Ossian Collection > Carmina gadelica

NIGHT SHIELDING 329
NIGHT PRAYER
together on the green grass in the golden summer sunset. Men and women
of fourscore or more — for they Hved long in those days — dancing with
boys and girls of five on the green grass. Those were the happy days
and the happy nights, and there was neither sin nor sorrow in the world
for us. The thought of those young days makes my old heart both glad
and sad even at this distance of time. But the clearances came upon us,
destroying all, turning our small crofts into big farms for the stranger,
and turning our joy into misery, our gladness into bitterness, our blessing
into blasphemy, and our Christianity into mockery. — O a dhuine ghaolaich,
thig na deòir air mo shuilean le linn smaoininn air na dh'fhuilig sinn agus
na duirb thàinig sinn 'roimhe. — O dear man, the tears come on my eyes
when I think of all we suffered and of the sorrows, hardships, oppressions
we came through.'
In Thy name, O Jesu Who wast crucified,
I lie down to rest ;
Watch Thou me in sleep remote.
Hold Thou me in Thy one hand ;
Watch Thou me in sleep remote.
Hold Thou me in Thy one hand.
Bless me, O my Christ,
Be Thou my shield protecting me,
Aid my steps in the pitful swamp.
Lead Thou me to the life eternal ;
Aid my steps in the pitful swamp.
Lead Thou me to the life eternal.