| Nicholson & Lee, eds. The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse. 1917. |
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| 76. S. Patrick’s Hymn before Tara |
| By James Clarence Mangan (1803–1849) |
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(FROM THE IRISH)
CHRIST, as a light, | |
| Illumine and guide me! | |
| Christ, as a shield, o’ershadow and cover me! | |
| Christ be under me! Christ be over me! | |
| Christ be beside me | 5 |
| On left hand and right! | |
| Christ be before me, behind me, about me! | |
| Christ this day be within and without me! | |
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| Christ, the lowly and meek, | |
| Christ, the All-powerful, be | 10 |
| In the heart of each to whom I speak, | |
| In the mouth of each who speaks to me! | |
| In all who draw near me, | |
| Or see me or hear me! | |
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| At Tara to-day, in this awful hour, | 15 |
| I call on the Holy Trinity! | |
| Glory to Him who reigneth in power, | |
| The God of the Elements, Father, and Son, | |
| And Paraclete Spirit, which Three are the One, | |
| The ever-existing Divinity! | 20 |
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| Salvation dwells with the Lord, | |
| With Christ, the Omnipotent Word. | |
| From generation to generation | |
| Grant us, O Lord, Thy grace and salvation! | |
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