The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
History
The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
Patrick, Saint, 373?-463?
And Darius being thus healed, sent unto the saint by the hands of his
servants a large brazen vessel, the which contained thrice twelve
gallons, and was most needful unto him and his companions for the
dressing of their food. And he, much requiring such a vessel, kindly
received it; yet said he only: this "I thank him." And the servants,
returning unto their master, when he enquired of the saint's answer,
replied that he said nothing other than, "I thank him." Then Darius
thereat wondering, accused the saint of rashness and of rudeness; yet
desiring to try the virtue of the word, commanded that they should take
the vessel from Patrick and bring it back again. Which when they did,
the saint, as he was thereto accustomed in his words and in works,
said, "I thank him." And again Darius demanded what Patrick had this
time said: and hearing that even then he had only spoken as before, "I
thank him," and admiring and understanding his firmness, pronounced he
the saint to be a man of consummate constancy, and that the word of his
mouth was most excellent. "Truly," said he, "this is a magnanimous man
and of unalterable mind, whose countenance and whose word could not be
changed, whether the vessel be given unto him or taken from him; but
ever do they continue the same." Then did he, following his servants,
salute the saint with appeasing speech, and gave unto him a field near
his dwelling-place, about which dispute might possibly have arisen.
CHAPTER CLXIII.
_Ardmachia is given unto Saint Patrick; and a Fountain is produced out
of the Earth._
And after a short time the noble Darius, that he might show unto the
saint yet greater favor, brought him out of a low place unto a place
which was high; from a narrow dwelling unto one which was spacious and
fair, which was foreshown unto him by an angelic miracle, at that time
named Druymsaileach, but which is now called Ardmachia. And Saint
Patrick, considering the pleasantness and convenience of the place, and
walking around it, found therein a doe lying down with her fawn, which
they who accompanied the saint willed to slay; but this the pious
father would in no wise suffer to be done. And that he might show the
bowels of pity, which he had unto God's creatures, he bore the fawn in
his own arms, and caressed and cherished it, and carried it unto a park
at the northern side of Ardmachia; and the doe, even as the tamest
sheep, followed the compassionate bearer of her youngling, until he
placed it down at her side. And on that day did the saint, for the
praise of God and for the benefit of the people, bring forth out of the
earth by his prayers, even for the seventh time, a clear fountain.
CHAPTER CLXIV.
_The Saint beholdeth a Vision of Angels, and cureth Sixteen Lepers._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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