LOVE CHARM.
The knowledge of this rhyme is very widespread. It is ascribed by some to Duncan Ban M’Intyre, the greatest of the Gaelic lyrical poets, and is printed in some editions of his poems as his composition, but others with more probability ascribe it to Blind Allan, the Glengarry bard. Allan eked out a livelihood by the practice of charms of the kind.
“That is not a love-charm
Which is a charm of wisps and straws,
But one to draw with warmth
The love of the man you like.
Rise early on Wednesday
And go to a broad level flag-stone,[19]
Take with you the people’s blessing,
And the priest’s cowl,
Lift then upon your shoulders
A wooden shovel,
Get nine stalks of fern,
Cut with an axe,
And three bones of an old man
Taken from a grave;
Burn that in a fire of brushwood
Till you reduce it all to ashes,
And shake it in your lover’s fair bosom
Against a north-wind,
And I will go twice security
That man will not leave you.”
“You have a hold of him now.”