later Slavonian-Christian addition to the old Shamanic spell. In the
Accadian-Chaldæan formulas these spirits are seven; here they are seventy.
The formula in question is against the fever:--
"In the name of God and his Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen!
"Seventy fair maids went up out of the ocean.
"They met the Saint Paphnutius, who asked:
"'Whence come ye, oh Maidens?'
"They answered, 'From the ocean-sea.
"'We go into the world to break the bones of men.
"'To give them the fever. (To make hot and cold).'"
Then the holy Paphnutius began to beat them, and gave them every
one seventy-seven days:--
"They began to pray, 'O holy Paphnutius!
"'Forgive us, (and) whoever shall bear with him (thy) name, or write
it, him we will leave in peace.
"'We will depart from him
"'Over the streams, over the seas.
"'Over the reeds (canes) and marshes.
"'O holy Paphnutius, sua misericordia, of thy mercy,
"'Have pity on thy slave, even on the sick man ------
(the name is here uttered).
"'Free him from fever!'"TO CONSECRATE A SWARM OF BEES
The following gypsy-Slav charm, to consecrate a swarm of bees, was also
given to me by Prof. DRAGOMANOFF, who had learned it from a peasant:-
- "One goes to the water and makes his prayer and greets the water thus:--
"Hail to thee, Water!
Thou Water, Oliana!
Created by God,
And thou, oh Earth, Titiana!
And ye the near springs, brooks and rivulets,
Thou Water, Oliana,
Thou goest over the earth,
Over the neighbouring fountains and streams,
Down unto the sea,
Thou dost purify the sea,
The sand, the rocks, and the roots--