THE LEGENDS OF SAINT PATRICK BYAUBREY DE VERE, LL. D. 

CONTENTS. 

INTRODUCTION BY HENRY MORLEY. 

SAINT PATRICK--FROM "ENGLISH WRITERS, " BY HENRY MORLEY. 

PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR. 

POEMS:-THE BAPTISM OF SAINT PATRICK. THE DISBELIEF OF MILCHO. SAINT PATRICK AT TARA. SAINT PATRICK AND THE TWO PRINCESSES. SAINT PATRICK AND THE CHILDREN OF FOCHLUT WOOD. SAINT PATRICK AND KING LAEGHAIRE. SAINT PATRICK AND THE IMPOSTOR. SAINT PATRICK AT CASHEL. SAINT PATRICK AND THE CHILDLESS MOTHER. SAINT PATRICK AT THE FEAST OF KNOCK CAE. SAINT PATRICK AND KING EOCHAID. SAINT PATRICK AND THE FOUNDING OF ARMAGH CATHEDRAL. THE ARRAIGNMENT OF SAINT PATRICK. THE STRIVING OF SAINT PATRICK ON MOUNT CRUACHAN. EPILOGUE. THE CONFESSION OF SAINT PATRICK. 

INTRODUCTION BY HENRY MORLEY. 

Once more our readers are indebted to a living poet for widecirculation of a volume of delightful verse. The name of Aubrey deVere is the more pleasantly familiar because its association withour highest literature has descended from father to son. In 1822, sixty-seven years ago, Sir Aubrey de Vere, of Curragh Chase, byAdare, in the county of Limerick--then thirty-four years old--firstmade his mark with a dramatic poem upon "Julian the Apostate. " In1842 Sir Aubrey published Sonnets, which his friend Wordsworthdescribed as "the most perfect of our age;" and in the year of hisdeath he completed a dramatic poem upon "Mary Tudor, " published inthe next year, 1847, with the "Lamentation of Ireland, and otherPoems. " Sir Aubrey de Vere's "Mary Tudor" should be read by all whohave read Tennyson's play on the same subject. 

The gift of genius passed from Sir Aubrey to his third son, AubreyThomas de Vere, who was born in 1814, and through a long life hasput into music only noble thoughts associated with the love of Godand man, and of his native land. His first work, published forty-seven years ago, was a lyrical piece, in which he gave his sympathyto devout and persecuted men whose ways of thought were not his own. Aubrey de Vere's poems have been from time to time revised byhimself, and they were in 1884 finally collected into three volumes, published by Messrs. Kegan Paul. Left free to choose from amongtheir various contents, I have taken this little book of "Legends ofSt. Patrick, " first published in 1872, but in so doing I haveunwillingly left many a piece that would please many a reader. 

They are not, however, inaccessible. Of the three volumes ofcollected works, each may be had separately, and is complete initself. The first contains "The Search after Proserpine, and otherPoems--Classical and Meditative. " The second contains the "Legendsof St. Patrick, and Legends of Ireland's Heroic Age, " including aversion of the "Tain Bo. " The third contains two plays, "Alexanderthe Great, " "St. Thomas of Canterbury, " and other Poems. 

For the convenience of some readers, the following extract from thesecond volume of my "English Writers, " may serve as a prosaicsummary of what is actually known about St. Patrick. H. M. 

ST. PATRICK. 

FROM "ENGLISH WRITERS. "

The birth of St. Patrick, Apostle and Saint of Ireland, has beengenerally placed in the latter half of the fourth century; and he issaid to have died at the age of a hundred and twenty. As he died inthe year 493--and we may admit that he was then a very old man--ifwe may say that he reached the age of eighty-eight, we place hisbirth in the year 405. We may reasonably believe, therefore, thathe was born in the early part of the fifth century. His birthplace, now known as Kilpatrick, was at the junction of the Levin with theClyde, in what is now the county of Dumbarton. His baptismal namewas Succath. His father was Calphurnius, a deacon, son of Potitus, who was a priest. His mother's name was Conchessa, whose family mayhave belonged to Gaul, and who may thus have been, as it is said shewas, of the kindred of St. Martin of Tours; for there is a traditionthat she was with Calphurnius as a slave before he married her. Since Eusebius spoke of three bishops from Britain at the Council ofArles, Succath, known afterwards in missionary life by his name inreligion, Patricius (pater civium), might very reasonably be adeacon's son. 

In his early years Succath was at home by the Clyde, and he speaksof himself as not having been obedient to the teaching of theclergy. When he was sixteen years old he, with two of his sistersand other of his countrymen, was seized by a band of Irish piratesthat made descent on the shore of the Clyde and carried him off toslavery. His sisters were taken to another part of the island, andhe was sold to Milcho MacCuboin in the north, whom he served for sixor seven years, so learning to speak the language of the country, while keeping his master's sheep by the Mountain of Slieve Miss. Thoughts of home and of its Christian life made the youth feel theheathenism that was about him; his exile seemed to him a punishmentfor boyish indifference; and during the years when young enthusiasmlooks out upon life with new sense of a man's power--growing forman's work that is to do--Succath became filled with religious zeal. 

Three Latin pieces are ascribed to St. Patrick: a "Confession, "which is in the Book of Armagh, and in three other manuscripts;{10a} a letter to Coroticus, and a few "Dieta Patricii, " which arealso in the Book of Armagh. {10b} There is no strong reason forquestioning the authenticity of the "Confession, " which is inunpolished Latin, the writer calling himself "indoctus, rusticissimus, imperitus, " and it is full of a deep religiousfeeling. It is concerned rather with the inner than the outer life, but includes references to the early days of trial by whichSuccath's whole heart was turned to God. He says, "After I cameinto Ireland I pastured sheep daily, and prayed many times a day. The love and fear of God, and faith and spirit, wrought in me moreand more, so that in one day I reached to a hundred prayers, and inthe night almost as many, and stayed in the woods and on themountains, and was urged to prayer before the dawn, in snow, infrost, in rain, and took no harm, nor, I think, was there any slothin me. And there one night I heard a voice in a dream saying to me, 'Thou hast well fasted; thou shalt go back soon to thine own land;'and again after a little while, 'Behold! thy ship is ready. '" Inall this there is the passionate longing of an ardent mind for homeand Heaven. 

At the age of twenty-two Succath fled from his slavery to a vesselof which the master first refused and finally consented to take himon board. He and the sailors were then cast by a storm upon adesert shore of Britain, possibly upon some region laid waste byravages from over sea. Having at last made his way back, by a seapassage, to his home on the Clyde, Succath was after a time capturedagain, but remained captive only for two months, and went back home. Then the zeal for his Master's service made him feel like theSeafarer in the Anglo-Saxon poem; and all the traditions of his homewould have accorded with the rise of the resolve to cross the sea, and to spread Christ's teaching in what had been the land of hiscaptivity. 

There were already centres of Christian work in Ireland, wheredevoted men were labouring and drew a few into their fellowship. Succath aimed at the gathering of all these scattered forces, by amovement that should carry with it the whole people. He firstprepared himself by giving about four years to study of theScriptures at Auxerre, under Germanus, and then went to Rome, underthe conduct of a priest, Segetius, and probably with letters fromGermanus to Pope Celestine. Whether he received his orders from thePope seems doubtful; but the evidence is strong that Celestine senthim on his Irish mission. Succath left Rome, passed through NorthItaly and Gaul, till he met on his way two followers of Palladius, Augustinus and Benedictus, who told him of their master's failure, and of his death at Fordun. Succath then obtained consecration fromAmathus, a neighbouring bishop, and as Patricius, went straight toIreland. He landed near the town of Wicklow, by the estuary of theRiver Varty, which had been the landing-place of Palladius. In thatregion he was, like Palladius, opposed; but he made someconversions, and advanced with his work northward that he mightreach the home of his old master, Milcho, and pay him the purchase-money of his stolen freedom. But Milcho, it is said, burnt himselfand his goods rather than bear the shame of submission to thegrowing power of his former slave. 

St. Patrick addressed the ruling classes, who could bring with themtheir followers, and he joined tact with his zeal; respectingancient prejudices, opposing nothing that was not directly hostileto the spirit of Christianity, and handling skilfully the chiefswith whom he had to deal. An early convert--Dichu MacTrighim--was achief with influential connections, who gave the ground for thereligious house now known as Saul. This chief satisfied so well theinquiries of Laeghaire, son of Niall, King of Erin, concerning thestranger's movements, that St. Patrick took ship for the mouth ofthe Boyne, and made his way straight to the king himself. Theresult of his energy was that he met successfully all the oppositionof those who were concerned in the maintenance of old heathenworship, and brought King Laeghaire to his side. 

Then Laeghaire resolved that the old laws of the country asestablished by the judges, whose order was named Brehon, should berevised, and brought into accord with the new teaching. So theBrehon laws of Ireland were revised, with St. Patrick's assistance, and there were no ancient customs broken or altered, except thosethat could not be harmonised with Christian teaching. The goodsense of St. Patrick enabled this great work to be done withoutoffence to the people. The collection of laws thus made by thechief lawyers of the time, with the assistance of St. Patrick, isknown as the "Senchus Mor, " and, says an old poem -

 "Laeghaire, Corc Dairi, the brave; Patrick, Beuen, Cairnech, the just; Rossa, Dubtach, Fergus, the wise; These are the nine pillars of the Senchus Mor. "

This body of laws, traditions, and treatises on law is found in nomanuscript of a date earlier than the fourteenth century. Itincludes, therefore, much that is of later date than the fifthcentury. 

St. Patrick's greatest energies are said to have been put forth inUlster and Leinster. Among the churches or religious communitiesfounded by him in Ulster was that of Armagh. If he was born aboutthe year 405, when he was carried to Ireland as a prisoner at theage of sixteen the date would have been 421. His age would havebeen twenty-two when he escaped, after six or seven years ofcaptivity, and the date 427. A year at home, and four years withGermanus at Auxerre, would bring him to the age of twenty-seven, andthe year 432, when he began his great endeavour to put Christianityinto the main body of the Irish people. That work filled all therest of his life, which was long. If we accept the statement, inwhich all the old records agree, that the time of Patrick's labourin Ireland was not less than sixty years; sixty years bring him tothe age of eighty-eight in the year 493. And in that year he died. 

The "Letter to Coroticus, " ascribed to St. Patrick, is addressed toa petty king of Brittany who persecuted Christians, and was meantfor the encouragement of Christian soldiers who served under him. It may, probably, be regarded as authentic. The mass of legendwoven into the life of the great missionary lies outside this pieceand the "Confession. " The "Confession" only expresses heights anddepths of religious feeling haunted by impressions and dreams, through which, to the fervid nature out of which they sprang heavenseemed to speak. St. Patrick did not attack heresies among theChristians; he preached to those who were not Christians theChristian faith and practice. His great influence was not that of awriter, but of a speaker. He must have been an orator, profoundlyearnest, who could put his soul into his voice; and, when his wordsbred deeds, conquered all difficulties in the way of action withright feeling and good sense. HENRY MORLEY. 

 TO THE MEMORY OF WORDSWORTH. 

AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO "THE LEGENDS OF SAINT PATRICK. "

The ancient records of Ireland abound in legends respecting thegreatest man and the greatest benefactor that ever trod her soil;and of these the earlier are at once the more authentic and thenobler. Not a few have a character of the sublime; many arepathetic; some have a profound meaning under a strange disguise; buttheir predominant character is their brightness and gladsomeness. Alarge tract of Irish history is dark: but the time of SaintPatrick, and the three centuries which succeeded it, were her timeof joy. That chronicle is a song of gratitude and hope, as befitsthe story of a nation's conversion to Christianity, and in it thebird and the brook blend their carols with those of angels and ofmen. It was otherwise with the later legends connecting Ossian withSaint Patrick. A poet once remarked, while studying the frescoes ofMichael Angelo in the Sistine Chapel, that the Sibyls are alwayssad, while the Prophets alternated with them are joyous. In thelegends of the Patrician Cycle the chief-loving old Bard is evermournful, for his face is turned to the past glories of his country;while the Saint is always bright, because his eyes are set on to theglory that has no end. 

These legends are to be found chiefly in several very ancient livesof Saint Patrick, the most valuable of which is the "TripartiteLife, " ascribed by Colgan to the century after the Saint's death, though it has not escaped later interpolations. The work was longlost, but two copies of it were re-discovered, one of which has beenrecently translated by that eminent Irish scholar, Mr. Hennessy. Whether regarded from the religious or the philosophic point ofview, few things can be more instructive than the picture which itdelineates of human nature at a period of critical transition, andthe dawning of the Religion of Peace upon a race barbaric, but farindeed from savage. That wild race regarded it doubtless as anotable cruelty when the new Faith discouraged an amusement sopopular as battle; but in many respects they were in sympathy withthat Faith. It was one in which the nobler affections, as well asthe passions, retained an unblunted ardour; and where Nature isstrongest and least corrupted it most feels the need of somethinghigher than itself, its interpreter and its supplement. It prizedthe family ties, like the Germans recorded by Tacitus; and it couldnot but have been drawn to Christianity, which consecrated them. Its morals were pure, and it had not lost that simplicity to whichso much of spiritual insight belongs. Admiration and wonder wereamong its chief habits; and it would not have been repelled byMysteries in what professed to belong to the Infinite. Lawless asit was, it abounded also in loyalty, generosity, and self-sacrifice;it was not, therefore, untouched by the records of martyrs, examplesof self-sacrifice, or the doctrine of a great Sacrifice. It lovedchildren and the poor; and Christianity made the former theexemplars of faith, and the latter the eminent inheritors of theKingdom. On the other hand, all the vices of the race rangedthemselves against the new religion. 

In the main the institutions and traditions of Ireland werefavourable to Christianity. She had preserved in a large measurethe patriarchal system of the East. Her clans were families, andher chiefs were patriarchs who led their households to battle, andseized or recovered the spoil. To such a people the ChristianChurch announced herself as a great family--the family of man. Hergenealogies went up to the first parent, and her rule was parentalrule. The kingdom of Christ was the household of Christ; and itschildren in all lands formed the tribes of a larger Israel. Itslaws were living traditions; and for traditions the Irish had everretained the Eastern reverence. 

In the Druids no formidable enemy was found; it was the Bards whowielded the predominant social influence. As in Greece, where thesacerdotal power was small, the Bards were the priests of thenational Imagination, and round them all moral influences hadgathered themselves. They were jealous of their rivals; but thoserivals won them by degrees. Secknall and Fiacc were ChristianBards, trained by St. Patrick, who is said to have also brought abard with him from Italy. The beautiful legend in which the Saintloosened the tongue of the dumb child was an apt emblem ofChristianity imparting to the Irish race the highest use of itsnatural faculties. The Christian clergy turned to account the Irishtraditions, as they had made use of the Pagan temples, purifyingthem first. The Christian religion looked with a genuine kindnesson whatever was human, except so far as the stain was on it; andwhile it resisted to the face what was unchristian in spirit, italso, in the Apostolic sense, "made itself all things to all men. "As legislator, Saint Patrick waged no needless war against theancient laws of Ireland. He purified them, and he amplified them, discarding only what was unfit for a nation made Christian. Thuswas produced the great "Book of the Law, " or "Senchus Mohr, "compiled A. D. 439. 

The Irish received the Gospel gladly. The great and the learned, inother nations the last to believe, among them commonly set theexample. With the natural disposition of the race an appropriateculture had concurred. It was one which at least did not fail todevelop the imagination, the affections, and a great part of themoral being, and which thus indirectly prepared ardent natures, andnot less the heroic than the tender, to seek their rest in spiritualthings, rather than in material or conventional. That culture, without removing the barbaric, had blended it with the refined. Ithad created among the people an appreciation of the beautiful, thepathetic, and the pure. The early Irish chronicles, as well assongs, show how strong among them that sentiment had ever been. TheBorromean Tribute, for so many ages the source of relentless wars, had been imposed in vengeance for an insult offered to a woman; anda discourtesy shown to a poet had overthrown an ancient dynasty. The education of an Ollambh occupied twelve years; and in the thirdcentury, the time of Oiseen and Fionn, the military rules of theFeine included provisions which the chivalry of later ages mighthave been proud of. It was a wild, but not wholly an ungentle time. An unprovoked affront was regarded as a grave moral offence; andsevere punishments were ordained, not only for detraction, but for aword, though uttered in jest, which brought a blush on the cheek ofa listener. Yet an injury a hundred years old could meet noforgiveness, and the life of man was war! It was not that laws werewanting; a code, minute in its justice, had proportioned a penaltyto every offence, and specified the Eric which was to wipe out thebloodstain in case the injured party renounced his claim to righthis own wrong. It was not that hearts were hard--there was at leastas much pity for others as for self. It was that anger wasimplacable, and that where fear was unknown, the war field was whatamong us the hunting field is. 

The rapid growth of learning as well as piety in the three centuriessucceeding the conversion of Ireland, prove that the country had notbeen till then without a preparation for the gift. It had been thespecial skill of Saint Patrick to build the good which was lackedupon that which existed. Even the material arts of Ireland he hadpressed into the service of the Faith; and Irish craftsmen hadassisted him, not only in the building of his churches, but incasting his church bells, and in the adornment of his chalices, crosiers, and ecclesiastical vestments. Once elevated byChristianity, Ireland's early civilisation was a memorable thing. It sheltered a high virtue at home, and evangelised a great part ofNorthern Europe; and amidst many confusions it held its own till thetrue time of barbarism had set in--those two disastrous centurieswhen the Danish invasions trod down the sanctuaries, dispersed thelibraries, and laid waste the colleges to which distant kings hadsent their sons. 

Perhaps nothing human had so large an influence in the conversion ofthe Irish as the personal character of her Apostle. Where others, as Palladius, had failed, he succeeded. By nature, by grace, and byprovidential training, he had been specially fitted for his task. We can still see plainly even the finer traits of that character, while the land of his birth is a matter of dispute, and of his earlyhistory we know little, except that he was of noble birth, that hewas carried to Ireland by pirates at the age of sixteen, and thatafter five years of bondage he escaped thence, to return A. D. 432, when about forty-five years old; belonging thus to that great age ofthe Church which was made illustrious by the most eminent of itsFathers, and tasked by the most critical of its trials. In him agreat character had been built on the foundations of a devoutchildhood, and of a youth ennobled by adversity. Everywhere wetrace the might and the sweetness which belonged to it, theversatile mind yet the simple heart, the varying tact yet the fixedresolve, the large design taking counsel for all, yet the minutesolicitude for each, the fiery zeal yet the genial temper, the skillin using means yet the reliance on God alone, the readiness inaction with the willingness to wait, the habitual self-possessionyet the outbursts of an inspiration which raised him above himself, the abiding consciousness of authority--an authority in him, but notof him--and yet the ever-present humility. Above all, there burnedin him that boundless love, which seems the main constituent of theApostolic character. It was love for God; but it was love for manalso, an impassioned love, and a parental compassion. It was notfor the spiritual weal alone of man that he thirsted. Wrong andinjustice to the poor he resented as an injury to God. His vehementlove for the poor is illustrated by his "Epistle to Coroticus, "reproaching him with his cruelty, as well as by his denunciations ofslavery, which piracy had introduced into parts of Ireland. Nowonder that such a character should have exercised a talismanicpower over the ardent and sensitive race among whom he laboured, arace "easy to be drawn, but impossible to be driven, " and drawn moreby sympathy than even by benefits. That character can only beunderstood by one who studies, and in a right spirit, that accountof his life which he bequeathed to us shortly before its close--the"Confession of Saint Patrick. " The last poem in this seriesembodies its most characteristic portions, including the visionswhich it records. 

The "Tripartite Life" thus ends: --"After these great miracles, therefore, after resuscitating the dead, after healing lepers, andthe blind, and the deaf, and the lame, and all diseases; afterordaining bishops, and priests, and deacons, and people of allorders in the Church; after teaching the men of Erin, and afterbaptising them; after founding churches and monasteries; afterdestroying idols and images and Druidical arts, the hour of death ofSaint Patrick approached. He received the body of Christ from theBishop Tassach, according to the counsel of the Angel Victor. Heresigned his spirit afterwards to Heaven, in the one hundred andtwentieth year of his age. His body is still here in the earth, with honour and reverence. Though great his honour here, greaterhonour will be to him in the Day of Judgment, when judgment will begiven on the fruit of his teaching, as of every great Apostle, inthe union of the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus; in the union ofthe Nine Orders of Angels, which cannot be surpassed; in the unionof the Divinity and Humanity of the Son of God; in the union, whichis higher than all unions, of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, andHoly Ghost. " A. DE VERE. 

THE LEGENDS OF SAINT PATRICK. 

THE BAPTISM OF ST. PATRICK. 

"How can the babe baptised be Where font is none and water none?"Thus wept the nurse on bended knee, And swayed the Infant in the sun. 

"The blind priest took that Infant's hand: With that small hand, above the groundHe signed the Cross. At God's command A fountain rose with brimming bound. 

"In that pure wave from Adam's sin The blind priest cleansed the Babe with awe;Then, reverently, he washed therein His old, unseeing face, and saw!

"He saw the earth; he saw the skies, And that all-wondrous Child decreedA pagan nation to baptise, To give the Gentiles light indeed. "

Thus Secknall sang. Far off and nigh The clansmen shouted loud and long;While every mother tossed more high Her babe, and glorying joined the song. 

THE DISBELIEF OF MILCHO, OR, SAINT PATRICK'S ONE FAILURE. 

ARGUMENT. 

Fame of St. Patrick goes ever before him, and men of goodwill believe gladly; but Milcho, a mighty merchant, and one given wholly to pride and greed, wills to disbelieve. St. Patrick sends him greeting and gifts; but he, discovering that the prophet welcomed by all had once been his slave, hates him the more. Notwithstanding, he fears that when that prophet arrives, he, too, may be forced to believe, though against his will. He resolves to set fire to his castle and all his wealth, and make new fortunes in far lands. The doom of Milcho, who willed to disbelieve. 

When now at Imber Dea that precious barkFreighted with Erin's future, touched the sandsJust where a river, through a woody valeCurving, with duskier current clave the sea, Patrick, the Island's great inheritor, His perilous voyage past, stept forth and kneltAnd blessed his God. The peace of those green meadsCradled 'twixt purple hills and purple deep, Seemed as the peace of heaven. The sun had set;But still those summits twinned, the "Golden Spears, "Laughed with his latest beam. The hours went by:The brethren paced the shore or musing sat, But still their Patriarch knelt and still gave thanksFor all the marvellous chances of his lifeSince those his earlier years when, slave new-trapped, He comforted on hills of DalaraideHis hungry heart with God, and, cleansed by pain, In exile found the spirit's native land. Eve deepened into night, and still he prayed:The clear cold stars had crowned the azure vault;And, risen at midnight from dark seas, the moonHad quenched those stars, yet Patrick still prayed on:Till from the river murmuring in the vale, Far off, and from the morning airs close byThat shook the alders by the river's mouth, And from his own deep heart a voice there came, "Ere yet thou fling'st God's bounty on this landThere is a debt to cancel. Where is he, Thy five years' lord that scourged thee for his swine?Alas that wintry face! Alas that heartJoyless since earliest youth! To him reveal it!To him declare that God who Man becameTo raise man's fall'n estate, as though a man, All faculties of man unmerged, undimmed, Had changed to worm and died the prey of worms, That so the mole might see!"

 Thus Patrick musedNot ignorant that from low beginnings riseOftenest the works of greatness; yet of thisUnweeting, that his failure, one and soleThrough all his more than mortal course, even nowBefore that low beginning's threshold lay, Betwixt it and that Promised Land beyondA bar of scandal stretched. Not otherwiseMight whatsoe'er was mortal in his strengthDying, put on the immortal. 

 With the mornDeep sleep descended on him. Waking soon, He rose a man of might, and in that mightLaboured; and God His servant's toil revered;And gladly on that coast Erin to ChristPaid her firstfruits. Three days he preached his Lord:The fourth embarking, cape succeeding capeThey passed, and heard the lowing herds remoteIn hollow glens, and smelt the balmy breathOf gorse on golden hillsides; till at eve, The Imber Domnand reached, on silver sandsGrated their keel. Around them flocked at dawnWarriors with hunters mixed, and shepherd youthsAnd maids with lips as red as mountain berriesAnd eyes like sloes, or keener eyes, dark-fringedAnd gleaming like the blue-black spear. They cameWith milk-pail, and with kid, and kindled fireAnd spread the genial board. Upon that shoreFull many knelt and gave themselves to Christ, Strong men, and men at midmost of their hopesBy sickness felled; old chiefs, at life's dim closeThat oft had asked, "Beyond the grave what hope?"Worn sailors weary of the toilsome seas, And craving rest; they, too, that sex which wearsThe blended crowns of Chastity and Love;Wondering, they hailed the Maiden-Motherhood;And listening children praised the Babe Divine, And passed Him, each to each. 

 Ere long, once moreTheir sails were spread. Again by grassy margeThey rowed, and sylvan glades. The branching deerLike flying gleams went by them. Oft the cryOf fighting clans rang out: but oftener yetClamour of rural dance, or mart confusedWith many-coloured garb and movements swift, Pageant sun-bright: or on the sands a throngGirdled with circle glad some bard whose songShook the wild clan as tempest shakes the woods. Still north the wanderers sailed: at evening, mistsCumbered the shore and on them leaned the blast, And fierce rain flashed mingling with dim-lit sea. All night they toiled; next day at noon they kennedA seaward stream that shone like golden tressSevered and random-thrown. That river's mouthEre long attained was all with lilies whiteAs April field with daisies. Entering thereThey reached a wood, and disembarked with joy:There, after thanks to God, silent they satIn thought, and watched the ripples, dusk yet bright, That lived and died like things that laughed at time, On gliding 'neath those many-centuried boughs. But, midmost, Patrick slept. Then through the trees, Shy as a fawn half-tamed now stole, now fledA boy of such bright aspect faery childHe seemed, or babe exposed of royal race:At last assured beside the Saint he stood, And dropped on him a flower, and disappeared:Thus flower on flower from the great wood he broughtAnd hid them in the bosom of the Saint. The monks forbade him, saying, "Lest thou wakeThe master from his sleep. " But Patrick woke, And saw the boy, and said, "Forbid him not;The heir of all my kingdom is this child. "Then spake the brethren, "Wilt thou walk with us?"And he, "I will:" and so for his sweet faceThey called his name Benignus: and the boyThenceforth was Christ's. Beneath his parent's roofAt night they housed. Nowhere that child would sleepExcept at Patrick's feet. Till Patrick's deathUnchanged to him he clave, and after reignedThe second at Ardmacha. 

 Day by dayThey held their course; ere long the hills of MourneLoomed through sea-mist: Ulidian summits nextBefore them rose: but nearer at their leftInland with westward channel wound the waveChanged to sea-lake. Nine miles with chant and hymnThey tracked the gold path of the sinking sun;Then southward ran 'twixt headland and green isleAnd landed. Dewy pastures sunset-dazed, At leisure paced by mild-eyed milk-white kineSmiled them a welcome. Onward moved in sightSwiftly, with shadow far before him cast, Dichu, that region's lord, a martial manAnd merry, and a speaker of the truth. Pirates he deemed them first and toward them facedWith wolf-hounds twain that watched their master's eyeTo spring, or not to spring. The imperious faceForbidding not, they sprang; but Patrick raisedHis hand, and stone-like crouched they chained and still:Then, Dichu onward striding fierce, the SaintBetween them signed the Cross; and lo, the swordFroze in his hand, and Dichu stood like stone. The amazement past, he prayed the man of GodTo grace his house; and, side by side, a mileThey clomb the hills. Ascending, Patrick turned, His heart with prescience filled. Beneath, there layA gleaming strait; beyond, a dim vast plainWith many an inlet pierced: a golden margeGirdled the water-tongues with flag and reed;But, farther off, a gentle sea-mist changedThe fair green flats to purple. "Night comes on;"Thus Dichu spake, and waited. Patrick thenAdvanced once more, and Sabhall soon was reached, A castle half, half barn. There garnered layMuch grain, and sun-imbrowned: and Patrick said, "Here where the earthly grain was stored for manThe bread of angels man shall eat one day. "And Patrick loved that place, and Patrick said, "King Dichu, give thou to the poor that grain, To Christ, our Lord, thy barn. " The strong man stoodIn doubt; but prayers of little orphaned babesReared by his hand, went up for him that hour:Therefore that barn he ceded, and to ChristBy Patrick was baptised. Where lay the cornA convent later rose. There dwelt he oft;And 'neath its roof more late the stranger sat, Exile, or kingdom-wearied king, or bard, That haply blind in age, yet tempest-rockedBy memories of departed glories, drewWith gradual influx into his old heartSolace of Christian hope. 

