CARMINA GADELICA

Ortha nan Gaidheal

HO HOILIGEAN, HO MY HEIFERS

My treasure thou, and thou art of the sea kine,

Red eared, notch eared, high horned;

Urine was sprinkled on the rump of thy grandsire,

And thou shalt not win from me on Monday nor Saturday.

Ho hoiligean, ho my heifers!

Ho hoiligean, ho my heifers!

Ho hoiligean, ho my heifers!

My kindly kine on each side of the stream.

My treasure thou, and thou art of the land kine,

Thou wilt give me milk produce, thou wilt give me dainty;

Thou wilt give me milk from the top of the club-moss,

And not the grey water of the sand-drift.

Ho hoiligean, ho my heifers!

My treasure thou, and thou art of the world's kine,

Thou wilt give me milk from the heather tops;

Not grey milk of the taste of the rowan berries,

But honey milk and white as the sea-gull.

Ho hoiligean, ho my heifers!

The melodious Bride will give thee offspring and young,

The lovely Mary will give thee colour to cover thee,

The lustrous Michael will give thee a star to guide thee,

And Christ Jesu will give thee peace and joy.

Ho hoiligean, ho my heifers!