The Wish of Manchan of Liath
I wish, O son of the
Living God, ancient eternal King,
for a secret hut in the wilderness that it may be my dwelling.
A very blue shallow well to be
beside it, a clear pool for
washing away sins through the grace of the Holy Ghost.
A beautiful wood close by
all around it on every side,
for the nurture of many-voiced birds, to shelter and hide it.
Facing the south for
warmth, a little stream across it's enclosure,
a choice ground with abundant bounties, which would be good for every
plant.
A few sage desciples, I
will tell their number,
humble and obedient, to pray to the King
Four threes, three fours,
fit for every need,
two sixes in the church, both south and north.
Six couples in addition
to me myself,
praying through the long ages to the King who moves the sun.
A lovely church decked
with linen, a dwelling for God of Heaven;
then, bright candles over the holy white Scriptures.
One room to go to for the
care of the body, without wantoness,
without vuloptuousness, without meditation of evil.
This is the housekeeping
I would undertake, I would choose it without concealing;
fragrant fresh leaks, hens, speckled salmon, bees.
My fill of clothing and
of food from the King of good fame,
and for me to be sitting for a while praying to God in every
place.
From
A Celtic
Miscellany
K H Jackson, Penguin 1971