Page:Writings of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.djvu/90

Rh 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.