,this e,book was prepared by ,les       
,bowler4                                
,,cassell',s ,,national ,,library4      
99 99 99 99 99                          
,,the ,,legends                         
,,of                                    
,,saint ,,patrick                       
,,by                            ,,aubrey
 ,,de ,,vere1 ,,ll4,d4                  
,picture3 ,decorative graphic           
,,cassell  ,,company1 ,,limited3        
,,london1 ,,paris  ,,melbourne4         
#ahib          ,,introduction4          
,,once more our readers are indebted to 
a living poet for wide circulation  of a
 volume of delightful verse4  ,the name 
of ,aubrey de ,vere is the more         
pleasantly familiar because its         
association with our highest literature 
has descended from father to son4  ,in  
#ahbb1 sixty-seven years ago1 ,sir      
,aubrey de ,vere1 of ,curragh ,chase1 by
 ,adare1 in the county of               
,limerick--then thirty-four years       
old--first made his mark with a dramatic

  poem upon 8,julian the ,apostate40    
,in #ahdb ,sir ,aubrey published        
,sonnets1  which his friend ,wordsworth 
described as 8the most perfect of our   
age20  and in the year of his death he  
completed a dramatic poem upon 8,mary   
,tudor10 published in the next year1    
#ahdg1 with the 8,lamentation of        
,ireland1 and other ,poems40  ,sir      
,aubrey de ,vere's 8,mary ,tudor0 should
 be  read by all who have read          
,tennyson's play on the same subject4   
,the gift of genius passed from ,sir    
,aubrey to his third son1 ,aubrey       
,thomas  de ,vere1 who was born in      
#ahad1 and through a long life has put  
into music  only noble thoughts         
associated with the love of ,god and    
man1 and of his  native land4  ,his     
first work1 published forty-seven years 
ago1 was a  lyrical piece1 in which he  
gave his sympathy to devout and         
persecuted men  whose ways of thought   
were not his own4  ,aubrey de ,vere's   
poems have been  from time to time      

revised by himself1 and they were in    
#ahhd finally  collected into three     
volumes1 published by ,messrs4 ,kegan   
,paul4  ,left free  to choose from among
 their various contents1 ,i have taken  
this little  book of 8,legends of ,st4  
,patrick10 first published in #ahgb1 but
 in so  doing ,i have unwillingly left  
many a piece that would please many a   
reader4    ,they are not1 however1      
inaccessible4  ,of the three volumes of 
collected  works1 each may be had       
separately1 and is complete in itself4  
,the first  contains 8,the ,search after
 ,proserpine1 and other                 
,poems--,classical and  ,meditative40   
,the second contains the 8,legends of   
,st4 ,patrick1 and  ,legends of         
,ireland's ,heroic ,age10 including a   
version of the 8,tain ,bo40  ,the third 
contains two plays1 8,alexander the     
,great10 8,st4 ,thomas of  ,canterbury10
 and other ,poems4    ,for the          
convenience of some readers1 the        
following extract from the  second      

volume of my 8,english ,writers10 may   
serve as a prosaic summary of  what is  
actually known about ,st4 ,patrick4     
,h4 ,m4          ,,st4 ,,patrick4       
,,from 8,,english ,,writers40      ,,the
 birth of ,st4 ,patrick1 ,apostle and   
,saint of ,ireland1 has been  generally 
placed in the latter half of the fourth 
century2 and he is said  to have died at
 the age of a hundred and twenty4  ,as  
he died in the year  #dic--;and we may  
admit that he was then a very old       
man--if we may say that  he reached the 
age of eighty-eight1 we place his birth 
in the year #dje4  ,we may reasonably   
believe1 therefore1 that he was born in 
the early part  of the fifth century4   
,his birthplace1 now known as           
,kilpatrick1 was at  the junction of the
 ,levin with the ,clyde1 in what is now 
the county of  ,dumbarton4  ,his        
baptismal name was ,succath4  ,his      
father was ,calphurnius1  a deacon1 son 
of ,potitus1 who was a priest4  ,his    
mother's name was  ,conchessa1 whose    

family may have belonged to ,gaul1 and  
who may thus have  been1 as it is said  
she was1 of the kindred of ,st4 ,martin 
of ,tours2 for  there is a tradition    
that she was with ,calphurnius as a     
slave before he  married her4  ,since   
,eusebius spoke of three bishops from   
,britain at the  ,council of ,arles1    
,succath1 known afterwards in missionary
 life by his  name in religion1         
,patricius 7pater civium71 might very   
reasonably be a  deacon's son4    ,in   
his early years ,succath was at home by 
the ,clyde1 and he speaks of  himself as
 not having been obedient to the        
teaching of the clergy4  ,when  he was  
sixteen years old he1 with two of his   
sisters and other of his  countrymen1   
was seized by a band of ,irish pirates  
that made descent on  the shore of the  
,clyde and carried him off to slavery4  
,his sisters were  taken to another part
 of the island1 and he was sold to      
,milcho ,mac,cuboin  in the north1 whom 
he served for six or seven years1 so    

learning to speak  the language of the  
country1 while keeping his master's     
sheep by the  ,mountain of ,slieve      
,miss4  ,thoughts of home and of its    
,christian life made  the youth feel the
 heathenism that was about him2 his     
exile seemed to him  a punishment for   
boyish indifference2 and during the     
years when young  enthusiasm looks out  
upon life with new sense of a man's     
power--growing  for man's work that is  
to do--,succath became filled with      
religious zeal4    ,three ,latin pieces 
are ascribed to ,st4 ,patrick3 a        
8,confession10 which is  in the ,book of
 ,armagh1 and in three other            
manuscripts2 #aj;a a letter to          
,coroticus1 and a few 8,dieta           
,patricii10 which are also in the ,book 
of  ,armagh4 #aj;b  ,there is no strong 
reason for questioning the authenticity 
of the 8,confession10 which is in       
unpolished ,latin1 the writer calling   
himself 8indoctus1 rusticissimus1       
imperitus10 and it is full of a deep    

religious feeling4  ,it is concerned    
rather with the inner than the outer    
life1 but includes references to the    
early days of trial by which  ,succath's
 whole heart was turned to ,god4  ,he   
says1 8,after ,i came into  ,ireland ,i 
pastured sheep daily1 and prayed many   
times a day4  ,the love  and fear of    
,god1 and faith and spirit1 wrought in  
me more and more1 so  that in one day ,i
 reached to a hundred prayers1 and in   
the night almost  as many1 and stayed in
 the woods and on the mountains1 and was
 urged to  prayer before the dawn1 in   
snow1 in frost1 in rain1 and took no    
harm1  nor1 ,i think1 was there any     
sloth in me4  ,and there one night ,i   
heard a  voice in a dream saying to me1 
#8,thou hast well fasted2 thou shalt go 
back  soon to thine own land2' and again
 after a little while1 #8,behold6 thy   
ship is ready4'0  ,in all this there is 
the passionate longing of an  ardent    
mind for home and ,heaven4    ,at the   
age of twenty-two ,succath fled from his

 slavery to a vessel of  which the      
master first refused and finally        
consented to take him on  board4  ,he   
and the sailors were then cast by a     
storm upon a desert shore  of ,britain1 
possibly upon some region laid waste by 
ravages from over  sea4  ,having at last
 made his way back1 by a sea passage1 to
 his home on  the ,clyde1 ,succath was  
after a time captured again1 but        
remained captive  only for two months1  
and went back home4  ,then the zeal for 
his ,master's  service made him feel    
like the ,seafarer in the ,anglo-,saxon 
poem2 and all  the traditions of his    
home would have accorded with the rise  
of the  resolve to cross the sea1 and to
 spread ,christ's teaching in what had  
been the land of his captivity4         
,there were already centres of          
,christian work in ,ireland1 where      
devoted  men were labouring and drew a  
few into their fellowship4  ,succath    
aimed  at the gathering of all these    
scattered forces1 by a movement that    

should  carry with it the whole people4 
,he first prepared himself by giving    
about four years to study of the        
,scriptures at ,auxerre1 under          
,germanus1  and then went to ,rome1     
under the conduct of a priest1          
,segetius1 and  probably with letters   
from ,germanus to ,pope ,celestine4     
,whether he  received his orders from   
the ,pope seems doubtful2 but the       
evidence is  strong that ,celestine sent
 him on his ,irish mission4  ,succath   
left ,rome1  passed through ,north      
,italy and ,gaul1 till he met on his way
 two followers  of ,palladius1          
,augustinus and ,benedictus1 who told   
him of their master's  failure1 and of  
his death at ,fordun4  ,succath then    
obtained consecration  from ,amathus1 a 
neighbouring bishop1 and as ,patricius1 
went straight to  ,ireland4  ,he landed 
near the town of ,wicklow1 by the       
estuary of the ,river  ,varty1 which had
 been the landing-place of ,palladius4  
,in that region he  was1 like           

,palladius1 opposed2 but he made some   
conversions1 and advanced  with his work
 northward that he might reach the home 
of his old master1  ,milcho1 and pay him
 the purchase-money of his stolen       
freedom4  ,but  ,milcho1 it is said1    
burnt himself and his goods rather than 
bear the  shame of submission to the    
growing power of his former slave4      
,st4 ,patrick addressed the ruling      
classes1 who could bring with them their
  followers1 and he joined tact with his
 zeal2 respecting ancient  prejudices1  
opposing nothing that was not directly  
hostile to the spirit  of ,christianity1
 and handling skilfully the chiefs with 
whom he had to  deal4  ,an early        
convert--,dichu ,mac,trighim--was a     
chief with influential  connections1 who
 gave the ground for the religious house
 now known as  ,saul4  ,this chief      
satisfied so well the inquiries of      
,laeghaire1 son of  ,niall1 ,king of    
,erin1 concerning the stranger's        
movements1 that ,st4  ,patrick took ship

 for the mouth of the ,boyne1 and made  
his way straight  to the king himself4  
,the result of his energy was that he   
met  successfully all the opposition of 
those who were concerned in the         
maintenance of old heathen worship1 and 
brought ,king ,laeghaire to his  side4  
,then ,laeghaire resolved that the old  
laws of the country as established  by  
the judges1 whose order was named       
,brehon1 should be revised1 and  brought
 into accord with the new teaching4  ,so
 the ,brehon laws of ,ireland  were     
revised1 with ,st4 ,patrick's           
assistance1 and there were no ancient   
customs broken or altered1 except those 
that could not be harmonised with       
,christian teaching4  ,the good sense of
 ,st4 ,patrick enabled this great  work 
to be done without offence to the       
people4  ,the collection of laws  thus  
made by the chief lawyers of the time1  
with the assistance of ,st4  ,patrick1  
is known as the 8,senchus ,mor10 and1   
says an old poem--       8,laeghaire1   

,corc ,dairi1 the brave2     ,patrick1  
,beuen1 ,cairnech1 the just2     ,rossa1
 ,dubtach1 ,fergus1 the wise2     ,these
 are the nine pillars of the ,senchus   
,mor40    ,this body of laws1           
traditions1 and treatises on law is     
found in no  manuscript of a date       
earlier than the fourteenth century4    
,it includes1  therefore1 much that is  
of later date than the fifth century4   
,st4 ,patrick's greatest energies are   
said to have been put forth in ,ulster  
and ,leinster4  ,among the churches or  
religious communities founded by him  in
 ,ulster was that of ,armagh4  ,if he   
was born about the year #dje1 when he   
was carried to ,ireland as a prisoner at
 the age of sixteen the date would  have
 been #dba4  ,his age would have been   
twenty-two when he escaped1 after  six  
or seven years of captivity1 and the    
date #dbg4  ,a year at home1 and  four  
years with ,germanus at ,auxerre1 would 
bring him to the age of  twenty-seven1  
and the year #dcb1 when he began his    

great endeavour to put  ,christianity   
into the main body of the ,irish people4
  ,that work filled  all the rest of his
 life1 which was long4  ,if we accept   
the statement1 in  which all the old    
records agree1 that the time of         
,patrick's labour in  ,ireland was not  
less than sixty years2 sixty years bring
 him to the age  of eighty-eight in the 
year #dic4  ,and in that year he died4  
,the 8,letter to ,coroticus10 ascribed  
to ,st4 ,patrick1 is addressed to a     
petty king of ,brittany who persecuted  
,christians1 and was meant for the      
encouragement of ,christian soldiers who
 served under him4  ,it may1  probably1 
be regarded as authentic4  ,the mass of 
legend woven into the  life of the great
 missionary lies outside this piece and 
the  8,confession40  ,the 8,confession0 
only expresses heights and depths of    
religious feeling haunted by impressions
 and dreams1 through which1 to  the     
fervid nature out of which they sprang  
heaven seemed to speak4  ,st4  ,patrick 

did not attack heresies among the       
,christians2 he preached to  those who  
were not ,christians the ,christian     
faith and practice4  ,his  great        
influence was not that of a writer1 but 
of a speaker4  ,he must have  been an   
orator1 profoundly earnest1 who could   
put his soul into his  voice2 and1 when 
his words bred deeds1 conquered all     
difficulties in the  way of action with 
right feeling and good sense4           
,,henry ,,morley4                       
99 99 99 99 99                          
,,to ,,the ,,memory                     
,,of                                    
,,wordsworth4                           
99 99 99 99 99          ,,author',s     
,,preface  ,,to  8,,the ,,legends ,,of  
,,saint ,,patrick40      ,,the ancient  
records of ,ireland abound in legends   
respecting the greatest  man and the    
greatest benefactor that ever trod her  
soil2 and of these the  earlier are at  
once the more authentic and the nobler4 
,not a few have a  character of the     

sublime2 many are pathetic2 some have a 
profound meaning  under a strange       
disguise2 but their predominant         
character is their  brightness and      
gladsomeness4  ,a large tract of ,irish 
history is dark3 but  the time of ,saint
 ,patrick1 and the three centuries which
 succeeded it1  were her time of joy4   
,that chronicle is a song of gratitude  
and hope1 as  befits the story of a     
nation's conversion to ,christianity1   
and in it the  bird and the brook blend 
their carols with those of angels and of
 men4  ,it was otherwise with the later 
legends connecting ,ossian with ,saint  
,patrick4  ,a poet once remarked1 while 
studying the frescoes of ,michael       
,angelo in the ,sistine ,chapel1 that   
the ,sibyls are always sad1 while the   
,prophets alternated with them are      
joyous4  ,in the legends of the         
,patrician ,cycle the chief-loving old  
,bard is ever mournful1 for his face  is
 turned to the past glories of his      
country2 while the ,saint is always     

bright1 because his eyes are set on to  
the glory that has no end4    ,these    
legends are to be found chiefly in      
several very ancient lives of  ,saint   
,patrick1 the most valuable of which is 
the 8,tripartite ,life10  ascribed by   
,colgan to the century after the        
,saint's death1 though it has  not      
escaped later interpolations4  ,the work
 was long lost1 but two copies  of it   
were re-discovered1 one of which has    
been recently translated by  that       
eminent ,irish scholar1 ,mr4 ,hennessy4 
,whether regarded from the  religious or
 the philosophic point of view1 few     
things can be more  instructive than the
 picture which it delineates of human   
nature at a  period of critical         
transition1 and the dawning of the      
,religion of ,peace  upon a race        
barbaric1 but far indeed from savage4   
,that wild race  regarded it doubtless  
as a notable cruelty when the new ,faith
 discouraged  an amusement so popular as
 battle2 but in many respects they were 

in  sympathy with that ,faith4  ,it was 
one in which the nobler affections1 as  
well as the passions1 retained an       
unblunted ardour2 and where ,nature is  
strongest and least corrupted it most   
feels the need of something higher  than
 itself1 its interpreter and its        
supplement4  ,it prized the family      
ties1 like the ,germans recorded by     
,tacitus2 and it could not but have     
been drawn to ,christianity1 which      
consecrated them4  ,its morals were     
pure1 and it had not lost that          
simplicity to which so much of spiritual
  insight belongs4  ,admiration and     
wonder were among its chief habits2 and 
it would not have been repelled by      
,mysteries in what professed to belong  
to the ,infinite4  ,lawless as it was1  
it abounded also in loyalty1            
generosity1 and self-sacrifice2 it was  
not1 therefore1 untouched by the        
records of martyrs1 examples of         
self-sacrifice1 or the doctrine of a    
great ,sacrifice4  ,it loved children   

and the poor2 and ,christianity made    
the former the exemplars of faith1 and  
the latter the eminent inheritors  of   
the ,kingdom4  ,on the other hand1 all  
the vices of the race ranged  themselves
 against the new religion4    ,in the   
main the institutions and traditions of 
,ireland were favourable to             
,christianity4  ,she had preserved in a 
large measure the patriarchal  system of
 the ,east4  ,her clans were families1  
and her chiefs were  patriarchs who led 
their households to battle1 and seized  
or recovered  the spoil4  ,to such a    
people the ,christian ,church announced 
herself as a  great family--the family  
of man4  ,her genealogies went up to the
 first  parent1 and her rule was        
parental rule4  ,the kingdom of ,christ 
was the  household of ,christ2 and its  
children in all lands formed the tribes 
of a  larger ,israel4  ,its laws were   
living traditions2 and for traditions   
the  ,irish had ever retained the       
,eastern reverence4    ,in the ,druids  

no formidable enemy was found2 it was   
the ,bards who wielded  the predominant 
social influence4  ,as in ,greece1 where
 the sacerdotal  power was small1 the   
,bards were the priests of the national 
,imagination1  and round them all moral 
influences had gathered themselves4     
,they were  jealous of their rivals2 but
 those rivals won them by degrees4      
,secknall  and ,fiacc were ,christian   
,bards1 trained by ,st4 ,patrick1 who is
 said to  have also brought a bard with 
him from ,italy4  ,the beautiful legend 
in  which the ,saint loosened the tongue
 of the dumb child was an apt emblem  of
 ,christianity imparting to the ,irish  
race the highest use of its  natural    
faculties4  ,the ,christian clergy      
turned to account the ,irish            
traditions1 as they had made use of the 
,pagan temples1 purifying them  first4  
,the ,christian religion looked with a  
genuine kindness on whatever  was human1
 except so far as the stain was on it2  
and while it resisted to  the face what 

was unchristian in spirit1 it also1 in  
the ,apostolic sense1  8made itself all 
things to all men40  ,as legislator1    
,saint ,patrick waged  no needless war  
against the ancient laws of ,ireland4   
,he purified them1  and he amplified    
them1 discarding only what was unfit for
 a nation made  ,christian4  ,thus was  
produced the great 8,book of the ,law10 
or 8,senchus  ,mohr10 compiled ,a4,d4   
#dci4    ,the ,irish received the       
,gospel gladly4  ,the great and the     
learned1 in  other nations the last to  
believe1 among them commonly set the    
example4  ,with the natural disposition 
of the race an appropriate culture had  
concurred4  ,it was one which at least  
did not fail to develop the             
imagination1 the affections1 and a great
 part of the moral being1 and  which    
thus indirectly prepared ardent natures1
 and not less the heroic  than the      
tender1 to seek their rest in spiritual 
things1 rather than in  material or     
conventional4  ,that culture1 without   

removing the barbaric1  had blended it  
with the refined4  ,it had created among
 the people an  appreciation of the     
beautiful1 the pathetic1 and the pure4  
,the early  ,irish chronicles1 as well  
as songs1 show how strong among them    
that  sentiment had ever been4  ,the    
,borromean ,tribute1 for so many ages   
the  source of relentless wars1 had been
 imposed in vengeance for an insult     
offered to a woman2 and a discourtesy   
shown to a poet had overthrown an       
ancient dynasty4  ,the education of an  
,ollambh occupied twelve years2 and  in 
the third century1 the time of ,oiseen  
and ,fionn1 the military rules of  the  
,fein included provisions which the     
chivalry of later ages might have  been 
proud of4  ,it was a wild1 but not      
wholly an ungentle time4  ,an           
unprovoked affront was regarded as a    
grave moral offence2 and severe         
punishments were ordained1 not only for 
detraction1 but for a word1  though     
uttered in jest1 which brought a blush  

on the cheek of a listener4  ,yet an    
injury a hundred years old could meet no
 forgiveness1 and the life  of man was  
war6  ,it was not that laws were        
wanting2 a code1 minute in its  justice1
 had proportioned a penalty to every    
offence1 and specified the  ,eric which 
was to wipe out the bloodstain in case  
the injured party  renounced his claim  
to right his own wrong4  ,it was not    
that hearts were  hard--there was at    
least as much pity for others as for    
self4  ,it was that  anger was          
implacable1 and that where fear was     
unknown1 the war field was  what among  
us the hunting field is4    ,the rapid  
growth of learning as well as piety in  
the three centuries  succeeding the     
conversion of ,ireland1 prove that the  
country had not been  till then without 
a preparation for the gift4  ,it had    
been the special  skill of ,saint       
,patrick to build the good which was    
lacked upon that which  existed4  ,even 
the material arts of ,ireland he had    

pressed into the  service of the ,faith2
 and ,irish craftsmen had assisted him1 
not only in  the building of his        
churches1 but in casting his church     
bells1 and in the  adornment of his     
chalices1 crosiers1 and ecclesiastical  
vestments4  ,once  elevated by          
,christianity1 ,ireland's early         
civilisation was a memorable  thing4    
,it sheltered a high virtue at home1 and
 evangelised a great part  of ,northern 
,europe2 and amidst many confusions it  
held its own till the  true time of     
barbarism had set in--those two         
disastrous centuries when the  ,danish  
invasions trod down the sanctuaries1    
dispersed the libraries1 and  laid waste
 the colleges to which distant kings had
 sent their sons4    ,perhaps nothing   
human had so large an influence in the  
conversion of the  ,irish as the        
personal character of her ,apostle4     
,where others1 as  ,palladius1 had      
failed1 he succeeded4  ,by nature1 by   
grace1 and by  providential training1 he

 had been specially fitted for his task4
  ,we can  still see plainly even the   
finer traits of that character1 while   
the land  of his birth is a matter of   
dispute1 and of his early history we    
know  little1 except that he was of     
noble birth1 that he was carried to     
,ireland  by pirates at the age of      
sixteen1 and that after five years of   
bondage he  escaped thence1 to return   
,a4,d4  #dcb1 when about forty-five     
years old2  belonging thus to that great
 age of the ,church which was made      
illustrious  by the most eminent of its 
,fathers1 and tasked by the most        
critical of  its trials4  ,in him a     
great character had been built on the   
foundations  of a devout childhood1 and 
of a youth ennobled by adversity4       
,everywhere  we trace the might and the 
sweetness which belonged to it1 the     
versatile  mind yet the simple heart1   
the varying tact yet the fixed resolve1 
the  large design taking counsel for    
all1 yet the minute solicitude for each1

  the fiery zeal yet the genial temper1 
the skill in using means yet the        
reliance on ,god alone1 the readiness in
 action with the willingness to  wait1  
the habitual self-possession yet the    
outbursts of an inspiration  which      
raised him above himself1 the abiding   
consciousness of authority--an          
authority in him1 but not of him--and   
yet the ever-present humility4  ,above  
all1 there burned in him that boundless 
love1 which seems the main  constituent 
of the ,apostolic character4  ,it was   
love for ,god2 but it was  love for man 
also1 an impassioned love1 and a        
parental compassion4  ,it  was not for  
the spiritual weal alone of man that he 
thirsted4  ,wrong and  injustice to the 
poor he resented as an injury to ,god4  
,his vehement love  for the poor is     
illustrated by his 8,epistle to         
,coroticus10 reproaching  him with his  
cruelty1 as well as by his denunciations
 of slavery1 which  piracy had          
introduced into parts of ,ireland4  ,no 

wonder that such a  character should    
have exercised a talismanic power over  
the ardent and  sensitive race among    
whom he laboured1 a race 8easy to be    
drawn1 but  impossible to be driven10   
and drawn more by sympathy than even by 
benefits4  ,that character can only be  
understood by one who studies1 and  in a
 right spirit1 that account of his life 
which he bequeathed to us  shortly      
before its close--the 8,confession of   
,saint ,patrick40  ,the last  poem in   
this series embodies its most           
characteristic portions1 including  the 
visions which it records4    ,the       
8,tripartite ,life0 thus ends3--8,after 
these great miracles1 therefore1  after 
resuscitating the dead1 after healing   
lepers1 and the blind1 and  the deaf1   
and the lame1 and all diseases2 after   
ordaining bishops1 and  priests1 and    
deacons1 and people of all orders in the
 ,church2 after  teaching the men of    
,erin1 and after baptising them2 after  
founding  churches and monasteries2     

after destroying idols and images and   
,druidical  arts1 the hour of death of  
,saint ,patrick approached4  ,he        
received the  body of ,christ from the  
,bishop ,tassach1 according to the      
counsel of the  ,angel ,victor4  ,he    
resigned his spirit afterwards to       
,heaven1 in the one  hundred and        
twentieth year of his age4  ,his body is
 still here in the  earth1 with honour  
and reverence4  ,though great his honour
 here1 greater  honour will be to him in
 the ,day of ,judgment1 when judgment   
will be given  on the fruit of his      
teaching1 as of every great ,apostle1 in
 the union of  the ,apostles and        
,disciples of ,jesus2 in the union of   
the ,nine ,orders of  ,angels1 which    
cannot be surpassed2 in the union of the
 ,divinity and  ,humanity of the ,son of
 ,god2 in the union1 which is higher    
than all  unions1 of the ,holy ,trinity1
 ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost40      
,a4 ,,de ,,vere4          ,,the         
,,legends ,,of ,,saint ,,patrick4       

,,the ,,baptism ,,of ,,st4 ,,patrick4   
8,how can the babe baptisd be           
,where font is none and water none80    
,thus wept the nurse on bended knee1    
,and swayed the ,infant in the sun4     
8,the blind priest took that ,infant's  
hand3        ,with that small hand1     
above the ground     ,he signed the     
,cross4  ,at ,god's command        ,a   
fountain rose with brimming bound4      
8,in that pure wave from ,adam's sin    
,the blind priest cleansed the ,babe    
with awe2     ,then1 reverently1 he     
washed therein        ,his old1 unseeing
 face1 and saw6       8,he saw the      
earth2 he saw the skies1        ,and    
that all-wondrous ,child decreed     ,a 
pagan nation to baptise1        ,to give
 the ,gentiles light indeed40           
,thus ,secknall sang4  ,far off and nigh
        ,the clansmen shouted loud and  
long2     ,while every mother tossed    
more high        ,her babe1 and glorying
 joined the song4        ,,the          
,,disbelief ,,of ,,milcho1  ,,or1       

,,saint ,,patrick',s ,,one ,,failure4   
,,argument4      ,fame of ,st4 ,patrick 
goes ever before him1 and men of        
goodwill believe  gladly2 but ,milcho1 a
 mighty merchant1 and one given wholly  
to pride and  greed1 wills to           
disbelieve4  ,st4 ,patrick sends him    
greeting and gifts2  but he1 discovering
 that the prophet welcomed by all had   
once been his  slave1 hates him the     
more4  ,notwithstanding1 he fears that  
when that  prophet arrives1 he1 too1 may
 be forced to believe1 though against   
his  will4  ,he resolves to set fire to 
his castle and all his wealth1 and make 
new fortunes in far lands4  ,the doom of
 ,milcho1 who willed to disbelieve4     
,,when now at ,imber ,dea that precious 
bark     ,freighted with ,erin's future1
 touched the sands     ,just where a    
river1 through a woody vale             
,curving1 with duskier current clave the
 sea1     ,patrick1 the ,island's great 
inheritor1     ,his perilous voyage     
past1 stept forth and knelt     ,and    

blessed his ,god4  ,the peace of those  
green meads     ,cradled 'twixt purple  
hills and purple deep1     ,seemed as   
the peace of heaven4  ,the sun had set2 
,but still those summits twinned1 the   
8,golden ,spears10     ,laughed with his
 latest beam4  ,the hours went by3      
,the brethren paced the shore or musing 
sat1     ,but still their ,patriarch    
knelt and still gave thanks     ,for all
 the marvellous chances of his life     
,since those his earlier years when1    
slave new-trapped1     ,he comforted on 
hills of ,dalaraide     ,his hungry     
heart with ,god1 and1 cleansed by pain1 
,in exile found the spirit's native     
land4     ,eve deepened into night1 and 
still he prayed3     ,the clear cold    
stars had crowned the azure vault2      
,and1 risen at midnight from dark seas1 
the moon     ,had quenched those stars1 
yet ,patrick still prayed on3     ,till 
from the river murmuring in the vale1   
,far off1 and from the morning airs     
close by     ,that shook the alders by  

the river's mouth1     ,and from his own
 deep heart a voice there came1         
8,ere yet thou fling'st ,god's bounty on
 this land     ,there is a debt to      
cancel4  ,where is he1     ,thy five    
years' lord that scourged thee for his  
swine8     ,alas that wintry face6      
,alas that heart     ,joyless since     
earliest youth6  ,to him reveal it6     
,to him declare that ,god who ,man      
became     ,to raise man's fall'n       
estate1 as though a man1     ,all       
faculties of man unmerged1 undimmed1    
,had changed to worm and died the prey  
of worms1     ,that so the mole might   
see60                                   
,thus ,patrick mused     ,not ignorant  
that from low beginnings rise           
,oftenest the works of greatness2 yet of
 this     ,unweeting1 that his failure1 
one and sole     ,through all his more  
than mortal course1 even now     ,before
 that low beginning's threshold lay1    
,betwixt it and that ,promised ,land    
beyond     ,a bar of scandal stretched4 

,not otherwise     ,might whatsoe'er was
 mortal in his strength     ,dying1 put 
on the immortal4                        
,with the morn     ,deep sleep descended
 on him4  ,waking soon1     ,he rose a  
man of might1 and in that might         
,laboured2 and ,god ,his servant's toil 
revered2     ,and gladly on that coast  
,erin to ,christ     ,paid her          
firstfruits4  ,three days he preached   
his ,lord3     ,the fourth embarking1   
cape succeeding cape     ,they passed1  
and heard the lowing herds remote       
,in hollow glens1 and smelt the balmy   
breath     ,of gorse on golden          
hillsides2 till at eve1     ,the ,imber 
,domnand reached1 on silver sands       
,grated their keel4  ,around them       
flocked at dawn     ,warriors with      
hunters mixed1 and shepherd youths      
,and maids with lips as red as mountain 
berries     ,and eyes like sloes1 or    
keener eyes1 dark-fringed     ,and      
gleaming like the blue-black spear4     
,they came     ,with milk-pail1 and with

 kid1 and kindled fire     ,and spread  
the genial board4  ,upon that shore     
,full many knelt and gave themselves to 
,christ1     ,strong men1 and men at    
midmost of their hopes     ,by sickness 
felled2 old chiefs1 at life's dim close 
,that oft had asked1 8,beyond the grave 
what hope80     ,worn sailors weary of  
the toilsome seas1     ,and craving     
rest2 they1 too1 that sex which wears   
,the blended crowns of ,chastity and    
,love2     ,wondering1 they hailed the  
,maiden-,motherhood2     ,and listening 
children praised the ,babe ,divine1     
,and passed ,him1 each to each4         
,ere long1 once more     ,their sails   
were spread4  ,again by grassy marge    
,they rowed1 and sylvan glades4  ,the   
branching deer     ,like flying gleams  
went by them4  ,oft the cry     ,of     
fighting clans rang out3 but oftener yet
     ,clamour of rural dance1 or mart   
confused     ,with many-coloured garb   
and movements swift1     ,pageant       
sun-bright3 or on the sands a throng    

,girdled with circle glad some bard     
whose song     ,shook the wild clan as  
tempest shakes the woods4     ,still    
north the wanderers sailed3 at evening1 
mists     ,cumbered the shore and on    
them leaned the blast1     ,and fierce  
rain flashed mingling with dim-lit sea4 
,all night they toiled2 next day at noon
 they kenned     ,a seaward stream that 
shone like golden tress     ,severed and
 random-thrown4  ,that river's mouth    
,ere long attained was all with lilies  
white     ,as ,april field with daisies4
  ,entering there     ,they reached a   
wood1 and disembarked with joy3         
,there1 after thanks to ,god1 silent    
they sat     ,in thought1 and watched   
the ripples1 dusk yet bright1     ,that 
lived and died like things that laughed 
at time1     ,on gliding 'neath those   
many-centuried boughs4     ,but1        
midmost1 ,patrick slept4  ,then through 
the trees1     ,shy as a fawn half-tamed
 now stole1 now fled     ,a boy of such 
bright aspect fary child     ,he seemed1

 or babe exposed of royal race3     ,at 
last assured beside the ,saint he stood1
     ,and dropped on him a flower1 and  
disappeared3     ,thus flower on flower 
from the great wood he brought     ,and 
hid them in the bosom of the ,saint4    
,the monks forbade him1 saying1 8,lest  
thou wake     ,the master from his      
sleep40  ,but ,patrick woke1     ,and   
saw the boy1 and said1 8,forbid him not2
     ,the heir of all my kingdom is this
 child40     ,then spake the brethren1  
8,wilt thou walk with us80     ,and he1 
8,i will30 and so for his sweet face    
,they called his name ,benignus3 and the
 boy     ,thenceforth was ,christ's4    
,beneath his parent's roof     ,at night
 they housed4  ,nowhere that child would
 sleep     ,except at ,patrick's feet4  
,till ,patrick's death     ,unchanged to
 him he clave1 and after reigned        
,the second at ,ardmacha4               
,day by day     ,they held their course2
 ere long the hills of ,mourne          
,loomed through sea-mist3 ,ulidian      

summits next     ,before them rose3 but 
nearer at their left     ,inland with   
westward channel wound the wave         
,changed to sea-lake4  ,nine miles with 
chant and hymn     ,they tracked the    
gold path of the sinking sun2     ,then 
southward ran 'twixt headland and green 
isle     ,and landed4  ,dewy pastures   
sunset-dazed1     ,at leisure paced by  
mild-eyed milk-white kine     ,smiled   
them a welcome4  ,onward moved in sight 
,swiftly1 with shadow far before him    
cast1     ,dichu1 that region's lord1 a 
martial man     ,and merry1 and a       
speaker of the truth4     ,pirates he   
deemed them first and toward them faced 
,with wolf-hounds twain that watched    
their master's eye     ,to spring1 or   
not to spring4  ,the imperious face     
,forbidding not1 they sprang2 but       
,patrick raised     ,his hand1 and      
stone-like crouched they chained and    
still3     ,then1 ,dichu onward striding
 fierce1 the ,saint     ,between them   
signed the ,cross2 and lo1 the sword    

,froze in his hand1 and ,dichu stood    
like stone4     ,the amazement past1 he 
prayed the man of ,god     ,to grace his
 house2 and1 side by side1 a mile       
,they clomb the hills4  ,ascending1     
,patrick turned1     ,his heart with    
prescience filled4  ,beneath1 there lay 
,a gleaming strait2 beyond1 a dim vast  
plain     ,with many an inlet pierced3 a
 golden marge     ,girdled the          
water-tongues with flag and reed2       
,but1 farther off1 a gentle sea-mist    
changed     ,the fair green flats to    
purple4  8,night comes on20     ,thus   
,dichu spake1 and waited4  ,patrick then
     ,advanced once more1 and ,sabhall  
soon was reached1     ,a castle half1   
half barn4  ,there garnered lay         
,much grain1 and sun-imbrowned3 and     
,patrick said1     8,here where the     
earthly grain was stored for man        
,the bread of angels man shall eat one  
day40     ,and ,patrick loved that      
place1 and ,patrick said1     8,king    
,dichu1 give thou to the poor that      

grain1     ,to ,christ1 our ,lord1 thy  
barn40  ,the strong man stood     ,in   
doubt2 but prayers of little orphaned   
babes     ,reared by his hand1 went up  
for him that hour3     ,therefore that  
barn he ceded1 and to ,christ     ,by   
,patrick was baptised4  ,where lay the  
corn     ,a convent later rose4  ,there 
dwelt he oft2     ,and 'neath its roof  
more late the stranger sat1     ,exile1 
or kingdom-wearied king1 or bard1       
,that haply blind in age1 yet           
tempest-rocked     ,by memories of      
departed glories1 drew     ,with gradual
 influx into his old heart     ,solace  
of ,christian hope4                     
,with ,dichu bode     ,patrick          
somewhile1 intent from him to learn     
,the inmost of that people4  ,oft they  
spake     ,of ,milcho4  8,once his      
thrall1 against my will     ,in earthly 
things ,i served him3 for his soul      
,needs therefore must ,i labour4  ,hard 
was he2     ,unlike those hearts to     
which ,god's ,truth makes way     ,like 

message from a mother in her grave3     
,yet what ,i can ,i must4  ,not heaven  
itself     ,can force belief2 for ,faith
 is still good will40     ,dichu laughed
 aloud3 8,good will6  ,milcho's good    
will     ,neither to others1 nor        
himself1 good will     ,hath ,milcho6   
,fireless sits he1 winter through1      
,the logs beside his hearth3 and as on  
them     ,glimmers the rime1 so glimmers
 on his face     ,the smile4  ,convert  
him6  ,better thrice to hang him6       
,baptise him6  ,he will film your font  
with ice6     ,the cold of ,milcho's    
heart has winter-nipt     ,that glen he 
dwells in6  ,from the sea it slopes     
,unfinished1 savage1 like some nightmare
 dream1     ,raked by an endless east   
wind of its own4     ,on wolf's milk was
 he suckled not on woman's6     ,to     
,milcho speed6  ,of ,milcho claim       
belief6     ,milcho will shrivel his    
small eye and say     ,he scorns to     
trust himself his father's son1     ,nor
 deems his lands his own by right of    

race     ,but clutched by stress of     
brain6  ,old ,milcho's ,god     ,is     
gold4  ,forbear him1 sir1 or ere you    
seek him     ,make smooth your way with 
gold40                                  
,thus ,dichu spake2     ,and ,patrick1  
after musings long1 replied3     8,faith
 is no gift that gold begets or feeds1  
,oftener by gold extinguished4  ,unto   
,god1     ,unbribed1 unpurchased1 yearns
 the soul of man2     ,yet finds        
perforce in ,god its great reward4      
,not less this ,milcho deems ,i did him 
wrong1     ,his slave1 yet fleeing4  ,to
 requite that loss     ,gifts will ,i   
send him first by messengers     ,ere   
yet ,i see his face40                   
,then ,patrick sent     ,his messengers 
to ,milcho1 speaking thus3     8,if ill 
befell thy herds through flight of mine 
,fourfold that loss requite ,i1 lest1   
for hate     ,of me1 thou disesteem my  
,master's ,word4     ,likewise ,i sue   
thy friendship2 and ,i come     ,in few 
days' space1 with gift of other gold    

