The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
History
The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
Patrick, Saint, 373?-463?
After Patrick had blessed the Cenel-Conaill, and had left a blessing on
their forts and rivers and churches, he went into the country of Eoghan,
the son of Niall, across Bernas of Tir-Aedha into Magh-Itha, and to
Domhnachmor of Magh-Itha, where he left Dudubae, son of Corcan, of his
people. And Patrick said to his people: "Take care that you meet not
with the lion, Eoghan, son of Niall." Muiredhach, the son of Eoghan, who
was in the front of the youths, met on the way Sechnall, who was in the
rear of the host of clerics. Sechnall said to Muiredhach: "You would
have a reward from me, if you would persuade your father to believe."
"What reward?" asked he. "The sovereignty of thy tribe shall for ever
belong to thy heirs," said Sechnall. "I will," answered Muiredhach. In
Fidhmor it was that Eoghan met with Patrick, where the flag (_lec_) is.
"If you would believe in your country," said Patrick, "the hostages of
the Gaedhil would come to you."
"I am not good-looking," said Eoghan; "my brother precedes me on account
of my ugliness." "What form do you desire?" asked Patrick. "The form of
the young man who is under (_i.e._., _who is bearing_) your
satchel--_i.e._, Rioc of Inis-bo-finde," said Eoghan. Patrick covered
them over with the same garment, the hands of each being clasped round
the other. They slept thus, and afterwards awoke in the same form, with
the difference of the tonsure. "I don't like my height," said Eoghan.
"What size do you desire to be?" asked Patrick. Eoghan reached up his
hand with his sword. "I should like this height," said he; and he
immediately grew to that height. Patrick afterwards blessed Eoghan, with
his sons. "Which of your sons is dearest to you?" asked Patrick.
"Muiredhach," said he. "Sovereignty from him for ever," said Patrick.
"And next to him?" asked Patrick. "Fergus," answered he. "Dignity from
him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked Patrick. "Eocha Bindech,"
said Eoghan. "Warriors from him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked
Patrick. "They are all alike to me," answered Eoghan. "They shall have
united love," said Patrick.
Patrick went to Ailech of the kings, when he blessed the fort and left
his flag there; and he prophesied that kingship and pre-eminence should
be over Erinn from Ailech. "When you lift your foot out of your bed to
approach it, and your successor after you," said Patrick, "the men of
Erinn shall tremble before you."
He blessed the whole island (Inis-Eoghain) from Belach-ratha; and he gave
a blessing of valor to Eoghan. Then it was that Patrick said:
"My blessing on the _tuatha_ (territories)
I give from Belach-ratha,
On you, you descendants of Eoghan,
Until the day of judgment.
"Whilst plains are under crops,
The palm of battle shall be on their men.
The armies of Fail (Ireland) shall not be over your plains;
You shall attack every _telach_ (tribe).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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