THE DRUID AND CHILD

Or Series of the Barzaz Breiz

(by Hersart de la Villemarqué, 1839)

1- No serie for number one: the unique Necessity, Death father of Pain; nothing before, nothing more.

2- Two Bulls yoked to a hull; they pull, they will expire; see the marvel!

3- There are three parts to the world: three beginnings, three ends, for man as for oak. Three kingdoms of Merlin, full of golden fruits, brilliant flowers, little children laughing.

4- Four grinding stones, grinding stones of Merlin which sharpen the swords of the braves.

5- Five earthly zones, five ages in the duration of time; five rocks on our sister.

6- Six little wax children, vivified by the moon's energy; if you ignore this , I know. Six medicinal plants in the little cauldron; the little dwarf stirs the beverage, his little finger in his mouth.

7- Seven suns and seven moons, seven planets, including the Hen, seven elements with the flour of the air.

8- Eight winds that blow; eight fires with the Great Fire, lit on the month of May on the mountain of war. Eight heifers as white as the surf , who graze on the grasses of the deep island; the eight white heifers of the Lady.

9- Nine little white hands on the table of the area, near the tower of Lezarmeur, and nine mothers lamenting much. Nine Korrigans dancing with flowers in their hair and robes of milky wool around the fountain, in the light of the full moon. The boar-sow and her nine piglets, at the door of their shed, grunting and digging, digging and grunting; Little ones, Little ones, Little ones run quickly to apple-tree! The old Boar will give you a lesson.

10- ten enemy vessels that we have seen coming from Nantes: sorrow to you! sorrow to you! Men of Vannes!

11- Eleven armed Priests, coming from Vannes, with their broken swords; their bloody robes; and their hazel crutches; of three hundred plus eleven!

12- Twelve months and twelve signs; the second last, Sagittarius, retrieves his arrow armed with adart. The twelve signs go to war, the beautiful Cow, the Black Cow sporting a white star on its forehead, comes out of the Forest of Spoils; with in its breast the dart of the arrow; blood gushing out; she bellows head raised; the trumpet rings; fire and thunder; rain and wind; thunder and fire; nothing; nothing more; nor any more serie!

(Barzhaz Breizh - translated by Boutios)