,than earth concedes1 the ,tidings of   
that ,god     ,who made all worlds1 and 
late ,his ,face hath shown1             
,sun-like to man4  ,but thou1 rejoice in
 hope60         ,thus ,patrick1 once by 
man advised in part1     ,though wont to
 counsel with his ,god alone4           
,meantime full many a rumour vague had  
vexed     ,milcho much musing4  ,he had 
dealings large     ,and distant4  ,died 
a chief8  ,he sent and bought     ,the  
widow's all2 or sold on foodless shores 
,for usury the leanest of his kine4     
,meantime1 his dark ships and the       
populous quays     ,with news still     
murmured4  ,first from ,imber ,dea      
,came whispers how a sage had landed    
late1     ,and how when ,nathi fain had 
barred his way1     ,nathi that spurned 
,palladius from the land1     ,that sage
 with levelled eyes1 and kingly front   
,had from his presence driven him with a
 ban     ,cur-like and craven2 how on   
bended knee     ,sinell believed1 the   
royal man well-loved     ,descending    

from the judgment-seat with joy3        
,and how when fishers spurned his       
brethren's quest     ,for needful food1 
that sage had raised his rod1     ,and  
all the silver harvest of blue streams  
,lay black in nets and sand4  ,his      
wrinkled brow     ,wrinkling yet more1  
thus ,milcho answer made3     8,deceived
 are those that will to be deceived3    
,this knave has heard of gold in        
river-beds1     ,and comes a deft       
sand-groper2 let him come6     ,he'll   
toil ten years ere gold enough he finds 
,to make a crooked torque40             
,from ,tara next     ,the news3         
8,laeghaire1 the ,king1 sits close in   
cloud     ,of sullen thought1 or storms 
from court to court1     ,because the   
chiefest of the ,druid race     ,locru1 
and ,luchat prophesied long since       
,that one day from the sea a ,priest    
would come     ,with ,doctrine and a    
,rite1 and dash to earth     ,idols1 and
 hurl great monarchs from their thrones2
     ,and lo6  ,at ,imber ,boindi late  

there stept     ,a priest from roaring  
waves with ,creed and ,rite1     ,and   
men before him bow40  ,then ,milcho     
spake3     8,not flesh enough from thy  
strong bones1 ,laeghaire1     ,these    
,druids1 ravens of the woods1 have      
plucked1     ,but they must pluck thine 
eyes6  ,ah priestly race1     ,i loathe 
ye6  ',twixt the people and their ,king 
,ever ye rub a sore60  ,last came a     
voice3     8,this day in ,eire thy      
saying is fulfilled1     ,conn of the   
#8,hundred ,battles1' from thy throne   
,leaping long since1 and crying1 #8,o'er
 the sea     ,the ,prophet cometh1      
princes in his train1     ,bearing for  
regal sceptres bended staffs1     ,which
 from the land's high places1 cliff and 
peak1     ,shall drag the fair flowers  
down6'0  ,scoffing he heard3     8,conn 
of the #8,hundred ,battles6'  ,had he   
sent     ,his hundred thousand kernes to
 yonder steep     ,and rolled its       
boulders down1 and built a mole     ,to 
fence my laden ships from spring-tide   

surge1     ,far kinglier pattern had he 
shown1 and given     ,more solace to the
 land40                                 
,he rose and turned     ,with sideway   
leer2 and printing with vague step      
,irregular the shining sands1 on strode 
,toward his cold home1 alone2 and saw by
 chance     ,a little bird              
light-perched1 that1 being sick1        
,plucked from the fissured sea-cliff    
grains of sand2     ,and1 noting1 said1 
8,o bird1 when beak of thine     ,from  
base to crown hath gorged this huge     
sea-wall1     ,then shall that man of   
,creed and ,rite make null     ,the     
strong rock of my will60  ,thus ,milcho 
spake1     ,feigning the peace not his4 
,next day it chanced     ,women he heard
 in converse4  ,thus the first3     8,if
 true the news1 good speed for him1 my  
boy6     ,poor slaves by ,milcho        
scourged on earth shall wear     ,in    
heaven a monarch's crown6  ,good speed  
for her     ,his little sister1 not     
reserved like us     ,to bend beneath   

these loads40  ,to whom her mate3       
8,doubt not the ,prophet's tidings6     
,not in vain     ,the ,power ,unknown   
hath shaped us6  ,come ,he must1     ,or
 send1 and help ,his people on their    
way4     ,good is ,he1 or ,he ne'er had 
made these babes60     ,they passed1 and
 ,milcho said1 8,through hate of me     
,all men believe60  ,and straightway    
,milcho's face     ,grew bleaker than   
that crab-tree stem forlorn     ,that   
hid him1 wanner than that sea-sand wet  
,that whitened round his foot           
down-pressed4                           
,time passed4     ,one morn in bitter   
mockery ,milcho mused3     8,what better
 laughter than when thief from thief    
,pilfers the pilfered goods8  ,our      
,druid thief     ,two thousand years    
hath milked and shorn this land2        
,now comes the thief outlandish that    
with him     ,would share milk-pail and 
fleece6  ,o ,bacrach old1     ,to hear  
thee shout #8,impostor6'0  ,straight he 
went     ,to ,bacrach's cell hid in a   

skirt wind-shav'n     ,of low-grown     
wood1 and met1 departing thence1        
,three sailors sea-tanned from a ship   
late-beached4     ,within a corner      
huddled1 on the floor1     ,the ,druid  
sat1 cowering1 and cold1 and mazed3     
,sudden he rose1 and cried1 by          
conquering joy     ,clothed as with     
youth restored3 8,the ,god ,unknown1    
,that ,god who made the earth1 hath     
walked the earth6     ,this hour ,his   
,prophet treads the isle6  ,three men   
,have seen him2 and their speech is     
true4  ,to them     ,that ,prophet      
spake3 #8,four hundred years ago1       
,sinless ,god's ,son on earth for       
sinners died3     ,black grew the world1
 and graves gave up their dead4'        
,thus spake the ,seer4  ,four hundred   
years ago6     ,mark well the time6  ,of
 ,ulster's ,druid race     ,what man but
 yearly1 those four hundred years1      
,trembled that tale recounting which    
with this     ,tallies as footprint with
 the foot of man8     ,four hundred     

years ago--that self-same day--         
,connor1 the son of ,nessa1 ,ulster's   
,king1     ,sat throned1 and judged his 
people4  ,as he sat1     ,under clear   
skies1 behold1 o'er all the earth       
,swept a great shadow from the windless 
east2     ,and darkness hung upon the   
air three hours2     ,dead fell the     
birds1 and beasts astonied fled4        
,then to his ,chief of ,druids1 ,connor 
spake     ,whispering2 and he1 his      
oracles explored1     ,shivering made   
answer1 #8,from a land accursed1     ,o 
,king1 that shadow sweeps2 therein1 this
 hour1     ,by sinful men sinless ,god's
 ,son is slain4'     ,then ,ulster's    
king1 down-dashing sceptre and crown1   
,rose1 clamouring1 #8,sinless6 shall the
 sinless die8'     ,and madness fell on 
him2 and down that steep     ,he rushed 
whereon the ,emanian ,palace stood1     
,and reached the grove1 ,lambraidh1 with
 two swords1     ,the sword of battle1  
and the sword of state1     ,and hewed  
and hewed1 crying1 #8,were ,i but there 

,thus they should fall who slay that    
,sinless ,one2'     ,and in that madness
 died4  ,old ,erin's sons     ,beheld   
this thing2 nor ever in the land        
,hath ceased the rumour1 nor the tear   
for him     ,who1 wroth at justice      
trampled1 martyr died4     ,and now we  
know that not for any dream     ,he     
died1 but for the truth3 and whensoe'er 
,the ,prophet of that ,son of ,god who  
died     ,sinless for sinners1 standeth 
in this place1     ,i1 ,bacrach1 oldest 
,druid in this ,isle1     ,will rise the
 first1 and kiss his vesture's hem40    
,he spake2 and ,milcho heard1 and       
without speech     ,departed from that  
house4                                  
,a later day     ,when the wild ,march  
sunset1 gone almost ere come1     ,by   
glacial shower was hustled out of life1 
,under a blighted ash tree1 near his    
house1     ,thus mused the man3         
8,believe1 or ,disbelieve6     ,the will
 does both2 ,then idiot who would be    
,for profitless belief to sell himself8 

,yet disbelief not less might work our  
bane6     ,for1 ,i remember1 once a     
sickly slave     ,ill shepherded my     
flock3 ,i spake him plain2     #8,when  
next1 through fault of thine1 the       
midnight wolf     ,worries my sheep1 on 
yonder tree you hang3'     ,the         
blear-eyed idiot looked into my face1   
,and smiled his disbelief4  ,on that day
 week     ,two lambs lay dead4  ,i      
hanged him on a tree4     ,what tree8   
this tree6  ,why1 this is passing       
strange6     ,for1 three nights since1  
,i saw him in a dream3     ,weakling as 
wont he stood beside my bed1     ,and1  
clutching at his wrenched and livid     
throat1     ,spake thus1 #8,belief is   
safest4'0                               
,ceased the hail     ,to rattle on the  
ever barren boughs1     ,and friendlier 
sound was heard4  ,beside his door      
,wayworn the messengers of ,patrick     
stood1     ,and showed the gifts1 and   
held his missive forth4     ,then       
learned that lost one all the truth4    

,that sage     ,confessed by miracles1  
that prophet vouched     ,by warnings   
old1 that seer by words of might        
,subduing all things to himself--that   
priest1     ,none other was than the    
uncomplaining boy     ,five years his   
slave and swineherd6  ,in him rage      
,burst forth1 with fear commixed1 as    
when a beast     ,strains in the toils4 
8,can ,i alone stand firm80     ,he     
mused2 and next1 8,shall ,i1 in mine old
 age1     ,byword become--the vassal of 
my slave8     ,shall ,i not rather drive
 him from my door     ,with wolf hounds 
and a curse80  ,as thus he stood     ,he
 marked the gifts1 and bade men bare    
them in1     ,and homeward signed the   
messengers unfed4       ,but ,milcho    
slept not all that night for thought1   
,and1 forth ere sunrise issuing1 paced a
 moor     ,stone-roughened like the     
graveyard of dead hosts1     ,till      
noontide4  ,sudden then he stopt1 and   
thus     ,discoursed within3 8,a plot   
from first to last1     ,the fraudulent 

bondage1 flight1 and late return2       
,for now ,i mind me of a foolish dream  
,chance-sent1 yet drawn by him awry4    
,one night     ,methought that boy from 
far hills drenched in rain     ,dashed  
through my halls1 all fire4  ,from hands
 and head1     ,from hair and mouth1    
forth rushed a flaming fire     ,white1 
like white light1 and still that mighty 
flame     ,into itself took all4  ,with 
hands outstretched     ,i spurned it4   
,on my cradled daughters twain     ,it  
turned1 and they were ashes4  ,then in  
burst     ,the south wind through the   
portals of the house1     ,tempest      
rose-sweet1 and blew those ashes forth  
,wide as the realm4  ,at dawn ,i sought 
the knave2     ,he glossed my vision    
thus3 #8,that fire is ,faith--          
,faith in the ,god ,triune1 the ,god    
made ,man1     ,sole light wherein ,i   
walk1 and walking burn2     ,and they   
that walk with me shall burn like me    
,by ,faith4  ,but thou that radiance    
wilt repel1     ,housed through         

ill-will1 in ,error's endless night4    
,not less thy little daughters shall    
believe     ,with glory and great joy2  
and1 when they die1     ,report of them1
 like ashes blown abroad1     ,shall    
light far lands1 and health to men of   
,faith     ,stream from their dust4'  ,i
 drave the impostor forth3     ,perjured
 ere long he fled1 and now returns      
,to reap a harvest from his master's    
dream0--     ,thus mused he1 while black
 shadow swept the moor4        ,so day  
by day darker was ,milcho's heart1      
,till1 with the endless brooding on one 
thought1     ,began a little flaw within
 that brain     ,whose strength was     
still his boast4  ,was no friend nigh8  
,alas6 what friend had he8  ,all men he 
scorned2     ,knew truly none4  ,in     
each1 the best and sweetest     ,near   
him had ever pined1 like stunted growth 
,dwarfed by some glacier nigh4  ,the    
fifth day dawned3     ,and inly thus he 
muttered1 darkly pale3     8,five days2 
in three the messengers returned3       

,in three--in two--the ,accursd will be 
here1     ,or blacken yonder ,sleemish  
with his crew     ,descending4  ,then   
those idiots1 kerne and slave--     ,the
 mighty flame into itself takes all--   
,full swarm will fly to meet him6       
,fool6 fool6 fool6     ,the man hath    
snared me with those gifts he sent2     
,else had ,i barred the mountains3 now  
'twere late1     ,my people in revolt4  
,whole weeks his horde     ,will throng 
my courts1 demanding board and bed1     
,with hosts by ,dichu sent to flout my  
pang1     ,and sorer make my charge4    
,my granaries sacked1     ,my larder    
lean as ship six months ice-bound1      
,the man ,i hate will rise1 and open    
shake     ,the invincible banner of his 
mad new ,faith1     ,till all that hear 
him shout1 like winds or waves1         
,belief2 and ,i be left sole recusant2  
,or else perhaps that ,fury who prevails
     ,at times o'er knee-joints of      
reluctant men1     ,by magic imped1 may 
crumble into dust     ,by force my      

disbelief40                             
,he raised his head1     ,and lo1 before
 him lay the sea far ebbed     ,sad with
 a sunset all but gone3 the reeds       
,sighed in the wind1 and sighed a       
sweeter voice     ,oft heard in         
childhood--now the last time heard3     
8,believe60 it whispered4  ,vain the    
voice6  ,that hour1     ,stirred from   
the abyss1 the sins of all his life     
,around him rose like night--not one1   
but all--     ,that earliest sin which1 
like a dagger1 pierced     ,his mother's
 heart2 that worst1 when summer drouth  
,parched the brown vales1 and infants   
thirsting died1     ,while from full    
pail he gorged his swine with milk      
,and flung the rest away4  ,sin-walled  
he stood3     ,god's ,angels could not  
pierce that cincture dread1     ,nor he 
look through it4  ,yet he dreamed he    
saw3     ,his life he saw2 its labours1 
and its gains     ,hard won1            
long-waited1 wonder of his foes2        
,the manifold conquests of a ,will oft  

tried2     ,victory1 ,defeat1           
,retrieval2 last1 that scene     ,around
 him spread3 the wan sea and grey rocks2
     ,and he was 'ware that on that     
self-same ledge     ,he1 ,milcho1 thirty
 years gone by1 had stood1     ,while   
pirates pushed to sea1 leaving forlorn  
,on that wild shore a scared and weeping
 boy1     7,his price two yearling kids 
and half a sheep7     ,thenceforth his  
slave4                                  
,not sole he mused that hour4     ,the  
,demon of his ,house beside him stood   
,upon that iron coast1 and whispered    
thus3     8,masterful man art thou for  
wit and strength2     ,yet girl-like    
standst thou brooding6  ,weave a snare6 
,he comes for gold1 this prophet4  ,all 
thou hast     ,heap in thy house2 then  
fire it6  ,in far lands     ,build thee 
new fortunes4  ,frustrate thus shall he 
,stare but on stones1 his destined      
vassal scaped40       ,so fell the      
whisper2 and as one who hears     ,and  
does1 the stiff-necked man obsequious   

bent     ,his strong will to a stronger1
 and returned1     ,and gave command to 
heap within his house     ,his stored up
 wealth--yea1 all things that were his--
     ,borne from his ships and          
granaries4  ,it was done4     ,then     
filled he his huge hall with resinous   
beams     ,seasoned for far sea-voyage1 
and the ribs     ,of ocean-sundering    
vessels deep in sea2     ,which ended1  
to his topmost tower he clomb1     ,and 
therein sat two days1 with face to      
south1     ,clutching a brand2 and oft  
through clenched teeth hissed1          
,hissed long1 8,because ,i will to      
disbelieve40        ,but ere the second 
sunset two brief hours1     ,where      
comfortless leaned forth that western   
ridge     ,long patched with whiteness  
by half melted snows1     ,there crept a
 gradual shadow4  ,soon the man         
,discerned its import4  ,there they     
hung--he saw them--     ,that company   
detested2 hung as when     ,storm-boding
 cloud on mountain hangs half way       

,scarce moving1 and in fear the shepherd
 cries1     8,would that the worse were 
come60  ,so dread to him     ,those     
,heralds of fair ,peace6  ,he gazed upon
 them     ,with blood-shot eyes2 a      
moment passed3 he stood     ,sole in his
 never festal hall1 and flung     ,his  
lighted brand into that pile far forth1 
,and smiled that smile men feared to    
see1 and turned1     ,and issuing faced 
the circle of his serfs     ,that       
wondering gathered round in thickening  
mass1     ,eyeing that unloved ,house4  
,his place he chose     ,beside that    
blighted ash1 fronting those towers     
,palled with red smoke1 and muttered    
low1 8,so be it6     ,worse to be vassal
 to the man ,i hate10     ,with hueless 
lips4  ,his whole white face that hour  
,was scorched2 and blistered was the    
dead tree's bark2     ,yet there he     
stood2 and in that fiery light     ,his 
life1 no more triumphant1 passed once   
more     ,in underthought before him1   
while on spread     ,the swift1         

contagious madness of that fire1        
,and muttered thus1 not knowing it1 the 
man1     8,the mighty flame into itself 
takes all10     ,mechanic iteration4    
,not alone     ,stood he that hour4     
,the ,demon of his ,house     ,by him   
once more and closer than of old1       
,stood1 whispering thus1 8,thy game is  
now played out2     ,henceforth a byword
 art thou--rich in youth--              
,self-beggared in old age40  ,and as the
 wind     ,of that shrill whisper cut   
his listening soul1     ,the blazing    
roof fell in on all his wealth1         
,hard-won1 long-waited1 wonder of his   
foes2     ,and1 loud as laughter from   
ten thousand fiends1     ,up rushed the 
fire4  ,with arms outstretched he stood2
     ,stood firm2 then forward with a   
wild beast's cry     ,he dashed himself 
into that terrible flame1     ,and      
vanished as a leaf4                     
,upon a spur     ,of ,sleemish1 eastward
 on its northern slope1     ,stood      
,patrick and his brethren1 travel-worn1 

,when distant o'er the brown and billowy
 moor     ,rose the white smoke1 that   
changed ere long to flame1     ,from    
site unknown2 for by the seaward crest  
,that keep lay hidden4  ,hands to       
forehead raised1     ,wondering they    
watched it4  ,one to other spake3       
8,the huge ,dalriad forest is afire     
,ere melted are the winter's snows60    
,another1     8,in vengeance o'er the   
ocean ,creithe or ,pict1     ,favoured  
by magic1 or by mist1 have crossed1     
,and fired old ,milcho's ships40  ,but  
,patrick leaned     ,upon his crosier1  
pale as the ashes wan     ,left by a    
burned out city4  ,long he stood        
,silent1 till1 sudden1 fiercelier soared
 the flame     ,reddening the edges of a
 cloud low hung2     ,and1 after pause1 
vibration slow and stern     ,troubling 
the burthened bosom of the air1         
,upon a long surge of the northern wind 
,came up--a murmur as of wintry seas    
,far borne at night4  ,all heard that   
sound2 all felt it2     ,one only know  

its import4  ,patrick turned2     8,the 
deed is done3 the man ,i would have     
saved     ,is dead1 because he willed to
 disbelieve40       ,yet ,patrick       
grieved for ,milcho1 nor that hour      
,passed further north4  ,three days on  
,sleemish hill     ,he dwelt in prayer4 
,to ,tara's royal halls     ,then turned
 he1 and subdued the royal house        
,and host to ,christ1 save ,erin's king1
 ,laeghaire4     ,but ,milcho's         
daughters twain to ,christ were born    
,in baptism1 and each ,emeria named3    
,like rose-trees in the garden of the   
,lord     ,grew they and flourished4    
,dying young1 one grave     ,received   
them at ,cluanbrain4  ,healing thence   
,to many from their relics passed2 to   
more     ,the spirit's happier healing1 
,love and ,faith4        ,,saint        
,,patrick ,,at ,,tara4         ,,the    
,king is wroth with a greater wrath     
,than the wrath of ,nial or the wrath of
 ,conn6     ,from his heart to his brow 
the blood makes path1        ,and hangs 

there1 a red cloud1 beneath his crown4  
,is there any who knows not1 from south 
to north1        ,that ,laeghaire       
to-morrow his birthday keeps8     ,no   
fire may be lit upon hill or hearth     
,till the ,king's strong fire in its    
kingly mirth        ,up rushes from     
,tara's palace steeps6       ,yet       
,patrick has lighted his ,paschal fire  
,at ,slane--it is holy ,saturday--      
,and blessed his font 'mid the chaunting
 choir6        ,from hill to hill the   
flame makes way2     ,while the king    
looks on it his eyes with ire           
,flash red1 like ,mars1 under tresses   
grey4       ,the chiefs and the captains
 with drawn swords rose3        ,to     
avenge their ,lord and the ,realm they  
swore2        ,the ,druids rose and     
their garments tore2     8,the strangers
 to us and our ,gods are foes60         
,then the king to ,patrick a herald     
sent1        ,who spake1 8,come up at   
noon and show     ,who lit thy fire and 
with what intent3        ,these things  

the great king ,laeghaire would know40  
,but ,laeghaire had hid twelve men by   
the way1     ,who swore by the sun the  
,saint to slay4       ,when the waters  
of ,boyne began to bask        ,and     
fields to flash in the rising sun       
,the ,apostle ,evangelist kept his      
,pasch1        ,and ,erin her grace     
baptismal won3     ,her birthday it was3
 his font the rock1     ,he blessed the 
land1 and he blessed his flock4         
,then forth to ,tara he fared full      
lowly3        ,the ,staff of ,jesus was 
in his hand3     ,twelve priests paced  
after him chaunting slowly1             
,printing their steps on the dewy land4 
,it was the ,resurrection morn2     ,the
 lark sang loud o'er the springing corn2
     ,the dove was heard1 and the       
hunter's horn4       ,the murderers     
twelve stood by on the way2     ,yet    
they saw nought save the lambs at play4 
,a trouble lurked in the monarch's eye  
,when the guest he counted for dead drew
 nigh3     ,he sat in state at his      

palace gate2        ,his chiefs and     
nobles were ranged around2     ,the     
,druids like ravens smelt some far fate2
        ,their eyes were gloomily bent  
on the ground4     ,then spake          
,laeghaire3 8,he comes--beware6     ,let
 none salute him1 or rise from his      
chair60       ,like some still vision   
men see by night1        ,mitred1 with  
eyes of serene command1     ,saint      
,patrick moved onward in ghostly white3 
,the ,staff of ,jesus was in his hand2  
,twelve priests paced after him         
unafraid1     ,and the boy1 ,benignus1  
more like a maid2     ,like a maid just 
wedded he walked and smiled1     ,to    
,christ new plighted1 that priestly     
child4       ,they entered the circle2  
their anthem ceased2        ,the ,druids
 their eyes bent earthward still3       
,on ,patrick's brow the glory increased 
,as a sunrise brightening some sea-beat 
hill4     ,the warriors sat silent3     
strange awe they felt3     ,the chief   
bard1 ,dubtach1 rose and knelt3         

,then ,patrick discoursed of the things 
to be     ,when time gives way to       
eternity1     ,of kingdoms that fall1   
which are dreams not things1     ,and   
the ,kingdom built by the ,king of      
kings4     ,of ,him he spake who reigns 
from the ,cross2     ,of the death which
 is life1 and the life which is loss2   
,how all things were made by the ,infant
 ,lord1     ,and the small hand the     
,magian kings adored4     ,his voice    
sounded on like a throbbing flood       
,that swells all night from some far-off
 wood1     ,and when it ended--that     
wondrous strain--     ,invisible myriads
 breathed 8,amen60       ,while he      
spake1 men say that the refluent tide   
,on the shore by ,colpa ceased to sink3 
,they say that the white stag by        
,mulla's side        ,o'er the green    
marge bending forbore to drink3         
,that the ,brandon eagle forgat to soar2
        ,that no leaf stirred in the    
wood by ,lee3     ,such stupor hung the 
island o'er1        ,for none might     

guess what the end would be4       ,then
 whispered the king to a chief close by1
     8,it were better for me to believe 
than die60       ,yet the king believed 
not2 but ordinance gave        ,that    
whoso would might believe that word3    
,so the meek believed1 and the wise1 and
 brave1        ,and ,mary's ,son as     
their ,god adored4     ,and the ,druids1
 because they could answer nought1      
,bowed down to the ,faith the stranger  
brought4     ,that day on ,erin ,god    
poured ,his ,spirit3     ,yet none like 
the chief of the bards had merit1       
,dubtach6  ,he rose and believed the    
first1     ,ere the great light yet on  
the rest had burst4        ,,saint      
,,patrick ,,and ,,the ,,two             
,,princesses4  ,,fedelm 8,,the ,,red    
,,rose10 ,,and ,,ethna 8,,the ,,fair40  
,,like two sister fawns that leap1      
,borne1 as though on viewless wings1    
,down bosky glade and ferny steep       
,to quench their thirst at silver       
springs1     ,from ,cruachan palace     

through gorse and heather1     ,raced   
the ,royal ,maids together4     ,since  
childhood thus the twain had rushed     
,each morn to ,clebach's fountain-cell  
,ere earliest dawn the ,east had flushed
        ,to bathe them in its well3     
,each morn with joy their young hearts  
tingled2        ,each morn as1          
conquering cloud or mist1     ,the first
 beam with the wavelet mingled1         
,mouth to mouth they kissed6       ,they
 stand by the fount with their unlooped 
hair--     ,a hand each raises--what see
 they there8     ,a white ,form seated  
on ,clebach stone2        ,a kinglike   
presence3 the monks stood nigh3         
,fronting the dawn he sat alone2        
,on the star of morning he fixed his    
eye3     ,that crozier he grasped shone 
bright2 but brighter     ,the sunrise   
flashed from ,saint ,patrick's mitre6   
,they gazed without fear4  ,to a kingdom
 dear        ,from the day of their     
birth those ,maids had been2     ,of    
wrong they had heard2 but it came not   

near2        ,they hoped they were dear 
to the ,power unseen4     ,they knelt   
when that ,vision of ,peace they saw2   
,knelt1 not in fear1 but in loving awe3 
,the 8,red ,rose0 bloomed like that     
,east afar2     ,the 8,fair ,one0 shone 
like that morning star4       ,then     
,patrick rose3 no word he said1         
,but thrice he made the sacred ,sign3   
,at the first1 men say that the demons  
fled2        ,at the third flocked round
 them the ,powers divine     ,unseen4   
,like children devout and good1         
,hands crossed on their bosoms1 the     
maidens stood4       8,blessed and holy6
  ,this land is ,eire3     ,whence come 
ye to her1 and the king our sire80      
8,we come from a ,kingdom far off yet   
near     ,which the wise love well1 and 
the wicked fear3     ,we come with      
blessing and come with ban1     ,we come
 from the ,kingdom of ,god with man40   
8,whose is that ,kingdom8  ,and say1    
therein        ,are the chiefs all      
brave1 and the maids all fair8     ,is  

it clean from reptiles1 and that thing1 
sin8        ,is it like this kingdom of 
,king ,laeghaire80       8,the chiefs of
 that kingdom wage war on wrong1        
,and the clash of their swords is sweet 
as song2     ,fair are the maids1 and so
 pure from taint     ,the flash of their
 eyes turns sinner to saint2     ,there 
reptile is none1 nor the ravening beast2
     ,there light has no shadow1 no end 
the feast40       8,but say1 at that    
feast hath the poor man place8          
,is reverence there for the old head    
hoar8     ,for the cripple that never   
might join the race8        ,for the    
maimed that fought1 and can fight no    
more80       8,reverence is there for   
the poor and meek2     ,and the great   
,king kisses the worn1 pale cheek2      
,and the ,king's ,son waits on the      
pilgrim guest2     ,and the ,queen takes
 the little blind child to her breast3  
,there with a crown is the just man     
crowned2     ,but the false and the     
vengeful are branded and bound     ,in  

knots of serpents1 and flung without    
pity     ,from the bastions and walls of
 the saintly ,city40       ,then the    
eyes of the ,maidens grew dark1 as      
though        ,that judgment of ,god had
 before them passed3     ,and the two   
sweet faces grew dim with woe2          
,but the rose and the radiance returned 
at last4       8,are gardens there8     
,are there streams like ours8        ,is
 ,god white-headed1 or youthful and     
strong8     ,hang there the rainbows    
o'er happy bowers8        ,are there sun
 and moon and the thrush's song80       
8,they have gardens there without noise 
or strife1     ,and there is the ,tree  
of immortal ,life3     ,four rivers     
circle that blissful bound2     ,and    
,spirits float o'er it1 and ,spirits go 
round3     ,there1 set in the midst1 is 
the golden throne2     ,and the ,maker  
of all things sits thereon3     ,a      
rainbow o'er-hangs him2 and lo6 therein 
,the beams are ,his ,holy ,ones washed  
from sin40       ,as he spake1 the      

hearts of the ,maids beat time          
,to music in heaven of peace and love2  
,and the deeper sense of that lore      
sublime        ,came out from within    
them1 and down from above2     ,by      
degrees came down2 by degrees came out3 
,who loveth1 and hopeth1 not long shall 
doubt4       8,who is your ,god8  ,is   
love on ,his brow8     ,oh how shall we 
love ,him and find ,him8  ,how80        
,the pure cheek flamed like the         
dawn-touched dew3     ,there was        
silence3 then ,patrick began anew4      
8,the princes who ride in your father's 
train     ,have courted your love1 but  
sued in vain2--     ,look up1 ,o        
,maidens2 make answer free3     ,what   
boon desire you1 and what would you be80
       8,pure we would be as yon wreath 
of foam1        ,or the ripple which now
 yon sunbeams smite3     ,and joy we    
would have1 and a songful home2         
,and one to rule us1 and ,love's        
delight40       8,in love ,god fashioned
 whatever is1        ,the hills1 and the

 seas1 and the skiey fires2     ,for    
love ,he made them1 and endless blis    
,sustains1 enkindles1 uplifts1 inspires3
     ,that ,god is ,father1 and ,son1   
and ,spirit2     ,and the true and      
spotless ,his peace inherit3     ,and   
,god made man1 with his great sad heart1
     ,that hungers when held from ,god  
apart4     ,your sire is a ,king on     
earth3 but ,i     ,would mate you to    
,one who is ,lord on high3     ,there   
bride is maid3 and her joy shall stand1 
,for the ,king's ,son hath laid on her  
head ,his hand40     ,as he spake1 the  
eyes of that lovely twain        ,grew  
large with a tearful but glorious light1
     ,like skies of summer late cleared 
by rain1        ,when the full-orbed    
moon will be soon in sight4       8,that
 ,son of the ,king--is ,he fairest of   
men8        ,that mate whom ,he         
crowns--is she bright and blest8        
,does she chase the red deer at ,his    
side through the glen8        ,does she 
charm ,him with song to ,his noontide   

rest80       8,that ,king's ,son strove 
in a long1 long war3     ,his people ,he
 freed2 yet they wounded ,him sore2     
,and still in ,his hands1 and ,his feet1
 and ,his side1     ,the scars of ,his  
sorrow are 'graved1 deep-dyed40         
,then the breasts of the ,maidens began 
to heave        ,like harbour waves when
 beyond the bar     ,the great waves    
gather1 and wet winds grieve1           
,and the roll of the tempest is heard   
afar4       8,we will kiss1 we will kiss
 those bleeding feet2        ,on the    
bleeding hands our tears shall fall2    
,and whatever on earth is dear or sweet1
        ,for that wounded heart we      
renounce them all4       8,show us the  
way to ,his palace-gate30--     8,that  
way is thorny1 and steep1 and straight2 
,by none can ,his palace-gate be seen1  
,save those who have washed in the      
waters clean40       ,they knelt2 on    
their heads the wave he poured          
,thrice in the name of the ,triune      
,lord3     ,and he signed their brows   

with the ,sign adored4     ,on ,fedelm  
the 8,red ,rose10 on ,ethna 8,the       
,fair10     ,god's dew shone bright in  
that morning air3     ,some say that    
,saint ,agnes1 'twixt sister and sister1
     ,as the ,cross touched each1 bent  
over and kissed her4       ,then sang   
,god's new-born ,creatures1 8,behold6   
,we see ,god's ,city from heaven draw   
nigh3     ,but we thirst for the        
fountains divine and cold3        ,we   
must see the great ,king's ,son1 or die6
     ,come1 ,thou that com'st6  ,our    
wish is this1        ,that the body     
might die1 and the soul1 set free1      
,swell out1 like an infant's lips1 to   
the kiss        ,of the ,lover who      
filleth infinity60       8,the ,city of 
,god1 by the water's grace1     ,ye see3
 alone1 they behold ,his ,face1     ,who
 have washed in the baths of ,death     
their eyes1     ,and tasted ,his        
,eucharist ,sacrifice40       8,give us 
the ,sacrifice60  ,each bright head     
,bent toward it as sunflowers bend to   

the sun3     ,they ate2 and the blood   
from the warm cheek fled3        ,the   
exile was over3 the home was won3     ,a
 starry darkness o'erflowed their brain3
        ,far waters beat on some        
heavenly shore3     ,like the dying away
 of a low1 sweet strain1        ,the    
young life ebbed1 and they breathed no  
more3     ,in death they smiled1 as     
though on the breast     ,of the ,mother
 ,maid they had found their rest4       
,the rumour spread3 beside the bier     
,the ,king stood mute1 and his chiefs   
and court3     ,the ,druids dark-robed  
drew surlily near1        ,and the      
,bards storm-hearted1 and humbler sort3 
,the 8,staff of ,jesus0 ,saint ,patrick 
raised3        ,angelic anthems above   
them swept3     ,there were that        
muttered2 there were that praised3      
,but none who looked on that marvel     
wept4       ,for they lay on one bed1   
like ,brides new-wed1        ,by        
,clebach well2 and1 the dirge days over1
     ,on their smiling faces a veil was 

spread1        ,and a green mound raised
 that bed to cover4     ,such were the  
ways of those ancient days--        ,to 
,patrick for aye that grave was given2  
,and above it he built a church in their
 praise2        ,for in them had ,eire  
been spoused to heaven4        ,,saint  
,,patrick ,,and ,,the ,,children ,,of   
,,fochlut ,,wood4      ,,argument4      
,saint ,patrick makes way into ,fochlut 
wood by the sea1 the oldest of  ,erin's 
forests1 whence there had been borne    
unto him1 then in a distant  land1 the  
,children's ,wail from ,erin4  ,he meets
 there two young ,virgins1  who sing a  
dirge of man's sorrowful condition4     
,afterwards they lead him  to the       
fortress of the king1 their father4     
,there are sung two songs1 a  song of   
,vengeance and a song of ,lament2 which 
ended1 ,saint ,patrick makes            
proclamation of the ,advent and of the  
,resurrection4  ,the king and all his   
chiefs believe with full contentment4   
,,one day as ,patrick sat upon a stone  

