Cathal Crodhearg and Murdoch of Scotland,
on entering among the brethren, sung:--
Murdoch, whet thy knife, that we may shave our crowns to the
Great King,
Let us sweetly give our vow, and the hair of both our heads to
the Trinity.
I will shave mine to Mary, this is the doing of a true heart,
To Mary shave thou these locks, well-formed, soft-eyed man.
Seldom hast thou had, handsome man, a knife on thy hair to shave it,
Oftener has a sweet, soft queen, comb’d her hair beside thee.
Whenever it was that we did bathe, with Brian of the
well-curled locks,
And once on a time that I did bathe, at the wall of the
fair-haired Boroimhe,
I strove in swimming with Ua Chais, on the cold waters of
the Fergus.
When he came ashore from the stream, Ua Chais and I strove
in a race.
These two knives, one to each, were given us by Duncan Cairbreach,
No knives of knives were better, shave gently then, Murdoch.
Whet your sword, Cathal, which wins the fertile Banva,
Ne’er was thy wrath heard without fighting, brave,
red-handed Cathal,
Preserve our shaved heads from cold and from heat, gentle daughter
of Joachim,
Preserve us in the land of heat, softest branch, Mary.
Murdoch.
The above Murdoch.
That there should be in God’s Son’s heart
A sinner like me, how great the tale,
And that there should to me be given,
On my lips to have the cross of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, sanctify as thou art wont,
My two feet, and my two hands,
Sanctify me of thy good will,
Even my blood, and flesh, and bones.
I never cease committing sin,
Because that my body loves it well;
May consecration come from afar,
Upon my head and on my heart.
Glorious great One, save thou me
From every grief which me has seized,
Ere I’m laid beneath the turf,
May my way be plain and smooth.
That.
The author of this is Murdoch Albanach.
Thou Trinity, do thou me teach,
Thou Lord, whose praise all men must sing,
Thou Trinity, come on my tongue,
Bless it in thy judgment great.
Holy Trinity in the heavens,
Strengthen thou my spiritual arms;
Come to, and dwell in my heart,
Thou head of all thy holy race.
Guide thou my hand, and teach my heart,
Teach my eye, thou King of truth;
Come to my voice, move on my tongue,
Quicken my ear, and bless my lips.
This is the mouth which ye have torn,
Which checks men’s conflicts, nought forgets;
This is the tongue that ne’er spared speech,
Bless it, Beloved of my soul.
From thee, O Trinity, alas! O Trinity,
Let healing come, speak thou to me;
There is, as in the white-wood oak,
In me a sinful, corrupt heart.
Though sinful, I never man destroyed,
Ne’er did I steal, O Son of God;
Never did my hand slay man,
For Mary’s love, answer thou me.
’Tis true, I’ve made lying refuges,
Deceived by lies of men of fame,
Building on others’ lie my lie,
O King, shall I in this succeed?
Thou who in me prayer begett’st,
’Tis no sin to follow thee;
’Twas neither righteous men nor great,
But God a refuge found for me.
No man in this world can me teach,
But only thou, O Lord, alone,
None keepeth truth but heaven’s King,
To His wisdom none is like,
If I am in the way of truth,
My tonsure vow requires it all;
If, O Trinity, on a lie I rest,
Lead me to the way of truth.
Earth or clay shall not me cover,
But waves of judgment, little the wrath,
Nothing else shall be to hide me,
But, O King, burning red-flamed fire.
Trinity, thou mad’st this world,
Both of fire and of earth;
Of earth and fire all men are made,
So at the end it will be found.