chat Mael
were their chiefs; and these two were authors of that art of
pseudo-prophecy. They prophesied, then, that a mighty, unprecedented
prophet would come across the sea, with an unknown code of
instructions, with a few companions, whom multitudes would obey, and
who would obtain dignity and reverence from the men of Erinn; and that
he would expel kings and princes from their governments, and would
destroy all the idolatrous images; and that the faith which would
arrive would live for ever in Erin. Two years, or three, before the
arrival of Patrick, what they used to prophesy was [as follows];

"A _Tailcend_ (_i.e._, Patrick) shall come across the stormy sea.
His garment head-pierced, his staff head-bent,
His _mias_ (_i.e._, altar) in the east of his house;
His people all shall answer, Amen, amen."

Baile-Cuinn (the Ecstasy of Conn, a rhapsody so called) dixit: "A
_Tailcend_ shall come who will found cemeteries, make cells new, and
pointed music-houses, with conical caps [bencopar], and have princes
bearing croziers." "When these signs shall come," said they, "our
adoration and our _gentility_ (paganism) will vanish, and faith and
belief will be magnified." As it was foretold then and represented, so
it happened and was fulfilled.

When Patrick completed his voyage, and his ship entered the harbor at
Inbher-Dea, in the territory of Leinster, he brought his ships to the
shore. Then it was that he decided to go to instruct Miliuc. He
thought fit as he labored at first for his body, that he should labor
for his soul. He then put stick to shore, and proceeded on a
prosperous voyage, past the coast of Erinn, eastwards, until he stopped
in Inbher-Domnand. He found no fish there, and cursed it. He went to
Inis-Patrick: and he sent to Inbher-Nainge, where nothing was found for
him. He cursed this also, and both are unfruitful. Then it was that
Benen came into his company. Soon after, Patrick slept awhile, and all
the odoriferous flowers that the youth could find, he would put them
into the cleric's bosom. Patrick's people said to Benen: "Stop doing
that, lest thou shouldst awake Patrick." Patrick said: "He will be the
heir of my kingdom." He went to Inbher-Boindi, where he found fish.
He blessed it, and the _Inbher_ is fruitful. He found druids in that
place who denied the virginity of Mary. Patrick blessed the ground,
and it swallowed the druids. Patrick went afterwards from
Inis-Patrick, p