,judging his people1 ,pagan babes       
flocked round1     ,all light and       
laughter1 angel-like of mien1           
,sueing for bread4  ,he gave it1 and    
they ate3     ,then said he1 8,kneel20  
and taught them prayer3 but lo6         
,sudden the stag hounds' music dinned   
the wind2     ,they heard2 they sprang2 
they chased it4  ,patrick spake2        
8,it was the cry of children that ,i    
heard     ,borne from the black wood    
o'er the midnight seas3     ,where are  
those children8  ,what avails though    
,kings     ,have bowed before my        
,gospel1 and in awe     ,nations knelt  
low1 unless ,i set mine eyes     ,on    
,fochlut ,wood80  ,thus speaking1 he    
arose1     ,and1 journeying with the    
brethren toward the ,west1     ,fronted 
the confine of that forest old4         
,then entered they that darkness2 and   
the wood     ,closed as a cavern round  
them4  ,o'er its roof     ,leaned roof  
of cloud1 and hissing ran the wind1     
,and moaned the trunks for centuries    

hollowed out     ,yet stalwart still4   
,there1 rooted in the rock1     ,stood  
the huge growths1 by us unnamed1 that   
frowned     ,perhaps on ,partholan1 the 
parricide1     ,when that first ,pagan  
settler fugitive     ,landed1 a man     
foredoomed4  ,between the stems     ,the
 ravening beast now glared1 now fled4   
,red leaves1     ,the last year's       
phantoms1 rattled here and there4       
,the oldest wood that ever grew in ,eire
     ,was ,fochlut ,wood1 and gloomiest4
  ,spirits of ,ill     ,made it their   
palace1 and its labyrinths sowed        
,with poisons4  ,many a cave1 with      
horrors thronged     ,within it yawned1 
and many a chasm unseen     ,waited the 
unwary treader4  ,cry of wolf           
,pierced the cold air1 and gibbering    
ghosts were heard2     ,and o'er the    
black marsh passed those wandering      
lights     ,that lure lost feet4  ,a    
thousand pathways wound     ,from gloom 
to gloom4  ,one only led to light3      
,that path was sharp with flints4       

,then ,patrick mused1     8,o life of   
man1 how dark a wood art thou6          
,erring how many track thee till        
,despair1     ,sad host1 receives them  
in his crypt-like porch     ,at         
nightfall40  ,mute he paced4  ,the      
brethren feared2     ,and fearing1 knelt
 to ,god4  ,made strong by prayer       
,westward once more they trod that dark1
 sharp way     ,till deeper gloom       
announced the night1 then slept         
,guarded by angels4  ,but the ,saint all
 night     ,watched1 strong in prayer4  
,the second day still on     ,they      
fared1 like mariners o'er strange seas  
borne1     ,that keep in mist their     
soundings when the rocks     ,vex the   
dark strait1 and breakers roar unseen4  
,at last ,benignus cried1 8,to ,god be  
praise6     ,he sends us better omens4  
,see6 the moss     ,brightens the crag60
  ,ere long another spake3     8,the    
worst is past6  ,this freshness in the  
air     ,wafts us a welcome from the    
great salt sea2     ,fair spreads the   

fern3 green buds are on the spray1      
,and violets throng the grass40         
,a few steps more     ,brought them to  
where1 with peaceful gleam1 there spread
     ,a forest pool that mirrored yew   
trees twain     ,with beads like        
blood-drops hung4  ,a sunset flash      
,kindled a glory in the osiers brown    
,encircling that still water4  ,from the
 reeds     ,a sable bird1 gold-circled1 
slowly rose2     ,but when the towering 
tree-tops he outsoared1     ,eastward a 
great wind swept him as a leaf4         
,serenely as he rose a music soft       
,swelled from afar2 but1 as that storm  
o'ertook him1     ,the music changed to 
one on-rushing note     ,o'ertaken by a 
second2 both1 ere long1     ,blended in 
wail unending4  ,patrick's brow1        
,listening that wail1 was altered1 and  
he spake3     8,these were the ,voices  
that ,i heard when stood     ,by night  
beside me in that southern land         
,god's angel1 girt for speed4  ,letters 
he bare     ,unnumbered1 full of woes4  

,he gave me one1     ,inscribed1 #8,the 
,wailing of the ,irish ,race2'     ,and 
as ,i read that legend on mine ear      
,forth from a mighty wood on ,erin's    
coast     ,there rang the cry of        
children1 #8,walk once more     ,among  
us2 bring us help6'0  ,thus ,patrick    
spake3     ,then towards that wailing   
paced with forward head4       ,ere long
 they came to where a river broad1      
,swiftly amid the dense trees winding1  
brimmed     ,the flower-enamelled marge1
 and onward bore     ,green branches    
'mid its eddies4  ,on the bank     ,two 
virgins stood4  ,whiter than earliest   
streak     ,of matin pearl dividing     
dusky clouds     ,their raiment2 and1 as
 oft in silent woods     ,white beds of 
wind-flower lean along the earth-breeze1
     ,so on the river-breeze that       
raiment wan     ,shivered1 back blown4  
,slender they stood and tall1     ,their
 brows with violets bound2 while shone1 
beneath1     ,the dark blue of their    
never-tearless eyes4     ,then ,patrick1

 8,for the sake of ,him who lays        
,his blessing on the mourners1 ,o ye    
maids1     ,reveal to me your grief--if 
yours late sent1     ,or sped in        
careless childhood40  ,and the maids3   
8,happy whose careless childhood 'scaped
 the wound30     ,then she that seemed  
the saddest added thus3     8,stranger6 
this forest is no roof of joy1     ,nor 
we the only mourners2 neither fall      
,bitterer the widow's nor the orphan's  
tears     ,now than of old2 nor sharper 
than long since     ,that loss which    
maketh maiden widowhood4     ,in        
childhood first our sorrow came4  ,one  
eve     ,within our foster-parents'     
low-roofed house     ,the winter sunset 
from our bed had waned3     ,i slept1   
and sleeping dreamed4  ,beside the bed  
,there stood a lovely ,lady crowned with
 stars2     ,a sword went through her   
heart4  ,down from that sword     ,blood
 trickled on the bed1 and on the ground4
     ,sorely ,i wept4  ,the ,lady spake3
 #8,my child1     ,weep not for me1 but 

for thy country weep2     ,her wound is 
deeper far than mine4  ,cry loud6       
,the cry of grief is ,prayer4'  ,i woke1
 all tears2     ,and lo6 my little      
sister1 stiff and cold1     ,sat with   
wide eyes upon the bed upright3         
,that starry ,lady with the bleeding    
heart     ,she1 too1 had seen1 and heard
 her4  ,clamour vast     ,rang out2 and 
all the wall was fiery red2     ,and    
flame was on the sea4  ,a hostile clan  
,landing in mist1 had fired our ships   
and town1     ,our clansmen absent on a 
foray far1     ,and stricken many an old
 man1 many a boy     ,to bondage        
dragged4  ,oh night with blood redeemed6
     ,upon the third day o'er the green 
waves rushed     ,the vengeance winged1 
with axe and torch1 to quit     ,wrong  
with new wrong1 and many a time since   
then4     ,that night sad women on the  
sea sands toiled1     ,drawing from     
wreck and ruin1 beam or plank     ,to   
shield their babes4  ,our foster-parents
 slain1     ,unheeded we1 the children  

of the chief1     ,roamed the great     
forest4  ,there we told our dream       
,to children likewise orphaned4  ,sudden
 fear     ,smote them as though         
themselves had dreamed that dream1      
,and back from them redoubled upon us2  
,until at last from us and them rang    
out--     ,the dark wood heard it1 and  
the midnight sea--     ,a great and     
bitter cry40                            
8,that cry went up1     ,o children1 to 
the heart of ,god2 and ,he     ,down    
sent it1 pitying1 to a far-off land1    
,and on into my heart4  ,by that first  
pang     ,which left the eternal pallor 
in your cheeks1     ,o maids1 ,i pray   
you1 sing once more that song     ,ye   
sang but late4  ,i heard its long last  
note3     ,fain would ,i hear the song  
that such death died40       ,they sang3
 not scathless those that sing such     
song6     ,grief1 their instructress1 of
 the ,muses chief     ,to hearts by     
grief unvanquished1 to their hearts     
,had taught a melody that neither spared

     ,singer nor listener4  ,pale when  
they began1     ,paler it left them4    
,he not less was pale     ,who1 out of  
trance awaking1 thanked them thus3      
8,now know ,i of that sorrow in you     
fixed2     ,what1 and how great it is1  
and bless that ,power     ,who called me
 forth from nothing for your sakes1     
,and sent me to this wood4  ,maidens1   
lead on6     ,a chieftain's daughters   
ye2 and he1 your sire1     ,and with him
 she who gave you your sweet looks      
7,sadder perchance than you in songless 
age7     ,they1 too1 must hear my       
tidings4  ,once a ,prince     ,went     
solitary from ,his golden throne1       
,tracking the illimitable wastes1 to    
find     ,one wildered sheep1 the       
meanest of the flock1     ,and on ,his  
shoulders bore it to that ,house        
,where dwelt ,his ,sire4  #8,good       
,shepherd' was ,his ,name4     ,my      
tidings these3 heralds are we1 footsore1
     ,that bring the heart-sore         
comfort40                               

,on they paced1     ,on by the rushing  
river without words4     ,beside the    
elder sister ,patrick walked1           
,benignus by the younger4  ,fair her    
face2     ,majestic his1 though young4  
,her looks were sad     ,and awe-struck2
 his1 fulfilled with secret joy1        
,sent forth a gleam as when a           
morn-touched bay     ,through ambush    
shines of woodlands4  ,soon they stood  
,where sea and river met1 and trod a    
path     ,wet with salt spray1 and drank
 the clement breeze1     ,and saw the   
quivering of the green gold wave1       
,and1 far beyond1 that fierce           
aggressor's bourn1     ,fair haunt for  
savage race1 a purple ridge     ,by     
rainy sunbeam gemmed from glen to glen1 
,dim waste of wandering lights4  ,the   
sun1 half risen1     ,lay half          
sea-couched4  ,a neighbouring height    
sent forth     ,welcome of baying       
hounds2 and1 close at hand1     ,they   
reached the chieftain's keep4           
,a white-haired man     ,and long since 

blind1 there sat he in his hall1        
,untamed by age4  ,at times a fiery     
gleam     ,flashed from his sightless   
eyes2 and oft the red     ,burned on his
 forehead1 while with splenetic speech  
,stirred by ill news or memory stung1 he
 banned     ,foes and false friend4     
,pleased by his daughters' tale1     ,at
 once he stretched his huge yet aimless 
hands     ,in welcome towards his       
guests4  ,beside him stood     ,his mate
 of forty years by that strong arm      
,from countless suitors won4  ,pensive  
her face3     ,with parted youth the    
confidence of youth     ,had left her4  
,beauty1 too1 though with remorse1      
,its seat had half relinquished on a    
cheek     ,long time its boast1 and on  
that willowy form1     ,so yielding now1
 where once in strength upsoared        
,the queenly presence4  ,tenderest grace
 not less     ,haunted her life's dim   
twilight--meekness1 love--     ,that    
humble love1 all-giving1 that seeks     
nought1     ,self-reverent calm1 and    

modesty in age4     ,she turned an      
anxious eye on him she loved2     ,and1 
bending1 kissed at times that wrinkled  
hand1     ,by years and sorrows made his
 wife far more     ,than in her nuptial 
bloom4  ,these two had lost     ,five   
sons1 their hope1 in war4               
,that eve it chanced     ,high feast was
 holden in the chieftain's tower     ,to
 solemnise his birthday4  ,in they      
flocked1     ,each after each1 the      
warriors of the clan1     ,not without  
pomp heraldic and fair state            
,barbaric1 yet beseeming4  ,unto each   
,seat was assigned for deeds or lineage 
old1     ,and to the chiefs allied4     
,where each had place     ,above him    
waved his banner4  ,not for this        
,unhonoured were the pilgrim guests4    
,they sat     ,where1 fed by pinewood   
and the seeded cone1     ,the loud      
hearth blazed4  ,bathed were the wearied
 feet     ,by maidens of the place and  
nurses grey1     ,and dried in linen    
fragrant still with flowers     ,of     

years when those old nurses too were    
fair4     ,and now the board was spread1
 and carved the meat1     ,and jests ran
 round1 and many a tale was told1       
,some rude1 but none opprobrious4       
,banquet done1     ,page-led the harper 
entered1 old1 and blind3     ,the       
noblest ranged his chair1 and spread the
 mat2     ,the loveliest raised his wine
 cup1 one light hand     ,laid on his   
shoulder1 while the golden hair         
,commingled with the silver4  8,sing10  
they cried1     8,the death of ,deirdr2 
or that desolate sire     ,that slew his
 son1 unweeting2 or that ,queen     ,who
 from her palace pacing with fixed eyes 
,stared at those heads in dreadful      
circle ranged1     ,the heads of        
traitor-friends that slew her lord      
,then mocked the friend they murdered4  
,leal and true1     ,the ,bard who      
wrought that vengeance60  ,thus he sang3
      ,,the ,,lay ,,of ,,the ,,heads4   
,the ,bard returns to a stricken house3 
,what shape is that he rears on high8   

,a withe of the ,willow1 set round with 
,heads3              ,they blot that    
evening sky4             ,a ,widow meets
 him at the gates3              ,what   
fixes thus that ,widow's eye8           
,she names the name2 but she sees not   
the man1              ,nor beyond him   
that reddening sky4             8,bard  
of the ,brand1 thou ,foster-,sire       
,of him they slew--their friend--my     
lord--           ,what ,head is         
that--the first--that frowns            
,like a traitor self-abhorred80         
8,daughter of ,orgill wounded sore1     
,thou of the fateful eye serene1        
,fergus is he4  ,the feast he made      
,that snared thy ,cuchullene40          
8,what ,head is that--the next--half-hid
              ,in curls full lustrous to
 behold8           ,they mind me of a   
hand that once              ,i saw amid 
their gold40             8',tis ,manadh4
  ,he that by the shore                 
,held rule1 and named the waves his     
steeds3           ',twas he that struck 

the stroke accursed--                   
,headless this day he bleeds40          
8,what ,head is that close by--so still1
              ,with half-closed lids1   
and lips that smile8           ,methinks
 ,i know their voice3 methinks          
,his wine they quaffed erewhile60       
8',twas he raised high that severed     
head3              ,thy head he raised1 
my ,foster-,child6           ,that was  
the latest stroke ,i struck3            
,i struck that stroke1 and smiled40     
8,what ,heads are those--that twain1 so 
like1              ,flushed as with     
blood by yon red sky80           8,each 
unto each1 his ,head they rolled2       
,red on that grass they lie40           
8,that paler twain1 which face the      
,east80              8,laegar is one2   
the other ,hilt2           ,silent they 
watched the sport6 they share           
,the doom1 that shared the guilt40      
8,bard of the ,vengeance6 well thou     
knew'st              ,blood cries for   
blood6  ,o kind1 and true1              

,how many1 kith and kin1 have died      
,that mocked the man they slew80        
8,o ,woman of the fateful eye1          
,the untrembling voice1 the marble      
mould1           ,seven hundred men1 in 
house or field1              ,for the   
man they mocked1 lie cold40             
8,their wives1 thou ,bard8 their wives8 
their wives8              ,far off1 or  
nigh1 through ,inisfail1           ,this
 hour what are they8  ,stand they mute  
,like me2 or make their wail80          
8,o ,eimer6 women weep and smile2       
,the young have hope1 the young that    
mourn2           ,but ,i am old2 my hope
 was he3              ,he that can ne'er
 return6             8,o ,conal6 lay me 
in his grave3              ,oh6 lay me  
by my husband's side3           ,oh6 lay
 my lips to his in death20              
,she spake1 and1 standing1 died4        
,she fell at last--in death she fell--  
,she lay1 a black shade1 on the ground2 
,and all her women o'er her wailed      
,like sea-birds o'er the drowned4       

,thus to the blind chief sang that      
harper blind1     ,hymning the          
vengeance2 and the great hall roared    
,with wrath of those wild listeners4    
,many a heel     ,smote the rough stone 
in scorn of them that died     ,not     
three days past1 so seemed it6  ,direful
 hands1     ,together dashed1 thundered 
the ,avenger's praise4     ,at last the 
tide of that fierce tumult ebbed        
,o'er shores of silence4  ,from her     
lowly seat     ,beside her husband's    
spake the gentle ,queen3     8,my       
daughters1 from your childhood ye were  
still     ,a voice of music in your     
father's house--     ,not wrathful      
music4  ,sing that song ye made     ,or 
found long since1 and yet in forest     
sing1     ,if haply ,power ,unknown may 
hear and help40     ,she spake1 and at  
her word her daughters sang4            
8,lost1 lost1 all lost6  ,o tell us what
 is lost8     ,behold1 this too is      
hidden6  ,let him speak1     ,if any    
knows4  ,the wounded deer can turn      

,and see the shaft that quivers in its  
flank2     ,the bird looks back upon its
 broken wing2     ,but we1 the forest   
children1 only know     ,our grief is   
infinite1 and hath no name4     ,what   
woman-prophet1 shrouded in dark veil1   
,whispered a ,hope sadder than ,fear8   
,long since1     ,what ,father lost ,his
 children in the wood8     ,some ,god8  
,and can a ,god forsake8  ,perchance    
,his face is turned to nobler worlds    
new-made2     ,perchance his palace owns
 some later bride     ,that hates the   
dead ,queen's children1 and with charm  
,prevails that they are exiled from his 
eyes1     ,the exile's winter           
theirs--the exile's song4       8,blood1
 ever blood6  ,the sword goes raging on 
,o'er hill and moor2 and with it1       
iron-willed1     ,drags on the hand that
 holds it and the man     ,to slake its 
ceaseless thirst for blood of men2      
,fire takes the little cot beside the   
mere1     ,and leaps upon the upland    
village3 fire     ,up clambers to the   

castle on the crag2     ,and whom the   
fire has spared the hunger kills2       
,and earth draws all into her thousand  
graves4       8,ah me6 the little linnet
 knows the branch     ,whereon to build2
 the honey-pasturing bee     ,knows the 
wild heath1 and how to shape its cell2  
,upon the poisonous berry no bird feeds2
     ,so well their mother1 ,nature1    
helps her own4     ,mothers forsake     
not2--can a ,father hate8     ,who knows
 but that ,he yearns--that ,sire        
,unseen--     ,to clasp ,his children8  
,all is sweet and sane1     ,all1 all   
save man6  ,sweet is the summer flower1 
,the day-long sunset of the autumnal    
woods2     ,fair is the winter frost2 in
 spring the heart     ,shakes to the    
bleating lamb4  ,o then what thing      
,might be the life secure of man with   
man1     ,the infant's smile1 the       
mother's kiss1 the love     ,of lovers1 
and the untroubled wedded home8         
,this might have been man's lot4  ,who  
sent the woe8     ,who formed man first8

  ,who taught him first the ill way8    
,one creature1 only1 sins2 and he the   
highest6       8,o ,higher than the     
highest6  ,thou ,whose hand     ,made   
us--,who shaped'st that hand ,thou wilt 
not clasp1     ,the eye ,thou open'st   
not1 the sealed-up ear6     ,be mightier
 than man's sin3 for lo1 how man        
,seeks ,thee1 and ceases not3 through   
noontide cave     ,and dark air of the  
dawn-unlighted peak     ,to ,thee how   
long he strains the weak1 worn eye      
,if haply he might see ,thy vesture's   
hem     ,on farthest winds receding6    
,yea1 how oft     ,against the blind and
 tremulous wall of cliff     ,tormented 
by sea surge1 he leans his ear     ,if  
haply o'er it name of ,thine might      
creep2     ,or bends above the          
torrent-cloven abyss1     ,if falling   
flood might lisp it6  ,power unknown6   
,he hears it not3 ,thou hear'st his     
beating heart     ,that cries to ,thee  
for ever6  ,from the veil     ,that     
shrouds ,thee1 from the wood1 the cloud1

 the void1     ,o1 by the anguish of all
 lands evoked1     ,look forth6         
,though1 seeing ,thee1 man's race should
 die1     ,one moment let him see ,thee6
  ,let him lay     ,at least his        
forehead on ,thy foot in death60        
,so sang the maidens3 but the warriors  
frowned2     ,and thus the blind king   
muttered1 8,bootless weed     ,is plaint
 where help is none60  ,but wives and   
maids     ,and the thick-crowding poor1 
that many a time     ,had wailed on     
war-fields o'er their brethren slain1   
,went down before that strain as river  
reeds     ,before strong wind1 went down
 when o'er them passed     ,its last    
word1 8,death20 and grief's infection   
spread     ,from least to first2 and    
weeping filled the hall4     ,then on   
,saint ,patrick fell compassion great2  
,he rose amid that concourse1 and with  
voice     ,and words now lost1 alas1 or 
all but lost1     ,such that the chief  
of sight amerced1 beheld     ,the       
imagined man before him crowned with    

light1     ,proclaimed that ,god who    
hideth not ,his face1     ,his people's 
,king and ,father2 open flung     ,the  
portals of ,his realm1 that inward      
rolled1     ,with music of a million    
singing spheres     ,commanded all to   
enter4  ,who was ,he     ,who called the
 worlds from nought8  ,his name is      
,love6     ,in love ,he made those      
worlds4  ,they have not lost1     ,the  
sun his splendour1 nor the moon her     
light3     ,that miracle survives4      
,alas for thee6     ,thou better        
miracle1 fair human love1     ,that     
splendour shouldst have been of home and
 hearth1     ,now quenched by mortal    
hate6  ,whence come our woes     ,but   
from our lusts8  ,o desecrated law      
,by ,god's own finger on our hearts     
engraved1     ,how well art thou        
avenged6  ,no dream it was1     ,that   
primal greatness1 and that primal peace3
     ,man in ,god's image at the first  
was made1     ,a ,god to rule below6    
,he told it all--     ,creation1 and    

that ,sin which marred its face2        
,and how the great ,creator1 creature   
made1     ,god--,god for man            
incarnate--died for man3     ,dead1 with
 ,his ,cross he thundered on the gates  
,of ,death's blind ,hades4  ,then1 with 
hands outstretched     ,his ,holy ,ones 
that1 in their penance prison     ,from 
hope in ,him had ceased not1 to the     
light     ,flashed from ,his bleeding   
hands and branded brow     ,through     
darkness soared3 they reign with ,him in
 heaven3     ,their brethren we1 the    
children of one ,sire4     ,long time he
 spake4  ,the winds forbore their wail2 
,the woods were hushed4  ,that wondrous 
tale complete1     ,not sudden fell the 
silence2 for1 as when     ,a huge wave  
forth from ocean toiling mounts         
,high-arched1 in solid bulk1 the beach  
rock-strewn1     ,burying his hoar head 
under echoing cliffs1     ,and1 after   
pause1 refluent to sea returns     ,not 
all at once is stillness1 countless     
rills     ,or devious winding down the  

steep1 or borne     ,in crystal leap    
from sea-shelf to sea-well1     ,and    
sparry grot replying2 gradual thus      
,with lessening cadence sank that great 
discourse1     ,while round him gazed   
,saint ,patrick1 now the old            
,regarding1 now the young1 and flung on 
each     ,in turn his boundless heart1  
and gazing longed     ,as only          
,apostolic heart can long     ,to help  
the helpless4                           
8,fair1 ,o friends1 the bourn     ,we   
dwell in6  ,holy ,king makes happy land3
     ,our ,king is in our midst4  ,he   
gave us gifts2     ,laws that are ,love1
 the sovereignty of ,truth4     ,what1  
sirs1 ye knew ,him not6  ,but ye by     
signs     ,foresaw ,his coming1 as1 when
 buds are red     ,ye say1 #8,the spring
 is nigh us4'  ,him1 unknown1     ,each 
loved who loved his brother6  ,shepherd 
youths1     ,who spread the pasture     
green beneath your lambs     ,and       
freshened it with snow-fed stream and   
mist8     ,who but that ,love unseen8   

,grey mariners1     ,who lulled the     
rough seas round your midnight nets1    
,and sent the landward breeze8  ,pale   
sufferers wan1     ,rejoice6  ,his are  
ye2 yea1 and ,his the most6     ,have ye
 not watched the eagle that upstirs     
,her nest1 then undersails her falling  
brood     ,and stays them on her plumes1
 and bears them up     ,till1 taught by 
proof1 they learn their unguessed powers
     ,and breast the storm8  ,thus ,god 
stirs up ,his people2     ,thus proves  
by pain4  ,ye too1 ,o hearths           
well-loved6     ,how oft your           
sin-stained sanctities ye mourned6      
,wives6 from the cradle reigns the      
,bethelem ,babe6     ,maidens6          
henceforth the ,virgin ,mother spreads  
,her shining veil above you6            
8,speak aloud1     ,chieftains          
world-famed6  ,i hear the ancient blood 
,that leaps against your hearts6  ,what8
  ,warriors ye6     ,danger your        
birthright1 and your pastime death6     
,behold your foes6  ,they stand before  

you plain3     ,ill passions1 base      
ambitions1 falsehood1 hate3     ,wage   
war on these6  ,a ,king is in your host6
     ,his hands no roses plucked but on 
the ,cross3     ,he came not hand of man
 in woman's tasks     ,to mesh4  ,in    
woman's hand1 in childhood's hand1      
,much more in man's1 ,he lodged ,his    
conquering sword2     ,them too ,his    
soldiers named1 and vowed to war4       
,rise1 clan of ,kings1 rise1 champions  
of man's race1     ,heaven's sun-clad   
army militant on earth1     ,one victory
 gained1 the realm decreed is ours4     
,the bridal bells ring out1 for ,low    
with ,high     ,is wed in endless       
nuptials4  ,it is past1     ,the sin1   
the exile1 and the grief4  ,o man1      
,take thou1 renewed1 thy sister-mate by 
hand2     ,know well thy dignity1 and   
hers3 return1     ,and meet once more   
,thy ,maker1 for ,he walks     ,once    
more within thy garden1 in the cool     
,of the world's eve60                   
,the words that ,patrick spake     ,were

 words of power1 not futile did they    
fall3     ,but1 probing1 healed a       
sorrowing people's wound4     ,round him
 they stood1 as oft in ,grecian days1   
,some haughty city sieged1 her penitent 
sons     ,thronging green ,pnyx or      
templed ,forum hushed     ,hung         
listening on that ,people's one true    
,voice1     ,the man that ne'er had     
flattered1 ne'er deceived1     ,nursed  
no false hope4  ,it was the time of     
,faith2     ,open was then man's ear1   
open his heart3     ,pride spurned not  
then that chiefest strength of man      
,the power1 by ,truth confronted1 to    
believe4     ,not savage was that wild1 
barbaric race3     ,spirit was in them4 
,on their knees they sank1     ,with    
foreheads lowly bent2 and when they rose
     ,such sound went forth as when late
 anchored fleet     ,touched by dawn    
breeze1 shakes out its canvas broad     
,and sweeps into new waters4  ,man with 
man     ,clasped hands2 and each in each
 a something saw     ,till then unseen4 

,as though flesh-bound no more1         
,their souls had touched4  ,one ,truth1 
the ,spirit's life1     ,lived in them  
all1 a vast and common joy4     ,and yet
 as when1 that ,pentecostal morn1       
,each heard the ,apostle in his native  
tongue1     ,so now1 on each1 that      
,truth1 that ,joy1 that ,life     ,shone
 forth with beam diverse4  ,deep peace  
to one     ,those tidings seemed1 a     
still vale after storm2     ,to one a   
sacred rule1 steadying the world2     ,a
 third exulting saw his youthful hope   
,written in stars2 a fourth triumphant  
hailed     ,the just cause1 long        
oppressed4  ,some laughed1 some wept3   
,but she1 that aged chieftain's mournful
 wife     ,clasped to her boding breast 
his hoary head     ,loud clamouring1    
8,death is dead2 and not for long       
,that dreadful grave can part us40      
,last of all1     ,he too believed4     
,that hoary head had shaped     ,full   
many a crafty scheme3--behind them all  
,nature held fast her own4              

,o happy night6     ,back through the   
gloom of centuries sin-defaced     ,with
 what a saintly radiance thou dost      
shine6     ,they slept not1 on the      
loud-resounding shore     ,in glory     
roaming4  ,many a feud that night       
,lay down in holy grave1 or1 mockery    
made1     ,was quenched in its own      
shame4  ,far shone the fires            
,crowning dark hills with gladness3     
soared the song2     ,and heralds sped  
from coast to coast to tell     ,how ,he
 the ,lord of all1 no ,power ,unknown   
,but like a man rejoicing in his house1 
,ruled the glad earth4  ,that           
demon-haunted wood1     ,sad ,erin's    
saddest region1 yet1 men say1           
,tenderest for all its sadness1 rang at 
last     ,with hymns of men and angels4 
,onward sailed     ,high o'er the long1 
unbreaking1 azure waves     ,a mighty   
moon1 full-faced1 as though on winds    
,of rapture borne4  ,with earliest red  
of dawn     ,northward once more the    
wingd war-ships rushed     ,swift as of 

old to that long hated shore--     ,not 
now with axe and torch4  ,his ,name they
 bare     ,who linked in one the        
nations4                                
,on a cliff     ,where ,fochlut's ,wood 
blackened the northern sea     ,a       
convent rose4  ,therein those sisters   
twain     ,whose cry had summoned       
,patrick o'er the deep1     ,abode1 no  
longer weepers4  ,pallid still1     ,in 
radiance now their faces shone2 and     
sweet     ,their psalms amid the        
clangour of rough brine4     ,ten years 
in praise to ,god and good to men       
,that happy precinct housed them4  ,in  
their morn     ,grief had for them her  
great work perfected2     ,their eve was
 bright as childhood4  ,when the hour   
,came for their blissful transit1 from  
their lips     ,pealed forth ere death  
that great triumphant chant     ,sung by
 the ,virgin ,mother4  ,ages passed2    
,and1 year by year1 on wintry nights1   
that song     ,alone the sailors        
heard--a cry of joy4        ,,saint     

,,patrick ,,and ,,king ,,laeghaire4     
8,,thou son of ,calphurn1 in peace go   
forth6        ,this hand shall slay them
 whoe'er shall slay thee6     ,the      
carles shall stand to their necks in    
earth        ,till they die of thirst   
who mock or stay thee6       8,but my   
father1 ,nial1 who is dead long since1  
,permits not me to believe thy word2    
,for the servants of ,jesus1 thy        
heavenly ,prince1        ,once dead1 lie
 flat as in sleep1 interred3     ,but we
 are as men that through dark floods    
wade2     ,we stand in our black graves 
undismayed2     ,our faces are turned to
 the race abhorred1     ,and at each    
hand by us stand spear or sword1        
,ready to strike at the last great day1 
,ready to trample them back into clay6  
8,this is my realm1 and men call it     
,eire1        ,wherein ,i have lived and
 live in hate     ,like ,nial before me 
and ,erc his sire1        ,of the race  
,lagenian1 ill-named the ,great60       
,thus spake ,laeghaire1 and his host    

rushed on1        ,a river of blood as  
yet unshed3--     ,at noon they fought3 
and at set of sun        ,that king lay 
captive1 that host lay dead6       ,the 
,lagenian loosed him1 but bade him swear
        ,he would never demand of them  
,tribute more3        ,so ,laeghaire by 
the dread 8,god-,elements0 swore1       
,by the moon divine and the earth and   
air2     ,he swore by the wind and the  
broad sunshine        ,that circle for  
ever both land and sea1     ,by the     
long-backed rivers1 and mighty wine1    
,by the cloud far-seeing1 by herb and   
tree1     ,by the boon spring shower1   
and by autumn's fan1     ,by woman's    
breast1 and the head of man1     ,by    
,night and the noonday ,demon he swore  
,he would claim the ,boarian ,tribute no
 more4       ,but with time wrath waxed2
 and he brake his faith3     ,then the  
dread 8,god-,elements0 wrought his      
death2     ,for the ,wind and           
,sun-,strength by ,cassi's side         
,came down and smote on his head that he

 died4     ,death-sick three days on his
 throne he sate2     ,then died1 as his 
father died1 great in hate4       ,they 
buried their king upon ,tara's hill1    
,in his grave upright--there stands he  
still3     ,upright there stands he as  
men that wade     ,by night through a   
castle-moat1 undismayed2     ,on his    
head is the crown1 the spear in his     
hand2     ,and he looks to the hated    
,lagenian land4       ,such rites in the
 time of wrath and wrong        ,were   
,eire's3 baptised1 they were hers no    
longer3     ,for ,patrick had taught her
 his sweet new song1        8,though    
hate is strong1 yet love is stronger40  
,,saint ,,patrick ,,and ,,the           
,,impostor2  ,,or1 ,,mac ,,kyle ,,of    
,,man4      ,mac ,kyle1 a child of      
death1 dwells in a forest with other men
 like unto  himself1 that slay whom they
 will4  ,saint ,patrick coming to that  
wood1 a  certain ,impostor devises how  
he may be deceived and killed2 but ,god 
smites the ,impostor through his own    

snare1 and he dies4  ,mac ,kyle         
believes1 and demanding penance is      
baptised4  ,afterwards he preaches in   
,manann #gg ,isle1 and becomes a great  
,saint4       ,,in ,uladh1 near ,magh   
,inis1 lived a chief1     ,fierce man   
and fell4  ,from orphaned childhood he  
,through lawless youth to blood-stained 
middle age     ,had rushed as stormy    
morn to stormier noon1     ,working1    
except that still he spared the poor1   
,all wrongs with iron will2 a child of  
death4     ,thus spake he to his        
followers1 while the woods              
,snow-cumbered creaked1 their scales of 
icy mail     ,angered by winter winds3  
8,at last he comes1     ,he that        
deceives the people with great signs1   
,and for the tinkling of a little gold  
,preaches new ,gods4  ,where rises      
yonder smoke     ,beyond the pinewood1  
camps this ,lord of ,dupes3     ,how say
 ye8  ,shall he track o'er ,uladh's     
plains1     ,as o'er the land beside1   
his venomous way8     ,forth with your  

swords6 and if that ,god he serves      
,can save him1 let him prove it60       
,dark with wrath     ,thus spake ,mac   
,kyle2 and all his men approved1        
,shouting1 while downward fell the snows
 hard-caked ,loosened by shock     of   
forest-echoed hands1     ,save ,garban4 
,crafty he1 and full of lies1     ,that 
thing which ,patrick hated4  ,sideway   
first     ,glancing1 as though some     
secret foe were nigh1     ,he spake3    
8,mac ,kyle6 a counsel for thine ear6   
,a man of counsel ,i1 as thou of war6   
,the people love this stranger4         
,patrick slain1     ,their wrath will   
blaze against us1 and demand     ,an    
eric for his head4  ,let us by craft    
,unravel first his craft3 then safe our 
choice2     ,we slay a traitor1 or great
 ransom take3     ,impostors lack not   
gold4  ,lay me as dead     ,upon a bier3
 above me spread yon cloth1     ,and    
make your wail3 and when the seer draws 
nigh     ,worship him1 crying1 #8,lo1   
our friend is dead6     ,kneel1 prophet1

 kneel1 and pray that ,god thou serv'st 
,to raise him4'  ,if he kneels1 no      
prophet he1     ,but like the race of   
mortals4  ,sweep the cloth     ,straight
 from my face2 then1 laughing1 ,i will  
rise40       ,thus counselled ,garban2  
and the counsel pleased2     ,yet       
pleased not ,god4  ,upon a bier1        
branch-strewn1     ,they laid their man1
 and o'er him spread a cloth2     ,then1
 moving towards that smoke behind the   
pines1     ,they found the ,saint and   
brought him to that bier1     ,and made 
their moan--and ,garban 'neath that     
cloth     ,smiled as he heard it--8,lo1 
our friend is dead6     ,great prophet  
kneel2 and pray the ,god thou serv'st   
,to raise him from the dead40           
,the man of ,god     ,upon them fixed a 
sentence-speaking eye3     8,yea6 he is 
dead4  ,in this ye have not lied3       
,behold1 this day shall ,garban's       
covering be     ,the covering of the    
dead4  ,remove that cloth40       ,then 
drew they from his face the cloth2 and  

lo6     ,beneath it ,garban lay1 a      
corpse stone-cold4       ,amazement fell
 upon that bandit throng1               
,contemplating that corpse1 and on ,mac 
,kyle     ,grief for his friend1        
remorse1 and strong belief1     ,a      
threefold power3 for she that at his    
birth1     ,her brief life faithful to  
that ,law she knew1     ,had died1 in   
region where desires are crowned        
,that hour was strong in prayer4  8,from
 ,god he came10     ,thus cried they2   
8and we worked a work accursed1         
,tempting ,god's prophet40  ,patrick    
heard1 and spake2     8,not me ye       
tempted1 but the ,god ,i serve40     ,at
 last ,mac ,kyle made answer3 8,i have  
sinned2     ,i1 and this people1 whom ,i
 made to sin3     ,now therefore to thy 
,god we yield ourselves     ,liegemen   
henceforth1 his thralls as slave to     
,lord1     ,or horse to master4  ,that  
which thou command'st     ,that will we 
do40  ,and ,patrick said1 8,believe2    
,confess your sins2 and be baptised to  

