Pangur Ban

Herdis Gelardis (1916-1991) svarta katt får i dag representera Pangur Ban, den vita katten.  Kanske var det en munk som på åttahundratalet skrev om sin katt Pangur Ban. Det är ju några år sedan, så vem han var, och var han egentligen plitade ner sina verser är det ingen som med säkerhet vet. Det finns en del på nätet att läsa, bland annat på "Irish Cultures and Customs". Fler översättningar finns också, den här tror man är översatt av Robin Flower.

The scholar and his cat, Pangur Bán

 I and Pangur Ban my cat,
'Tis a like task we are at:
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
'Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill-will,
He too plies his simple skill.

'Tis a merry task to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur's way;
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.

When a mouse darts from its den,
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

So in peace our task we ply,
Pangur Ban, my cat, and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine and he has his.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.