uld be of no use. Patrick said to Derball: "There shall be no king nor
bishop of your family, and it will be allowable to the men of Munster to
plunder you all every seventh year for ever as bare as a leek."

As Patrick was in the district of the Desi, awaiting the king of the
country--_i.e._, Fergair, son of Rossa--Patrick said to him, after his
arrival: "How slowly you come!" "The country is rough" [said he]. "True
indeed," said Patrick. "There shall be no king from you for ever. What
delayed you to-day?" asked Patrick. "The rain delayed us," said the
king. "Your meetings shall be showery for ever," said Patrick.
Patrick's well is there, and also the church of Mac Clairidh, one of
Patrick's people. And assemblies are not held by the Desi except at
night, because Patrick left that sentence upon them, for it was towards
night they went to him. Patrick then cursed the streams of that place,
because his books were drowned in them, and the fishermen gave his people
a refusal. Patrick said that they would not be fruitful, and that there
would never be any mills upon them, except the mills of strangers,
notwithstanding their great profusion up to that time. He blessed the
Suir, moreover, and the country around; and it is fruitful in fish,
except the places where those streams (_glaise_) flow into it.

Patrick went into Muscraighe-thire, and to preach and plant the faith
there. He met three brothers of that nation, men of power--Furic and
Muinnech and Mechar, the sons of Forat, son of Conla. Muinnech believed
at once, and Patrick baptized and blessed him, and said that illustrious
heroes and clerics should descend from him for ever; and that the chief
kingship of his country should be [filled up] from him for ever, as the
poet said:

"Muinnech the Great believes
In Patrick, before all;
That there might be over his country
Chieftains of his race for ever.

"Mechair believed,
For he was a true, just man.
Patrick gave him a lasting blessing--
The companionship of a king.

"Fuirec, the furious man,
Opposed, though he was hoary and old;
His ultimate fate, after this world,
Is not to be deplored.

"When Cothraige imposed
A tribute (_cain_) upon noble Eri,
On the host of this island
He conferred a lasting blessing.

"Choice was this blessing
Which he conferred seven-fold
On each one who would observe
His plain rule, his law.

"Whoever would disobey
The noble,