,god1     ,the ,father1 and the ,son1   
and ,holy ,spirit1     ,and live true   
life40  ,then ,patrick where he stood   
,above the dead1 with hands uplifted    
preached     ,to these in anguish and in
 terror bowed     ,the tidings of great 
joy from ,bethlehem's ,crib     ,to     
,calvary's ,cross4  ,sudden upon his    
knees1     ,heart-pierced1 as though he 
saw that ,head thorn-pierced1     ,fell 
that wild chief1 and was baptised to    
,god2     ,and1 lifting up his great    
strong hands1 while still     ,the      
waters streamed adown his matted locks1 
,he cried1 8,alas1 my master1 and my    
sire6     ,i sinned a mighty sin2 for in
 my heart     ,fixed was my purpose1    
soon as thou hadst knelt1     ,to slay  
thee with my sword4  ,therefore judge   
thou     ,what eric ,i must pay to quit 
my sin80     ,him ,patrick answered1    
8,god shall be thy ,judge3     ,arise1  
and to the seaside flee1 as one         
,that flies his foe4  ,there shalt thou 
find a boat     ,made of one hide3 eat  

nought1 and nothing take     ,except one
 cloak alone3 but in that boat     ,sit 
thou1 and bear the sin-mark on thy brow1
     ,facing the waves1 oarless and     
rudderless2     ,and bind the boat chain
 thrice around thy feet1     ,and fling 
the key with strength into the main1    
,far as thou canst3 and wheresoe'er the 
breath     ,of ,god shall waft thee1    
there till death abide     ,working the 
,will ,divine40  ,then spake that chief1
     8,i1 that commanded others1 can    
obey2     ,such lore alone is mine3 but 
for this man     ,that sinned my sin1   
alas1 to see him thus60     ,to whom the
 ,saint1 8,for him1 when thou art gone1 
,my prayer shall rise4  ,if ,god will   
raise the dead     ,he knows3 not ,i40  
,then rose that chief1 and rushed       
,down to the shore1 as one that flies   
his foe2     ,nor ate1 nor drank1 nor   
spake to wife or child1     ,but loosed 
a little boat1 of one hide made1        
,and sat therein1 and round his ankles  
wound     ,the boat chain thrice2 and   

flung the key far forth     ,above the  
ridged sea foam4  ,the ,lord of all     
,gave ordinance to the wind1 and1 as a  
leaf     ,swift rushed that boat1       
oarless and rudderless1     ,over the   
on-shouldering1 broad-backed1 glaucous  
wave     ,slow-rising like the rising of
 a world1     ,and purple wastes beyond1
 with funeral plume     ,crested1 a     
pallid pomp4  ,all night the chief      
,under the roaring tempest heard the    
voice     ,that preached the ,son of    
,man2 and when the morn     ,shone out1 
his coracle drew near the surge         
,reboant on ,manann's ,isle4  ,not      
unbeheld     ,rose it1 and fell2 not    
unregarded danced     ,a black spot on  
the inrolling ridge1 then hung          
,suspense upon the mile-long cataract   
,that1 overtoppling1 changed grass-green
 to light1     ,and drowned the shores  
in foam4  ,upon the sands     ,two      
white-haired ,elders in the salt air    
knelt1     ,offering to ,god their early
 orisons1     ,coninri and ,romael4     

,sixty years     ,these two unto a hard 
and stubborn race     ,had preached the 
,word2 and gaining by their toil        
,but thirty souls1 had daily prayed     
their ,god     ,to send ere yet they    
died some ampler arm1     ,and reap the 
ill-grown harvest of their youth4       
,ten years they prayed1 not doubting1   
and from ,god1     ,who hastens not1    
this answer had received1     8,ye shall
 not die until ye see his face40        
,therefore1 each morning1 peered they   
o'er the waves1     ,long-watching4     
,these through breakers dragged the man1
     ,their wished-for prize1           
half-frozen1 and nigh to death1     ,and
 bare him to their cell1 and warmed and 
fed him1     ,and heaped his couch with 
skins4  ,deep sleep he slept     ,till  
evening lay upon the level sea     ,with
 roses strewn like bridal chamber's     
floor2     ,within it one star shone4   
,rested1 he woke     ,and sought the    
shore4  ,from earth1 and sea1 and sky1  
,then passed into his spirit the ,spirit

 of ,love2     ,and there he vowed his  
vow1 fierce chief no more1     ,but     
soldier of the cross4                   
,the weeks ran on1     ,and daily those 
grey ,elders ministered     ,god's      
teaching to that chief1 demanding still1
     8,son1 understandst thou8  ,gird   
thee like a man     ,to clasp1 and hold1
 the total ,faith of ,christ1     ,and  
give us leave to die40  ,the months fled
 fast3     ,ere violets bloomed1 he knew
 the creed2 and when     ,far heathery  
hills purpled the autumnal air1     ,he 
sang the psalter whole4  ,that tale he  
told     ,had power1 and ,patrick's     
name4  ,his strenous arm     ,labouring 
with theirs1 reaped harvest heavy and   
sound1     ,till wondering gazed their  
wearied eyes on barns     ,knee-deep in 
grain4  ,at last an eve there fell1     
,when1 on the shore in commune1 with    
such might     ,discoursed that pilgrim 
of the things of ,god1     ,such insight
 calm1 and wisdom reverence-born1       
,each on the other gazing in their      

hearts     ,received once more an answer
 from the ,lord1     8,now is your task 
completed3 ye shall die40       ,then on
 the red sand knelt those ,elders twain 
,with hands upraised1 and all their     
hoary hair     ,tinged like the         
foam-wreaths by that setting sun1       
,and sang their 8,nunc ,dimittis40  ,at 
its close     ,high on the sandhills1   
'mid the tall hard grass     ,that      
sighed eternal o'er the unbounded waste 
,with ceaseless yearnings like their own
 for death     ,they found the place    
where first1 that bark descried1        
,their sighs were changed to songs4     
,that spot they marked1     ,and said1  
8,our resurrection place is here30      
,and1 on the third day dying1 in that   
place     ,the man who loved them laid  
them1 at their heads     ,planting one  
cross because their hearts were one     
,and one their lives4  ,the             
snowy-breasted bird     ,of ocean o'er  
their undivided graves     ,oft flew    
with wailing note2 but they rejoiced    

',mid ,god's high realm glittering in   
endless youth4       ,these two with    
,christ1 on him1 their son in ,christ   
,their mantle fell2 and strength to him 
was given4     ,long time he toiled     
alone2 then round him flocked           
,helpers from far4  ,at last1 by voice  
of all     ,he gat the ,island's great  
episcopate1     ,and king-like ruled the
 region4  ,this is he1     ,mac ,kyle of
 ,uladh1 bishop1 and ,penitent1         
,saint ,patrick's missioner in ,manann's
 ,isle1     ,sinner one time1 and1 after
 sinner1 ,saint     ,world-famous4  ,may
 his prayer for sinners plead6          
,,saint ,,patrick ,,at ,,cashel2  ,,or1 
,,the ,,baptism ,,of ,,aengus4          
,,argument4      ,saint ,patrick goes to
 ,cashel of the ,rings to celebrate the 
,feast of the  ,annunciation4  ,aengus1 
who reigns there1 receives him with all 
honour4  ,he and his people believe1 and
 by ,baptism are added unto the ,church4
  ,aengus desires to resign his         
sovereignty1 and become a monk4  ,the   

,saint  suffers not this1 because he had
 discovered by two notable signs1 both  
at  the baptism of ,aengus and before   
it1 that the ,prince is of those who are
  called by ,god to rule men4           
,,when ,patrick now o'er ,ulster's      
forest bound1     ,and ,connact1 echoing
 to the western wave1     ,and          
,leinster1 fair with hill-suspended     
woods1     ,had raised the cross1 and   
where the deep night ruled1             
,splendour had sent of everlasting      
light1     ,sole peace of warring       
hearts1 to ,munster next1     ,thomond  
and ,desmond1 ,heber's portion old1     
,he turned2 and1 fired by love that     
mocks at rest     ,pushed on through    
raging storm the whole night long1      
,intent to hold the ,annunciation ,feast
     ,at ,cashel of the ,kings4  ,the   
royal keep     ,high-seated on its      
,rock1 as morning broke     ,faced them 
at last2 and at the selfsame hour       
,aengus1 in his father's absence lord1  
,rising from happy sleep and heaven-sent

 dreams     ,went forth on duteous      
tasks4  ,with sudden start     ,the     
prince stept back2 for1 o'er the        
fortress court     ,like grove          
storm-levelled lay the idols huge1      
,false gods and foul that long had awed 
the land1     ,prone1 without hand of   
man4  ,o'er-awed he gazed2     ,then on 
the air there rang a sound of hymns1    
,and by the eastern gate ,saint ,patrick
 stood1     ,the brethren round him4    
,on their shaggy garb     ,auroral mist1
 struck by the rising sun1              
,glittered1 that diamond-panoplied they 
seemed1     ,and as a heavenly vision4  
,at that sight     ,the youth1          
descending with a wildered joy1         
,welcomed his guests3 and1 ere an hour1 
the streets     ,sparkled far down like 
flowering meads in spring1     ,so      
thronged the folk in holiday attire     
,to see the man far-famed4  8,who spurns
 our gods80     ,once they had cried in 
wrath3 but1 year by year1     ,tidings  
of some deliverance great and strange1  

,some life more noble1 some sublimer    
hope1     ,some regal race enthroned    
beyond the grave1     ,had reached them 
from afar4  ,the best believed1         
,great hearts for whom nor earthly love 
sufficed     ,nor earthly fame4  ,the   
meaner scoffed3 yet all     ,desired the
 man4  ,delay had edged their thirst4   
,then ,patrick1 standing up among them1 
spake1     ,and ,god was with him4  ,not
 as when loose tongue     ,babbles vain 
rumour1 or the ,sophist spins           
,thought's air-hung cobwebs gay with    
,fancy's dews1     ,spake he1 but words 
of might1 as when a man     ,bears      
witness to the things which he has seen1
     ,and tells of that he knows3 and as
 the harp     ,attested is by rapture of
 the ear1     ,and sunlight by          
consenting of the eye     ,that1 seeing1
 knows it sees1 and neither craves      
,inferior demonstration1 so his words   
,self-proved1 went forth and conquered3 
for man's mind1     ,created in ,his    
image who is ,truth1     ,challenged by 

truth1 with recognising voice     ,cries
 out 8,flesh of my flesh1 bone of my    
bone10     ,and cleaves thereto4  ,in   
all that listening host     ,one vast1  
dilating heart yearned to its ,god4     
,then burst the bond of years4  ,no     
haunting doubt     ,they knew4  ,god    
dropped on them the robe of ,truth      
,sun-like3 down fell the many-coloured  
weed     ,of error2 and1 reclothed ere  
yet unclothed1     ,they walked a       
new-born earth4  ,the blinded ,past     
,fled1 vanquished4  ,glorious more than 
strange it seemed     ,that ,he who     
fashioned man should come to man1       
,and raise by ruling4  ,they1 ,his      
trumpet heard1     ,in glory spurned    
demons misdeemed for gods3     ,the     
great chief had returned3 the clan      
enthralled     ,trod down the usurping  
foe4                                    
,then rose the cry1     8,join us to    
,christ60  ,his strong eyes on them set1
     ,patrick replied1 8,know ye what   
thing ye seek     ,ye that would fain be

 house-mates with my ,king8     ,ye seek
 ,his cross60  ,he paused1 then added   
slow3     8,if ye be liegeful1 sirs1    
decree the day1     ,his baptism shall  
be yours40                              
,that eve1 while shone     ,the sunset  
on the green-touched woods1 that1 grazed
     ,by onward flight of unalighting   
spring1     ,caught warmth yet scarcely 
flamed1 ,aengus stood     ,with ,patrick
 in a westward-facing tower     ,which  
overlooked far regions town-besprent1   
,and lit with winding waters4  ,thus he 
spake3     8,my ,father6 what is        
sovereignty of man8     ,say1 can ,i    
shield yon host from death1 from sin1   
,taking them up into my breast1 like    
,god8     ,i trow not so6  ,mine be the 
lowliest place     ,following thy ,king 
who left his ,father's throne     ,to   
walk the lowliest60  ,patrick answered  
thus3     8,best lot thou choosest1 son4
  ,if thine that lot     ,thou know'st  
not yet2 nor ,i4  ,the ,lord1 thy ,god1 
,will teach us40                        

,when the day decreed had dawned        
,loud rang the bull-horn2 and on every  
breeze     ,floated the banners1        
saffron1 green1 and blue2     ,while    
issuing from the horizon's utmost verge 
,the full-voiced ,people flocked4  ,so  
swarmed of old     ,some migratory      
nation1 instinct-urged     ,to fly their
 native wastes sad winter's realm2      
,so thronged on southern slopes when1   
far below1     ,shone out the plains of 
promise4  ,bright they came6     ,no    
summer sea could wear a blithsomer sheen
     ,though every dancing crest and    
milky plume     ,ran on with rainbows   
braided4  ,minstrel songs     ,wafted   
like winds those onward hosts1 or swayed
     ,or stayed them2 while among them  
heralds passed     ,lifting white wands 
of office4  ,foremost rode     ,aileel1 
the younger brother of the prince3      
,he ruled a milk-white horse4           
,fluttered1 breeze-borne     ,his mantle
 green1 while all his golden hair       
,streamed back redundant from the ring  

of gold     ,circling his head          
uncovered4  ,loveliest light     ,of    
innocence and joy was on that face3     
,full well the young maids marked it6   
,brighter yet     ,beamed he1 his       
brother noting4  ,on the verge     ,of  
,cashel's ,rock that hour ,aengus stood1
     ,by ,patrick's side4  ,that        
concourse nearer now     ,he gazed upon 
it1 crying1 with clasped hands1     8,my
 ,father1 fair is sunrise1 fair the sea1
     ,the hills1 the plains1 the        
wind-stirred wood1 the maid2     ,but   
what is like a ,people onward borne     
,in gladness8  ,when ,i see that sight1 
my heart     ,expands like palace-gates 
wide open flung     ,that say to all    
men1 #8,enter4'0  ,then the ,saint      
,laid on that royal head a hand of      
might1     ,and said1 8,the ,will of    
,god decrees thee ,king6     ,son of    
this ,people art thou3 ,sire one day    
,thou shalt be6  ,son and ,sire in one  
are ,king4     ,shepherd for ,god thy   
flock1 thou ,shepherd true60     ,he    

spake3 that word was ratified in        
,heaven4          ,meantime that        
multitude innumerable     ,had reached  
the ,rock1 and1 now the winding road    
,in pomp ascending1 faced those         
fair-wrought gates     ,which1 by the   
warders at the prince's sign     ,drawn 
back1 to all gave entrance4  ,in they   
streamed1     ,filling the central      
courtway4  ,patrick stood     ,high     
stationed on a prostrate idol's base1   
,in vestments of the ,vigil of that     
,feast     ,the ,annunciation1 which    
with annual boon     ,whispers1 while   
melting snows dilate those streams      
,purer than snows1 to universal earth   
,that ,maiden ,mother's joy4  ,the      
,apostle watched     ,the advancing     
throng1 and gave them welcome thus2     
8,as though into the great ,triumphant  
,church1     ,o guests of ,god1 ye      
flock6  ,her place is ,heaven3          
,sirs6 we this day are militant below3  
,not less1 advance in faith4  ,behold   
your crowns--     ,obedience and        

,endurance40                            
,there and then     ,the ,rite began3   
his people's ,chief and ,head           
,beside the font ,aengus stood2 his face
     ,sweet as a child's1 yet grave as  
front of eld3     ,for reverence he had 
laid his crown aside1     ,and from the 
deep hair to the unsandalled feet       
,was raimented in white4  ,with mitred  
head     ,and massive book1 forward     
,saint ,patrick leaned1     ,stayed by  
the gem-wrought crosier4  ,prayer on    
prayer     ,went up to ,god2 while gift 
on gift from ,god1     ,all ,angel-like1
 invisibly to man1     ,descended4      
,thrice above that princely brow        
,patrick the cleansing waters poured1   
and traced     ,three times thereon the 
,venerable ,sign1     ,naming the ,name 
,triune4  ,the ,rite complete1          
,awestruck that concourse downward      
gazed4  ,at last     ,lifting their     
eyes1 they marked the prince's face     
,that pale it was though bright1        
anguished and pale1     ,while from his 

naked foot a blood-stream gushed        
,and o'er the pavement welled4  ,the    
crosier's point1     ,weighted with     
weight of all that priestly form1       
,had pierced it through4  8,why         
suffer'dst thou so long     ,the pain in
 silence80  ,patrick spake1             
heart-grieved3     ,smiling1 ,aengus    
answered1 8,o my ,sire1     ,i thought1 
thus called to follow ,him whose feet   
,were pierced with nails1 haply the     
blissful ,rite     ,bore witness to     
their sorrows40                         
,at that word     ,the large eyes of the
 ,apostolic man     ,grew larger2 and   
within them lived that light     ,not   
fed by moon or sun1 a visible flash     
,of that invisible lightning which from 
,god     ,vibrates ethereal through the 
world of souls1     ,vivific strength of
 ,saints4  ,the mitred brow             
,uptowered sublime3 the strong1 yet     
wrinkled hands1     ,ascending1 ceased  
not1 till the crosier's head            
,glittered above the concourse like a   

star4     ,at last his hands disparting1
 down he drew     ,from ,heaven the     
,royal ,blessing1 speaking thus3        
8,for this cause may the blessing1 ,sire
 of kings1     ,cleave to thy seed      
forever6  ,spear and sword     ,before  
them fall6  ,in glory may the race      
,of ,nafrach's sons1 ,aengus1 and       
,aileel1     ,hold sway on ,cashel's    
summit6  ,be their kings                
,great-hearted men1 potent to rule and  
guard     ,their people2 just to judge  
them2 warriors strong2     ,sage        
counsellors2 faithful shepherds2 men of 
,god1     ,that so through them the     
everlasting ,king     ,may flood their  
land with blessing40  ,thus he spake2   
,and round him all that nation said1    
8,amen40          ,thus held they feast 
in ,cashel of the ,kings     ,that day  
till all that land was clothed with     
,christ3     ,and when the parting came 
from ,cashel's steep     ,patrick the   
,people's ,blessing thus forth sent3    
8,the ,blessing fall upon the pasture   

broad1     ,on fruitful mead1 and every 
corn-clad hill1     ,and woodland rich  
with flowers that children love3        
,unnumbered be the homesteads1 and the  
hearths3--     ,a blessing on the women1
 and the men1     ,on youth1 and maiden1
 and the suckling babe3     ,a blessing 
on the fruit-bestowing tree1     ,and   
foodful river tide4  ,be true2 be pure1 
,not living from below1 but from above1 
,as men that over-top the world4  ,and  
raise     ,here1 on this rock1 high     
place of idols once1     ,a kingly      
church to ,god4  ,the same shall stand  
,for aye1 or1 wrecked1 from ruin rise   
restored1     ,his witness till ,he     
cometh4  ,over ,eire     ,the ,blessing 
speed till time shall be no more        
,from ,cashel of the ,kings40           
,the ,saint fared forth3     ,the       
,people bare him through their kingdom  
broad     ,with banner and with song2   
but o'er its bound     ,the women of    
that ,people followed still     ,a half 
day's journey with lamenting voice2     

,then silent knelt1 lifting their babes 
on high2     ,and1 crowned with two-fold
 blessing1 home returned4        ,,saint
 ,,patrick ,,and ,,the ,,childless      
,,mother4      ,,argument4      ,saint  
,patrick finds an aged ,pagan woman     
making great lamentation above a  tomb  
which she believes to be that of her    
son4  ,he kneels beside her in  prayer1 
while around them a wondrous tempest    
sweeps4  ,after a long time1  he        
declares unto her the ,death of ,christ1
 and how1 through that ,death1  the     
,dead are blessed4  ,lastly1 he         
dissuades her from her rage of grief1   
and admonishes her to pray for her son  
on a tomb hard by1 which is his  indeed4
  ,the woman believes1 and1 being       
consoled by a ,sign of ,heaven1  departs
 in peace4       ,,across his breast one
 hundred times each day     ,saint      
,patrick drew the ,venerable ,sign1     
,and sixty times by night3 and          
whensoe'er     ,in travel ,cross was    
seen far off or nigh     ,on lonely     

moor1 or rock1 or heathy hill1     ,for 
,erin then was sown with ,christian     
seed1     ,he sought it1 and before it  
knelt4  ,yet once1     ,while cold in   
winter shone the star of eve     ,upon  
their board1 thus spake a youthful monk3
     8,three times this day1 my father1 
didst thou pass     ,the ,cross of      
,christ unmarked4  ,at morn thou saw'st 
,a last year's lamb that by it sheltered
 lay1     ,at noon a dove that near it  
sat and mourned1     ,at eve a little   
child that round it raced1     ,well    
pleased with each2 yet saw'st thou not  
that ,cross1     ,nor mad'st thou any   
reverence60  ,at that word              
,wondering1 the ,saint arose1 and left  
the meat1     ,and1 wondering1 went to  
venerate that ,cross4          ,dark was
 the earth and dank ere yet he reached  
,that spot2 and lo6 where lamb had lain1
 and dove     ,had mourned1 and child   
had raced1 there stood indeed           
,high-raised1 the ,cross of ,christ4    
,before it long     ,he prayed1 and     

kneeling1 marked that on a tomb         
,that ,cross was raised4  ,then1 inly   
moved by ,god1     ,the ,saint demanded1
 8,who1 of them that walked     ,the    
sun-warmed earth lies here in darkness  
hid80     ,and answer made a lamentable 
,voice3     8,pagan ,i lived1 my own    
soul's bane3--when dead1     ,men buried
 here my body40  ,patrick then3         
8,how stands the ,cross of ,christ on   
,pagan grave80     ,and answered thus   
the lamentable ,voice3     8,a woman's  
work4  ,she had been absent long2       
,her son had died2 near mine his grave  
was made2     ,half blind was she       
through fleeting of her tears1     ,and1
 erring1 raised the ,cross upon my tomb1
     ,misdeeming it for his4  ,nightly  
she comes1     ,wailing as only ,pagan  
mothers wail2     ,so wailed my mother  
once1 while pain tenfold     ,ran       
through my bodiless being4  ,for her    
sake1     ,if pity dwells on earth or   
highest heaven1     ,may it this mourner
 comfort6  ,christian she1     ,and     

capable of pity40                       
,then the ,saint     ,cried loud1 8,o   
,god1 ,thou seest this ,pagan's heart1  
,that love within it dwells3 therefore  
not his     ,that doom of ,souls all    
hate1 and self-exiled     ,to whom ,thy 
,presence were a woe twice told4        
,eternal ,pity6 pity ,thou ,thy work2-- 
,sole ,peace of them that love ,thee1   
grant him peace40     ,thus ,patrick    
prayed2 and in the heaven of heavens    
,god heard his servant's prayer4  ,then 
,patrick mused     8,now know ,i why ,i 
passed that ,cross unmarked2     ,it was
 not that it seemed40                   
,as thus he knelt1     ,behold1 upon the
 cold and bitter wind     ,rang wail on 
wail2 and o'er the moor there moved     
,what seemed a woman's if a human form4 
,that miserable phantom onward came     
,with cry succeeding cry that sank or   
swelled     ,as dipped or rose the moor4
  ,arrived at last1     ,she heeded not 
the ,saint1 but on that grave           
,dashed herself down4  ,long time that  

woman wailed2     ,and ,patrick1 long1  
for reverence of her woe     ,forbore4  
,at last he spake low-toned as when     
,best listener knows not when the strain
 begins4     8,daughter6 the sparrow    
falls not to the ground     ,without his
 ,maker4  ,he that made thy son         
,hath sent ,his ,son to bear all woes of
 men1     ,and vanquish every foe--the  
latest1 ,death40     ,then rolled that  
woman on the ,saint an eye     ,as when 
the last survivor of a host     ,glares 
on some pitying conqueror4  8,ho6 the   
man     ,that treads upon my grief6  ,he
 ne'er had sons2     ,and thou1 ,o son  
of mine1 hast left no sons1     ,though 
oft ,i said1 #8,when ,i am old1 his     
babes     ,shall climb my knees4'  ,my  
boast was mine in youth2     ,but now   
mine age is made a barren stock     ,and
 as a blighted briar40  ,in grief she   
turned2     ,and as on blackening tarn  
gust follows gust1     ,again came wail 
on wail4  ,on strode the night3     ,the
 jagged forehead of that forest old     

,alone was seen3 all else was gloom4    
,at last     ,with voice1 though kind1  
upbraiding1 ,patrick spake3             
8,daughter1 thy grief is wilful and it  
errs2     ,errs like those sad and      
tear-bewildered eyes     ,that for a    
,christian's take a ,pagan's grave1     
,and for a son's a stranger's4  ,ah6    
poor child1     ,thy pride it was to    
raise1 where lay thy son1     ,a ,cross1
 his memory's honour4  ,by thee close   
,all dewed and glimmering in yon rising 
moon1     ,low lies a grave unhonoured1 
and unknown3     ,no cross stands on it2
 yet upon its breast     ,graved shalt  
thou find what ,christian tomb ne'er    
lacks1     ,the ,cross of ,christ4      
,woman1 there lies thy son40            
,she rose2 she found that other tomb2   
she knelt2     ,and o'er it went her    
wandering palms1 as though     ,some    
stone-blind mother o'er an infant's face
     ,should spread an agonising hand1  
intent     ,to choose betwixt her own   
and counterfeit2     ,she found that    

cross deep-grav'n1 and further sign     
,close by1 to her well known4  ,one     
piercing shriek--     ,another moment1  
and her body lay     ,along that grave  
with kisses1 and wild hands     ,as when
 some forest beast tears up the ground1 
,seeking its prey there hidden4  ,then  
once more     ,rang the wild wail above 
that lonely heath1     ,while roared far
 off the vast invisible woods1     ,and 
with them strove the blast1 in eddies   
dire     ,whirling both branch and      
bough4  ,through hurrying clouds        
,the scared moon rushed like ship that  
naked glares     ,one moment1           
lightning-lighted in the storm1         
,anon in wild waves drowned4  ,an hour  
went by3     ,still wailed that woman1  
and the tempest roared2     ,while in   
the heart of ruin ,patrick prayed4      
,he loved that woman4  ,unto ,patrick   
dear1     ,dear as ,god's ,church was   
still the single ,soul1     ,dearest the
 suffering ,soul4  ,he gave her time2   
,he let the floods of anguish spend     

themselves3     ,but when her wail sank 
low2 when woods were mute1     ,and     
where the skiey madness late had raged  
,shone the blue heaven1 he spake with   
voice in strength     ,gentle like that 
which calmed the ,syrian lake1     8,my 
sister1 ,god hath shown me of thy wound1
     ,and wherefore with the blind old  
,pagan's cry     ,hopeless thou         
mourn'st4  ,returned from far1 thou     
found'st     ,thy son had ,christian    
died1 and saw'st the ,cross     ,on     
,christian graves3 and ill thy heart    
endured     ,that tomb so dear should   
lack its reverence meet4     ,to him    
thou gav'st the ,cross1 albeit that     
,cross     ,inly thou know'st not yet4  
,that knowledge thine1     ,thou hadst  
not left thy son amerced of prayer1     
,and given him tears1 not succour40     
8,yea10 she said1     8,of this new     
,faith ,i little understand1     ,being 
an aged woman and in woe3     ,but since
 my son was ,christian1 such am ,i2     
,and since the ,christian tomb is decked

 with ,cross     ,he shall not lack his 
right40                                 
,then ,patrick spake3     8,o woman1    
hearken1 for through me thy son         
,invokes thee4  ,all night long for     
thee1 unknown1     ,my hands have risen3
 but thou hast raised no prayer     ,for
 him1 thy dearest2 nor from founts of   
,god1     ,though brimful1 hast thou    
drawn for lips that thirst4     ,arise1 
and kneel1 and hear thy loved one's cry3
     ,too long he waiteth4  ,blessed are
 the dead3     ,they rest in ,god's high
 ,will4  ,but more than peace1     ,the 
rapturous vision of the ,face of ,god1  
,won by the ,cross of ,christ--for that 
they thirst     ,as thou1 if viewless   
stood thy son close by1     ,wouldst    
thirst to see his countenance4  ,eyes   
sin-sealed     ,not yet can see their   
,god4  ,prayer speeds the time3     ,the
 living help the dead2 all praise to    
,him     ,who blends ,his children in a 
league of help1     ,making all good one
 good4  ,eternal ,love6     ,not thine  

the will that love should cease with    
life1     ,or1 living1 cease from       
service1 barren made1     ,a stagnant   
gall eating the mourner's heart         
,that hour when love should stretch a   
hand of might     ,up o'er the grave to 
heaven4  ,o great in love1     ,perfect 
love's work3 for well1 sad heart1 ,i    
know1     ,hadst thou not trained thy   
son in virtuous ways1     ,christian he 
ne'er had been40                        
,those later words     ,that solitary   
mourner understood1     ,the earlier but
 in part1 and answered thus3     8,a    
loftier ,cross1 and farther seen1 shall 
rise     ,upon this grave new-found6    
,no hireling hands--     ,mine own shall
 raise it2 yea1 though thirty years     
,should sweat beneath the task40  ,and  
,patrick said3     8,what means the     
,cross8  ,that lore thou lack'st now    
learn40          ,then that which ,kings
 desired to know1 and seers     ,and    
prophets vigil-blind--that ,crown of    
,truths1     ,scandal of fools1 yet     

conqueror of the world1     ,to her1    
that midnight mourner1 he divulged1     
,record authentic3 how in sorrow and sin
     ,the earth had groaned2 how pity1  
like a sword1     ,had pierced the great
 ,paternal ,heart in heaven2     ,how   
,he1 the ,light of ,light1 and ,god of  
,god1     ,had man become1 and died upon
 the ,cross1     ,vanquishing thus both 
sorrow and sin1 and risen1     ,the     
might of death o'erthrown2 and how the  
gates     ,of heaven rolled inwards as  
the ,anointed ,king     ,resurgent and  
ascending through them passed     ,in   
triumph with ,his ,holy ,dead2 and how  
,the just1 thenceforth death-freed1 the 
selfsame gates     ,entering1 shall     
share the everlasting throne4     ,thus 
,patrick spake1 and many a stately theme
     ,rehearsed beside1 higher than     
heaven1 and yet     ,near as the        
farthest can alone be near4     ,then in
 that grief-worn creature's bosom old   
,contentions rose1 and fiercer fires    
than burn     ,in sultry breasts of     

youth3 and all her past1     ,both good 
and evil1 woke1 in sleep long sealed2   
,and all the powers and forces of her   
soul     ,rushed every way through      
darkness seeking light1     ,like winds 
or tides4  ,beside her ,patrick prayed1 
,and mightier than his preaching was his
 prayer1     ,sheltering that crisis    
dread4  ,at last beneath     ,the great 
,life-,giver's breath that ,human ,soul1
     ,an inner world vaster than planet 
worlds1     ,in undulation swayed1 as   
when of old     ,the ,spirit of ,god    
above the waters moved     ,creative1   
while the blind and shapeless void      
,yearned into form1 and form grew meet  
for life1     ,and downward through the 
abysses ,law ran forth     ,with touch  
soul-soft1 and seas from lands retired1 
,and light from dark1 and wondering     
,nature passed     ,through storm to    
calm1 and all things found their home4  
,silence long time endured2 at last1    
clear-voiced1     ,her head not turning1
 thus the woman spake3     8,that ,god  

who ,man became--who died1 and lives1-- 
,say1 died ,he for my son80  ,and       
,patrick said1     8,yea1 for thy son   
,he died4  ,kneel1 woman1 kneel6        
,nor doubt1 for mighty is a mother's    
prayer1     ,that ,he who in the eternal
 light is throned1     ,lifting the     
roseate and the nail-pierced palm1      
,will make in heaven the ,venerable     
,sign1     ,for ,he it is prays in us1  
and that ,soul     ,thou lov'st pass on 
to glory40                              
,at his word     ,she knelt1 and unto   
,god1 with help of ,god1     ,uprushed  
the strength of prayer1 as when the     
cloud     ,uprushes past some beetling  
mountain wall     ,from billowy deeps   
unseen4  ,long time she prayed2         
,while heaven and earth grew silent as  
that night     ,when rose the ,saviour4 
,sudden ceased the prayer3     ,and rang
 upon the night her jubilant cry1       
8,i saw a ,sign in ,heaven4  ,far inward
 rolled     ,the gates2 and glory       
flashed from ,god2 and he     ,i love   

his entrance won40  ,then1 fair and     
tall1     ,that woman stood with hands  
upraised to heaven     ,the dusky shadow
 of her youth renewed1     ,and instant 
,patrick spake1 8,give thanks to ,god1  
,and speed thee home1 and sleep2 and    
since thy son     ,no children left1    
take to thee orphans twain     ,and rear
 them1 in his honour1 unto ,christ2     
,and yearly1 when the death-day of thy  
son     ,returns1 his birth-day name it2
 call thy friends2     ,give alms2 and  
range the poor around thy door1     ,so 
shall they feast1 and pray4  ,woman1    
farewell3     ,all night the dark upon  
thy face hath lain2     ,yet shall we   
know each other1 met in heaven40        
,then blithe of foot that ,mother       
crossed the moor2     ,and when she     
reached her door a zone of white        
,loosening along a cloud that walled the
 east     ,revealed the coming dawn4    
,that dawn ere long     ,lay1 unawaking1
 on a face serene1     ,on tearless     
lids1 and quiet1 open palms1     ,on    

stormless couch and raiment calm that   
hid     ,a breast if faded now1 yet     
happier far     ,than when in prime its 
youthful wave first heaved     ,rocking 
a sleeping ,infant4        ,,saint      
,,patrick ,,at ,,the ,,feast ,,of       
,,knock ,,cae2  ,,or1 ,,the ,,founding  
,,of ,,mungret4      ,,argument4        
,saint ,patrick1 being bidden to a      
feast1 discourses on the way against the
  pride of the ,bards1 for whom ,fiacc  
pleads4  ,derball1 a scoffer1 requires  
the ,saint to remove a mountain4  ,he   
kneels down and prays1 and ,derball     
avers that the mountain moved4          
,notwithstanding1 ,derball believes not1
  but departs4  ,the ,saint declares    
that he saw not whether the mountain    
moved4  ,he places ,nessan over his     
convent at ,mungret because he had given
  a little wether to the hungry4        
,nessan's mother grudged the gift2 and  
,saint ,patrick prophesies that her     
grave shall not be in her son's church4 
,,in ,limneach1 #aja ere he reached it1 

fame there ran     ,of ,patrick's words 
and works4  ,before his foot     ,aileel
 had fallen1 loud wailing1 with his     
wife1     ,and cried1 8,our child is    
slain by savage beasts2     ,but thou1  
,o prophet1 if that ,god thou serv'st   
,be ,god indeed1 restore him60  ,patrick
 turned     ,to ,malach1 praised of all 
men4  8,brother1 kneel1     ,and raise  
yon child40  ,but ,malach answered1     
8,nay1     ,lest1 tempting ,god1 ,his   
service ,i should shame40     ,then     
,patrick1 8,answer of the base is thine2
     ,and base shall be that house thou 
build'st on earth1     ,little1 and low4
  ,a man may fail in prayer3     ,what  
then8  ,thank ,god6 the fault is ours   
not ,his1     ,and ours alone the       
shame40  ,the ,apostle turned     ,to   
,ibar1 and to ,ailb1 bishops twain1     
,and bade them raise the child4  ,they  
heard and knelt3     ,and ,patrick knelt
 between them2 and these three          
,upheaved a wondrous strength of prayer2
 and lo6     ,all pale1 yet shining1    

rose the child1 and sat1     ,lifting   
small hands1 and preached to those      
around1     ,and straightway they       
believed1 and were baptized4       ,thus
 with loud rumour all the land was full1
     ,and some believed2 some doubted2  
and a chief1     ,lonan1 the son of     
,eire1 that half believed1     ,willing 
to draw from ,patrick wonder and sign1  
,by messengers besought him1 saying1    
8,come1     ,for in thy reverence waits 
thy servant's feast     ,spread on      
,knock ,cae40  ,that pleasant hill      
ascends     ,westward of ,ara1 girt by  
rivers twain1     ,maigue1 lily-lighted1
 and the 8,morning ,star0     ,once     
8,samhair0 named1 that eastward through 
the woods     ,winding1 upon its rapids 
earliest meets     ,the morn1 and flings
 it far o'er mead and plain4       ,from
 ,limneach therefore ,patrick1 while the
 dawn     ,still dusk1 its joyous secret
 kept1 went forth1     ,o'er dustless   
road soon lost in dewy fields1     ,and 
groves that1 touched by wakening winds1 

began     ,to load damp airs with scent4
  ,that time it was     ,when beech     
leaves lose their silken gloss1 and     
maids     ,from whitest brows depose the
 hawthorn white1     ,red rose in turn  
enthroning4  ,earliest gleams           
,glimmered on leaves that shook like    
wings of birds3     ,saint ,patrick     
marked them well4  ,he turned to        
,fiacc--     8,god might have changed to
 ,pentecostal tongues     ,the leaves of
 all the forests in the world1     ,and 
bade them sing ,his love6  ,he wrought  
not thus3     ,a little hint ,he gives  
us and no more4     ,alone the willing  
see4  ,thus they sin less     ,who1 if  
they saw1 seeing would disbelieve4      
,hark to that note6  ,o foolish woodland
 choirs6     ,ye sing but idle loves2   
and1 idler far1     ,the bards sing     
war--war only60                         
,answered thus     ,the monk            
bard-loving3 8,sing it6  ,ay1 and make  
,the keys of all the tempests hang on   
zones     ,of those cloud-spirits6      

