹¹ It belongs to the bodies of clerics: conceal not plain rules;
praise your own deeds, and you see the deeds of your fellow.

¹² Though nuns be in your company, let them go in other rules;
with Christ, if your heart be pure, you shall be in the kingdom of heaven for it.

¹³ If you are a merciful offerer, be joyful toward your guest;
the eternal Lord will rescue you — to a feast not long.

¹⁴ A step toward the sickness of visitation,
a plea of weeping with lamentation;
that is the custom of clericship: a blemish, water, …

¹⁵ Though you give for your soul, it will not be borne with you of earth;
though your friend give back to you, beyond that the dead remains not.

¹⁶ Your full confession you shall give, O rule, if you are learned;
the stone of your body you know not — if you say to the pilgrim:
“If you say” [returns to the opening line].

THE RULE OF THE GREY MONKS here

¹ A grey company, half of death(?), that burned in burning the bush;
let not its beauty be over-great, though it be not thorny in the flame.

² I give thanks to the noble, wondrous Son of God;
at the cross with a new crozier — be you at his side though speaking.

³ It is all one to me — not of the world’s goods —
provided he be a cleric, provided he be comely;
it is all one to me whoever he be,
provided he be comely, provided he be a cleric.

⁴ To go to the after-work is a great labour; its pride burns my two eyes;
unless it be the fear of the fair Lord, though it be a stone I go not to it.

⁵ Adam, Samson, Solomon the king — their women overthrew them;
whoever shall consort with a woman, without danger he is not.

⁶ The day he forgets the end of his life, it is no fable that he shall be reft;
a Paternoster from every holy youth — woe to him that shall reach the pangs of hell.

⁷ A little bell in its resting that is not clear-sounding —
that is the will of our fair Lord: few brethren under one yoke.

⁸ When an eye has been cast over all, I tell you: the night’s feasting;
Paradise shall be the portion of the man without affection —
though a man with affection, it shall be his pain.

⁹ Woe to him whose custom is refusal; woe to him who reveres not his grey ones;
hatred of every rude one is his instruction; he bears his debts slipperily.

¹⁰ The reading of the … of the world is a secret theft;
its poison is in the clouds; he looks at them after they are …