 With Dichu bodePatrick somewhile, intent from him to learnThe inmost of that people. Oft they spakeOf Milcho. "Once his thrall, against my willIn earthly things I served him: for his soulNeeds therefore must I labour. Hard was he;Unlike those hearts to which God's Truth makes wayLike message from a mother in her grave:Yet what I can I must. Not heaven itselfCan force belief; for Faith is still good will. "Dichu laughed aloud: "Good will! Milcho's good willNeither to others, nor himself, good willHath Milcho! Fireless sits he, winter through, The logs beside his hearth: and as on themGlimmers the rime, so glimmers on his faceThe smile. Convert him! Better thrice to hang him!Baptise him! He will film your font with ice!The cold of Milcho's heart has winter-niptThat glen he dwells in! From the sea it slopesUnfinished, savage, like some nightmare dream, Raked by an endless east wind of its own. On wolf's milk was he suckled not on woman's!To Milcho speed! Of Milcho claim belief!Milcho will shrivel his small eye and sayHe scorns to trust himself his father's son, Nor deems his lands his own by right of raceBut clutched by stress of brain! Old Milcho's GodIs gold. Forbear him, sir, or ere you seek himMake smooth your way with gold. "

 Thus Dichu spake;And Patrick, after musings long, replied:"Faith is no gift that gold begets or feeds, Oftener by gold extinguished. Unto God, Unbribed, unpurchased, yearns the soul of man;Yet finds perforce in God its great reward. Not less this Milcho deems I did him wrong, His slave, yet fleeing. To requite that lossGifts will I send him first by messengersEre yet I see his face. "

 Then Patrick sentHis messengers to Milcho, speaking thus:"If ill befell thy herds through flight of mineFourfold that loss requite I, lest, for hateOf me, thou disesteem my Master's Word. Likewise I sue thy friendship; and I comeIn few days' space, with gift of other goldThan earth concedes, the Tidings of that GodWho made all worlds, and late His Face hath shown, Sun-like to man. But thou, rejoice in hope!"

Thus Patrick, once by man advised in part, Though wont to counsel with his God alone. 

Meantime full many a rumour vague had vexedMilcho much musing. He had dealings largeAnd distant. Died a chief? He sent and boughtThe widow's all; or sold on foodless shoresFor usury the leanest of his kine. Meantime, his dark ships and the populous quaysWith news still murmured. First from Imber DeaCame whispers how a sage had landed late, And how when Nathi fain had barred his way, Nathi that spurned Palladius from the land, That sage with levelled eyes, and kingly frontHad from his presence driven him with a banCur-like and craven; how on bended kneeSinell believed, the royal man well-lovedDescending from the judgment-seat with joy:And how when fishers spurned his brethren's questFor needful food, that sage had raised his rod, And all the silver harvest of blue streamsLay black in nets and sand. His wrinkled browWrinkling yet more, thus Milcho answer made:"Deceived are those that will to be deceived:This knave has heard of gold in river-beds, And comes a deft sand-groper; let him come!He'll toil ten years ere gold enough he findsTo make a crooked torque. "

 From Tara nextThe news: "Laeghaire, the King, sits close in cloudOf sullen thought, or storms from court to court, Because the chiefest of the Druid raceLocru, and Luchat prophesied long sinceThat one day from the sea a Priest would comeWith Doctrine and a Rite, and dash to earthIdols, and hurl great monarchs from their thrones;And lo! At Imber Boindi late there steptA priest from roaring waves with Creed and Rite, And men before him bow. " Then Milcho spake:"Not flesh enough from thy strong bones, Laeghaire, These Druids, ravens of the woods, have plucked, But they must pluck thine eyes! Ah priestly race, I loathe ye! 'Twixt the people and their KingEver ye rub a sore!" Last came a voice:"This day in Eire thy saying is fulfilled, Conn of the 'Hundred Battles, ' from thy throneLeaping long since, and crying, 'O'er the seaThe Prophet cometh, princes in his train, Bearing for regal sceptres bended staffs, Which from the land's high places, cliff and peak, Shall drag the fair flowers down!'" Scoffing he heard:"Conn of the 'Hundred Battles!' Had he sentHis hundred thousand kernes to yonder steepAnd rolled its boulders down, and built a moleTo fence my laden ships from spring-tide surge, Far kinglier pattern had he shown, and givenMore solace to the land. "

 He rose and turnedWith sideway leer; and printing with vague stepIrregular the shining sands, on strodeToward his cold home, alone; and saw by chanceA little bird light-perched, that, being sick, Plucked from the fissured sea-cliff grains of sand;And, noting, said, "O bird, when beak of thineFrom base to crown hath gorged this huge sea-wall, Then shall that man of Creed and Rite make nullThe strong rock of my will!" Thus Milcho spake, Feigning the peace not his. 

 Next day it chancedWomen he heard in converse. Thus the first:"If true the news, good speed for him, my boy!Poor slaves by Milcho scourged on earth shall wearIn heaven a monarch's crown! Good speed for herHis little sister, not reserved like usTo bend beneath these loads. " To whom her mate:"Doubt not the Prophet's tidings! Not in vainThe Power Unknown hath shaped us! Come He must, Or send, and help His people on their way. Good is He, or He ne'er had made these babes!"They passed, and Milcho said, "Through hate of meAll men believe!" And straightway Milcho's faceGrew bleaker than that crab-tree stem forlornThat hid him, wanner than that sea-sand wetThat whitened round his foot down-pressed. 

 Time passed. One morn in bitter mockery Milcho mused:"What better laughter than when thief from thiefPilfers the pilfered goods? Our Druid thiefTwo thousand years hath milked and shorn this land;Now comes the thief outlandish that with himWould share milk-pail and fleece! O Bacrach old, To hear thee shout 'Impostor!'" Straight he wentTo Bacrach's cell hid in a skirt wind-shav'nOf low-grown wood, and met, departing thence, Three sailors sea-tanned from a ship late-beached. Within a corner huddled, on the floor, The Druid sat, cowering, and cold, and mazed:Sudden he rose, and cried, by conquering joyClothed as with youth restored: "The God Unknown, That God who made the earth, hath walked the earth!This hour His Prophet treads the isle! Three menHave seen him; and their speech is true. To themThat Prophet spake: 'Four hundred years ago, Sinless God's Son on earth for sinners died:Black grew the world, and graves gave up their dead. 'Thus spake the Seer. Four hundred years ago!Mark well the time! Of Ulster's Druid raceWhat man but yearly, those four hundred years, Trembled that tale recounting which with thisTallies as footprint with the foot of man?Four hundred years ago--that self-same day -Connor, the son of Nessa, Ulster's King, Sat throned, and judged his people. As he sat, Under clear skies, behold, o'er all the earthSwept a great shadow from the windless east;And darkness hung upon the air three hours;Dead fell the birds, and beasts astonied fled. Then to his Chief of Druids, Connor spakeWhispering; and he, his oracles explored, Shivering made answer, 'From a land accursed, O King, that shadow sweeps; therein, this hour, By sinful men sinless God's Son is slain. 'Then Ulster's king, down-dashing sceptre and crown, Rose, clamouring, 'Sinless! shall the sinless die?'And madness fell on him; and down that steepHe rushed whereon the Emanian Palace stood, And reached the grove, Lambraidhe, with two swords, The sword of battle, and the sword of state, And hewed and hewed, crying, 'Were I but thereThus they should fall who slay that Sinless One;'And in that madness died. Old Erin's sonsBeheld this thing; nor ever in the landHath ceased the rumour, nor the tear for himWho, wroth at justice trampled, martyr died. And now we know that not for any dreamHe died, but for the truth: and whensoe'erThe Prophet of that Son of God who diedSinless for sinners, standeth in this place, I, Bacrach, oldest Druid in this Isle, Will rise the first, and kiss his vesture's hem. "

He spake; and Milcho heard, and without speechDeparted from that house. 

 A later dayWhen the wild March sunset, gone almost ere come, By glacial shower was hustled out of life, Under a blighted ash tree, near his house, Thus mused the man: "Believe, or Disbelieve!The will does both; Then idiot who would beFor profitless belief to sell himself?Yet disbelief not less might work our bane!For, I remember, once a sickly slaveIll shepherded my flock: I spake him plain;'When next, through fault of thine, the midnight wolfWorries my sheep, on yonder tree you hang:'The blear-eyed idiot looked into my face, And smiled his disbelief. On that day weekTwo lambs lay dead. I hanged him on a tree. What tree? this tree! Why, this is passing strange!For, three nights since, I saw him in a dream:Weakling as wont he stood beside my bed, And, clutching at his wrenched and livid throat, Spake thus, 'Belief is safest. '"

 Ceased the hailTo rattle on the ever barren boughs, And friendlier sound was heard. Beside his doorWayworn the messengers of Patrick stood, And showed the gifts, and held his missive forth. Then learned that lost one all the truth. That sageConfessed by miracles, that prophet vouchedBy warnings old, that seer by words of mightSubduing all things to himself--that priest, None other was than the uncomplaining boyFive years his slave and swineherd! In him rageBurst forth, with fear commixed, as when a beastStrains in the toils. "Can I alone stand firm?"He mused; and next, "Shall I, in mine old age, Byword become--the vassal of my slave?Shall I not rather drive him from my doorWith wolf hounds and a curse?" As thus he stoodHe marked the gifts, and bade men bare them in, And homeward signed the messengers unfed. 

But Milcho slept not all that night for thought, And, forth ere sunrise issuing, paced a moorStone-roughened like the graveyard of dead hosts, Till noontide. Sudden then he stopt, and thusDiscoursed within: "A plot from first to last, The fraudulent bondage, flight, and late return;For now I mind me of a foolish dreamChance-sent, yet drawn by him awry. One nightMethought that boy from far hills drenched in rainDashed through my halls, all fire. From hands and head, From hair and mouth, forth rushed a flaming fireWhite, like white light, and still that mighty flameInto itself took all. With hands outstretchedI spurned it. On my cradled daughters twainIt turned, and they were ashes. Then in burstThe south wind through the portals of the house, Tempest rose-sweet, and blew those ashes forthWide as the realm. At dawn I sought the knave;He glossed my vision thus: 'That fire is Faith -Faith in the God Triune, the God made Man, Sole light wherein I walk, and walking burn;And they that walk with me shall burn like meBy Faith. But thou that radiance wilt repel, Housed through ill-will, in Error's endless night. Not less thy little daughters shall believeWith glory and great joy; and, when they die, Report of them, like ashes blown abroad, Shall light far lands, and health to men of FaithStream from their dust. ' I drave the impostor forth:Perjured ere long he fled, and now returnsTo reap a harvest from his master's dream" -Thus mused he, while black shadow swept the moor. So day by day darker was Milcho's heart, Till, with the endless brooding on one thought, Began a little flaw within that brainWhose strength was still his boast. Was no friend nigh?Alas! what friend had he? All men he scorned;Knew truly none. In each, the best and sweetestNear him had ever pined, like stunted growthDwarfed by some glacier nigh. The fifth day dawned:And inly thus he muttered, darkly pale:"Five days; in three the messengers returned:In three--in two--the Accursed will be here, Or blacken yonder Sleemish with his crewDescending. Then those idiots, kerne and slave -The mighty flame into itself takes all -Full swarm will fly to meet him! Fool! fool! fool!The man hath snared me with those gifts he sent;Else had I barred the mountains: now 'twere late, My people in revolt. Whole weeks his hordeWill throng my courts, demanding board and bed, With hosts by Dichu sent to flout my pang, And sorer make my charge. My granaries sacked, My larder lean as ship six months ice-bound, The man I hate will rise, and open shakeThe invincible banner of his mad new Faith, Till all that hear him shout, like winds or waves, Belief; and I be left sole recusant;Or else perhaps that Fury who prevailsAt times o'er knee-joints of reluctant men, By magic imped, may crumble into dustBy force my disbelief. "

 He raised his head, And lo, before him lay the sea far ebbedSad with a sunset all but gone: the reedsSighed in the wind, and sighed a sweeter voiceOft heard in childhood--now the last time heard:"Believe!" it whispered. Vain the voice! That hour, Stirred from the abyss, the sins of all his lifeAround him rose like night--not one, but all -That earliest sin which, like a dagger, piercedHis mother's heart; that worst, when summer drouthParched the brown vales, and infants thirsting died, While from full pail he gorged his swine with milkAnd flung the rest away. Sin-walled he stood:God's Angels could not pierce that cincture dread, Nor he look through it. Yet he dreamed he saw:His life he saw; its labours, and its gainsHard won, long-waited, wonder of his foes;The manifold conquests of a Will oft tried;Victory, Defeat, Retrieval; last, that sceneAround him spread: the wan sea and grey rocks;And he was 'ware that on that self-same ledgeHe, Milcho, thirty years gone by, had stood, While pirates pushed to sea, leaving forlornOn that wild shore a scared and weeping boy, (His price two yearling kids and half a sheep)Thenceforth his slave. 

 Not sole he mused that hour. The Demon of his House beside him stoodUpon that iron coast, and whispered thus:"Masterful man art thou for wit and strength;Yet girl-like standst thou brooding! Weave a snare!He comes for gold, this prophet. All thou hastHeap in thy house; then fire it! In far landsBuild thee new fortunes. Frustrate thus shall heStare but on stones, his destined vassal scaped. "

So fell the whisper; and as one who hearsAnd does, the stiff-necked man obsequious bentHis strong will to a stronger, and returned, And gave command to heap within his houseHis stored up wealth--yea, all things that were his -Borne from his ships and granaries. It was done. Then filled he his huge hall with resinous beamsSeasoned for far sea-voyage, and the ribsOf ocean-sundering vessels deep in sea;Which ended, to his topmost tower he clomb, And therein sat two days, with face to south, Clutching a brand; and oft through clenched teeth hissed, Hissed long, "Because I will to disbelieve. " But ere the second sunset two brief hours, Where comfortless leaned forth that western ridgeLong patched with whiteness by half melted snows, There crept a gradual shadow. Soon the manDiscerned its import. There they hung--he saw them -That company detested; hung as whenStorm-boding cloud on mountain hangs half wayScarce moving, and in fear the shepherd cries, "Would that the worse were come!" So dread to himThose Heralds of fair Peace! He gazed upon themWith blood-shot eyes; a moment passed: he stoodSole in his never festal hall, and flungHis lighted brand into that pile far forth, And smiled that smile men feared to see, and turned, And issuing faced the circle of his serfsThat wondering gathered round in thickening mass, Eyeing that unloved House. 

 His place he choseBeside that blighted ash, fronting those towersPalled with red smoke, and muttered low, "So be it!Worse to be vassal to the man I hate, "With hueless lips. His whole white face that hourWas scorched; and blistered was the dead tree's bark;Yet there he stood; and in that fiery lightHis life, no more triumphant, passed once moreIn underthought before him, while on spreadThe swift, contagious madness of that fire, And muttered thus, not knowing it, the man, "The mighty flame into itself takes all, "Mechanic iteration. Not aloneStood he that hour. The Demon of his HouseBy him once more and closer than of old, Stood, whispering thus, "Thy game is now played out;Henceforth a byword art thou--rich in youth -Self-beggared in old age. " And as the windOf that shrill whisper cut his listening soul, The blazing roof fell in on all his wealth, Hard-won, long-waited, wonder of his foes;And, loud as laughter from ten thousand fiends, Up rushed the fire. With arms outstretched he stood;Stood firm; then forward with a wild beast's cryHe dashed himself into that terrible flame, And vanished as a leaf. 

 Upon a spurOf Sleemish, eastward on its northern slope, Stood Patrick and his brethren, travel-worn, When distant o'er the brown and billowy moorRose the white smoke, that changed ere long to flame, From site unknown; for by the seaward crestThat keep lay hidden. Hands to forehead raised, Wondering they watched it. One to other spake:"The huge Dalriad forest is afireEre melted are the winter's snows!" Another, "In vengeance o'er the ocean Creithe or Pict, Favoured by magic, or by mist, have crossed, And fired old Milcho's ships. " But Patrick leanedUpon his crosier, pale as the ashes wanLeft by a burned out city. Long he stoodSilent, till, sudden, fiercelier soared the flameReddening the edges of a cloud low hung;And, after pause, vibration slow and sternTroubling the burthened bosom of the air, Upon a long surge of the northern windCame up--a murmur as of wintry seasFar borne at night. All heard that sound; all felt it;One only know its import. Patrick turned;"The deed is done: the man I would have savedIs dead, because he willed to disbelieve. "

Yet Patrick grieved for Milcho, nor that hourPassed further north. Three days on Sleemish hillHe dwelt in prayer. To Tara's royal hallsThen turned he, and subdued the royal houseAnd host to Christ, save Erin's king, Laeghaire. But Milcho's daughters twain to Christ were bornIn baptism, and each Emeria named:Like rose-trees in the garden of the LordGrew they and flourished. Dying young, one graveReceived them at Cluanbrain. Healing thenceTo many from their relics passed; to moreThe spirit's happier healing, Love and Faith. 

SAINT PATRICK AT TARA. 

The King is wroth with a greater wrath Than the wrath of Nial or the wrath of Conn!From his heart to his brow the blood makes path, And hangs there, a red cloud, beneath his crown. 

Is there any who knows not, from south to north, That Laeghaire to-morrow his birthday keeps?No fire may be lit upon hill or hearthTill the King's strong fire in its kingly mirth Up rushes from Tara's palace steeps!

Yet Patrick has lighted his Paschal fire At Slane--it is holy Saturday -And blessed his font 'mid the chaunting choir! From hill to hill the flame makes way;While the king looks on it his eyes with ire Flash red, like Mars, under tresses grey. 

The chiefs and the captains with drawn swords rose: To avenge their Lord and the Realm they swore; The Druids rose and their garments tore;"The strangers to us and our Gods are foes!"Then the king to Patrick a herald sent, Who spake, 'Come up at noon and showWho lit thy fire and with what intent: These things the great king Laeghaire would know. "

But Laeghaire had hid twelve men by the way, Who swore by the sun the Saint to slay. 

When the waters of Boyne began to bask And fields to flash in the rising sunThe Apostle Evangelist kept his Pasch, And Erin her grace baptismal won:Her birthday it was: his font the rock, He blessed the land, and he blessed his flock. 

Then forth to Tara he fared full lowly: The Staff of Jesus was in his hand:Twelve priests paced after him chaunting slowly, Printing their steps on the dewy land. It was the Resurrection morn;The lark sang loud o'er the springing corn;The dove was heard, and the hunter's horn. 

The murderers twelve stood by on the way;Yet they saw nought save the lambs at play. 

A trouble lurked in the monarch's eyeWhen the guest he counted for dead drew nigh:He sat in state at his palace gate; His chiefs and nobles were ranged around;The Druids like ravens smelt some far fate; Their eyes were gloomily bent on the ground. Then spake Laeghaire: "He comes--beware!Let none salute him, or rise from his chair!"

Like some still vision men see by night, Mitred, with eyes of serene command, Saint Patrick moved onward in ghostly white: The Staff of Jesus was in his hand;Twelve priests paced after him unafraid, And the boy, Benignus, more like a maid;Like a maid just wedded he walked and smiled, To Christ new plighted, that priestly child. 

They entered the circle; their anthem ceased; The Druids their eyes bent earthward still:On Patrick's brow the glory increased As a sunrise brightening some sea-beat hill. The warriors sat silent: strange awe they felt:The chief bard, Dubtach, rose and knelt:

Then Patrick discoursed of the things to beWhen time gives way to eternity, Of kingdoms that fall, which are dreams not things, And the Kingdom built by the King of kings. Of Him he spake who reigns from the Cross;Of the death which is life, and the life which is loss;How all things were made by the Infant Lord, And the small hand the Magian kings adored. His voice sounded on like a throbbing floodThat swells all night from some far-off wood, And when it ended--that wondrous strain -Invisible myriads breathed "Amen!"

While he spake, men say that the refluent tide On the shore by Colpa ceased to sink:They say that the white stag by Mulla's side O'er the green marge bending forbore to drink:That the Brandon eagle forgat to soar; That no leaf stirred in the wood by Lee:Such stupor hung the island o'er, For none might guess what the end would be. 

Then whispered the king to a chief close by, "It were better for me to believe than die!"

Yet the king believed not; but ordinance gave That whoso would might believe that word:So the meek believed, and the wise, and brave, And Mary's Son as their God adored. And the Druids, because they could answer nought, Bowed down to the Faith the stranger brought. That day on Erin God poured His Spirit:Yet none like the chief of the bards had merit, Dubtach! He rose and believed the first, Ere the great light yet on the rest had burst. 

SAINT PATRICK AND THE TWO PRINCESSES. 

FEDELM "THE RED ROSE, " AND ETHNA "THE FAIR. "

Like two sister fawns that leap, Borne, as though on viewless wings, Down bosky glade and ferny steep To quench their thirst at silver springs, From Cruachan palace through gorse and heather, Raced the Royal Maids together. Since childhood thus the twain had rushed Each morn to Clebach's fountain-cellEre earliest dawn the East had flushed To bathe them in its well:Each morn with joy their young hearts tingled; Each morn as, conquering cloud or mist, The first beam with the wavelet mingled, Mouth to mouth they kissed!

They stand by the fount with their unlooped hair -A hand each raises--what see they there?A white Form seated on Clebach stone; A kinglike presence: the monks stood nigh:Fronting the dawn he sat alone; On the star of morning he fixed his eye:That crozier he grasped shone bright; but brighterThe sunrise flashed from Saint Patrick's mitre!They gazed without fear. To a kingdom dear From the day of their birth those Maids had been;Of wrong they had heard; but it came not near; They hoped they were dear to the Power unseen. They knelt when that Vision of Peace they saw;Knelt, not in fear, but in loving awe:The "Red Rose" bloomed like that East afar;The "Fair One" shone like that morning star. 

Then Patrick rose: no word he said, But thrice he made the sacred Sign:At the first, men say that the demons fled; At the third flocked round them the Powers divineUnseen. Like children devout and good, Hands crossed on their bosoms, the maidens stood. 

"Blessed and holy! This land is Eire:Whence come ye to her, and the king our sire?"

"We come from a Kingdom far off yet nearWhich the wise love well, and the wicked fear:We come with blessing and come with ban, We come from the Kingdom of God with man. "

"Whose is that Kingdom? And say, therein Are the chiefs all brave, and the maids all fair?Is it clean from reptiles, and that thing, sin? Is it like this kingdom of King Laeghaire?"

"The chiefs of that kingdom wage war on wrong, And the clash of their swords is sweet as song;Fair are the maids, and so pure from taintThe flash of their eyes turns sinner to saint;There reptile is none, nor the ravening beast;There light has no shadow, no end the feast. "

"But say, at that feast hath the poor man place? Is reverence there for the old head hoar?For the cripple that never might join the race? For the maimed that fought, and can fight no more?"

"Reverence is there for the poor and meek;And the great King kisses the worn, pale cheek;And the King's Son waits on the pilgrim guest;And the Queen takes the little blind child to her breast:There with a crown is the just man crowned;But the false and the vengeful are branded and boundIn knots of serpents, and flung without pityFrom the bastions and walls of the saintly City. "

Then the eyes of the Maidens grew dark, as though That judgment of God had before them passed:And the two sweet faces grew dim with woe; But the rose and the radiance returned at last. 

"Are gardens there? Are there streams like ours? Is God white-headed, or youthful and strong?Hang there the rainbows o'er happy bowers? Are there sun and moon and the thrush's song?"

"They have gardens there without noise or strife, And there is the Tree of immortal Life:Four rivers circle that blissful bound;And Spirits float o'er it, and Spirits go round:There, set in the midst, is the golden throne;And the Maker of all things sits thereon:A rainbow o'er-hangs him; and lo! thereinThe beams are His Holy Ones washed from sin. "

As he spake, the hearts of the Maids beat time To music in heaven of peace and love;And the deeper sense of that lore sublime Came out from within them, and down from above;By degrees came down; by degrees came out:Who loveth, and hopeth, not long shall doubt. 

"Who is your God? Is love on His brow?Oh how shall we love Him and find Him? How?"The pure cheek flamed like the dawn-touched dew:There was silence: then Patrick began anew. The princes who ride in your father's trainHave courted your love, but sued in vain; -Look up, O Maidens; make answer free:What boon desire you, and what would you be?"

"Pure we would be as yon wreath of foam, Or the ripple which now yon sunbeams smite:And joy we would have, and a songful home; And one to rule us, and Love's delight. "

"In love God fashioned whatever is, The hills, and the seas, and the skiey fires;For love He made them, and endless blis Sustains, enkindles, uplifts, inspires:That God is Father, and Son, and Spirit;And the true and spotless His peace inherit:And God made man, with his great sad heart, That hungers when held from God apart. Your sire is a King on earth: but IWould mate you to One who is Lord on high:There bride is maid: and her joy shall stand, For the King's Son hath laid on her head His hand. "As he spake, the eyes of that lovely twain Grew large with a tearful but glorious light, Like skies of summer late cleared by rain, When the full-orbed moon will be soon in sight. 

"That Son of the King--is He fairest of men? That mate whom He crowns--is she bright and blest?Does she chase the red deer at His side through the glen? Does she charm Him with song to His noontide rest?"

"That King's Son strove in a long, long war:His people He freed; yet they wounded Him sore;And still in His hands, and His feet, and His side, The scars of His sorrow are 'graved, deep-dyed. "

Then the breasts of the Maidens began to heave Like harbour waves when beyond the barThe great waves gather, and wet winds grieve, And the roll of the tempest is heard afar. 

"We will kiss, we will kiss those bleeding feet; On the bleeding hands our tears shall fall;And whatever on earth is dear or sweet, For that wounded heart we renounce them all. 

"Show us the way to His palace-gate:" -"That way is thorny, and steep, and straight;By none can His palace-gate be seen, Save those who have washed in the waters clean. "

They knelt; on their heads the wave he pouredThrice in the name of the Triune Lord:And he signed their brows with the Sign adored. On Fedelm the "Red Rose, " on Ethna "The Fair, "God's dew shone bright in that morning air:Some say that Saint Agnes, 'twixt sister and sister, As the Cross touched each, bent over and kissed her. 

Then sang God's new-born Creatures, "Behold! We see God's City from heaven draw nigh:But we thirst for the fountains divine and cold: We must see the great King's Son, or die!Come, Thou that com'st! Our wish is this, That the body might die, and the soul, set free, Swell out, like an infant's lips, to the kiss Of the Lover who filleth infinity!"

"The City of God, by the water's grace, Ye see: alone, they behold His Face, Who have washed in the baths of Death their eyes, And tasted His Eucharist Sacrifice. "

"Give us the Sacrifice!" Each bright head Bent toward it as sunflowers bend to the sun:They ate; and the blood from the warm cheek fled: The exile was over: the home was won:A starry darkness o'erflowed their brain: Far waters beat on some heavenly shore:Like the dying away of a low, sweet strain, The young life ebbed, and they breathed no more:In death they smiled, as though on the breastOf the Mother Maid they had found their rest. 

The rumour spread: beside the bier The King stood mute, and his chiefs and court:The Druids dark-robed drew surlily near, And the Bards storm-hearted, and humbler sort:The "Staff of Jesus" Saint Patrick raised: Angelic anthems above them swept:There were that muttered; there were that praised: But none who looked on that marvel wept. 

