Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. Irish, 8th century, translated by Mary E. Byrne* (1880-1931), versified by Eleanor Hull* (1860-1935). This text is found in two manuscripts in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, dating possibly from the 8th century, one a poor copy of the other. The Irish text begins: Rop tú ma baile a Choimdiu cride: ní ní nech aile acht Rí secht nime. It had sixteen 2-line stanzas, many beginning ‘Rop tú’ (‘Be thou’). The stanzas were translated by Mary E. Byrne (Máiri Ní Bhroin), as follows: Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. None other is aught but the King of the seven heavens. Be thou my meditation by day and night; May it be thou...

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