[125] _Authenticated_.--A copy of this ancient hymn, with a Latin and English translation, may be found in Petrie's _Essay on Tara_, p. 57, in Dr. Todd's _Life of St. Patrick_, and in Mr. Whitley Stokes' _Goidilica_. We regret exceedingly that our limited space will not permit us to give this and other most valuable and interesting documents. There is a remarkable coincidence of thought and expression between some portions of this hymn and the well-known prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola, _Corpus Christi, salve me_. Such coincidences are remarkable and beautiful evidences of the oneness of faith, which manifests itself so frequently in similarity of language as well as in unity of belief. The Hymn of St. Patrick, written in the fifth century, is as purely Catholic as the Prayer of St. Ignatius, written in the sixteenth. St. Patrick places the virtue or power of the saints between him and evil, and declares his hope of merit for his good work with the same simple trust which all the saints have manifested from the earliest ages. This hymn is written in the _Bearla Feine_, or most ancient Gaedhilic dialect. Dr. O'Donovan well observes, that it bears internal evidence of its authenticity in its allusion to pagan customs. Tirechan, who wrote in the seventh century, says that there were four honours paid to St. Patrick in _all monasteries and churches throughout the whole of Ireland_. First, the festival of St. Patrick was honoured for three days and nights with all good cheer, except flesh meat [which the Church did not allow then to be used in Lent]. Second, there was a proper preface for him in the Mass. Third, his hymn was sung for the whole time. Fourth, his Scotic hymn was sung always. As we intend publishing a metrical translation of his hymn suitable for general use, we hope it will be "said and sung" by thousands of his own people on his festival for all time to come. [126] _Hell_.--O'Curry, p. 539. This is translated from the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick. [127] _Moment_.--Keating, Vol ii. p. 15. [128] _Land_.--Near the present town of Killala, co. Mayo. [129] _Protected him_.--Book of Armagh and Vit. Trip. [130] _Death_.--Vit. Trip. It was probably at this time St. Patrick wrote his celebrated letter to Caroticus. [131] _Daire_.--Book of Armagh, fol. 6, b.a. [132] _Confessio_.--This most remarkable and interesting document will be translated and noticed at length in the _Life of St. Patrick_, which we are now preparing for the press. [133] _St. Tussach_.--All this Dr. Todd omits. The Four Masters enter the obituary of St. Patrick under the year 457. It is obvious that some uncertainty must exist in the chronology of this early period. [134] _Oracle_.--It is said that, three years before St. Patrick's apostolic visit to Ireland, the druids of King Laeghairé predicted the event to their master as an impending calamity. The names of the druids were Lochra and Luchat Mael; their prophecy runs thus:--