COLMAN'S HYMN

Translated And Edited By Whitley Stokes And John Strachan

Preface

T. 'God's blessing.' Colman Mac ui Cluasaig, lector of Cork, made this hymn to save himself from the Yellow Plague which was in the time of the sons of Aed Slane. [A.D. 664?] For numerous were the men in Ireland at that time, and such was their multitude that they used to get only thrice nine ridges for each man in Ireland, to wit, nine of bog,and nine of arable land,and nine of forest. So the sons of Aed Slane and Fechin of Fore and Aileran and Manchan of Liath and many others fasted together with the nobles of the men of Ireland, for the thinning of the people; for scarcity of food had come because of their multitude. Wherefore the Yellow Plague was inflicted on them, and there died thereof in that year the sons of Aed Slane, and the elders that we have mentioned et alii multi. Dicunt alli that Colman made all (the hymn). Others say that he made only two quatrains thereof,and that the school made the rest of it, to wit, a half quatrain by each of them. It was composed in Cork, in the time of the two sons of Aed Slane, to wit, Blaithmac and Diarmait.

Now this was the cause of its composition. A great pestilence was sent onthe men of Ireland, namely the Buide Connaill, which ransacked all Ireland, and left only one man in every three alive in Ireland. And it was to protect them and his school against that pestilence that Colman made this hymn. And it befell that he composed it when he began to make for a certain island of the sea of Ireland, outside, fleeing from this pestilence, so that there might be nine waves between them and the land, for pestilence does not pass beyond that, ut ferunt periti. And one of the school asked Colman what was the blessing wherein it had befallen them to take the road. So then has said Colman: "What blessing is it," said he "but God's blessing?" For this is what they essayed, to go forth on islands of the sea, fleeing before the disease.[In notes the translator gives the literal meaning: cover us: 'may He bring us with Him' 'may He take us with Him, whithersoever we go' 'may He put His veil over us to protect us'The verses are split up for convenience according to the translator's page breaks. There are no such breaks in the hymn. The original was in Gaelic, a few Latin words are left as is in italics.]God's blessing lead us, help us! May Mary's Son cover us! May we be under His safeguard to-night! Whither we go (?) may He guard (us) well!

Whether in rest or in motion, whether sitting or standing,
the Lord of Heaven against every strife, this is the prayer that we will pray.
May the prayer of Abel son of Adam, Enoch, Elias help us;
may they save us from swift disease (?) on whatever side, throughout this noisy world!
Noah and Abraham, Isaac the wonderful son,
may they surround us against pestilence, that famine may not come to us!
We entreat the father of three tetrads, and Joseph their junior:
may their prayers save us to the King many-angeled, noble!
May Moses the good leader protect us, who protected us through Rubrum Mare,
Joshua, Aaron Amre's son, David the bold lad.
May Job with his trials protect us past the poisons!
may God's prophets defend us, with Maccabbee's seven sons!
John the Baptist we invoke, may he be a safeguard to us, a protection!
may Jesus with His apostles be for our help against danger!
May Mary and Joseph herd us et spiritus Stephani;
from every strait may the commemoration of Ignatius' name release us!
May every martyr, every hermit, every saint that has been in chastity,
be a shield to us for our protection, be a dart from us against devils!

Regem regum rogamus - in nostris sermonibus,
who protected Noah with his crew - diluui temporibus.
Melchisedech rex Salem - incerto de semine,
may his prayers deliver us - ab omni formidine.
Soter who delivered Lot from fire, qui per saecla habetur,
ut nos omnes precamur - liberare dignetur.
May the prince who protected Abraham from the fire of the Chaldees,

May he deliver us who delivered the people lympha fontis in Gabai.
The Prince who protected the three boys out of the fiery furnace with redness,
may He protect us, as He protected David de manu Golai.
May the Lord of resplendent heaven have compassion on our wretchedness,
who left not suum prophetam - ulli leonum ori.
As He sent the angel that loosed Peter from the chain,
may He be sent to us for our aid, may every unsmooth be smooth before us!
May we please our Lord nostro opere digno:
may we be with Him in eternal life in paradisi regno!
As He delivered Jonah the prophet from the whale's belly - a bright deed -,
may the good King, threatening, mighty, protect us! God's blessing lead us, help us!
Be it true, O Lord, be it true, may this prayer be granted!
may the little children of God's Kingdom be around this school:
Be it true, O Lord, be it true! May we all reach the peace of the King.
...may we reach, may we meet in the Kingdom of Heaven!
May we be without age widely (?) with the angels in eternal life!
Patriarchs, prophets without extinction, angels, apostles - a noble sight -
may they come with our Heavenly Father to bless us before the host of devils!
Blessing onthe patron Patrick, with the saints of Ireland about him!
blessing on this convent and on all within it!
Blessing on the patron Brigit with the virgins of Ireland about her:
give ye all a fair testimony: blessing on Brigit's dignity.
Blessing on Columcille, with the saints of Alba on the other side,
on the soul of glorious Adamnan, who imposed a law on the clans.
(May we be) under the safeguard of the King of the elements, a protection which will not
betray us!
may the Holy Spirit rain on us! may Christ deliver us, bless us!

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