Song of the Forest Trees

O man that for Fergus of the feasts dost kindle fire,Whether afloat or ashore burn not the king of woods.

Monarch of Innisfail's forests the woodbine is, whom none may holdcaptive;No feeble sovereign's effort is it to hug all tough trees in hisembrace.

The pliant woodbine if thou burn, wailings for misfortune willabound,Dire extremity at weapons' points or drowning in great waves willfollow.

Burn not the precious apple-tree of spreading and low-sweeping bough;Tree ever decked in bloom of white, against whose fair head all menput forth the hand.

The surly blackthorn is a wanderer, a wood that the artificer burnsnot;Throughout his body, though it be scanty, birds in their flockswarble.

The noble willow burn not, a tree sacred to poems;Within his bloom bees are a-sucking, all love the little cage.

The graceful tree with the berries, the wizard's tree, the rowan,burn;But spare the limber tree; burn not the slender hazel.

Dark is the colour of the ash; timber that makes the wheels to go;Rods he furnishes for horsemen's hands, his form turns battle intoflight.

Tenterhook among woods the spiteful briar is, burn him that is sokeen and green;He cuts, he flays the foot, him that would advance he forcibly dragsbackward.

Fiercest heat-giver of all timber is green oak, from him none mayescape unhurt;By partiality for him the head is set on aching, and by his acridembers the eye is made sore.

Alder, very battle-witch of all woods, tree that is hottest in thefight--Undoubtedly burn at thy discretion both the alder and whitethorn.

Holly, burn it green; holly, burn it dry;Of all trees whatsoever the critically best is holly.

Elder that hath tough bark, tree that in truth hurts sore;Him that furnishes horses to the armies from the sídh burn so thathe be charred.

The birch as well, if he be laid low, promises abiding fortune;Burn up most sure and certainly the stalks that bear the constantpods.

Suffer, if it so please thee, the russet aspen to come headlong down;Burn, be it late or early, the tree with the palsied branch.

Patriarch of long-lasting woods is the yew, sacred to feasts, as iswell-known;Of him now build ye dark-red vats of goodly size.

Ferdedh, thou faithful one, wouldst thou but do my behest:To thy soul as to thy body, O man, 'twould work advantage.

I arise to-dayThrough the strength of heaven:Light of sun,Radiance of moon,Splendour of fire,Speed of lightning,Swiftness of wind,Depth of sea,Stability of earth,Firmness of rock.

I arise to-dayThrough God's strength to pilot me:God's might to uphold me,God's wisdom to guide me,God's eye to look before me,God's ear to hear me,God's word to speak for me,God's hand to guard me,God's way to lie before me,God's shield to protect me,God's host to save meFrom snares of devils,From temptations of vices,From every one who shall wish me ill,Afar and anear,Alone and in a multitude.

Christ to shield me to-dayAgainst poison, against burning,Against drowning, against wounding,So that there may come to me abundance of reward.Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ whenI arise,Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise to-dayThrough a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,Through belief in the threeness,Through confession of the onenessOf the Creator of Creation.