THE IRISH SCHOLAR AND HIS CAT: PANGUR BAN

Pangur Bán" is an Old Irish poem, written around the 9th century at or around Reichenau Abbey. It was written by an Irish monk, and is about his cat, Pangur Bán.

PANGUR BAN

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 of 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 everyday has made

Pangur perfect in his trade;

I get wisdom day and night

Turning darkness into light.