“Saw a distant sheet of water Flashing like a fallen sun; Saw the winking of the ripples Where the mountain torrents run. “Saw the peaceful arch of heaven, With a cloudlet on the blue, Like a white bird winging homeward With its feathers drenched in dew.” Then Dara tried to lift up her heart to God in thanksgiving; but her attention was distracted,—now it was a bird, then a flower, then a change in the light,—and she could not fix her mind on God. Then a sadness came upon her, and she cried— “‘O my Saviour!’ With a sudden grief oppressed,— ‘Be Thy will, not mine, accomplished; Give me what Thou deemest best.’ “Then once more the clouds descended, And the eyes again waxed dark; All the splendour of the sunlight Faded to a dying spark. “But the closèd heart expanded Like the flower that blooms at night Whilst, as Philomel, the spirit Chanted to the waning light.” Again, another of Bridget’s nuns was Brunseach; she, however, went, probably on Bridget’s death, to a religious house that had been founded by S. Kieran of Saighir, over which he had set his mother, Liadhain. She was young and beautiful, and Dioma, the chief of the country of the Hy Fiachach, came by violence and carried her off to his _dun_ or castle. Kieran was angry, and at once seizing his staff, went to the residence of the prince, and demanded that she should be surrendered to him. The chief shut his gates and refused to admit the saint. Kieran remained outside, although it was winter, and declared he would not return without her. During the night there was a heavy fall of snow, but the saint would not leave. Then Dioma, taunting him, said, “Come, I will let her go on one condition, that to-morrow I hear the stork, and that he awake me from sleep.” And actually next morning there was a stork perched on the palisade of the _dun_, and was uttering its peculiar cries. The tyrant arose in alarm, threw himself before the saint, and dismissed the damsel. However, he had quailed only for a while, and presently renewed his persecution. Brunseach, according to the legend, died of fright, but was brought to life again by S. Kieran—that is to say, she fainted and was revived. The story is late, and has become invested in fable; but so much of it is true, that Brunseach was carried off by Dioma, and that Kieran managed to get her restored.