A Hymn on the Life, Virtues and Miracles of St. Patrick

Saint Fiech

A Hymn on the Life, Virtues and Miracles of St. Patrick / Composed by his Disciple, Saint Fiech, Bishop of Sletty

SAINT FIECH, BISHOP OF SLETTY

As this specimen of the language spoken in Ireland about 1200 years ago, is here published, not only for the elucidation of our apostle's history, but also for the gratification of the lovers of Irish literature in general; the Irish original is accompanied, on the opposite page, with an English translation of the whole.

In this translation, the literal meaning, and idiomatic expression of the words and phrases, are adhered to in all such stanzas as the editor (with the aid of some members of the Gaelic Society, particularly conversant with subjects of this sort) could fully understand: for he acknowledges that neither he nor these gentlemen are so vain or disingenuous as to pretend that they comprehend the whole of this very ancient composition.

In order to obviate any objection which may be made against the passages in which the editor differs from the author of the version of this hymn, in Colgan's collection of our patron saint's lives, the Latin translation adopted in his edition, is also subjoined to the poem, at the bottom of each page.

To the hymn are added some short notes, illustrative of the subject.

Vindication of St. Fiech's Hymn, in Answer to Dr. Ledwich's Objections

Respecting the authenticity and antiquity of this curious specimen of our language about the commencement of the sixth century, some doubts were entertained by the sagacious Bollandists, who, consequently, considered St. Fiech to have lived long after our saint's time. This opinion, those learned Jesuits founded on Fiech's referring to other histories for the truth of what he relates with regard to his master, St. Patrick, during the first sixty years of his life previously to his arrival on the mission of Ireland.

This plausible objection has been adopted and urged by Dr. Ledwich, against St. Patrick's existence, with that dogmatical tone of magisterial positiveness so conspicuous in his volume of invectives against the ancient splendour, sanctity, and literature of his native country, declaring that Fiech and Sedulius's poems on our saint "are the wretched productions of some cloistered ecclesiastic."

To this, the only remaining one of these formidable objections, adduced by the doctor against our apostle's existence, we answer, that Fiech lived and composed this hymn some time after St. Patrick's death, in the 120th year of his age, and 60th of his apostleship. Now supposing Fiech to have lived to the 84th year of his age, and to have composed this hymn in 600, seven years after his master's death, which he so circumstantially relates in the poem; Fiech must consequently have been no more than about 17 years of age when our saint commenced his mission here. Where, or whence, then, except by divine revelation, or from St. Patrick himself, or from the revelation of others, could his disciple derive his information with respect to St. Patrick's parents and ancestors, who lived in a foreign country? or sacred Tours, in Gaul, the place of our saint s nativity? or his original name Succoth? or his voyages and travels by sea and land, after his escape from servitude in Ireland? or his insular retreats or studies under the spiritual guidance of St. German of Auxerre? &c, &c. &c.

Now, Fiech very justly informs his readers, that all these transactions, wrought before he was born, and in a foreign country, during the first 60 years of his great master's life, were ascertained in skelaiv, (STORIES,) as in the first stanza; or Fiadhaid, testified to us, as he says in the sixth stanza of his poem, the only two places were Fiech appeals to others for the foreign actions performed in the early period of St. Patrick's life: of whom, though there were many lives written and published during his existence, yet it is uncertain whether Fiech obtained his account from written or oral documents, for either may be denoted by the Irish word Scealaw (stories.) The term by which the translator of this hymn into Latin has rendered it, may also denote either oral or written information. In English, too, the word history often imports oral narration: thus Pope says:

"What histories of toil could I declare,But still, long-wearied nature wants repair."

