The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

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Translated
Gaelic Incantalions.
A charm Mary (B. Virgin) put in hitter,
A charm of affection and lasting love ;
Alay thy body not rest, but may'st thou be
uneasy about me
Until thy love follows my countenance
As the cow follows the calf,
From to-day till death's hour.
As a companion picture, the following Love Charm trom
England may be appropriately given. The love-sick
maiden was one Susan Lebway ; and the precious document
containing the charm was found some 30 years ago. The
paper on which the formula was written also contains
figures of the sun and moon and other heavenly bodies, and
the magic square. Along with it were parings of the
finger and toe nails and a tiny piece of linen, believed to
be a portion of Susan's undergarment. The whole was
neatly folded up, and was wrapped in three folds of linen
and stitched under a covering of silk. This curious col-
lection was worn in the left armpit. The formula was as
follows :
" Susan Lebway to draw the affections of Theobald
Young to herself, so that he shall never have any rest or
peace until he do return unto her, and make her his lawful
wife. Let the spirits of the planets continually torment
him until he do fulfil this, my request ; Cossiel Lachiel
Samuel Michail Araiel Rhaphail Gabriel, I continually stir
up his mind thereto.
Reliquaiy, vol. x.
Fiat fiat fiat cito cito cito. Amen."
That the Philtre or Love Potion was in use among the
ancient Celts there can be no doubt. In support of this
statement, I quote the following paragraph from the L'ish
edited by Mr
Life of St Bridget in the " Book of Lismore, '
Whitley Stokes :
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" There was a certain man biding in Lassaris Church,
and his wife was leaving him, and would not sit nor sleep
along with him. So he came to Bridget to ask for a Spell to
make his wife love him. Bridget blessed water for him and
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