Fluent Fiction - Irish: Ancient Greek Markets: A Journey of Wisdom and Healing
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Story Transcript:

Ga: I margaí ársa na Gréige, bhí an lá te agus an ghrian ag taitneamh go hard sa spéir.
En: In the ancient markets of Greece, the day was hot and the sun was shining high in the sky.

Ga: Bhí boladh spíosraí trom san aer agus an ionad plódaithe le trádálaithe agus ceannaitheoirí.
En: The air was heavy with the smell of spices, and the market was crowded with traders and buyers.

Ga: Ag an am sin, bhí Cillian, fear óg, ag siúl go tapa idir na stallaí.
En: At that time, Cillian, a young man, was walking quickly between the stalls.

Ga: Bhí cuma imníoch ar a aghaidh.
En: He had a worried look on his face.

Ga: D'fhéach sé ar gach áit le haghaidh luibh speisialta.
En: He was searching everywhere for a special herb.

Ga: Bhí an luibh seo an-annamh agus d'oibrigh sé i gcoinne gach tinneas.
En: This herb was very rare and worked against every ailment.

Ga: A dheirfiúr tinn, Níamh, go géar ag teastáil uaidh an leigheas seo.
En: His sick sister, Niamh, urgently needed this remedy.

Ga: Ach, bhí Cillian ag imirt i gcoinne ama, agus ní raibh mórán airgid aige.
En: But Cillian was racing against time, and he didn’t have much money.

Ga: Chonaic sé bean aosta ag stalla amháin.
En: He saw an old woman at one of the stalls.

Ga: Ba í Aisling í, mystic ciallmhar.
En: It was Aisling, a wise mystic.

Ga: Thuig sí an margadh go maith agus bhí aithne aici ar dhaoine ar fud an cheantair.
En: She understood the market well and knew people all over the area.

Ga: D'iarr Cillian uirthi, "An féidir leat cabhrú liom? Táim ag lorg luibh an-annamh."
En: Cillian asked her, "Can you help me? I'm looking for a very rare herb."

Ga: D'fhéach Aisling ar Cillian go tréan agus dúirt sí, "Tá fhios agam go bhfuil tú ag lorg sásta le do dheirfiúr. Ach fan go socair.
En: Aisling looked intently at Cillian and said, "I know you are anxious for your sister. But stay calm.

Ga: Is minic na luibheanna annamha bréige. Caithfidh tú a bheith ciallmhar. Tar liom."
En: Rare herbs are often fake. You must be wise. Come with me."

Ga: Lean Cillian í trí na bealaí cúngacha.
En: Cillian followed her through the narrow pathways.

Ga: Chonaic siad go leor stallaí le plandaí agus spíosraí.
En: They saw many stalls with plants and spices.

Ga: Go tobann, stad sé ag fear a bhí ag tairiscint luibh a aithin sé ón íomhá a léigh sé in leabhar amháin.
En: Suddenly, he stopped at a man offering a herb he recognized from an image he had read about in a book.

Ga: Bhí an luibh díreach cosúil leis an gceann in ealaín. Ach, bhí an praghas ollmhór.
En: The herb looked exactly like the one in the illustration, but the price was enormous.

Ga: D'fhéach sé ar Aisling le haghaidh comhairle.
En: He looked at Aisling for advice.

Ga: An chóir dó a bheidh chomh éadóchasach gur caitheadh gach airgead aige ar an bplanda seo? Bhí sé gléineach, beagnach ró-fhoirfe.
En: Should he be so desperate as to spend all his money on this plant? It was shiny, almost too perfect.

Ga: D'fhiafraigh sé, "An bhfuil sé fíor?"
En: He asked, "Is it real?"

Ga: "D’iarrfainn," dúirt Aisling, "ach is fearr na rudaí sábháilte ná peaca.
En: "I would question it," Aisling said, "but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Ga: Tá aithne agam ar áit eile. Má leanann tú orm, faighfimid é."
En: I know another place. If you follow me, we will find it."

Ga: B'éigean do Cillian cinneadh trom a dhéanamh.
En: Cillian had to make a tough decision.

Ga: Ach, chaith sé éisteacht le ciallmhar an tseanmathair.
En: But he had to listen to the wisdom of the old woman.

Ga: Lean sé Aisling arís.
En: He followed Aisling again.

Ga: Ag deireadh an lá, sciar siad le seanduine i gcúinne i bhfad ón bpríomhéadan.
En: By the end of the day, they met an old man in a corner far from the main market.

Ga: Thug an seanduine dó an luibh céanna - ní ró-ghlan ná róghlan, ach a raibh an cumhráin céanna ann gan cibé ceird.
En: This old man gave him the same herb—not too clean, nor too pure, but with the same aroma without any arts.

Ga: Ní raibh an luibh seo chomh gníomhach go hathair, ach bhí praghas cothrom air.
En: This herb was not as visually appealing, but it was fairly priced.

Ga: Cheannaigh sé é agus bhuíochas a ghabh sé le hAisling.
En: He bought it and thanked Aisling.

Ga: Ag dul ar ais faoi dheireadh leis, mhothaigh Cillian faoiseamh.
En: Finally heading back home, Cillian felt relieved.

Ga: D'fhoghlaim sé nach n-uair gach réiteach tapaí an bealach is fearr.
En: He learned that quick fixes are not always the best way.

Ga: Bhí foighne agus ciallmhar níos fearr.
En: Patience and wisdom were better.

Ga: D'úsáid sé an luibh a cheannaigh sé le Aisling chun a dheirfiúr a leigheas, agus bhí go maith leis an domhan arís.
En: He used the herb he bought with Aisling’s help to cure his sister, and all was well again.

Ga: Bhí meas mór aige anois ar an luach a bhaineann le hobair chiallmhar, agus bhí sé buíoch de chabhair Aisling a threoraigh é go dtí an cheart slí.
En: He now had great respect for the value of wise work, and he was grateful for Aisling’s guidance that led him to the right path.

Ga: Tá nathanna ciallmhar níos fearr ná aon rud eile.
En: Wisdom sayings are worth more than anything else.


Vocabulary Words:

• ancient: ársa
• spices: spíosraí
• traders: trádálaithe
• worried: imníoch
• herb: luibh
• ailment: tinneas
• remedy: leigheas
• mystic: mystic
• narrow: cúng
• stall: stalla
• illustration: ealaín
• enormous: ollmhór
• rare: annamh
• fake: bréige
• desperate: éadóchasach
• pure: glan
• aroma: cumhráin
• arts: ceird
• appealing: gníomhach
• fairly: cothrom
• relieved: faoiseamh
• quick fix: réiteach tapaí
• wisdom: ciallmhar
• guidance: treoraigh
• value: luach
• pathways: bealaí
• question: fiafraigh
• tough decision: cinneadh trom
• sick: tinn
• buyers: ceannaitheoirí