The Ancie7it Hymn-Ckar77is of Ireland. 431
The Affection of God, The Smile of God, The Wisdom of God, The Grace of God, The Fear of God,
And the Will of God To do in the World of the Three, As angels and saints Do in heaven ;
Each shade and light.
Each day and night.
Each time in kindness.
Give Thou us Thy Spirit." i^
Here is another beautiful Highland charm called the Ora nam buadh or " Invocation of the Graces." It has a strong pagan note : —
" I bathe thy palms
In showers of wine,
In the lustral fire,
In the Seven Elements,
In the juice of the rasps,
In the milk of honey,
And I place the nine pure choice graces
In thy fair fond face. The grace of form, The grace of voice. The grace of fortune, The grace of goodness. The grace of wisdom, The grace of charity. The grace of choice maidenliness. The grace of whole-souled loveliness. The grace of goodly speech. . . A shade art thou in the heat, A shelter art thou in the cold. Eyes art thou to the blind,
^'^ Cartnina Gadelica, vol. i., p. 3.