INNUIN PATRAIC

IGenair Patraic i nem Thur,1Asseadh ad fét hi scëlaibh,Macan sé m-bliadharn deccAn tan do bhreth fo dheraibh.IISuccat a ainm hitrubhradhCidh a atair ba fisse,Mac calpuirn mic OtideHo Deocain Odisse.2IIIBaisë bliadhna bi foghnamhMaise doine nïs tomledhBitar le cothraighe,3Ceathar trebha dia fognadh.IVAs bert Uictor fri gniadhMilcon, teseadh far tonnaForruibh a chois for sind leicMaraidh dia aes ni bronna.VDo faidh tar ealpa uile4De mhuir, bo hamhra reathaComdh fargaibh la GearmanAndeas an deiscort leatha.VIAn-innsibh mara toirrianAinis indibh, ad rimhe,Lëghais cannóin la GearmanIs eadh ad fiadhad line.VIIDo cum n-Erenn dod fetisAingil de hi fithis,Menic it chithe ifisibhDos mcfed arithisi.VIIIRo po cobhair don D-ErenTichta Patraic for Oclat:Ro clos cian son an garmaMacraidhi caille fochlad.IXGadhadair co tisseadh in noebhAr a nimthised lethu,Ar atin taradh o cloeanTuath a h-Eren do bheathu.XTuata h-Eren TairchantaisDos nicfead Sithlaith nua,Meraidh co ti amartaigeBidh fás tír temhrach.XIA Dhruidh ar LaoghaireTichta Patraic ni cheiltis,Ro firad ind aitsine,Ina flatha as beirtis.XIIBa lëir Patraic cumbebha,Ba sabh innarba cloeni,Ised duargoibh a EuaSuas de sech threbhah doeaniXIIIImmuin agus Apocapalips,Na tri coicat nos canadPritchad, batset, arniged,Do moladh Dé in anad.XIVNi con Gebéd fuacht sineDo shess aidche hillinnibhFor nim consena a Righe,Pritcais fri de indindaibh.XVHi slán tuaith benna-baircheNis gebhe Dhtart, na liaCanadh Céad psalm cech naidheheDo Righ aingel fo Gnia.XVIFoidh for luim iaramh,Ochus cuilche fhliuchimme,Ba coirthe a rithadartNi leic a corp e timme.XVIIPritcadh sóscela do cächDo gnih mór fearta i LeathuIccaid luscu la truscaMairbh dos fuisceadh beathu.XVIIIPadraic priotcais do ScotuibhRo cheas mór seath i LeathuImmi co tisat do brathIn cách dos fiüc do beathu.XIXMeic Eimhir, meich EirimoinLotar huile la ciseal,Fos Zolaic in tarmchosalIs in mórchathe nisel.XXConda tanic in T-apstalDo faith gidh gaethe dënePritchais tri fichte bliadhnâ,Cröich crist do thuathaibh Fene.XXIFor thuath h-Erenn bai temneiTuata adhorta idhla,Ni chraitsed in FhirdheachtIn i Trinoite fire.XXIIIn Ardmacha fil righiIs cian do reracht Emhain,Is cell mor Dun-leth-glaisseNum dil cidh dithribh Temhair.XXIIIPatraic dia mboi illolhraAd cobra dol do MhacheDo lluidh Aingev ar a cennFor sed a meadhon laithe.XXIVDo faith fa dheos do UictorBa he arid ralastur,Lassais immuine imbai,Asan tein ad galastar.XXVAs bert ordan do Mache,Do Crist atlaighthe buidheDo chum nimhe mor raga,Ro ratha duit do guidhe.XXVIImmon do roeghu it biuBid luirech didin do chach,Immuit illathiu mesaRegait fir n-Erend do brath.XXVIIAnais Tasac dia aës5An tan do bert Comain dóAs bert mios nic fead PatraicBriathra Tasaigh nir bu gó.XXVIIISamh aighis crich fri aidhciAr na cate les oca:Co cenn bliadhna bai soilsi,Ba he sitlaithe foda.XXIXAn cath fechto i m-BeatronFri tuait Canan la mac Nun,Assuith in grian fri GabonAsseadh at fet littre dun.XXXHuair assuith la h-iesueIn ghrian fri bás ina clóen,Ciasu threbech be huisseSoillse fri betsecht an noebh.XXXIClerich Erend do llotarDairi Patraic as cech sét,Son in ceatuil fos roiareCon tuil cách uadhibh for set.XXXIIAnim Patraic fria chorpAs iar saethaibh ro scarad,Angeil dé i cet aldhceArid fethis ceannadh.XXXIIIIn tan conhualai Patraic,Ad ella in Patraic naile,Is malle connucc aibhsetDo chum hisu mac Maire.XXXIVPatraic cen airae nuabhairBo mör do maith ro meanuir,Bith ingellsine meic Maire,Bha sengaire in genuir. genuir.