For they lay on one bed, like Brides new-wed, By Clebach well; and, the dirge days over, On their smiling faces a veil was spread, And a green mound raised that bed to cover. Such were the ways of those ancient days - To Patrick for aye that grave was given;And above it he built a church in their praise; For in them had Eire been spoused to heaven. 

SAINT PATRICK AND THE CHILDREN OF FOCHLUT WOOD. 

ARGUMENT. 

Saint Patrick makes way into Fochlut wood by the sea, the oldest of Erin's forests, whence there had been borne unto him, then in a distant land, the Children's Wail from Erin. He meets there two young Virgins, who sing a dirge of man's sorrowful condition. Afterwards they lead him to the fortress of the king, their father. There are sung two songs, a song of Vengeance and a song of Lament; which ended, Saint Patrick makes proclamation of the Advent and of the Resurrection. The king and all his chiefs believe with full contentment. 

One day as Patrick sat upon a stoneJudging his people, Pagan babes flocked round, All light and laughter, angel-like of mien, Sueing for bread. He gave it, and they ate:Then said he, "Kneel;" and taught them prayer: but lo!Sudden the stag hounds' music dinned the wind;They heard; they sprang; they chased it. Patrick spake;"It was the cry of children that I heardBorne from the black wood o'er the midnight seas:Where are those children? What avails though KingsHave bowed before my Gospel, and in aweNations knelt low, unless I set mine eyesOn Fochlut Wood?" Thus speaking, he arose, And, journeying with the brethren toward the West, Fronted the confine of that forest old. 

Then entered they that darkness; and the woodClosed as a cavern round them. O'er its roofLeaned roof of cloud, and hissing ran the wind, And moaned the trunks for centuries hollowed outYet stalwart still. There, rooted in the rock, Stood the huge growths, by us unnamed, that frownedPerhaps on Partholan, the parricide, When that first Pagan settler fugitiveLanded, a man foredoomed. Between the stemsThe ravening beast now glared, now fled. Red leaves, The last year's phantoms, rattled here and there. The oldest wood that ever grew in EireWas Fochlut Wood, and gloomiest. Spirits of IllMade it their palace, and its labyrinths sowedWith poisons. Many a cave, with horrors throngedWithin it yawned, and many a chasm unseenWaited the unwary treader. Cry of wolfPierced the cold air, and gibbering ghosts were heard;And o'er the black marsh passed those wandering lightsThat lure lost feet. A thousand pathways woundFrom gloom to gloom. One only led to light:That path was sharp with flints. 

 Then Patrick mused, "O life of man, how dark a wood art thou!Erring how many track thee till Despair, Sad host, receives them in his crypt-like porchAt nightfall. " Mute he paced. The brethren feared;And fearing, knelt to God. Made strong by prayerWestward once more they trod that dark, sharp wayTill deeper gloom announced the night, then sleptGuarded by angels. But the Saint all nightWatched, strong in prayer. The second day still onThey fared, like mariners o'er strange seas borne, That keep in mist their soundings when the rocksVex the dark strait, and breakers roar unseen. At last Benignus cried, "To God be praise!He sends us better omens. See! the mossBrightens the crag!" Ere long another spake:"The worst is past! This freshness in the airWafts us a welcome from the great salt sea;Fair spreads the fern: green buds are on the spray, And violets throng the grass. "

 A few steps moreBrought them to where, with peaceful gleam, there spreadA forest pool that mirrored yew trees twainWith beads like blood-drops hung. A sunset flashKindled a glory in the osiers brownEncircling that still water. From the reedsA sable bird, gold-circled, slowly rose;But when the towering tree-tops he outsoared, Eastward a great wind swept him as a leaf. Serenely as he rose a music softSwelled from afar; but, as that storm o'ertook him, The music changed to one on-rushing noteO'ertaken by a second; both, ere long, Blended in wail unending. Patrick's brow, Listening that wail, was altered, and he spake:"These were the Voices that I heard when stoodBy night beside me in that southern landGod's angel, girt for speed. Letters he bareUnnumbered, full of woes. He gave me one, Inscribed, 'The Wailing of the Irish Race;'And as I read that legend on mine earForth from a mighty wood on Erin's coastThere rang the cry of children, 'Walk once moreAmong us; bring us help!'" Thus Patrick spake:Then towards that wailing paced with forward head. 

Ere long they came to where a river broad, Swiftly amid the dense trees winding, brimmedThe flower-enamelled marge, and onward boreGreen branches 'mid its eddies. On the bankTwo virgins stood. Whiter than earliest streakOf matin pearl dividing dusky cloudsTheir raiment; and, as oft in silent woodsWhite beds of wind-flower lean along the earth-breeze, So on the river-breeze that raiment wanShivered, back blown. Slender they stood and tall, Their brows with violets bound; while shone, beneath, The dark blue of their never-tearless eyes. Then Patrick, "For the sake of Him who laysHis blessing on the mourners, O ye maids, Reveal to me your grief--if yours late sent, Or sped in careless childhood. " And the maids:"Happy whose careless childhood 'scaped the wound:"Then she that seemed the saddest added thus:"Stranger! this forest is no roof of joy, Nor we the only mourners; neither fallBitterer the widow's nor the orphan's tearsNow than of old; nor sharper than long sinceThat loss which maketh maiden widowhood. In childhood first our sorrow came. One eveWithin our foster-parents' low-roofed houseThe winter sunset from our bed had waned:I slept, and sleeping dreamed. Beside the bedThere stood a lovely Lady crowned with stars;A sword went through her heart. Down from that swordBlood trickled on the bed, and on the ground. Sorely I wept. The Lady spake: 'My child, Weep not for me, but for thy country weep;Her wound is deeper far than mine. Cry loud!The cry of grief is Prayer. ' I woke, all tears;And lo! my little sister, stiff and cold, Sat with wide eyes upon the bed upright:That starry Lady with the bleeding heartShe, too, had seen, and heard her. Clamour vastRang out; and all the wall was fiery red;And flame was on the sea. A hostile clanLanding in mist, had fired our ships and town, Our clansmen absent on a foray far, And stricken many an old man, many a boyTo bondage dragged. Oh night with blood redeemed!Upon the third day o'er the green waves rushedThe vengeance winged, with axe and torch, to quitWrong with new wrong, and many a time since then. That night sad women on the sea sands toiled, Drawing from wreck and ruin, beam or plankTo shield their babes. Our foster-parents slain, Unheeded we, the children of the chief, Roamed the great forest. There we told our dreamTo children likewise orphaned. Sudden fearSmote them as though themselves had dreamed that dream, And back from them redoubled upon us;Until at last from us and them rang out -The dark wood heard it, and the midnight sea -A great and bitter cry. "

 "That cry went up, O children, to the heart of God; and HeDown sent it, pitying, to a far-off land, And on into my heart. By that first pangWhich left the eternal pallor in your cheeks, O maids, I pray you, sing once more that songYe sang but late. I heard its long last note:Fain would I hear the song that such death died. "

They sang: not scathless those that sing such song!Grief, their instructress, of the Muses chiefTo hearts by grief unvanquished, to their heartsHad taught a melody that neither sparedSinger nor listener. Pale when they began, Paler it left them. He not less was paleWho, out of trance awaking, thanked them thus:"Now know I of that sorrow in you fixed;What, and how great it is, and bless that PowerWho called me forth from nothing for your sakes, And sent me to this wood. Maidens, lead on!A chieftain's daughters ye; and he, your sire, And with him she who gave you your sweet looks(Sadder perchance than you in songless age)They, too, must hear my tidings. Once a PrinceWent solitary from His golden throne, Tracking the illimitable wastes, to findOne wildered sheep, the meanest of the flock, And on His shoulders bore it to that HouseWhere dwelt His Sire. 'Good Shepherd' was His Name. My tidings these: heralds are we, footsore, That bring the heart-sore comfort. "

 On they paced, On by the rushing river without words. Beside the elder sister Patrick walked, Benignus by the younger. Fair her face;Majestic his, though young. Her looks were sadAnd awe-struck; his, fulfilled with secret joy, Sent forth a gleam as when a morn-touched bayThrough ambush shines of woodlands. Soon they stoodWhere sea and river met, and trod a pathWet with salt spray, and drank the clement breeze, And saw the quivering of the green gold wave, And, far beyond, that fierce aggressor's bourn, Fair haunt for savage race, a purple ridgeBy rainy sunbeam gemmed from glen to glen, Dim waste of wandering lights. The sun, half risen, Lay half sea-couched. A neighbouring height sent forthWelcome of baying hounds; and, close at hand, They reached the chieftain's keep. 

 A white-haired manAnd long since blind, there sat he in his hall, Untamed by age. At times a fiery gleamFlashed from his sightless eyes; and oft the redBurned on his forehead, while with splenetic speechStirred by ill news or memory stung, he bannedFoes and false friend. Pleased by his daughters' tale, At once he stretched his huge yet aimless handsIn welcome towards his guests. Beside him stoodHis mate of forty years by that strong armFrom countless suitors won. Pensive her face:With parted youth the confidence of youthHad left her. Beauty, too, though with remorse, Its seat had half relinquished on a cheekLong time its boast, and on that willowy form, So yielding now, where once in strength upsoaredThe queenly presence. Tenderest grace not lessHaunted her life's dim twilight--meekness, love -That humble love, all-giving, that seeks nought, Self-reverent calm, and modesty in age. She turned an anxious eye on him she loved;And, bending, kissed at times that wrinkled hand, By years and sorrows made his wife far moreThan in her nuptial bloom. These two had lostFive sons, their hope, in war. 

 That eve it chancedHigh feast was holden in the chieftain's towerTo solemnise his birthday. In they flocked, Each after each, the warriors of the clan, Not without pomp heraldic and fair stateBarbaric, yet beseeming. Unto eachSeat was assigned for deeds or lineage old, And to the chiefs allied. Where each had placeAbove him waved his banner. Not for thisUnhonoured were the pilgrim guests. They satWhere, fed by pinewood and the seeded cone, The loud hearth blazed. Bathed were the wearied feetBy maidens of the place and nurses grey, And dried in linen fragrant still with flowersOf years when those old nurses too were fair. And now the board was spread, and carved the meat, And jests ran round, and many a tale was told, Some rude, but none opprobrious. Banquet done, Page-led the harper entered, old, and blind:The noblest ranged his chair, and spread the mat;The loveliest raised his wine cup, one light handLaid on his shoulder, while the golden hairCommingled with the silver. "Sing, " they cried, "The death of Deirdre; or that desolate sireThat slew his son, unweeting; or that QueenWho from her palace pacing with fixed eyesStared at those heads in dreadful circle ranged, The heads of traitor-friends that slew her lordThen mocked the friend they murdered. Leal and true, The Bard who wrought that vengeance!" Thus he sang:

 THE LAY OF THE HEADS. 

 The Bard returns to a stricken house: What shape is that he rears on high? A withe of the Willow, set round with Heads: They blot that evening sky. 

 A Widow meets him at the gates: What fixes thus that Widow's eye? She names the name; but she sees not the man, Nor beyond him that reddening sky. 

 "Bard of the Brand, thou Foster-Sire Of him they slew--their friend--my lord - What Head is that--the first--that frowns Like a traitor self-abhorred?"

 "Daughter of Orgill wounded sore, Thou of the fateful eye serene, Fergus is he. The feast he made That snared thy Cuchullene. "

 "What Head is that--the next--half-hid In curls full lustrous to behold? They mind me of a hand that once I saw amid their gold. "

 "'Tis Manadh. He that by the shore Held rule, and named the waves his steeds: 'Twas he that struck the stroke accursed - Headless this day he bleeds. "

 "What Head is that close by--so still, With half-closed lids, and lips that smile? Methinks I know their voice: methinks HIS wine they quaffed erewhile!"

 "'Twas he raised high that severed head: Thy head he raised, my Foster-Child! That was the latest stroke I struck: I struck that stroke, and smiled. "

 "What Heads are those--that twain, so like, Flushed as with blood by yon red sky?" "Each unto each, HIS Head they rolled; Red on that grass they lie. "

 "That paler twain, which face the East?" "Laegar is one; the other Hilt; Silent they watched the sport! they share The doom, that shared the guilt. "

 "Bard of the Vengeance! well thou knew'st Blood cries for blood! O kind, and true, How many, kith and kin, have died That mocked the man they slew?"

 "O Woman of the fateful eye, The untrembling voice, the marble mould, Seven hundred men, in house or field, For the man they mocked, lie cold. "

 "Their wives, thou Bard? their wives? their wives? Far off, or nigh, through Inisfail, This hour what are they? Stand they mute Like me; or make their wail?"

 "O Eimer! women weep and smile; The young have hope, the young that mourn; But I am old; my hope was he: He that can ne'er return!

 "O Conal! lay me in his grave: Oh! lay me by my husband's side: Oh! lay my lips to his in death;" She spake, and, standing, died. 

 She fell at last--in death she fell - She lay, a black shade, on the ground; And all her women o'er her wailed Like sea-birds o'er the drowned. 

 Thus to the blind chief sang that harper blind, Hymning the vengeance; and the great hall roaredWith wrath of those wild listeners. Many a heelSmote the rough stone in scorn of them that diedNot three days past, so seemed it! Direful hands, Together dashed, thundered the Avenger's praise. At last the tide of that fierce tumult ebbedO'er shores of silence. From her lowly seatBeside her husband's spake the gentle Queen:"My daughters, from your childhood ye were stillA voice of music in your father's house -Not wrathful music. Sing that song ye madeOr found long since, and yet in forest sing, If haply Power Unknown may hear and help. "She spake, and at her word her daughters sang. 

"Lost, lost, all lost! O tell us what is lost?Behold, this too is hidden! Let him speak, If any knows. The wounded deer can turnAnd see the shaft that quivers in its flank;The bird looks back upon its broken wing;But we, the forest children, only knowOur grief is infinite, and hath no name. What woman-prophet, shrouded in dark veil, Whispered a Hope sadder than Fear? Long since, What Father lost His children in the wood?Some God? And can a God forsake? PerchanceHis face is turned to nobler worlds new-made;Perchance his palace owns some later brideThat hates the dead Queen's children, and with charmPrevails that they are exiled from his eyes, The exile's winter theirs--the exile's song. 

"Blood, ever blood! The sword goes raging onO'er hill and moor; and with it, iron-willed, Drags on the hand that holds it and the manTo slake its ceaseless thirst for blood of men;Fire takes the little cot beside the mere, And leaps upon the upland village: fireUp clambers to the castle on the crag;And whom the fire has spared the hunger kills;And earth draws all into her thousand graves. 

"Ah me! the little linnet knows the branchWhereon to build; the honey-pasturing beeKnows the wild heath, and how to shape its cell;Upon the poisonous berry no bird feeds;So well their mother, Nature, helps her own. Mothers forsake not;--can a Father hate?Who knows but that He yearns--that Sire Unseen -To clasp His children? All is sweet and sane, All, all save man! Sweet is the summer flower, The day-long sunset of the autumnal woods;Fair is the winter frost; in spring the heartShakes to the bleating lamb. O then what thingMight be the life secure of man with man, The infant's smile, the mother's kiss, the loveOf lovers, and the untroubled wedded home?This might have been man's lot. Who sent the woe?Who formed man first? Who taught him first the ill way?One creature, only, sins; and he the highest!

"O Higher than the highest! Thou Whose handMade us--Who shaped'st that hand Thou wilt not clasp, The eye Thou open'st not, the sealed-up ear!Be mightier than man's sin: for lo, how manSeeks Thee, and ceases not: through noontide caveAnd dark air of the dawn-unlighted peakTo Thee how long he strains the weak, worn eyeIf haply he might see Thy vesture's hemOn farthest winds receding! Yea, how oftAgainst the blind and tremulous wall of cliffTormented by sea surge, he leans his earIf haply o'er it name of Thine might creep;Or bends above the torrent-cloven abyss, If falling flood might lisp it! Power unknown!He hears it not: Thou hear'st his beating heartThat cries to Thee for ever! From the veilThat shrouds Thee, from the wood, the cloud, the void, O, by the anguish of all lands evoked, Look forth! Though, seeing Thee, man's race should die, One moment let him see Thee! Let him layAt least his forehead on Thy foot in death!"

 So sang the maidens: but the warriors frowned;And thus the blind king muttered, "Bootless weedIs plaint where help is none!" But wives and maidsAnd the thick-crowding poor, that many a timeHad wailed on war-fields o'er their brethren slain, Went down before that strain as river reedsBefore strong wind, went down when o'er them passedIts last word, "Death;" and grief's infection spreadFrom least to first; and weeping filled the hall. Then on Saint Patrick fell compassion great;He rose amid that concourse, and with voiceAnd words now lost, alas, or all but lost, Such that the chief of sight amerced, beheldThe imagined man before him crowned with light, Proclaimed that God who hideth not His face, His people's King and Father; open flungThe portals of His realm, that inward rolled, With music of a million singing spheresCommanded all to enter. Who was HeWho called the worlds from nought? His name is Love!In love He made those worlds. They have not lost, The sun his splendour, nor the moon her light:THAT miracle survives. Alas for thee!Thou better miracle, fair human love, That splendour shouldst have been of home and hearth, Now quenched by mortal hate! Whence come our woesBut from our lusts? O desecrated lawBy God's own finger on our hearts engraved, How well art thou avenged! No dream it was, That primal greatness, and that primal peace:Man in God's image at the first was made, A God to rule below!

 He told it all -Creation, and that Sin which marred its face;And how the great Creator, creature made, God--God for man incarnate--died for man:Dead, with His Cross he thundered on the gatesOf Death's blind Hades. Then, with hands outstretchedHis Holy Ones that, in their penance prisonFrom hope in Him had ceased not, to the lightFlashed from His bleeding hands and branded browThrough darkness soared: they reign with Him in heaven:Their brethren we, the children of one Sire. Long time he spake. The winds forbore their wail;The woods were hushed. That wondrous tale complete, Not sudden fell the silence; for, as whenA huge wave forth from ocean toiling mountsHigh-arched, in solid bulk, the beach rock-strewn, Burying his hoar head under echoing cliffs, And, after pause, refluent to sea returnsNot all at once is stillness, countless rillsOr devious winding down the steep, or borneIn crystal leap from sea-shelf to sea-well, And sparry grot replying; gradual thusWith lessening cadence sank that great discourse, While round him gazed Saint Patrick, now the oldRegarding, now the young, and flung on eachIn turn his boundless heart, and gazing longedAs only Apostolic heart can longTo help the helpless. 

 "Fair, O friends, the bournWe dwell in! Holy King makes happy land:Our King is in our midst. He gave us gifts;Laws that are Love, the sovereignty of Truth. What, sirs, ye knew Him not! But ye by signsForesaw His coming, as, when buds are redYe say, 'The spring is nigh us. ' Him, unknown, Each loved who loved his brother! Shepherd youths, Who spread the pasture green beneath your lambsAnd freshened it with snow-fed stream and mist?Who but that Love unseen? Grey mariners, Who lulled the rough seas round your midnight nets, And sent the landward breeze? Pale sufferers wan, Rejoice! His are ye; yea, and His the most!Have ye not watched the eagle that upstirsHer nest, then undersails her falling broodAnd stays them on her plumes, and bears them upTill, taught by proof, they learn their unguessed powersAnd breast the storm? Thus God stirs up His people;Thus proves by pain. Ye too, O hearths well-loved!How oft your sin-stained sanctities ye mourned!Wives! from the cradle reigns the Bethelem Babe!Maidens! henceforth the Virgin Mother spreadsHer shining veil above you!

 "Speak aloud, Chieftains world-famed! I hear the ancient bloodThat leaps against your hearts! What? Warriors ye!Danger your birthright, and your pastime death!Behold your foes! They stand before you plain:Ill passions, base ambitions, falsehood, hate:Wage war on these! A King is in your host!His hands no roses plucked but on the Cross:He came not hand of man in woman's tasksTo mesh. In woman's hand, in childhood's hand, Much more in man's, He lodged His conquering sword;Them too His soldiers named, and vowed to war. Rise, clan of Kings, rise, champions of man's race, Heaven's sun-clad army militant on earth, One victory gained, the realm decreed is ours. The bridal bells ring out, for Low with HighIs wed in endless nuptials. It is past, The sin, the exile, and the grief. O man, Take thou, renewed, thy sister-mate by hand;Know well thy dignity, and hers: return, And meet once more Thy Maker, for He walksOnce more within thy garden, in the coolOf the world's eve!"

 The words that Patrick spakeWere words of power, not futile did they fall:But, probing, healed a sorrowing people's wound. Round him they stood, as oft in Grecian days, Some haughty city sieged, her penitent sonsThronging green Pnyx or templed Forum hushedHung listening on that People's one true Voice, The man that ne'er had flattered, ne'er deceived, Nursed no false hope. It was the time of Faith;Open was then man's ear, open his heart:Pride spurned not then that chiefest strength of manThe power, by Truth confronted, to believe. Not savage was that wild, barbaric race:Spirit was in them. On their knees they sank, With foreheads lowly bent; and when they roseSuch sound went forth as when late anchored fleetTouched by dawn breeze, shakes out its canvas broadAnd sweeps into new waters. Man with manClasped hands; and each in each a something sawTill then unseen. As though flesh-bound no more, Their souls had touched. One Truth, the Spirit's life, Lived in them all, a vast and common joy. And yet as when, that Pentecostal morn, Each heard the Apostle in his native tongue, So now, on each, that Truth, that Joy, that LifeShone forth with beam diverse. Deep peace to oneThose tidings seemed, a still vale after storm;To one a sacred rule, steadying the world;A third exulting saw his youthful hopeWritten in stars; a fourth triumphant hailedThe just cause, long oppressed. Some laughed, some wept:But she, that aged chieftain's mournful wifeClasped to her boding breast his hoary headLoud clamouring, "Death is dead; and not for longThat dreadful grave can part us. " Last of all, He too believed. That hoary head had shapedFull many a crafty scheme: --behind them allNature held fast her own. 

 O happy night!Back through the gloom of centuries sin-defacedWith what a saintly radiance thou dost shine!They slept not, on the loud-resounding shoreIn glory roaming. Many a feud that nightLay down in holy grave, or, mockery made, Was quenched in its own shame. Far shone the firesCrowning dark hills with gladness: soared the song;And heralds sped from coast to coast to tellHow He the Lord of all, no Power UnknownBut like a man rejoicing in his house, Ruled the glad earth. That demon-haunted wood, Sad Erin's saddest region, yet, men say, Tenderest for all its sadness, rang at lastWith hymns of men and angels. Onward sailedHigh o'er the long, unbreaking, azure wavesA mighty moon, full-faced, as though on windsOf rapture borne. With earliest red of dawnNorthward once more the winged war-ships rushedSwift as of old to that long hated shore -Not now with axe and torch. His Name they bareWho linked in one the nations. 

 On a cliffWhere Fochlut's Wood blackened the northern seaA convent rose. Therein those sisters twainWhose cry had summoned Patrick o'er the deep, Abode, no longer weepers. Pallid still, In radiance now their faces shone; and sweetTheir psalms amid the clangour of rough brine. Ten years in praise to God and good to menThat happy precinct housed them. In their mornGrief had for them her great work perfected;Their eve was bright as childhood. When the hourCame for their blissful transit, from their lipsPealed forth ere death that great triumphant chantSung by the Virgin Mother. Ages passed;And, year by year, on wintry nights, THAT songAlone the sailors heard--a cry of joy. 

SAINT PATRICK AND KING LAEGHAIRE. 

"Thou son of Calphurn, in peace go forth! This hand shall slay them whoe'er shall slay thee!The carles shall stand to their necks in earth Till they die of thirst who mock or stay thee!

"But my father, Nial, who is dead long since, Permits not me to believe thy word;For the servants of Jesus, thy heavenly Prince, Once dead, lie flat as in sleep, interred:But we are as men that through dark floods wade;We stand in our black graves undismayed;Our faces are turned to the race abhorred, And at each hand by us stand spear or sword, Ready to strike at the last great day, Ready to trample them back into clay!

"This is my realm, and men call it Eire, Wherein I have lived and live in hateLike Nial before me and Erc his sire, Of the race Lagenian, ill-named the Great!"

Thus spake Laeghaire, and his host rushed on, A river of blood as yet unshed: -At noon they fought: and at set of sun That king lay captive, that host lay dead!

The Lagenian loosed him, but bade him swear He would never demand of them Tribute more: So Laeghaire by the dread "God-Elements" swore, By the moon divine and the earth and air;He swore by the wind and the broad sunshine That circle for ever both land and sea, By the long-backed rivers, and mighty wine, By the cloud far-seeing, by herb and tree, By the boon spring shower, and by autumn's fan, By woman's breast, and the head of man, By Night and the noonday Demon he sworeHe would claim the Boarian Tribute no more. 

But with time wrath waxed; and he brake his faith:Then the dread "God-Elements" wrought his death;For the Wind and Sun-Strength by Cassi's sideCame down and smote on his head that he died. Death-sick three days on his throne he sate;Then died, as his father died, great in hate. 

They buried their king upon Tara's hill, In his grave upright--there stands he still:Upright there stands he as men that wadeBy night through a castle-moat, undismayed;On his head is the crown, the spear in his hand;And he looks to the hated Lagenian land. 

Such rites in the time of wrath and wrong Were Eire's: baptised, they were hers no longer:For Patrick had taught her his sweet new song, "Though hate is strong, yet love is stronger. "

SAINT PATRICK AND THE IMPOSTOR;

OR, MAC KYLE OF MAN. 

Mac Kyle, a child of death, dwells in a forest with other men like unto himself, that slay whom they will. Saint Patrick coming to that wood, a certain Impostor devises how he may be deceived and killed; but God smites the Impostor through his own snare, and he dies. Mac Kyle believes, and demanding penance is baptised. Afterwards he preaches in Manann {77} Isle, and becomes a great Saint. 

In Uladh, near Magh Inis, lived a chief, Fierce man and fell. From orphaned childhood heThrough lawless youth to blood-stained middle ageHad rushed as stormy morn to stormier noon, Working, except that still he spared the poor, All wrongs with iron will; a child of death. Thus spake he to his followers, while the woodsSnow-cumbered creaked, their scales of icy mailAngered by winter winds: "At last he comes, He that deceives the people with great signs, And for the tinkling of a little goldPreaches new Gods. Where rises yonder smokeBeyond the pinewood, camps this Lord of Dupes:How say ye? Shall he track o'er Uladh's plains, As o'er the land beside, his venomous way?Forth with your swords! and if that God he servesCan save him, let him prove it!"

 Dark with wrathThus spake Mac Kyle; and all his men approved, Shouting, while downward fell the snows hard-caked Loosened by shockof forest-echoed hands, Save Garban. Crafty he, and full of lies, That thing which Patrick hated. Sideway firstGlancing, as though some secret foe were nigh, He spake: "Mac Kyle! a counsel for thine ear!A man of counsel I, as thou of war!The people love this stranger. Patrick slain, Their wrath will blaze against us, and demandAn ERIC for his head. Let us by craftUnravel first HIS craft: then safe our choice;We slay a traitor, or great ransom take:Impostors lack not gold. Lay me as deadUpon a bier: above me spread yon cloth, And make your wail: and when the seer draws nighWorship him, crying, 'Lo, our friend is dead!Kneel, prophet, kneel, and pray that God thou serv'stTo raise him. ' If he kneels, no prophet he, But like the race of mortals. Sweep the clothStraight from my face; then, laughing, I will rise. "

Thus counselled Garban; and the counsel pleased;Yet pleased not God. Upon a bier, branch-strewn, They laid their man, and o'er him spread a cloth;Then, moving towards that smoke behind the pines, They found the Saint and brought him to that bier, And made their moan--and Garban 'neath that clothSmiled as he heard it--"Lo, our friend is dead!Great prophet kneel; and pray the God thou serv'stTo raise him from the dead. "

 The man of GodUpon them fixed a sentence-speaking eye:"Yea! he is dead. In this ye have not lied:Behold, this day shall Garban's covering beThe covering of the dead. Remove that cloth. "

Then drew they from his face the cloth; and lo!Beneath it Garban lay, a corpse stone-cold. 

