SAINT KEVIN AND KING O’TOOLE.

As Saint Kevin once was travelling through a place called Glendalough, He chanced to meet with King O’Toole, and asked him for a shough;[18] Said the king, “You are a stranger, for your face I’ve never seen, But if you have a taste o’ weed, I’ll lend you my dhudeen.”[19] While the saint was kindling up the pipe the monarch fetched a sigh; “Is there anything the matter,” says the saint, “that makes you cry?” Said the king, “I had a gander, that was left me by my mother, And this morning he cocked up his toes with some disease or other.” “And are you crying for the gander, you unfortunate ould goose? Dhry up your tears, in frettin’, sure, there’s ne’er a bit o’ use; As you think so much about the bird, if I make him whole and sound, Will you give to me the taste o’ land the gander will fly round?” “In troth I will, and welcome,” said the king, “give what you ask;” The saint bid him bring out the bird, and he’d begin the task; The king went into the palace to fetch him out the bird, Though he’d not the least intention of sticking to his word. Saint Kevin took the gander from the arms of the king, He first began to tweak his beak, and then to pull his wing, He hooshed him up into the air—he flew thirty miles around; Said the saint, “I’ll thank your majesty for that little bit o’ ground.” The king, to raise a ruction next, he called the saint a witch, And sent in for his six big sons, to heave him in the ditch; “Nabocklish,” said Saint Kevin, “I’ll soon settle these young urchins,” So he turned the king and his six sons into the seven churches. Thomas Shalvey (fl. 1850).