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HYMN

ON THE

LIFE, VIRTUES, AND MIRACLES OP ST. PATRICK,

COMPOSED BY HIS DISCIPLE,

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 elucida- tion of our apostle's history, but also for the gratification of the lovers of Irish literature in general ; the Irish origi- nal 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 disingen- uous 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 au- thor 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, hi Answer to Dr. LedwicVs 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 saga- cious BoUandists, 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 tne first sixty years of his life, previously to his arrival on the mission of Ireland.