,they1 too1 can #8bind and loose3'      
,a bard incensed hath proved a kingdom's
 doom6     ,such ,aidan4  ,upon cakes of
 meal his host1     ,king ,aileach1 fed 
him in a fireless hall3     ,the bard   
complained not--ay1 but issuing forth1  
,sang in dark wood a keen and venomed   
song     ,that raised on the king's     
countenance plague-spots three2     ,who
 saw him named them ,scorn1 ,dishonour1 
,shame1     ,and blighted those three   
oak trees nigh his door4     ,what next8
  ,before a month that realm lay drowned
     ,in blood2 and fire went o'er the  
opprobrious house60     ,thus spake the 
youth1 and blushed at his own zeal      
,for bardic fame2 then added1 8,strange 
the power     ,of song6  ,my father1 do 
,i vainly dream     ,oft thinking that  
the bards1 perchance the birds1         
,sing something vaster than they think  
or know8     ,some fire immortal lives  
within their strings3     ,therefore the
 people love them4  ,war divine1        
,god's war on sin--true love-song best  

and sweetest--     ,perforce they chaunt
 in spirit1 not wars of clans3     ,yea1
 one day1 conscious1 they shall sing    
that song2     ,one day by river clear  
of south or north1     ,pagan no more1  
the laurelled head shall rise1     ,and 
chaunt the ,warfare of the ,realm of    
,souls1     ,the anguish and the        
cleansing1 last the crown--     ,prelude
 of songs celestial60                   
,patrick smiled3     8,still1 as at     
first1 a lover of the bards6     ,hard  
task was mine to win thee to the cowl6  
,dubtach1 thy master1 sole in ,tara's   
hall     ,who made me reverence1 mocked 
my quest4  ,he said1     #8,fiacc thou  
wouldst8--my ,fiacc8  ,few days gone by 
,i sent the boy with poems to the kings2
     ,he loves me3 hardly will he leave 
the songs     ,to wear thy tonsure6'    
,as he spake1 behold1     ,thou         
enter'dst4  ,sudden hands on ,dubtach's 
head     ,i laid1 as though to gird with
 tonsure crown3     ,then rose thy      
clamour1 #8,erin's chief of bards     ,a

 tonsured man6  ,me1 father1 take1 not  
him6     ,far less the loss to ,erin and
 the songs6'     ,down knelt'st thou2   
and1 ere long1 old ,dubtach's floor     
,shone with thy vernal locks1 like      
forest paths     ,made gold by leaves of
 autumn60                               
,as he spake1     ,the sun1 new-risen1  
flashed on a breast of wood     ,that   
answered from a thousand jubilant       
throats3     ,then ,fiacc1 with all     
their music in his face1     ,resumed3  
8,my father1 upon ,tara's steep         
,patient thou sat'st whole months1      
sifting with care     ,the laws of      
,eire1 recasting for all time1     ,ill 
laws from good dissevering1 as that ,day
     ,shall sever tares from wheat4  ,i 
see thee still1     ,as then we saw--thy
 clenched hand lost in beard            
,propping thy chin2 thy forehead        
wrinkle-trenched     ,above that        
wondrous tome1 the #8,senchus ,mohr1'   
,like his1 that ,hebrew lawgiver's1 who 
sat     ,throned on the clouded ,mount1 

while far below     ,the ,tribes waited 
in awe4  ,now answer make6     ,three   
bishops1 and three brehons1 and three   
kings4     ,ye toiled--who helped thee  
best80  8,dubtach1 the bard10           
,patrick replied--8,yea1 wise was he1   
and knew     ,man's heart like his own  
strings40  8,all bards are wise10       
,shouted the youth1 8except when war    
they wage     ,on thee1 the wisest4  ,in
 their music bath     ,they cleanse     
man's heart1 not less1 and thus prepare1
     ,though hating thee1 thy way4  ,the
 bards are wise     ,for all except     
themselves4  ,shall ,god not save them1 
,he who would save the worst8  ,such    
grace were hard     ,unless1 death past1
 their souls to birds might change1     
,and in the darksomest grove of         
,paradise     ,lament1 amerced1 their   
error1 yet rejoice     ,in souls that   
walked obedient60  8,darksomest grove10 
,patrick made answer2 8darksome is their
 life2     ,darksome their pride1 their 
love1 their joys1 their hopes2          

,darksome1 though gleams of happier lore
 they have1     ,their light6  ,seest   
thou yon forest floor1 and o'er it1     
,the ivy's flash--earth-light8  ,such   
light is theirs3     ,by such can no man
 walk40                                 
,thus1 gay or grave1     ,conversed     
they1 while the ,brethren paced behind2 
,till now the morn crowded each cottage 
door     ,with clustered heads4  ,they  
reached ere long in woods     ,a hamlet 
small4  ,here on the weedy thatch       
,white fruit-bloom fell3 through shadow1
 there1 went round     ,the swinging    
mill-wheel tagged with silver fringe2   
,here rang the mallet2 there was heard  
remote     ,the one note of the         
love-contented bird4     ,though warm   
the sun1 in shade the young spring morn 
,was edged with winter yet1 and icy film
     ,glazed the deep ruts4  ,the       
swarthy smith worked hard1     ,and     
working sang2 the wheelwright toiled    
close by2     ,an armourer next to      
these3 through flaming smoke     ,glared

 the fierce hands that on the anvil fell
     ,in thunder down4  ,a sorcerer     
stood apart     ,kneading ,death's      
messenger1 that missile ball1     ,the  
,lia ,laimbh4  ,to his heart he clasped 
it1     ,and o'er it muttered spells    
with flatteries mixed3     8,hail1      
little daughter mine6  ',twixt hand and 
heart     ,i knead thee6  ,from the ,red
 ,sea came that sand     ,which1 blent  
with viper's poison1 makes thy flesh6   
,be thou no shadow wandering on the air6
     ,rush through the battle gloom as  
red-combed snake     ,cleaves the blind 
waters6  ,on6 like ,witch's glance1     
,or forkd flash1 or shaft of summer     
pest1     ,and woe to him that meets    
thee6  ,mouth blood-red     ,my daughter
 hath3--not healing be her kiss60       
,thus he4  ,in shade he stood1 and      
phrensy-fired2     ,and yet he marked   
who watched him4  ,without word     ,him
 ,patrick passed2 but spake to all the  
rest     ,with voice so kindly reverent1
 8,is not this10     ,men asked1 8the   

preacher of the #8,tidings ,good8'0     
8,what tidings8  ,has he found a mine80 
8,he speaks     ,to princes as to       
brothers2 to the hind     ,as we to     
princes' children6  ,yea1 when mute1    
,saith not his face #8,rejoice'80       
,at times the ,saint     ,laid on the   
head of age his strong right hand1      
,gentle as touch of soft-accosting eyes2
     ,and once before an open door he   
stopped1     ,silent4  ,within1 all     
glowing like a rose1     ,a mother stood
 for pleasure of her babes     ,that--in
 them still the warmth of couch late    
left--     ,around her gambolled4  ,on  
his face1 as hers1     ,their sport     
regarding1 long time lay the smile2     
,then crept a shadow o'er it1 and he    
spake     ,in sadness3 8,woman6 when a  
hundred years     ,have passed1 with    
opening flower and falling snow1        
,where then will be thy children80      
,like a cloud     ,fear and great wrath 
fell on her4  ,from the wall     ,she   
snatched a battle-axe and raised it high

     ,in both hands1 clamouring1        
8,wouldst thou slay my babes80     ,he  
answered1 8,i would save them4  ,woman1 
hear6     ,seest thou yon floating      
shape8  ,it died a worm2     ,it lives1 
the blue-winged angel of spring meads4  
,thy children1 likewise1 if they serve  
my ,king1     ,death past1 shall find   
them wings40  ,then to her cheek        
,the bloom returned1 and splendour to   
her eye2     ,and catching to her       
breast1 that larger swelled1     ,a     
child1 she wept1 8,oh1 would that he    
might live     ,for ever6  ,prophet1    
speak6 thy words are good6     ,their   
father1 too1 must hear thee40  ,patrick 
said1     8,not so2 nor falls this seed 
on every road20     ,then added thus3   
8,you child1 by all the rest            
,cherished as though he were some infant
 ,god1     ,is none of thine40  ,she    
answered1 8,none of ours2     ,a great  
chief sent him here for fosterage40     
,then he3 8,all men on earth the        
children are     ,of ,one who keeps them

 here in fosterage3     ,they see not   
yet ,his face2 but ,he sees them1       
,yea1 and decrees their seasons and     
their times3     ,like infants1 they    
must learn ,him first by touch1         
,through nature1 and her gifts--by      
hearing next1     ,the hearing of the   
ear1 and that is ,faith--     ,by       
,vision last4  ,woman1 these things are 
hard2     ,but thou to ,limneach come in
 three days' time1     ,likewise thy    
husband2 there1 by ,sangul's ,well1     
,thou shalt know all40                  
,the ,saint had reached ere long        
,that festal mount4  ,thousands with    
bannered line     ,scaled it            
light-hearted4  ,never favourite lamb   
,in ribands decked shone brighter than  
that hour     ,the fair flank of ,knock 
,cae4  ,heath-scented airs              
,lightened the clambering toil4  ,at    
times the ,saint     ,stayed on their   
course the crowds1 and towards the      
,truth     ,drew them by parable1 or    
record old1     ,oftener by question    

sage4  ,not all believed3     ,of such  
was ,derball4  ,man of wealth and wit1  
,nor wise1 nor warlike1 toward the      
,saint he strode     ,with              
bubble-seething brain1 and head high    
tossed1     ,and cried1 8,great ,seer6  
remove yon mountain blue1     ,cenn     
,abhrat1 by thy prayer6  ,that done1 to 
thee     ,fealty ,i pledge40  ,saint    
,patrick knelt in prayer3     ,soon     
,derball cried1 8,the central ridge     
descends2--     ,southward1 beyond it1  
,longa's lake shines out     ,in        
sunlight flashing60  ,at his word drew  
near     ,the men of ,erin4  ,derball   
homeward turned1     ,mocking3 8,believe
 who will1 believe not ,i6     ,me more 
imports it o'er my foodful fields       
,to draw the ,maigue's rich waters than 
to stare     ,at moving hills40  ,but   
certain of that throng1     ,light men1 
obsequious unto ,derball's laugh1       
,questioned of ,patrick if the mountain 
moved4     ,he answered1 8,on the ground
 mine eyes were fixed2     ,nought saw  

,i4  ,haply1 through defect of mine1    
,it moved not4  ,derball said the       
mountain moved2     ,yet kept he not his
 pledge1 but disbelieved4     #8,faith  
can move mountains4'  ,never said my    
,king     ,that mountains moved could   
move reluctant faith     ,in unbelieving
 heart40  ,with sad1 calm voice     ,he 
spake2 and ,derball's laughter frustrate
 died4          ,meantime1 high up on   
that thyme-scented hill     ,by shadows 
swept1 and lights1 and rapturous winds1 
,lonan prepared the feast1 and1 with    
that chief1     ,mantan1 a deacon4      
,tables fair were spread2     ,and tents
 with branches gay4  ,beside those tents
     ,stood the sweet-breathing1        
mournful1 slow-eyed kine     ,with      
hazel-shielded horns1 and gave their    
milk     ,gravely to merry maidens4     
,low the sun     ,had fallen1 when1     
,patrick near the summit now1     ,there
 burst on him a wandering troop1        
wild-eyed1     ,with scant and quaint   
array4  ,o'er sunburnt brows     ,they  

wore sere wreaths2 their piebald vests  
were stained1     ,and lean their looks1
 and sad3 some piped1 some sang1        
,some tossed the juggler's ball4  8,from
 far we came10     ,they cried2 8we     
faint with hunger2 give as food60       
,upon them ,patrick bent a pitying eye1 
,and said1 8,where ,lonan and where     
,mantan toil     ,go ye1 and pray them1 
for mine honour's sake1     ,to gladden 
you with meat40  ,but ,lonan said1      
,and ,mantan1 8,nay1 but when the feast 
is o'er1     ,the fragments shall be    
yours40  ,with darkening brow     ,the  
,saint of that denial heard1 and cried1 
8,he cometh from the ,north1 even now he
 cometh1     ,for whom the ,blessing is 
reserved2 he cometh     ,bearing a      
little wether at his back30     ,and1   
straightway1 through the thicket        
evening-dazed     ,a shepherd--by him   
walked his mother--pushed1     ,bearing 
a little wether4  ,patrick said1        
8,give them to eat4  ,they hunger40     
,gladly then     ,that shepherd youth   

gave them the wether small3     ,with   
both his hands outstretched1 and liberal
 smile1     ,he gave it1 though1 with   
angry eye askance     ,his mother       
grudged it sore4  ,the wether theirs1   
,as though earth-swallowed1 vanished    
that wild tribe1     ,fearing that      
mother's eye4                           
,then ,patrick spake     ,to ,lonan1    
8,zealous is thy service1 friend2       
,yet of thy house no king shall sit on  
throne1     ,no bishop bless the        
people40  ,turning then     ,to ,mantan1
 thus he spake1 8,careful art thou      
,of many things2 not less that church   
thou raisest     ,shall not be of the   
honoured in the land2     ,and in its   
chancel waste the mountain kine         
,shall couch above thy grave40  ,to     
,nessan last     ,thus spake he3 8,thou 
that didst the hungry feed1     ,the    
poor of ,christ1 that know not yet ,his 
name1     ,and1 helping them that cried 
to me for help1     ,cherish mine       
honour1 like a palm1 one day1     ,shall

 rise thy greatness40  ,nessan's mother 
old     ,for pardon knelt4  ,he blessed 
her hoary head1     ,yet added1         
mournful1 8,not within the ,church      
,that ,nessan serves shall lie his      
mother's grave40     ,then ,nessan he   
baptized1 and on him bound     ,ere long
 the deacon's grade1 and placed him1    
later1     ,priest o'er his church at   
,mungret4  ,centuries ten     ,it stood1
 a convent round it as a star     ,forth
 sending beams of glory and of grace    
,o'er woods ,teutonic and the ,tyrrhene 
,sea4     ,yet ,nessan's mother in her  
son's great church     ,slept not2 nor  
where the mass bell tinkled low3        
,west of the church her grave1 to       
his--her son's--     ,neighbouring1 yet 
severed by the chancel wall4       ,thus
 from the morning star to evening star  
,went by that day4  ,in ,erin many such 
,saint ,patrick lived1 using well       
pleased the chance1     ,or great or    
small1 since all things come from ,god3 
,and well the people loved him1 being   

one     ,who sat amid their marriage    
feasts1 and saw1     ,where sin was not1
 in all things beauty and love4         
,but1 ere he passed from ,munster1      
longing fell     ,on ,patrick's heart to
 view in all its breadth     ,her       
river-flood1 and bless its western      
waves2     ,therefore1 forth journeying1
 to that hill he went1     ,highest     
among the wave-girt1 heathy hills1      
,that still sustains his name1 and saw  
the flood     ,at widest stretched1 and 
that green ,isle #aaa hard by1     ,and 
northern ,thomond4  ,from its coasts her
 sons     ,rushed countless forth in    
skiff and coracle     ,smiting blue wave
 to white1 till ,sheenan's sound        
,ceased1 in their clamour lost4  ,that  
hour from ,god     ,power fell on       
,patrick2 and in spirit he saw1         
,invisible to flesh1 the western coasts1
     ,and the ocean way1 and1 far       
beyond1 that land     ,the ,future's    
heritage1 and prophesied     ,of        
,brendan who ere long in wicker boat    

,should over-ride the mountains of the  
deep1     ,shielded by ,god1 and        
tread--no fable then--     ,fabled      
,hesperia4  ,last of all he saw         
,more near1 thy hermit home1            
,senanus2--8,hail1     ,isle of blue    
ocean and the river's mouth6     ,the   
,people's ,lamp1 their ,counsel's ,head1
 is thine60     ,that hour shone out    
through cloud the westering sun     ,and
 paved the wave with fire3 that hour not
 less     ,strong in his ,god1 westward 
his face he set1     ,westward and      
north1 and spread his arms abroad1      
,and drew the blessing down1 and flung  
it far3     8,a blessing on the         
warriors1 and the clans1     ,a blessing
 on high field1 and golden vales1       
,on sea-like plain and on the showery   
ridge1     ,on river-ripple1 cliff1 and 
murmuring deep1     ,on seaward peaks1  
harbours1 and towns1 and ports2     ,a  
blessing on the sand beneath the ships3 
,on all descend the ,blessing60  ,thus  
he prayed1     ,great-hearted2 and from 

all the populous hills     ,and waters  
came the ,people's vast 8,amen60        
,,saint ,,patrick ,,and ,,king          
,,eochaid4      ,,argument4      ,king  
,eochaid submits himself to the         
,christian ,law because ,saint ,patrick 
has delivered his son from bonds1 yet   
only after making a pact that he is     
not1 like the meaner sort1 to be        
baptized4  ,in this stubbornness he     
persists1 though otherwise a kindly     
king2 and after many years1 he dies4    
,saint ,patrick had refused to see his  
living face2 yet after death he  prays  
by the death-bed4  ,life returns to the 
dead2 and sitting up1 like  one sore    
amazed1 he demands baptism4  ,the ,saint
 baptizes him1 and offers  him a choice 
either to reign over all ,erin for      
fifteen years1 or to die4  ,eochaid     
chooses to die1 and so departs4         
,,eochaid1 son of ,crimther1 reigned1 a 
,king     ,northward in ,clochar4       
,dearer to his heart     ,than kingdom  
or than people or than life     ,was he1

 the boy long wished for4  ,dear was    
she1     ,kein1 his daughter4           
,babyhood's white star1     ,beauteous  
in childhood1 now in maiden dawn        
,she witched the world with beauty4     
,from her eyes     ,a light went forth  
like morning o'er the sea2     ,sweeter 
her voice than wind on harp2 her smile  
,could stay men's breath4  ,with wingd  
feet she trod     ,the yearning earth   
that1 if it could1 like waves     ,had  
swelled to meet their pressure4  ,ah1   
the pang6     ,beauty1 the immortal     
promise1 like a cheat     ,if unwed     
glides into the shadow land1            
,childless and twice defeated4  ,beauty 
wed     ,to mate unworthy1 suffers worse
 eclipse--     8,ill choice between two 
ills60 thus spleenfull cried            
,eochaid2 but not his the pensive grief3
     ,he would have kept his daughter in
 his house     ,for ever2 yet1 since    
better might not be1     ,himself he    
chose her out a mate1 and frowned1      
,and said1 8,the dog must have her40    

,but the maid     ,wished not for       
marriage4  ,tender was her heart2       
,yet though her twentieth year had o'er 
her flown1     ,and though her tears had
 dewed a mother's grave1     ,in her    
there lurked1 not flower of womanhood1  
,but flower of angel texture4  ,all     
around     ,to her was love4  ,the crown
 of earthly love     ,seemed but its    
crown of mockery4  ,love ,divine--      
,for that she yearned1 and yet she knew 
it not2     ,knew less that love she    
feared4                                 
,she walked in woods     ,while all the 
green leaves1 drenched by sunset's gold1
     ,upon a shower-bespangled sycamore 
,shivered1 and birds among them choir on
 choir     ,chanted her praise--or      
spring's4  8,ill sung10 she laughed1    
8,my dainty minstrels6  ,grant to me    
your wings1     ,and ,i for them will   
teach you song of mine3     ,listen60   
,a carol from her lip there gushed      
,that1 ere its time1 might well have    
called the spring     ,from winter's    

coldest cave4  ,it ceased2 she turned4  
,beside her ,patrick stood4  ,his hand  
he raised     ,to bless her4  ,awed1    
though glad1 upon her knees     ,the    
maiden sank4  ,his eye1 as if through   
air1     ,saw through that stainless    
soul1 and1 crystal-shrined     ,therein1
 its inmate1 ,truth4  ,that other ,truth
     ,instant to her he preached--the   
,truth ,divine--     7,for whence is    
caution needful1 save from sin87        
,and those two ,truths1 each gazing upon
 each1     ,embraced like sisters1      
thenceforth one4  ,for her     ,no      
arduous thing was ,faith1 ere yet she   
heard     ,in heart believing3 and1 as  
when a babe     ,marks some bright      
shape1 if near or far1 it knows not1    
,and stretches forth a witless hand to  
clasp     ,phantom or form1 even so with
 wild surmise     ,and guesses erring   
first1 and questions apt1     ,she      
chased the flying light1 and round it   
closed     ,at last1 and found it       
substance4  8,this is ,he40     ,then   

cried she1 8,this1 whom every maid      
should love1     ,conqueror             
self-sacrificed of sin and death3       
,how shall we find1 how please ,him1 how
 be nigh80     ,patrick made answer3    
8,they that do ,his will     ,are nigh  
,him40  ,and the virgin3 8,of the nigh1 
,say1 who is nighest80  ,thus1 that     
wingd heart     ,rushed to its rest4    
,he answered3 8,nighest they     ,who   
offer most to ,him in sacrifice1     ,as
 when the wedded leaves her father's    
house     ,and cleaveth to her husband4 
,nighest they     ,who neither father's 
house nor husband's house     ,desire1  
but live with ,him in endless prayer1   
,and tend ,him in ,his poor40  ,aloud   
she cried1     8,the nearest to the     
,highest1 that is love2--     ,i choose 
that bridal lot60  ,he answered1        
8,child1     ,the choice is ,god's4     
,for each1 that lot is best     ,to     
which ,he calls us40  ,lifting then pure
 hands1     ,thus wept the maiden3      
8,call me1 ,virgin-born6     ,will not  

the ,mother-,maid permit a maid     ,to 
sit beside those nail-pierced feet1 and 
wipe1     ,with hair untouched by       
wreaths of mortal love1     ,the        
dolorous blood-stains from them8        
,stranger guest1     ,come to my        
father's tower6  ,against my will1      
,against his own1 in bridal bonds he    
binds me3     ,my suit he might resist3 
he cannot thine60          ,she spake2  
and by her ,patrick paced with feet     
,to hers accordant4  ,soon they reached 
that fort3     ,central within a        
circling rath earth-built     ,it stood2
 the western tower of stone2 the rest1  
,not high1 but spreading wide1 of wood  
compact2     ,for thither many a forest 
hill had sent     ,his wind-swept       
daughter brood1 relinquishing           
,converse with cloud and beam and rain  
forever     ,to echo back the revels of 
a ,prince4     ,mosaic was the work1    
beam laced with beam     ,in quaint     
device3 high up1 o'er many a door       
,shone blazon rich of vermeil1 or of    

green1     ,or shield of bronze1        
glittering with veind boss1             
,chalcedony or agate1 or whate'er       
,the wave-lipped marge of ,neagh's broad
 lake might boast1     ,or ocean's      
shore1 northward from ,brandon's ,head  
,to where the myriad-pillared cliffs    
hang forth     ,their stony organs o'er 
the lonely main4     ,and trembles yet  
the pilgrim1 noting at eve     ,the     
pride ,fomorian1 and that ,giant ,way   
#aaf     ,trending toward eastern ,alba4
  ,from his throne     ,above the       
semicirque of grassy seats     ,whereon 
by ,brehons and by ,ollambs girt        
,daily be judged his people1 rose the   
king     ,and bade the stranger welcome4
                                        
,day to day     ,and night to night     
succeeded4  ,in fit time1     ,for      
,patrick1 sometimes sudden1 oft was     
slow1     ,he spoke his ,master's       
message4  ,at the close1     ,as though 
in trance1 the warriors circling stood  
,with hands outstretched2 the ,druids   

downward frowned1     ,silent2 and like 
a strong man awed for once1     ,eochaid
 round him stared4  ,a little while1    
,and from him passed the amazement4     
,buoyant once more1     ,and bright like
 trees fresher for thunder-shower1      
,with all his wonted aspect1 bold and   
keen1     ,he answered3 8,o my prophet1 
words1 words1 words6     ,we too have   
,prophets4  ,better thrice our ,bards2  
,yet1 being no better these than        
trumpet's blast1     ,the trumpet more  
,i prize4  ,had words been work1        
,myself in youth had led the loud-voiced
 clan6     ,deeds ,i preferred4  ,what  
profit e'er had ,i     ,from windy      
marvels8  ,once with me in war     ,a   
seer there camped that1 bending back his
 head1     ,fit rites performed1 and    
upward gazing1 blew     ,with rounded   
lips into the heaven of heavens         
,druidic breath4  ,that heaven was      
changed to cloud1     ,cloud that on    
borne to ,clair's hated bound     ,down 
fell1 a rain of blood6  ,to me what     

gain8     ,within three weeks my son was
 trapped and snared     ,by ,aodh of ,hy
 ,brinin1 king whose hosts     ,number  
my warriors fourfold4  ,three long years
     ,beyond those purple mountains in  
the west     ,hostage he lies40         
,lightly ,eochaid spake1     ,and       
turned3 but shaken chin betrayed that   
grief     ,which lived beneath his      
lightness4                              
,sudden thronged     ,high on the       
neighbouring hills a jubilant troop1    
,their banners waving1 while the midway 
vale     ,with harp and horn resounded4 
,patrick spake3     8,rejoice6 thy son  
returns6 not sole he comes1     ,but in 
his hand a princess1 fair and good1     
,a kingdom for her dowry4  ,aodh's      
realm1     ,by me late left1 welcomed my
 ,king with joy3     ,all fire the      
mountains shone4  #8,the ,god ,i serve1'
     ,thus spake ,i1 ,aodh pointing to  
those fires1     #8,in mountains of     
rejoicing hath no joy     ,while sad    
beyond them sits a childless man1       

,his only son thy captive4  ,captive    
groaned     ,creation2 ,bethlehem's     
,babe set free the slave4     ,for ,his 
sake loose thy thrall6'  ,a sweeter     
voice     ,pleaded with mine1 his       
daughter's 'mid her tears4     #8,aodh1'
 ,i said1 #8these two each other love6  
,what think'st thou8  ,he who shaped the
 linnet's nest1     ,indifferent unto   
,him are human loves8     ,arise6 thy   
work make perfect6  ,righteous deeds    
,are easier whole than half4'  ,in      
thought awhile     ,old ,aodh sat2 then 
to his daughter turned1     ,and thus1  
imperious even in kindness1 spake3      
#8,well fought the youth ere captured1  
like the son     ,of kings1 and worthy  
to be sire of kings3     ,wed him this  
hour3 and in three days1 at eve1        
,restore him to his father6'  ,king1    
this hour     ,thou know'st if ,christ's
 strong ,faith be empty words1     ,or  
truth1 and armed with power40           
,that night was passed     ,in feasting 
and in revel1 high and low     ,rich    

with a common gladness4  ,many a torch  
,flared in the hand of servitors        
hill-sent1     ,that standing1 each     
behind a guest1 retained     ,beneath   
that roof clouded by banquet steam      
,their mountain wildness4  ,here1 the   
splendour glanced     ,on goblet        
jewel-chased and dark with wine1        
,swift circling2 there1 on walls with   
antlers spread1     ,and rich with      
yew-wood carvings1 flower or bud1       
,or clustered grape pendent in russet   
gleam     ,as though from nature's hand4
  ,a hall hard by     ,echoed the harp  
that now nor kindled rage1     ,nor     
grief condoled1 nor sealed with         
slumber's balm     ,tempestuous spirits1
 triumphs three of song1     ,but raised
 to rapture1 mirth4  ,far shone that    
hall     ,glowing with hangings steeped 
in every tinct     ,the boast of ,erin's
 dyeing-vats1 now plain1     ,now       
pranked with bird or beast or fish1     
whate'er     ,fast-flying shuttle from  
the craftsman's thought     ,catching1  

on bore through glimmering warp and     
woof1     ,a marvellous work2 now traced
 by broiderer's hand     ,with legends  
of ,ferdadh and of ,meave1     ,even to 
the golden fringe4  ,the warriors paced 
,exulting4  ,oft they showed their      
merit's prize1     ,poniard or cup1     
tribute ordained of tribes     ,from age
 to age1 ,eochaid's right1 on them      
,with equal right devolving4  ,slow they
 moved     ,in mantle now of crimson1   
now of blue1     ,clasped with huge     
torque of silver or of gold     ,just   
where across the snowy shirt there      
strayed     ,tendril of purple thread4  
,with jewelled fronts     ,beauteous in 
pride 'mid light of winsome smiles1     
,over the rushes green with slender foot
     ,in silver slipper hid1 the ladies 
passed1     ,answering with eyes not    
lips the whispered praise1     ,or loud 
the bride extolling--8,when was seen    
,such sweetness and such grace80        
,meantime the king     ,conversed with  
,patrick4  ,vexed he heard announced    

,his daughter's high resolve3 but still 
his looks     ,went wandering to his    
son4  8,my boy6  ,behold him6     ,his  
valour and his gifts are all from me3   
,my first-born60  ,from the dancing     
throng apart     ,his daughter stood the
 while1 serene and pale1                
,down-gazing on that lily in her hand   
,with face of one who notes not shapes  
around1     ,but dreams some happy      
dream4  ,the king drew nigh1     ,and on
 her golden head the sceptre staff      
,leaning1 but not to hurt her1 thus     
began3     8,your prophets of the day1  
,i trust them not6     ,if sent from    
,god1 why came they not long since8     
,our ,druids came before them1 and1     
belike1     ,shall after them abide6    
,with these new seers     ,i count not  
,patrick4  ,things that ,patrick says   
,i ofttimes thought4  ,his lineage too  
is old--     ,wide-browed1 grey-eyed1   
with downward lessening face1     ,not  
like your baser breeds1 with questing   
eyes     ,and jaw of dog4  ,but for thy 

,heavenly ,spouse1     ,i like not ,him6
  ,at least1 wed ,cormac first6     ,if 
rude his ways1 yet noble is his name1   
,and being but poor the man will bide   
with me3     ,he's brave1 and likeliest 
soon in fight may fall6     ,when       
,cormac dies1 wed next--0 a music clash 
,forth bursting drowned his words4      
,three days passed by3     ,to ,patrick1
 then preparing to depart1     ,thus    
spake ,eochaid in the ears of all3      
8,herald ,heaven-missioned of the       
,tidings ,good6     ,those tidings ,i   
have pondered4  ,they are true3     ,i  
for that truth's sake1 and in honour    
bound     ,by reason of my son set free1
 resolve     ,the same1 upon conditions1
 to believe1     ,and suffer all my     
people to believe1     ,just terms      
exacted4  ,briefly these they are3      
,first1 after death1 ,i claim admittance
 frank     ,into thy ,heavenly ,kingdom3
 next1 till death     ,for me exemption 
from that ,baptism ,rite1     ,imposed  
on kerne and hind4  ,experience-taught1 

,i love not rigid bond and written      
pledge3     ',tis well to brand your    
mark on sheep or lamb3     ,kings are of
 lion breed2 and of my house     ',tis  
known there never yet was king baptized4
     ,this pact concluded1 preach within
 my realm     ,thy ,faith2 and wed my   
daughter to thy ,god4     ,not scholarly
 am ,i to know what joy     ,a maid can 
find in psalm1 and cell1 and spouse     
,unseen3 yet ever thus my sentence      
stood1     #8,choose each his way4'  ,my
 son restored1 her loss     ,to me is   
loss the less40  ,thus spake the king4  
,then ,patrick1 on whose face the       
princess bent     ,the supplication     
softly strong of eyes     ,like planets 
seen through mist1 ,eochaid's heart     
,knowing1 which miracle had hardened    
more1     ,made answer1 8,king1 a man of
 jests art thou1     ,claiming free     
range in heaven1 and yet its gate       
,thyself close barring6  ,in thy        
daughter's prayers     ,belike thou     
trustest1 that where others creep       

,thou shalt its golden bastions         
over-fly4     ,far otherwise than in    
that way thou ween'st1     ,that        
daughter's prayers shall speed thee4    
,with thy word     ,i close1 that word  
to frustrate4  ,god be with thee6       
,thou living1 ,i return not4  ,fare thee
 well40          ,thus speaking1 by the 
hand he took the maid1     ,and led her 
through the concourse4  ,at her feet    
,the poor fell low1 kissing her         
garment's hem1     ,and many brought    
their gifts1 and all their prayers1     
,and old men wept4  ,a maiden train     
snow-garbed1     ,her steps attending1  
whitened plain and field1     ,as when  
at times dark glebe1 new-turned1 is     
changed     ,to white by flock of ocean 
birds alit1     ,or inland blown by     
storm1 or hunger-urged     ,to filch the
 late-sown grain4  ,her convent home    
,ere long received her4  ,there         
,ethembria ruled1     ,green ,erin's    
earliest nun4  ,of princely race1       
,she in past years before the font of   

,christ     ,had knelt at ,patrick's    
feet4  ,once more she sought him3       
,over the lovely1 lovelier change had   
passed1     ,as when on childish        
girlhood1 'mid a shower     ,of lilies  
earthward wafted1 maidenhood     ,in    
peacefuller state assumes her spotless  
throne2     ,so1 from that maiden1      
vestal now had risen3--     ,lowlier she
 seemed1 more tender1 soft1 and grave1  
,yet loftier2 hushed in quiet more      
divine1     ,yet wonder-awed4  ,again   
she knelt1 and o'er     ,the bending    
queenly head1 till then unbent1     ,he 
flung that veil which woman bars from   
man     ,to make her more than woman4   
,nigh to death     ,the ,saint forgat   
not her4  ,with her remained     ,kein2 
but ,patrick dwelt far off at ,saul4    
,years came and went3 yet neither chance
 nor change1     ,nor war1 nor peace1   
nor warnings from the priests1     ,nor 
whispers 'mid the omen-mongering crowd1 
,might from ,eochaid charm his wayward  
will1     ,nor reasonings of the wise   

that still preferred     ,safe port to  
victory's pride4  ,he reasoned too1     
,for confident in his reasonings was the
 king1     ,reckoning on pointed fingers
 every link     ,that clenched his mail 
of proof4  8,on ,patrick's word     ,ye 
tell me ,baptism is the gate of ,heaven3
     ,attend1 ,sirs6  ,i have ,patrick's
 word no less     ,that ,i shall enter  
,heaven4  ,what need ,i more8     ,if1  
,death1 truth-speaker1 shows that       
,patrick lied1     ,plain is my right   
against him6  ,heaven not won1          
,patrick bare hence my daughter through 
a fraud3     ,he must restore her       
fourfold--daughters four1     ,as fair  
and good4  ,if not1 the prophet's pledge
     ,for honour's sake his ,master must
 redeem1     ,and unbaptized receive me4
  ,dupes are ye6     ,doomed 'mid the   
common flock1 with branded fleece       
,bleating to enter ,heaven60            
,the years went by2     ,and weakness   
came4  ,no more his small light form    
,to reverent eyes seemed taller than it 

was3     ,no more the shepherd watched  
him from the hill     ,heading his      
hounds1 and hoped to catch his smile1   
,yet feared his questions keen4  ,the   
end drew near4     ,some wept1 some     
railed2 restless the warriors tramped2  
,the ,druids conned their late          
discountenanced spells2     ,the bard   
his lying harpstrings spurned1 so long  
,healing1 unhelpful now4  ,but far away1
     ,within that lonely convent tower  
from her     ,who prayed for ever1      
mightier rose the prayer4       ,within 
the palace1 now by usage old     ,to all
 flung open1 all were sore amazed1      
,all save the king4  ,the leech beside  
the bed     ,sobbed where he stood1 yet 
sware1 8,the fit will pass3     ,ten    
years the ,king may live40  ,eochaid    
frowned3     8,shall ,i1 to patch thy   
fame1 live ten years more1     ,my      
death-time come8  ,my seventy years are 
sped3     ,my sire and grandsire died at
 sixty-nine4     ,like ,aodh1 shall ,i  
lengthen out my days     ,toothless1 nor

 fit to vindicate my clan1     ,some    
losel's song8  ,the kingdom is my son's6
     ,strike from my little milk-white  
horse the shoes1     ,and loose him     
where the freshets make the mead        
,greenest in springtide4  ,he must die  
ere long2     ,and not to him did       
,patrick open ,heaven4     ,praise be to
 ,patrick's ,god6  ,may ,he my sins1    
,known and unknown1 forgive60           
,backward he sank     ,upon his bed1 and
 lay with eyes half closed1             
,murmuring at times one prayer1 five    
words or six2     ,and twice or thrice  
he spake of trivial things2     ,then   
like an infant slumbered till the sun1  
,sinking beneath a great cloud's fiery  
skirt1     ,smote his old eyelids4      
,waking1 in his ears     ,the ripening  
cornfields whispered 'neath the breeze1 
,for wide were all the casements that   
the soul     ,by death delivered        
hindrance none might find     7,careful 
of this the king72 and thus he spake3   
8,nought ever raised my heart to ,god   

like fields     ,of harvest1 waving wide
 from hill to hill1     ,all bread-full 
for my people4  ,hale me forth3         
,when ,i have looked once more upon that
 sight     ,my blessing ,i will give    
them1 and depart40       ,then in the   
fields they laid him1 and he spake4     
8,may ,he that to my people sends the   
bread1     ,send grace to all who eat   
it60  ,with that word     ,his hands    
down-falling1 back once more he sank1   
,and lay as dead2 yet1 sudden1 rising   
not1     ,nor moving1 nor his eyes      
unclosing1 said1     8,my body in the   
tomb of ancient kings     ,inter not    
till beside it ,patrick stands     ,and 
looks upon my brow40  ,he spake1 then   
sighed     ,a little sigh1 and died4    
,three days1 as when     ,black thunder 
cloud clings fast to mountain brows1    
,so to the nation clung the grief3 three
 days     ,the lamentation sounded on   
the hills     ,and rang around the pale 
blue meres1 and rose     ,shrill from   
the bleeding heart of vale and glen1    

