Blair Collection > Carmina gadelica > Volume 2

234 NOTES
him, saying that it was futile for a sinner to contend against a saint, and
that he deserved all that had come upon him, and more, for disturbing the rest
of the blessed Brendan, and breaking his holy day. But there was one who
did not upbraid Domhull Dubh Mor, but who cleaved to him the more closely
the more he was reviled, and who sang in her heart if not with her voice : —
' My loving dark -haired one.
Let sharp tongues assail thee.
One heart will not fail thee
That knows to be true.
Dark-haired one, dark-haired one.
Though poor, poor we be.
No rich old man could please me
Like thee, love, like thee.'
The comely young wife of Domhull Dubh ran to the priest, and besought
him for the sake of the Holy Mother, the Virgin of sorrows, to come and sprinkle
' the water ' on Domhull, and remove from him the ban of Brendan.
' Let Domhull Dubh Mor revel in his agony,' said the priest, ' till he
shows by his good deeds contrition for his evil ways.' But the good priest came
notwithstanding, and, after administering a rebuke to Domhull Dubh, sprinkled
on him the water of peace, and bade him go and give alms to the poor and the
needy made in the image of God, and sin no more.
' Chunna Brianain Domhull Dubh, Brendan saw Black Donald,
Is faide an la an diugh na 'n de. Longer is to-day than (was) yesterday,
Ge mor 's ga 'n cunnta tu How many soever thou wouldst count of thy
dha d' ni flocks.
Is beag am pris an tigh Mhic De. Small is their price in the house of God's Son.
Cha dean mis, no ciob, no uan, No goat, no sheep, no lamb,
Cha dean curachd, buain, no feur, No sowing, no reaping, no grass,
Cha dean marc, no earc, no buar. No horse, no cow, no cattle,
Dhusa buanachd la an eug. Shall avail thee on the day of death.
Tha suil Bhrianain ort am muig, The eye of Brendan is on thee in frown,
Tha chruth a dubhradh ort 's an neul. His form is darkening on thee in the cloud,
Tha chlaidhe geur a chon do sgruid. His sword is sharp to scourge thee,
Ann an taigh na diumb 's ua pein. In the house of wrath and paiu.
Treig a dhaolaire do chealg. Forsake, thou grub, thy deception,
Treig do mhearrachain us do bhreuig, Forsake thine errors and thine evil ways.
An teampuU De dean-sa t-earb In the temple of God place thou thy reliance.
An deachu fial 's an uasgu deirc. In liberal tithes and in free alms.
Threig an t-aithreachan a chearb. The penitent forsook his errors,
Thill chon tearmad teach Mhic He sought the protection of the house of God's
De, Son,
Air altair feiu thug deirc dha ainni. On His own altar he gave alms to His name,
'S bha ait us aoibh air ainghle And there was joy and delight on the angels of
neamh.' heaven.