Please bear in mind when reading these that they have been heavily Christianized to suit the 'new' religion. They still have their inherent power and meanings. To utilize these from a Pagan mindset, one must simply rewrite them replacing the Christian figures and tenets i.e. Mary, Jesus, Joseph with those of a Pagan orientation i.e. Brighid, Bile, Danu, Dagda etc. You will find the Christian name within brackets i.e. { }.
Dark is yonder town,
Dark are those therein,
Thou art the brown swan,
Going in among them.
Their hearts are under thy control,
Their tongues are beneath thy sole,
Nor will they ever utter a word
To give thee offence.
A shade art thou in the heat,
A shelter art thou in the cold,
Eyes art thou to the blind,
A staff art thou to the pilgrim,
An island art thou at sea,
A fortress art thou on land,
A well art thou in the desert,
Health art thou to the ailing.
Thine is the skill of the Fairy Woman,
Thine is the virtue of Bride the calm,
Thine is the faith of {Mary} the mild,
Thine is the tact of the woman of Greece,
Thine is the beauty of Emir the lovely,
Thine is the tenderness of Darthula delightful,
Thine is the courage of Maebh the strong,
Thine is the charm of Binne-bheul.
Thou art the joy of all joyous things,
Thou art the light of the beam of the sun,
Thou art the door of the chief of hospitality,
Thou art the surpassing star of guidance,
Thou art the step of the deer of the hill,
Thou art the step of the steed of the plain,
Thou art the grace of the swan of swimming,
Thou art the loveliness of all lovely desires.
The lovely likeness of the {Lord}
Is in thy pure face,
The loveliest likeness that
Was upon earth.
The best hour of the day be thine,
The best day of the week be thine,
The best week of the year be thine,
The best year in the {Son of God's} domain be thine.
{Peter} has come and {Paul} has come,
{James} has come and {John} has come,
{Muriel} and {Mary Virgin} have come,
{Uriel} the all-beneficent has come,
{Ariel} the beauteousness of the young has come,
{Gabriel} the seer of the Virgin has come,
{Raphael} the prince of the valiant has come,
And {Michael} the chief of the hosts has come,
And {Jesus Christ} the mild has come,
And the Spirit of true guidance has come,
And the {King of kings} has come on the helm,
To bestow on thee their affection and their love,
To bestow on thee their affection and their love.
Thy little kebbocks of cheese
Had been placed on the withe;
Still uam, still am.
The little kegs of butter
Had been smoothed by thy hand;
Still uam, still am.
And thy little chests of meal
Had been pressed by thy foot.
Still uam, still am.
Where shall we go to make our plaint
When we are hungry on the round?
Still uam, still am.
Where shall we go to warm ourselves?
When we are chilled with cold?
Still uam, still am.
Where shall we go for shelter?
Since thy hearth is now dead?
Still uam, still am.
Whom shall we resort to and visit
Since thy house, love, is cold?
Still uam, still am.
Although thou hast died,
It was not thy wont to be gloomy;
Still uam, still am.
Well mightest thou have stayed
To give crowdy to folk.
Still uam, still am.
But, O gentle loved {Mary},
Be thou kind to my love.
Still uam, still am.
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