From: scarr@kean.ucs.mun.ca
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Musical setting of Pangur Ban
Date: 21 Nov 92 17:10:19 GMT
Organization: Memorial University. St.John's Nfld, Canada

In article <bette.722312612@wc.novell.com>, bette@wc.novell.com (Elizabeth Brennan) writes:
> In <1992Nov20.140132.1@kean.ucs.mun.ca> scarr@kean.ucs.mun.ca writes:
> 
>>> In article <1992Nov16.171017.20198@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, daj8m@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Deirdre A. Johnson) writes:
>>>> Hi, everyone!  I hope my header isn't confusing - The thread about
>>>> black kitten names made me remember a poem by Yeats, which I thought
>>>> you might enjoy if you don't already know it.  And I thought while
>>>> I was at it, I'd post another Irish poem, written by a monk in the 
>>>> ninth century, in the margin of the manuscript he was "really" writing,
>>>> as a tribute to his cat.  
> 
> ...poem by Yeats omitted
> 
>>>> 
>>>>                Pangur Bawn
>>>> 
>>>>           Me and Pangur Bawn my cat
>>>>           Each has his aspiration;
>>>>           Pangur's mind is set on mice
>>>>           And mine on education.
>>>> 
>>>>           More than any fame I love
>>>>           My books, pursuing learning;
>>>>           Nor does my friend envy me-
>>>>           Mice are Pangur's yearning.
>>>> 
>>>>           In our cell and all alone,
>>>>           Both of us have endless fun;
>>>>           Nobody is ever bored,
>>>>           Skillfully the work gets done.
>>>> 
>>>>           Often, with a furious pounce,
>>>>           In his net he snares a mouse;
>>>>           I, too, net, with mind intent
>>>>           Philosophic argument.
>>>> 
>>>>           Eagerly he'll watch the wall,
>>>>           His beady bright eye burning;
>>>>           I fix mine, weak as it is,
>>>>           On the light of learning.
>>>> 
>>>>           Joyfully he'll dash about,
>>>>           A mouse caught in his sure claws;
>>>>           I am every bit as pleased,
>>>>           Skewering obscure laws.
>>>> 
>>>>           Happily we spend long hours,
>>>>           Pangur Bawn, my cat and I;
>>>>           Each of us loves what he does,
>>>>           Peacefully time passes by.
>>>> 
>>>>           The work Pangur does each day,
>>>>           For a cat is fit and right;
>>>>           So it goes with my work too,
>>>>           Bringing darkness up to light.
>>>> 
>>>>                                     -Anon., 9th century
>>>>                        Translated from the Old Irish by Malachi McCormick
>>>> 
>>>> This poem is in "Other Cats", a small (3" by 4.5") handmade boxed set of
>>>> cat poems and stories from all over the world, put out by the Stone Street
>>>> Press.  Their address is: The Stone Street Press, 1 Stone St., S.1.,
>>>>                           N.Y. 10304  USA
>>>>                           Telephone: (212) 447-1436.
>>>> 
>>>> -That's it for this post.  I hope you enjoyed the poems!
>>>>                                 -Deirdre at Virginia (daj8m@virginia.edu)
> 
>>Anyone who enjoys the poem about Pangur Ban should look for a musical 
>>setting of the same, by Samuel Barber (of "Adagio for String" / 'Platoon' 
>>fame), entitled, "Songs from Hermitage". There's a delightful older 
>>recording with Barber accompanying Leontyne Price on the piano., issued on
>>Columbia.
> 
>>Steve (on behalf of Jennet Jourdemayne and Cat Morgan)
> 
> Thank you Deirdre and Steve. As I'm starting to think about possible cat
> names for future reference does someone know how Pangur Bawn (Ban?) should
> be pronounced? 
> 
> Bette
>  
Bette -
	The song set is actually entitled, "Hermit Songs" (looked up/
listened to again last night). 'Pangur' to rhyme with 'anger', 'Ban' like
the capital of Germany (I think: any Celtic scholars out there?)

Steve
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats