Northern mythology

176 NORTH GERMAN CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS.
stolen it/' If such is the case, the key will remain motionless
j but if he has really stolen it, the key will move
from its place.
Rauen.
If anything is stolen from a person, he must take an
inherited book, and in it bind an inherited key, then hold
it on two fingers and say :
" Inherited book (Erwbok) I
ask thee, has A. B. stolen my linen (or whatever else it may
be ) ? or C. D. ? '^ At whichever person's name the book
turns, that is the thief. Havelland.
To fix a thief (MS. from Swinemunde)
Unser Heiland Christus Jesus, Our Saviour Christ Jesus, lie went
der ging in den Garten,
into the garden,
derheiligeuEngelundderJung- to await the holy angels and the
frau Maria zu warten ;
Vu-gin ]\Iary ;
da kamen die Diebe und wollten
das Kindlein stehlen,
.
there came the thieves and would
steal the little child,
das konnten vier und zwanzig whom four and twenty legions of
Legionen Engel nicht ver- angels could not conceal.
hehlen.
" Binde, Petrus, binde, " Bind, Peter, bmd,
eilend und geschwinde,
hastily and quick,
dass der Dieb uns stehe stille that the thief may stand still
wie ein Stock,
a^ a stock,
und schreie ^^'ie ein Bock. and cry like a goat.
Binde, Petrus, binde.
Bind, Peter, bmd,
dass der Dieb uns stehe stille that the thief may stand still
und alle Sterne zahle, and count all the stars,
die an dem Ilimmel stehen.
Binde, Petrus, binde.
dass der Dieb uns stehe stille,
that stand in heaven.
Bind, Peter, bind,
that the thief may stand still,
dass meine leiblichen Augen that my botUly eyes may see him,
ihn sehen,
und meine leibhche Zunge ihn and my boddy tongue speak to
spreche.
^"°^-
Das gebiet' ich dir Dieb im That I command for thee, thief, in
'Namen des heiligen Bartus,
Der aller Kornlein Meister ist."
the name of St. Bart,
who is of eveiy gram the master.
This spell is to be uttered after sunset, the utterer, at
the same time, going three times round the place to which
he supposes the thief will come. WhUe so doing he must