Song of Long Life

 

May Fer-Fio's cry protect me upon the road,

as I make my circuit of the Plain of Life

I call on the seven daughters of the sea, 
who shape the threads of long life. 
Three deaths be taken from me, 
three lives given to me, 
seven waves of plenty poured for me. 
May ghosts not injure me on my journey 
in my radiant breastplate without stain. 
May my name not be pledged in vain; 
may death not come to me until I am old.

I call on my Silver Champion, 
who has not died and will not die; 
may time be granted to me of the quality of bronze. 
May my form be exalted, [may my double be slain]
may my law be ennobled, 
may my strength be increased, 
may my tomb not be readied, 
may I not die on my journey, 
may my return be ensured to me. 
May the two-headed serpent not attack me, 
nor the hard grey worm, 
nor the senseless beetle. 
May no thief attack me, 
nor a company of women, 
nor a company of warriors. 
May I have increase of time from the king of all.

I call on Senach of the seven lives, 
whom fairy women suckled on the breasts of good fortune. 
May my seven candles not be quenched. 
I am an invincible fortress, 
I am an unshakable cliff, 
I am a precious stone, 
I am the symbol of seven riches. 
May I be the man of hundreds of possessions, 
hundreds of years, each hundred after another.

I summon my good fortune to me; 
may the grace of the Holy Spirit be on me.

 - translation, K. Meyer, 1914

 

Cétnad nAíse

 

Ad-muiniur secht n-ingena trethan 
dolbtae snáithi macc n-áesmar. 
Tri bás flaimm ro-ucaiter, 
tri áes dom do-rataiter, 
secht tonna tocaid dom do-ra-dáilter! 
Ním chollet messe fom chúairt 
i llúrig Lasréin cen léiniud! 
Ní nassar mo chlú ar chel! 
dom-í-áes;
nim thi bás comba sen!

Ad-muiniur m’Argetnia 
nád bá nád bebe; 
amser dom do-r-indnastar 
findruini febe!
Ro orthar mo richt,
ro saerthar mo recht, 
ro mórthar mo nert, 
nip ellam mo lecht, 
nim thí bás for fecht, 
ro firthar mo thecht! 
Ním ragba nathair díchonn, 
ná dorb dúrglass, 
ná doel díchuinn! 
Ním millither téol, 
ná cuire ban, 
ná cuire buiden! 
Dom-i urchar n-aimsire 
ó Rig inna n-uile!

Ad-muiniur Senach sechtaimserach 
con-altatar mná side
far bruinnib bdais. 
Ní báitter mo shechtchaindel! 
Am dun díthagail, 
am all anscuichthe, 
am ha lógmar, 
am sen sechtmainech. 
Roba chétach 
cétbliadnach, 
cach cét diib ar úair.

Cota-gaur cucum mo lessa;
ro bé rath in Spiurta Noíb formsa