Carmina Gadelica Vol. 1: I. Achaine: Invocations: 5. God Be With Us. Dhe Bi Maille Ruinn

THE three poems which follow were obtained from Dr Donald Munro Morrison in 1889, a few days before he died. Dr Morrison heard them from an old man known as 'Coinneach Saor'--Kenneth the Carpenter--and his wife, at Obbe, Harris. These aged people were habitually practising quaint religious ceremonies and singing curious religious poems to peculiar music, evidently ancient. In childhood Dr Morrison lived much with this couple, and in manhood recorded much of their old lore and music. These however he noted in characters and notations of his own invention which he did not live to render intelligible to others. This is extremely regrettable, as Dr Morrison's wonderfully wide, accurate, and p. 15 scientific attainments, deep knowledge of Gaelic, of music, and of acoustics, were only surpassed by his native modesty of mind and tender benevolence of heart. He was a distinguished medallist in several subjects at the University of Edinburgh.

A Gaelic proverb says: 'Theid dualchas an aghaidh nan creag'--Heredity will go against the rocks. Dr Morrison was descended from the famous hereditary brehons of the Isles. These Morrisons have been celebrated throughout the centuries for their wit, poetry, music, philosophy, medicine and science, for their independence of mind and sobriety of judgment, and for their benevolence of heart and unfailing hospitality.

	p. 14		p. 15
	DHE bi maille ruinn Air an la an diugh, Amen. [Dhe bi maille ruinn Air an oidhche nochd, Amen.] Ruinn agus leinn Air an la an diugh, Amen. [Ruinn agus leinn Air an oidhche nochd, Amen.] Tha e soilleir duinn ri leirsinn, Bho thaine sinn chon an t-saoghail, Gu robh sinn toillteanach air t’ fhearg. Amen. O t’ fhearg fein A Dhe nan dul, Amen. Tabhair mathanas duinn, Amen.		GOD be with us On this Thy day, Amen. [God be with us On this Thy night, Amen.] To us and with us, On this Thy day, Amen. [To us and with us, On this Thy night, Amen.] It is clear to be seen of us, Since we came into the world, That we have deserved Thy wrath, Amen. O Thine own wrath, Thou God of all, Amen. Grant us forgiveness, Amen.
	p. 16		p. 17
	Tabhair mathanas duinn, Amen. Tabhair duinn do mhathanas fein A Dhe mheinich nan dul, Amen. Ni sam bith is dona duinn, No thogas fianuis ’n ar n-aghaidh Far am faide am bi sinn, Suabharaich thus oirnn e, Duabharaich thus oirnn e, Fuadaich fein uainn e, Agus ruaig as ar cridheachan, Duthainn, suthainn, sior, Duthainn, suthainn, sior. Amen.		Grant us forgiveness, Amen. Grant to us Thine own forgiveness, Thou merciful God of all, Amen. Anything that is evil to us, Or that may witness against us Where we shall longest be, Illume it to us, Obscure it to us, Banish it from us, Root it out of our hearts, Ever, evermore, everlastingly. Ever, evermore, everlastingly. Amen.

DHE BI MAILLE RUINN [5]

GOD BE WITH US