Amazement fell upon that bandit throng, Contemplating that corpse, and on Mac KyleGrief for his friend, remorse, and strong belief, A threefold power: for she that at his birth, Her brief life faithful to that Law she knew, Had died, in region where desires are crownedThat hour was strong in prayer. "From God he came, "Thus cried they; "and we worked a work accursed, Tempting God's prophet. " Patrick heard, and spake;"Not me ye tempted, but the God I serve. "At last Mac Kyle made answer: "I have sinned;I, and this people, whom I made to sin:Now therefore to thy God we yield ourselvesLiegemen henceforth, his thralls as slave to Lord, Or horse to master. That which thou command'stThat will we do. " And Patrick said, "Believe;Confess your sins; and be baptised to God, The Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit, And live true life. " Then Patrick where he stoodAbove the dead, with hands uplifted preachedTo these in anguish and in terror bowedThe tidings of great joy from Bethlehem's CribTo Calvary's Cross. Sudden upon his knees, Heart-pierced, as though he saw that Head thorn-pierced, Fell that wild chief, and was baptised to God;And, lifting up his great strong hands, while stillThe waters streamed adown his matted locks, He cried, "Alas, my master, and my sire!I sinned a mighty sin; for in my heartFixed was my purpose, soon as thou hadst knelt, To slay thee with my sword. Therefore judge thouWhat ERIC I must pay to quit my sin?"Him Patrick answered, "God shall be thy Judge:Arise, and to the seaside flee, as oneThat flies his foe. There shalt thou find a boatMade of one hide: eat nought, and nothing takeExcept one cloak alone: but in that boatSit thou, and bear the sin-mark on thy brow, Facing the waves, oarless and rudderless;And bind the boat chain thrice around thy feet, And fling the key with strength into the main, Far as thou canst: and wheresoe'er the breathOf God shall waft thee, there till death abideWorking the Will Divine. " Then spake that chief, "I, that commanded others, can obey;Such lore alone is mine: but for this manThat sinned my sin, alas, to see him thus!"To whom the Saint, "For him, when thou art gone, My prayer shall rise. If God will raise the deadHe knows: not I. "

 Then rose that chief, and rushedDown to the shore, as one that flies his foe;Nor ate, nor drank, nor spake to wife or child, But loosed a little boat, of one hide made, And sat therein, and round his ankles woundThe boat chain thrice; and flung the key far forthAbove the ridged sea foam. The Lord of allGave ordinance to the wind, and, as a leafSwift rushed that boat, oarless and rudderless, Over the on-shouldering, broad-backed, glaucous waveSlow-rising like the rising of a world, And purple wastes beyond, with funeral plumeCrested, a pallid pomp. All night the chiefUnder the roaring tempest heard the voiceThat preached the Son of Man; and when the mornShone out, his coracle drew near the surgeReboant on Manann's Isle. Not unbeheldRose it, and fell; not unregarded dancedA black spot on the inrolling ridge, then hungSuspense upon the mile-long cataractThat, overtoppling, changed grass-green to light, And drowned the shores in foam. Upon the sandsTwo white-haired Elders in the salt air knelt, Offering to God their early orisons, Coninri and Romael. Sixty yearsThese two unto a hard and stubborn raceHad preached the Word; and gaining by their toilBut thirty souls, had daily prayed their GodTo send ere yet they died some ampler arm, And reap the ill-grown harvest of their youth. Ten years they prayed, not doubting, and from God, Who hastens not, this answer had received, "Ye shall not die until ye see his face. "Therefore, each morning, peered they o'er the waves, Long-watching. These through breakers dragged the man, Their wished-for prize, half-frozen, and nigh to death, And bare him to their cell, and warmed and fed him, And heaped his couch with skins. Deep sleep he sleptTill evening lay upon the level seaWith roses strewn like bridal chamber's floor;Within it one star shone. Rested, he wokeAnd sought the shore. From earth, and sea, and sky, Then passed into his spirit the Spirit of Love;And there he vowed his vow, fierce chief no more, But soldier of the cross. 

 The weeks ran on, And daily those grey Elders ministeredGod's teaching to that chief, demanding still, "Son, understandst thou? Gird thee like a manTo clasp, and hold, the total Faith of Christ, And give us leave to die. " The months fled fast:Ere violets bloomed, he knew the creed; and whenFar heathery hills purpled the autumnal air, He sang the psalter whole. That tale he toldHad power, and Patrick's name. His strenous armLabouring with theirs, reaped harvest heavy and sound, Till wondering gazed their wearied eyes on barnsKnee-deep in grain. At last an eve there fell, When, on the shore in commune, with such mightDiscoursed that pilgrim of the things of God, Such insight calm, and wisdom reverence-born, Each on the other gazing in their heartsReceived once more an answer from the Lord, "Now is your task completed: ye shall die. "

Then on the red sand knelt those Elders twainWith hands upraised, and all their hoary hairTinged like the foam-wreaths by that setting sun, And sang their "Nunc Dimittis. " At its closeHigh on the sandhills, 'mid the tall hard grassThat sighed eternal o'er the unbounded wasteWith ceaseless yearnings like their own for deathThey found the place where first, that bark descried, Their sighs were changed to songs. That spot they marked, And said, "Our resurrection place is here:"And, on the third day dying, in that placeThe man who loved them laid them, at their headsPlanting one cross because their hearts were oneAnd one their lives. The snowy-breasted birdOf ocean o'er their undivided gravesOft flew with wailing note; but they rejoiced'Mid God's high realm glittering in endless youth. 

These two with Christ, on him, their son in ChristTheir mantle fell; and strength to him was given. Long time he toiled alone; then round him flockedHelpers from far. At last, by voice of allHe gat the Island's great episcopate, And king-like ruled the region. This is he, Mac Kyle of Uladh, bishop, and Penitent, Saint Patrick's missioner in Manann's Isle, Sinner one time, and, after sinner, SaintWorld-famous. May his prayer for sinners plead!

SAINT PATRICK AT CASHEL;

OR, THE BAPTISM OF AENGUS. 

ARGUMENT. 

Saint Patrick goes to Cashel of the Rings to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. Aengus, who reigns there, receives him with all honour. He and his people believe, and by Baptism are added unto the Church. Aengus desires to resign his sovereignty, and become a monk. The Saint suffers not this, because he had discovered by two notable signs, both at the baptism of Aengus and before it, that the Prince is of those who are called by God to rule men. 

When Patrick now o'er Ulster's forest bound, And Connact, echoing to the western wave, And Leinster, fair with hill-suspended woods, Had raised the cross, and where the deep night ruled, Splendour had sent of everlasting light, Sole peace of warring hearts, to Munster next, Thomond and Desmond, Heber's portion old, He turned; and, fired by love that mocks at restPushed on through raging storm the whole night long, Intent to hold the Annunciation FeastAt Cashel of the Kings. The royal keepHigh-seated on its Rock, as morning brokeFaced them at last; and at the selfsame hourAengus, in his father's absence lord, Rising from happy sleep and heaven-sent dreamsWent forth on duteous tasks. With sudden startThe prince stept back; for, o'er the fortress courtLike grove storm-levelled lay the idols huge, False gods and foul that long had awed the land, Prone, without hand of man. O'er-awed he gazed;Then on the air there rang a sound of hymns, And by the eastern gate Saint Patrick stood, The brethren round him. On their shaggy garbAuroral mist, struck by the rising sun, Glittered, that diamond-panoplied they seemed, And as a heavenly vision. At that sightThe youth, descending with a wildered joy, Welcomed his guests: and, ere an hour, the streetsSparkled far down like flowering meads in spring, So thronged the folk in holiday attireTo see the man far-famed. "Who spurns our gods?"Once they had cried in wrath: but, year by year, Tidings of some deliverance great and strange, Some life more noble, some sublimer hope, Some regal race enthroned beyond the grave, Had reached them from afar. The best believed, Great hearts for whom nor earthly love sufficedNor earthly fame. The meaner scoffed: yet allDesired the man. Delay had edged their thirst. 

Then Patrick, standing up among them, spake, And God was with him. Not as when loose tongueBabbles vain rumour, or the Sophist spinsThought's air-hung cobwebs gay with Fancy's dews, Spake he, but words of might, as when a manBears witness to the things which he has seen, And tells of that he knows: and as the harpAttested is by rapture of the ear, And sunlight by consenting of the eyeThat, seeing, knows it sees, and neither cravesInferior demonstration, so his wordsSelf-proved, went forth and conquered: for man's mind, Created in His image who is Truth, Challenged by truth, with recognising voiceCries out "Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone, "And cleaves thereto. In all that listening hostOne vast, dilating heart yearned to its God. Then burst the bond of years. No haunting doubtThey knew. God dropped on them the robe of TruthSun-like: down fell the many-coloured weedOf error; and, reclothed ere yet unclothed, They walked a new-born earth. The blinded PastFled, vanquished. Glorious more than strange it seemedThat He who fashioned man should come to man, And raise by ruling. They, His trumpet heard, In glory spurned demons misdeemed for gods:The great chief had returned: the clan enthralledTrod down the usurping foe. 

 Then rose the cry, "Join us to Christ!" His strong eyes on them set, Patrick replied, "Know ye what thing ye seekYe that would fain be house-mates with my King?Ye seek His cross!" He paused, then added slow:"If ye be liegeful, sirs, decree the day, His baptism shall be yours. "

 That eve, while shoneThe sunset on the green-touched woods, that, grazedBy onward flight of unalighting spring, Caught warmth yet scarcely flamed, Aengus stoodWith Patrick in a westward-facing towerWhich overlooked far regions town-besprent, And lit with winding waters. Thus he spake:"My Father! what is sovereignty of man?Say, can I shield yon host from death, from sin, Taking them up into my breast, like God?I trow not so! Mine be the lowliest placeFollowing thy King who left his Father's throneTo walk the lowliest!" Patrick answered thus:"Best lot thou choosest, son. If thine that lotThou know'st not yet; nor I. The Lord, thy God, Will teach us. "

 When the day decreed had dawnedLoud rang the bull-horn; and on every breezeFloated the banners, saffron, green, and blue;While issuing from the horizon's utmost vergeThe full-voiced People flocked. So swarmed of oldSome migratory nation, instinct-urgedTo fly their native wastes sad winter's realm;So thronged on southern slopes when, far below, Shone out the plains of promise. Bright they came!No summer sea could wear a blithsomer sheenThough every dancing crest and milky plumeRan on with rainbows braided. Minstrel songsWafted like winds those onward hosts, or swayedOr stayed them; while among them heralds passedLifting white wands of office. Foremost rodeAileel, the younger brother of the prince:He ruled a milk-white horse. Fluttered, breeze-borneHis mantle green, while all his golden hairStreamed back redundant from the ring of goldCircling his head uncovered. Loveliest lightOf innocence and joy was on that face:Full well the young maids marked it! Brighter yetBeamed he, his brother noting. On the vergeOf Cashel's Rock that hour Aengus stood, By Patrick's side. That concourse nearer nowHe gazed upon it, crying, with clasped hands, "My Father, fair is sunrise, fair the sea, The hills, the plains, the wind-stirred wood, the maid;But what is like a People onward borneIn gladness? When I see that sight, my heartExpands like palace-gates wide open flungThat say to all men, 'Enter. '" Then the SaintLaid on that royal head a hand of might, And said, "The Will of God decrees thee King!Son of this People art thou: Sire one dayThou shalt be! Son and Sire in one are King. Shepherd for God thy flock, thou Shepherd true!"He spake: that word was ratified in Heaven. 

 Meantime that multitude innumerableHad reached the Rock, and, now the winding roadIn pomp ascending, faced those fair-wrought gatesWhich, by the warders at the prince's signDrawn back, to all gave entrance. In they streamed, Filling the central courtway. Patrick stoodHigh stationed on a prostrate idol's base, In vestments of the Vigil of that FeastThe Annunciation, which with annual boonWhispers, while melting snows dilate those streamsPurer than snows, to universal earthThat Maiden Mother's joy. The Apostle watchedThe advancing throng, and gave them welcome thus;"As though into the great Triumphant Church, O guests of God, ye flock! Her place is Heaven:Sirs! we this day are militant below:Not less, advance in faith. Behold your crowns -Obedience and Endurance. "

 There and thenThe Rite began: his people's Chief and HeadBeside the font Aengus stood; his faceSweet as a child's, yet grave as front of eld:For reverence he had laid his crown aside, And from the deep hair to the unsandalled feetWas raimented in white. With mitred headAnd massive book, forward Saint Patrick leaned, Stayed by the gem-wrought crosier. Prayer on prayerWent up to God; while gift on gift from God, All Angel-like, invisibly to man, Descended. Thrice above that princely browPatrick the cleansing waters poured, and tracedThree times thereon the Venerable Sign, Naming the Name Triune. The Rite complete, Awestruck that concourse downward gazed. At lastLifting their eyes, they marked the prince's faceThat pale it was though bright, anguished and pale, While from his naked foot a blood-stream gushedAnd o'er the pavement welled. The crosier's point, Weighted with weight of all that priestly form, Had pierced it through. "Why suffer'dst thou so longThe pain in silence?" Patrick spake, heart-grieved:Smiling, Aengus answered, "O my Sire, I thought, thus called to follow Him whose feetWere pierced with nails, haply the blissful RiteBore witness to their sorrows. "

 At that wordThe large eyes of the Apostolic manGrew larger; and within them lived that lightNot fed by moon or sun, a visible flashOf that invisible lightning which from GodVibrates ethereal through the world of souls, Vivific strength of Saints. The mitred browUptowered sublime: the strong, yet wrinkled hands, Ascending, ceased not, till the crosier's headGlittered above the concourse like a star. At last his hands disparting, down he drewFrom Heaven the Royal Blessing, speaking thus:"For this cause may the blessing, Sire of kings, Cleave to thy seed forever! Spear and swordBefore them fall! In glory may the raceOf Nafrach's sons, Aengus, and Aileel, Hold sway on Cashel's summit! Be their kingsGreat-hearted men, potent to rule and guardTheir people; just to judge them; warriors strong;Sage counsellors; faithful shepherds; men of God, That so through them the everlasting KingMay flood their land with blessing. " Thus he spake;And round him all that nation said, "Amen. "

 Thus held they feast in Cashel of the KingsThat day till all that land was clothed with Christ:And when the parting came from Cashel's steepPatrick the People's Blessing thus forth sent:"The Blessing fall upon the pasture broad, On fruitful mead, and every corn-clad hill, And woodland rich with flowers that children love:Unnumbered be the homesteads, and the hearths: -A blessing on the women, and the men, On youth, and maiden, and the suckling babe:A blessing on the fruit-bestowing tree, And foodful river tide. Be true; be pure, Not living from below, but from above, As men that over-top the world. And raiseHere, on this rock, high place of idols once, A kingly church to God. The same shall standFor aye, or, wrecked, from ruin rise restored, His witness till He cometh. Over EireThe Blessing speed till time shall be no moreFrom Cashel of the Kings. "

 The Saint fared forth:The People bare him through their kingdom broadWith banner and with song; but o'er its boundThe women of that People followed stillA half day's journey with lamenting voice;Then silent knelt, lifting their babes on high;And, crowned with two-fold blessing, home returned. 

SAINT PATRICK AND THE CHILDLESS MOTHER. 

ARGUMENT. 

Saint Patrick finds an aged Pagan woman making great lamentation above a tomb which she believes to be that of her son. He kneels beside her in prayer, while around them a wondrous tempest sweeps. After a long time, he declares unto her the Death of Christ, and how, through that Death, the Dead are blessed. Lastly, he dissuades her from her rage of grief, and admonishes her to pray for her son on a tomb hard by, which is his indeed. The woman believes, and, being consoled by a Sign of Heaven, departs in peace. 

Across his breast one hundred times each daySaint Patrick drew the Venerable Sign, And sixty times by night: and whensoe'erIn travel Cross was seen far off or nighOn lonely moor, or rock, or heathy hill, For Erin then was sown with Christian seed, He sought it, and before it knelt. Yet once, While cold in winter shone the star of eveUpon their board, thus spake a youthful monk:"Three times this day, my father, didst thou passThe Cross of Christ unmarked. At morn thou saw'stA last year's lamb that by it sheltered lay, At noon a dove that near it sat and mourned, At eve a little child that round it raced, Well pleased with each; yet saw'st thou not that Cross, Nor mad'st thou any reverence!" At that wordWondering, the Saint arose, and left the meat, And, wondering, went to venerate that Cross. 

 Dark was the earth and dank ere yet he reachedThat spot; and lo! where lamb had lain, and doveHad mourned, and child had raced, there stood indeedHigh-raised, the Cross of Christ. Before it longHe prayed, and kneeling, marked that on a tombThat Cross was raised. Then, inly moved by God, The Saint demanded, "Who, of them that walkedThe sun-warmed earth lies here in darkness hid?"And answer made a lamentable Voice:"Pagan I lived, my own soul's bane: --when dead, Men buried here my body. " Patrick then:"How stands the Cross of Christ on Pagan grave?"And answered thus the lamentable Voice:"A woman's work. She had been absent long;Her son had died; near mine his grave was made;Half blind was she through fleeting of her tears, And, erring, raised the Cross upon my tomb, Misdeeming it for his. Nightly she comes, Wailing as only Pagan mothers wail;So wailed my mother once, while pain tenfoldRan through my bodiless being. For her sake, If pity dwells on earth or highest heaven, May it this mourner comfort! Christian she, And capable of pity. "

 Then the SaintCried loud, "O God, Thou seest this Pagan's heart, That love within it dwells: therefore not hisThat doom of Souls all hate, and self-exiledTo whom Thy Presence were a woe twice told. Eternal Pity! pity Thou Thy work; -Sole Peace of them that love Thee, grant him peace. "Thus Patrick prayed; and in the heaven of heavensGod heard his servant's prayer. Then Patrick mused"Now know I why I passed that Cross unmarked;It was not that it seemed. "

 As thus he knelt, Behold, upon the cold and bitter windRang wail on wail; and o'er the moor there movedWhat seemed a woman's if a human form. That miserable phantom onward cameWith cry succeeding cry that sank or swelledAs dipped or rose the moor. Arrived at last, She heeded not the Saint, but on that graveDashed herself down. Long time that woman wailed;And Patrick, long, for reverence of her woeForbore. At last he spake low-toned as whenBest listener knows not when the strain begins. "Daughter! the sparrow falls not to the groundWithout his Maker. He that made thy sonHath sent His Son to bear all woes of men, And vanquish every foe--the latest, Death. "Then rolled that woman on the Saint an eyeAs when the last survivor of a hostGlares on some pitying conqueror. "Ho! the manThat treads upon my grief! He ne'er had sons;And thou, O son of mine, hast left no sons, Though oft I said, 'When I am old, his babesShall climb my knees. ' My boast was mine in youth;But now mine age is made a barren stockAnd as a blighted briar. " In grief she turned;And as on blackening tarn gust follows gust, Again came wail on wail. On strode the night:The jagged forehead of that forest oldAlone was seen: all else was gloom. At lastWith voice, though kind, upbraiding, Patrick spake:"Daughter, thy grief is wilful and it errs;Errs like those sad and tear-bewildered eyesThat for a Christian's take a Pagan's grave, And for a son's a stranger's. Ah! poor child, Thy pride it was to raise, where lay thy son, A Cross, his memory's honour. By thee closeAll dewed and glimmering in yon rising moon, Low lies a grave unhonoured, and unknown:No cross stands on it; yet upon its breastGraved shalt thou find what Christian tomb ne'er lacks, The Cross of Christ. Woman, there lies thy son. "

 She rose; she found that other tomb; she knelt;And o'er it went her wandering palms, as thoughSome stone-blind mother o'er an infant's faceShould spread an agonising hand, intentTo choose betwixt her own and counterfeit;She found that cross deep-grav'n, and further signClose by, to her well known. One piercing shriek -Another moment, and her body layAlong that grave with kisses, and wild handsAs when some forest beast tears up the ground, Seeking its prey there hidden. Then once moreRang the wild wail above that lonely heath, While roared far off the vast invisible woods, And with them strove the blast, in eddies direWhirling both branch and bough. Through hurrying cloudsThe scared moon rushed like ship that naked glaresOne moment, lightning-lighted in the storm, Anon in wild waves drowned. An hour went by:Still wailed that woman, and the tempest roared;While in the heart of ruin Patrick prayed. He loved that woman. Unto Patrick dear, Dear as God's Church was still the single Soul, Dearest the suffering Soul. He gave her time;He let the floods of anguish spend themselves:But when her wail sank low; when woods were mute, And where the skiey madness late had ragedShone the blue heaven, he spake with voice in strengthGentle like that which calmed the Syrian lake, "My sister, God hath shown me of thy wound, And wherefore with the blind old Pagan's cryHopeless thou mourn'st. Returned from far, thou found'stThy son had Christian died, and saw'st the CrossOn Christian graves: and ill thy heart enduredThat tomb so dear should lack its reverence meet. To him thou gav'st the Cross, albeit that CrossInly thou know'st not yet. That knowledge thine, Thou hadst not left thy son amerced of prayer, And given him tears, not succour. " "Yea, " she said, "Of this new Faith I little understand, Being an aged woman and in woe:But since my son was Christian, such am I;And since the Christian tomb is decked with CrossHe shall not lack his right. "

 Then Patrick spake:"O woman, hearken, for through me thy sonInvokes thee. All night long for thee, unknown, My hands have risen: but thou hast raised no prayerFor him, thy dearest; nor from founts of God, Though brimful, hast thou drawn for lips that thirst. Arise, and kneel, and hear thy loved one's cry:Too long he waiteth. Blessed are the dead:They rest in God's high Will. But more than peace, The rapturous vision of the Face of God, Won by the Cross of Christ--for that they thirstAs thou, if viewless stood thy son close by, Wouldst thirst to see his countenance. Eyes sin-sealedNot yet can see their God. Prayer speeds the time:The living help the dead; all praise to HimWho blends His children in a league of help, Making all good one good. Eternal Love!Not thine the will that love should cease with life, Or, living, cease from service, barren made, A stagnant gall eating the mourner's heartThat hour when love should stretch a hand of mightUp o'er the grave to heaven. O great in love, Perfect love's work: for well, sad heart, I know, Hadst thou not trained thy son in virtuous ways, Christian he ne'er had been. "

 Those later wordsThat solitary mourner understood, The earlier but in part, and answered thus:"A loftier Cross, and farther seen, shall riseUpon this grave new-found! No hireling hands -Mine own shall raise it; yea, though thirty yearsShould sweat beneath the task. " And Patrick said:"What means the Cross? That lore thou lack'st now learn. "

 Then that which Kings desired to know, and seersAnd prophets vigil-blind--that Crown of Truths, Scandal of fools, yet conqueror of the world, To her, that midnight mourner, he divulged, Record authentic: how in sorrow and sinThe earth had groaned; how pity, like a sword, Had pierced the great Paternal Heart in heaven;How He, the Light of Light, and God of God, Had man become, and died upon the Cross, Vanquishing thus both sorrow and sin, and risen, The might of death o'erthrown; and how the gatesOf heaven rolled inwards as the Anointed KingResurgent and ascending through them passedIn triumph with His Holy Dead; and howThe just, thenceforth death-freed, the selfsame gatesEntering, shall share the everlasting throne. Thus Patrick spake, and many a stately themeRehearsed beside, higher than heaven, and yetNear as the farthest can alone be near. Then in that grief-worn creature's bosom oldContentions rose, and fiercer fires than burnIn sultry breasts of youth: and all her past, Both good and evil, woke, in sleep long sealed;And all the powers and forces of her soulRushed every way through darkness seeking light, Like winds or tides. Beside her Patrick prayed, And mightier than his preaching was his prayer, Sheltering that crisis dread. At last beneathThe great Life-Giver's breath that Human Soul, An inner world vaster than planet worlds, In undulation swayed, as when of oldThe Spirit of God above the waters movedCreative, while the blind and shapeless voidYearned into form, and form grew meet for life, And downward through the abysses Law ran forthWith touch soul-soft, and seas from lands retired, And light from dark, and wondering Nature passedThrough storm to calm, and all things found their home. 

Silence long time endured; at last, clear-voiced, Her head not turning, thus the woman spake:"That God who Man became--who died, and lives, -Say, died He for my son?" And Patrick said, "Yea, for thy son He died. Kneel, woman, kneel!Nor doubt, for mighty is a mother's prayer, That He who in the eternal light is throned, Lifting the roseate and the nail-pierced palm, Will make in heaven the Venerable Sign, For He it is prays in us, and that SoulThou lov'st pass on to glory. "

 At his wordShe knelt, and unto God, with help of God, Uprushed the strength of prayer, as when the cloudUprushes past some beetling mountain wallFrom billowy deeps unseen. Long time she prayed;While heaven and earth grew silent as that nightWhen rose the Saviour. Sudden ceased the prayer:And rang upon the night her jubilant cry, "I saw a Sign in Heaven. Far inward rolledThe gates; and glory flashed from God; and heI love his entrance won. " Then, fair and tall, That woman stood with hands upraised to heavenThe dusky shadow of her youth renewed, And instant Patrick spake, "Give thanks to God, And speed thee home, and sleep; and since thy sonNo children left, take to thee orphans twainAnd rear them, in his honour, unto Christ;And yearly, when the death-day of thy sonReturns, his birth-day name it; call thy friends;Give alms; and range the poor around thy door, So shall they feast, and pray. Woman, farewell:All night the dark upon thy face hath lain;Yet shall we know each other, met in heaven. "

Then blithe of foot that Mother crossed the moor;And when she reached her door a zone of whiteLoosening along a cloud that walled the eastRevealed the coming dawn. That dawn ere longLay, unawaking, on a face serene, On tearless lids, and quiet, open palms, On stormless couch and raiment calm that hidA breast if faded now, yet happier farThan when in prime its youthful wave first heavedRocking a sleeping Infant. 

SAINT PATRICK AT THE FEAST OF KNOCK CAE;OR, THE FOUNDING OF MUNGRET. 

ARGUMENT. 

Saint Patrick, being bidden to a feast, discourses on the way against the pride of the Bards, for whom Fiacc pleads. Derball, a scoffer, requires the Saint to remove a mountain. He kneels down and prays, and Derball avers that the mountain moved. Notwithstanding, Derball believes not, but departs. The Saint declares that he saw not whether the mountain moved. He places Nessan over his convent at Mungret because he had given a little wether to the hungry. Nessan's mother grudged the gift; and Saint Patrick prophesies that her grave shall not be in her son's church. 

In Limneach, {101} ere he reached it, fame there ranOf Patrick's words and works. Before his footAileel had fallen, loud wailing, with his wife, And cried, "Our child is slain by savage beasts;But thou, O prophet, if that God thou serv'stBe God indeed, restore him!" Patrick turnedTo Malach, praised of all men. "Brother, kneel, And raise yon child. " But Malach answered, "Nay, Lest, tempting God, His service I should shame. "Then Patrick, "Answer of the base is thine;And base shall be that house thou build'st on earth, Little, and low. A man may fail in prayer:What then? Thank God! the fault is ours not His, And ours alone the shame. " The Apostle turnedTo Ibar, and to Ailbe, bishops twain, And bade them raise the child. They heard and knelt:And Patrick knelt between them; and these threeUpheaved a wondrous strength of prayer; and lo!All pale, yet shining, rose the child, and sat, Lifting small hands, and preached to those around, And straightway they believed, and were baptized. 

Thus with loud rumour all the land was full, And some believed; some doubted; and a chief, Lonan, the son of Eire, that half believed, Willing to draw from Patrick wonder and sign, By messengers besought him, saying, "Come, For in thy reverence waits thy servant's feastSpread on Knock Cae. " That pleasant hill ascendsWestward of Ara, girt by rivers twain, Maigue, lily-lighted, and the "Morning Star"Once "Samhair" named, that eastward through the woodsWinding, upon its rapids earliest meetsThe morn, and flings it far o'er mead and plain. 

