The Kiltartan Poetry Book; prose translations from the IrishGregory, Lady
General
The Kiltartan Poetry Book; prose translations from the Irish
Gregory, Lady
Irish literature -- Translations into English
A healer of the heart of the wise; a full satisfier of guests; our
crowned one who spoke with Axal; a shelter to the naked; a comforter
to the poor; he was eager, he was noble, it is high his death was.
We hope great honour will be given to him on the head of these deeds.
And when Forgaill had made that lament he said, "It is a great shaping
and a great finish I have given to these words, and I cannot make a
praise beyond this, for my eyes have been taken from me."
It was Aodh, King of Ireland gave seven cumhals for his name to be
given in the praising of Columcille; and Aodh laid it down to Forgaill
that this song should be above every other song.
But it was after death the reward and the praise were given to blind
Forgaill for it was Heaven that was given to him as the price of the
praising of the King.
_The Deer's Cry_
Blessed Patrick made this hymn one time he was going to preach the
Faith at Teamhuir, and his enemies lay in hiding to make an attack
on him as he passed. But all they could see passing as he himself and
Benen his servant went by, was a wild deer and a fawn. And the Deer's
Cry is the name of the hymn to this day.
I bind myself to-day to a strong strength, to a calling on the Trinity.
I believe in a Threeness with confession of a Oneness in the Creator
of the World.
I bind myself to-day to the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism;
to the strength of His crucifixion with His burial; to the strength
of His resurrection with His ascension; In stability of earth, in
steadfastness of rock, I bind to myself to-day God's strength to pilot
me;
God's power to uphold me; God's wisdom to guide me; God's eye to look
before me; God's ear to hear me;
God's word to speak for me; God's hand to guard me; God's path to lie
before me; God's shield to protect me; God's host to save me;
Against snares of demons; against the begging of sins; against the
asking of nature; against all my ill-wishers near me and far from me;
alone and in a crowd.
So I have called on all these strengths to come between me and every
fierce and merciless strength that may come between my body and my
soul;
Against incantations of false prophets; against black laws of heathens;
against false laws of heretics; against craft of idolatry; against
spells of women & smiths and druids; against every knowledge forbidden
to the souls of men.
Christ for my protection to-day against poison, against burning,
against drowning, against wounding; that a multitude of rewards may
come to me. Christ with me, Christ before me; Christ behind me, Christ
in me; Christ under me, Christ over me; Christ to the right of me,
Christ to the left of me; Christ in lying down, Christ in sitting,
Christ in rising up;
Christ in the heart of everyone that thinks of me; Christ in the mouth
of everyone that speaks to me; Christ in every eye that sees me; Christ
in every ear that hears me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account