CONVERSION OF KING LAOGHAIRE'S DAUGHTERS.

Once when Patrick and his clericks were sitting beside a well in the

Rath of Croghan, with books open on their knees, they saw coming

towards them the two young daughters of the King of Connaught. 'Twas

early morning, and they were going to the well to bathe.

The young girls said to Patrick, "Whence are ye, and whence come ye?"

and Patrick answered, "It were better for you to confess to the true

God than to inquire concerning our race."

"Who is God?" said the young girls, "and where is God, and of what

nature is God, and where is His dwelling-place? Has your God sons and

daughters, gold and silver? Is he everlasting? Is he beautiful? Did

Mary foster her son? Are His daughters dear and beauteous to men of

the world? Is He in heaven, or on earth, in the sea, in rivers, in

mountainous places, in valleys?"

Patrick answered them, and made known who God was, and they believed

and were baptised, and a white garment put upon their heads; and

Patrick asked them would they live on, or would they die and behold

the face of Christ? They chose death, and died immediately, and were

buried near the well Clebach.

Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry · 第 128 / 162 题