HYMN ON ST. PATRICK

IPatrick was born at heavenly Tours,As it is ascertained in stories;A youth of sixteen yearsAt the time he was brought under bondage.IISuccat his name at the beginning;Who his father was, be it knownSon of Calphurn, son of Otidé,Descended from the Deacon Odissé.IIIHe was six years in servitude,The food of the people he eat not,They were all by him supported,Four tribes to whom he was enslaved.IVVictor (the angel) said to the servantOf Milcho: depart over the waves,He (Victor) placed his foot upon a stoneHis marks after him remained.VHe departed over all the mountains,O'er sea, prosperous was his flight.He dwelled along with German,Southward of the southermost part of Letavia.VIIn the islands of the Touronian seaHe resided, as related;He read his Canons with German,As is certified to us.VIITowards Ireland he proceeds,Warned by God's angels in apparitions,Often saw he in his sleepThat he ought to return.VIIIGreat the assistance to Eire,The coming of Patrick to Oclat:He heard the long sound of entreatiesOf children from the wood of Foclat.IXThey implored the saint may comeUpon forsaking Letavia,For drawing from error's propensityThe people of Eire to life.XThe people of Eire prophesyThat there will come new days of peace,Existing till the end of time;Desert will be in the country of Tara.XIO Druid! upon Laoree,The coming of Patrick you hid not;Too true the propheciesRespecting the sovereign you predicted.XIIPrudent was Patrick during life;Pleasing was in banishing evil propensities;This is what extended his fameUp to each tribe of people.XIIIHe hymns, and revelations,And the three fifties daily sung:He preached, baptized, and prayed,From praising God he never ceased.XIVHe felt not the cold of the season;He stayed the night in the waters,With heaven to be blessed as his kingdom,He preached through the day on the hills.XVIn saving the people of BenibarkaHe experienced neither drought nor hunger;He sang an hundred psalms each night,The King of angels to serve.XVIHe then rested on a bare stone,And a wet coverlid over him,A rock was his pillow,He left not his body in indolence.XVIIHe preached the Gospel to all;He worked great miracles at LetaviaHe healed the blind with fasting,The dead he awoke to life.XVIIIPatrick preached to the ScotiansAfter he underwent great labours in Letavia,That they may come to judgment,Each whom he guided to life.XIXThe sons of Emir, the sons of Erimor,Were all following after the devil,Buried was the ArmamentIn the great depths of hell.XXTill the Apostle arrivedWho preserved them tho' dreadful the blastsHe preached three score yearsThe cross of Christ to the people of the Phenians.XXIOn the people of Eire was darkness,People adoring idols;They believed not in the GodheadNor in the true Trinity.XXIIIn Armagh is the seat of royalty;Long has been the prerogative of Emania,And of the great church at Dundalethglas,Nor is it pleasant that Teamar be tribeless.XXIIIPatrick being about to sicken,For alleviation on going to Armagh,An angel came upon his headOn the way, in the middle of the day.XXIVHe proceeded southerly to Victor (angel)It was he who sent for him,Blaze does the bush in which he (Victor) wasOut of the blaze he him addressed.XXVThere is granted rule to Armagh,To Christ for this be given thanks:Thou, to heaven, great shalt come,To thee prosperous has been thy petition.XXVIA hymn, sung by thee, while living,Will be a protecting coat of mail to allIn the day of judgment with theeThe men of Erie will go to be judged.XXVIITassac remained after him,The time he gave the communion to him,He predicted that Patrick would not returnThe sayings of Tassach were not false.XXVIIISubside does the end of the night,Whereupon they had great light,Till the year's end continued the lights,This was the protracted day.XXIXThe battle fought in Bethoron,Against the people of Canaan by Nun's sonThe sun sat over Gabaon,It is what scripture records to us.XXXAs then stood for Joshua,The sun for the death of the ill-inclinedWhy not trebly greater be thisLight on the death of his saint.XXXIThe clergy of Eire they proceededTo wake Patrick, from every sideThe sound of the musical instrument buriedAll asleep upon the spot.XXXIIThe soul of Patrick from his bodyAfter his labours, separated;Angels of God on the first nightWatched around him incessantly.XXXIIIAt the time that Patrick diedHe proceeded to the other Patrick,And with him ascendedTo Jesus, the son of Mary.XXXIVPatrick, without a puff of pride,Manifold blessings produced;He was in subjection to Mary's son.And with auspicious bliss was born.

