Brewer's: Thieves on the Cross

called Gesmas (the impenitent) and Desmas (afterwards “St. Desmas,” the penitent thief) in the ancient mysteries. Hence the following charm to scare away thieves:

Impartibas meritis pendent tria corpora ramis: Desmas et Gesmas, media est divina potestas; Alta petit Desmas, infelix, inflma, Gesmas: Nos et res nostras conservet samma potestas, Hos versus dicas, ne tu furto tua perdas.

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