430 The Ancient Hymn- Charms of h^eland.
" Might of Heaven, brightness of the Sun, whiteness of snow, splendour of fire, speed of light, swiftness of Wind, depth of Ocean, stability of Earth, firmness of Rock," to intervene in his behalf.
The remaining passage is a fine invocation of the power of God to exert itself in different ways against
- ' Snares of demons, allurements of vices,
Solicitations of nature, Against every person who wishes me ill,
Far and near, alone and in a crowd. . . ." " The Might of God for my piloting The Wisdom of God for my guidance The Eye of God for ray foreseeing The Ear of God for my hearing The Word of God for my speech The Hand of God for my guardianship The Path of God for my precedence The Shield of God for my protection The Host of God for my salvation." ^*^
Here we have the complete charm-form carried over into the Christian hymn, with its iteration of the same idea with slight changes of wording. Let me illustrate this by pointing to a charm. Christian also in sentiment but going behind the Christian period in its form, from the Western Isles of Scotland, which is almost identical with parts of this hymn of St. Patrick : —
'■'■Rune before Prayer. I am bending my knee In the Eye of the Father who created me, In the Eye of the Son who purchased me, In the Eye of the Spirit who cleansed me,
In friendship and affection. Through thine own Anointed One, O God, Bestow upon us fulness in our need, Love towards God, ^^ Liber Hymnor nut, vol. i., pp. 133-135; vol. ii., pp. 49-51.
