260 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 



Teais^slation. 



[As far as is possible, in the quotations from the Bible, the rendering of the 

 English Version of 1611 has been followed, except in 0. T. Apocrypha, in which 

 the Douay Version of 1609 has been used.] 



COXFESSIO]S'. 



1. I, Pateick the sinner, am the most rustic and the least of all the 

 faithful, and contemptible in the eyes of very many. 



ITy father was Calpornus, a deacon, a son of Potitus, a presbyter, 

 who belonged to the village of Bannavem Tabemiae. ^^'ow lie had a 

 .small farm hard by, where I was taken captive. 



I was then about sixteen years of age. I knew not the true God, 

 and I was led into captivity to Ireland with many thousands of persons, 

 in accordance with oui' deservings, because we departed away from 

 God, and kept not Sis commandments, and were not obedient to our 

 priests, who were wont to admonish us for our salvation. And the 

 Lord poured upon us the fury of Sis anger, and scattered us amongst 

 many heathen unto the ends of the earth, where now my littleness may 

 be seen amongst men of another race. 



2. And there the Lord opened the understanding of my unbelief that, 

 even though late, I might call to mind my faults, and that I might 

 turn with all my heart to the Lord my God who regarded my low 

 estate, and pitied the youth of my ignorance, and preserved me before I 

 knew Him, and before I had discernment or could distinguish between 

 good and evil, and protected me and comforted me as a father does his 

 son. 



3. Wherefore, I cannot keep silence — nor would it be fitting — 

 concerning such great benefits and such great grace as the Lord has 

 vouchsafed to bestow on me in the land of my captivity, because this is 

 ^chat we can render unto Him, namely, that after we have been 

 chastened, and have come to the hnoicledge of God, we should exalt and 

 praise Sis wondrous works before every nation which is under the whole 

 heaven. 



4. Because there is no other God, nor was there ever any in times 

 past, nor shall there be hereafter, except God the Father unbegotten, 



