1000-Year-Old Irish Joke
This joke was found in a manuscript now preserved in the British Library. The language of the joke (Old Irish) indicates that it was written about a thousand years ago. The text is translated by Dennis King. So were those medieval Irish monks funny or not?
Three monks turned their back on the world. They go into the wilderness to repent their sins before God.
They did not speak to one another for the space of a year. Then one of the men said to another at the end of the year, "We are well," said he.
Thus it was for another year. "It is well indeed," said the second man.
They were there after that for another year. "I swear by my habit," said the third man, "if you do not allow me some quiet I will abandon the wilderness entirely to you!"
They did not speak to one another for the space of a year. Then one of the men said to another at the end of the year, "We are well," said he.
Thus it was for another year. "It is well indeed," said the second man.
They were there after that for another year. "I swear by my habit," said the third man, "if you do not allow me some quiet I will abandon the wilderness entirely to you!"
Comments
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Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/07/12 at 10:23 AM
The way I heard it was one year he said "the soup is too hot" the next "the bed is too hard" so the other guy says the next year "all you do is complain" But yours is obviously the original.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/07/12 at 11:05 AM
A Greek and an Irishman were sitting in a Starbuck's cafe one day discussing who had the superior culture.
Over triple lattes the Greek guy says, 'Well, we Greeks built the Parthenon,' arching his eyebrows.
The Irishman then replies, 'Well... it was the Irish that discovered the Summer and Winter Solstices.'
The Greek retorts, 'We Greeks gave birth to advanced mathematics.'
The Irishman, nodding in agreement, says, 'Irish were the ones who built the first timepieces and calendars.'
And so on until the Greek comes up with what he thinks will end the discussion. With a flourish of finality he says, 'The Greeks were the ones who invented sex!'
The Irishman replies, 'Indeed, that is true, but it was we Irish who introduced it to women.'
Over triple lattes the Greek guy says, 'Well, we Greeks built the Parthenon,' arching his eyebrows.
The Irishman then replies, 'Well... it was the Irish that discovered the Summer and Winter Solstices.'
The Greek retorts, 'We Greeks gave birth to advanced mathematics.'
The Irishman, nodding in agreement, says, 'Irish were the ones who built the first timepieces and calendars.'
And so on until the Greek comes up with what he thinks will end the discussion. With a flourish of finality he says, 'The Greeks were the ones who invented sex!'
The Irishman replies, 'Indeed, that is true, but it was we Irish who introduced it to women.'
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 10/07/12 at 11:46 AM
Maybe it was only written 100 years ago, by an 900-year-old Irish leprechaun. :sick:
Posted by tadchem on 10/07/12 at 01:50 PM
Clever joke!
I bet it was a big hit back in the day....
I bet it was a big hit back in the day....
Posted by girlgeniusNYC on 10/07/12 at 11:59 PM
If it isn't a fraud, the humour translates remarkably well across 1,000 years.
Posted by Harvey on 10/08/12 at 12:46 AM
Alcohol is a remarkable preservative.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/08/12 at 01:44 AM
Three Irishmen walk out of a bar...
Hey, it could happen!
Hey, it could happen!
Posted by KDP on 10/08/12 at 04:33 PM
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Category: Humor | Jokes