The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Gaelic Incantations. 231
a fosterling of hers thenceforward. The parents of the
child became Christian. " Ocus is nnor in mhirbuil do
Mhuire, co nach felann bean iudaidi tuismhedh a leinimh
intan bis co n-idhnuibh no gu n-aitcheann Muire"—(And
[so] great is this miracle of Mary's, that no Jewish woman,
when she is in birth pangs, can bring forth her child until
she entreats Mary).'
In connection with the Airne Moire as an amulet,
I will read a few lines with regard to St Bridget, from
which we see that the " Mary of the Gael" was
also regarded as a great protectress. The title is " Sloin-
neadh Bhrighde, muime Chriosd "—^" The Genealogy of
St Bridget, foster-mother of Christ." The lines, which I
received from Father Allan Macdonald, are as follows :
Brighde nighean Dughaill Duinn,
'Ic Aoidh, 'ic Arta, 'ic Cuinn.
*
Gach la is gach oidhche
Ni mi cuimhneachadh air sloinneadh Brighde.
Cha mharbhar mi,
Cha ghuinnear mi,
Cha ghonar mi,
• Cha mho dh' fhagus Criosd an dearmad mi ;
Cha loisg teine gniomh Satain mi ;
Translated—
'S cha bhath uisge no saile mi ;
'S mi fo chomraig Naoimh Moire
'S mo chaomh mhuime, Brighde.
St Bridget, the daughter of Dughall Donn,
Son of Hugh, son of Art, son of Conn.
Each day and each night
I will recall the genealogy of St Bridget.
[Whereby] I will not be killed,
'In connection with this subject, reference may be made to a strange Ijelief
that prevailed in the Highlands till recent times. Pennant mentions it in his
Tour in Scotland in 1772, and I cannot do better than quote his words. After
referring to the burning of witches near Langholm, he proceeds :— " This
reminds me of a very singular belief that prevailed not many years ago in these
parts : nothing less than that the midwives had power of transferring part of
the priniKval. curse bestowed on our great first mother from the good-wife to
her husband. I saw the reputed offspring of such a labour, who kindly came
into the world without giving her mother the least uneasiness, while the poor
husband was roaring with agony in his uncouth and unnatural pains." Vide
Vol. II., p. qi.
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