That gave them that charm,

May the taste of honey be

On every word you say,

To commons and to nobles,

Upon this and each day

To the end of the year.”

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,