From Limneach therefore Patrick, while the dawnStill dusk, its joyous secret kept, went forth, O'er dustless road soon lost in dewy fields, And groves that, touched by wakening winds, beganTo load damp airs with scent. That time it wasWhen beech leaves lose their silken gloss, and maidsFrom whitest brows depose the hawthorn white, Red rose in turn enthroning. Earliest gleamsGlimmered on leaves that shook like wings of birds:Saint Patrick marked them well. He turned to Fiacc -"God might have changed to Pentecostal tonguesThe leaves of all the forests in the world, And bade them sing His love! He wrought not thus:A little hint He gives us and no more. Alone the willing see. Thus they sin lessWho, if they saw, seeing would disbelieve. Hark to that note! O foolish woodland choirs!Ye sing but idle loves; and, idler far, The bards sing war--war only!"

 Answered thusThe monk bard-loving: "Sing it! Ay, and makeThe keys of all the tempests hang on zonesOf those cloud-spirits! They, too, can 'bind and loose:'A bard incensed hath proved a kingdom's doom!Such Aidan. Upon cakes of meal his host, King Aileach, fed him in a fireless hall:The bard complained not--ay, but issuing forth, Sang in dark wood a keen and venomed songThat raised on the king's countenance plague-spots three;Who saw him named them Scorn, Dishonour, Shame, And blighted those three oak trees nigh his door. What next? Before a month that realm lay drownedIn blood; and fire went o'er the opprobrious house!"Thus spake the youth, and blushed at his own zealFor bardic fame; then added, "Strange the powerOf song! My father, do I vainly dreamOft thinking that the bards, perchance the birds, Sing something vaster than they think or know?Some fire immortal lives within their strings:Therefore the people love them. War divine, God's war on sin--true love-song best and sweetest -Perforce they chaunt in spirit, not wars of clans:Yea, one day, conscious, they shall sing that song;One day by river clear of south or north, Pagan no more, the laurelled head shall rise, And chaunt the Warfare of the Realm of Souls, The anguish and the cleansing, last the crown -Prelude of songs celestial!"

 Patrick smiled:"Still, as at first, a lover of the bards!Hard task was mine to win thee to the cowl!Dubtach, thy master, sole in Tara's hallWho made me reverence, mocked my quest. He said, 'Fiacc thou wouldst?--my Fiacc? Few days gone byI sent the boy with poems to the kings;He loves me: hardly will he leave the songsTo wear thy tonsure!' As he spake, behold, Thou enter'dst. Sudden hands on Dubtach's headI laid, as though to gird with tonsure crown:Then rose thy clamour, 'Erin's chief of bardsA tonsured man! Me, father, take, not him!Far less the loss to Erin and the songs!'Down knelt'st thou; and, ere long, old Dubtach's floorShone with thy vernal locks, like forest pathsMade gold by leaves of autumn!"

 As he spake, The sun, new-risen, flashed on a breast of woodThat answered from a thousand jubilant throats:Then Fiacc, with all their music in his face, Resumed: "My father, upon Tara's steepPatient thou sat'st whole months, sifting with careThe laws of Eire, recasting for all time, Ill laws from good dissevering, as that DayShall sever tares from wheat. I see thee still, As then we saw--thy clenched hand lost in beardPropping thy chin; thy forehead wrinkle-trenchedAbove that wondrous tome, the 'Senchus Mohr, 'Like his, that Hebrew lawgiver's, who satThroned on the clouded Mount, while far belowThe Tribes waited in awe. Now answer make!Three bishops, and three brehons, and three kings. Ye toiled--who helped thee best?" "Dubtach, the bard, "Patrick replied--"Yea, wise was he, and knewMan's heart like his own strings. " "All bards are wise, "Shouted the youth, "except when war they wageOn thee, the wisest. In their music bathThey cleanse man's heart, not less, and thus prepare, Though hating thee, thy way. The bards are wiseFor all except themselves. Shall God not save them, He who would save the worst? Such grace were hardUnless, death past, their souls to birds might change, And in the darksomest grove of ParadiseLament, amerced, their error, yet rejoiceIn souls that walked obedient!" "Darksomest grove, "Patrick made answer; "darksome is their life;Darksome their pride, their love, their joys, their hopes;Darksome, though gleams of happier lore they have, Their light! Seest thou yon forest floor, and o'er it, The ivy's flash--earth-light? Such light is theirs:By such can no man walk. "

 Thus, gay or grave, Conversed they, while the Brethren paced behind;Till now the morn crowded each cottage doorWith clustered heads. They reached ere long in woodsA hamlet small. Here on the weedy thatchWhite fruit-bloom fell: through shadow, there, went roundThe swinging mill-wheel tagged with silver fringe;Here rang the mallet; there was heard remoteThe one note of the love-contented bird. Though warm the sun, in shade the young spring mornWas edged with winter yet, and icy filmGlazed the deep ruts. The swarthy smith worked hard, And working sang; the wheelwright toiled close by;An armourer next to these: through flaming smokeGlared the fierce hands that on the anvil fellIn thunder down. A sorcerer stood apartKneading Death's messenger, that missile ball, The Lia Laimbhe. To his heart he clasped it, And o'er it muttered spells with flatteries mixed:"Hail, little daughter mine! 'Twixt hand and heartI knead thee! From the Red Sea came that sandWhich, blent with viper's poison, makes thy flesh!Be thou no shadow wandering on the air!Rush through the battle gloom as red-combed snakeCleaves the blind waters! On! like Witch's glance, Or forked flash, or shaft of summer pest, And woe to him that meets thee! Mouth blood-redMy daughter hath: --not healing be her kiss!"Thus he. In shade he stood, and phrensy-fired;And yet he marked who watched him. Without wordHim Patrick passed; but spake to all the restWith voice so kindly reverent, "Is not this, "Men asked, "the preacher of the 'Tidings Good?'""What tidings? Has he found a mine?" "He speaksTo princes as to brothers; to the hindAs we to princes' children! Yea, when mute, Saith not his face 'Rejoice'?"

 At times the SaintLaid on the head of age his strong right hand, Gentle as touch of soft-accosting eyes;And once before an open door he stopped, Silent. Within, all glowing like a rose, A mother stood for pleasure of her babesThat--in them still the warmth of couch late left -Around her gambolled. On his face, as hers, Their sport regarding, long time lay the smile;Then crept a shadow o'er it, and he spakeIn sadness: "Woman! when a hundred yearsHave passed, with opening flower and falling snow, Where then will be thy children?" Like a cloudFear and great wrath fell on her. From the wallShe snatched a battle-axe and raised it highIn both hands, clamouring, "Wouldst thou slay my babes?"He answered, "I would save them. Woman, hear!Seest thou yon floating shape? It died a worm;It lives, the blue-winged angel of spring meads. Thy children, likewise, if they serve my King, Death past, shall find them wings. " Then to her cheekThe bloom returned, and splendour to her eye;And catching to her breast, that larger swelled, A child, she wept, "Oh, would that he might liveFor ever! Prophet, speak! thy words are good!Their father, too, must hear thee. " Patrick said, "Not so; nor falls this seed on every road;"Then added thus: "You child, by all the restCherished as though he were some infant God, Is none of thine. " She answered, "None of ours;A great chief sent him here for fosterage. "Then he: "All men on earth the children areOf One who keeps them here in fosterage:They see not yet His face; but He sees them, Yea, and decrees their seasons and their times:Like infants, they must learn Him first by touch, Through nature, and her gifts--by hearing next, The hearing of the ear, and that is Faith -By Vision last. Woman, these things are hard;But thou to Limneach come in three days' time, Likewise thy husband; there, by Sangul's Well, Thou shalt know all. "

 The Saint had reached ere longThat festal mount. Thousands with bannered lineScaled it light-hearted. Never favourite lambIn ribands decked shone brighter than that hourThe fair flank of Knock Cae. Heath-scented airsLightened the clambering toil. At times the SaintStayed on their course the crowds, and towards the TruthDrew them by parable, or record old, Oftener by question sage. Not all believed:Of such was Derball. Man of wealth and wit, Nor wise, nor warlike, toward the Saint he strodeWith bubble-seething brain, and head high tossed, And cried, "Great Seer! remove yon mountain blue, Cenn Abhrat, by thy prayer! That done, to theeFealty I pledge. " Saint Patrick knelt in prayer:Soon Derball cried, "The central ridge descends; -Southward, beyond it, Longa's lake shines outIn sunlight flashing!" At his word drew nearThe men of Erin. Derball homeward turned, Mocking: "Believe who will, believe not I!Me more imports it o'er my foodful fieldsTo draw the Maigue's rich waters than to stareAt moving hills. " But certain of that throng, Light men, obsequious unto Derball's laugh, Questioned of Patrick if the mountain moved. He answered, "On the ground mine eyes were fixed;Nought saw I. Haply, through defect of mine, It moved not. Derball said the mountain moved;Yet kept he not his pledge, but disbelieved. 'Faith can move mountains. ' Never said my KingThat mountains moved could move reluctant faithIn unbelieving heart. " With sad, calm voiceHe spake; and Derball's laughter frustrate died. 

 Meantime, high up on that thyme-scented hillBy shadows swept, and lights, and rapturous winds, Lonan prepared the feast, and, with that chief, Mantan, a deacon. Tables fair were spread;And tents with branches gay. Beside those tentsStood the sweet-breathing, mournful, slow-eyed kineWith hazel-shielded horns, and gave their milkGravely to merry maidens. Low the sunHad fallen, when, Patrick near the summit now, There burst on him a wandering troop, wild-eyed, With scant and quaint array. O'er sunburnt browsThey wore sere wreaths; their piebald vests were stained, And lean their looks, and sad: some piped, some sang, Some tossed the juggler's ball. "From far we came, "They cried; "we faint with hunger; give as food!"Upon them Patrick bent a pitying eye, And said, "Where Lonan and where Mantan toilGo ye, and pray them, for mine honour's sake, To gladden you with meat. " But Lonan said, And Mantan, "Nay, but when the feast is o'er, The fragments shall be yours. " With darkening browThe Saint of that denial heard, and cried, "He cometh from the North, even now he cometh, For whom the Blessing is reserved; he comethBearing a little wether at his back:"And, straightway, through the thicket evening-dazedA shepherd--by him walked his mother--pushed, Bearing a little wether. Patrick said, "Give them to eat. They hunger. " Gladly thenThat shepherd youth gave them the wether small:With both his hands outstretched, and liberal smile, He gave it, though, with angry eye askanceHis mother grudged it sore. The wether theirs, As though earth-swallowed, vanished that wild tribe, Fearing that mother's eye. 

 Then Patrick spakeTo Lonan, "Zealous is thy service, friend;Yet of thy house no king shall sit on throne, No bishop bless the people. " Turning thenTo Mantan, thus he spake, "Careful art thouOf many things; not less that church thou raisestShall not be of the honoured in the land;And in its chancel waste the mountain kineShall couch above thy grave. " To Nessan lastThus spake he: "Thou that didst the hungry feed, The poor of Christ, that know not yet His name, And, helping them that cried to me for help, Cherish mine honour, like a palm, one day, Shall rise thy greatness. " Nessan's mother oldFor pardon knelt. He blessed her hoary head, Yet added, mournful, "Not within the ChurchThat Nessan serves shall lie his mother's grave. "Then Nessan he baptized, and on him boundEre long the deacon's grade, and placed him, later, Priest o'er his church at Mungret. Centuries tenIt stood, a convent round it as a starForth sending beams of glory and of graceO'er woods Teutonic and the Tyrrhene Sea. Yet Nessan's mother in her son's great churchSlept not; nor where the mass bell tinkled low:West of the church her grave, to his--her son's -Neighbouring, yet severed by the chancel wall. 

Thus from the morning star to evening starWent by that day. In Erin many suchSaint Patrick lived, using well pleased the chance, Or great or small, since all things come from God:And well the people loved him, being oneWho sat amid their marriage feasts, and saw, Where sin was not, in all things beauty and love. But, ere he passed from Munster, longing fellOn Patrick's heart to view in all its breadthHer river-flood, and bless its western waves;Therefore, forth journeying, to that hill he went, Highest among the wave-girt, heathy hills, That still sustains his name, and saw the floodAt widest stretched, and that green Isle {111} hard by, And northern Thomond. From its coasts her sonsRushed countless forth in skiff and coracleSmiting blue wave to white, till Sheenan's soundCeased, in their clamour lost. That hour from GodPower fell on Patrick; and in spirit he saw, Invisible to flesh, the western coasts, And the ocean way, and, far beyond, that landThe Future's heritage, and prophesiedOf Brendan who ere long in wicker boatShould over-ride the mountains of the deep, Shielded by God, and tread--no fable then -Fabled Hesperia. Last of all he sawMore near, thy hermit home, Senanus;--'Hail, Isle of blue ocean and the river's mouth!The People's Lamp, their Counsel's Head, is thine!"That hour shone out through cloud the westering sunAnd paved the wave with fire: that hour not lessStrong in his God, westward his face he set, Westward and north, and spread his arms abroad, And drew the blessing down, and flung it far:"A blessing on the warriors, and the clans, A blessing on high field, and golden vales, On sea-like plain and on the showery ridge, On river-ripple, cliff, and murmuring deep, On seaward peaks, harbours, and towns, and ports;A blessing on the sand beneath the ships:On all descend the Blessing!" Thus he prayed, Great-hearted; and from all the populous hillsAnd waters came the People's vast "Amen!"

SAINT PATRICK AND KING EOCHAID. 

ARGUMENT. 

King Eochaid submits himself to the Christian Law because Saint Patrick has delivered his son from bonds, yet only after making a pact that he is not, like the meaner sort, to be baptized. In this stubbornness he persists, though otherwise a kindly king; and after many years, he dies. Saint Patrick had refused to see his living face; yet after death he prays by the death-bed. Life returns to the dead; and sitting up, like one sore amazed, he demands baptism. The Saint baptizes him, and offers him a choice either to reign over all Erin for fifteen years, or to die. Eochaid chooses to die, and so departs. 

Eochaid, son of Crimther, reigned, a KingNorthward in Clochar. Dearer to his heartThan kingdom or than people or than lifeWas he, the boy long wished for. Dear was she, Keine, his daughter. Babyhood's white star, Beauteous in childhood, now in maiden dawnShe witched the world with beauty. From her eyesA light went forth like morning o'er the sea;Sweeter her voice than wind on harp; her smileCould stay men's breath. With winged feet she trodThe yearning earth that, if it could, like wavesHad swelled to meet their pressure. Ah, the pang!Beauty, the immortal promise, like a cheatIf unwed glides into the shadow land, Childless and twice defeated. Beauty wedTo mate unworthy, suffers worse eclipse -"Ill choice between two ills!" thus spleenfull criedEochaid; but not his the pensive grief:He would have kept his daughter in his houseFor ever; yet, since better might not be, Himself he chose her out a mate, and frowned, And said, "The dog must have her. " But the maidWished not for marriage. Tender was her heart;Yet though her twentieth year had o'er her flown, And though her tears had dewed a mother's grave, In her there lurked, not flower of womanhood, But flower of angel texture. All aroundTo her was love. The crown of earthly loveSeemed but its crown of mockery. Love Divine -For that she yearned, and yet she knew it not;Knew less that love she feared. 

 She walked in woodsWhile all the green leaves, drenched by sunset's gold, Upon a shower-bespangled sycamoreShivered, and birds among them choir on choirChanted her praise--or spring's. "Ill sung, " she laughed, "My dainty minstrels! Grant to me your wings, And I for them will teach you song of mine:Listen!" A carol from her lip there gushedThat, ere its time, might well have called the springFrom winter's coldest cave. It ceased; she turned. Beside her Patrick stood. His hand he raisedTo bless her. Awed, though glad, upon her kneesThe maiden sank. His eye, as if through air, Saw through that stainless soul, and, crystal-shrinedTherein, its inmate, Truth. That other TruthInstant to her he preached--the Truth Divine--(For whence is caution needful, save from sin?)And those two Truths, each gazing upon each, Embraced like sisters, thenceforth one. For herNo arduous thing was Faith, ere yet she heardIn heart believing: and, as when a babeMarks some bright shape, if near or far, it knows not, And stretches forth a witless hand to claspPhantom or form, even so with wild surmiseAnd guesses erring first, and questions apt, She chased the flying light, and round it closedAt last, and found it substance. "This is He. "Then cried she, "This, whom every maid should love, Conqueror self-sacrificed of sin and death:How shall we find, how please Him, how be nigh?"Patrick made answer: "They that do His willAre nigh Him. " And the virgin: "Of the nigh, Say, who is nighest?" Thus, that winged heartRushed to its rest. He answered: "Nighest theyWho offer most to Him in sacrifice, As when the wedded leaves her father's houseAnd cleaveth to her husband. Nighest theyWho neither father's house nor husband's houseDesire, but live with Him in endless prayer, And tend Him in His poor. " Aloud she cried, "The nearest to the Highest, that is love; -I choose that bridal lot!" He answered, "Child, The choice is God's. For each, that lot is bestTo which He calls us. " Lifting then pure hands, Thus wept the maiden: "Call me, Virgin-born!Will not the Mother-Maid permit a maidTo sit beside those nail-pierced feet, and wipe, With hair untouched by wreaths of mortal love, The dolorous blood-stains from them? Stranger guest, Come to my father's tower! Against my will, Against his own, in bridal bonds he binds me:My suit he might resist: he cannot thine!"

 She spake; and by her Patrick paced with feetTo hers accordant. Soon they reached that fort:Central within a circling rath earth-builtIt stood; the western tower of stone; the rest, Not high, but spreading wide, of wood compact;For thither many a forest hill had sentHis wind-swept daughter brood, relinquishingConverse with cloud and beam and rain foreverTo echo back the revels of a Prince. Mosaic was the work, beam laced with beamIn quaint device: high up, o'er many a doorShone blazon rich of vermeil, or of green, Or shield of bronze, glittering with veined boss, Chalcedony or agate, or whate'erThe wave-lipped marge of Neagh's broad lake might boast, Or ocean's shore, northward from Brandon's HeadTo where the myriad-pillared cliffs hang forthTheir stony organs o'er the lonely main. And trembles yet the pilgrim, noting at eveThe pride Fomorian, and that Giant Way {116}Trending toward eastern Alba. From his throneAbove the semicirque of grassy seatsWhereon by Brehons and by Ollambs girtDaily be judged his people, rose the kingAnd bade the stranger welcome. 

 Day to dayAnd night to night succeeded. In fit time, For Patrick, sometimes sudden, oft was slow, He spoke his Master's message. At the close, As though in trance, the warriors circling stoodWith hands outstretched; the Druids downward frowned, Silent; and like a strong man awed for once, Eochaid round him stared. A little while, And from him passed the amazement. Buoyant once more, And bright like trees fresher for thunder-shower, With all his wonted aspect, bold and keen, He answered: "O my prophet, words, words, words!We too have Prophets. Better thrice our Bards;Yet, being no better these than trumpet's blast, The trumpet more I prize. Had words been work, Myself in youth had led the loud-voiced clan!Deeds I preferred. What profit e'er had IFrom windy marvels? Once with me in warA seer there camped that, bending back his head, Fit rites performed, and upward gazing, blewWith rounded lips into the heaven of heavensDruidic breath. That heaven was changed to cloud, Cloud that on borne to Claire's hated boundDown fell, a rain of blood! To me what gain?Within three weeks my son was trapped and snaredBy Aodh of Hy Brinin, king whose hostsNumber my warriors fourfold. Three long yearsBeyond those purple mountains in the westHostage he lies. " Lightly Eochaid spake, And turned: but shaken chin betrayed that griefWhich lived beneath his lightness. 

 Sudden throngedHigh on the neighbouring hills a jubilant troop, Their banners waving, while the midway valeWith harp and horn resounded. Patrick spake:"Rejoice! thy son returns! not sole he comes, But in his hand a princess, fair and good, A kingdom for her dowry. Aodh's realm, By me late left, welcomed MY King with joy:All fire the mountains shone. 'The God I serve, 'Thus spake I, Aodh pointing to those fires, 'In mountains of rejoicing hath no joyWhile sad beyond them sits a childless man, His only son thy captive. Captive groanedCreation; Bethlehem's Babe set free the slave. For His sake loose thy thrall!' A sweeter voicePleaded with mine, his daughter's 'mid her tears. 'Aodh, ' I said, 'these two each other love!What think'st thou? He who shaped the linnet's nest, Indifferent unto Him are human loves?Arise! thy work make perfect! Righteous deedsAre easier whole than half. ' In thought awhileOld Aodh sat; then to his daughter turned, And thus, imperious even in kindness, spake:'Well fought the youth ere captured, like the sonOf kings, and worthy to be sire of kings:Wed him this hour: and in three days, at eve, Restore him to his father!' King, this hourThou know'st if Christ's strong Faith be empty words, Or truth, and armed with power. "

 That night was passedIn feasting and in revel, high and lowRich with a common gladness. Many a torchFlared in the hand of servitors hill-sent, That standing, each behind a guest, retainedBeneath that roof clouded by banquet steamTheir mountain wildness. Here, the splendour glancedOn goblet jewel-chased and dark with wine, Swift circling; there, on walls with antlers spread, And rich with yew-wood carvings, flower or bud, Or clustered grape pendent in russet gleamAs though from nature's hand. A hall hard byEchoed the harp that now nor kindled rage, Nor grief condoled, nor sealed with slumber's balmTempestuous spirits, triumphs three of song, But raised to rapture, mirth. Far shone that hallGlowing with hangings steeped in every tinctThe boast of Erin's dyeing-vats, now plain, Now pranked with bird or beast or fish, whate'erFast-flying shuttle from the craftsman's thoughtCatching, on bore through glimmering warp and woof, A marvellous work; now traced by broiderer's handWith legends of Ferdiadh and of Meave, Even to the golden fringe. The warriors pacedExulting. Oft they showed their merit's prize, Poniard or cup, tribute ordained of tribesFrom age to age, Eochaid's right, on themWith equal right devolving. Slow they movedIn mantle now of crimson, now of blue, Clasped with huge torque of silver or of goldJust where across the snowy shirt there strayedTendril of purple thread. With jewelled frontsBeauteous in pride 'mid light of winsome smiles, Over the rushes green with slender footIn silver slipper hid, the ladies passed, Answering with eyes not lips the whispered praise, Or loud the bride extolling--"When was seenSuch sweetness and such grace?"

 Meantime the kingConversed with Patrick. Vexed he heard announcedHis daughter's high resolve: but still his looksWent wandering to his son. "My boy! Behold him!His valour and his gifts are all from me:My first-born!" From the dancing throng apartHis daughter stood the while, serene and pale, Down-gazing on that lily in her handWith face of one who notes not shapes around, But dreams some happy dream. The king drew nigh, And on her golden head the sceptre staffLeaning, but not to hurt her, thus began:"Your prophets of the day, I trust them not!If sent from God, why came they not long since?Our Druids came before them, and, belike, Shall after them abide! With these new seersI count not Patrick. Things that Patrick saysI ofttimes thought. His lineage too is old -Wide-browed, grey-eyed, with downward lessening face, Not like your baser breeds, with questing eyesAnd jaw of dog. But for thy Heavenly Spouse, I like not Him! At least, wed Cormac first!If rude his ways, yet noble is his name, And being but poor the man will bide with me:He's brave, and likeliest soon in fight may fall!When Cormac dies, wed next--" a music clashForth bursting drowned his words. 

 Three days passed by:To Patrick, then preparing to depart, Thus spake Eochaid in the ears of all:"Herald Heaven-missioned of the Tidings Good!Those tidings I have pondered. They are true:I for that truth's sake, and in honour boundBy reason of my son set free, resolveThe same, upon conditions, to believe, And suffer all my people to believe, Just terms exacted. Briefly these they are:First, after death, I claim admittance frankInto thy Heavenly Kingdom: next, till deathFor me exemption from that Baptism Rite, Imposed on kerne and hind. Experience-taught, I love not rigid bond and written pledge:'Tis well to brand your mark on sheep or lamb:Kings are of lion breed; and of my house'Tis known there never yet was king baptized. This pact concluded, preach within my realmThy Faith; and wed my daughter to thy God. Not scholarly am I to know what joyA maid can find in psalm, and cell, and spouseUnseen: yet ever thus my sentence stood, 'Choose each his way. ' My son restored, her lossTo me is loss the less. " Thus spake the king. 

Then Patrick, on whose face the princess bentThe supplication softly strong of eyesLike planets seen through mist, Eochaid's heartKnowing, which miracle had hardened more, Made answer, "King, a man of jests art thou, Claiming free range in heaven, and yet its gateThyself close barring! In thy daughter's prayersBelike thou trustest, that where others creepThou shalt its golden bastions over-fly. Far otherwise than in that way thou ween'st, That daughter's prayers shall speed thee. With thy wordI close, that word to frustrate. God be with thee!Thou living, I return not. Fare thee well. "

 Thus speaking, by the hand he took the maid, And led her through the concourse. At her feetThe poor fell low, kissing her garment's hem, And many brought their gifts, and all their prayers, And old men wept. A maiden train snow-garbed, Her steps attending, whitened plain and field, As when at times dark glebe, new-turned, is changedTo white by flock of ocean birds alit, Or inland blown by storm, or hunger-urgedTo filch the late-sown grain. Her convent homeEre long received her. There Ethembria ruled, Green Erin's earliest nun. Of princely race, She in past years before the font of ChristHad knelt at Patrick's feet. Once more she sought him:Over the lovely, lovelier change had passed, As when on childish girlhood, 'mid a showerOf lilies earthward wafted, maidenhoodIn peacefuller state assumes her spotless throne;So, from that maiden, vestal now had risen: -Lowlier she seemed, more tender, soft, and grave, Yet loftier; hushed in quiet more divine, Yet wonder-awed. Again she knelt, and o'erThe bending queenly head, till then unbent, He flung that veil which woman bars from manTo make her more than woman. Nigh to deathThe Saint forgat not her. With her remainedKeine; but Patrick dwelt far off at Saul. 

 Years came and went: yet neither chance nor change, Nor war, nor peace, nor warnings from the priests, Nor whispers 'mid the omen-mongering crowd, Might from Eochaid charm his wayward will, Nor reasonings of the wise that still preferredSafe port to victory's pride. He reasoned too, For confident in his reasonings was the king, Reckoning on pointed fingers every linkThat clenched his mail of proof. "On Patrick's wordYe tell me Baptism is the gate of Heaven:Attend, Sirs! I have Patrick's word no lessThat I shall enter Heaven. What need I more?If, Death, truth-speaker, shows that Patrick lied, Plain is my right against him! Heaven not won, Patrick bare hence my daughter through a fraud:He must restore her fourfold--daughters four, As fair and good. If not, the prophet's pledgeFor honour's sake his Master must redeem, And unbaptized receive me. Dupes are ye!Doomed 'mid the common flock, with branded fleeceBleating to enter Heaven!"

 The years went by;And weakness came. No more his small light formTo reverent eyes seemed taller than it was:No more the shepherd watched him from the hillHeading his hounds, and hoped to catch his smile, Yet feared his questions keen. The end drew near. Some wept, some railed; restless the warriors tramped;The Druids conned their late discountenanced spells;The bard his lying harpstrings spurned, so longHealing, unhelpful now. But far away, Within that lonely convent tower from herWho prayed for ever, mightier rose the prayer. 

Within the palace, now by usage oldTo all flung open, all were sore amazed, All save the king. The leech beside the bedSobbed where he stood, yet sware, "The fit will pass:Ten years the King may live. " Eochaid frowned:"Shall I, to patch thy fame, live ten years more, My death-time come? My seventy years are sped:My sire and grandsire died at sixty-nine. Like Aodh, shall I lengthen out my daysToothless, nor fit to vindicate my clan, Some losel's song? The kingdom is my son's!Strike from my little milk-white horse the shoes, And loose him where the freshets make the meadGreenest in springtide. He must die ere long;And not to him did Patrick open Heaven. Praise be to Patrick's God! May He my sins, Known and unknown, forgive!"

