_Secundinus composeth a Hymn in Honor of Saint Patrick._
And Secundinus, who was exceeding wise and learned, said unto Saint
Patrick that he desired to compose a hymn in honor of a saint who was
yet living. This he said, for that the saint of whom he purposed to
write was Patrick himself; and therefore concealed he the name in
silence. Then answered the saint: "Verily, it is worthy, and fit, and
right, and profitable, that the people should tell the wisdom of the
saints, and that the congregation should speak of their praise; but yet
is it more becoming that the subject of our praise should not be
praised until after his death. Praise thou therefore the clearness of
the day, but not until the evening cometh; the courage of the soldier,
but not until he hath triumphed; the fortune of the sailor, but not
until he hath landed; for the Scripture saith, Thou shalt praise no man
in his lifetime. Nevertheless, if so thy mind is fixed, what thou
proposest to do, that do thou quickly; for death draweth nigh unto
thee, and of all the bishops which are in Hibernia, shalt thou be the
first to die." Therefore Secundinus composed a hymn in honor of Saint
Patrick, and after a few days, according to the word of the saint, he
died; and he was buried in his own church, in a place which he called
Domnhach-Seachlainn, and by manifold miracles showeth himself to live
in Christ. And this hymn are many of the islanders daily wont to sing,
and from its repetition they affirm many and great wonders to have
happened; for divers, while singing this hymn, have passed unseen
through their enemies who were thirsting for their blood, and who were
stricken with that sort of blindness which physicians term acrisia.