The Legends of St Patrick

A book of poems by Aubrey De Vere, LL.D. Once more our readers are indebted to a living poet for wide circulation of a volume of delightful verse. The name of Aubrey de Vere is the more pleasantly familiar because its association with our highest literature has descended from father to son. In 1822, sixty-seven years ago, Sir Aubrey de Vere, of Curragh Chase, by Adare, in the county of Limerick - then thirty-four years old - first made his mark with a dramatic poem upon "Julian the Apostate." In 1842 Sir Aubrey published Sonnets, which his friend Wordsworth described as "the most perfect of our age;" and in the year of his death he completed a dramatic poem upon "Mary Tudor," published in the next year, 1847, with the "Lamentation of Ireland, and other Poems." Sir Aubrey de Vere's "Mary Tudor" should be read by all who have read Tennyson's play on the same subject. INTRODUCTION BY HENRY MORLEY. 4 SAINT PATRICK - FROM "ENGLISH WRITERS," BY HENRY MORLEY. 5 PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR. 9 POEMS: - THE BAPTISM OF SAINT PATRICK. 14 THE DISBELIEF OF MILCHO. 15 SAINT PATRICK AT TARA. 31 SAINT PATRICK AND THE TWO PRINCESSES. 34 SAINT PATRICK AND THE CHILDREN OF FOCHLUT WOOD.40 SAINT PATRICK AND KING LAEGHAIRE. 56 SAINT PATRICK AND THE IMPOSTOR. 58 SAINT PATRICK AT CASHEL. 64 SAINT PATRICK AND THE CHILDLESS MOTHER. 71 SAINT PATRICK AT THE FEAST OF KNOCK CAE. 78 SAINT PATRICK AND KING EOCHAID. 88 SAINT PATRICK AND THE FOUNDING OF ARMAGH CATHEDRAL. 101 THE ARRAIGNMENT OF SAINT PATRICK. 113 THE STRIVING OF SAINT PATRICK ON MOUNT CRUACHAN. 124 EPILOGUE. THE CONFESSION OF SAINT PATRICK. 138