Saint Patrick´s Story

Este es un cuento muy sencillo sobre la historia de San Patricio, patrón de Irlanda. El 17 de marzo de cada año se celebra su onomástica alrededor del mundo y, por supuesto, en la Isla Esmeralda. Es tradición vestirse de verde en este dia tan especial.

Entre paréntesis están traducidas al castellano las expresiones que considero más desconocidas por tí, querido lector.

STORY OF SAINT PATRICK

Patrick was a happy young boy. He lived in a land across the sea. One day, Patrick heard voices on the wind (oyó voces en el viento). The voices were coming across the sea from Ireland.
The voices were calling for someone to come and show the people of Ireland a better way of life.

At that time, the people of Ireland were all pagans (paganos, no religiosos). They had strange gods (dioses) and customs (costumbres).
They were war-like people (gente a la que le gustaba la guerra) who were always fighting.
They could not (no sabían) read or write.

While Patrick was listening to the voices, a long boat landed (amarró) at the seashore (orilla del mar). Cruel and savage men jumped from the boat. They were raiders (piratas) from Ireland.
They captured Patrick and tied him up (le ataron). They put him into the boat and brought (le llevaron) him to Ireland.

Patrick was cold and hungry. Worst of all, he was afraid (tenía miedo) of the snakes (serpientes) that crawled (se arrastraban) all over Mount Slemish. Patrick spent (pasó) seven long years minding pigs and sheep (cuidando cerdos y ovejas) on Mount Slemish.
Every night and day, he prayed for God (rezaba para que Dios) to help him to escape.

Patrick was sold as a slave (A Patricio, le vendieron como esclavo). The man who bought (compró) Patrick was called Milchu. Milchu forced Patrick to work with him. Patrick´s work was minding sheep and pings high up on Mount Slemish in County Antrim.

One night, Patrick heard voices in a dream. The voice told him to go to the seashore.
Patrick went there and saw a boat getting ready to sail (preparándose para zarpar). He climbed on board (Saltó a bordo) the boat and hid under a sack (se escondió bajo un saco).

Soon the boat sailed out the sea. It landed near Patrick´s home. His mother and father were delighted (contentísimos) to see Patrick safely home again.
Patrick had promised God that, if he escaped from Ireland, he would become a bishop (se haría obispo).

Patrick kept his promise (mantuvo su promesa) and when he became a bishop, he again heard voices in a dream.
They were the same voices that Patrick had first heard as a young boy.

This time the voices said: "Come back, Patrick, and walk once more among us (entre nosotros)".
The people (El pueblo) of Ireland were asking Patrick to show them a better way of life. Patrick knew that God wanted him to go back to Ireland.
This time, he was nor afraid.

He banished (desterró) all the snakes from Ireland and drove them into the sea. He banished the strange gods and customs of the people.
He picked up a shamrock to show them how three Gods could be in one (Tomó un trébol y les mostró cómo tres dioses podían abarcar uno).

The people of Ireland became Christians.
Every year, on the 17th of March, people all over the world celebrate Saint Patrick´s Day. They wear green clothes and drink and laugh with their friends and families.