HYMNUS SANCTO PATRICIO

INatus est Patricius NemturriUt refertur in historiis,Fuit annorum sedecimQuando ductus in captivitatis ærumnas.IISucat nomen ei primo impositum eratQuantum ad patrem attinet sciendum fuerit.Filius Calfurnii filii OtidiiNepos Diaconi Odissii.IIIAnnis sex erat in servituteEscis hominum (nempe gentilium) non vescensIdeo Vocatus CathraigeQuia quatuor familiis inserviebat.IVDixit Victor angelus servoMilconis: ut trans mare se conferretPedem imposuit supra petramIbique: exinde manent impressa ejus vestigia.VProfectus est trans Alpes omnes,Trajecto mari; (quæ fuit felix expeditio)Et apud Germanum remansitIn Australi parte Latii.VIIn insulis maris TyrrheniMansit: uti memoroLegit canonus apud GermanumSicut testantur historiæ.VIIIn Hiberniam venitAdmonitus angelorum apparitionibusSæpius in visionibus videbatSe debere denuo eo redire.VIIISalutaris erat HiberniæAdventus Patricii ad FochlaidiosAudiebat a longe vocem invocantiumInfantium de silvis Fochlaid.IXRogabant ut ad eos veniret sanctusQui discurrebat per LatiumUt converteret ab errorePopulos Hiberniæ ad viam vitæ.XVates Hiberniæ vaticinabanturAdventurum tempus pacis novumQuæ duratura sit in perpetuumUnde deserta foret Temorea sub silentio.XISui Druydæ LoegarioAdventum Patricii non cælabantAdimpleta sunt vaticiniaDe domino quem predicabant.XIICarus erat Patricius usq. mortemExhibit et strenuus in exterminandis erroribusEx ninc merita ejus exaltata suntSupra nationes hominum.XIIIHymnos et ApocalypsinEt tres quinquagenas psalmorum in dies canenatPrædicabat, baptizabat, orabat,Et a laudibus dei non cessabat.XIVNec temporis algor impediebatQuo minus maneret de nocte in mediis aquisAd cœli potiandum gaudiumPrædicabat de die super collibus.XVIn fonte sian ad aquilonem juxta Bennaboirche(Qui fons nunquam deficit)Decantabat centum psalmos singulis noctibusRegi angelorum inserviendo.XVICubabat postea super nuda petraCassula amictus madidaSaxum fuit ejus pulvinarSic arcebat a corpore remissionem.XVIIPrædicabat evangelium populis,Multas virtutes et signa simul operatusCurabat cæcos et leprosos:Mortuos revocabat ad vitam.XVIIIPatricius prædicabat ScotisPassus multos labores in LatioUt venirent in die judiciiQuos convertit ad vitam æternam.XIXFilii Emeri, Filii Erimonii,Omnes seducti a dæmone,Quos et recondidit SathanasIn magno puteo infeniali.XXDonec advenit apostolusQui eos preservavit, licet turbines vehementesQui prædicavit annis sexagihtaCrucem Christi populis Feniorum.XXISuper populos Hiberniæ erant tenebræPopulos adorantes idolaNon credebant in veram DeitatemTrinitatis veræ.XXIIArdmachæ est regni sedesFutura æterni nominis populis EmaniæEt est ecclesia celebris in DundalethglasNec gratum quod Temoria deseratur.XXIIIPatricius quando cepit infirmariDesiderabat ire ArdmachamSed Angelus Dei ad eum venitIn via in medio die.XXIVVenit versus Ausirum ad Victorem angelum(Is fuit qui eum accersivit)Rubus in quo angelus erat exarsitEt ex eo ipsum alloquebatur.XXVDixit angelus regimen sit penes Ardmacho.Christo propter hæc gratias age;Ipse ad cœlos venies;Impetrasti adeoquæ petieras.XXVIHymnus decantatus tibi jam viventi,Erit lorica protectionis populis;In die judicii te comitabunturHiberni ad supremum judicem.XXVIIRemansit Tassachus post eumQuando ministravit communionem ipsiDixit quod communicaturus esset PatriciumNec prophetia Tassachi erat falsa.XXVIIIPossuit tenebras noctiIta quod apud eos erat indeficiens luiSpatio unius anni continuata lux eratEt ista continuata dies et prolongata erat.XXIXPrælium gestum in BethoronContra populum Cananeorum per filium NunIn quo stetit sol contra GabaoanUt referunt sacræ litteraæ nobis.XXXQuandoquidem sic steterit JosuæSol ad cædendos iniquosEsto triplo major sit hæcLux potiori jure concedenda erat in mort hujus sancti.XXXIClerici enim Hiberniæ confluebantAd celebrandas exequias Patricii undiqueSonus concentus superniReddebat ipsos sopore irruenti ubi humi decumbantes.XXXIIAnima Patricii a corporePost labores seperata est,Angeli dei prima nocte,Excubias circa ipsum protinus agebant.XXXIIIQuando decessit PatriciusVenit ad Patricium alterumEt simul ascenderuntAd Jesum filium Mariæ.XXXIVPatricius absque elationis nævoMulta bona excogitavitIn servitio filii MariæFælicibus natus est auspiciis.

