Blair Collection > Selections from the Gaelic bards

THE MANNING <>F THE BIRLIXX
THE BLESSING OF A SHIP,
Along with an incitement for the sea, that was madejor the
crew of the Birlinn of Clan Ranald.
May God bless the ship of Clan-Ranald ! *
This first day it floats on the brine,
Himself, and the strong men who guide it,
Whose virtues surpassingly shine:
May the Holy Trinity temper
The stormy breath of the sky,
And sweep smooth the rough swelling waters,
That our port we may draw nigh !
Father! Creator of ocean,
And each wind that blows from on high!
Bless our slender bark and our heroes ;
Make all ill things pass them by.
Son ! bless thou our anchor,
Our tackling, helm, and sail ;
Everything on our mast that is hanging,
Till our haven at last we hail.
Bless our yards and all our mast-hoops ;
Our masts and ropes, one and all;
* In Bishop Carswell's Gaelic Prayer-Book, published in the year 1567
— the first book ever printed in the Gaelic language — there occurs a
prayer somewhat similar to this one, to be used by mariners going to sea.
It, too, is a prayer to the Trinity ; very well arranged and expressed, and
full of devotional feeling. It could hardly have been used or appreciated
by a wild and savage people, such as we arc sometimes, I think, very
incorrectly, taught to regard the Highlanders of three hundred years ago.