Hermit Songs

1. At Saint Patrick's Purgatory Pity me on my pilgrimage to Loch Derg! O King of the churches and the [[bells|2]] bewailing your sores and your wounds, but not a tear can I squeeze from my eyes! Not moisten an eye after so much sin! Pity me, O King! What shall I do with a heart that seeks only its own [[ease?|8]] O only begotten Son by whom all men were made, who shunned not the death by three wounds, pity] me on my pilgrimage to Loch Derg and I with a heart not softer than a stone!

2. Church bell at night Sweet little bell, struck on a windy [[night|6]], I would liefer keep tryst with thee than be with a light and foolish [[woman|3]].

3. Saint Ita's vision "I will take nothing from my Lord," said she, "unless He gives me His Son from [[Heaven|4]] In the form of a Baby that I may nurse Him". So that Christ came down to her in the form of a Baby and then she said: "Infant Jesus, at my breast, Nothing in this world is true Save, O tiny nursling, You. Infant Jesus at my breast, By my heart every night, You I nurse are not a [[churl|7]] But were begot on Mary the Jewess By Heaven's light. Infant Jesus at my breast, What King is there but You who could Give everlasting good? Wherefore I give my food. Sing to Him, maidens, sing your best! There is none that has such right To your song as Heaven's King Who every night Is Infant Jesus at my breast".

4. The heavenly banquet I would like to have the men of Heaven in my own house; with vats of [[good cheer|9]] laid out for them. I would like to have the three Mary's, their fame is so great. I would like people from every corner of Heaven. I would like them to be cheerful in their drinking. I would like to have [[Jesus|5]] sitting here among them. I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings. I would like to be watching Heaven's family Drinking it through all eternity.

5. The crucifixion At the cry of the first bird They began to crucify Thee, O Swan! Never shall [[lament|6]] cease because of that. It was like the parting of day from night. Ah, sore was the suffering borne By the body of Mary's Son, But sorer still to Him was the grief Which for His sake Came upon His [[Mother|3]].

6. Sea-snatch It has broken us, it has [[crushed|1]] us, it has drowned us, O King of the starbright Kingdom of Heaven! The wind has consumed us, swallowed us, as timber is devoured by crimson [[fire|7]] from Heaven. It has broken us, it has crushed us, it has drowned us, O King of the starbright Kingdom of Heaven!

7. Promiscuity I do not know with whom Edan will [[sleep,|2]] but I do know that fair Edan will not sleep [[alone.|8]]

8. The monk and his cat Pangur, white Pangur, How happy we are Alone together, [[Scholar|10]] and cat. Each has his own work to do daily; For you it is hunting, for me study. Your shining eye watches the wall; my feeble eye is fixed on a book. You rejoice when your claws entrap a mouse; I [[rejoice|9]] when my mind fathoms a problem. Pleased with his own art Neither hinders the other; Thus we live ever without tedium and envy. Pangur, white Pangur, How happy we are Alone together, Scholar and cat.

9. The praises of God How foolish the man who does not raise His voice and praise with joyful words, As he [[alone|10]] can, Heaven's High King. To whom the light [[birds|5]] with no soul but air, All day, everywhere laudations sing.

10. The desire for hermitage Ah! To be all alone in a little cell with nobody near me; beloved that pilgrimage before the last [[pilgrimage|1]] to death. Singing the passing hours to cloudy Heaven; Feeding upon dry bread and water from the cold spring. That will be an end to evil when I am alone in a lovely little corner among tombs far from the [[houses|4]] of the great. Ah! To be all alone in a little cell, to be alone, all alone: Alone I came into the world alone I shall go from it.

//Hermit songs// Selected by Samuel Barber from anonymous Irish monks [[1]] [[2]] [[3]] [[4]] [[5]] [[6]] [[7]] [[8]] [[9]] [[10]]