 Backward he sankUpon his bed, and lay with eyes half closed, Murmuring at times one prayer, five words or six;And twice or thrice he spake of trivial things;Then like an infant slumbered till the sun, Sinking beneath a great cloud's fiery skirt, Smote his old eyelids. Waking, in his earsThe ripening cornfields whispered 'neath the breeze, For wide were all the casements that the soulBy death delivered hindrance none might find(Careful of this the king); and thus he spake:"Nought ever raised my heart to God like fieldsOf harvest, waving wide from hill to hill, All bread-full for my people. Hale me forth:When I have looked once more upon that sightMy blessing I will give them, and depart. "

Then in the fields they laid him, and he spake. "May He that to my people sends the bread, Send grace to all who eat it!" With that wordHis hands down-falling, back once more he sank, And lay as dead; yet, sudden, rising not, Nor moving, nor his eyes unclosing, said, "My body in the tomb of ancient kingsInter not till beside it Patrick standsAnd looks upon my brow. " He spake, then sighedA little sigh, and died. 

 Three days, as whenBlack thunder cloud clings fast to mountain brows, So to the nation clung the grief: three daysThe lamentation sounded on the hillsAnd rang around the pale blue meres, and roseShrill from the bleeding heart of vale and glen, And rocky isle, and ocean's moaning shore;While by the bier the yellow tapers stood, And on the right side knelt Eochaid's son, Behind him all the chieftains cloaked in black;And on his left his daughter knelt, the nun, Behind her all her sisterhood, white-veiled, Like tombstones after snowstorm. Far away, At "Saul of Patrick, " dwelt the Saint when firstThe king had sickened. Message sent he noneThough knowing all; and when the end was nigh, And heralds now besought him day by day, He made no answer till o'er eastern seasAdvanced the third fair morning. Then he rose, And took the Staff of Jesus, and at eveBeside the dead king standing, on his browFixed a sad eye. Aloud the people wept;The kneeling warriors eyed their lord askance;The nuns intoned their hymn. Above that hymnA cry rang out: it was the daughter's prayer;And after that was silence. By the deadStill stood the Saint, nor e'er removed his gaze. Then--seen of all--behold, the dead king's handsRose slowly, as the weed on wave upheavedWithout its will; and all the strengthless shapeIn cerements wrapped, as though by mastering voiceFrom the white void evoked and realm of death, Without its will, a gradual bulk half rose, The hoar head gazing forth. Upon the faceHad passed a change, the greatest earth may know;For what the majesty of death beganThe majesties of worlds unseen, and lifeResurgent ere its time, had perfected, All accidents of flesh and sorrowful yearsCancelled and quelled. Yet horror from his eyesLooked out as though some vision once enduredMust cling to them for ever. Patrick spake:"Soul from the dead sent back once more to earthWhat seek'st thou from God's Church?" He answer made, "Baptism. " Then Patrick o'er him poured the mightOf healing waters in the Name Triune, The Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit;And from his eyes the horror passed, and lightWent from them, as the light of eyes that restOn the everlasting glory, while he spake:"Tempest of darkness drave me past the gatesCelestial, and, a moment's space, withinI heard the hymning of the hosts of GodThat feed for ever on the Bread of LifeAs feed the nations on the harvest wheat. Tempest of darkness drave me to the gatesOf Anguish: then a cry came up from earth, Cry like my daughter's when her mother died, That stayed the on-rushing whirlwind; yet mine eyesPerforce looked in, and, many a thousand years, Branded upon them lay that woful sightNow washed from them for ever. " Patrick spake:"This day a twofold choice I give thee, son;For fifteen years the rule o'er Erin's land, Rule absolute, Ard-Righ o'er lesser kings;Or instant else to die, and hear once moreThat hymn celestial, and that Vision seeThey see who sing that anthem. " Light from GodOver that late dead countenance streamed amain, Like to his daughter's now--more beauteous thrice -Yet awful, more than beauteous. "Rule o'er earth, Rule without end, were nought to that great hymnHeard but a single moment. I would die. "

Then Patrick, on him gazing, answered, "Die!"And died the king once more, and no man wept;But on her childless breast the nun sustainedSoftly her father's head. 

 That night discourseThrough hall and court circled in whispers low. First one, "Was that indeed our king? But whereThe sword-scar and the wrinkles?" "Where, " rejoined, Wide-eyed, the next, "his little cranks and girdsThe wisdom, and the whim?" Then Patrick spake:"Sirs, till this day ye never saw your king;The man ye doted on was but his mask, His picture--yea, his phantom. Ye have seenAt last the man himself. " That night nigh sped, While slowly o'er the darkling woods went down, Warned by the cold breath of the up-creeping mornInvisible yet nigh, the August moon, Two vestals, gliding past like moonlight gleams, Conversed: one said, "His daughter's prayer prevailed!"The second, "Who may know the ways of God?For this, may many a heart one day rejoiceIn hope! For this, the gift to many a manExceed the promise; Faith's invisible germQuickened with parting breath; and Baptism given, It may be, by an angel's hand unseen!"

SAINT PATRICK AND THE FOUNDING OF ARMAGH CATHEDRAL. 

ARGUMENT. 

Saint Patrick repairs to Ardmacha, there to found the chief church of Erin. For that purpose he demands of Daire, the king, a certain woody hill. The king refuses it, and afterwards treats him with alternate scorn and reverence; while the Saint, in each event alike, makes the same answer, "Deo Gratias. " At last the king concedes to him the hill; and on the summit of it Saint Patrick finds a little white fawn asleep. The men of Erin would have slain that fawn; but the Saint carries it on his shoulder, and restores it to its dam. Where the fawn lay, he places the altar of his cathedral. 

At Cluain Cain, in Ross, unbent yet old, Dwelt Patrick long. Its sweet and flowery swardHe to the rock had delved, with fixed resolveTo build thereon Christ's chiefest church in Eire. Then by him stood God's angel, speaking thus:"Not here, but northward. " He replied, "O, wouldThis spot might favour find with God! Behold!Fair is it, and as meet to clasp a churchAs is a true heart in a virgin breastTo clasp the Faith of Christ. The hinds aroundName it 'the beauteous meadow. '" "Fair it is, "The angel answered, "nor shall lack its crown. Another's is its beauty. Here, one dayA pilgrim from the Britons sent shall build, And, later, what he builds shall pass to thine;But thou to Macha get thee. "

 Patrick then, Obedient as that Patriarch Sire who facedAt God's command the desert, northward wentIn holy silence. Soon to him was lostThat green and purple meadow-sea, embayed'Twixt two descending woody promontories, Its outlet girt with isles of rock, its shoresCream-white with meadow-sweet. Not once he turned, Climbing the uplands rough, or crossing streamsSwoll'n by the melted snows. The Brethren pacedBehind; Benignus first, his psalmist; nextSecknall, his bishop; next his brehon Erc;Mochta, his priest; and Sinell of the Bells;Rodan, his shepherd; Essa, Bite, and Tassach, Workers of might in iron and in stone, God-taught to build the churches of the FaithWith wisdom and with heart-delighting craft;Mac Cairthen last, the giant meek that oftOn shoulders broad bare Patrick through the floods:His rest was nigh. That hour they crossed a stream;'Twas deep, and, 'neath his load, the giant sighed. Saint Patrick said, "Thou wert not wont to sigh!"He answered, "Old I grow. Of them my matesHow many hast thou left in churches housedWherein they rule and rest!" The Saint replied, "Thee also will I leave within a churchFor rule and rest; not to mine own too nearFor rarely then should we be seen apart, Nor yet remote, lest we should meet no more. "At Clochar soon he placed him. There, long yearsMac Cairthen sat, its bishop. 

 As they went, Oft through the woodlands rang the battle-shout;And twice there rose above the distant hillThe smoke of hamlet fired. Yet, none the less, Spring-touched, the blackbird sang; the cowslip changedGreen lawn to green and golden; and grey rockAnd river's marge with primroses were starred;Here shook the windflower; there the blue-bells gleamed, As though a patch of sky had fallen on earth. 

Then to Benignus spake the Saint: "My son, If grief were lawful in a world redeemedThe blood-stains on a land so strong in faith, So slack in love, might cloud the holiest brow, Yea, his whose head lay on the breast of Christ. Clan wars with clan: no injury is forgiven;Like to the joy in stag-hunts is the war:Alas! for such what hope!" Benignus answered"O Father, cease not for this race to hope, Lest they should hope no longer! Hope they have;Still say they, 'God will snare us in the endThough wild. '" And Patrick, "Spirits twain are theirs:The stranger, and the poor, at every doorThey meet, and bid him in. The youngest childOfficious is in service; maids prepareThe bath; men brim the wine-cup. Then, forth borne, Cities they fire and rich in spoil depart, Greed mixed with rage--an industry of blood!"He spake, and thus the younger made reply:"Father, the stranger is the brother-manTo them; the poor is neighbour. Septs remoteTo them are alien worlds. They know not yetThat rival clans are men. "

 "That know they shall, "Patrick made answer, "when a race far offTramples their race to clay! God sends abroadHis plague of war that men on earth may knowBrother from foe, and anguish work remorse. "He spake, and after musings added thus:"Base of God's kingdom is Humility -I have not spared to thunder o'er their pride;Great kings have I rebuked and signs sent forth, And banned for their sake fruitful plain, and bay;Yet still the widow's cry is on the air, The orphan's wail!" Benignus answered mild, "O Father, not alone with sign and banHast thou rebuked their madness. Oftener farThy sweetness hath reproved them. Once in woodsNorthward of Tara as we tracked our wayRound us there gathered slaves who felled the pinesFor ship-masts. Scarred their hands, and red with blood, Because their master, Trian, thus had sworn, 'Let no man sharpen axe!' Upon those handsGazing, they wept soon as thy voice they heard, Because that voice was soft. Thou heard'st their tale;Straight to that chieftain's castle went'st thou up, And bound'st him with thy fast, beside his gateSitting in silence till his heart should melt;And since he willed it not to melt, he died. Then, in her arms two babes, came forth the queenBlack-robed, and freed her slaves, and gave them hire;And, we returning after many years, Filled was that wood with homesteads; plots of cornRustled around them; here were orchards; thereIn trench or tank they steeped the bright blue flax;The saw-mill turned to use the wanton brook;Murmured the bee-hive; murmured household wheel;Soft eyes looked o'er it through the dusk; at workThe labourers carolled; matrons glad and maidsBare us the pail head-steadied, children flowers:Last, from her castle paced the queen, and ledIn either hand her sons whom thou hadst blest, Thenceforth to stand thy priests. The land believed;And not through ban, or word, sharp-edged or soft, But silence and thy fast the ill custom died. "

He answered, "Christ, in Christ-like life expressed, This, this, not words, subdues a land to Christ;And in this best Apostolate all have part. Ah me! that flower thou hold'st is strong to preachCreative Love, because itself is lovely;But we, the heralds of Redeeming Love, Because we are unlovely in our lives, Preach to deaf ears! Yet theirs, theirs too, the sin. "Benignus made reply: "The race is old;Not less their hearts are young. Have patience with them!For see, in spring the grave old oaks push forthImpatient sprays, wine-red: their strength matured, These sober down to verdure. " Patrick paused, Then, brooding, spake, as one who thinks, not speaks:"A priest there walked with me ten years and more;Warrior in youth was he. One day we heardThe shock of warring clans--I hear it still:Within him, as in darkening vase you noteThe ascending wine, I watched the passion mount: -Sudden he dashed him down into the fight, Nor e'er to Christ returned. " Benignus answered;"I saw above a dusky forest roofThe glad spring run, leaving a track sea-green:Not straight she ran; and yet she reached her goal:Later I saw above green copse of thornThe glad spring run, leaving a track foam-white:Not straight she ran; yet soon she conquered all!O Father, is it sinful to be gladHere amid sin and sorrow? Joy is strong, Strongest in spring-tide! Mourners I have knownThat, homeward wending from the new-dug grave, Against their will, where sang the happy birdsHave felt the aggressive gladness stir their hearts, And smiled amid their tears. " So babbled he, Shamed at his spring-tide raptures. 

 As they went, Far on their left there stretched a mighty landOf forest-girdled hills, mother of streams:Beyond it sank the day; while round the westLike giants thronged the great cloud-phantoms towered. Advancing, din they heard, and found in woodsA hamlet and a field by war unscathed, And boys on all sides running. Placid satThe village Elders; neither lacked that hourThe harp that gently tranquillises age, Yet wakes young hearts with musical unrest, Forerunner oft of love's unrest. Ere longThe measure changed to livelier: maid with maidDanced 'mid the dancing shadows of the trees, And youth with youth; till now, the strangers near, Those Elders welcomed them with act benign;And soon was slain the fatted kid, and soonThe lamb; nor any asked till hunger's rageWas quelled, "Who art thou?" Patrick made reply, "A Priest of God. " Then prayed they, "Offer thouTo Him our sacrifice! Belike 'tis HeWho saves from war this hamlet hid in woods:Unblest be he who finds it!" Thus they spake, The matrons, not the youths. In friendly talkThe hours went by with laughter winged and tale;But when the moon, on rolling through the heavens, Showered through the leaves a dew of sprinkled lightO'er the dark ground, the maidens garments broughtWoven in their quiet homes when nights were long, Red cloak and kirtle green, and laid them soft, Still with the wearers' blameless beauty warm, For coverlet upon the warm dry grass, Honouring the stranger guests. For these they deemedTheir low-roofed cots too mean. Glad-hearted roseThe Christian hymn, not timid: far it rangAbove the woods. Ere long, their blissful ritesFulfilled, the wanderers laid them down and slept. 

At midnight by the side of Patrick stoodVictor, God's Angel, saying, "Lo! thy workHath favour found and thou ere long shalt die:Thus therefore saith the Lord, 'So long as seaGirdeth this isle, so long thy name shall hangIn splendour o'er it, like the stars of God. '"Then Patrick said, "A boon! I crave a boon!"The angel answered, "Speak;" and Patrick said, "Let them that with me toiled, or in the yearsTo come shall toil, building o'er all this landThe Fortress-Temple and great House of Christ, Equalled with me my name in Erin share. "And Victor answered, "Half thy prayer is thine;With thee shall they partake. Not less, thy nameHigher than theirs shall rise, and wider spread, Since thus more plainly shall His glory shineWhose glory is His justice. "

 With the mornThose pilgrims rose, and, prime entoned and lauds, Poured out their blessing on that woodland clanWhich, round them pressing, kissed them, robe and knee;Then on they journeyed till at set of sunShone out the roofs of Macha, and that towerWhere Daire dwelt, its lord. 

 Saint Patrick sentTo Daire embassage, vouchsafing prayerAs sire might pray of son; "Give thou yon hillTo Christ, that we may build His church thereon. "And Daire answered with a brow of stormsBent forward darkly, and long, sneering lips, "Your master is a mighty man, we know. Garban, that lied to God, he slew through prayer, And banned full many a lake, and many a plain, For trespass there committed! Let it be!A Chief of souls he is! No signs we work, Rulers earth-born: yet somewhat are we here -Depart! By others answer we will send. "

 So Daire sent to Patrick men of might, Fierce men, the battle's nurslings. Thus they spake:"High region for high heads! If build ye must, Build on the plain: the hill is Daire's right:Church site he grants you, and the field around. "And Patrick, glancing from his Office Book, Made answer, "Deo Gratias, " and no more. 

Upon that plain he built a little churchEre long, a convent likewise, girt with moundBanked from the meadow loam, and deftly setWith stone, and fence, and woody palisade, That neither warring clans, far heard by day, Might hurt his cloistered charge, nor wolves by night, Howling in woods; and there he served the Lord. 

But Daire scorned the Saint, and grudged his gift, Though small; and half in spleen, and half in greed, Sent down two stately coursers all night longTo graze the deep sweet pasture round the church:Ill deed: --and so, for guerdon of that sin, Dead lay the coursers twain at the break of dawn. 

Then fled the servants back, and told their lord, Fearing for negligence rebuke and scath, "Thy Christian slew the coursers!" and the kingGave word to slay or bind him. But from GodA sickness fell on Daire nigh to deathThat day and night. When morning brake, the queen, A woman leal with kind barbaric heart, Her bosom from the sick man's head withdrewA moment while he slept; and, round her gazing, Closed with both hands upon a liegeman's arm, And sped him to the Saint for pardon and peace. Then Patrick, dipping in the inviolate fountA chalice, blessed the water, with command"Sprinkle the stately coursers and the king; "And straightway as from death the king arose, And rose from death the coursers. 

 Daire then, His tall frame boastful with that life renewed, Took with him men, and down the stone-paved hillRode from his tower, and through the woodlands green, And bare with him an offering of those days, A brazen cauldron vast. Embossed it shoneWith sculptured shapes. On one side hunters rode:Low stretched their steeds: the dogs pulled down the stagUnseen, except the branching horns that roseLike hands in protest. Feasters, on the other, Raised high the cup pledging the safe return. This offering Daire brought, and, entering, spake:"A gift for guerdon and for grace, O Priest!"And Patrick, upward glancing from his book, Made answer, "Deo Gratias!" and no more. 

King Daire, homeward riding with knit browMuttered, "Churl's welcome for a kingly boon!"And, drinking late that night the stormy breathOf others' anger blent with his, commanded, "Ride forth at morn and bring me back my gift!Spurn it he shall not, though he prize it not. "They heard him, and obeyed. At noon the kingDemanded thus, "What answer made the Saint?"They said, "His eyes he raised not from his book, But answered, 'Deo Gratias!' and no more. "

Then Daire stamped his foot, like war-horse stungBy gadfly: musing next, and mute he satA space, and lastly roared great laughter pealsTill roared in mockery back the raftered roof, And clashed his hands together shouting thus:"A gift, and 'Deo Gratias!'--gift withdrawn, And 'Deo Gratias!' Sooth, the word is good!Madman is this, or man of God? We'll know!"So from his frowning fortress once againAdown the resonant road o'er street and bridgeRode Daire, at his right the queen in fear, With dumbly pleading countenance; close behind, With tangled locks and loose-hung battle-axeRan the wild kerne; and loud the bull-horn blew. The convent reached, King Daire from his horseFlung his great limbs, and at the doorway toweredIn gazing stern: the queen beside him stood, Her lustrous violet eyes all lost in tears:One hand on Daire's garment lay like lightWandering on dusky ripple; one, upraised, Held in the high-necked horse that champed the bit, His head near hers. Within, the man of God, Sole-sitting, read his office book unmoved, And ending fixed his keen eye on the king, Not rising from his seat. 

 Then fell from GodInsight on Daire, and aloud he cried, "A kingly man, of mind unmovableArt thou; and as the rock beneath my towerShakes not in storm so shakes not heart of thine:Such men are of the height and not the plain:Therefore that hill to thee I grant unsoughtWhich whilome I refused. Possession takeThis day, lest hostile demon warp my mood;And build thereon thy church. The same shall standStrong mother-church of all thy great clan Christ!"

Thus Daire spake; and Patrick, at his wordRising, gave thanks to God, and to the kingHigh blessing heard in heaven; and making signWent forth, attended by his priestly train, Benignus first, his dearest, then the rest. In circuit thrice they girt that hill, and sangAnthem first heard when unto God was vowedThat House which David offered in his heartHis son in act, and hymn of holy ChurchHailing that city like a bride attired, From heaven to earth descending. With them sangAn angel choir above them borne. The birdsForbore their songs, listening that angel strain, Ethereal music and by men unheardExcept the Elect. The king in reverence pacedBehind, his liegemen next, a mass confusedWith saffron standard gay and spears upheldFlashing through thickets green. These kept not line, For Alp was still recounting battles old, Aodh of wizards sang, and Ir of love;While bald-pate Conan, sharpening from his eyeThe sneering light, shot from his plastic mouthShrill taunt and biting gibe. The younger sortEyed the dense copse and launched full many a shaftThrough it at flying beast. From ledge to ledgeClomb Angus, keen of sight, with hand o'er brow, Forth gazing on some far blue ridge of warWith nostril wide outblown, and snorting cried, "Would I were there!"

 Meantime, the man of GodHad reached the fair crown of that sacred hill, A circle girt with woodland branching low, And roofed with heaven. Beyond its tonsure fringe, Birch trees and oaks, there pushed a thorn milk-white, And close beside it slept in shade a fawnWhiter. The startled dam had left its side, And through the dark stems fled like flying gleam. Minded they were, the kernes, to kill that fawn, And all the priests stood silent; but the SaintPut forth his hand, and o'er her signed the Cross, And, stooping, on his shoulder placed her firm, And bade the brethren mark with stones her lairDewless and dusk: then, singing as he went"Like as the hart desires the water brooks, "He walked, that hill descending. Light from GodO'ershone his face. Meantime the awakened fawnNow rolled her dark eye on the silver headClose by, now turning licked the wrinkled hand, Unfearing. Soon, with little whimpering sob, The doe drew near and paced at Patrick's side. At last they reached a little field low downBeneath that hill: there Patrick laid the fawn. 

King Daire questioned Patrick of that deed, Incensed; and scornful asked, "Shall mitred manPlay thus the shepherd and the forester?"And Patrick answered, "Aged men, O king, Forget their reasons oft. Benignus seek, If haply God has shown him for what causeI wrought this thing. " Then Daire turned him backAnd faced Benignus; and with lifted hand, Pure as a maid's, and dimpled like a child's, Picturing his thoughts on air, the little monkThus glossed that deed. "Great mystery, king, is Love:Poets its worthiness have sung in laysUnread by ruder ones like me; and yetThus much the simplest and the rudest know, Dear is the fawn to her that gave it birth, And to the sceptred monarch dear the childThat mounts his knee. Nor here the marvel ends;For, like yon star, the great Paternal HeartThrough all the unmeted, unimagined years, While yet Creation uncreated hung, A thought, a dawn-streak on the verge extremeOf lonely Godhead's inner Universe, Panted and pants with splendour of its love, The Eternal Sire rejoicing in the SonAnd Both in Him Who still from Both proceeds, Bond of their love. Moreover, king, that SonWho, Virgin-born, raised from the ruinous gulfOur world, and made it footstool to God's throne, The same is Love, and died for Love, and reigns:Loveless, His Church were but a corse stone-cold;Loveless, her creed were but a winter leafNetwork of barren thoughts, the cerement wanOf Faith extinct. Therefore our Saint reveredThe love and anguish of that mother doe, And inly vowed that where her offspring couchedChrist's chiefest church should stand, from age to ageConfession plain 'mid raging of the clansThat God is Love;--His worship void and vainDisjoined from Love that, rising to the heightsEven to the depths descends. "

 Conversing thus, Macha they reached. Ere long where lay the fawnStood God's new altar; and, ere many years, Far o'er the woodlands rose the church high-towered, Preaching God's peace to still a troubled world. The Saint who built it found not there his graveThough wished for; him God buried otherwhere, Fulfilling thus the counsels of His Will:But old, and grey, when many a winter's frostTo spring had yielded, bent by wounds and woesUpon that church's altar looked once moreKing Daire; at its font was joined to Christ;And, midway 'twixt that altar and that font, Rejoined his beauteous mate a later day. 

THE ARRAIGNMENT OF SAINT PATRICK. 

ARGUMENT. 

Secknall, the poet, brings, in sport, three heavy charges against Saint Patrick, who, supposing them to be serious, defends himself against them. Lastly Secknall sings a hymn written in praise of a Saint. Saint Patrick commends it, affirming that for once Fame has dispensed her honours honestly. Upon this, Secknall recites the first stave, till then craftily reserved, which offers the whole homage of that hymn to Patrick, who, though the humblest of men, has thus arrogated to himself the saintly Crown. There is laughter among the brethren. 

When Patrick now was old and nigh to deathUndimmed was still his eye; his tread was strong;And there was ever laughter in his heart, And music in his laughter. In a woodNigh to Ardmacha dwelt he with his monks;And there, like birds that cannot stay their songsLove-touched in Spring, or grateful for their nests, They to the woodsmen preached of Christ, their King, To swineherds, and to hinds that tended sheep, Yea, and to pilgrim guests from distant clans;His shepherd-worshipped birth when breath of kineWent o'er the Infant; all His wondrous worksOr words from mount, or field, or anchored boat, And Christendom upreared for weal of menAnd Angel-wonder. Daily preached the monksAnd daily built their convent. Wildly sweetThe season, prime of unripe spring, when MarchDistils from cup half gelid yet some dropsOf finer relish than the hand of MayPours from her full-brimmed beaker. Frost, though gone, Had left its glad vibration on the air;Laughed the blue heavens as though they ne'er had frowned, Through leafless oak-boughs; limes of kindlier graceAnd swifter to believe Spring's "tidings good"Took the sweet lights upon a breast bud-swoll'n, And crimson as the redbreast's; while, as whenClear rings a flute-note through sea-murmurs harsh, At intervals ran out a streak of greenAcross the dim-hued forest. 

 From their woodThe strong arms of the monks had hewn them spaceFor all their convent needed; farmyard storedWith stacks that all the winter long had clutchedTheir hoarded harvest sunshine; pasture greenWhitened with sheep; fair garden fenceless stillWith household herbs new-sprouting: but, as oftSome conquered race, forth sallying in its spleenWhen serves the occasion, wins a province back, Or flouts at least the foe, so here once moreWild flowers, a clan unvanquished, raised their heads'Mid sprouting wheat; and where from craggy heightPushed the grey ledge, the woodland host recoiledAs though in Parthian flight; while many a bird, Barbaric from the inviolate forest launchedWild warbled scorn on all that life reclaimed, Mute garth-still orchard. Child of distant hills, A proud stream, swollen by midnight rains, down leapedFrom rock to rock. It spurned the precinct nowWith airy dews silvering the bramble greenAnd redd'ning more the beech-stock. 

 'Twas the hourOf rest, and every monk was glad at heart, For each had wrought with might. With hands upheld, Mochta, the priest, had thundered against sin, Wrath-roused, as when some prince too late returnedStares at his sea-side village all in flames, The slave-thronged ship escaped. The bishop, Erc, Had reconciled old feuds by Brehon LawWhere Brehon Law was lawful. Boys wild-eyedHad from Benignus learned the church's song, Boys brightened now, yet tempered, by that ageGracious to stripling as to maid, that bringsValour to one and modesty to bothWhere youth is loyal to the Virgin-born. The giant meek, Mac Cairthen, on bent neckHad carried beam on beam, while Criemther felledThe oaks, and from the anvil Laeban dashedThe sparks in showers. A little way removed, Beneath a pine three vestals sat close-veiled:A song these childless sang of Bethlehem's Child, Low-toned, and worked their Altar-cloth, a LambAll white on golden blazon; near it bledThe bird that with her own blood feeds her young:Red drops affused her holy breast. These threeWere daughters of three kings. The best and fairest, King Daire's daughter, Erenait by name, Had loved Benignus in her Pagan years. He knew it not: full sweet to her his voiceChaunting in choir. One day through grief of loveThe maiden lay as dead: Benignus shookDews from the font above her, and she wokeWith heart emancipate that outsoared the larkLost in blue heavens. She loved the Spouse of Souls. It was as though some child that, dreaming, weptIts childish playthings lost, awaked by bells, Bride-bells, had found herself a queen new wedUnto her country's lord. 