,and rocky isle1 and ocean's moaning    
shore2     ,while by the bier the yellow
 tapers stood1     ,and on the right    
side knelt ,eochaid's son1     ,behind  
him all the chieftains cloaked in black2
     ,and on his left his daughter      
knelt1 the nun1     ,behind her all her 
sisterhood1 white-veiled1     ,like     
tombstones after snowstorm4  ,far away1 
,at 8,saul of ,patrick10 dwelt the      
,saint when first     ,the king had     
sickened4  ,message sent he none        
,though knowing all2 and when the end   
was nigh1     ,and heralds now besought 
him day by day1     ,he made no answer  
till o'er eastern seas     ,advanced the
 third fair morning4  ,then he rose1    
,and took the ,staff of ,jesus1 and at  
eve     ,beside the dead king standing1 
on his brow     ,fixed a sad eye4       
,aloud the people wept2     ,the        
kneeling warriors eyed their lord       
askance2     ,the nuns intoned their    
hymn4  ,above that hymn     ,a cry rang 
out3 it was the daughter's prayer2      

,and after that was silence4  ,by the   
dead     ,still stood the ,saint1 nor   
e'er removed his gaze4     ,then--seen  
of all--behold1 the dead king's hands   
,rose slowly1 as the weed on wave       
upheaved     ,without its will2 and all 
the strengthless shape     ,in cerements
 wrapped1 as though by mastering voice  
,from the white void evoked and realm of
 death1     ,without its will1 a gradual
 bulk half rose1     ,the hoar head     
gazing forth4  ,upon the face     ,had  
passed a change1 the greatest earth may 
know2     ,for what the majesty of death
 began     ,the majesties of worlds     
unseen1 and life     ,resurgent ere its 
time1 had perfected1     ,all accidents 
of flesh and sorrowful years            
,cancelled and quelled4  ,yet horror    
from his eyes     ,looked out as though 
some vision once endured     ,must cling
 to them for ever4  ,patrick spake3     
8,soul from the dead sent back once more
 to earth     ,what seek'st thou from   
,god's ,church80  ,he answer made1      

8,baptism40  ,then ,patrick o'er him    
poured the might     ,of healing waters 
in the ,name ,triune1     ,the ,father1 
and the ,son1 and ,holy ,spirit2        
,and from his eyes the horror passed1   
and light     ,went from them1 as the   
light of eyes that rest     ,on the     
everlasting glory1 while he spake3      
8,tempest of darkness drave me past the 
gates     ,celestial1 and1 a moment's   
space1 within     ,i heard the hymning  
of the hosts of ,god     ,that feed for 
ever on the ,bread of ,life     ,as feed
 the nations on the harvest wheat4      
,tempest of darkness drave me to the    
gates     ,of ,anguish3 then a cry came 
up from earth1     ,cry like my         
daughter's when her mother died1        
,that stayed the on-rushing whirlwind2  
yet mine eyes     ,perforce looked in1  
and1 many a thousand years1     ,branded
 upon them lay that woful sight     ,now
 washed from them for ever40  ,patrick  
spake3     8,this day a twofold choice  
,i give thee1 son2     ,for fifteen     

years the rule o'er ,erin's land1       
,rule absolute1 ,ard-,righ o'er lesser  
kings2     ,or instant else to die1 and 
hear once more     ,that hymn celestial1
 and that ,vision see     ,they see who 
sing that anthem40  ,light from ,god    
,over that late dead countenance        
streamed amain1     ,like to his        
daughter's now--more beauteous thrice-- 
,yet awful1 more than beauteous4  8,rule
 o'er earth1     ,rule without end1 were
 nought to that great hymn     ,heard   
but a single moment4  ,i would die40    
,then ,patrick1 on him gazing1 answered1
 8,die60     ,and died the king once    
more1 and no man wept2     ,but on her  
childless breast the nun sustained      
,softly her father's head4              
,that night discourse     ,through hall 
and court circled in whispers low4      
,first one1 8,was that indeed our king8 
,but where     ,the sword-scar and the  
wrinkles80  8,where10 rejoined1         
,wide-eyed1 the next1 8his little cranks
 and girds     ,the wisdom1 and the     

whim80  ,then ,patrick spake3           
8,sirs1 till this day ye never saw your 
king2     ,the man ye doted on was but  
his mask1     ,his picture--yea1 his    
phantom4  ,ye have seen     ,at last the
 man himself40  ,that night nigh sped1  
,while slowly o'er the darkling woods   
went down1     ,warned by the cold      
breath of the up-creeping morn          
,invisible yet nigh1 the ,august moon1  
,two vestals1 gliding past like         
moonlight gleams1     ,conversed3 one   
said1 8,his daughter's prayer           
prevailed60     ,the second1 8,who may  
know the ways of ,god8     ,for this1   
may many a heart one day rejoice     ,in
 hope6  ,for this1 the gift to many a   
man     ,exceed the promise2 ,faith's   
invisible germ     ,quickened with      
parting breath2 and ,baptism given1     
,it may be1 by an angel's hand unseen60 
,,saint ,,patrick ,,and ,,the ,,founding
 ,,of ,,armagh ,,cathedral4             
,,argument4      ,saint ,patrick repairs
 to ,ardmacha1 there to found the chief 

church of  ,erin4  ,for that purpose he 
demands of ,dair1 the king1 a certain   
woody  hill4  ,the king refuses it1 and 
afterwards treats him with alternate    
scorn and reverence2 while the ,saint1  
in each event alike1 makes the same     
answer1 8,deo ,gratias40  ,at last the  
king concedes to him the hill2 and on   
the summit of it ,saint ,patrick finds a
 little white fawn asleep4  ,the men  of
 ,erin would have slain that fawn2 but  
the ,saint carries it on his  shoulder1 
and restores it to its dam4  ,where the 
fawn lay1 he places the  altar of his   
cathedral4       ,,at ,cluain ,cain1 in 
,ross1 unbent yet old1     ,dwelt       
,patrick long4  ,its sweet and flowery  
sward     ,he to the rock had delved1   
with fixed resolve     ,to build thereon
 ,christ's chiefest church in ,eire4    
,then by him stood ,god's angel1        
speaking thus3     8,not here1 but      
northward40  ,he replied1 8,o1 would    
,this spot might favour find with ,god6 
,behold6     ,fair is it1 and as meet to

 clasp a church     ,as is a true heart 
in a virgin breast     ,to clasp the    
,faith of ,christ4  ,the hinds around   
,name it #8the beauteous meadow4'0      
8,fair it is10     ,the angel answered1 
8nor shall lack its crown4              
,another's is its beauty4  ,here1 one   
day     ,a pilgrim from the ,britons    
sent shall build1     ,and1 later1 what 
he builds shall pass to thine2     ,but 
thou to ,macha get thee40               
,patrick then1     ,obedient as that    
,patriarch ,sire who faced     ,at      
,god's command the desert1 northward    
went     ,in holy silence4  ,soon to him
 was lost     ,that green and purple    
meadow-sea1 embayed     ',twixt two     
descending woody promontories1     ,its 
outlet girt with isles of rock1 its     
shores     ,cream-white with            
meadow-sweet4  ,not once he turned1     
,climbing the uplands rough1 or crossing
 streams     ,swoll'n by the melted     
snows4  ,the ,brethren paced            
,behind2 ,benignus first1 his psalmist2 

next     ,secknall1 his bishop2 next his
 brehon ,erc2     ,mochta1 his priest2  
and ,sinell of the ,bells2     ,rodan1  
his shepherd2 ,essa1 ,bite1 and         
,tassach1     ,workers of might in iron 
and in stone1     ,god-taught to build  
the churches of the ,faith     ,with    
wisdom and with heart-delighting craft2 
,mac ,cairthen last1 the giant meek that
 oft     ,on shoulders broad bare       
,patrick through the floods3     ,his   
rest was nigh4  ,that hour they crossed 
a stream2     ',twas deep1 and1 'neath  
his load1 the giant sighed4     ,saint  
,patrick said1 8,thou wert not wont to  
sigh60     ,he answered1 8,old ,i grow4 
,of them my mates     ,how many hast    
thou left in churches housed            
,wherein they rule and rest60  ,the     
,saint replied1     8,thee also will ,i 
leave within a church     ,for rule and 
rest2 not to mine own too near     ,for 
rarely then should we be seen apart1    
,nor yet remote1 lest we should meet no 
more40     ,at ,clochar soon he placed  

him4  ,there1 long years     ,mac       
,cairthen sat1 its bishop4              
,as they went1     ,oft through the     
woodlands rang the battle-shout2        
,and twice there rose above the distant 
hill     ,the smoke of hamlet fired4    
,yet1 none the less1                    
,spring-touched1 the blackbird sang2 the
 cowslip changed     ,green lawn to     
green and golden2 and grey rock     ,and
 river's marge with primroses were      
starred2     ,here shook the windflower2
 there the blue-bells gleamed1     ,as  
though a patch of sky had fallen on     
earth4       ,then to ,benignus spake   
the ,saint3 8,my son1     ,if grief were
 lawful in a world redeemed     ,the    
blood-stains on a land so strong in     
faith1     ,so slack in love1 might     
cloud the holiest brow1     ,yea1 his   
whose head lay on the breast of ,christ4
     ,clan wars with clan3 no injury is 
forgiven2     ,like to the joy in       
stag-hunts is the war3     ,alas6 for   
such what hope60  ,benignus answered    

8,o ,father1 cease not for this race to 
hope1     ,lest they should hope no     
longer6  ,hope they have2     ,still say
 they1 #8,god will snare us in the end  
,though wild4'0  ,and ,patrick1         
8,spirits twain are theirs3     ,the    
stranger1 and the poor1 at every door   
,they meet1 and bid him in4  ,the       
youngest child     ,officious is in     
service2 maids prepare     ,the bath2   
men brim the wine-cup4  ,then1 forth    
borne1     ,cities they fire and rich in
 spoil depart1     ,greed mixed with    
rage--an industry of blood60     ,he    
spake1 and thus the younger made reply3 
8,father1 the stranger is the           
brother-man     ,to them2 the poor is   
neighbour4  ,septs remote     ,to them  
are alien worlds4  ,they know not yet   
,that rival clans are men40             
8,that know they shall10     ,patrick   
made answer1 8when a race far off       
,tramples their race to clay6  ,god     
sends abroad     ,his plague of war that
 men on earth may know     ,brother from

 foe1 and anguish work remorse40     ,he
 spake1 and after musings added thus3   
8,base of ,god's kingdom is ,humility-- 
,i have not spared to thunder o'er their
 pride2     ,great kings have ,i rebuked
 and signs sent forth1     ,and banned  
for their sake fruitful plain1 and bay2 
,yet still the widow's cry is on the    
air1     ,the orphan's wail60  ,benignus
 answered mild1     8,o ,father1 not    
alone with sign and ban     ,hast thou  
rebuked their madness4  ,oftener far    
,thy sweetness hath reproved them4      
,once in woods     ,northward of ,tara  
as we tracked our way     ,round us     
there gathered slaves who felled the    
pines     ,for ship-masts4  ,scarred    
their hands1 and red with blood1        
,because their master1 ,trian1 thus had 
sworn1     #8,let no man sharpen axe6'  
,upon those hands     ,gazing1 they wept
 soon as thy voice they heard1          
,because that voice was soft4  ,thou    
heard'st their tale2     ,straight to   
that chieftain's castle went'st thou up1

     ,and bound'st him with thy fast1   
beside his gate     ,sitting in silence 
till his heart should melt2     ,and    
since he willed it not to melt1 he died4
     ,then1 in her arms two babes1 came 
forth the queen     ,black-robed1 and   
freed her slaves1 and gave them hire2   
,and1 we returning after many years1    
,filled was that wood with homesteads2  
plots of corn     ,rustled around them2 
here were orchards2 there     ,in trench
 or tank they steeped the bright blue   
flax2     ,the saw-mill turned to use   
the wanton brook2     ,murmured the     
bee-hive2 murmured household wheel2     
,soft eyes looked o'er it through the   
dusk2 at work     ,the labourers        
carolled2 matrons glad and maids        
,bare us the pail head-steadied1        
children flowers3     ,last1 from her   
castle paced the queen1 and led     ,in 
either hand her sons whom thou hadst    
blest1     ,thenceforth to stand thy    
priests4  ,the land believed2     ,and  
not through ban1 or word1 sharp-edged or

 soft1     ,but silence and thy fast the
 ill custom died40       ,he answered1  
8,christ1 in ,christ-like life          
expressed1     ,this1 this1 not words1  
subdues a land to ,christ2     ,and in  
this best ,apostolate all have part4    
,ah me6 that flower thou hold'st is     
strong to preach     ,creative ,love1   
because itself is lovely2     ,but we1  
the heralds of ,redeeming ,love1        
,because we are unlovely in our lives1  
,preach to deaf ears6  ,yet theirs1     
theirs too1 the sin40     ,benignus made
 reply3 8,the race is old2     ,not less
 their hearts are young4  ,have patience
 with them6     ,for see1 in spring the 
grave old oaks push forth     ,impatient
 sprays1 wine-red3 their strength       
matured1     ,these sober down to       
verdure40  ,patrick paused1     ,then1  
brooding1 spake1 as one who thinks1 not 
speaks3     8,a priest there walked with
 me ten years and more2     ,warrior in 
youth was he4  ,one day we heard        
,the shock of warring clans--,i hear it 

still3     ,within him1 as in darkening 
vase you note     ,the ascending wine1  
,i watched the passion mount3--         
,sudden he dashed him down into the     
fight1     ,nor e'er to ,christ         
returned40  ,benignus answered2     8,i 
saw above a dusky forest roof     ,the  
glad spring run1 leaving a track        
sea-green3     ,not straight she ran2   
and yet she reached her goal3     ,later
 ,i saw above green copse of thorn      
,the glad spring run1 leaving a track   
foam-white3     ,not straight she ran2  
yet soon she conquered all6     ,o      
,father1 is it sinful to be glad        
,here amid sin and sorrow8  ,joy is     
strong1     ,strongest in spring-tide6  
,mourners ,i have known     ,that1      
homeward wending from the new-dug grave1
     ,against their will1 where sang the
 happy birds     ,have felt the         
aggressive gladness stir their hearts1  
,and smiled amid their tears40  ,so     
babbled he1     ,shamed at his          
spring-tide raptures4                   

,as they went1     ,far on their left   
there stretched a mighty land     ,of   
forest-girdled hills1 mother of streams3
     ,beyond it sank the day2 while     
round the west     ,like giants thronged
 the great cloud-phantoms towered4      
,advancing1 din they heard1 and found in
 woods     ,a hamlet and a field by war 
unscathed1     ,and boys on all sides   
running4  ,placid sat     ,the village  
,elders2 neither lacked that hour       
,the harp that gently tranquillises age1
     ,yet wakes young hearts with       
musical unrest1     ,forerunner oft of  
love's unrest4  ,ere long     ,the      
measure changed to livelier3 maid with  
maid     ,danced 'mid the dancing       
shadows of the trees1     ,and youth    
with youth2 till now1 the strangers     
near1     ,those ,elders welcomed them  
with act benign2     ,and soon was slain
 the fatted kid1 and soon     ,the lamb2
 nor any asked till hunger's rage       
,was quelled1 8,who art thou80  ,patrick
 made reply1     8,a ,priest of ,god40  

,then prayed they1 8,offer thou     ,to 
,him our sacrifice6  ,belike 'tis ,he   
,who saves from war this hamlet hid in  
woods3     ,unblest be he who finds it60
  ,thus they spake1     ,the matrons1   
not the youths4  ,in friendly talk      
,the hours went by with laughter winged 
and tale2     ,but when the moon1 on    
rolling through the heavens1            
,showered through the leaves a dew of   
sprinkled light     ,o'er the dark      
ground1 the maidens garments brought    
,woven in their quiet homes when nights 
were long1     ,red cloak and kirtle    
green1 and laid them soft1     ,still   
with the wearers' blameless beauty warm1
     ,for coverlet upon the warm dry    
grass1     ,honouring the stranger      
guests4  ,for these they deemed         
,their low-roofed cots too mean4        
,glad-hearted rose     ,the ,christian  
hymn1 not timid3 far it rang     ,above 
the woods4  ,ere long1 their blissful   
rites     ,fulfilled1 the wanderers laid
 them down and slept4       ,at midnight

 by the side of ,patrick stood          
,victor1 ,god's ,angel1 saying1 8,lo6   
thy work     ,hath favour found and thou
 ere long shalt die3     ,thus therefore
 saith the ,lord1 #8,so long as sea     
,girdeth this isle1 so long thy name    
shall hang     ,in splendour o'er it1   
like the stars of ,god4'0     ,then     
,patrick said1 8,a boon6  ,i crave a    
boon60     ,the angel answered1         
8,speak20 and ,patrick said1     8,let  
them that with me toiled1 or in the     
years     ,to come shall toil1 building 
o'er all this land     ,the             
,fortress-,temple and great ,house of   
,christ1     ,equalled with me my name  
in ,erin share40     ,and ,victor       
answered1 8,half thy prayer is thine2   
,with thee shall they partake4  ,not    
less1 thy name     ,higher than theirs  
shall rise1 and wider spread1     ,since
 thus more plainly shall ,his glory     
shine     ,whose glory is ,his justice40
                                        
,with the morn     ,those pilgrims rose1

 and1 prime entoned and lauds1          
,poured out their blessing on that      
woodland clan     ,which1 round them    
pressing1 kissed them1 robe and knee2   
,then on they journeyed till at set of  
sun     ,shone out the roofs of ,macha1 
and that tower     ,where ,dair dwelt1  
its lord4                               
,saint ,patrick sent     ,to ,dair      
embassage1 vouchsafing prayer     ,as   
sire might pray of son2 8,give thou yon 
hill     ,to ,christ1 that we may build 
,his church thereon40     ,and ,dair    
answered with a brow of storms     ,bent
 forward darkly1 and long1 sneering     
lips1     8,your master is a mighty man1
 we know4     ,garban1 that lied to     
,god1 he slew through prayer1     ,and  
banned full many a lake1 and many a     
plain1     ,for trespass there          
committed6  ,let it be6     ,a ,chief of
 souls he is6  ,no signs we work1       
,rulers earth-born3 yet somewhat are we 
here--     ,depart6  ,by others answer  
we will send40          ,so ,dair sent  

to ,patrick men of might1     ,fierce   
men1 the battle's nurslings4  ,thus they
 spake3     8,high region for high      
heads6  ,if build ye must1     ,build on
 the plain3 the hill is ,dair's right3  
,church site he grants you1 and the     
field around40     ,and ,patrick1       
glancing from his ,office ,book1        
,made answer1 8,deo ,gratias10 and no   
more4       ,upon that plain he built a 
little church     ,ere long1 a convent  
likewise1 girt with mound     ,banked   
from the meadow loam1 and deftly set    
,with stone1 and fence1 and woody       
palisade1     ,that neither warring     
clans1 far heard by day1     ,might hurt
 his cloistered charge1 nor wolves by   
night1     ,howling in woods2 and there 
he served the ,lord4       ,but ,dair   
scorned the ,saint1 and grudged his     
gift1     ,though small2 and half in    
spleen1 and half in greed1     ,sent    
down two stately coursers all night long
     ,to graze the deep sweet pasture   
round the church3     ,ill deed3--and   

so1 for guerdon of that sin1     ,dead  
lay the coursers twain at the break of  
dawn4       ,then fled the servants     
back1 and told their lord1     ,fearing 
for negligence rebuke and scath1        
8,thy ,christian slew the coursers60 and
 the king     ,gave word to slay or bind
 him4  ,but from ,god     ,a sickness   
fell on ,dair nigh to death     ,that   
day and night4  ,when morning brake1 the
 queen1     ,a woman leal with kind     
barbaric heart1     ,her bosom from the 
sick man's head withdrew     ,a moment  
while he slept2 and1 round her gazing1  
,closed with both hands upon a          
liegeman's arm1     ,and sped him to the
 ,saint for pardon and peace4     ,then 
,patrick1 dipping in the inviolate fount
     ,a chalice1 blessed the water1 with
 command     8,sprinkle the stately     
coursers and the king20     ,and        
straightway as from death the king      
arose1     ,and rose from death the     
coursers4                               
,dair then1     ,his tall frame boastful

 with that life renewed1     ,took with 
him men1 and down the stone-paved hill  
,rode from his tower1 and through the   
woodlands green1     ,and bare with him 
an offering of those days1     ,a brazen
 cauldron vast4  ,embossed it shone     
,with sculptured shapes4  ,on one side  
hunters rode3     ,low stretched their  
steeds3 the dogs pulled down the stag   
,unseen1 except the branching horns that
 rose     ,like hands in protest4       
,feasters1 on the other1     ,raised    
high the cup pledging the safe return4  
,this offering ,dair brought1 and1      
entering1 spake3     8,a gift for       
guerdon and for grace1 ,o ,priest60     
,and ,patrick1 upward glancing from his 
book1     ,made answer1 8,deo ,gratias60
 and no more4       ,king ,dair1        
homeward riding with knit brow          
,muttered1 8,churl's welcome for a      
kingly boon60     ,and1 drinking late   
that night the stormy breath     ,of    
others' anger blent with his1 commanded1
     8,ride forth at morn and bring me  

back my gift6     ,spurn it he shall    
not1 though he prize it not40     ,they 
heard him1 and obeyed4  ,at noon the    
king     ,demanded thus1 8,what answer  
made the ,saint80     ,they said1 8,his 
eyes he raised not from his book1       
,but answered1 #8,deo ,gratias6' and no 
more40       ,then ,dair stamped his    
foot1 like war-horse stung     ,by      
gadfly3 musing next1 and mute he sat    
,a space1 and lastly roared great       
laughter peals     ,till roared in      
mockery back the raftered roof1     ,and
 clashed his hands together shouting    
thus3     8,a gift1 and #8,deo          
,gratias6'--gift withdrawn1     ,and    
#8,deo ,gratias6'  ,sooth1 the word is  
good6     ,madman is this1 or man of    
,god8  ,we'll know60     ,so from his   
frowning fortress once again     ,adown 
the resonant road o'er street and bridge
     ,rode ,dair1 at his right the queen
 in fear1     ,with dumbly pleading     
countenance2 close behind1     ,with    
tangled locks and loose-hung battle-axe 

,ran the wild kerne2 and loud the       
bull-horn blew4     ,the convent        
reached1 ,king ,dair from his horse     
,flung his great limbs1 and at the      
doorway towered     ,in gazing stern3   
the queen beside him stood1     ,her    
lustrous violet eyes all lost in tears3 
,one hand on ,dair's garment lay like   
light     ,wandering on dusky ripple2   
one1 upraised1     ,held in the         
high-necked horse that champed the bit1 
,his head near hers4  ,within1 the man  
of ,god1     ,sole-sitting1 read his    
office book unmoved1     ,and ending    
fixed his keen eye on the king1     ,not
 rising from his seat4                  
,then fell from ,god     ,insight on    
,dair1 and aloud he cried1     8,a      
kingly man1 of mind unmovable     ,art  
thou2 and as the rock beneath my tower  
,shakes not in storm so shakes not heart
 of thine3     ,such men are of the     
height and not the plain3     ,therefore
 that hill to thee ,i grant unsought    
,which whilome ,i refused4  ,possession 

take     ,this day1 lest hostile demon  
warp my mood2     ,and build thereon thy
 church4  ,the same shall stand         
,strong mother-church of all thy great  
clan ,christ60       ,thus ,dair spake2 
and ,patrick1 at his word     ,rising1  
gave thanks to ,god1 and to the king    
,high blessing heard in heaven2 and     
making sign     ,went forth1 attended by
 his priestly train1     ,benignus      
first1 his dearest1 then the rest4      
,in circuit thrice they girt that hill1 
and sang     ,anthem first heard when   
unto ,god was vowed     ,that ,house    
which ,david offered in his heart       
,his son in act1 and hymn of holy       
,church     ,hailing that city like a   
bride attired1     ,from heaven to earth
 descending4  ,with them sang     ,an   
angel choir above them borne4  ,the     
birds     ,forbore their songs1         
listening that angel strain1            
,ethereal music and by men unheard      
,except the ,elect4  ,the king in       
reverence paced     ,behind1 his        

liegemen next1 a mass confused     ,with
 saffron standard gay and spears upheld 
,flashing through thickets green4       
,these kept not line1     ,for ,alp was 
still recounting battles old1     ,aodh 
of wizards sang1 and ,ir of love2       
,while bald-pate ,conan1 sharpening from
 his eye     ,the sneering light1 shot  
from his plastic mouth     ,shrill taunt
 and biting gibe4  ,the younger sort    
,eyed the dense copse and launched full 
many a shaft     ,through it at flying  
beast4  ,from ledge to ledge     ,clomb 
,angus1 keen of sight1 with hand o'er   
brow1     ,forth gazing on some far blue
 ridge of war     ,with nostril wide    
outblown1 and snorting cried1           
8,would ,i were there60                 
,meantime1 the man of ,god     ,had     
reached the fair crown of that sacred   
hill1     ,a circle girt with woodland  
branching low1     ,and roofed with     
heaven4  ,beyond its tonsure fringe1    
,birch trees and oaks1 there pushed a   
thorn milk-white1     ,and close beside 

it slept in shade a fawn     ,whiter4   
,the startled dam had left its side1    
,and through the dark stems fled like   
flying gleam4     ,minded they were1 the
 kernes1 to kill that fawn1     ,and all
 the priests stood silent2 but the      
,saint     ,put forth his hand1 and o'er
 her signed the ,cross1     ,and1       
stooping1 on his shoulder placed her    
firm1     ,and bade the brethren mark   
with stones her lair     ,dewless and   
dusk3 then1 singing as he went          
8,like as the hart desires the water    
brooks10     ,he walked1 that hill      
descending4  ,light from ,god           
,o'ershone his face4  ,meantime the     
awakened fawn     ,now rolled her dark  
eye on the silver head     ,close by1   
now turning licked the wrinkled hand1   
,unfearing4  ,soon1 with little         
whimpering sob1     ,the doe drew near  
and paced at ,patrick's side4     ,at   
last they reached a little field low    
down     ,beneath that hill3 there      
,patrick laid the fawn4       ,king     

,dair questioned ,patrick of that deed1 
,incensed2 and scornful asked1 8,shall  
mitred man     ,play thus the shepherd  
and the forester80     ,and ,patrick    
answered1 8,aged men1 ,o king1          
,forget their reasons oft4  ,benignus   
seek1     ,if haply ,god has shown him  
for what cause     ,i wrought this      
thing40  ,then ,dair turned him back    
,and faced ,benignus2 and with lifted   
hand1     ,pure as a maid's1 and dimpled
 like a child's1     ,picturing his     
thoughts on air1 the little monk        
,thus glossed that deed4  8,great       
mystery1 king1 is ,love3     ,poets its 
worthiness have sung in lays     ,unread
 by ruder ones like me2 and yet         
,thus much the simplest and the rudest  
know1     ,dear is the fawn to her that 
gave it birth1     ,and to the sceptred 
monarch dear the child     ,that mounts 
his knee4  ,nor here the marvel ends2   
,for1 like yon star1 the great ,paternal
 ,heart     ,through all the unmeted1   
unimagined years1     ,while yet        

,creation uncreated hung1     ,a        
thought1 a dawn-streak on the verge     
extreme     ,of lonely ,godhead's inner 
,universe1     ,panted and pants with   
splendour of its love1     ,the ,eternal
 ,sire rejoicing in the ,son     ,and   
,both in ,him ,who still from ,both     
proceeds1     ,bond of their love4      
,moreover1 king1 that ,son     ,who1    
,virgin-born1 raised from the ruinous   
gulf     ,our world1 and made it        
footstool to ,god's throne1     ,the    
same is ,love1 and died for ,love1 and  
reigns3     ,loveless1 ,his ,church were
 but a corse stone-cold2     ,loveless1 
her creed were but a winter leaf        
,network of barren thoughts1 the        
cerement wan     ,of ,faith extinct4    
,therefore our ,saint revered     ,the  
love and anguish of that mother doe1    
,and inly vowed that where her offspring
 couched     ,christ's chiefest church  
should stand1 from age to age           
,confession plain 'mid raging of the    
clans     ,that ,god is ,love2--,his    

worship void and vain     ,disjoined    
from ,love that1 rising to the heights  
,even to the depths descends40          
,conversing thus1     ,macha they       
reached4  ,ere long where lay the fawn  
,stood ,god's new altar2 and1 ere many  
years1     ,far o'er the woodlands rose 
the church high-towered1     ,preaching 
,god's peace to still a troubled world4 
,the ,saint who built it found not there
 his grave     ,though wished for2 him  
,god buried otherwhere1     ,fulfilling 
thus the counsels of ,his ,will3        
,but old1 and grey1 when many a winter's
 frost     ,to spring had yielded1 bent 
by wounds and woes     ,upon that       
church's altar looked once more         
,king ,dair2 at its font was joined to  
,christ2     ,and1 midway 'twixt that   
altar and that font1     ,rejoined his  
beauteous mate a later day4        ,,the
 ,,arraignment ,,of ,,saint ,,patrick4  
,,argument4      ,secknall1 the poet1   
brings1 in sport1 three heavy charges   
against ,saint  ,patrick1 who1 supposing

 them to be serious1 defends himself    
against them4  ,lastly ,secknall sings a
 hymn written in praise of a ,saint4    
,saint ,patrick  commends it1 affirming 
that for once ,fame has dispensed her   
honours  honestly4  ,upon this1         
,secknall recites the first stave1 till 
then  craftily reserved1 which offers   
the whole homage of that hymn to        
,patrick1  who1 though the humblest of  
men1 has thus arrogated to himself the  
saintly ,crown4  ,there is laughter     
among the brethren4       ,,when        
,patrick now was old and nigh to death  
,undimmed was still his eye2 his tread  
was strong2     ,and there was ever     
laughter in his heart1     ,and music in
 his laughter4  ,in a wood     ,nigh to 
,ardmacha dwelt he with his monks2      
,and there1 like birds that cannot stay 
their songs     ,love-touched in        
,spring1 or grateful for their nests1   
,they to the woodsmen preached of       
,christ1 their ,king1     ,to           
swineherds1 and to hinds that tended    

sheep1     ,yea1 and to pilgrim guests  
from distant clans2     ,his            
shepherd-worshipped birth when breath of
 kine     ,went o'er the ,infant2 all   
,his wondrous works     ,or words from  
mount1 or field1 or anchored boat1      
,and ,christendom upreared for weal of  
men     ,and ,angel-wonder4  ,daily     
preached the monks     ,and daily built 
their convent4  ,wildly sweet     ,the  
season1 prime of unripe spring1 when    
,march     ,distils from cup half gelid 
yet some drops     ,of finer relish than
 the hand of ,may     ,pours from her   
full-brimmed beaker4  ,frost1 though    
gone1     ,had left its glad vibration  
on the air2     ,laughed the blue       
heavens as though they ne'er had        
frowned1     ,through leafless          
oak-boughs2 limes of kindlier grace     
,and swifter to believe ,spring's       
8tidings good0     ,took the sweet      
lights upon a breast bud-swoll'n1       
,and crimson as the redbreast's2 while1 
as when     ,clear rings a flute-note   

through sea-murmurs harsh1     ,at      
intervals ran out a streak of green     
,across the dim-hued forest4            
,from their wood     ,the strong arms of
 the monks had hewn them space     ,for 
all their convent needed2 farmyard      
stored     ,with stacks that all the    
winter long had clutched     ,their     
hoarded harvest sunshine2 pasture green 
,whitened with sheep2 fair garden       
fenceless still     ,with household     
herbs new-sprouting3 but1 as oft        
,some conquered race1 forth sallying in 
its spleen     ,when serves the         
occasion1 wins a province back1     ,or 
flouts at least the foe1 so here once   
more     ,wild flowers1 a clan          
unvanquished1 raised their heads        
',mid sprouting wheat2 and where from   
craggy height     ,pushed the grey      
ledge1 the woodland host recoiled       
,as though in ,parthian flight2 while   
many a bird1     ,barbaric from the     
inviolate forest launched     ,wild     
warbled scorn on all that life          

reclaimed1     ,mute garth-still        
orchard4  ,child of distant hills1      
,a proud stream1 swollen by midnight    
rains1 down leaped     ,from rock to    
rock4  ,it spurned the precinct now     
,with airy dews silvering the bramble   
green     ,and redd'ning more the       
beech-stock4                            
',twas the hour     ,of rest1 and every 
monk was glad at heart1     ,for each   
had wrought with might4  ,with hands    
upheld1     ,mochta1 the priest1 had    
thundered against sin1                  
,wrath-roused1 as when some prince too  
late returned     ,stares at his        
sea-side village all in flames1     ,the
 slave-thronged ship escaped4  ,the     
bishop1 ,erc1     ,had reconciled old   
feuds by ,brehon ,law     ,where ,brehon
 ,law was lawful4  ,boys wild-eyed      
,had from ,benignus learned the church's
 song1     ,boys brightened now1 yet    
tempered1 by that age     ,gracious to  
stripling as to maid1 that brings       
,valour to one and modesty to both      

,where youth is loyal to the            
,virgin-born4     ,the giant meek1 ,mac 
,cairthen1 on bent neck     ,had carried
 beam on beam1 while ,criemther felled  
,the oaks1 and from the anvil ,laeban   
dashed     ,the sparks in showers4  ,a  
little way removed1     ,beneath a pine 
three vestals sat close-veiled3     ,a  
song these childless sang of            
,bethlehem's ,child1     ,low-toned1 and
 worked their ,altar-cloth1 a ,lamb     
,all white on golden blazon2 near it    
bled     ,the bird that with her own    
blood feeds her young3     ,red drops   
affused her holy breast4  ,these three  
,were daughters of three kings4  ,the   
best and fairest1     ,king ,dair's     
daughter1 ,erenait by name1     ,had    
loved ,benignus in her ,pagan years4    
,he knew it not3 full sweet to her his  
voice     ,chaunting in choir4  ,one day
 through grief of love     ,the maiden  
lay as dead3 ,benignus shook     ,dews  
from the font above her1 and she woke   
,with heart emancipate that outsoared   

the lark     ,lost in blue heavens4     
,she loved the ,spouse of ,souls4       
,it was as though some child that1      
dreaming1 wept     ,its childish        
playthings lost1 awaked by bells1       
,bride-bells1 had found herself a queen 
new wed     ,unto her country's lord4   
,while monk with monk     ,conversed1   
the son of ,patrick's sister sat1       
,secknall by name1 beside the window    
sole     ,and marked where ,patrick from
 his hill of prayer     ,approached1    
descending slowly4  ,at the sight       
,he1 maker blithe of songs1 and wild as 
hawk     ,albeit a ,saint1 whose wont it
 was at times     ,or shy1 or strange1  
or shunning flattery's taint1     ,to   
attempt with mockery those whom most he 
loved1     ,whispered a brother1 8,speak
 to ,patrick thus3     #8,when all men  
praised thee1 ,secknall made reply      
8,a blessed man were ,patrick save for  
this1     ,alms deeds he preaches       
not40'0  ,the brother went3     ,ere    
long among them entered ,patrick1 wroth1

     ,or1 likelier1 feigning            
wrath3--8,what man is he     ,who saith 
,i preach not alms deeds80  ,secknall   
rose3     8,i said it1 ,father1 and the 
charge is true40     ,then ,patrick     
answered1 8,out of ,charity     ,i      
preach not ,charity4  ,this people1 won 
,to ,christ1 ere long will prove a race 
of ,saints2     ,to give will be its    
passion1 not to gain3     ,its heart is 
generous2 but its hand is slack     ,in 
all save war3 herein there lurks a      
snare3     ,the priest will fatten1 and 
the beggar feast3     ,but the lean land
 will yield nor chief nor prince        
,hire of two horses yoked to chariot    
beam40     ,then ,secknall spake1 8,o   
,father1 dead it lies     ,mine earlier 
charge against thee4  ,hear my next1    
,since in our ,order's equal            
,brotherhood     ,censure uncensured is 
the right of all4     ,you press to the 
earth your converts6 gold you spurn2    
,yet bind upon them heavier load than   
when     ,conqueror his captive tasks4  

