A Celtic Psaltery Part 10

ON A DEAD SCHOLAR

Dead is Lon Of Kilgarrow, O great sorrow!

Dead and gone.

Dire the dolour, Erin, here and past thy border, Dire the dolour and disorder, To the schools and to the scholar, Since our Lon Is dead and gone.

CHARMS AND INVOCATIONS

CHARMS AGAINST SORROW

A charm whereunto grief must yield-- The Charm of Michael with the s.h.i.+eld.

Charms before which all sorrows fail-- The Palm-branch of Christ and Brigit's Veil.

The charm Christ set for Himself, when the G.o.dhead within Him darkened; And when He cried from the Cross that His Father no longer hearkened.

When you are bound down by the Cross and night is blackest before you, A charm that shall lift off sorrow's weight and to joyful hope restore you.

A charm to be said at sunrise when your hands your heart are crus.h.i.+ng, When the eyes are red with weeping and the madness of grief outrus.h.i.+ng.

A charm with not even a whisper to spare, But only the silent prayer.

ON COVERING THE FIRE FOR THE NIGHT

Let us preserve this seed of fire as Christ preserves us all, Himself a-watch above the house, Bride at its middle wall, Below the Twelve Apostles of highest heavenly sway, Guarding and defending it until the dawn of day.

MORNING WISH

O Jesu! in the morning I cry and call thee early, Blest only Son of G.o.d on high who purchased us so dearly.

O guard me in the shelter of Thy most Holy Cross, All through the courses of the day keep me from sin and loss.

A CHARM AGAINST ENEMIES

Three powers are of the Evil One to curse mankind; An Evil Eye, an Evil Tongue, an Evil Mind.

Three words are G.o.d's own breath and Mary's to her Son, For she in heaven had heard them, told them every one.

The word of Mercy free, the singing word of Joy, The binding word of Love He gives us to employ.

O may the saving might of these three holy words On Erin's men and women light, and keep them still the Lord's.

CHARM FOR A PAIN IN THE HEART

"G.o.d save you my three brothers! G.o.d save you! Now how far Have ye on foot to travel, by sun and moon and star?"

"To Olivet's own Mount we fare till we have gotten gold, Therefrom a cup to fas.h.i.+on the tears of Christ to hold."

"So do! And when those Precious Tears drop down into the bowl Into thy very heart they'll fall and cure thee body and soul."

THE SAFE-GUARDING OF MY SOUL

My succour from all sinful harms Be Thou, Almighty Father!

And Mary, who, within her arms The King of Kings did gather!

And Michael, messenger to earth From out the Heavenly City, The Twelve of Apostolic worth, And last the Lord of Pity!

That so my soul, encircled by their care, Into Heaven's Golden Halls with joy may fare!

THE WHITE PATERNOSTER.

On going to sleep, think that it is the sleep of Death and that you may be summoned to the Day of the Mountain of Judgment and say:

I lay me down with G.o.d; May He rest here also, His Guardian arms around my head, Christ's Cross my limbs below.

Where wouldst, thou lay thee down?

'Twixt Mary and her Son-- Brigit and her bright mantle, Colomb and his s.h.i.+eld handle, G.o.d and His strong Right Hand.

At morn where wouldst thou rise?

With Patrick to the skies.