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 maidenliness, the grace of whole-souled loveliness, the grace of goodly speech.
Dark is yonder town, darker those therein, thou art the brown swan, going in among them. Their hearts are under thy control, their tongues are beneath thy soul, nor will they ever utter a word to give thee offence.
A shade art thou in the heat, a shelter art thou in the cold, eyes art thou to the blind, a staff art thou to the pilgrim, an island art thou at sea, a fortress art thou on land, a well art thou in the desert, health art thou to the ailing.
Thine is the skill of the fairy woman, thine is the virtue of Bride the calm, Thine is the faith of Mary the mild, thine is the tact of the women of Greece, thine is the beauty of Emyr the lovely, thine is the tenderness of Darthula delightful, thine is the courage of Maebh the strong, thine is the charm of Binne-bheul.
Thou art the joy of all joyous things, thou art the light of the beam of the Sun, thou art the door of the chief of hospitality, thou art the surpassing star of guidance, thou art the step of the deer on the hill, thou art the step of the steed of the plane, thou art the grace of the swan of swimming, thou art the loveliness of all lovely desires. The lovely likeness of the Lord is thy pure face, the loveliest likeness that was upon the Earth. The best hour of the day be thine, the best day of the week thine, the best week of the year be thine, and the best year in the son of gods domain be thine.
A Gaelic blessing for a young girl
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