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The Beginnings of Poetry

Note 577 — Chapter V · THE DIFFERENCING ELEMENTS OF COMMUNAL POETRY (continued 2)

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For example, in mere invocation, the Erce, Erce, Erce, eorðan modor of an Anglo-Saxon charm (Grein-Wülker, I. 314), and the actual spell against stitch in the side (ibid., p. 318):—

Wert thou shot in the fell, or wert shot in the flesh,

Or wert shot in the blood [or wert shot in the bone],

Or wert shot in the limb ...

with more of the sort, and the solemn,—

This to heal shot of gods, this to heal shot of elves,

and so on, with a refrain in the epic part,—

Out, little spear, if it in here be’

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