CARMINA GADELICA

Ortha nan Gaidheal

HERDING BLESSING

I will place this flock before me,

As was ordained of the King of the world,

Bride to keep them, to watch them, to tend them,

On ben, on glen, on plain,

Bride to keep them, to watch them, to tend them,

On ben, on glen, on plain.

Arise, thou Bride the gentle, the fair,

Take thou thy lint, thy comb, and thy hair,

Since thou to them madest the noble charm,

To keep them from straying, to save them from harm,

Since thou to them madest the noble charm,

To keep them from straying, to save them from harm.

From rocks, from drifts, from streams,

From crooked passes, from destructive pits,

From the straight arrows of the slender ban-shee,

From the heart of envy, from the eye of evil,

From the straight arrows of the slender ban-shee,

From the heart of envy, from the eye of evil.

Mary Mother, tend thou the offspring all,

Bride of the fair palms, guard thou my flocks,

Kindly Columba, thou saint of many powers,

Encompass thou the breeding cows, bestow on me herds,

Kindly Columba, thou saint of many powers,

Encompass thou the breeding cows, bestow on me herds.