Lorica - St Patrick's Breastplate

[Beith]

Hi there,

I just wanted to post this verse extracted from the charm or incantation called "St Patrick's Breastplate" in the 9th C Book of Armagh, because of its sheer beauty and sentiment. I found it on
http://www.celtic-twilight.com/otherwor ... atrick.htm

It expresses so much of the connection to the magic and power of natural world - whether from a Christian or Druidic perspective.

I put my translation below the Old Irish text (and Megli, if you're reading this, I'd love your comments on notes and questions below!).

This is the Old Irish text

Atomriug indiu
niurt nime,
soilsi gréne,
étrochtai éscai,
áni thened,
déni lóchet,
luaithi gaíthe,
fudomnai mara,
tairismigi thalman,
cobsaidi ailech.

Translation

I bind myself this day (1)
the strength of heaven
the light of the sun
the brightness of the moon
the splendour of fire (2)
the swiftness of lightning (3)
the speed of the wind
the depth of the sea
the steadfastness of the earth
the endurance of rocks.(4)

(1) atom-rig: I am using 1st singular ad-riug following B1 verb rigid in deutertonic compound - sense of "bind" with a class b 1st sing infix pronoun.

(2) áni thened - have seen a translation  given as "wonder of fire" but am having trouble finding the verb from which that verbal noun or adjective is formed.  I would have thought something like "amrae" (io/ia-stem) would have been used here in the translation for "wonder"? so then I thought perhaps this was the verbal noun Áin (the driving) from B1 verb aigid? but then I came across dián in the sense of "glorious" ...can you help there Megli? {edit: ....2 minutes after posting this I find "án" -splendid!}

(3) Déni lóchet - I've seen this rendered as "flashing of lightning" but I thought déni was more in line with "dénithir" or déniu" from dían as "swiftness" or similar?

(4)  Cobsaide -stability, steadfast, permanence - I used "endurance" in this sense as I translated tairismige to "steadfastness" (stabilty).

dea guí,
Beith

[Megli]

Marve - nothing to add actually Beith!
will check out the dian thing...am away from my DIL.
M

[Lily]

Beith,

wonderful (I've always loved that text) - can you explain to the less educated readers the significance of the title - Lorica or Breastplate?

I know in Switzerland there were folk religious items that people would carry for protection. Will have to check out what they are called. Is this something similar? a "virtual armour" of sorts?


Lily

[Beith]

Hi Lily,
"lorica" I think is the name for a form of armour but it's also the name given to charms or spells of protection - sometimes carved into a shield or breastplate of armour but also simply voiced or incanted or even written down as a supernatural protection prayer to protect the utterer.
'Schutzegebete" might be the corresponding term in  German?

In this case I think the "breastplate" is metaphorical - just as you say a "virtual armour" of sorts, as St Patrick is girding himself with the strength of heaven and the power of the earth in his preparations before attempting conversion of the pagan king Laoghaire, knowing he'll come up against all sorts of foes (another verse gives "God protect me from the spells of women, smiths and druids"). The "deer cry" or "st Patrick's breastplate" is attributed to Patrick in 433 AD (I think) but the written version in the Book of Armagh is 9th Century.

That verse above though, is fantastic isn't it? The power of the words and images. It reminds me very much of the Amairghin's (Amergin's) song (the "I am the wind on the wave, I am the ocean's murmur...etc) for the drawing up of natural energy and powers of the elements and earth into oneself, in order to effect magic or "power up" before battle. Calling the strength of the earth to oneself.  fabulous!

This link shows some reconstructed Lorica segmentata armour (For DIY enthusiasts!) http://www.larp.com/legioxx/lorica.html


This link has some excellent info on use and references for further reading on the loricae
http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/gildas_07_intro.htm

also interestingly it mentions the Feth fiada which is a rite of invisibility used by filid and druids by utterance of certain forms of poetry, perhaps the Lorica serve something in the same way for the early saints?

Sometimes the Lorica are likened to Defixiones (Curse tablets) but I'm not sure if this is correct. The former are utterances before battle or contest or trial, in order to confer a blessing and protection on the person appealing for help while the latter are buried inscribed tablets that seem to be an appeal to the gods of the underworld, specifically for issue of a curse. We have something similar to the use of defixiones recorded in the use of ogam inscription on a stave in a graveyard but I do not think that defixiones and lorica have the same function.

