242 



" Momonix stagnum, Loch-lenius, undique zonis 

 Quatuor ambitur, prior est ex aere, secunda 

 Plumbea, de rigido conflatur terfia ferro : 

 Quarta renidenti pallescit linea stanno.* 



To which the Ogygia adds,-f "et in eo stagno margaritae niultae repe- 

 riuntur, quas ponunt reges in auribus suis;'' and a very curious paper 

 on the pearl fisheries of Ireland, may be found in the Philosophical 

 Transactions, (No. 198.) 



Of workers in the several metals, there are many available evi- 

 dences. Saint Patrick's staff before mentioned, was covered with 

 gold and precious gems ; and his artificer in the coarser utensils is 

 expressly named. ;}^ Saint Brigid's largess of a silver vase (vas) to 

 three lepers, is recorded by Cogitosus.§ The same author describes 

 the church of Kildare and the tomb of Saint Brigid, &c., adorned 

 with various ornaments of gold and silver, and gems, and precious 

 stones, and particularly with crowns of gold and silver. H And in the 

 Antiphonarium Benchorense, occur the following epithets of Bangor, 

 n the present County Down. 



1 



" Benchuir bond regula, 



* * » » 

 Area cherubim tecta, 

 Omni parte aurata, 

 Sacrosanctis referta, 



* * * * 

 Vere regalis aula 

 Variisgemmis ornata."** 



• Cited, Smith's Kerry, p. 125. t P- 292. 



1 " Fertchemus ***** faber S. Patricii campanulas, calices, aliaque sacra 

 rasa et utensUia fabricare consuetus." — Acta Sanctorum, p. 364. 



§ " Tribus leprosis postulantibus munus aliquod ab ea quodcumque accipere, vas largita 

 est argenteum." — Cogitos. Vita Brigid, c. 28. riEcib JK 



H " Vario cultu auri et argenti et gemmarum et pretiosi lapidis, atque coronis aureis et 

 argenteis." 



** See CConor, Ker. Hib. Script, vol. 1. Nunc. Epist. p. 172. 



