om the company of his fellow-travellers that
he might prove how many are the tribulations of the just through which
they must enter into the kingdom of heaven, fell into the hands of
strangers, by whom he was taken and detained; and while his spirit was
afflicted within him, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation
sent the angel Victor in the wonted manner to comfort him, promising
that in a short time he should be released from the hands of his
captors; and how truly was made the angelic promise did its speedy
fulfilment show, which followed even in the space of two months; for
the barbarians sold him to a certain man in the neighborhood for a
kettle--how small a purchase for so precious a merchandise! But when
the vessel that had been bought with such a price was filled with
water, and placed as usual on the hearth to dress their victual, behold
it received no heat; and so much the hotter the fire burned, so much
the colder did it become; and fuel being heaped thereon, the flame
raged without, but the water within was frozen, as if ice had been
placed under instead of fire. And they labored exceedingly thereat;
but their labor was vain, and the rumor went everywhere through the
country; and the purchaser, thinking it to have been done by
enchantment, returned his kettle to the seller, and took Patrick again
into his own power. And the vessel thereon received the heat, and did
its accustomed office even naturally, and showed to all that this
miracle happened because Patrick had been unjustly oppressed; and
forthwith they who had taken him let him go free. Thus, by the
heavenly power being released from the hands of strange children, was
he, after his long captivity, restored to his parents; and they,
beholding him, rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and at the return of
their son did their spirits revive as the spirits of one awakening from
a heavy sleep, and they besought of him, with entreaty of many prayers
and the abundance of many tears, that he would not again bereave them
of his presence. Therefore, that he might show the honor and the
submission due unto his parents, he abided with them certain days.

CHAPTER XXI.

_Of Saint Patrick's Vision._

And a short space of time being passed, the while he was settled in his
lather's house, he beheld in a vision of the night a man of comely garb
and countenance, bearing many letters as if from Ireland, and holding
out to him one of them for him to