Nine Herbs Charm
In Old English and translated
Mucgwyrt, þu mihtig wyrt,
eastan open, una ealda modor;
þu mihtig eastan open,
mec þu eastan open.
Wegbrade, wyrta modor,
eastan open;
mec þu earde swa wel,
to gehælge and to gehælse.
Stiðe, þu mihtig wyrt,
gewinne þu wiþ ðam attre;
gewinne þu wiþ ðam onflyge
and wiþ ðam lyblace
and wiþ ðam lætleace
and wiþ ðam attre þe geond eal lond fære.
Mægðe, þu mihtig wyrt,
þu scealt on fýre beon hwæs;
cwice þu þurh minum muðe
and þurh minne tungan.
Fille and Finule,
þa twegen mihtigan,
geworhte him Woden,
wuldor alwalda,
þa he þa sæ sloge
þæt hit swarce weoll.
And ætter he nam,
and nam on niðere,
and sette and sende
on þa sevene wyrta.
Woden worhte næsse,
he sloh þa næddran,
þæt hi ðas seofon nygon woldan,
and ætter on fleogan,
and æfter on flogan.
Ne mihton hi fleogan
fæste wiþ þa wyrte,
syþðan hi hī gescearpod hæfdon,
þæt hi ðas wið attre
and wið esa gesæton,
and wið eallum hæto
þis hatost bist.
Gemyne ðu, Mucgwyrt,
hwæt þu amindan eart,
hwæt þu gehalden eart
on hælendes naman.
Mugwort, you mighty plant,
opened to the east,
the oldest of herbs, mother of plants.
You open from the east,
you open me from the east.
Plantain, mother of herbs,
you rise up in the east;
you are strong in the land,
for mending and for healing.
Lamb’s cress,
made for the air;
you are a mighty plant,
mighty in your gathering.
Attor-lathe (“poison-hinder”),
greatest of herbs;
you fight against all poisons;
you are mighty against all poisons.
Stune (possibly Lamb’s Wort), strong plant,
strong against harshness;
strong against poison;
strong against infection.
Nettle, you plant,
against poison you fight;
against the flying venom
and against the after-flying venom.
Thyme (or possibly Fille),
against poison and against elf-kind;
against flying infection
and against lingering infection.
Fennel, against poison;
you are hot against what is hot;
you are strong against the strong;
you are mighty against the mighty.
Chervil and Fennel,
two mighty plants;
the Wise Lord shaped them,
holy in the heavens.