374 Proceedings of the Koi/nl Irish Academy. 



both communities, we are to see some god of, let us say, an ancient Neolithic 

 non-Aryan tribe in Central Europe ? 



And here, perhaps, is the direction in which we are to look for the solution 

 of an old puzzle. In a tenth-century Ms. preserved in Merseburg Cathedral, 

 there is written a charm for the cure of a lame horse. The charm is one of a 

 well-known type, which relates in the fewest pussiMe words (sometimes in 

 prose, sometimes in rude verse . the story of a cure performed by some sacred 

 personage. Take the following as an example of the commonest form : — 



( de Dieu s'as 

 Notre- Dame de Caly vint ct lui dit — 

 ■■ Pti rre, quefais-tu Id 

 •• Dame, r'est pour Ic mal 

 I>c man chef, qusje me suit mis Id." 

 ■■ Saint Pierre, tu te ■■ 

 .1 Saint- Agie tu t'en . 

 Tu prei tint onguent 



Det plates mortellei de Notre- Seigneur : 



Tu t'i n graisst 



lit 



i.' "' 



It needs do argument t" prove tint Buch a charm is of pagan origin, and 

 that names and Formulae sacred in the Christian Faith have been substituted 

 for names and foi mulae of an elder faith ; further, that the charm is a wort- 

 down folk-story. The personage invoked (in the above example Nbtre-Dame 

 de Caly) is reminded of .1 marvellous cure with which he or she is credited in 



some current populs t t t peat the act of power fenr 



the benefit 0! the Bufferer using the charm. The Merseburg charm differs 

 from the majority of its kind in preserving the pagan names. It runt 

 follows : — 



run ;i In* 

 Do wart demo B >lon sin vuoz birenkit. 



• Sinhtgw s •• naera mister, 



Thu bigtit 

 Thu nda. 



tiki, s6sc lidirenki, 

 Bin :■ bin i, I>1 wit zi bhioda, 

 Lid z» geliden, sose geltmida sin. 5 



' From LI - . . • . L* Folk-lc ■ ■ II ■ 1 Paris, Mnisonneuve et Leclerc), 



- Jacob Grimm. K v..l li, p, 11 el Mqq. I have to thank Mr. A B. 



i '.H.k for calling my attention t" Bome of the lite] it urc on this charm. 



