leg, so that death was nigh unto him.

Sechnall said to Patrick: "When shall I make a hymn of praise for thee?"
"You are not required," observed Patrick. "I have not said to thee,
'Shall it be done?'" said Sechnall, "for it will be done, truly." "My
_debroth_," said Patrick, "it is time it were finished now"; for Patrick
knew that it would not be long until Sechnall's time [arrived], for he
was the first bishop who went under the clay of Eriu.

When he was composing the hymn, they were holding an assembly near him.
It was commanded to them from him that they should go away from the
place. They began to mock him. He told them that the ground would
swallow them; and it swallowed twelve chariots of them at once. Sechnall
said to Patrick's people at Ferta-Marta: "A good man is Patrick, but for
one thing." When he heard these words with his people, he asked Sechnall
for the previous message, and Sechnall said; "O my lord! the reason I
have said it is because little do you preach of charity." "Young man,"
said Patrick, "it is for charity that I preach not charity; for if I did
preach it, I would not leave a stud of two chariot horses to any of the
saints, present or future, in this island; for all belong to me and them."

Sechnall went with his hymn to Patrick, and Patrick went along
Belach-Midhluachra into the territory of Conaille. He returned along the
mountain westwards. He met Sechnall. They saluted one another. "I
should like that you would hear a [hymn of] praise which I have made for
a certain man of God," said Sechnall. "The praise of the people of God
is welcome," answered Patrick. Sechnall thereupon began "Beata Christi
custodit," fearing that Patrick would prohibit him at once if he heard
his name. When he sang "Maximus namque," Patrick arose. The place where
he sang so far is called Elda. "Wait," said Sechnall, "until we reach a