The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Gaelic Incantations. 157
Emperor." Our old Highlander in Eolas a' CJieartuis or
incantation to obtain justice stood somewhat different from
the Roman knight who used the serpent's Q^'g. The
parallel is, however, an interesting one.
I will now give you Eolas na Daire, a charm supposed
to be efficacious in the case of farrow cows. It does not
need much introduction, as it speaks for itself It is as
follows :
— —
EOLAS NA DAIRE.
Eolas na daire 'rinn Moire 's a Mac.
'S thubhairt Criosda fhein gu'm bu ro~cheart,
Air a' Chiad Luan
'Chur a chruidh gu luath a dhair,
Gun fharlaoghi 'n a dheigh
Ach laoigh bhreaca bhoirionn uile gu leur.
Translated
—
The charm for the rutting made by Mary and her Son.
Jesus himself said it was right
On the first Monday [at the beginning of the moon ?]
To send the cattle quickly to the bull ;
And that no extra-uterine conception should follow,
But spotted female calves.
In some districts, instead of the above, the people say
D2ian an Doviluniich, or the Ode of the Dies Dominica.
That ode (for which I am indebted to Father Allan
Macdonald) is as follows :
DUAN AX DOMHNUICH.
Duan an Domhnuich a Dhia-ghil,
Firinn foirneart gu Criosda 'chomhnadh.
Di-domhnuich rugadh Moire
Mathair Dhe an or-fhuilt bhuiuhe,
Di-domhnuich rugadh Criosda
Mar onoir dhuinne,
Di-domhnuich an seachdamh latha
A dh' orduich Criosda dha-fhein,
Gu cumail na beatha 'mhain,
'S gu'n leigeadh iad uile 'n anail
1 The word " Far laogh" is not generally known on the mainland. It
signifies extra-uterine conception—a freak of nature which is fortunately
uncommon.