This link is fascinating - a discussion on Defixiones: http://www.pinktink3.250x.com/essays/tablets.htm

Hey Megli - thanks v much. Glad you came by to visit! Can I ask you something on the pronunciation of tairismigi (tairismige) - does the m have bilabial (n) or almost fricative (v) quality after s? I am never sure whether the lenition of m in middle-word position stays (as in Temair) or if after s it reverts to a labial 'm'.

Likewise the 'm' of mara after fudomnai (fudumnae - ia stem/ fudumain, i-stem)..I think after the feminine ia stem in nominative,  mara is lenited? I can never remember!!

cheers!
Beith

[Lily]

Hi Beith,

I was thinking of incanting it, or inscribing it onto my bike, before attempting this:

[Beith]

Mother of God! where is that? is it near one of the passes over the Alps? you will need super strength for that!
Yes I'd say incant away or do like they used to do  here for certain cures - inscribe it on a piece of paper and wear it in a pouch suspended around your neck (or maybe in a pocket or on a bracelet!)

Best of luck with that!

Beith

ps. If you want the incantation in Irish rendered to phoetic english, I can send it to you. Although maybe such a charm will be better said in your own language for ease of remembering and pronunciation? viel glueck und viel spass mit dem fahrt!

[Lily]

Mother of God!

....

Although maybe such a charm will be better said in your own language for ease of remembering and pronunciation?

Exactly my thoughts, both of the above... it is the Passo dello Stelvio (Stilvser Joch) in Italy. I think I shall incant it once per each of the 48 switchbacks.

[Beith]

you'll be lucky if you have the breath to breathe it let alone say it Lily! wow! I admire your stamina. Well I think the "deer cry" is a good prayer to use for an incantation of strength and fortitude. Besides, it'll keep you safe from the spells of women, smiths and druids lest any of the above be planning an ambush at one of the switchbacks!

smiles,
Beith

[Lily]

Update on the Swiss equivalent of a Lorica: it was called "Skapulier"

and contained religious images and such. It protected against all sorts of things including the devil.

It is derived from the word "scapula" - a cloak covering the shoulders as worn by several religious orders.

[Beith]

Hi Lily,

We have the scapular too - they are worldwide I think, a primarily Catholic protection. There are different colours aren't there? Brown, Green, Red.. but I don't know the symbolism of the colour (if any). I used to wear the brown one for years myself as a child as a protection device against accidents and malinfluence!  Religious pictures and a small prayer covered both sides.

Thanks for the reply!
Good luck on the cycle trip!
Beith

[Lily]

the "deer cry" is a good prayer to use for an incantation of strength and fortitude. Besides, it'll keep you safe from the spells of women, smiths and druids lest any of the above be planning an ambush at one of the switchbacks!

LOL yeah, those tricksy farmer women up thar them mountains, I tell you. better come prepared. Hannibal suffered mightily.

What's with the smiths? They were a powerful clique eh?

[Beith]

Hi Lily,


Yes the Smith is seen as figure who has magical associations in addition to Druids, Sorcerers, wise women, prophetesses, druidesses. The Smith "Goibniu" of the Túatha Dé Danann is known in myth for his magical actions (eg. his life-prolonging ale, his ability to work any weapon) and became a patron cult figure for the smiths and stonemasons here (often known as Gobann saor).

Maybe it's due to the working of metals - a high art - and the ability to change the form of ore to become a weapon or such, which seems an almost magical alchemical process, but also I think the use and working with iron is implicit - iron being a potent folkloric protection against síd-folk, otherworldly spirits, even "bad witches" in later folklore, etc. The smith, similar to the fáiths, druids, corrigiunech, filid, seems to stand at a boundary between the otherworld and mortal world.

In contemporary folklore, things fashioned or used by a smith can have talismanic or amulet powers of protection. Water from a smith's forge is used in certain cures. Coulters (the cutting blade of a ploughshare) and tongs were used in various rites as protections against butter charming and theft, or otherworldly mischief and even to threaten changelings to revert to fairy form rather than stay in the guise of the abducted human they have replaced. The use of iron gives a protective bind and often smiths are credited with having magical powers or an association or relationship to such.