,have shepherds three     ,bowed them to
 ,christ8  #8,build up a church1' you   
cry2     ,so one must draw the sand1 and
 one the stone     ,and one the lime4   
,honouring the seven great ,gifts1      
,you raise in one small valley churches 
seven4     ,who serveth you fares hard60
  ,the ,saint replied1     8,second as  
first6  ,i came not to this land     ,to
 crave scant service1 nor with shallow  
plough     ,cleave ,i this glebe4  ,the 
priest that soweth much     ,for here   
the land is fruitful1 much shall reap3  
,who soweth little nought but weeds     
shall bind     ,and poppies of          
oblivion40  ,secknall next3     8,yet   
man to man will whisper1 and the face   
,of all this people darken like a sea   
,when pipes the coming storm40  ,he     
answered1 8,son1     ,i know this people
 better4  ,fierce they are     ,in      
anger2 neither flies their thought      
direct2     ,for some1 though true to   
,nature1 lie to men1     ,and others1   
true to men1 are false to ,god3     ,yet

 as the prince's is the poor man's      
heart2     ,burthen for ,god sustained  
no burden is     ,to him2 and those who 
most have given to ,christ              
,largeliest ,his fulness share40        
,secknall replied1     8,low lies my    
second charge2 a third remains1         
,which1 as a shaft from seasoned bow1   
not green1     ,shall pierce the marl4  
,with convents still you sow     ,the   
land3 in other countries sparse and     
small     ,they swell to cities here4   
,a hundred monks     ,on one late barren
 mountain dig and pray3     ,a hundred  
nuns gladden one woodland lawn1     ,or 
sing in one small island4  ,well--'tis  
well6     ,yet1 balance lost and        
measure1 nought is well4     ,the       
,angelic ,life more common will become  
,than life of mortal men40  ,the ,saint 
replied1     8,no shaft from homicidal  
yew-tree bow     ,is thine1 but winged  
of thistle-down6  ,now hear6            
,measure is good2 but measure's law with
 scale     ,changeth2 nor doth the part 

reflect the whole4     ,each nation hath
 its gift1 and each to all     ,not     
equal ministers4  ,if all were eye1     
,where then were ear8  ,if all were ear 
or hand1     ,where then were eye8  ,the
 nation is the part2     ,the ,church   
the whole0--,but ,criemther where he    
stood1     ,old warrior1 shouted like a 
chief war-waked1     8,this land is     
,eire6  ,no nation lives like her6      
,a part6  ,who portions ,eire80  ,the   
,saint1 with smile     ,resumed3 8,the  
whole that from the part receives1      
,repaying still that part1 till man's   
whole race     ,grow to the fulness of  
,mankind redeemed4     ,what gift hath  
,god in eminence given to ,eire8        
,singly1 her race is feeble2 strong when
 knit3     ,nought knits them truly save
 a heavenly aim4     ,i knit them as an 
army unto ,god1     ,give them ,god's   
,war6  ,yon star is militant6     ,its  
splendour 'gainst the dark must fight or
 die3     ,so wars that ,faith ,i preach
 against the world2     ,and nations    

fitted least for this world's gain      
,can speed ,faith's triumph best4       
,three hundred years1     ,well used1   
should make of ,eire a northern ,rome4  
,criemther6 her destiny is this1 or     
nought2     ,secknall6 the highest only 
can she reach2     ,alone the ,apostle's
 crown is hers3 for this1     ,a ,rule  
,i give her1 strong1 yet strong in      
,love2     ,monastic households build ,i
 far and wide2     ,monastic clans ,i   
plant among her clans1     ,with abbots 
for their chiefs4  ,the same shall live1
     ,long as ,god's love o'errules     
them40                                  
,secknall then     ,knelt1 reverent2 yet
 his eye had in it mirth1     ,and round
 the full bloom of the red rich mouth1  
,no whit ascetic1 ran a dim half smile4 
8,father1 my charges three have futile  
fallen1     ,and thrice1 like some great
 warrior of the bards1     ,your        
conquering wheels above me you have     
driven4     ,brought low1 ,i make       
confession4  ,once1 in woods            

,wandering1 we heard a sound1 now loud1 
now low1     ,as he that treads the     
sand-hills hears the sea     ,high      
murmuring while he climbs the seaward   
slope1     ,low1 as he drops to         
landward4  ',twas a throng     ,awed1   
yet tumultuous1 wild-eyed1 wondering1   
fierce1     ,that1 standing round a     
harper1 stave on stave     ,acclaimed as
 each had ending4  #8,war1 still war6'  
,thou saidst2 #8the bards but sing of   
,war and ,death6     ,ah6 if they sang  
that ,death which conquered ,death1     
,then1 like a tide1 this people1        
music-drawn1     ,would mount the shores
 of ,christ6  ,bards love not us1       
,prescient that power1 that power       
wielded elsewhere     ,by priest1 but   
here by them1 shall pass to us3     ,yet
 we love them for good one day their    
gift4'     ,then didst thou turn on me  
an eye of might     ,such as on ,malach1
 when thou had'st him raise     ,by     
miracle of prayer that babe boar-slain1 
,and said'st1 #8,go1 fell thy pine1 and 

frame thy harp1     ,and in the hearing 
of this people sing     ,some ,saint1   
the friend of ,christ4'  ,too long the  
attempt     ,shame-faced1 ,i shunned2 at
 last1 like him of old1     ,that better
 brother who refused1 yet went1     ,i  
made my hymn4  ',tis called #8,a ,child 
of ,life4'0     ,then ,patrick1         
8,welcome is the praise of ,saints3     
,sing thou thy hymn40                   
,from kneeling ,secknall rose     ,and  
stood1 and singing1 raised his hand as  
when     ,her cymbal by the ,red ,sea   
,miriam raised     ,while silent stood  
,god's hosts1 and silent lay     ,those 
host-entombing waters4  ,shook1 like    
hers1     ,his slight form wavering 'mid
 the gusts of song4     ,he sang the    
,saint of ,god1 create from nought      
,to work ,god's ,will4  ,as others gaze 
on earth1     ,her vales1 her plains1   
her green meads ocean-girt1     ,so     
gazed the ,saint for ever upon ,god     
,who girds all worlds--saw intermediate 
nought--     ,and on ,him watched the   

sunshine and the storm1     ,and learned
 ,his ,countenance1 and from ,it alone1 
,drew in upon his heart its day and     
night4     ,that contemplation was for  
him no dream3     ,it hurled him on his 
mission4  ,as a sword     ,he lodged his
 soul within the ,hand ,divine     ,and 
wrought1 keen-edged1 ,god's counsel4    
,next to ,god     ,next1 and how near1  
he loved the souls of men3     ,yea1 men
 to him were ,souls2 the unspiritual    
herd     ,he saw as magic-bound1 or     
chained to beast1     ,and groaned to   
free them4  ,for their sakes1 unfearing1
     ,he faced the ravening waves1 and  
iron rocks1     ,hunger1 and poniard's  
edge1 and poisoned cup1     ,and faced  
the face of kings1 and faced the host   
,of demons raging for their realm       
o'erthrown4     ,this was the ,man of   
,love4  ,self-love cast out1     ,the   
love made spiritual of a thousand hearts
     ,met in his single heart1 and      
kindled there     ,a sun-like image of  
,love ,divine4  ,within     ,that       

,spirit-shadowed heart was ,christ      
conceived     ,hourly through faith1    
hourly through ,love was born2     ,sole
 secret this of fruitfulness to ,christ4
     ,who heard him heard with his a    
lordlier ,voice1     ,strong as that    
,voice which said1 8,let there be       
light10     ,and light o'erflowed their 
beings4  ,he from each     ,his secret  
won2 to each ,god's secret told3     ,he
 touched them1 and they lived4  ,in     
each1 the flesh     ,subdued to soul1   
the affections1 vassals proud     ,by   
conscience ruled1 and conscience lit by 
,christ1     ,the whole man stood1      
planet full-orbed of powers     ,in     
equipoise1 ,image restored of ,god4     
,a nation of such men his portion was2  
,that nation's ,patriarch he4  ,no      
wrangler loud2     ,no sophist2 lesser  
victories knew he none3     ,no triumph 
his of sect1 or camp1 or court2     ,the
 ,saint his great soul flung upon the   
world1     ,and took the people with him
 like a wind     ,missioned from ,god   

that with it wafts in spring     ,some  
wingd race1 a multitudinous night1      
,into new sun-bright climes4            
,as ,secknall sang1     ,nearer the     
,brethren drew4  ,on ,patrick's right   
,benignus stood2 old ,mochta on his     
left1     ,slow-eyed1 with solemn smile 
and sweet2 next ,erc1     ,whose        
ever-listening countenance that hour    
,beyond its wont was listening2         
,criemther near     ,the workman ,saint1
 his many-wounded hands     ,together   
clasped3 forward each mighty arm     ,on
 shoulders propped of ,essa and of      
,bite1     ,leaned the meek giant       
,cairthen3 twelve in all     ,clustering
 they stood and in them was one soul4   
,when ,secknall ceased1 in silence still
 they hung     ,each upon each1         
glad-hearted since the meed     ,of all 
their toils shone out before them plain1
     ,gold gates of heaven--a nation    
entering in4     ,a light was on their  
faces1 and without     ,spread a great  
light1 for sunset now had fallen     ,a 

,pentecostal fire upon the woods1       
,or else a rain of angels streamed o'er 
earth4     ,in marvel gazed the twelve3 
yea1 clans far off     ,stared from     
their hills1 deeming the site aflame4   
,that glory passed away1 discourse arose
     ,on ,secknall's hymn4  ,its        
radiance from his face     ,had1 like   
the sunset's1 vanished as he spake4     
8,father1 what sayst thou80  ,patrick   
made reply1     8,my son1 the hymn is   
good2 for ,truth is gold2     ,and      
,fame1 obsequious often to base heads1  
,for once is loyal1 and its crown hath  
laid     ,where honour's debt was due40 
,then ,secknall raised     ,in triumph  
both his hands1 and chaunted loud       
,that hymn's first stave1 earlier       
through craft withheld1     ,stave that 
to ,patrick's name1 and his alone1      
,offered that hymn's whole incense6     
,ceasing1 he stood     ,low-bowed1 with 
hands upon his bosom crossed4     ,great
 laughter from the brethren came1 their 
,chief     ,thus trapped1 though        

late--he meekest man of men--     ,to   
claim the saintly crown4  ,first young1 
then old1     ,later the old1 and sore  
against their will1     ,that laughter  
raised4  ,last from the giant chest     
,of ,cairthen forth it rolled its solemn
 bass1     ,like sea-sound swallowing   
lighter sounds hard by4     ,but        
,patrick laughed not3 o'er his face     
there passed     ,shade lost in light2  
and thus he spake1 8,o friends     ,that
 which ,i have to do ,i know in part3   
,god grant ,i work my work4  ,that which
 ,i am     ,he knows ,who made me4      
,saints ,he hath1 good store3     ,their
 names are written in ,his ,book of     
,life2     ,kneel down1 my sons1 and    
pray that if thus long     ,i seem to   
stand1 ,i fall not at the end40         
,then in a circle kneeling prayed the   
twelve4     ,but when they rose1        
,secknall with serious brow             
,advanced1 and knelt1 and kissed ,saint 
,patrick's foot1     ,and said1 8,o     
,father1 at thy hest that hymn     ,i   

made1 long labouring1 and thy crown it  
stands3     ,thou1 therefore1 grant me  
gifts1 for strong thy prayer40          
,and ,patrick said1 8,the house wherein 
thy hymn     ,is sung at morn or eve    
shall lack not bread3     ,and if men   
sing it in a house new-built1     ,where
 none hath dwelt1 nor bridegroom yet1   
nor bride1     ,nor hath the cry of babe
 been heard therein1     ,upon that     
house the watching of the ,saints       
,of ,eire1 and ,patrick's watching1     
shall be fixed     ,even as the stars40 
,and ,secknall said1 8,what more80      
,then ,patrick added1 8,they that night 
and morn     ,down-lying and up-rising1 
sing that hymn1     ,they too that      
softly whisper it1 nigh death1     ,if  
pure of heart1 and liegeful unto        
,christ1     ,shall see ,god's face2    
and1 since the hymn is long1     ,its   
grace shall rest for children and the   
poor     ,full measure on the last three
 lines2 and thou     ,of this dear      
company shalt die the first1     ,and   

first of ,eire's ,apostles40  ,then his 
cheek     ,secknall laid down once more 
on ,patrick's foot1     ,and answered1  
8,deo ,gratias40                        
,thus in mirth1     ,and solemn talk1   
and prayer1 that brother band     ,in   
the golden age of ,faith with great free
 heart     ,gave thanks to ,god that    
blissful eventide1     ,a thousand and  
four hundred years and more     ,gone   
by4  ,but now clear rang the compline   
bell1     ,and two by two they wended   
towards their church     ,across a space
 for cloister set apart1     ,yet still 
with wood-flowers sweet1 and scent      
beside     ,of sod that evening turned4 
,the night came on2     ,a dim ethereal 
twilight o'er the hills     ,deepened to
 dewy gloom4  ,against the sky          
,stood ridge and rock unmarked amid the 
day3     ,a few stars o'er them shone4  
,as bower on bower     ,let go the      
waning light1 so bird on bird     ,let  
go its song4  ,two songsters still      
remained1     ,each feebler than a      

fountain soon to cease1     ,and claimed
 somewhile across the dusking dell      
,rivals unseen in sleepy argument1      
,each1 the last word3--a pause2 and     
then1 once more1     ,an unexpected     
note3--a longer pause2     ,and then1   
past hope1 one other note1 the last4    
,a moment more the brethren stood in    
prayer3     ,the rising moon upon the   
church-roof new     ,glimmered2 and o'er
 it sang an angel choir1     8,venite   
,sancti40  ,entering1 soon were said    
,the psalm1 8,he giveth sleep10 and     
hymn1 8,ltare20     ,and in his solitary
 cell each monk     ,lay down1 rejoicing
 in the love of ,god4       ,the happy  
years went by4  ,when ,patrick now      
,and all his company were housed with   
,god     ,that hymn1 at morning sung1   
and noon1 and eve1     ,even as it      
lulled the waves of warring clans       
,so lulled with music lives of toil-worn
 men     ,and charmed their ebbing      
breath4  ,one time it chanced     ,when 
in his convent ,kevin with his monks    

,had sung it thrice1 the board prepared1
 a guest1     ,foot-sore and hungered1  
murmured1 8,wherefore thrice80     ,and 
,kevin answered1 8,speak not thus1 my   
son1     ,for while we sang it1 visible 
to all1     ,saint ,patrick was among   
us4  ,at his right     ,benignus stood1 
and1 all around1 the ,twelve1     ,god's
 light upon their brows2 while ,secknall
 knelt     ,demanding meed of song4     
,moreover1 son1     ,this self-same day 
and hour1 twelve months gone by1        
,patrick1 our ,patriarch1 died2 and     
happy ,feast     ,is that he holds1 by  
two short days alone     ,severed from  
his of ,hebrew ,patriarchs last1        
,and ,chief4  ,the ,holy ,house at      
,nazareth     ,he ruled benign1 ,god's  
,warder with white hairs2     ,and still
 his feast1 that silver star of ,march1 
,when snows afflict the hill and frost  
the moor1     ,with temperate beam      
gladdens the vernal ,church--     ,all  
praise to ,god who draws that ,twain so 
near40        ,,the ,,striving ,,of     

,,saint ,,patrick ,,on ,,mount          
,,cruachan4      ,,argument4      ,saint
 ,patrick1 seeing that now ,erin        
believes1 desires that the whole land   
should stand fast in belief till ,christ
 returns to judge the world4  ,for  this
 end he resolves to offer prayer on     
,mount ,cruachan2 but ,victor1 the      
,angel who has attended him in all his  
labours1 restrains him from that  prayer
 as being too great4  ,notwithstanding1 
the ,saint prays three times  on the    
mountain1 and three times all the demons
 of ,erin contend against  him1 and     
twice ,victor1 the ,angel1 rebukes his  
prayers4  ,in the end ,saint  ,patrick  
scatters the demons with ignominy1 and  
,god's ,angel bids him know  that his   
prayer hath conquered through constancy4
       ,,from realm to realm had        
,patrick trod the ,isle2     ,and       
evermore ,god's work beneath his hand1  
,since ,god had blessed that hand1 ran  
out full-sphered1     ,and brighter than
 a new-created star4     ,the ,island   

race1 in feud of clan with clan         
,barbaric1 gracious else and high of    
heart1     ,nor worshippers of self1 nor
 dulled through sense1     ,beholding1  
not alone his wondrous works2     ,but1 
wondrous more1 the sweetness of his     
strength     ,and how he neither shrank 
from flood nor fire1     ,and how he    
couched him on the wintry rocks1        
,and how he sang great hymns to ,one who
 heard1     ,and how he cared for poor  
men and the sick1     ,and for the souls
 invisible of men1     ,to him made     
way--not simple hinds alone1     ,but   
chiefly wisest heads1 for wisdom then   
,prime wisdom saw in ,faith2 and1 mixt  
with these1     ,chieftains and sceptred
 kings4  ,nigh ,tara1 first1            
,scorning the king's command1 had       
,patrick lit     ,his ,paschal fire1 and
 heavenward as it soared1     ,the royal
 fire and all the ,beltaine fires       
,shamed by its beam had withered round  
the ,isle     ,like fires on little     
hearths whereon the sun     ,looks in   

his greatness4  ,later1 to that plain   
,central 'mid ,eire1 8of ,adoration0    
named1     ,down-trampled for two       
thousand years and more     ,by erring  
feet of men1 the ,saint had sped     ,in
 ,apostolic might1 and kenned far off   
,ill-pleased1 the nation's idol lifting 
high     ,his head1 and those twelve    
vassal gods around     ,all mailed in   
gold and shining as the sun1     ,a pomp
 impure4  ,ill-pleased the ,saint had   
seen them1     ,and raised the ,staff of
 ,jesus with a ban3     ,then he1 that  
demon named of men ,crom-dubh1     ,with
 all his vassal gods1 into the earth    
,that knew her ,maker1 to their necks   
had sunk     ,while round the island    
rang three times the cry     ,of fiends 
tormented4                              
,not for this as yet     ,had ,patrick  
perfected his strength3 as yet     ,the 
depths he had not trodden2 nor had ,god 
,drawn forth ,his total forces in the   
man     ,hidden long since and sealed4  
,for this cause he1     ,who still his  

own heart in triumphant hour            
,suspected most1 remembering ,milchoe's 
fate1     ,with fear lest aught of human
 mar ,god's work1     ,and likewise from
 his handling of the ,gael     ,knowing 
not less their weakness than their      
strength1     ,paused on his conquering 
way1 and lonely sat     ,in cloud of    
thought4  ,the great ,lent ,fast had    
come3     ,its first three days went by2
 the fourth1 he rose1     ,and meeting  
his disciples that drew nigh            
,vouchsafed this greeting only3 8,bide  
ye here     ,till ,i return10 and       
straightway set his face     ,alone to  
that great hill 8of eagles0 named       
,huge ,cruachan1 that o'er the western  
deep     ,hung through sea-mist1 with   
shadowing crag on crag1                 
,high-ridged1 and dateless forest long  
since dead4       ,that forest reached1 
the angel of the ,lord     ,beside him1 
as he entered1 stood and spake3         
8,the gifts thy soul demands1 demand    
them not2     ,for they are mighty and  

immeasurable1     ,and over great for   
granting40  ,and the ,saint3     8,this 
mountain ,cruachan ,i will not leave    
,alive till all be granted1 to the      
last40       ,then knelt he on the      
shrouded mountain's base1     ,and was  
in prayer2 and1 wrestling with the      
,lord1     ,demanded wondrous things    
immeasurable1     ,not easy to be       
granted1 for the land2     ,nor brooked 
repulse2 and when repulse there came1   
,repulse that quells the weak and crowns
 the strong1     ,forth from its gloom  
like lightning on him flashed           
,intelligential gleam and insight winged
     ,that plainlier showed him all his 
people's heart1     ,and all the wound  
thereof3 and as in depth     ,knowledge 
descended1 so in height his prayer      
,rose1 and far spread2 nor roused alone 
those ,powers     ,regioned with ,god2  
for as the strength of fire     ,when   
flames some palace pile1 or city vast1  
,wakens a tempest round it dragging in  
,wild blast1 and from the aggression    

mightier grows1     ,so wakened         
,patrick's prayer the demon race1       
,and drew their legions in upon his soul
     ,from near and far4  ,first came   
the ,accursed encamped     ,on          
,connact's cloudy hills and watery      
moors2     ,old ,umbhall's ,heads1      
,iorras1 and ,arran ,isle1     ,and     
where ,tyrawley clasps that sea-girt    
wood     ,fochlut1 whence earliest rang 
the ,children's ,cry1     ,to demons    
trump of doom4  ,in stormy rack         
,they came1 and hung above the invested 
,mount     ,expectant4  ,but1 their     
mutterings heeding not1     ,when       
,patrick still in puissance rose of     
prayer1     ,o'er all their armies round
 the realm dispersed     ,there ran     
prescience of fate2 and1 north and      
south1     ,from all the                
mountain-girdled coasts--for still      
,best site attracts worst ,spirit--on   
they came1     ,from ,aileach's shore   
and ,uladh's hoary cliffs1     ,which   
held the aeries of that eagle race      

,more late in ,alba throned1 8,lords of 
the ,isles0--     ,high chiefs whose    
bards1 in strong transmitted line1      
,filled with the name of ,fionn1 and    
thine1 ,oiseen1     ,the blue glens of  
that never-vanquished land--     ,from  
those purpureal mountains that o'ergaze 
,rock-bowered ,loch ,lene broidered with
 sanguine bead1     ,they came1 and many
 a ridge o'er sea-lake stretched        
,that1 autumn-robed in purple and in    
gold1     ,pontific vestment1 guard the 
memories still     ,of monks who reared 
thereon their mystic cells1     ,finian 
and ,kieran1 ,fiacre1 and ,enda's self  
,of hermits sire1 and that sea-facing   
,saint     ,brendan1 who1 in his wicker 
boat of skins     ,before that ,genoese 
a thousand years     ,found a new world2
 and many more that now     ,under      
wind-wasted ,cross of ,clonmacnoise     
,await the day of ,christ4              
,so rushed they on     ,from all sides1 
and1 close met1 in circling storm       
,besieged the enclouded steep of        

,cruachan1     ,that scarce the         
difference knew 'twixt night and day    
,more than the sunless pole4  ,him      
sought they1 him     ,whom infinitely   
near they might approach1     ,not      
touch1 while firm his faith--their ,foe 
that dragged1     ,sole-kneeling on that
 wood-girt mountain's base1     ,with   
both hands forth their realm's          
foundation stone4     ,thus ruin filled 
the mountain3 day by day     ,the forest
 torment deepened2 louder roared        
,the great aisles of the devastated     
woods2     ,black cave replied to cave2 
and oaks1 whole ranks1     ,colossal    
growth of immemorial years1     ,sown   
ere ,milesius landed1 or that race      
,he vanquished1 or that earliest        
,scythian tribe1     ,fell in long line1
 like deep-mined castle wall1     ,at   
either side ,god's warrior4  ,slowly    
died     ,at last1 far echoed in remote 
ravines1     ,the thunder3 then crept   
forth a little voice     ,that shrilly  
whispered to him thus in scorn3         

8,two thousand years yon race hath      
walked in blood     ,neck-deep2 and     
shall it serve thy ,lord of ,peace80    
,that whisper ceased4  ,again from all  
sides burst     ,tenfold the storm2 and 
as it waxed1 the ,saint     ,waxed in   
strong heart2 and1 kneeling with        
stretched hands1     ,made for himself a
 panoply of prayer1     ,and wound it   
round his bosom twice and thrice1       
,and made a sword of comminating psalm1 
,and smote at them that mocked him4     
,day by day1     ,till now the second   
,sunday's vesper bell     ,gladdened the
 little churches round the isle1        
,that conflict raged3 then1 maddening in
 their ire1     ,sudden the ,princedoms 
of the ,dark1 that rode     ,this way   
and that way through the tempest1 brake 
,their sceptres1 and with one great cry 
it fell3     ,at once o'er all was      
silence3 sunset lit     ,the world1 that
 shone as though with face upturned     
,it gazed on heavens by angel faces     
thronged     ,and answered light with   

light4  ,a single bird     ,carolled2   
and from the forest skirt down fell1    
,gem-like1 the last drops of the        
exhausted storm4       ,then bowed the  
,saint his forehead to the ground       
,thanking his ,god2 and there in sacred 
trance1     ,which was not sleep1 abode 
not hours alone     ,but silent nights  
and days2 and1 'mid that trance1        
,god fed his heart with unseen          
,sacraments1     ,immortal food4        
,awaking1 ,patrick felt     ,yearnings  
for nearer commune with his ,god1       
,though great its cost2 and gat him on  
his feet1     ,and1 mile by mile1       
ascended through the woods     ,till    
stunted were its growths2 and still he  
clomb     ,printing with sandalled foot 
the dewy steep3     ,but when above the 
mountain rose the moon     ,brightening 
each mist1 while sank the prone morass  
,in double night1 he came upon a stone  
,tomb-shaped1 that flecked that steep3 a
 little stream     ,dropped by it from  
the summits to the woods3     ,thereon  

he knelt2 and was once more in prayer4  
,nor prayed unnoticed by that race      
abhorred4     ,no sooner had his knees  
the mountain touched     ,than through  
their realm vibration went2 and straight
     ,his prayer detecting back they    
trooped in clouds     ,and o'er him     
closed1 blotting with bat-like wing     
,and inky pall1 the moon4  ,then thunder
 pealed     ,once more1 nor ceased from 
pealing4  ,over all     ,night ruled1   
except when blue and forkd flash        
,revealed the on-circling waterspout or 
plunge     ,of rain beneath the blown   
cloud's ravelled hem1     ,or1 huge on  
high1 that lion-coloured steep          
,which1 like a lion1 roared into the    
night     ,answering the roaring from   
sea-caves far down4     ,dire was the   
strife4  ,that hour the ,mountain old1  
,an anarch throned 'mid ruins flung     
himself     ,in madness forth on all his
 winds and floods1     ,an omnipresent  
wrath6  ,for ,god reserved1     ,too    
long the prey of demons he had been2    

,possession foul and fell4  ,now nigh   
expelled     ,those demons rent their   
victim freed4  ,aloft1     ,they burst  
the rocky barrier of the tarn     ,that 
downward dashed its countless cataracts1
     ,drowning far vales4  ,on either   
side the ,saint     ,a torrent          
rushed--mightiest of all these twain--  
,peeling the softer substance from the  
hills     ,their flesh1 till glared1    
deep-trenched1 the mountain's bones2    
,and as those torrents widened1 rocks   
down rolled     ,showering upon that    
unsubverted head     ,sharp spray       
ice-cold4  ,before him closed the flood1
     ,and closed behind1 till all was   
raging flood1     ,all but that         
tomb-like stone whereon he knelt4       
,unshaken there he knelt with hands     
outstretched1     ,god's ,athlete6  ,for
 a mighty prize he strove1     ,nor     
slacked1 nor any whit his forehead      
bowed3     ,fixed was his eye and keen2 
the whole white face     ,keen as that  
eye itself1 though--shapeless yet--     

,the infernal horde to ear not eye      
addressed     ,their battle4  ,back he  
drave them1 rank on rank1     ,routed1  
with psalm1 and malison1 and ban1       
,as from a sling flung forth4  ,revolt's
 blind spawn     ,he named them2 one    
time ,spirits1 now linked with brute1   
,yea1 bestial more and baser3 and as a  
ship     ,mounts with the mounting of   
the wave1 so he     ,o'er all the       
insurgent tempest of their wrath        
,rising rode on triumphant4  ,days went 
by1     ,then came a lull2 and lo6 a    
whisper shrill1     ,once heard before1 
again its poison cold     ,distilled3   
8,albeit to ,christ this land should    
bow1     ,some conqueror's foot one day 
would quell her ,faith40     ,it ceased4
  ,tenfold once more the storm burst    
forth3     ,once more the ecstatic      
passion of his prayer     ,met it1 and1 
breasting1 overbore1 until     ,sudden  
the ,princedoms of the dark that rode   
,this way and that way through the      
whirlwind1 dashed     ,their vanquished 

crowns of darkness to the ground        
,with one long cry4  ,then silence came2
 and lo6     ,the white dawn of the     
fourth fair ,day of ,god     ,o'erflowed
 the world4  ,slowly the ,saint upraised
     ,his wearied eyes4  ,upon the      
mountain lawns     ,lay happy lights2   
and birds sang2 and a stream     ,that  
any five-years' child might overleap1   
,beside him lapsed crystalline between  
banks     ,with violets all empurpled1  
and smooth marge     ,green as that     
spray which earliest sucks the spring4  
,then ,patrick raised to ,god his orison
     ,on that fair mount1 and planted in
 the grass     ,his crozier staff1 and  
slept2 and in his sleep     ,god fed his
 heart with unseen ,sacraments1         
,manna of might divine4  ,three days he 
slept2     ,the fourth he woke4  ,upon  
his heart there rushed     ,yearning for
 closer converse with his ,god          
,though great its cost2 and on his feet 
he gat1     ,and high1 and higher yet1  
that mountain scaled1     ,and reached  

at noon the summit4  ,far below         
,basking the island lay1 through rainbow
 shower     ,gleaming in part1 with     
shadowy moor1 and ridge     ,blue in the
 distance looming4  ,westward stretched 
,a galaxy of isles1 and1 these beyond1  
,infinite sea with sacred light ablaze1 
,and high o'erhead there hung a         
cloudless heaven4       ,upon that      
summit kneeling1 face to sea     ,the   
,saint1 with hands held forth and thanks
 returned1     ,claimed as his stately  
heritage that realm     ,from north to  
south3 but instant as his lip           
,printed with earliest pulse of         
,christian prayer     ,that clear arial 
clime ,pagan till then2     ,the ,host  
,accursed1 sagacious of his act1        
,rushed back from all the isle and round
 him met     ,with anger seven times    
heated1 since their hour1     ,and this 
they knew1 was come4  ,nor thunder din  
,and challenge through the ear alone1   
sufficed     ,that hour their rage      
malign that1 craving sore     ,material 

bulk to rend his bulk--their foe's--    
,through fleshly strength of that their 
murder-lust     ,flamed forth in fleshly
 form phantoms night-black     ,though  
bodiless yet to bodied mass as nigh     
,as ,spirits can reach4  ,more thick    
than vultures winged     ,to fields with
 carnage piled1 the ,accursd thronged   
,making thick night which neither earth 
nor sky     ,could pierce1 from sense   
expunged4  ,in phalanx now1     ,anon in
 breaking legion1 or in globe1     ,with
 clang of iron pinion on they rushed    
,and spectral dart high-held4  ,nor     
quailed the ,saint1     ,contending for 
his people on that ,mount1     ,nor     
spared ,god's foes2 for as old minster  
towers     ,besieged by midnight storm  
send forth reply     ,in storm outrolled
 of bells1 so sent he forth             
,defiance from fierce lip1 vindictive   
chaunt1     ,and blight and ban1 and    
maledictive rite     ,potent on face of 
,spirits impure to raise     ,these     
plague-spots three1 ,defeat1 ,madness1  

,despair2     ,nor stinted flail of     
taunt--8,when first my bark             
,threatened your coasts1 as now upon the
 hills     ,hung ye in cloud2 as now1 ,i
 raised this ,cross2     ,ye fled before
 it and again shall fly60     ,so hurled
 he back their squadrons4  ,day by day  
,the hurricanes of war shook earth and  
heaven3     ,till now1 on ,holy         
,saturday1 that hour     ,returned which
 maketh glad the ,church of ,god        
,when over ,christendom in widowed fanes
     ,two days by penance stripped1 and 
dumb as though     ,some ,antichrist had
 trodd'n them down1 once more           
,swells forth amid the new-lit paschal  
lights     ,the 8,gloria in ,excelsis30 
sudden then     ,that mighty conflict   
ceased1 save one low voice     ,twice   
heard before1 now edged with bitterer   
scoff1     8,that race thou lov'st1     
though fierce in wrath1 is soft3        
,plenty and peace will melt their ,faith
 one day30     ,then with that whisper  
dying1 died the night3     ,then forth  

from darkness issued earth and sky3     
,then fled the phantoms far o'er ocean's
 wave1     ,thence to return not till   
the day of doom4       ,but he1 their   
conqueror wept1 upon that height        
,standing2 nor of his victory had he    
joy1     ,nor of that jubilant isle     
restored to light1     ,nor of that     
heaven relit2 so worked that scoff      
,winged from the abyss2 and ever thus   
the man     ,with darkness communed and 
that poison cold3     8,if ,faith indeed
 should flood the land with peace1      
,and peace with gold1 and gold eat out  
her heart     ,once true1 till ,faith   
one day through ,faith's reward     ,or 
die1 or live diseased1 the shame of     
,faith1     ,then blacker were this land
 and more accursed     ,than lands that 
knew no ,christ40  ,and musing thus     
,the whole heart of the man was turned  
to tears1     ,a fount of bale and      
chalice brimmed with death--     ,for   
oft a thought chance-born more racks    
than truth     ,proven and sure--and1   

weeping1 still he wept     ,till        
drenched was all his sad monastic cowl  
,as sea-weed on the dripping shelf      
storm-cast     ,latest1 and tremulous   
still4                                  
,as thus he wept     ,sudden beside him 
on that summit broad1     ,ran out a    
golden beam like sunset path            
,gilding the sea3 and1 turning1 by his  
side     ,victor1 ,god's angel1 stood   
with lustrous brow     ,fresh from that 
,face no man can see and live4     ,he1 
putting forth his hand1 with living coal
     ,snatched from ,god's altar1 made  
that dripping cowl     ,dry as an       
,autumn sheaf4  ,the angel spake3       
8,rejoice1 for they are fled that hate  
thy land1     ,and those are nigh that  
love it40  ,then the ,saint             
,upraised his head2 and lo6 in snowy    
sheen     ,cresting high rock1 and      
ridge1 and airy peak1     ,innumerable  
the ,sons of ,god all round     ,vested 
the invisible mountain with white light1
     ,as when the foam-white birds of   

ocean throng     ,sea-rock so close that
 none that rock may see4     ,in trance 
the ,living ,creatures stood1 with wings
     ,that pointing crossed upon their  
breasts2 nor seemed     ,as new arrived 
but native to that site     ,though     
veiled till now from mortal vision4     
,song     ,they sang to soothe the vexed
 heart of the ,saint--     ,love-song of
 ,heaven3 and slowly as it died         
,their splendours waned2 and through    
that vanishing light     ,earth1 sea1   
and heaven returned4                    
,to ,patrick then1     ,thus ,victor    
spake3 8,depart from ,cruachan1         
,since ,god hath given thee wondrous    
gifts1 immense1     ,and through thy    
prayer routed that rebel host40     ,and
 ,patrick1 8,till the last of all my    
prayers     ,be granted1 ,i depart not  
though ,i die3--     ,one said1 #8,too  
fierce that race to bend to faith4'0    
,then spake ,god's angel1 mild of voice1
 and kind3     8,not all are fierce that
 fiercest seem1 for oft     ,fierceness 

is blindfold love1 or love ajar4        
,souls thou wouldst have3 for every hair
 late wet     ,in this thy tearful cowl 
and habit drenched     ,god gives thee  
myriads seven of ,souls redeemed        
,from sin and doom2 and ,souls1 beside1 
as many     ,as o'er yon sea in legioned
 flight might hang     ,far as thine eye
 can range4  ,but get thee down         
,from ,cruachan1 for mighty is thy      
prayer40     ,and ,patrick made reply3  
8,not great thy boon6     ,watch have ,i
 kept1 and wearied are mine eyes        
,and dim2 nor see they far o'er yonder  
deep40     ,and ,victor3 8,have thou    
,souls from coast to coast     ,in cloud
 full-stretched2 but1 get thee down3    
this ,mount     ,god's ,altar is1 and   
puissance adds to prayer40     ,and     
,patrick3 8,on this ,mountain wept have 
,i2     ,and therefore giftless will ,i 
not depart3     ,one said1 #8,although  
that ,people should believe     ,yet    
conqueror's heel one day would quell    
their ,faith4'0     ,to whom the angel1 

mild of voice1 and kind3                
8,conquerors are they that subjugate the
 soul3     ,this also ,god concedes     
thee2 conquering foe     ,trampling this
 land1 shall tread not out her ,faith   
,nor sap by fraud1 so long as thou in   
heaven     ,look'st on ,god's ,face2    
nay1 by that ,faith subdued1     ,that  
foe shall serve and live4  ,but get thee
 down     ,and worship in the vale40    
,then ,patrick said1     8,live they    
that list6  ,full sorely wept have ,i1  
,nor will ,i hence depart unsatisfied3  
,one said2 #8,grown soft1 that race     
their ,faith will shame2'     ,say      
therefore what the ,lord thy ,god will  
grant1     ,nor stint ,his hand2 since  
never scanter grace     ,fell yet on    
head of nation-taming man     ,than thou
 to me hast portioned till this hour40  
,then answer made the angel1 soft of    
voice3     8,not all men stumble when a 
,nation falls2     ,there are that stand
 upright4  ,god gives thee this3        
,they that are faithful to thy ,faith1  

that walk     ,thy way1 and keep thy    
covenant with ,god1     ,and daily sing 
thy hymn1 when comes the ,judge         
,with ,sign blood-red facing            
,jehosaphat1     ,and fear lays prone   
the many-mountained world1     ,the same
 shall 'scape the doom40  ,and ,patrick 
said1     8,that hymn is long1 and hard 
for simple folk1     ,and hard for      
children40  ,and the angel thus3        
8,at least from #8,christum ,illum' let 
them sing1     ,and keep thy ,faith3    
when comes the ,judge1 the pains        
,shall take not hold of such4  ,is that 
enough80     ,and ,patrick answered1    
8,that is not enough40     ,then        
,victor3 8,likewise this thy ,god       
accords3     ,the ,dreadful ,coming and 
the ,day of ,doom     ,thy land shall   
see not2 for before that day     ,seven 
years1 a great wave arched from out the 
deep1     ,ablution pure1 shall sweep   
the isle and take     ,her children to  
its peace4  ,is that enough80     ,and  
,patrick answered1 8,that is not        

enough40       ,then spake once more    
that courteous angel kind3     8,what   
boon demand'st then80  ,and the ,saint1 
8,no less     ,than this4  ,though every
 nation1 ere that day     ,recreant from
 creed and ,christ1 old troth forsworn1 
,should flee the sacred scandal of the  
,cross     ,through pride1 as once the  
,apostles fled through fear1     ,this  
,nation of my love1 a priestly house1   
,beside that ,cross shall stand1        
fate-firm1 like him     ,that stood     
beside ,christ's ,mother40              
,straightway1 as one     ,who ends      
debate1 the angel answered stern3       
8,that boon thou claimest is too great  
to grant3     ,depart thou from this    
mountain1 ,cruachan1     ,in peace2 and 
find that ,nation which thou lov'st1    
,that like thy body is1 and thou her    
head1     ,for foes are round her set in
 valley and plain1     ,and instant is  
the battle40  ,then the ,saint3         
8,the battle for my ,people is not      
there1     ,with them1 low down1 but    

here upon this height     ,from them    
apart1 with ,god4  ,this ,mount of ,god 
,dowerless and bare ,i quit not till ,i 
die2     ,and dying1 ,i will leave a    
,man ,elect     ,to keep its keys1 and  
pray my prayer1 and name     ,dying in  
turn1 his heir1 successive line1        
,even till the ,day of ,doom40          
,then heavenward sped     ,victor1      
,god's angel1 and the ,man of ,god      
,turned to his offering2 and all day he 
stood     ,offering in heart that       
,offering ,undefiled     ,which ,abel   
offered1 and ,melchisedek1     ,and     
,abraham1 ,patriarch of the faithful    
race1     ,in type1 and which in fulness
 of the times     ,the ,victim-,priest  
offered on ,calvary1     ,and1          
bloodless1 offers still in ,heaven and  
,earth1     ,whose impetration makes the
 whole ,church one4     ,thus offering  
stood the man till eve1 and still       
,offered2 and as he offered1 far in     
front     ,along the arial summit once  
again     ,ran out that beam like fiery 

pillar prone     ,or sea-path           
sunset-paved2 and by his side     ,that 
angel stood4  ,then ,patrick1 turning   
not     ,his eyes in prayer upon the    
,west close held     ,demanded1 8,from  
the ,maker of all worlds     ,what      
answer bring'st thou80  ,victor made    
reply3     8,down knelt in ,heaven the  
,angelic ,orders ,nine1     ,and all the
 ,prophets and the ,apostles knelt1     
,and all the ,creatures of the hand of  
,god     ,visible1 and invisible1 down  
knelt1     ,while thou thy mighty ,mass1
 though altarless1     ,offeredst in    
spirit1 and thine ,offering joined2     
,and all ,god's ,saints on earth1 or    
roused from sleep     ,or on the wayside
 pausing1 knelt1 the cause     ,not     
knowing2 likewise yearned the ,souls to 
,god     ,in that fire-clime benign that
 clears from sin2     ,and lo6 the ,lord
 thy ,god hath heard thy prayer1        
,since fortitude in prayer--and this    
thou know'st10--     ,smiling the       
,bright ,one spake1 8is that which lays 

