"
In the hymn of St. Fiacc, a contemporary of the Apostle, the
birthplace of St. Patrick is said to have been at "Empthor," or
"Nemthur," as it is sometimes printed. The same locality is assigned
to it in the "Tripartite Life of Saint Patrick", but considerable
controversy has arisen as to the exact position of the place. See
"The Life of Saint Patrick", by P. Lynch, Dublin, 1828: "St. Patrick,
Apostle of Ireland", by J. H. Todd, D.D. (1864); and "The Life of St.
Patrick", by M. F. Cusack, Kenmare, Co. Kerry (1869), a most
elaborate and very beautiful work.
SCENE II., p. 252.
This long address of Patrick is founded on the following passages of
the story as originally told in Montalvan's "Vida y Purgatorio de San
Patricio", Madrid, 1627. The translation is made as literal as
possible, to show how closely Calderon followed even the language of
Montalvan.
Chapter I. -- "Between the north and west is situated the Island of
Hibernia, or Ireland, as it is at present more usually called. It
was once known as the Island of Saints, because its inhabitants were
ever ready to shed their blood in the lists of martyrdom, which is
the highest proof of courage which the Faithful can give; since life
being so dear to us, it is a most heroic act for the sake of religion
to offer it to the sacrilegious hands of a tyrant that only lives in
seeing others die.
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