Day 313 -> Pangur Bán

Pangur Bán by Sequana (Image found on DeviantArt)

      This week I finally watched the animation "The Book of Kells" and was fascinated by its art and music. One thing that got me hooked was the adoption of elements who actually ARE in the real Book of Kells and their incorporation in the movie. So you can guess how happy I was when I found out that the cat called Pangur Bán in the movie was also present in the Book! In it, one of the monks wrote a poem about his little white cat Pangur Bán, making comparisons between writing and mouse hunting. He even scribbled the poem down in the margin of the book and drew pictures of the cat! Below you can find the entire poem. Enjoy!

Pangur Bán

"I and Pangur Bán, 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 books and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will,
He too plies his simple skill.

'Tis a merry thing 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 I do prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

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

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


~Ally