HE following Dicta Patricii, or Sayings of St. Patrick, are given in Latin in the Rolls edition of the Tripartite Life, p. 301, as contained at the end of the Notes by Muirchu Maccu-Machtheni in the Book of Armagh, fol. 9, a. i. They are, as Dr. Whitley Stokes observes, disconneded from the context in that MS., with the simple heading Dicta Patricii, and are in very rustic Latin. The character of their Latinity renders it highly probable that they may be genuine remains of the saint, while the manner in which the Greek Κύριε ἐλέισον (Lord, have mercy on us) is transliterated into Latin (in Sayings No. 4 and 5) is sufficient to show how slight an acquaintance Patrick had with the Greek language. The latter point confutes Nicholson's arguments (on pp. 84, 85, 168 of his work), in which he seeks to prove that 'St. Patrick read the Scriptures from the Greek language alone.'
We have for convenience sake numbered the Sayings, and append them here, with the addition of a few notes:—
1. 'I had the fear of God as the guide of my journey through the Gauls [per Gallias] and Italy, even in the islands which are in the Tyrrhenian Sea.'
The latter portion of this saying, from 'through the Gauls,' is incorporated into Tirechan's notes or collections of facts concerning Patrick found in the Book of Armagh. (Rolls edition, p. 302.) Dr. W. Stokes says that these notes are said to have been 'written from the dictation or copied from a book (ex ore vel libra) of his foster-father or tutor. Bishop Altán of Ardbraccan, who died A.D. 656.' (Rolls edition of Tripartite Life, p. xci.) If the 'saying' be genuine, Patrick must have visited Italy. But the evidence is weak, and will not bear much weight to be put upon it.
2. 'From the world ye have passed on to Paradise.'
This saying, which is found in the Coroticus, p. 78, and in the Confession, pp. 54, 57, 64 (compare also pp. 60, 66, 68), is entitled, from the frequency of its occurrence, to be numbered separately. The saying is well illustrated by the following story, given by Muirchu in his Notes on St. Patrick's Life (which are of the seventh century). Dáire, the Irish chieftain, who afterwards gave the site for a church at Armagh, sent to the saint as a present a caldron of brass which had been imported from across the sea. Patrick, on receiving the gift, said simply, Grazacham (gratias agamus, 'Let us give thanks,' i.e., to God). Dáire went back to his home, muttering, 'The man is a fool who said nothing but grazacham for a brazen caldron of such a size!' He then ordered his servants to go and bring him back the caldron. They went forthwith to the saint, and said, 'We are going to take away the caldron.' Patrick said again, 'Grazachm, take it away.' They accordingly took it back. When they returned, Dáire asked them, 'What did the Christian say when you took it away?' They answered that he said, 'Grazacham.' Dáire exclaimed, 'Grazacham, when it was given! grazacham, when it was taken away! his saying is so good with those grazachams, that his caldron shall be brought back to him again!' (Rolls Tripartite, p. 291.) The same story is repeated in the Tripartite Life (which was written in the eleventh century) at pp. 230, 231 of the Rolls edition. See also Miss Cusack'sLife of St. Patrick, p. 351, Dr. Todd's Life, p. 471. On the story, compare the words in Job i. 21: 'The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'
4. The Church of the Scots, nay even of the Romans, (chant) as Christians, so, that ye may be Romans, (chant) as it ought to be chanted with you, at every hour of prayer that praiseworthy sentence. Curie lession, Christe lession ["Lord, have mercy upon us," "Christ have mercy upon us."].'
The Latin is: 'Aeclessia Scotorum, immo Romanorum, ut Christiani, ita ut Romani sitis, ut decantetur uobiscum oportet omni hora orationis uox illa laudabilis "Curie lessión, Christe lession."' It is evidently corrupt with its three "ut"s. Dr. Whitley Stokes has suggested to me that it should be read thus: 'Aeclessia Scottorum immo Romanorum, ut Christiani ita et Romani sitis, et decantetur vobiscum ut oportet omni hora orationis vox illa laudabilis,' &c. It should then be translated:—
'Church of the Scots, nay of the Romans, as ye are Christians so also be Romans; and let that praiseworthy sentence be chanted by you at every (canonical) hour, as it ought to be, "Lord, have mercy upon us, Christ, have mercy upon us."'
It must not be forgotten that in the Epistle to Coroticus Patrick speaks of himself as a Roman and a freeman (see Coroticus, p. 76). He also there alludes to 'the Roman and Gallic Christians' as superior to other Christians in civilisation. It is most natural, therefore, to interpret the meaning of this saying to be: Imitate the customs of those Christians whose higher civilisation is a matter of general acknowledgment, and follow their example by making use of the versicle in question.
5. 'Let every Church that follows me chant, "Curie lession, Christe lession." Thanks be to God!'
The words quoted by St. Patrick in these two 'sayings' are Κύριε ἐλέεισον, Χρίστε ἐλ εισον.
HE following Dicta Patricii, or Sayings of St. Patrick, are given in Latin in the Rolls edition of the Tripartite Life, p. 301, as contained at the end of the Notes by Muirchu Maccu-Machtheni in the Book of Armagh, fol. 9, a. i. They are, as Dr. Whitley Stokes observes, disconneded from the context in that MS., with the simple heading Dicta Patricii, and are in very rustic Latin. The character of their Latinity renders it highly probable that they may be genuine remains of the saint, while the manner in which the Greek Κύριε ἐλέισον (Lord, have mercy on us) is transliterated into Latin (in Sayings No. 4 and 5) is sufficient to show how slight an acquaintance Patrick had with the Greek language. The latter point confutes Nicholson's arguments (on pp. 84, 85, 168 of his work), in which he seeks to prove that 'St. Patrick read the Scriptures from the Greek language alone.'
