So
even the Christian hymn of St. Patrick was called the lorica or
breastplate of Patrick.] of power, woven of druidic verse, was
upon Ulla [Footnote: Ulla is the Gaelic root of Ulster.] in his
time, upon all the children of Rury in their going out and their
coming in, in war and in peace. Dethcaen [Footnote: Dethcaen is
compounded of two words which mean respectively, colour, and
slender.] sang her own songs of protection for the child. His
mother gave the child suck, but the rosy-cheeked, beautiful,
sweetly-speaking daughter of Cathvah nursed him. On her breast and
knee she bare him with great love. Light of foot and slender was
Dethcaen; through the wide dun of Sualtam she went with her
nursling, singing songs. She it was that discovered his first ges,
[Footnote: Ges was the Irish equivalent of the tabu.] namely, that
no one should awake him while he slept. He had others, sacred
prohibitions which it was unlawful to transgress, but this was
discovered by Dethcaen. She discovered it while he was yet a babe.
With her own hands Dethcaen washed his garments and bathed his
tiny limbs; lightly and cheerfully she sprang from her couch at
night when she heard his voice, and raised him from the cradle and
wrapped him tenderly, and put him into the hands of his mother.
Pages:
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45