139. Love Charm

EOLAS gradhaidh dut, Uisge thraghadh thromh shop, Blaths an fhir [te] thig riut, Le ghradh a tharsainn ort.

Eirich moch Di-domhnaich, Gu lic chomhnard chladaich Beir leat beannach pubaill, Agus currachd sagairt.

Deannan beag a ghriosaich An iochdar do bhadain, Dolman corr a ghruaigean Ann an sluasaid mhaide.

Tri cnamhan seann-duine, An deigh an creann a uaigh, Naoi goisne reann-roinnich, An deigh an treann le tuaigh.

Loisg iad air teine crionaich Is dean gu leir diubh luath; Crath am brollach broth do leannain, An aghaidh gath gaoth tuath.

Rach ruaig rath an alachd, Car nan coig cuart, 'S bheirim brath is baran duit Nach falbh am fear [bean] sin uat.

A LOVE charm for thee, Water drawn through a straw, The warmth of him [her] thou lovest, With love to draw on thee.

Arise betimes on Lord's day, To the flat rock of the shore Take with thee the pointed canopy, [butter-bur (?) And the cap of a priest. [fox-glove (?)

A small quantity of embers In the skirt of thy kirtle, A special handful of sea-weed In a wooden shovel.

Three bones of an old man, Newly torn from the grave, Nine stalks of royal fern, Newly trimmed with an axe.

Burn them on a fire of faggots And make them all into ashes; Sprinkle in the fleshy breast of thy lover, Against the venom of the north wind.

Go round the 'rath' of procreation, The circuit of the five turns, And I will vow and warrant thee That man [woman] shall never leave thee.