,man's hand upon ,god's sceptre4  ,that 
thou sought'st     ,shall lack not      
consummation4  ,many a race             
,shrivelling in sunshine of its         
prosperous years1     ,shall cease from 
faith1 and1 shamed though shameless1    
sink     ,back to its native clay2 but  
over thine     ,god shall extend the    
shadow of ,his ,hand1     ,and through  
the night of centuries teach to her     
,in woe that song which1 when the       
nations wake1     ,shall sound their    
glad deliverance3 nor alone     ,this   
nation1 from the blind dividual dust    
,of instincts brute1 thoughts driftless1
 warring wills     ,by thee evoked and  
shapen by thy hands     ,to ,god's fair 
image which confers alone     ,manhood  
on nations1 shall to ,god stand true2   
,but nations far in undiscovered seas1  
,her stately progeny1 while ages fleet  
,shall wear the kingly ermine of her    
,faith1     ,fleece uncorrupted of the  
,immaculate ,lamb1     ,for ever3 lands 
remote shall raise to ,god     ,her     

fanes2 and eagle-nurturing isles hold   
fast     ,her hermit cells3 thy nation  
shall not walk     ,accordant with the  
,gentiles of this world1     ,but as a  
race elect sustain the ,crown     ,or   
bear the ,cross3 and when the end is    
come1     ,when in ,god's ,mount the    
,twelve great ,thrones are set1     ,and
 round it roll the ,rivers ,four of     
fire1     ,and in their circuit meet the
 ,peoples ,three     ,of ,heaven1 and   
,earth1 and ,hell1 fulfilled that day   
,shall be the ,saviour's word1 what time
 ,he stretched     ,thy crozier-staff   
forth from ,his glory-cloud     ,and    
sware to thee1 #8,when they that with   
,me walked     ,sit with ,me on their   
everlasting thrones     ,judging the    
,twelve ,tribes of ,mine ,israel1       
,thy ,people thou shalt judge in        
righteousness4'       ,thou therefore   
kneel1 and bless thy ,land of ,eire40   
,then ,patrick knelt1 and blessed the   
land1 and said1     8,praise be to ,god 
who hears the sinner's prayer40         

,,epilogue4      ,,the ,,confession ,,of
 ,,saint ,,patrick4    ,,argument4      
,before his death1 ,saint ,patrick makes
 confession to his brethren  concerning 
his life2 of his love for that land     
which had been his ,house  of ,bondage2 
of his ceaseless prayer in youth3 of his
 sojourn at ,tours1  where ,st4 ,martin 
had made abode1 at ,auxerres with ,st4  
,germanus1 and at  ,lerins with the     
,contemplatives3 of that mystic mountain
 where the  ,redeemer ,himself lodged   
the ,crozier ,staff in his hand2 of     
,pope ,celestine  who gave him his      
,mission2 of his ,visions2 of his       
,labours4  ,his last  charge to the sons
 of ,erin is that they should walk in   
,truth2 that they  should put from them 
the spirit of ,revenge2 and that they   
should hold  fast to the ,faith of      
,christ4       ,,at ,saul then1 by the  
inland-spreading sea1     ,there where  
began my labour1 comes the end3     ,i1 
blind and witless1 willed it otherwise3 
,god willed it thus4  ,when prescience  

came of death     ,i said1 8,my         
,resurrection place ,i choose0--     ,o 
fool1 for ne'er since boyhood choice was
 mine     ,save choice to subject will  
of mine to ,god--     8,at great        
,ardmacha40   ,thitherward ,i turned2   
,but in my pathway1 with forbidding     
hand1     ,victor1 ,god's angel stood4  
8,not so10 he said1     8,for in        
,ardmacha stands thy princedom fixed1   
,age after age1 thy teaching1 and thy   
law1     ,but not thy grave4  ,return   
thou to that shore     ,thy place of    
small beginnings1 and thereon           
,lessen in body and mind1 and grow in   
spirit3     ,then sing to ,god thy      
little hymn and die40       ,yea1 ,lord1
 my mouth would praise ,thee ere ,i die1
     ,the ,father1 and the ,son1 and    
,holy ,spirit     ,who knittest in ,his 
,church the just to ,christ3     ,help  
me1 my sons--mine orphans soon to be--  
,help me to praise ,him2 ye that round  
me sit     ,on those grey rocks2 ye that
 have faithful been1     ,honouring1    

despite dishonour of my sins1     ,his  
servant3 ,i would praise ,him yet once  
more1     ,though mine the stammerer's  
voice1 or as a child's2     ,for it is  
written1 8,stammerers shall speak plain 
,sounding ,thy ,gospel40  8,they whom   
,christ hath sent     ,are ,christ's    
,epistle1 borne to ends of earth1       
,writ by ,his ,spirit1 and plain to     
souls elect30     ,lord1 am not ,i of   
,thine ,apostolate8       ,yea1 by      
abjection ,thine1 by suffering ,thine6  
,till ,i was humbled ,i was as a stone  
,in deep mire sunk4  ,then1 stretched   
from heaven1 ,thy hand     ,slid under  
me in might1 and lifted me1     ,and    
fixed me in ,thy ,temple where ,thou    
wouldst4     ,wonder1 ye great ones1    
wonder1 ye the wise6     ,on me1 the    
last and least1 this charge was laid    
,this crown1 that ,i in humbleness and  
truth     ,should walk this nation's    
,servant till ,i die4       ,therefore1 
a youth of sixteen years1 or less1      
,with others of my land by pirates      

seized     ,i stood on ,erin's shore4   
,our bonds were just2     ,our ,god we  
had forsaken1 and ,his ,law1     ,and   
mocked ,his priests4  ,tending a stern  
man's swine     ,i trod those ,dalaraida
 hills that face     ,eastward to ,alba4
  ,six long years went by2              
,but--sent from ,god--,memory1 and      
,faith1 and ,fear     ,moved on my      
spirit as winds upon the sea1     ,and  
the ,spirit of ,prayer came down4  ,full
 many a day     ,climbing the mountain  
tops1 one hundred times     ,i flung    
upon the storm my cry to ,god4     ,nor 
frost1 nor rain might harm me1 for ,his 
love     ,burned in my heart4  ,through 
love ,i made my fast2     ,and in my    
fasts one night ,i heard this voice1    
8,thou fastest well3 soon shalt thou see
 thy ,land40     ,later1 once more thus 
spake it3 8,southward fly1     ,thy ship
 awaits thee40  ,many a day ,i fled1    
,and found the black ship dropping down 
the tide1     ,and entered with those   
,gentiles by ,thy grace     ,vanquished1

 though first they spurned me1 and was  
free4     ,it was ,thy leading1 ,lord2  
the ,hand was ,thine6     ,for now when1
 perils past1 ,i walked secure1         
,kind greetings round me1 and the       
,christian ,rite1     ,there rose a     
clamorous yearning in my heart1     ,and
 memories of that land so far1 so fair1 
,and lost in such a gloom4  ,and through
 that gloom     ,the eyes of little     
children shone on me1     ,so ready to  
believe6  ,such children oft     ,ran by
 me naked in and out the waves1     ,or 
danced in circles upon ,erin's shores1  
,like creatures never fallen6  ,thought 
of such     ,passed into thought of     
others4  ,from my youth     ,both men   
and women1 maidens most1 to me     ,as  
children seemed2 and ,o the pity then   
,to mark how oft they wept1 how seldom  
knew     ,whence came the wound that    
galled them6  ,as ,i walked1     ,each  
wind that passed me whispered1 8,lo1    
that race     ,which trod thee down6    
,requite with good their ill6     ,thou 

know'st their tongue2 old man to thee1  
and youth1     ,for counsel came1 and   
lambs would lick thy foot2     ,and now 
the whole land is a sheep astray        
,that bleats to ,god40                  
,alone one night ,i mused1              
,burthened with thought of that vocation
 vast4     ,o'er-spent ,i sank asleep4  
,in visions then1     ,satan my soul    
plagued with temptation dire4           
,methought1 beneath a cliff ,i lay1 and 
lo6     ,thick-legioned demons o'er me  
dragged a rock1     ,that falling1      
seemed a mountain4  ,near1 more near1   
,o'er me it blackened4  ,sudden from my 
heart     ,this thought leaped forth3   
8,elias6  ,him invoke60     ,that name  
invoked1 vanished the rock2 and ,i1     
,on mountains stood watching the rising 
sun1     ,as stood ,elias once on       
,carmel's crest1     ,gazing on heaven  
unbarred1 and that white cloud1     ,a  
thirsting land's salvation4             
,might ,divine6     ,thou taught'st me  
thus my weakness2 and ,i vowed     ,to  

seek ,thy strength4  ,i turned my face  
to ,tours1     ,there where in years    
gone by ,thy soldier-priest     ,martin 
had ruled1 my kinsman in the flesh4     
,dead was the lion2 but his lair was    
warm3     ,in it ,i laid me1 and a      
conquering glow     ,rushed up into my  
heart4  ,i heard discourse     ,of      
,martin still1 his valour in the ,lord1 
,his rugged warrior zeal1 his passionate
 love     ,for ,hilary1 his vigils1 and 
his fasts1     ,and all his pitiless    
warfare on the ,powers     ,of darkness2
 and one day1 in secrecy1     ,with     
,ninian1 missioned then to ,alba's      
shore1     ,i peered into his           
branch-enwoven cell1     ,half-way      
between the river and the rocks1        
,from ,tours a mile and more4           
,so passed eight years     ,till        
strengthened was my heart by discipline3
     ,then spake a priest1 8,brother1   
thy will is good1     ,yet rude thou art
 of learning as a beast2     ,fare thee 
to great ,germanus of ,auxerres1        

,who lightens half the ,west60  ,i      
heard1 and went1     ,and to that ,saint
 was subject fourteen years4     ,he    
from my mind removed the veil2 8,lift   
up10     ,he said1 8thine eyes60 and    
like a mountain land     ,the ,queenly  
,science stood before me plain1         
,from rocky buttress up to peak of snow3
     ,the great ,commandments first1    
,edicts1 and ,laws     ,that bastion up 
man's life3--then high o'er these       
,the forest huge of ,doctrine1 one1 yet 
many1     ,forth stretching in          
innumerable aisles1     ,at the end of  
each1 the self-same glittering star3--  
,lastly1 the ,life ,god-hidden4  ,day by
 day1     ,with him for guide1 that     
first and second realm     ,i tracked1  
and learned to shun the abyss           
flower-veiled1     ,and scale           
heaven-threatening heights4  ,this1 too1
 he taught1     ,himself long time a    
ruler and a prince1     ,the regimen of 
,states from chaos won     ,to order1   
and to ,christ4  ,prudence ,i learned1  

,and sageness in the government of men1 
,by me sore needed soon4  ,o stately    
man1     ,in all things great1 in action
 and in thought1     ,and plain as      
great6  ,to ,britain called1 the ,saint 
,trod down that great ,pelagian         
,blasphemy1     ,chief portent of the   
age4  ,but better far     ,he loved his 
cell4  ,there sat he vigil-worn1     ,in
 cowl and dusky tunic hued like earth   
,whence issued man and unto which       
returns2     ,i marvelled at his        
wrinkled brows1 and hands     ,still    
tracing1 enter or depart who would1     
,from morn to night his parchments4     
,there1 once more1     ,o ,god1 ,thine  
eye was on me1 or my hand     ,once more
 had missed the prize4  ,temptation now 
,whispered in softness1 8,wisdom's home 
is here3     ,here bide untroubled40    
,almost ,i had fallen2     ,but1 by my  
side1 in visions of the night1          
,god's angel1 ,victor1 stood as one that
 hastes1     ,on travel sped4           
,unnumbered missives lay     ,clasped in

 his hands4  ,one stretched he forth1   
inscribed     8,the wail of ,erin's     
,children40  ,as ,i read     ,the cry of
 babes1 from ,erin's western coast      
,and ,fochlut's forest1 and the wintry  
sea1     ,shrilled o'er me1 clamouring1 
8,holy youth1 return6     ,walk then    
among us60  ,i could read no more4      
,thenceforth rose up renewed mine old   
desire3     ,my kinsfolk mocked me4     
8,what6 past woes too scant6     ,slave 
of four masters1 and the best a churl6  
,thy ,gospel they will trample under    
foot1     ,and rend thee6  ,late to them
 ,palladius preached3     ,they drave   
him as a leper from their shores40      
,i stood in agony of staggering mind    
,and warring wills4  ,then1 lo6 at dead 
of night     ,i heard a mystic voice1   
till then unheard1     ,i knew not if   
within me or close by     ,that swelled 
in passionate pleading2 nor the words   
,grasped ,i1 so great they seemed and   
wonderful1     ,till sank that tempest  
to a whisper3--8,he     ,who died for   

thee is ,he that in thee groans40       
,then fell1 methought1 scales from mine 
inner eyes3     ,then saw ,i--terrible  
that sight1 yet sweet--     ,within me  
saw a ,man that in me prayed     ,with  
groans unutterable4  ,that ,man was girt
     ,for mission far4  ,my heart       
recalled that word1     8,the ,spirit   
helpeth our infirmities2     ,that which
 we lack we know not1 but the ,spirit   
,himself for us doth intercession make  
,with groanings which may never be      
revealed40     ,that hour my vow was    
vowed2 and he approved1     ,my master  
and my guide4  8,but go10 he said1      
8,first to that island in the ,tyrrhene 
,sea1     ,where live the high          
,contemplatives to ,god3     ,there     
learn perfection2 there that ,inner     
,life     ,win thou1 ,god's strength    
amid the world's loud storm3     ,nor   
fear lest ,god should frown on such     
delay1     ,for ,heavenly ,wisdom is    
compassionate3     ,slowly before man's 
weakness moves it on2     ,softly3 so   

moved of old the ,wise ,men's ,star1    
,which curbed its lightning ardours and 
forbore     ,honouring the pensive tread
 of hoary ,eld1     ,honouring the      
burthened slave1 the camel line         
,long-linked1 with level head and foot  
that fell     ,as though in sleep1      
printing the silent sands40     ,thus1  
smiling1 spake ,germanus1 large in lore4
       ,so in that island-,eden ,i      
sojourned1     ,lerins1 and saw where   
,vincent lived1 and his1     ,life      
fountained from on high4  ,that life was
 ,love2     ,for all their mighty       
knowledge food became     ,of ,love     
,divine1 and took1 by ,love absorbed1   
,shape from his flame-like body4  ,hard 
their beds2     ,ceaseless their        
prayers4  ,they tilled a sterile soil2  
,beneath their hands it blossomed like  
the rose3     ,o'er thymy hollows blew  
the nectared airs2     ,blue ocean      
flashed through olives4  ,they had fled 
,from praise of men2 yet cities far away
     ,rapt those meek saints to fill the

 bishop's throne4     ,i saw the light  
of ,god on faces calm     ,that blended 
with man's meditative might             
,simplicity of childhood1 and1 with both
     ,the sweetness of that flower-like 
sex which wears     ,through love's     
,obedience twofold crowns of ,love4     
,o blissful time6  ,in that bright      
island bloomed     ,the third high      
region on the ,hills of ,god1     ,above
 the rock1 above the wood1 the cloud3-- 
,there laughs the luminous air1 there   
bursts anew     ,spring bud in summer on
 suspended lawns2     ,there the bell   
tinkles while once more the lamb        
,trips by the sun-fed runnel3 there     
green vales     ,lie lost in purple     
heavens4                                
,transfigured ,life6     ,this was thy  
glory1 that1 without a sigh1     ,who   
loved thee yet could leave thee6  ,thus 
it fell3     ,one morning ,i was on the 
sea1 and lo6     ,an isle to ,lerins    
near1 but fairer yet1     ,till then    
unseen6  ,a grassy vale sea-lulled      

,wound inward1 breathing balm1 with     
fruited trees1     ,and stream through  
lilies gliding4  ,by a door     ,there  
stood a man in prime1 and others sat    
,not far1 some grey2 and one1 a weed of 
years1     ,lay like a withered wreath4 
,an old man spake3     8,see what thou  
seest1 and scan the mystery well6       
,the man who stands so stately in his   
prime     ,is of this company the eldest
 born4     ,the ,saviour in ,his earthly
 sojourn1 ,risen1     ,perchance1 or ere
 ,his ,passion1 who can tell1     ,stood
 up at this man's door2 and this man    
rose1     ,and let ,him in1 and made for
 ,him a feast2     ,and ,jesus said1    
#8,tarry1 till ,i return4'              
,moreover1 others are there on this     
isle1     ,both men and maids1 who saw  
the ,son of ,man1     ,and took ,him in1
 and shine in endless youth2     ,but   
we1 the rest1 in course of nature fade1 
,for we believe1 yet saw not ,god1 nor  
touched40     ,then spake ,i1 8,here    
till death my home ,i make1     ,where  

,jesus trod40  ,and answered he in      
prime1     8,not so2 the ,master hath   
for thee thy task4     ,parting1 thus   
spake ,he3 #8,here for ,mine ,elect     
,abide thou4  ,bid him bear this crozier
 staff2     ,my blessing rests thereon3 
the same shall drive     ,the foes of   
,god before him4'0  ,answer thus     ,i 
made1 8,that crozier staff ,i will not  
touch     ,until ,i take it from that   
nail-pierced ,hand40     ,from these ,i 
turned1 and clomb a mountain high1      
,hermon by name2 and there--was this1 my
 ,god1     ,in visions of the ,lord1 or 
in the flesh8--     ,i spake with ,him1 
the ,lord of ,life1 ,who died2     ,he  
from the glory stretched the ,hand      
nail-pierced1     ,and placed in mine   
that crozier staff1 and said3     8,upon
 that day when they that with ,me walked
     ,sit with ,me on their everlasting 
,thrones1     ,judging the ,twelve      
,tribes of ,mine ,israel1     ,thy      
,people thou shalt judge in             
righteousness40       ,forthwith to     

,rome ,i fled2 there knelt ,i down      
,above the bones of ,peter and of ,paul1
     ,and saw the mitred embassies from 
far1     ,and saw ,celestine with his   
head high held     ,as though it bore   
the ,blessed ,sacrament2     ,chief     
,shepherd of the ,saviour's flock on    
earth4     ,tall was the man1 and swift2
 white-haired2 with eye     ,starlike   
and voice a trumpet clear that pealed   
,god's ,benediction o'er the city and   
globe2     ,yea1 and whene'er his palm  
he lifted1 still     ,blessing before it
 ran4  ,upon my head     ,he laid both  
hands1 and 8,win10 he said1 8to ,christ 
,one realm the more60  ,moreover1 to my 
charge     ,relics he gave1 unnumbered1 
without price2     ,and when those      
relics lost had been1 and found1        
,and at his feet ,i wept1 he chided not2
     ,but1 smiling1 said1 8,thy glorious
 task fulfilled1     ,house them in thy 
new country's stateliest church     ,by 
cresset girt of ever-burning lamps1     
,and never-ceasing anthems40            

,northward then     ,returned ,i1       
missioned4  ,yet once more1 but once1   
,that old temptation proved me4  ,when  
they sat1     ,the ,elders1 making      
inquest of my life1     ,sudden a       
certain brother rose1 and spake1        
8,shall this man be a ,bishop1 who hath 
sinned80     ,my dearest friend was he4 
,to him alone     ,one time had ,i      
divulged a sin by me     ,through       
ignorance wrought when fifteen years of 
age2     ,and after thirty years1       
behold1 once more1     ,that sin had    
found me out6  ,he knew my mission3     
,when in mine absence slander sought my 
name1     ,mine honour he had cleared4  
,yet now--yet now--     ,that hour the  
iron passed into my soul3     ,yea1 well
 nigh all was lost4  ,i wept1 8,not one1
     ,no heart of man there is that     
knows my heart1     ,or in its anguish  
shares40                                
,yet1 ,o my ,god6     ,i blame him not3 
from ,thee that penance came3     ,not  
for man's love should ,thine ,apostle   

strive1     ,thyself alone his great and
 sole reward4     ,thou laid'st that    
hour a fiery hand of love     ,upon a   
faithless heart2 and it survived4       
,at dead of night a ,vision gave me     
peace4     ,slowly from out the breast  
of darkness shone     ,strange          
characters1 a writing unrevealed3       
,and slowly thence and infinitely sad1  
,a ,voice3 8,ill-pleased1 this day have 
we beheld     ,the face of the ,elect   
without a name40     ,it said not1      
8,thou hast grieved10 but 8,we have     
grieved20     ,with import plain1 8,o   
thou of little faith6     ,am ,i not    
nearer to thee than thy friends8     ,am
 ,i not inlier with thee than thyself80 
,then ,i remembered1 8,he that touches  
you     ,doth touch the very apple of   
mine eye40     ,serene ,i slept4  ,at   
morn ,i rose and ran     ,down to the   
shore1 and found a boat1 and sailed4    
,that hour true life's beginning was1 ,o
 ,lord1     ,because the work ,thou     
gav'st into my hands     ,prospered     

between them4  ,yea1 and from the work  
,the ,power forth issued4  ,strength in 
me was none1     ,nor insight1 till the 
occasion3 then ,thy sword     ,flamed in
 my grasp1 and beams were in mine eyes  
,that showed the way before me1 and     
nought else4     ,thou mad'st me know   
,thy ,will4  ,as taper's light          
,veers with a wind man feels not1 o'er  
my heart     ,hovered thenceforth some  
,pentecostal flame     ,that bent before
 that ,will4  ,thy ,truth1 not mine1    
,lightened this ,people's mind2 ,thy    
,love inflamed     ,their hearts2 ,thy  
,hope upbore them as on wings4          
,valiant that race1 and simple1 and to  
them     ,not hard the godlike venture  
of belief3     ,conscience was theirs3  
tortuous too oft in life     ,their     
thoughts1 when passionate most1 then    
most were true1     ,heart-true4  ,with 
naked hand firmly they clasped     ,the 
naked ,truth3 in them ,belief was ,act4 
,a tribe from ,thy far ,east they called
 themselves3     ,their clans were      

,patriarch households1 rude through war3
     ,old ,pagan ,rome had known them   
not2 their ,isle     ,virgin to ,christ 
had come4  ,oh how unlike     ,her sons 
to those old ,roman ,senators1          
,scorn of ,germanus oft1 who breathed   
the air     ,fouled by dead ,faiths     
successively blown out1     ,or ,grecian
 sophist with his world of words1       
,that1 knowing all1 knew nothing6       
,praise to ,thee1     ,lord of the      
night-time as the day1 ,who keep'st     
,reserved in blind barbaric innocence1  
,pure breed1 when boastful lights       
corrupt the wise1     ,with healthier   
fruit to bless a later age4          ,i 
to that people all things made myself   
,for ,christ's sake1 building still that
 good they lacked     ,on good already  
theirs4  ,in courts of kings     ,i     
stood3 before mine eye their eye went   
down1     ,for ,thou wert with me4      
,gentle with the meek1     ,i suffered  
not the proud to mock my face3     ,thus
 by the anchors twain of ,love and      

,fear1     ,since ,love1 not perfected1 
gains strength from ,fear1     ,i bound 
to thee ,this nation4  ,parables     ,i 
spake in2 parables in act ,i wrought    
,because the people's mind was in the   
sense4     ,at ,imbher ,dea they scoffed
 ,thy word3 ,i raised     ,thy staff1   
and smote with barrenness that flood3   
,then learned they that the world was   
,thine1 not ruled     ,by ,sun or ,moon1
 their famed 8,god-,elements30     ,yea1
 like ,thy ,fig-tree cursed1 that river 
banned     ,witnessed ,thy ,love's stern
 pureness4  ,from the grass     ,the    
little three-leaved herb1 ,i stooped and
 plucked1     ,and preached the         
,trinity4  ,thy ,staff ,i raised1       
,and bade--not ravening beast--but      
reptiles foul     ,flee to the abyss    
like that blind herd of old2     ,then  
spake ,i3 8,be not babes1 but           
understand3     ,thus in your spirit    
lift the ,cross of ,christ3     ,banish 
base lusts2 so ,god shall with you walk 
,as once with man in ,eden40  ,with like

 aim     ,convents ,i reared for holy   
maids1 then sought     ,the marriage    
feast1 and cried1 8,if ,god thus draws  
,close to ,himself those virgin hearts1 
and yet     ,blesses the bridal troth1  
and infant's font1     ,how white a     
thing should be the ,christian home60   
,marvelling1 they learned what heritage 
their ,god     ,possessed in them6 how  
wide a realm1 how fair4       ,lord1    
save in one thing only1 ,i was weak--   
,i loved this people with a mother's    
love1     ,for their sake sanctified my 
spirit to thee     ,in vigil1 fast1 and 
meditation long1     ,on mountain and on
 moor4  ,thus1 ,lord1 ,i wrought1       
,trusting that so ,thy lineaments       
divine1     ,deeplier upon my spirit    
graved1 might pass     ,thence on that  
hidden burthen which my heart     ,still
 from its substance feeding1 with great 
pangs     ,strove to bring forth to     
,thee4  ,o loyal race6     ,me too they 
loved4  ,they waited me all night       
,on lonely roads2 and1 as ,i preached1  

the day     ,to those high listeners    
seemed a little hour4     ,have ,i not  
seen ten thousand brows at once         
,flash in the broad light of some ,truth
 new risen1     ,and felt like him1 that
 ,saint who cried1 flame-girt1     8,at 
last do ,i begin to be a ,christian80   
,have ,i not seen old foes embrace8     
,seen him1     ,that white-haired man   
who dashed him on the ground1           
,crying aloud1 8,my buried son1 forgive6
     ,thy sire hath touched the hand    
that shed thy blood80     ,fierce chiefs
 knelt down in penance6  ,lord6 how oft 
,shook ,i their tear-drop sparkles from 
my gown6     ',twas the forgiveness     
taught them all the debt1               
,great-hearted penitents6  ,how many a  
youth     ,contemned the praise of men6 
,how many a maid--     ,o not in        
narrowness1 but ,love's sweet pride     
,and love-born shyness--jealous for a   
mate     ,himself not jealous--spurned  
terrestrial love1     ,glorying in      
heavenly ,love's fair oneness6  ,race   

,high-dowered6  ,god's ,truth seemed    
some remembered thing     ,to them2     
,god's ,kingdom smiled1 their native    
haunt     ,prophesied then their        
daughters and their sons3     ,each man 
before the face of each upraised        
,his hand on high1 and said1 8,the ,lord
 hath risen60     ,then1 like a stream  
from ice released1 forth fled     ,and  
wafted far the tidings1 flung them wide1
     ,shouted them loud from rocky ridge
 o'er bands     ,marching far down to   
war6  ,the sower sowed     ,with happier
 hope2 the reaper bending sang1         
8,thus shall ,god's ,angels reap the    
field of ,god     ,when we are ripe for 
heaven40  ,lovers new-wed     ,drank of 
that water changed to wine1 thenceforth 
,breathing on earth heaven's sweetness4 
,unto such     ,more late1 whate'er of  
brightness time or will     ,infirm had 
dimmed1 shone back from infant brows    
,by baptism lit4  ,each age its garland 
found3     ,fair shone on trustful      
childhood faith divine3     ,eld1 once a

 weight of wrinkles now upsoared     ,in
 venerable lordship of white hairs1     
,seer-like and sage4  ,healed was a     
nation's wound3     ,all men believed   
who willed not disbelief2     ,and sat  
in that oppugnancy steel-mailed3        
,they cried1 8,before thy priests our   
bards shall bow1     ,and all our clans 
put on thy great ,clan ,christ60        
,for your sake1 ,o my brethren1 and my  
sons     ,these things have ,i recorded4
  ,something ,i wrought3     ,strive ye 
in loftier labours2 strive1 and win3    
,your victory shall be mine3 my crown   
are ye4     ,my part is ended now4  ,i  
lived for ,truth3     ,i to this people 
gave that truth ,i knew2     ,my        
witnesses ye are ,i grudged it not3     
,freely did ,i receive1 freely ,i gave2 
,baptising1 or confirming1 or ordaining1
     ,i sold not things divine4  ,of    
mine own store     ,ofttimes the hire of
 fifteen men ,i paid     ,for guard     
where bandits lurked4  ,when prince or  
chief     ,laid on ,god's altar ring1 or

 torque1 or gold1     ,i sent them back4
  ,too fortunate1 too beloved1     ,i   
said1 8,can he ,apostle be who bears    
,such scanty marks of ,christ's         
,apostolate1     ,hunger1 and thirst1   
and scorn of men80  ,for this1          
,those pains they spared ,i spared not  
to myself1     ,the body's daily death4 
,i make not boast3     ,what boast have 
,i8  ,if ,god ,his servant raised1      
,he knoweth--not ye--how oft ,i fell2   
how low2     ,how oft in faithless      
longings yearned my heart     ,for faces
 of ,his ,saints in mine own land1      
,remembered fields far off4  ,this1 too1
 ,he knoweth1     ,how perilous is the  
path of great attempts1     ,how oft    
pride meets us on the storm-vexed       
height1     ,pride1 or some sting its   
scourge4  ,my hope is ,he3     ,his     
hand1 my help so long1 will loose me    
never3     ,and1 thanks to ,god1 the    
sheltering grave is near4          ,how 
still this eve6  ,the morn was racked   
with storm3     ',tis past2 the skylark 

sings2 the tide at flood     ,sighs a   
soft joy3 alone those lines of weed     
,report the wrath foregone4  ,yon watery
 plain     ,far shines1 a mingled sea of
 glass and fire1     ,even as that      
,beatific ,sea outspread     ,before the
 ,throne of ,god4  ',tis ,paschal       
,tide2--     ,o sorrowful1 ,o blissful  
,paschal ,tide6     ,fain would ,i die  
on ,holy ,saturday2     ,for then1 as   
now1 the storm is past--the woe2        
,and1 somewhere 'mid the shades of      
,olivet     ,lies sealed the sacred cave
 of that ,repose     ,watched by the    
,holy ,women4  ,earth1 that sing'st1    
,since first ,he made thee1 thy         
,creator's praise1     ,sing1 sing1 thy 
,saviour's6  ,myriad-minded sea1        
,how that bright secret thrills thy     
rippling lips     ,which shake1 yet     
speak not6  ,thou that mad'st the       
worlds1     ,man1 too1 ,thou mad'st2    
within ,thy ,hands the life     ,of each
 was shapen1 and new-wov'n ran out1     
,new-willed each moment4  ,what makes up

 that life8     ,love infinite1 and     
nothing else save love6     ,help ere   
need came1 deliverance ere defeat2      
,at every step an angel to sustain us1  
,an angel to retrieve6  ,my years are   
gone3     ,sweet were they with a       
sweetness felt but half     ,till       
now2--not half discerned4  ,those blessd
 years     ,i would re-live1 deferring  
thus so long     ,the ,vision of ,thy   
,face1 if thus with gaze     ,cast      
backward ,i might see that guiding hand 
,step after step1 and kiss it4          
,happy isle6     ,be true2 for ,god hath
 graved on thee ,his ,name3     ,god1   
with a wondrous ring1 hath wedded thee2 
,god on a throne divine hath 'stablished
 thee3--     ,light of a darkling world6
  ,lamp of the ,north6     ,my race1 my 
realm1 my great inheritance1     ,to    
lesser nations leave inferior crowns2   
,speak ye the thing that is2 be just1 be
 kind2     ,live ye ,god's ,truth1 and  
in its strength be free6       ,this day
 to ,him1 the ,faithful and the ,true1  

,for ,whom ,i toiled1 my spirit ,i      
commend4     ,that which ,i am1 ,he     
knoweth3 ,i know not now3     ,but ,i   
shall know ere long4  ,if ,i have loved 
,him     ,i seek but this for guerdon of
 my love     ,with holier love to love  
,him to the end3     ,if ,i have        
vanquished others to ,his love          
,would ,god that this might be their    
meed and mine     ,in witness for ,his  
love to pour our blood     ,a glad      
stream forth1 though vultures or wild   
beasts     ,rent our unburied bones6    
,thou setting sun1     ,that sink'st to 
rise1 that time shall come at last      
,when in thy splendours thou shalt rise 
no more2     ,and1 darkening with the   
darkening of thy face1     ,who         
worshipped thee with thee shall cease2  
but those     ,who worshipped ,christ   
shall shine with ,christ abroad1        
,eternal beam1 and ,sun of              
,righteousness1     ,in endless glory4  
,for ,his sake alone     ,i1 bondsman in
 this land1 re-sought this land4        

,all ye who name my name in later times1
     ,say to this ,people1 since        
vindictive rage     ,tempts them too    
often1 that their ,patriarch gave       
,pattern of pardon ere in words he      
preached     ,that ,god who pardons4    
,wrongs if they endure     ,in after    
years1 with fire of pardoning love      
,sin-slaying1 bid them crown the head   
that erred3     ,for bread denied let   
them give ,sacraments1     ,for darkness
 light1 and for the ,house of ,bondage  
,the glorious freedom of the sons of    
,god3     ,this is my last ,confession  
ere ,i die4          ,,notes4      #aj;a
  ,cotton ,,mss41 ,nero1 ,e4'2 ,codex   
,salisburiensis2 and a ,,ms4 in the     
,monastery of ,st4 ,vaast4    #aj;b     
,the ,book of ,armagh1 preserved at     
,trinity ,college1 ,dublin1 contains  a 
,life of ,st4 ,patrick1 with his        
writings1 and consists in chief part of 
a  description of all the books of the  
,new ,testament1 including the ,epistle 
of ,paul to the ,laodiceans4  ,traces   

found here and there of the name of  the
 copyist and of the archbishop for whom 
the copy was made1 fix its  date almost 
to a year as #hjg or #haa-hab4    #gg   
,the ,isle of ,man4    #aja  ,now       
,limerick4    #aaa  ,foynes4    #aaf    
,the ,giant's ,causeway4