CHARM FOR CONFERRING GRACES.
(Oradh nam Buadh.)
“I will wash thy palms
In showers of wine,
In the juice of rasps
And in honied milk.
I will put the nine graces
In thy white cheeks,
Grace of form and grace of good fortune,
Grace at meetings and of manners,
And of goodly speech.
Black is yonder house,
And black are its inmates,
Thou art the brown swan
Going in among them;
Their heart is in thy chest,
Their tongue under thy foot,
And they will not say to thee
Word to despite thee;
An island at sea art thou
And a castle on land;
The Lord’s form is in thy face,
The loveliest form in the universe,
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The best day in the week,
And the best week in the year,
Peter came, Paul came,
Michael came, John came,
The King of Virtues came as guide,
To give to thee his regard and love.”