There's probably a lot more to it that this brief outline, but in essence, the spells of druids, poets, sorcerers curses of wise women (and widows), and spells of the smiths were believed to be potent - as beneficial or malefic charms. So next time you're in a forge, talk nice to the guy with the big tongs! (err...there was really no innuendo meant in that at all!)

Beith

ps. just a note of analogy with the scapular. In Irish folklore, protection and cure against certain ailments was given by the wearing of the "Leabhar Eoin" - the gospel of St John, in a leather pouch around the neck. The relatives or friend of the sick person used get a priest to write out the first page (If I recall correctly) of the gospel of St John on a little piece of paper, without making a mistake, and this would be folded or rolled and placed in a pouch on a string to be worn around the neck of the sufferer of a malady or as a guard against one. I think this charm may also have been used in the treatment of horses or cattle with various ailments too. I suppose this would be similar to the wearing of the scapular with the word of God and/or sacred imagery on it to protect against illness. (likewise the word of God was a powerful cure (or charm to decide justice) and so the practice of scraping letters off into water and imbibing the potions must have damaged so many old manuscript books)

B

[Nine Hazelnuts]

Thank you, Beith, for the translation of St. Patrick's Breastplate.  I don't speak Irish, so I'm wondering what the music is like in the original version.  
In English, we count on the repetitive pattern to create a powerful effect.  Could you describe the feeling of what occurs in the Irish original?  I hope that I'm making sense.

Thanks, too, for the link to information on the Lorica of Gildas.  

As you can tell from my name, I work with the lorica as a personal, poetic way of strengthening myself for whatever work I'm doing.  

Thank you all for a good discussion.

--Rowan Lorica
 :awen:

[Beith]

Hi Sue,
Nice to talk to you here! Here are the words from the full text (as far as I know). I do not know if it was ever "set to music" as a hymn in origin or whether it was a chant or incantation voiced without music. I would think the latter but I don't really know. But if you refer to the beat within the Irish words, well the syllabic count varies between lines but I suppose the best way of describing the repetition of the short-lines "eg. niurt nime" (3 syllables) "áin thened (3 syll) etc, it could be almost described as a meditative drum beat, but that's just my remark, not an educated one.

I am not yet versed in forms of early poetry but perhaps Megli can comment if he's reading this, as to form and metre.

Note to the below: I found this text and translation (I don't know who by)  on this website:
http://www.celtic-twilight.com/otherwor ... atrick.htm

I would translate some of the words differently and I believe there to be some typos in the Irish version as written on this site which would need correction but I haven't gone through it in detail, other than where there's an (* ) and explanation or note to myself on something.

St Patrick's Breastplate/ The Deer Cry

Atomriug indiu niurt tréun:
togairm Trindóit
faístin Oendatad,
i nDúlemon dáil.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

Atomriug indiu
niurt gene Críst cona bathius,
niurt a chrochtho cona adnacul,
niurt a essérgi cona fhresgabáil,
niurt a thoíniudo fri brithemnas mbrátho

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.

Atomriug indiu
niurt gráid hiruphin,
i n-aurlataid aingel,
i frestul inna n-archaingel,
i freiscisin esséirgi
ar chiunn fochraicce,
i n-ernaigthib uasalathrach,
i tairchetlaib fáithe,
i preceptaib apstal,
i n-iresaib foísmedach,
i n-enccai noebingen,
i ngnímaib fer firén

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

Atomriug indiu
niurt nime,
soil si gréne,
étrochtai éscai,
áni thened,
déni lóchet,
luaithi gaíthe,
fudomnai mara,
tairismigi thalman,
cobsaidi ailech

I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning, (* déni = swiftness? or used for "flashing"?)
The swiftness of wind, (*luaithi = speed/swiftness)
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks. (* I would translate "endurance" or "permanence" or something indicating stabilty/longevity)


Atomriug indiu
niurt Dé dom luamairecht.
Cumachtae nDé dom chumgabáil,
ciall Dé dom inthús,
rose nDé dom remcisiu, (* I think "rosc" rather than rose, for "eye")
cluas Dé dom étsecht,
briathar Dé dom erlabrai,
lám Dé dom imdegail,
intech Dé dom remthechtas,
sciath Dé dom imdítin,
sochraite Dé dom anacul
ar intledaib demnae,
ar aslagib dualche,
ar forimthechtaib aicnid,
ar cech duine mídúthrastar dam,
i céin ocus i n-ocus,
i n'uathud ocus i sochaidi.


