This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE HIDING AWAY OF BLESSED ANGUS
IRELAND, A.D. 770

Because his fame was noised abroad
And blown about from sea to sea,
Angus, God's singer, dear to God,
Ate ashes in humility,
Deeming man's praise as nothing more
Than chaff upon a winnowing floor.

But since such dust might enter in
And choke the soul, he fled away
One morning when the birds begin,
About the time of gold and gray;
And came barefoot, with tattered gown,
To Tallaght, nigh to Dublin town.

At Tallaght the great Friary stood,
A hive of busy saintly bees.
Their Abbot, Melruan, wise and good,
Angus besought on bended knees,
Some task, however hard and rough,
Nor drive the starving beggar off.

His face was grimed with dust and sweat,
His lips were at the threshold stone;

137