 While monk with monkConversed, the son of Patrick's sister sat, Secknall by name, beside the window soleAnd marked where Patrick from his hill of prayerApproached, descending slowly. At the sightHe, maker blithe of songs, and wild as hawkAlbeit a Saint, whose wont it was at timesOr shy, or strange, or shunning flattery's taint, To attempt with mockery those whom most he loved, Whispered a brother, "Speak to Patrick thus:'When all men praised thee, Secknall made reply"A blessed man were Patrick save for this, Alms deeds he preaches not. "'" The brother went:Ere long among them entered Patrick, wroth, Or, likelier, feigning wrath: --"What man is heWho saith I preach not alms deeds?" Secknall rose:"I said it, Father, and the charge is true. "Then Patrick answered, "Out of CharityI preach not Charity. This people, wonTo Christ, ere long will prove a race of Saints;To give will be its passion, not to gain:Its heart is generous; but its hand is slackIn all save war: herein there lurks a snare:The priest will fatten, and the beggar feast:But the lean land will yield nor chief nor princeHire of two horses yoked to chariot beam. "Then Secknall spake, "O Father, dead it liesMine earlier charge against thee. Hear my next, Since in our Order's equal BrotherhoodCensure uncensured is the right of all. You press to the earth your converts! gold you spurn;Yet bind upon them heavier load than whenConqueror his captive tasks. Have shepherds threeBowed them to Christ? 'Build up a church, ' you cry;So one must draw the sand, and one the stoneAnd one the lime. Honouring the seven great Gifts, You raise in one small valley churches seven. Who serveth you fares hard!" The Saint replied, "Second as first! I came not to this landTo crave scant service, nor with shallow ploughCleave I this glebe. The priest that soweth muchFor here the land is fruitful, much shall reap:Who soweth little nought but weeds shall bindAnd poppies of oblivion. " Secknall next:"Yet man to man will whisper, and the faceOf all this people darken like a seaWhen pipes the coming storm. " He answered, "Son, I know this people better. Fierce they areIn anger; neither flies their thought direct;For some, though true to Nature, lie to men, And others, true to men, are false to God:Yet as the prince's is the poor man's heart;Burthen for God sustained no burden isTo him; and those who most have given to ChristLargeliest His fulness share. "

 Secknall replied, "Low lies my second charge; a third remains, Which, as a shaft from seasoned bow, not green, Shall pierce the marl. With convents still you sowThe land: in other countries sparse and smallThey swell to cities here. A hundred monksOn one late barren mountain dig and pray:A hundred nuns gladden one woodland lawn, Or sing in one small island. Well--'tis well!Yet, balance lost and measure, nought is well. The Angelic Life more common will becomeThan life of mortal men. " The Saint replied, "No shaft from homicidal yew-tree bowIs thine, but winged of thistle-down! Now hear!Measure is good; but measure's law with scaleChangeth; nor doth the part reflect the whole. Each nation hath its gift, and each to allNot equal ministers. If all were eye, Where then were ear? If all were ear or hand, Where then were eye? The nation is the part;The Church the whole"--But Criemther where he stood, Old warrior, shouted like a chief war-waked, "This land is Eire! No nation lives like her!A part! Who portions Eire?" The Saint, with smileResumed: "The whole that from the part receives, Repaying still that part, till man's whole raceGrow to the fulness of Mankind redeemed. What gift hath God in eminence given to Eire?Singly, her race is feeble; strong when knit:Nought knits them truly save a heavenly aim. I knit them as an army unto God, Give them God's War! Yon star is militant!Its splendour 'gainst the dark must fight or die:So wars that Faith I preach against the world;And nations fitted least for this world's gainCan speed Faith's triumph best. Three hundred years, Well used, should make of Eire a northern Rome. Criemther! her destiny is this, or nought;Secknall! the highest only can she reach;Alone the Apostle's crown is hers: for this, A Rule I give her, strong, yet strong in Love;Monastic households build I far and wide;Monastic clans I plant among her clans, With abbots for their chiefs. The same shall live, Long as God's love o'errules them. "

 Secknall thenKnelt, reverent; yet his eye had in it mirth, And round the full bloom of the red rich mouth, No whit ascetic, ran a dim half smile. "Father, my charges three have futile fallen, And thrice, like some great warrior of the bards, Your conquering wheels above me you have driven. Brought low, I make confession. Once, in woodsWandering, we heard a sound, now loud, now low, As he that treads the sand-hills hears the seaHigh murmuring while he climbs the seaward slope, Low, as he drops to landward. 'Twas a throngAwed, yet tumultuous, wild-eyed, wondering, fierce, That, standing round a harper, stave on staveAcclaimed as each had ending. 'War, still war!'Thou saidst; 'the bards but sing of War and Death!Ah! if they sang that Death which conquered Death, Then, like a tide, this people, music-drawn, Would mount the shores of Christ! Bards love not us, Prescient that power, that power wielded elsewhereBy priest, but here by them, shall pass to us:Yet we love them for good one day their gift. 'Then didst thou turn on me an eye of mightSuch as on Malach, when thou had'st him raiseBy miracle of prayer that babe boar-slain, And said'st, 'Go, fell thy pine, and frame thy harp, And in the hearing of this people singSome Saint, the friend of Christ. ' Too long the attemptShame-faced, I shunned; at last, like him of old, That better brother who refused, yet went, I made my hymn. 'Tis called 'A Child of Life. '"Then Patrick, "Welcome is the praise of Saints:Sing thou thy hymn. "

 From kneeling Secknall roseAnd stood, and singing, raised his hand as whenHer cymbal by the Red Sea Miriam raisedWhile silent stood God's hosts, and silent layThose host-entombing waters. Shook, like hers, His slight form wavering 'mid the gusts of song. He sang the Saint of God, create from noughtTo work God's Will. As others gaze on earth, Her vales, her plains, her green meads ocean-girt, So gazed the Saint for ever upon GodWho girds all worlds--saw intermediate nought -And on Him watched the sunshine and the storm, And learned His Countenance, and from It alone, Drew in upon his heart its day and night. That contemplation was for him no dream:It hurled him on his mission. As a swordHe lodged his soul within the Hand DivineAnd wrought, keen-edged, God's counsel. Next to GodNext, and how near, he loved the souls of men:Yea, men to him were Souls; the unspiritual herdHe saw as magic-bound, or chained to beast, And groaned to free them. For their sakes, unfearing, He faced the ravening waves, and iron rocks, Hunger, and poniard's edge, and poisoned cup, And faced the face of kings, and faced the hostOf demons raging for their realm o'erthrown. This was the Man of Love. Self-love cast out, The love made spiritual of a thousand heartsMet in his single heart, and kindled thereA sun-like image of Love Divine. WithinThat Spirit-shadowed heart was Christ conceivedHourly through faith, hourly through Love was born;Sole secret this of fruitfulness to Christ. Who heard him heard with his a lordlier Voice, Strong as that Voice which said, "Let there be light, "And light o'erflowed their beings. He from eachHis secret won; to each God's secret told:He touched them, and they lived. In each, the fleshSubdued to soul, the affections, vassals proudBy conscience ruled, and conscience lit by Christ, The whole man stood, planet full-orbed of powersIn equipoise, Image restored of God. A nation of such men his portion was;That nation's Patriarch he. No wrangler loud;No sophist; lesser victories knew he none:No triumph his of sect, or camp, or court;The Saint his great soul flung upon the world, And took the people with him like a windMissioned from God that with it wafts in springSome winged race, a multitudinous night, Into new sun-bright climes. 

 As Secknall sang, Nearer the Brethren drew. On Patrick's rightBenignus stood; old Mochta on his left, Slow-eyed, with solemn smile and sweet; next Erc, Whose ever-listening countenance that hourBeyond its wont was listening; Criemther nearThe workman Saint, his many-wounded handsTogether clasped: forward each mighty armOn shoulders propped of Essa and of Bite, Leaned the meek giant Cairthen: twelve in allClustering they stood and in them was one soul. When Secknall ceased, in silence still they hungEach upon each, glad-hearted since the meedOf all their toils shone out before them plain, Gold gates of heaven--a nation entering in. A light was on their faces, and withoutSpread a great light, for sunset now had fallenA Pentecostal fire upon the woods, Or else a rain of angels streamed o'er earth. In marvel gazed the twelve: yea, clans far offStared from their hills, deeming the site aflame. That glory passed away, discourse aroseOn Secknall's hymn. Its radiance from his faceHad, like the sunset's, vanished as he spake. "Father, what sayst thou?" Patrick made reply, "My son, the hymn is good; for Truth is gold;And Fame, obsequious often to base heads, For once is loyal, and its crown hath laidWhere honour's debt was due. " Then Secknall raisedIn triumph both his hands, and chaunted loudThat hymn's first stave, earlier through craft withheld, Stave that to Patrick's name, and his alone, Offered that hymn's whole incense! Ceasing, he stoodLow-bowed, with hands upon his bosom crossed. Great laughter from the brethren came, their ChiefThus trapped, though late--he meekest man of men -To claim the saintly crown. First young, then old, Later the old, and sore against their will, That laughter raised. Last from the giant chestOf Cairthen forth it rolled its solemn bass, Like sea-sound swallowing lighter sounds hard by. But Patrick laughed not: o'er his face there passedShade lost in light; and thus he spake, "O friendsThat which I have to do I know in part:God grant I work my work. That which I amHe knows Who made me. Saints He hath, good store:Their names are written in His Book of Life;Kneel down, my sons, and pray that if thus longI seem to stand, I fall not at the end. "

Then in a circle kneeling prayed the twelve. But when they rose, Secknall with serious browAdvanced, and knelt, and kissed Saint Patrick's foot, And said, "O Father, at thy hest that hymnI made, long labouring, and thy crown it stands:Thou, therefore, grant me gifts, for strong thy prayer. "

And Patrick said, "The house wherein thy hymnIs sung at morn or eve shall lack not bread:And if men sing it in a house new-built, Where none hath dwelt, nor bridegroom yet, nor bride, Nor hath the cry of babe been heard therein, Upon that house the watching of the SaintsOf Eire, and Patrick's watching, shall be fixedEven as the stars. " And Secknall said, "What more?"

Then Patrick added, "They that night and mornDown-lying and up-rising, sing that hymn, They too that softly whisper it, nigh death, If pure of heart, and liegeful unto Christ, Shall see God's face; and, since the hymn is long, Its grace shall rest for children and the poorFull measure on the last three lines; and thouOf this dear company shalt die the first, And first of Eire's Apostles. " Then his cheekSecknall laid down once more on Patrick's foot, And answered, "Deo Gratias. "

 Thus in mirth, And solemn talk, and prayer, that brother bandIn the golden age of Faith with great free heartGave thanks to God that blissful eventide, A thousand and four hundred years and moreGone by. But now clear rang the compline bell, And two by two they wended towards their churchAcross a space for cloister set apart, Yet still with wood-flowers sweet, and scent besideOf sod that evening turned. The night came on;A dim ethereal twilight o'er the hillsDeepened to dewy gloom. Against the skyStood ridge and rock unmarked amid the day:A few stars o'er them shone. As bower on bowerLet go the waning light, so bird on birdLet go its song. Two songsters still remained, Each feebler than a fountain soon to cease, And claimed somewhile across the dusking dellRivals unseen in sleepy argument, Each, the last word: --a pause; and then, once more, An unexpected note: --a longer pause;And then, past hope, one other note, the last. A moment more the brethren stood in prayer:The rising moon upon the church-roof newGlimmered; and o'er it sang an angel choir, "Venite Sancti. " Entering, soon were saidThe psalm, "He giveth sleep, " and hymn, "Laetare;"And in his solitary cell each monkLay down, rejoicing in the love of God. 

The happy years went by. When Patrick nowAnd all his company were housed with GodThat hymn, at morning sung, and noon, and eve, Even as it lulled the waves of warring clansSo lulled with music lives of toil-worn menAnd charmed their ebbing breath. One time it chancedWhen in his convent Kevin with his monksHad sung it thrice, the board prepared, a guest, Foot-sore and hungered, murmured, "Wherefore thrice?"And Kevin answered, "Speak not thus, my son, For while we sang it, visible to all, Saint Patrick was among us. At his rightBenignus stood, and, all around, the Twelve, God's light upon their brows; while Secknall kneltDemanding meed of song. Moreover, son, This self-same day and hour, twelve months gone by, Patrick, our Patriarch, died; and happy FeastIs that he holds, by two short days aloneSevered from his of Hebrew Patriarchs last, And Chief. The Holy House at NazarethHe ruled benign, God's Warder with white hairs;And still his feast, that silver star of March, When snows afflict the hill and frost the moor, With temperate beam gladdens the vernal Church -All praise to God who draws that Twain so near. "

THE STRIVING OF SAINT PATRICK ON MOUNT CRUACHAN. 

ARGUMENT. 

Saint Patrick, seeing that now Erin believes, desires that the whole land should stand fast in belief till Christ returns to judge the world. For this end he resolves to offer prayer on Mount Cruachan; but Victor, the Angel who has attended him in all his labours, restrains him from that prayer as being too great. Notwithstanding, the Saint prays three times on the mountain, and three times all the demons of Erin contend against him, and twice Victor, the Angel, rebukes his prayers. In the end Saint Patrick scatters the demons with ignominy, and God's Angel bids him know that his prayer hath conquered through constancy. 

From realm to realm had Patrick trod the Isle;And evermore God's work beneath his hand, Since God had blessed that hand, ran out full-sphered, And brighter than a new-created star. The Island race, in feud of clan with clanBarbaric, gracious else and high of heart, Nor worshippers of self, nor dulled through sense, Beholding, not alone his wondrous works;But, wondrous more, the sweetness of his strengthAnd how he neither shrank from flood nor fire, And how he couched him on the wintry rocks, And how he sang great hymns to One who heard, And how he cared for poor men and the sick, And for the souls invisible of men, To him made way--not simple hinds alone, But chiefly wisest heads, for wisdom thenPrime wisdom saw in Faith; and, mixt with these, Chieftains and sceptred kings. Nigh Tara, first, Scorning the king's command, had Patrick litHis Paschal fire, and heavenward as it soared, The royal fire and all the Beltaine firesShamed by its beam had withered round the IsleLike fires on little hearths whereon the sunLooks in his greatness. Later, to that plainCentral 'mid Eire, "of Adoration" named, Down-trampled for two thousand years and moreBy erring feet of men, the Saint had spedIn Apostolic might, and kenned far offIll-pleased, the nation's idol lifting highHis head, and those twelve vassal gods aroundAll mailed in gold and shining as the sun, A pomp impure. Ill-pleased the Saint had seen them, And raised the Staff of Jesus with a ban:Then he, that demon named of men Crom-dubh, With all his vassal gods, into the earthThat knew her Maker, to their necks had sunkWhile round the island rang three times the cryOf fiends tormented. 

 Not for this as yetHad Patrick perfected his strength: as yetThe depths he had not trodden; nor had GodDrawn forth His total forces in the manHidden long since and sealed. For this cause he, Who still his own heart in triumphant hourSuspected most, remembering Milchoe's fate, With fear lest aught of human mar God's work, And likewise from his handling of the GaelKnowing not less their weakness than their strength, Paused on his conquering way, and lonely satIn cloud of thought. The great Lent Fast had come:Its first three days went by; the fourth, he rose, And meeting his disciples that drew nighVouchsafed this greeting only: "Bide ye hereTill I return, " and straightway set his faceAlone to that great hill "of eagles" namedHuge Cruachan, that o'er the western deepHung through sea-mist, with shadowing crag on crag, High-ridged, and dateless forest long since dead. 

That forest reached, the angel of the LordBeside him, as he entered, stood and spake:"The gifts thy soul demands, demand them not;For they are mighty and immeasurable, And over great for granting. " And the Saint:"This mountain Cruachan I will not leaveAlive till all be granted, to the last. "

Then knelt he on the shrouded mountain's base, And was in prayer; and, wrestling with the Lord, Demanded wondrous things immeasurable, Not easy to be granted, for the land;Nor brooked repulse; and when repulse there came, Repulse that quells the weak and crowns the strong, Forth from its gloom like lightning on him flashedIntelligential gleam and insight wingedThat plainlier showed him all his people's heart, And all the wound thereof: and as in depthKnowledge descended, so in height his prayerRose, and far spread; nor roused alone those PowersRegioned with God; for as the strength of fireWhen flames some palace pile, or city vast, Wakens a tempest round it dragging inWild blast, and from the aggression mightier grows, So wakened Patrick's prayer the demon race, And drew their legions in upon his soulFrom near and far. First came the Accursed encampedOn Connact's cloudy hills and watery moors;Old Umbhall's Heads, Iorras, and Arran Isle, And where Tyrawley clasps that sea-girt woodFochlut, whence earliest rang the Children's Cry, To demons trump of doom. In stormy rackThey came, and hung above the invested MountExpectant. But, their mutterings heeding not, When Patrick still in puissance rose of prayer, O'er all their armies round the realm dispersedThere ran prescience of fate; and, north and south, From all the mountain-girdled coasts--for stillBest site attracts worst Spirit--on they came, From Aileach's shore and Uladh's hoary cliffs, Which held the aeries of that eagle raceMore late in Alba throned, "Lords of the Isles" -High chiefs whose bards, in strong transmitted line, Filled with the name of Fionn, and thine, Oiseen, The blue glens of that never-vanquished land -From those purpureal mountains that o'ergazeRock-bowered Loch Lene broidered with sanguine bead, They came, and many a ridge o'er sea-lake stretchedThat, autumn-robed in purple and in gold, Pontific vestment, guard the memories stillOf monks who reared thereon their mystic cells, Finian and Kieran, Fiacre, and Enda's selfOf hermits sire, and that sea-facing SaintBrendan, who, in his wicker boat of skinsBefore that Genoese a thousand yearsFound a new world; and many more that nowUnder wind-wasted Cross of ClonmacnoiseAwait the day of Christ. 

 So rushed they onFrom all sides, and, close met, in circling stormBesieged the enclouded steep of Cruachan, That scarce the difference knew 'twixt night and dayMore than the sunless pole. Him sought they, himWhom infinitely near they might approach, Not touch, while firm his faith--their Foe that dragged, Sole-kneeling on that wood-girt mountain's base, With both hands forth their realm's foundation stone. Thus ruin filled the mountain: day by dayThe forest torment deepened; louder roaredThe great aisles of the devastated woods;Black cave replied to cave; and oaks, whole ranks, Colossal growth of immemorial years, Sown ere Milesius landed, or that raceHe vanquished, or that earliest Scythian tribe, Fell in long line, like deep-mined castle wall, At either side God's warrior. Slowly diedAt last, far echoed in remote ravines, The thunder: then crept forth a little voiceThat shrilly whispered to him thus in scorn:"Two thousand years yon race hath walked in bloodNeck-deep; and shall it serve thy Lord of Peace?"That whisper ceased. Again from all sides burstTenfold the storm; and as it waxed, the SaintWaxed in strong heart; and, kneeling with stretched hands, Made for himself a panoply of prayer, And wound it round his bosom twice and thrice, And made a sword of comminating psalm, And smote at them that mocked him. Day by day, Till now the second Sunday's vesper bellGladdened the little churches round the isle, That conflict raged: then, maddening in their ire, Sudden the Princedoms of the Dark, that rodeThis way and that way through the tempest, brakeTheir sceptres, and with one great cry it fell:At once o'er all was silence: sunset litThe world, that shone as though with face upturnedIt gazed on heavens by angel faces throngedAnd answered light with light. A single birdCarolled; and from the forest skirt down fell, Gem-like, the last drops of the exhausted storm. 

Then bowed the Saint his forehead to the groundThanking his God; and there in sacred trance, Which was not sleep, abode not hours aloneBut silent nights and days; and, 'mid that trance, God fed his heart with unseen Sacraments, Immortal food. Awaking, Patrick feltYearnings for nearer commune with his God, Though great its cost; and gat him on his feet, And, mile by mile, ascended through the woodsTill stunted were its growths; and still he clombPrinting with sandalled foot the dewy steep:But when above the mountain rose the moonBrightening each mist, while sank the prone morassIn double night, he came upon a stoneTomb-shaped, that flecked that steep: a little streamDropped by it from the summits to the woods:Thereon he knelt; and was once more in prayer. 

Nor prayed unnoticed by that race abhorred. No sooner had his knees the mountain touchedThan through their realm vibration went; and straightHis prayer detecting back they trooped in cloudsAnd o'er him closed, blotting with bat-like wingAnd inky pall, the moon. Then thunder pealedOnce more, nor ceased from pealing. Over allNight ruled, except when blue and forked flashRevealed the on-circling waterspout or plungeOf rain beneath the blown cloud's ravelled hem, Or, huge on high, that lion-coloured steepWhich, like a lion, roared into the nightAnswering the roaring from sea-caves far down. Dire was the strife. That hour the Mountain old, An anarch throned 'mid ruins flung himselfIn madness forth on all his winds and floods, An omnipresent wrath! For God reserved, Too long the prey of demons he had been;Possession foul and fell. Now nigh expelledThose demons rent their victim freed. Aloft, They burst the rocky barrier of the tarnThat downward dashed its countless cataracts, Drowning far vales. On either side the SaintA torrent rushed--mightiest of all these twain -Peeling the softer substance from the hillsTheir flesh, till glared, deep-trenched, the mountain's bones;And as those torrents widened, rocks down rolledShowering upon that unsubverted headSharp spray ice-cold. Before him closed the flood, And closed behind, till all was raging flood, All but that tomb-like stone whereon he knelt. 

Unshaken there he knelt with hands outstretched, God's Athlete! For a mighty prize he strove, Nor slacked, nor any whit his forehead bowed:Fixed was his eye and keen; the whole white faceKeen as that eye itself, though--shapeless yet -The infernal horde to ear not eye addressedTheir battle. Back he drave them, rank on rank, Routed, with psalm, and malison, and ban, As from a sling flung forth. Revolt's blind spawnHe named them; one time Spirits, now linked with brute, Yea, bestial more and baser: and as a shipMounts with the mounting of the wave, so heO'er all the insurgent tempest of their wrathRising rode on triumphant. Days went by, Then came a lull; and lo! a whisper shrill, Once heard before, again its poison coldDistilled: "Albeit to Christ this land should bow, Some conqueror's foot one day would quell her Faith. "It ceased. Tenfold once more the storm burst forth:Once more the ecstatic passion of his prayerMet it, and, breasting, overbore, untilSudden the Princedoms of the dark that rodeThis way and that way through the whirlwind, dashedTheir vanquished crowns of darkness to the groundWith one long cry. Then silence came; and lo!The white dawn of the fourth fair Day of GodO'erflowed the world. Slowly the Saint upraisedHis wearied eyes. Upon the mountain lawnsLay happy lights; and birds sang; and a streamThat any five-years' child might overleap, Beside him lapsed crystalline between banksWith violets all empurpled, and smooth margeGreen as that spray which earliest sucks the spring. 

Then Patrick raised to God his orisonOn that fair mount, and planted in the grassHis crozier staff, and slept; and in his sleepGod fed his heart with unseen Sacraments, Manna of might divine. Three days he slept;The fourth he woke. Upon his heart there rushedYearning for closer converse with his GodThough great its cost; and on his feet he gat, And high, and higher yet, that mountain scaled, And reached at noon the summit. Far belowBasking the island lay, through rainbow showerGleaming in part, with shadowy moor, and ridgeBlue in the distance looming. Westward stretchedA galaxy of isles, and, these beyond, Infinite sea with sacred light ablaze, And high o'erhead there hung a cloudless heaven. 

Upon that summit kneeling, face to seaThe Saint, with hands held forth and thanks returned, Claimed as his stately heritage that realmFrom north to south: but instant as his lipPrinted with earliest pulse of Christian prayerThat clear aerial clime Pagan till then;The Host Accursed, sagacious of his act, Rushed back from all the isle and round him metWith anger seven times heated, since their hour, And this they knew, was come. Nor thunder dinAnd challenge through the ear alone, sufficedThat hour their rage malign that, craving soreMaterial bulk to rend his bulk--their foe's -Through fleshly strength of that their murder-lustFlamed forth in fleshly form phantoms night-blackThough bodiless yet to bodied mass as nighAs Spirits can reach. More thick than vultures wingedTo fields with carnage piled, the Accursed throngedMaking thick night which neither earth nor skyCould pierce, from sense expunged. In phalanx now, Anon in breaking legion, or in globe, With clang of iron pinion on they rushedAnd spectral dart high-held. Nor quailed the Saint, Contending for his people on that Mount, Nor spared God's foes; for as old minster towersBesieged by midnight storm send forth replyIn storm outrolled of bells, so sent he forthDefiance from fierce lip, vindictive chaunt, And blight and ban, and maledictive ritePotent on face of Spirits impure to raiseThese plague-spots three, Defeat, Madness, Despair;Nor stinted flail of taunt--"When first my barkThreatened your coasts, as now upon the hillsHung ye in cloud; as now, I raised this Cross;Ye fled before it and again shall fly!"So hurled he back their squadrons. Day by dayThe hurricanes of war shook earth and heaven:Till now, on Holy Saturday, that hourReturned which maketh glad the Church of GodWhen over Christendom in widowed fanesTwo days by penance stripped, and dumb as thoughSome Antichrist had trodd'n them down, once moreSwells forth amid the new-lit paschal lightsThe "Gloria in Excelsis:" sudden thenThat mighty conflict ceased, save one low voiceTwice heard before, now edged with bitterer scoff, "That race thou lov'st, though fierce in wrath, is soft:Plenty and peace will melt their Faith one day:"Then with that whisper dying, died the night:Then forth from darkness issued earth and sky:Then fled the phantoms far o'er ocean's wave, Thence to return not till the day of doom. 

But he, their conqueror wept, upon that heightStanding; nor of his victory had he joy, Nor of that jubilant isle restored to light, Nor of that heaven relit; so worked that scoffWinged from the abyss; and ever thus the manWith darkness communed and that poison cold:"If Faith indeed should flood the land with peace, And peace with gold, and gold eat out her heartOnce true, till Faith one day through Faith's rewardOr die, or live diseased, the shame of Faith, Then blacker were this land and more accursedThan lands that knew no Christ. " And musing thusThe whole heart of the man was turned to tears, A fount of bale and chalice brimmed with death -For oft a thought chance-born more racks than truthProven and sure--and, weeping, still he weptTill drenched was all his sad monastic cowlAs sea-weed on the dripping shelf storm-castLatest, and tremulous still. 

 As thus he weptSudden beside him on that summit broad, Ran out a golden beam like sunset pathGilding the sea: and, turning, by his sideVictor, God's angel, stood with lustrous browFresh from that Face no man can see and live. He, putting forth his hand, with living coalSnatched from God's altar, made that dripping cowlDry as an Autumn sheaf. The angel spake:"Rejoice, for they are fled that hate thy land, And those are nigh that love it. " Then the SaintUpraised his head; and lo! in snowy sheenCresting high rock, and ridge, and airy peak, Innumerable the Sons of God all roundVested the invisible mountain with white light, As when the foam-white birds of ocean throngSea-rock so close that none that rock may see. In trance the Living Creatures stood, with wingsThat pointing crossed upon their breasts; nor seemedAs new arrived but native to that siteThough veiled till now from mortal vision. SongThey sang to soothe the vexed heart of the Saint -Love-song of Heaven: and slowly as it diedTheir splendours waned; and through that vanishing lightEarth, sea, and heaven returned. 

