The Legends of Saint Patrick by Vere, Aubrey de, 1814-1902

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

SAINT PATRICK AND KING EOCHAID.

ARGUMENT.

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