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AN GAODHAL.
DILEAGRA PHÁDRAIC DO 'N CHÓIMH¬
THIONAL AIG TEAMHAIR.
By
Mr. Anthony O’Hara,
A Student of the College of the Sacred Heart,
S. J., Prairie Duchien, Wisconsin.
A Rígh ró árdnearthmhair, a dhaoine
críonna & a fhir na h-Éireann, seasaim
an so in bur measg & tá mé fuigart¬
aidhe cuntas a thabhairt cia mé fhéin ag¬
us mo gnathas a shaoiraimh. Fear síoth¬
chántach me, bhur g-caraid & caraid bhur
d-tíre. Ní thagaim le brannda 'n chog¬
aidh do urchas, no le síol an chlampuir a
scapadh in bhur measg. Tagaim mar
theachdaire an th-síothcháin agus do an te
thuigeas leis nuaidheacht mhaith. Ní iom¬
praim aon arm acht trusnán an deor¬
uighe. Ní'l aon arm brolluighe agam acht
an chruis bheag so. Ní thuirlighim i measg
torn arm acht misnighim mo choiscéime
troma le nótaidhe seamha agus milise
na n-obhrán naomhtha. Ní losson an bhro¬
tach cogamhuil in mo champa ; ní chaithim
aon chómhthara acht an t-seamhróg trí-dhi¬
leoga beaga seo: cómhthara dóchuis, car¬
thanas agus grádh. Ní'l me aig iarraigh
aon onóir shaoghalta, no saidhbhreas sao¬
ghalta, Is Pádhraic m' ainm : torran
strainseurach a riomhlabhras grádh athar
do pháisdidhe grádhamhuil le croidhe' athar¬
ach. Grádhuighim bhur d-tír & bhur ndaoi¬
ne. Nuair do bhí me óg tugadh me mar
sglábhuidhe d' ar d-tír. D' fhóghluim me
bhur d-teanga & bur m-bealaighe, d' éist
mo chluasa le abhráin mhilise bhur mhbárd,
& le ceolta anam-dhúiseachtaighe chláirs¬
ighe bhur d-tíre. D' fhoghluim me timchioll
mianta onórach bhur g-croidhthe uaisle &
grádhuighim bhur d-tart do 'n fhírinne &
bhur meas air gach uile árd-thiodhlocadh.
Anois ó thárladh gur dhuasgal m'aingeal
a tá 'g-comhnuidh aig mo láimh dheas agus
a thug air ais me steach go lámha m' ath¬
ar agus mo mháthar ghrádhamhuil in mo thír
féin, coimhdeach dhom, níor thug me suas
gan sibh a ghrádhugh'dh, agus ghuidheas do
Dhia air bhur son. Bhí mo smuaintighe libh
gach lá agus mo bhrionglóide gach oidhche.
Thainic aingeal mo Dhia agam in uair
amháin in mo chodladh agus sheachad sé
St. Patrick's Address to the Assembly
at Tara.
Literal Translation.
Most potent King, Sages, Men of E¬
rin; — I stand here before your august
assembly, and called upon to give an
account of my person, and justify my
conduct.
I am a peaceful man, your friend
and the friend of your country. I
come, not to fling the brand of war,
or scatter the seed of discord among
your people. I come as the messen¬
ger of peace, and the bringer of good
tidings. I bear no arms, save the
pilgrim's staff. My only breast-plate
is this little cross. I march not amid
the clang of arms, but cheer my weary
steps with the sweet and soothing
notes of sacred song. No hostile ban¬
ner frowns defiance from my camp.
This tiny three-leaved emblem, — the
symbol of hope and peace and union, —
is the only badge I wear. I court no
earthly honor, no earthly pelf.
My name is Patrick, — a foreign
sound that bespeaks a father's love to
his beloved children. With a father's
heart, I love your country and your
people. In early youth, being carried
as a slave to your shores, I have learn¬
ed your language and your customs.
My ears have hearkened to the sweet
songs of your bards and the soul-stir¬
ring sound of your native harp. I
have learned to admire your thirst
for truth, your esteem for every man¬
ly virtue.
Being freed by my own good angel
who stands, at my right hand and borne
again into my own native land, into
the arms of my loving parents. I did
not cease to love you, and pray to my
God for you. My thoughts were with
you by day, and my dreams by night.
Once the angel of my God appeared
to me in sleep and handed me a letter.
Me thought I read: The voice of the
children of Ireland. — Come, O holy
youth and walk amongst us. In this
I recognized the voice of my God and
