The Ancient Hymn-Charms of Ireland. 441
The lovely Brigit and her Fosterling.
Who are those watching over my sleep?
The fair loving Mary and her Lamb.
Who is that anear me?
The King of the sun, He himself it is.
Who is that at the back of my head ?
The Son of Life without beginning, without time." ^^
So, in the Evening Prayer beginning with the familiar phrase —
" I lie down with God, and may God lie down with me, That I may not lie down with evil And that the evil may not lie with me,"
we get the same idea of Brigit being in the centre and the Virgin at the head of the sleeper.
"The girdle of Brigit round my middle,
And the mantle of Mary round my head.
Come, O young Michael, and take my hand
And make my peace with the Son of the Graces.
If there be any evil thing at all in wait for me
I put the Son of God between myself and itself.
From tonight until a year from tonight
And tonight itself,
And for ever !
And for aye ! " ^^ In connection with these Sleeping or Night Prayers and runes it may not be out of place to point out that the quatrain known as the White Paternoster, familiar all over Europe, is used also in Ireland. Dr. Hyde gives two examples of it, —
" Four corners to my bed,
Four angels round it spread.
If I die within the night,
God receive me into light." '^^
'^ Carmina Gadelica, vol. i., p. 235.
^•'(From Innismaan, Co. Galway), Keligious Songs of Connacht, vol. ii., pp. 28-36; cf. Carmina GadeHca,vo\. i., pp. 81-89, 95-
•^Religions Songs of Connacht, vol. ii., p. 217.
