
BLESSINGS

KINDLING THE FIRE

I will raise the hearth-fire
As Mary would.
The encirclement of Bride and of Mary
On the fire, and on the floor,
And on the household all.
Who are they on the bare floor ?
John and Peter and Paul.
Who are they by my bed ?
The lovely Bride and her Fosterling.
Who are those watching over my sleep ?
The fair loving Mary and her Lamb.
Who is that anear me ?
The King of the sun, He himself it is.
Who is that at the back of my head ?
The Son of Life without beginning, without time.
TOGAIL AN TEINE
Togaidh mis an tula
Mar a thogadh Muire.
Caim Bhride's Mhuire
Air an tula's air an lar,
'S air an fhardaich uile.
Co iad ri luim an lair ?
Eoin, Peadail agus Pail.
Co iad ri bruaich mo leap ?
Bride bhuidheach's a Dalt.
Co iad ri lath mo shuain ?
Muire ghraidh-gheal's a h-Uan.
Co slud a tha 'n am theann ?
Righ na grein e fein a th' ann,
Co siud ri cul mo chinn ?
Mac nan dul gun tus, gun linn.

From the Carmina Gadelica
BLESSING OF HOUSE
God bless the house
From site to stay,
From beam to wall,
From end to end,
From ridge to basement,
From balk to roof-tree,
From found to summit,
Found and summit.
BEANNACHADH TAIGHE
Dhe, beannaich an taigh
Bho steidh gu staidh,
Bho chrann gu fraigh,
Bho cheann gu saidh,
Bho dhronn gu traigh,
Bho sgonn gu sgaith,
Eadar bhonn agus bhraighe,
Bhonn agus bhraighe.


From the Carmina Gadelica
THE PROTECTION OF THE CATTLE

Pastures smooth, long, and spreading,
Grassy meads aneath your feet,
The friendship of God the Son to bring you home
To the field of the fountains,
Field of the fountains.
Closed be every pit to you,
Smoothed be every knoll to you,
Cosy every exposure to you,
Beside the cold mountains,
Beside the cold mountains.
The care of Peter and of Paul,
The care of James and of John,
The care of Bride fair and of Mary Virgin,
To meet you and to tend you,
Oh! the care of all the band
To protect you and to strengthen you.
COMRAIG NAM BA
Blaragan reidh, fada, farsuinn,
Faileagan feile fo 'r casan,
Cairdeas Mhic De dh' ar toir dhachaidh
Gu faiche nam fuaran,
Faiche nam fuaran.
Gum bu duinte duibh gach slochd,
Gum bu sumhail duibh gach cnoc,
Gum bu clumhaidh duibh gach nochd,
Am fochar nam fuar-bheann,
Fochar nam fuar-bheann.
Comraig Pheadail agus Phoil,
Comraig Sheumais agus Eoin,
Comraig Bhride mhin's Mhuir Oigh,
Dh' ar comhlach 's dh' ar cuallach,
O! comraig gach aon dh' an chomhl
Dh' ar comhnadh 's dh' ar cuanadh.

From the Carmina Gadelica
SMOORING THE FIRE

The sacred Three
To save,
To shield,
To surround
The hearth,
The house,
The household,
This eve,
This night,
Oh! this eve,
This night,
And every night,
Each single night.
Amen
AN Tri numh
A chumhnadh,
A chomhnadh,
A chomraig
An tula,
An taighe,
An teaghlaich,
An oidhche,
An nochd,
O! an oidhche,
An nochd,
Agus gach oidhche,
Gach aon oidhche.
Amen
