The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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?
[It should be observed that, at the commencement of each of the three
parts of the Tripartite Life, there are several pages of Latin, which
were intended by the author as a sort of introduction or preface to what
follows in each part. They are made up principally of Scriptural
quotations strung loosely together. These quotations have general
reference to the establishment of Christ's kingdom upon earth, and are
obviously intended to bear upon the happy introduction of Christianity
into Ireland through the labors of our glorious apostle. At the end of
each of the parts, in like manner, are some paragraphs, by way of
peroration, devoted chiefly to the praises of the great saint, who
dedicated the greater part of an unusually long life to the service of
God, by the regeneration of our pagan ancestors. The language of both
prefaces and perorations, whether corrupted by the copyists in
transcription, or originally so written, is a most barbarous Latin. For
the reasons indicated it has been deemed better to omit the pages alluded
to, merely giving a few words of the commencement of each. In the Irish
original, also, as was usual in early Irish manuscripts, there are a
considerable number of Latin quotations or sentences, which in some cases
have been translated, and in others given as they stood, without any
attempt to correct the style.]
PART III.
Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis. Spiritus Sanctus, a quo omne donum, et
gratiarum charismata utrique, et novi et veteris Testamenti Ecclesias,
data, haec protulit per os Regii Psalmistae Davidis filii, etc.
Patrick left Presbyter Conaedh in Domnach-Airther-Maighe, in the
territory of Hy-Briuin of the north. He rested there on Sunday, and then
went after Patrick from that place as far eastwards as the wood. "What
brought you?" asked Patrick. "I cannot bear your absence, holy man,"
said he. "No wonder," observed Patrick; "the place around thee is not
the place of a son of life, but a place for pig-eaters; the soil of the
place shall never be reddened" (which we have proved when Connacan, son
of Colman, son of Niall Frossach, went into the district with an army,
nine men moved off from a tree which Artifex, a pilgrim, selected. He
was beheaded; eight were liberated, however, in his land).
Patrick went afterwards to Telach-Maine, and received a welcome from
Maine, son of Conlaedh, who humbled himself to him; and Patrick blessed
him, and blessed his wife, so that she was fruitful, and brought forth
two daughters. Patrick baptized them, and blessed veils on their heads,
and left a senior with them to instruct them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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