expressions which show that the sources of the author were written documents, and that he could not have been a contemporary. There is also in v. 44 a reference to an event which occurred in A.D. 561, the abandonment of Tara, but this (see below) was probably not part of the original poem.[313] The hymn was acutely analysed by Professor Zimmer in his _Keltische Studien_, ii. 162 _sqq._,[314] and more soberly and judiciously by Professor Atkinson in the Introduction to the _Liber Hymnorum_ (ed. Bernard and Atkinson, vol. ii.), pp. xl. _sqq._ Professor Atkinson submits it to a careful criticism from the metrical side, dealing also with linguistic points and the literary construction, and his analysis leads to the same general conclusion as Professor Zimmer’s, namely, that the hymn has been largely interpolated, and that its original compass was very much smaller. I examined the work independently, from the literary side, and found that most of the stanzas which from this point of view arouse suspicion are those which Professor Atkinson, applying his objective metrical tests, branded as interpolations. It may be useful to give here the original uninterpolated hymn, as it emerges from these criticisms. It contained 15, instead of 34, stanzas.[315] I have adopted Professor Atkinson’s translation, but with some changes, using the new lights furnished in the version of Dr. Stokes and Professor Strachan. HYMN GENAIR PATRAICC 1. Patrick was born in Nemthur, this is what he narrates in stories; A youth of sixteen years, when he was brought under tears. 2. [Sucat his name, it was said; what his father was, were worth knowing; Son of Calpurn, son of Potid, _grandson of deacon Odisse_.] 3. He was six years in bondage; _men’s good cheer he shared not_. _Many were they whom he served, Cothraige_ (servant) _of four households_. 4. Said Victor to Milchu’s bondsman, that he should go over the waves: He struck his foot on the stone, its trace remains, it fades not. 5. (The angel) sent him _across all Britain_—great God, it was a marvel of a course! So that he left him with Germanus in the south, in the southern part of Letha. 6. _In the isles of the Tyrrhene Sea he fasted, in them he computed_, He read the Canon with Germanus, that is what writings narrate. 7. A help to Ireland was Patrick’s coming, which was expected; Far away was heard the sound of the call of the children of Fochlad wood. 8. His druids from Loigaire hid not Patrick’s coming; The prophecy was fulfilled of the prince of which they spoke. 9. Hymns and Apocalypse, the Three Fifties, he used to sing them; He preached, baptized, prayed; from God’s praise he ceased not. 10. Patrick preached to the Scots, he suffered great labour widely. That around him they may come to Judgement, every one whom he brought to life.[316]