Then fell from God Insight on Dairè, and aloud he cried, “A kingly man, of mind unmovable Art thou; and as the rock beneath my tower Shakes not in storm so shakes not heart of thine: Such men are of the height and not the plain: Therefore that hill to thee I grant unsought Which whilome I refused. Possession take This day, lest hostile demon warp my mood; And build thereon thy church. The same shall stand Strong mother-church of all thy great clan Christ!”
Thus Dairè spake; and Patrick, at his word Rising, gave thanks to God, and to the king High blessing heard in heaven; and making sign Went forth, attended by his priestly train, Benignus first, his dearest, then the rest. In circuit thrice they girt that hill, and sang Anthem first heard when unto God was vowed That House which David offered in his heart His son in act, and hymn of holy Church Hailing that city like a bride attired, From heaven to earth descending. With them sang An angel choir above them borne. The birds Forbore their songs, listening that angel strain, Ethereal music and by men unheard Except the Elect. The king in reverence paced Behind, his liegemen next, a mass confused With saffron standard gay and spears upheld Flashing through thickets green. These kept not line, For Alp was still recounting battles old, Aodh of wizards sang, and Ir of love; While bald-pate Conan, sharpening from his eye The sneering light, shot from his plastic mouth Shrill taunt and biting gibe. The younger sort Eyed the dense copse and launched full many a shaft Through it at flying beast. From ledge to ledge Clomb Angus, keen of sight, with hand o’er brow, Forth gazing on some far blue ridge of war With nostril wide outblown, and snorting cried, “Would I were there!”
Meantime, the man of God Had reached the fair crown of that sacred hill, A circle girt with woodland branching low, And roofed with heaven. Beyond its tonsure fringe, Birch trees and oaks, there pushed a thorn milk-white, And close beside it slept in shade a fawn Whiter. The startled dam had left its side, And through the dark stems fled like flying gleam. Minded they were, the kernes, to kill that fawn, And all the priests stood silent; but the Saint Put forth his hand, and o’er her signed the Cross, And, stooping, on his shoulder placed her firm, And bade the brethren mark with stones her lair Dewless and dusk: then, singing as he went “Like as the hart desires the water brooks,” He walked, that hill descending. Light from God O’ershone his face. Meantime the awakened fawn Now rolled her dark eye on the silver head Close by, now turning licked the wrinkled hand, Unfearing. Soon, with little whimpering sob, The doe drew near and paced at Patrick’s side. At last they reached a little field low down Beneath that hill: there Patrick laid the fawn.