 | Sonnets and Other Poems Chiefly Religious |  |
126
SAINT PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE.
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The original of this poem is in Irish, except the last stanza, which is in Latin. I have represented the Latin by longer lines than the rest. The irregular stanzas represent those of the original. I am ignorant of Irish, and have made this version from the literal English translation by Dr. Whitley Stokes, which is printed in the Appendix.
This poem is certainly very ancient, and is probably the work of Saint Patrick. Its name of “Breastplate” (Irish luirech, from the Latin lorica) arises from the Irish custom of repeating it, and other poems, as a protection against danger.
I bind as armour on my breast
The Threefold Name whereon I call,
Of Father, Son, and Spirit Blest,
Who maketh and sustaineth all.
The Threefold Name whereon I call,
Of Father, Son, and Spirit Blest,
Who maketh and sustaineth all.
I bind as armour on my breast
The power of Him from heaven who came
To make the Godhead manifest;
His baptism, and His cross of shame,
His burial, and His opened grave;
And God's Almighty power, whereby
He rose, ascended up on high,
And shall return to judge and save.
The power of Him from heaven who came
To make the Godhead manifest;
His baptism, and His cross of shame,
His burial, and His opened grave;
And God's Almighty power, whereby
He rose, ascended up on high,
And shall return to judge and save.
127
I bind as armour on my breast,
In hope a heavenly crown to win,
The obedience and the love wherein
Angels and seraphs are possessed,
With faithful prayer and worthy deed
Of all the saints in history's roll,
Who kept unstained their holy creed
And virgin purity of soul.
In hope a heavenly crown to win,
The obedience and the love wherein
Angels and seraphs are possessed,
With faithful prayer and worthy deed
Of all the saints in history's roll,
Who kept unstained their holy creed
And virgin purity of soul.
I bind as armour on my breast
The might of God, made manifest
In Heaven, and on the stedfast earth;
The glory of the sun on high,
The brightness of a moonlit sky,
The lightning's wildly flashing mirth;
The splendour and the glow of fire,
The storm that rushes in its ire;
The strength that girds the rocky steep,
The vastness of the unfathomed deep.
The might of God, made manifest
In Heaven, and on the stedfast earth;
The glory of the sun on high,
The brightness of a moonlit sky,
The lightning's wildly flashing mirth;
The splendour and the glow of fire,
The storm that rushes in its ire;
The strength that girds the rocky steep,
The vastness of the unfathomed deep.
I bind as armour on my breast
The Wisdom which shall be my Guide;
The Shield whose shelter bids me rest
In peace, whatever ills betide;
The Eye of God, to search my thought;
His Ear, my prayer of faith to hear;
His Word, to make my words be fraught
With courage which His foes shall fear;
His angel host, to guard my path
Against all human guile and wrath,
Against the tempter's lures to sin,
Against the lusts that strive within.
The Wisdom which shall be my Guide;
The Shield whose shelter bids me rest
In peace, whatever ills betide;
The Eye of God, to search my thought;
His Ear, my prayer of faith to hear;
His Word, to make my words be fraught
With courage which His foes shall fear;
His angel host, to guard my path
Against all human guile and wrath,
Against the tempter's lures to sin,
Against the lusts that strive within.
128
All these I bind upon my breast
Against my foes in earth and hell;
Against the sorcerer's chanted spell;
Idols, confessed or unconfessed;
Falsehood of heresy, and powers
That rule the heathen in the hours
Of darkness; women's evil wiles;
And all the knowledge that defiles.
Against my foes in earth and hell;
Against the sorcerer's chanted spell;
Idols, confessed or unconfessed;
Falsehood of heresy, and powers
That rule the heathen in the hours
Of darkness; women's evil wiles;
And all the knowledge that defiles.
Guard me and shield me, Christ my Lord!
Guard me against my foes' desire,
Guard me from danger of the fire,
Guard me against the hostile shaft,
Guard me against the poisoner's craft,
Guard me from danger of the sea;—
Guard me, O Christ, in serving Thee,
And make me share the great reward.
Guard me against my foes' desire,
Guard me from danger of the fire,
Guard me against the hostile shaft,
Guard me against the poisoner's craft,
Guard me from danger of the sea;—
Guard me, O Christ, in serving Thee,
And make me share the great reward.
Christ be within me and around;
Christ on my left hand and my right;
May Christ in all my thoughts be found,
Christ in all breadth and depth and height!
May Christ be in their eyes that see
Thy servant, and their ears that hear;
Christ in his thoughts who thinks on me,
Christ on his lips who draweth near.
Christ on my left hand and my right;
May Christ in all my thoughts be found,
Christ in all breadth and depth and height!
May Christ be in their eyes that see
Thy servant, and their ears that hear;
Christ in his thoughts who thinks on me,
Christ on his lips who draweth near.
I bind as armour on my breast
The Threefold Name whereon I call,
Of Father, Son, and Spirit Blest,
Who maketh and sustaineth all.
The Threefold Name whereon I call,
Of Father, Son, and Spirit Blest,
Who maketh and sustaineth all.
Salvation is of Thee, the Incarnate Word;
Now and for ever save us, Christ our Lord!
Now and for ever save us, Christ our Lord!
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