THE DISBELIEF OF MILCHO,
OR, SAINT PATRICK'S ONE FAILURE.

ARGUMENT.

Fame of St. Patrick goes ever before him, and men of
goodwill believe gladly; but Milcho, a mighty merchant,
and one given wholly to pride and greed, wills to
disbelieve. St. Patrick sends him greeting and gifts;
but he, discovering that the prophet welcomed by all
had once been his slave, hates him the more.
Notwithstanding, he fears that when that prophet
arrives, he, too, may be forced to believe, though
against his will. He resolves to set fire to his
castle and all his wealth, and make new fortunes in far
lands. The doom of Milcho, who willed to disbelieve.

When now at Imber Dea that precious bark
Freighted with Erin's future, touched the sands
Just where a river, through a woody vale
Curving, with duskier current clave the sea,
Patrick, the Island's great inheritor,
His perilous voyage past, stept forth and knelt
And blessed his God. The peace of those green meads
Cradled 'twixt purple hills and purple deep,
Seemed as the peace of heaven. The sun had set;
But still those summits twinned, the "Golden Spears,"