Religion

The Battle to Come

by Anonymous (Scottish Gaelic) traditional; collected in the Highlands and Islands 1855–1899

Translated by Alexander Carmichael (1900) · From Carmina Gadelica, vol. I (1900): Invocations

Religion

Jesus, Thou Son of Mary, I call on Thy name,
And on the name of John the apostle beloved,
And on the names of all the saints in the red domain,
To shield me in the battle to come,
To shield me in the battle to come.

When the mouth shall be closed,
When the eye shall be shut,
When the breath shall cease to rattle,
When the heart shall cease to throb,
When the heart shall cease to throb.

When the Judge shall take the throne,
And when the cause is fully pleaded,
O Jesu, Son of Mary, shield Thou my soul,
O Michael fair, acknowledge my departure.
O Jesu, Son of Mary, shield Thou my soul!
O Michael fair, receive my departure!

✦ ✦ ✦

Gaelic: An Cath Nach Tainig. Carmina Gadelica I, no. 49, Invocations.

MLA

Anonymous (Scottish Gaelic). “The Battle to Come.” Translated by Alexander Carmichael. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-scottish-gaelic/48/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Scottish Gaelic). “The Battle to Come.” Translated by Alexander Carmichael. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-scottish-gaelic/48/.

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