"Give me thy sorrow, wild woman of the sea!"
"Peace to you, Colum," she answered, and sank into the shadow-thridden
wave.
"Give me thy death and crucifixion, O Angus-dhu!" cried the Saint,
shaking with the sorrow.
"Peace to you, Colum," answered the man-seal, and sank into the dusky
quietudes of the deep.
"Ah, bitter heart o' me! Teach me the way to God, O little child,"
cried Colum the old, turning to where the Moon-Child was!
But lo, the glory and the wonder!
It was a little naked child that looked at him with healing eyes, but
there were no seaweeds in her hair, and no shell in the little wee
hands of her. For now, it was a male Child that was there, shining
with a light from within: and in his fair sunny hair was a shadowy
crown of thorns, and in his hand was a pearl of great price.
"O Christ, my God," said Colum, with failing voice.
"It is thine now, O Colum," said the Moon-Child, holding out to him
the shining pearl of great price.
"What is it, O Lord my God?" whispered the old servant of God that was
now glad with the gladness: "what is this, thy boon?"
"Perfect Peace."
_And that is all._
(_To God be the Glory. Amen._)