The Ancie7it Hymn-Charms of Ireland, 435
The Cross of Christ all my strength, till we reach Heaven's King ! " 22
Or we may compare it with St. Columba's hymn /;/ te Chris te : —
" Chris fus redemptor gentium, Chris tus amator uirginum, Christus fons sapientium, Christus fides credentium, Christus lorica militum, Christus creator omnium, Christus salus uiuentiiim, et uita morientium, Coronauit exercitum nostrum cum turba martirum, etc., etc. "
and also with the " Beltine (or May Day) Blessing" in the
Hebrides, in which the idea is identical —
"... The strength of the Triune our shield in distress, The strength of Christ, His peace and his Pasch, The strength of the Spirit, Physician of health. And of the priceless Father, the King of Grace . . . Be the Cross of Christ to shield us roundward, Be the Cross of Christ to shield us upward, Be the Cross of Christ to shield us downward, Accepting our Beltine blessing from us. Accepting our Beltine blessing from us." 23
It may be said that these are all Christian poems, and not in any sense pagan ; but in the charm and incantation the world of thought is pagan and Christian at once ; there is no possible line of demarcation between them. In the fifth century St. Patrick, or the composer of the ancient Lorica ascribed to him, invokes the forces of the elements and the power of God to intervene between him " and every fierce merciless force that may come against body or soul " :
" Against incantations of false prophets
"Against black laws of paganism. . . .
" Against spells of women, smiths, and druids,
" Against all knowledge that is forbidden the human soul."
'^Bernard and Atkinson, Liier Hymnorum, vol. ii., p. 212. Translated from two Mss. in Royal Irish Academy ^ and ^ by Professor E. J. Gwynn. ^ Carmina Gadelica, vol. i., p. 189.
