The monks to him made answer,

'Two hundred years have gone o'er,

Since our Abbot Cormac went through the gate,

and never was heard of more.

Matthias now is our Abbot,

and twenty have pass'd away.

The stranger is lord of Ireland;

we live in an evil day.'

'Days will come and go,' he said,

'and the world will pass away,

In Heaven a day is a thousand years,

a thousand years are a day.'

'Now give me absolution;

for my time is come,' said he.

And they gave him absolution,

as speedily as might be.

Then, close outside the window,

the sweetest song they heard

That ever yet since the world began

was utter'd by any bird.

 Prev. P 43/46 next