The rhymed life of St Patrick Written by Katharine Tynan: With pictures by L. D. Symington: And a foreword by Lieut.-General Sir William Butler |
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 | The rhymed life of St Patrick |  |
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St Patrick's first Ulster Convert
He sailed with white sails, he sailed awayTo Strangford, ringed with the mountains grey.
The fertile plains run down to its edges;
Green are its fields, flowery its hedges.
Dicho the Chieftain let loose his hounds,
But they came to Patrick with leaps and bounds
And licked the blessed hands that caressed.
The man was foolish; wise was the beast.
He raised his sword against Patrick to slay him;
But alike his sword and his dogs betray him;
His arm fell useless; the useless sword
Twisted and shivered. Then turned to the Lord
Dicho. He gave to Patrick lands,
Received the baptism at his hands.
He was first fruit of the Ulster men.
Would we had Patrick to-day as then!
| The rhymed life of St Patrick | |