St. Fiech, the author of the above Hymn, was a disciple to Duvhach, poet laureate of Laoree, monarch of Ireland. He was converted by St. Patrick, who taught him the elements of the Latin language, in which he was enabled to read the bible after fifteen days' study. Fiech was appointed bishop of Leinster by his holy master, upon which he founded a celebrated monastery, called from him Domnach-Fiech, on the mountain of Sletty, about a mile to the north of Carlow, in the territory of Leix, now in the barony of Slieve- Margey, and Queen's county. In this church, the remains of which still exist, he also established a college, celebrated for producing many saints, as may be seen in Colgan's Lives of Irish Saints, &c.

1

In the Latin translation accompanying Colgan's edition of this Hymn Nein Thur, or Holy Tours, is rendered into Nemthur, as if the two words were but one, designating a place of that name. In the fifth and ninth stanzas, the word Lethu or Letha, is rendered by Latium or Italy: upon which absurd translation, Colgan, without rectifying the mistake, observes that Nisi Germanus dicatur degisse in eis (insulis Tyrrheni maris) videtur hic preposterus ordo; "except St. German be said here to have lived in them, (the islands of the Tyrrhenian sea,) the order of time seems preposterous." So contradictory does this appear to the Latin translator, that he has totally mistranslated the 17th and 18th verses, in which Letha again occurs, by his omitting the word altogether. The editor's reason for deviating from the Latin translation may be seen, at full length, in the preceding work.

2

Colgan, from the psalter of Cashel, traces back St. Patrick's pedigree to the 17th progenitor, thus:

From the names of the above list, if they could be depended on, it would appear that St. Patrick's ancestors were of Roman origin.

3

As Father Michael Clery, one of the annalists called the four masters was employed for fifteen years previously to the Anglo-Cromwellian invasion in collecting Irish manuscripts, and translating them into Latin for Colgan's Lives of the Irish Saints, it is very probable he was the translator of this Hymn into Latin at the same time. He was also the author of an Irish dictionary of difficult words. To the translation of such a scholar, made also at a time when the language was regularly studied in the seminaries of Ireland, great deference must be paid. In this third stanza, however, the editor has ventured to deviate from his version, which runs thus, according to the Latin words "St. Patrick was six years in slavery, during which he eat not the food of the (heathenish) people. For this reason he was called Cathraige, because he served four masters." Now, as Cothraighe may also mean a supporter, maintainer, protector, &c. this last import of the word is adopted in the English translation.

4

Instead of St. Patrick's running over the Italian "Alps," as the Latin translator affirms here, he travelled over all the mountains from the north to the south of Ireland, whence he took shipping for his native country; for Ealpa uile denotes all mountains in general.

5

Tassach was originally a brazier and silversmith, who ornamented the celebrated crozier of St. Patrick, called the Staff of Jesus. Tassach was afterwards a priest.

In the 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 18th stanzas, the English translation will be found to differ very materially from the Latin one. Some verses of the 28th and 31st stanzas, neither the editor nor some literary friends (of whose observations he has availed himself in translating other parts of the Hymn) could make any tolerable sense; he at the same time acknowledges, that he is far from being satisfied with the Latin translation. He thinks it necessary to observe here, once for all, that the Hymn has been faithfully collated with, and printed word for word, according to Father Colgan's edition.