The Triads of Ireland (Trecheng Breth Féne)

DUADS AND TRIADS.

Ecclesiasticus 23:21: Two kinds of people abound in sins, and the third brings wrath and destruction, etc. original Latin: "Duo genera abundant in peccatis, et tertium adducit iram et perditionem, &c."

Ibid. 26:25: My heart is grieved by two things, and at the third, anger comes upon me: 26 a warrior failing because of poverty, and a man of understanding who is despised; 27 and one who turns from righteousness to sin—God has prepared him for the sword. original Latin: "In duobus contristatum est cor meum, et in tertio iracundia mihi advenit: 26 vir bellator deficiens per inopiam, et vir sensatus contemptus, 27 et qui transgreditur a iustitia ad peccatum, Deus paravit eum ad romphaeam."

Ibid. 26:28: Two types of things have appeared difficult and dangerous to me: a merchant is hardly freed from negligence, and a shopkeeper shall not be cleared of the sins of his lips. original Latin: "Duae species difficiles et periculosae mihi apparuerunt: difficile exuitur negotians a neglegentia, et non iustificabitur caupo a peccatis labiorum."

TRIADS AND TETRADS.

Proverbs 30:15: Three things are never satisfied, and a fourth never says, "Enough": 16 The grave original: "Infernus", the barren womb, and the earth that is never satisfied with water; and the fire never says, "Enough." original Latin: "Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum quod nunquam dicit: sufficit. 16 Infernus, et os vulvae, et terra quae non satiatur aqua; ignis vero nunquam dicit: sufficit."

Ibid. 30:18: Three things are too wonderful literally: "difficult" for me, and the fourth I do not know at all: 19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man in his youth. original Latin: "Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro: 19 viam aquilae in caelo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia."

Ibid. 30:21: By three things the earth is moved, and a fourth it cannot endure: 22 a servant when he reigns; a fool when he is filled with food; 23 a hateful woman when she is married; and a handmaid who is the heir to her mistress. original Latin: "Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere: 22 per servum cum regnaverit: per stultum cum saturatus fuerit cibo, 23 per odiosam mulierem cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta, et per ancillam cum fuerit heres dominae suae."

Ibid. 30:29: There are three things that go well, and a fourth that marches happily: 30 a lion, the strongest of beasts, who fears nothing he meets; 31 a rooster with its loins girded often interpreted as a strutting rooster, a ram, and a king whom no one can resist. original Latin: "Tria sunt quae bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter: 30 leo fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum, 31 gallus succinctus lumbos, et aries, nec est rex qui resistat ei."

Ecclesiasticus 26:5: My heart has been afraid of three things, and at the fourth my face showed fear: 6 a city's betrayal, the gathering of a mob, 7 and a lying slander—all of these are heavy—8 but a jealous woman is a grief of heart and mourning. original Latin: "A tribus timuit cor meum, et in quarto facies mea metuit: 6 delaturam civitatis, et collectionem populi, 7 calumniam mendacem, super montem, omnia gravia, 8 dolor cordis et luctus mulier zelotypa."