y Trinity; and
forthwith all the fantastic snow which could not melt in the accustomed
manner vanished. And all around marvelled, confessing the hand of the
Lord working in Patrick, and detesting the deceitful works of the
magician.

CHAPTER XLVII.

_How the Darkness was Dispersed._

And the magician, beholding how his art was scorned and set at small
account, once again by his enchantments covered the places that had
been whitened with snow, even with a palpable cloud of thick darkness.
And fear and trembling came on all whom it covered, or at least they
experienced how closely it shaded them from the brightness of the true
faith. Nor let it be marvelled that strangers to the darkness of the
true light which illuminates every man entering this world should be
involved in the darkness of magicians, who, with blind and hardened
heart, worshipped the prince of darkness. And Patrick in his wonted
words addressed the magician, that he would make this cloud to pass
away; but the magician answered even as before. Then did the son of
light pour out a prayer unto the Eternal Light, the Sun of Justice, and
immediately the material sun arose and shone forth, and the darkness
was dispersed. And the people which had hitherto sat in darkness, now
beholding the great light, proclaimed their thanks and their praises,
and magnified Patrick, who was the preacher of the Eternal Light.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

_How the Magician and his Garment were consumed, and Benignus and the
Garment of St. Patrick preserved unhurt._

But the magician, loving darkness rather than light, and darkening
himself in the delusions of his darkness, stubbornly persevered in his
malice, and still contentiously affirmed that his wicked and perverse
opinions excelled the doctrines of the saint. And the king feared that
the works of the magician would be overturned, and he proposed a
certain trial to be made between them: "Let your books be plunged into
the water, and he whose writings are blotted or effaced, let his
preaching be disbelieved; but he in whose writings no blemish shall be
found, let his preaching be admitted and confirmed." And Patrick
assented to this decision, but the magician refused; for he affirmed
that Patrick worshipped the element of water for a god, inasmuch as he
baptized with water in the name of his God. Then the king changed the
trial, and appointed that each book should be cast into the fire, and
that of him whose