MADE FOR MERRION MACFADYN.
In a small tract called Peacock’s Guide to the Isle of Man (p. 66), the following version is given as in use in that island:
“Peter was ordained a saint
Standing on a marble stone,
Jesus came to him alone,
And said to him, ‘Peter!
What is it that makes thee shake?’
Peter replied, ‘My Lord and Master,
It is the toothache’;
Jesus said to him,
‘Rise up and be healed!
Keep these words for my sake,
And thou shalt nevermore be troubled with toothache’.”
The Gaelic is to the same effect:
“The charm Colum-Kil applied
To Mal-ii’s right knee,
For gnawing and lancinating pain and toothache,
Toothache and disease of the head.
...
Then said Peter to James,
‘I can get no peace or rest with the toothache.’
...
Christ said, ‘Answer the question,
And the toothache and the verse
Will never be in the same head together’.”