/ · 1894 Brewer’s · T · Thieves on the Cross
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called Gesmas (the impenitent) and Desmas (afterwards “St. Desmas,” the penitent thief) in the ancient mysteries. Hence the following charm to scare away thieves:
“Impartibus meritis pendent tria corpora ramis:
Desmas et Gesmas, media est divina potestas;
Alta petit Desmas, infelix, inflma, Gesmas:
Nos et res nostras conservet summa potestas,
Hos versus dicas, ne tu furto tua perdas.”
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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.
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