The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Gaelic Incantations.
Patrick's Corslet ; but anciently it was called by this name
and the name Fiada or Fefh-fiada, as we gather from the
following passage in the Tripartite Life of the Saint :
"Tunc vir sunctus composuit ilium Hymnum patrio
idiomate conscriptum, qui vulgo Fetli-Fiadha, et ab aliis
Lorica Patricii appellatur ; et in summo abinde inter
Hibernos habetur prcetio ; quia creditur, et multa experientia
probatur, pie recitantes ab imminentibus animae et
corporis praserv^are periculis."
Translated
—
"Then the Holy Man composed that Hymn in his
native speech, which is commonly called FetJi-fiadha, and
by others the Breast-plate or Lorica of Patrick and ;
held from thenceforward among the Irish in the highest
regard ; because it is believed—and proved by much experience—to
preserve those that piously recite it from dangers
that threaten them in soul and body.
We have already seen, when dealing with the Airne
—
it is
Moire, how the hymn was regarded as a protective charm ;
and we are told that Patrick, when ambuscades were set
against him by Loegaire, sang it in order to shield and
guard himself and his cleric?. Patrick and his followers
on singing this hymn seemed to the ambuscaders to be
wild deer with a fawn after them.
I have already stated that the FatJi Fithe charm is
extensive in its scope. I subjoin another, equally exten-
sive, from the Sister Isle, kindly sent me by Professor
O'Growney :
Ortha a chuir Colum Cille, le toil Righ Neimhe,
Air bheim suil, air urchoid ^ chnoic, air sealg agus ae ;
Leigheas o neamh air an m-ball dubh ta in aice an chleibh.
Air an leac le a m-bogthar na h-easbaidh ;
Le grasa Mhic Mhuire, a's le miorbhuille Mhic De
Leigheas na colainne, 's an anal a bheith reidh.
1 This word, although not in common use in Gaelic, is used by Mac-
Mhaighstir Alastair. He has a song entitled "Tinneas na h-urchaid," commencing
" Gu bheil tinneas na h-urchaid
Air feadh Airdramurchann,"