 To Patrick then, Thus Victor spake: "Depart from Cruachan, Since God hath given thee wondrous gifts, immense, And through thy prayer routed that rebel host. "And Patrick, "Till the last of all my prayersBe granted, I depart not though I die: -One said, 'Too fierce that race to bend to faith. '"Then spake God's angel, mild of voice, and kind:"Not all are fierce that fiercest seem, for oftFierceness is blindfold love, or love ajar. Souls thou wouldst have: for every hair late wetIn this thy tearful cowl and habit drenchedGod gives thee myriads seven of Souls redeemedFrom sin and doom; and Souls, beside, as manyAs o'er yon sea in legioned flight might hangFar as thine eye can range. But get thee downFrom Cruachan, for mighty is thy prayer. "And Patrick made reply: "Not great thy boon!Watch have I kept, and wearied are mine eyesAnd dim; nor see they far o'er yonder deep. "And Victor: "Have thou Souls from coast to coastIn cloud full-stretched; but, get thee down: this MountGod's Altar is, and puissance adds to prayer. "And Patrick: "On this Mountain wept have I;And therefore giftless will I not depart:One said, 'Although that People should believeYet conqueror's heel one day would quell their Faith. '"To whom the angel, mild of voice, and kind:"Conquerors are they that subjugate the soul:This also God concedes thee; conquering foeTrampling this land, shall tread not out her FaithNor sap by fraud, so long as thou in heavenLook'st on God's Face; nay, by that Faith subdued, That foe shall serve and live. But get thee downAnd worship in the vale. " Then Patrick said, "Live they that list! Full sorely wept have I, Nor will I hence depart unsatisfied:One said; 'Grown soft, that race their Faith will shame;'Say therefore what the Lord thy God will grant, Nor stint His hand; since never scanter graceFell yet on head of nation-taming manThan thou to me hast portioned till this hour. "

Then answer made the angel, soft of voice:"Not all men stumble when a Nation falls;There are that stand upright. God gives thee this:They that are faithful to thy Faith, that walkThy way, and keep thy covenant with God, And daily sing thy hymn, when comes the JudgeWith Sign blood-red facing Jehosaphat, And fear lays prone the many-mountained world, The same shall 'scape the doom. " And Patrick said, "That hymn is long, and hard for simple folk, And hard for children. " And the angel thus:"At least from 'Christum Illum' let them sing, And keep thy Faith: when comes the Judge, the painsShall take not hold of such. Is that enough?"And Patrick answered, "That is not enough. "Then Victor: "Likewise this thy God accords:The Dreadful Coming and the Day of DoomThy land shall see not; for before that daySeven years, a great wave arched from out the deep, Ablution pure, shall sweep the isle and takeHer children to its peace. Is that enough?"And Patrick answered, "That is not enough. "

Then spake once more that courteous angel kind:"What boon demand'st then?" And the Saint, "No lessThan this. Though every nation, ere that dayRecreant from creed and Christ, old troth forsworn, Should flee the sacred scandal of the CrossThrough pride, as once the Apostles fled through fear, This Nation of my love, a priestly house, Beside that Cross shall stand, fate-firm, like himThat stood beside Christ's Mother. " Straightway, as oneWho ends debate, the angel answered stern:"That boon thou claimest is too great to grant:Depart thou from this mountain, Cruachan, In peace; and find that Nation which thou lov'st, That like thy body is, and thou her head, For foes are round her set in valley and plain, And instant is the battle. " Then the Saint:"The battle for my People is not there, With them, low down, but here upon this heightFrom them apart, with God. This Mount of GodDowerless and bare I quit not till I die;And dying, I will leave a Man ElectTo keep its keys, and pray my prayer, and nameDying in turn, his heir, successive line, Even till the Day of Doom. "

 Then heavenward spedVictor, God's angel, and the Man of GodTurned to his offering; and all day he stoodOffering in heart that Offering UndefiledWhich Abel offered, and Melchisedek, And Abraham, Patriarch of the faithful race, In type, and which in fulness of the timesThe Victim-Priest offered on Calvary, And, bloodless, offers still in Heaven and Earth, Whose impetration makes the whole Church one. Thus offering stood the man till eve, and stillOffered; and as he offered, far in frontAlong the aerial summit once againRan out that beam like fiery pillar proneOr sea-path sunset-paved; and by his sideThat angel stood. Then Patrick, turning notHis eyes in prayer upon the West close heldDemanded, "From the Maker of all worldsWhat answer bring'st thou?" Victor made reply:"Down knelt in Heaven the Angelic Orders Nine, And all the Prophets and the Apostles knelt, And all the Creatures of the hand of GodVisible, and invisible, down knelt, While thou thy mighty Mass, though altarless, Offeredst in spirit, and thine Offering joined;And all God's Saints on earth, or roused from sleepOr on the wayside pausing, knelt, the causeNot knowing; likewise yearned the Souls to GodIn that fire-clime benign that clears from sin;And lo! the Lord thy God hath heard thy prayer, Since fortitude in prayer--and this thou know'st, " -Smiling the Bright One spake, "is that which laysMan's hand upon God's sceptre. That thou sought'stShall lack not consummation. Many a raceShrivelling in sunshine of its prosperous years, Shall cease from faith, and, shamed though shameless, sinkBack to its native clay; but over thineGod shall extend the shadow of His Hand, And through the night of centuries teach to herIn woe that song which, when the nations wake, Shall sound their glad deliverance: nor aloneThis nation, from the blind dividual dustOf instincts brute, thoughts driftless, warring willsBy thee evoked and shapen by thy handsTo God's fair image which confers aloneManhood on nations, shall to God stand true;But nations far in undiscovered seas, Her stately progeny, while ages fleetShall wear the kingly ermine of her Faith, Fleece uncorrupted of the Immaculate Lamb, For ever: lands remote shall raise to GodHER fanes; and eagle-nurturing isles hold fastHER hermit cells: thy nation shall not walkAccordant with the Gentiles of this world, But as a race elect sustain the CrownOr bear the Cross: and when the end is come, When in God's Mount the Twelve great Thrones are set, And round it roll the Rivers Four of fire, And in their circuit meet the Peoples ThreeOf Heaven, and Earth, and Hell, fulfilled that dayShall be the Saviour's word, what time He stretchedThy crozier-staff forth from His glory-cloudAnd sware to thee, 'When they that with Me walkedSit with Me on their everlasting thronesJudging the Twelve Tribes of Mine Israel, Thy People thou shalt judge in righteousness. '

Thou therefore kneel, and bless thy Land of Eire. "

Then Patrick knelt, and blessed the land, and said, "Praise be to God who hears the sinner's prayer. "

EPILOGUE. 

THE CONFESSION OF SAINT PATRICK. 

ARGUMENT. 

Before his death, Saint Patrick makes confession to his brethren concerning his life; of his love for that land which had been his House of Bondage; of his ceaseless prayer in youth: of his sojourn at Tours, where St. Martin had made abode, at Auxerres with St. Germanus, and at Lerins with the Contemplatives: of that mystic mountain where the Redeemer Himself lodged the Crozier Staff in his hand; of Pope Celestine who gave him his Mission; of his Visions; of his Labours. His last charge to the sons of Erin is that they should walk in Truth; that they should put from them the spirit of Revenge; and that they should hold fast to the Faith of Christ. 

At Saul then, by the inland-spreading sea, There where began my labour, comes the end:I, blind and witless, willed it otherwise:God willed it thus. When prescience came of deathI said, "My Resurrection place I choose" -O fool, for ne'er since boyhood choice was mineSave choice to subject will of mine to God -"At great Ardmacha. " Thitherward I turned;But in my pathway, with forbidding hand, Victor, God's angel stood. "Not so, " he said, "For in Ardmacha stands thy princedom fixed, Age after age, thy teaching, and thy law, But not thy grave. Return thou to that shoreThy place of small beginnings, and thereonLessen in body and mind, and grow in spirit:Then sing to God thy little hymn and die. "

Yea, Lord, my mouth would praise Thee ere I die, The Father, and the Son, and Holy SpiritWho knittest in His Church the just to Christ:Help me, my sons--mine orphans soon to be -Help me to praise Him; ye that round me sitOn those grey rocks; ye that have faithful been, Honouring, despite dishonour of my sins, His servant: I would praise Him yet once more, Though mine the stammerer's voice, or as a child's;For it is written, "Stammerers shall speak plainSounding Thy Gospel. " "They whom Christ hath sentAre Christ's Epistle, borne to ends of earth, Writ by His Spirit, and plain to souls elect:"Lord, am not I of Thine Apostolate?

Yea, by abjection Thine, by suffering Thine!Till I was humbled I was as a stoneIn deep mire sunk. Then, stretched from heaven, Thy handSlid under me in might, and lifted me, And fixed me in Thy Temple where Thou wouldst. Wonder, ye great ones, wonder, ye the wise!On me, the last and least, this charge was laidThis crown, that I in humbleness and truthShould walk this nation's Servant till I die. 

Therefore, a youth of sixteen years, or less, With others of my land by pirates seizedI stood on Erin's shore. Our bonds were just;Our God we had forsaken, and His Law, And mocked His priests. Tending a stern man's swineI trod those Dalaraida hills that faceEastward to Alba. Six long years went by;But--sent from God--Memory, and Faith, and FearMoved on my spirit as winds upon the sea, And the Spirit of Prayer came down. Full many a dayClimbing the mountain tops, one hundred timesI flung upon the storm my cry to God. Nor frost, nor rain might harm me, for His loveBurned in my heart. Through love I made my fast;And in my fasts one night I heard this voice, "Thou fastest well: soon shalt thou see thy Land. "Later, once more thus spake it: "Southward fly, Thy ship awaits thee. " Many a day I fled, And found the black ship dropping down the tide, And entered with those Gentiles by Thy graceVanquished, though first they spurned me, and was free. It was Thy leading, Lord; the Hand was Thine!For now when, perils past, I walked secure, Kind greetings round me, and the Christian Rite, There rose a clamorous yearning in my heart, And memories of that land so far, so fair, And lost in such a gloom. And through that gloomThe eyes of little children shone on me, So ready to believe! Such children oftRan by me naked in and out the waves, Or danced in circles upon Erin's shores, Like creatures never fallen! Thought of suchPassed into thought of others. From my youthBoth men and women, maidens most, to meAs children seemed; and O the pity thenTo mark how oft they wept, how seldom knewWhence came the wound that galled them! As I walked, Each wind that passed me whispered, "Lo, that raceWhich trod thee down! Requite with good their ill!Thou know'st their tongue; old man to thee, and youth, For counsel came, and lambs would lick thy foot;And now the whole land is a sheep astrayThat bleats to God. "

 Alone one night I mused, Burthened with thought of that vocation vast. O'er-spent I sank asleep. In visions then, Satan my soul plagued with temptation dire. Methought, beneath a cliff I lay, and lo!Thick-legioned demons o'er me dragged a rock, That falling, seemed a mountain. Near, more near, O'er me it blackened. Sudden from my heartThis thought leaped forth: "Elias! Him invoke!"That name invoked, vanished the rock; and I, On mountains stood watching the rising sun, As stood Elias once on Carmel's crest, Gazing on heaven unbarred, and that white cloud, A thirsting land's salvation. 

 Might Divine!Thou taught'st me thus my weakness; and I vowedTo seek Thy strength. I turned my face to Tours, There where in years gone by Thy soldier-priestMartin had ruled, my kinsman in the flesh. Dead was the lion; but his lair was warm:In it I laid me, and a conquering glowRushed up into my heart. I heard discourseOf Martin still, his valour in the Lord, His rugged warrior zeal, his passionate loveFor Hilary, his vigils, and his fasts, And all his pitiless warfare on the PowersOf darkness; and one day, in secrecy, With Ninian, missioned then to Alba's shore, I peered into his branch-enwoven cell, Half-way between the river and the rocks, From Tours a mile and more. 

 So passed eight yearsTill strengthened was my heart by discipline:Then spake a priest, "Brother, thy will is good, Yet rude thou art of learning as a beast;Fare thee to great Germanus of Auxerres, Who lightens half the West!" I heard, and went, And to that Saint was subject fourteen years. He from my mind removed the veil; "Lift up, "He said, "thine eyes!" and like a mountain landThe Queenly Science stood before me plain, From rocky buttress up to peak of snow:The great Commandments first, Edicts, and LawsThat bastion up man's life: --then high o'er theseThe forest huge of Doctrine, one, yet many, Forth stretching in innumerable aisles, At the end of each, the self-same glittering star: -Lastly, the Life God-hidden. Day by day, With him for guide, that first and second realmI tracked, and learned to shun the abyss flower-veiled, And scale heaven-threatening heights. This, too, he taught, Himself long time a ruler and a prince, The regimen of States from chaos wonTo order, and to Christ. Prudence I learned, And sageness in the government of men, By me sore needed soon. O stately man, In all things great, in action and in thought, And plain as great! To Britain called, the SaintTrod down that great Pelagian Blasphemy, Chief portent of the age. But better farHe loved his cell. There sat he vigil-worn, In cowl and dusky tunic hued like earthWhence issued man and unto which returns;I marvelled at his wrinkled brows, and handsStill tracing, enter or depart who would, From morn to night his parchments. 

 There, once more, O God, Thine eye was on me, or my handOnce more had missed the prize. Temptation nowWhispered in softness, "Wisdom's home is here:Here bide untroubled. " Almost I had fallen;But, by my side, in visions of the night, God's angel, Victor, stood as one that hastes, On travel sped. Unnumbered missives layClasped in his hands. One stretched he forth, inscribed"The wail of Erin's Children. " As I readThe cry of babes, from Erin's western coastAnd Fochlut's forest, and the wintry sea, Shrilled o'er me, clamouring, "Holy youth, return!Walk then among us!" I could read no more. 

 Thenceforth rose up renewed mine old desire:My kinsfolk mocked me. "What! past woes too scant!Slave of four masters, and the best a churl!Thy Gospel they will trample under foot, And rend thee! Late to them Palladius preached:They drave him as a leper from their shores. "I stood in agony of staggering mindAnd warring wills. Then, lo! at dead of nightI heard a mystic voice, till then unheard, I knew not if within me or close byThat swelled in passionate pleading; nor the wordsGrasped I, so great they seemed and wonderful, Till sank that tempest to a whisper: --"HeWho died for thee is He that in thee groans. "Then fell, methought, scales from mine inner eyes:Then saw I--terrible that sight, yet sweet -Within me saw a Man that in me prayedWith groans unutterable. That Man was girtFor mission far. My heart recalled that word, "The Spirit helpeth our infirmities;That which we lack we know not, but the SpiritHimself for us doth intercession makeWith groanings which may never be revealed. "That hour my vow was vowed; and he approved, My master and my guide. "But go, " he said, "First to that island in the Tyrrhene Sea, Where live the high Contemplatives to God:There learn perfection; there that Inner LifeWin thou, God's strength amid the world's loud storm:Nor fear lest God should frown on such delay, For Heavenly Wisdom is compassionate:Slowly before man's weakness moves it on;Softly: so moved of old the Wise Men's Star, Which curbed its lightning ardours and forboreHonouring the pensive tread of hoary Eld, Honouring the burthened slave, the camel lineLong-linked, with level head and foot that fellAs though in sleep, printing the silent sands. "Thus, smiling, spake Germanus, large in lore. 

So in that island-Eden I sojourned, Lerins, and saw where Vincent lived, and his, Life fountained from on high. That life was Love;For all their mighty knowledge food becameOf Love Divine, and took, by Love absorbed, Shape from his flame-like body. Hard their beds;Ceaseless their prayers. They tilled a sterile soil;Beneath their hands it blossomed like the rose:O'er thymy hollows blew the nectared airs;Blue ocean flashed through olives. They had fledFrom praise of men; yet cities far awayRapt those meek saints to fill the bishop's throne. I saw the light of God on faces calmThat blended with man's meditative mightSimplicity of childhood, and, with bothThe sweetness of that flower-like sex which wearsThrough love's Obedience twofold crowns of Love. O blissful time! In that bright island bloomedThe third high region on the Hills of God, Above the rock, above the wood, the cloud: -There laughs the luminous air, there bursts anewSpring bud in summer on suspended lawns;There the bell tinkles while once more the lambTrips by the sun-fed runnel: there green valesLie lost in purple heavens. 

 Transfigured Life!This was thy glory, that, without a sigh, Who loved thee yet could leave thee! Thus it fell:One morning I was on the sea, and lo!An isle to Lerins near, but fairer yet, Till then unseen! A grassy vale sea-lulledWound inward, breathing balm, with fruited trees, And stream through lilies gliding. By a doorThere stood a man in prime, and others satNot far, some grey; and one, a weed of years, Lay like a withered wreath. An old man spake:"See what thou seest, and scan the mystery well!The man who stands so stately in his primeIs of this company the eldest born. The Saviour in His earthly sojourn, Risen, Perchance, or ere His Passion, who can tell, Stood up at this man's door; and this man rose, And let Him in, and made for Him a feast;And Jesus said, 'Tarry, till I return. 'Moreover, others are there on this isle, Both men and maids, who saw the Son of Man, And took Him in, and shine in endless youth;But we, the rest, in course of nature fade, For we believe, yet saw not God, nor touched. "Then spake I, "Here till death my home I make, Where Jesus trod. " And answered he in prime, "Not so; the Master hath for thee thy task. Parting, thus spake He: 'Here for Mine ElectAbide thou. Bid him bear this crozier staff;My blessing rests thereon: the same shall driveThe foes of God before him. '" Answer thusI made, "That crozier staff I will not touchUntil I take it from that nail-pierced Hand. "From these I turned, and clomb a mountain high, Hermon by name; and there--was this, my God, In visions of the Lord, or in the flesh? -I spake with Him, the Lord of Life, Who died;He from the glory stretched the Hand nail-pierced, And placed in mine that crozier staff, and said:"Upon that day when they that with Me walkedSit with Me on their everlasting Thrones, Judging the Twelve Tribes of Mine Israel, Thy People thou shalt judge in righteousness. "

Forthwith to Rome I fled; there knelt I downAbove the bones of Peter and of Paul, And saw the mitred embassies from far, And saw Celestine with his head high heldAs though it bore the Blessed Sacrament;Chief Shepherd of the Saviour's flock on earth. Tall was the man, and swift; white-haired; with eyeStarlike and voice a trumpet clear that pealedGod's Benediction o'er the city and globe;Yea, and whene'er his palm he lifted, stillBlessing before it ran. Upon my headHe laid both hands, and "Win, " he said, "to ChristOne realm the more!" Moreover, to my chargeRelics he gave, unnumbered, without price;And when those relics lost had been, and found, And at his feet I wept, he chided not;But, smiling, said, "Thy glorious task fulfilled, House them in thy new country's stateliest churchBy cresset girt of ever-burning lamps, And never-ceasing anthems. "

 Northward thenReturned I, missioned. Yet once more, but once, That old temptation proved me. When they sat, The Elders, making inquest of my life, Sudden a certain brother rose, and spake, "Shall this man be a Bishop, who hath sinned?"My dearest friend was he. To him aloneOne time had I divulged a sin by meThrough ignorance wrought when fifteen years of age;And after thirty years, behold, once more, That sin had found me out! He knew my mission:When in mine absence slander sought my name, Mine honour he had cleared. Yet now--yet now -That hour the iron passed into my soul:Yea, well nigh all was lost. I wept, "Not one, No heart of man there is that knows my heart, Or in its anguish shares. "

 Yet, O my God!I blame him not: from Thee that penance came:Not for man's love should Thine Apostle strive, Thyself alone his great and sole reward. Thou laid'st that hour a fiery hand of loveUpon a faithless heart; and it survived. 

At dead of night a Vision gave me peace. Slowly from out the breast of darkness shoneStrange characters, a writing unrevealed:And slowly thence and infinitely sad, A Voice: "Ill-pleased, this day have we beheldThe face of the Elect without a name. "It said not, "Thou hast grieved, " but "We have grieved;"With import plain, "O thou of little faith!Am I not nearer to thee than thy friends?Am I not inlier with thee than thyself?"Then I remembered, "He that touches youDoth touch the very apple of mine eye. "Serene I slept. At morn I rose and ranDown to the shore, and found a boat, and sailed. 

That hour true life's beginning was, O Lord, Because the work Thou gav'st into my handsProspered between them. Yea, and from the workThe Power forth issued. Strength in me was none, Nor insight, till the occasion: then Thy swordFlamed in my grasp, and beams were in mine eyesThat showed the way before me, and nought else. Thou mad'st me know Thy Will. As taper's lightVeers with a wind man feels not, o'er my heartHovered thenceforth some Pentecostal flameThat bent before that Will. Thy Truth, not mine, Lightened this People's mind; Thy Love inflamedTheir hearts; Thy Hope upbore them as on wings. Valiant that race, and simple, and to themNot hard the godlike venture of belief:Conscience was theirs: tortuous too oft in lifeTheir thoughts, when passionate most, then most were true, Heart-true. With naked hand firmly they claspedThe naked Truth: in them Belief was Act. A tribe from Thy far East they called themselves:Their clans were Patriarch households, rude through war:Old Pagan Rome had known them not; their IsleVirgin to Christ had come. Oh how unlikeHer sons to those old Roman Senators, Scorn of Germanus oft, who breathed the airFouled by dead Faiths successively blown out, Or Grecian sophist with his world of words, That, knowing all, knew nothing! Praise to Thee, Lord of the night-time as the day, Who keep'stReserved in blind barbaric innocence, Pure breed, when boastful lights corrupt the wise, With healthier fruit to bless a later age. 

 I to that people all things made myselfFor Christ's sake, building still that good they lackedOn good already theirs. In courts of kingsI stood: before mine eye their eye went down, For Thou wert with me. Gentle with the meek, I suffered not the proud to mock my face:Thus by the anchors twain of Love and Fear, Since Love, not perfected, gains strength from Fear, I bound to thee This nation. ParablesI spake in; parables in act I wroughtBecause the people's mind was in the sense. At Imbher Dea they scoffed Thy word: I raisedThy staff, and smote with barrenness that flood:Then learned they that the world was Thine, not ruledBy Sun or Moon, their famed "God-Elements:"Yea, like Thy Fig-tree cursed, that river bannedWitnessed Thy Love's stern pureness. From the grassThe little three-leaved herb, I stooped and plucked, And preached the Trinity. Thy Staff I raised, And bade--not ravening beast--but reptiles foulFlee to the abyss like that blind herd of old;Then spake I: "Be not babes, but understand:Thus in your spirit lift the Cross of Christ:Banish base lusts; so God shall with you walkAs once with man in Eden. " With like aimConvents I reared for holy maids, then soughtThe marriage feast, and cried, "If God thus drawsClose to Himself those virgin hearts, and yetBlesses the bridal troth, and infant's font, How white a thing should be the Christian home!"Marvelling, they learned what heritage their GodPossessed in them! how wide a realm, how fair. 

Lord, save in one thing only, I was weak -I loved this people with a mother's love, For their sake sanctified my spirit to theeIn vigil, fast, and meditation long, On mountain and on moor. Thus, Lord, I wrought, Trusting that so Thy lineaments divine, Deeplier upon my spirit graved, might passThence on that hidden burthen which my heartStill from its substance feeding, with great pangsStrove to bring forth to Thee. O loyal race!Me too they loved. They waited me all nightOn lonely roads; and, as I preached, the dayTo those high listeners seemed a little hour. Have I not seen ten thousand brows at onceFlash in the broad light of some Truth new risen, And felt like him, that Saint who cried, flame-girt, "At last do I begin to be a Christian?"Have I not seen old foes embrace? Seen him, That white-haired man who dashed him on the ground, Crying aloud, "My buried son, forgive!Thy sire hath touched the hand that shed thy blood?"Fierce chiefs knelt down in penance! Lord! how oftShook I their tear-drop sparkles from my gown!'Twas the forgiveness taught them all the debt, Great-hearted penitents! How many a youthContemned the praise of men! How many a maid -O not in narrowness, but Love's sweet prideAnd love-born shyness--jealous for a mateHimself not jealous--spurned terrestrial love, Glorying in heavenly Love's fair oneness! RaceHigh-dowered! God's Truth seemed some remembered thingTo them; God's Kingdom smiled, their native hauntProphesied then their daughters and their sons:Each man before the face of each upraisedHis hand on high, and said, "The Lord hath risen!"Then, like a stream from ice released, forth fledAnd wafted far the tidings, flung them wide, Shouted them loud from rocky ridge o'er bandsMarching far down to war! The sower sowedWith happier hope; the reaper bending sang, "Thus shall God's Angels reap the field of GodWhen we are ripe for heaven. " Lovers new-wedDrank of that water changed to wine, thenceforthBreathing on earth heaven's sweetness. Unto suchMore late, whate'er of brightness time or willInfirm had dimmed, shone back from infant browsBy baptism lit. Each age its garland found:Fair shone on trustful childhood faith divine:Eld, once a weight of wrinkles now upsoaredIn venerable lordship of white hairs, Seer-like and sage. Healed was a nation's wound:All men believed who willed not disbelief;And sat in that oppugnancy steel-mailed:They cried, "Before thy priests our bards shall bow, And all our clans put on thy great Clan Christ!"

 For your sake, O my brethren, and my sonsThese things have I recorded. Something I wrought:Strive ye in loftier labours; strive, and win:Your victory shall be mine: my crown are ye. My part is ended now. I lived for Truth:I to this people gave that truth I knew;My witnesses ye are I grudged it not:Freely did I receive, freely I gave;Baptising, or confirming, or ordaining, I sold not things divine. Of mine own storeOfttimes the hire of fifteen men I paidFor guard where bandits lurked. When prince or chiefLaid on God's altar ring, or torque, or gold, I sent them back. Too fortunate, too beloved, I said, "Can he Apostle be who bearsSuch scanty marks of Christ's Apostolate, Hunger, and thirst, and scorn of men?" For this, Those pains they spared I spared not to myself, The body's daily death. I make not boast:What boast have I? If God His servant raised, He knoweth--not ye--how oft I fell; how low;How oft in faithless longings yearned my heartFor faces of His Saints in mine own land, Remembered fields far off. This, too, He knoweth, How perilous is the path of great attempts, How oft pride meets us on the storm-vexed height, Pride, or some sting its scourge. My hope is He:His hand, my help so long, will loose me never:And, thanks to God, the sheltering grave is near. 

 How still this eve! The morn was racked with storm:'Tis past; the skylark sings; the tide at floodSighs a soft joy: alone those lines of weedReport the wrath foregone. Yon watery plainFar shines, a mingled sea of glass and fire, Even as that Beatific Sea outspreadBefore the Throne of God. 'Tis Paschal Tide; -O sorrowful, O blissful Paschal Tide!Fain would I die on Holy Saturday;For then, as now, the storm is past--the woe;And, somewhere 'mid the shades of OlivetLies sealed the sacred cave of that ReposeWatched by the Holy Women. Earth, that sing'st, Since first He made thee, thy Creator's praise, Sing, sing, thy Saviour's! Myriad-minded sea, How that bright secret thrills thy rippling lipsWhich shake, yet speak not! Thou that mad'st the worlds, Man, too, Thou mad'st; within Thy Hands the lifeOf each was shapen, and new-wov'n ran out, New-willed each moment. What makes up that life?Love infinite, and nothing else save love!Help ere need came, deliverance ere defeat;At every step an angel to sustain us, An angel to retrieve! My years are gone:Sweet were they with a sweetness felt but halfTill now;--not half discerned. Those blessed yearsI would re-live, deferring thus so longThe Vision of Thy Face, if thus with gazeCast backward I might SEE that guiding handStep after step, and kiss it. 

 Happy isle!Be true; for God hath graved on thee His Name:God, with a wondrous ring, hath wedded thee;God on a throne divine hath 'stablished thee: -Light of a darkling world! Lamp of the North!My race, my realm, my great inheritance, To lesser nations leave inferior crowns;Speak ye the thing that is; be just, be kind;Live ye God's Truth, and in its strength be free!

This day to Him, the Faithful and the True, For Whom I toiled, my spirit I commend. That which I am, He knoweth: I know not now:But I shall know ere long. If I have loved HimI seek but this for guerdon of my loveWith holier love to love Him to the end:If I have vanquished others to His loveWould God that this might be their meed and mineIn witness for His love to pour our bloodA glad stream forth, though vultures or wild beastsRent our unburied bones! Thou setting sun, That sink'st to rise, that time shall come at lastWhen in thy splendours thou shalt rise no more;And, darkening with the darkening of thy face, Who worshipped thee with thee shall cease; but thoseWho worshipped Christ shall shine with Christ abroad, Eternal beam, and Sun of Righteousness, In endless glory. For His sake aloneI, bondsman in this land, re-sought this land. All ye who name my name in later times, Say to this People, since vindictive rageTempts them too often, that their Patriarch gavePattern of pardon ere in words he preachedThat God who pardons. Wrongs if they endureIn after years, with fire of pardoning loveSin-slaying, bid them crown the head that erred:For bread denied let them give Sacraments, For darkness light, and for the House of BondageThe glorious freedom of the sons of God:This is my last Confession ere I die. 

NOTES. 

{10a} Cotton MSS. , Nero, E. '; Codex Salisburiensis; and a MS. In theMonastery of St. Vaast. 

{10b} The Book of Armagh, preserved at Trinity College, Dublin, contains a Life of St. Patrick, with his writings, and consists inchief part of a description of all the books of the New Testament, including the Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans. Traces found hereand there of the name of the copyist and of the archbishop for whomthe copy was made, fix its date almost to a year as 807 or 811-812. 

{77} The Isle of Man. 

{101} Now Limerick. 

{111} Foynes. 

{116} The Giant's Causeway.