I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.


Tocuiriur etrum indiu inna uili nert-so
fri cech nert n-amnas n-étrocar frista-i dom churp ocus dom anmain,
fri tinchetla sa-ibfh-aithe,
fri dubrechtu gentliuchtae,
fri saíbrechtu heretecdae,
fri imchellacht n-ídlachtae,
fri brichtu ban ocus goban ocus druad,
fri cech fiss arachuille corp ocus anmain

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.


Crist dom imdegail indiu
ar neim, ar loscud, ar bádud, ar guin,
condom-thair ilar fochraicce.
Críst limm, Críst reum,
Críst im degaid, Críst indium,
Críst ísum, Críst uasum,
Críst desum, Críst tuathum,
Críst i llius, Críst i sius,
Críst i n-erus,
Críst i cridiu cech duini immumrorda,
Críst i ngin cech oín rodom-labrathar,
Críst i cech rusc nonom-dercathar,
Críst i cech cluais rodom-chloathar.


Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort, Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop, (* stern or prow of ship)
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Atomriug indiu niurt tréun:
togairm Trindóit,
cretim Treodatad,
faístin Oendatad,
i nDúlemon dáil.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

Domini est salus,
Domini est salus,
Christi est salusñ
salus tua, Domine, sit semper nobiscum

I do not have Latin (alas!) so perhaps someone else can translate here?

The 'Breastplate' prayer or hymn is found in the Liber Ardmachanus (Book of Armagh), credited to Ferdomnach of ArdMhaca (Armagh, N. Ireland) in 807 AD. Manuscript catalogue number TCD MS 52. This book is on display in the library building of Trinity College Dublin, along with the Book of Kells, if anyone's in Ireland and wishes to see it.

best regards,
Beith

[Megli]

Hi!

The Latin says:

'Protection is the Lord's
Protection is the Lord's
Protection is Christ's
may your protection, O Lord, be with us always'.

M /|\

[Megli]

PS I'll ckeck up about the metre: calvert watkins might be the person to look at. It looks like a loose line varying between 5 and 7 syllables. Do you think this is comparable to 'roscad' in the sagas?

Mx

[Beith]

aha! you are there! thanks for the above. Yes I was wondering if it was roscad-style but I don't know all the rules for it. I counted more than 7 syballic beats in some lines (up to about 9 in places I think..if I am counting correctly!) and it varies so much between the short two-word analogies (like: déni lóchet, luathi gaíthe) to the longer sentences (like: fri cech nert n-amnas n-étrocar frista-i dom churp ocus dom anmain)

I wondered if there might be a mixing of styles or influence of diff poetry types - esp given that verse on drawing forth power from the natural elements, which reads to me as something very old, very "pagan" in contect, interwoven with the direct appeals to Christ and God. Interesting also how the binding of power from/to the "directions" is well exemplified in both pagan and Christian manner (Christ above me, below me, before me,behind me, on my left , on my right , etc) .

And thanks for the latin translation too! The extent of my latin relates to biological taxonomic names and medical terminology!

Ad tluchur in buidi duitse,
Beith

[Donata]

What a wonderful thread!

Caitlin Matthews has what I think is an adaptation of the Lorica in her book, "Celtic Devotional: Daily Prayers & Blessings" (back in print). We used this as a farewell to each person as they left our recent WNY OBOD Camp. When I say it for myself, I change the "may you" to " may I..."

Donata


Blessing of the Nine Elements

May you go forth under the strength of heaven,
under the light of sun
under the radiance of moon.

May you go forth with the splendor of fire,
with the speed of lightning,
with the swiftness of wind.

May you go forth supported by the depth of sea,
by the stability of earth,
by the firmness of rock.

May you be surrounded and encircled,
above, below and about
With the protection of the nine elements.

[Beith]

hey Donata,

nice to hear from you! How are you?

Thanks for posting that. It does look like it comes from the "Deer cry" doesn't it? Nice version by Caitlín M.
I hope to hear lots more about the OBOD camp in WNY!

All the best,
Beith

[Donata]

Hi Beith,

Per your request, I just posted my report of our camp in the Pub!

Donata