o be a
second Nero, in revenge for the death of the evil-doer, he appointed
several of his people to destroy the saint. And, as is testified by
the Holy Writ, a wicked prince always hath wicked ministers, many of
his servants put themselves forward, voluntary, prompt, and earnest to
so great a sacrilege. But God, the all-powerful protector of His
beloved, armed the zeal of the creature against these senseless
idolaters, and ere they could effect their wickedness he swept them
from the earth and destroyed them. For the earth opened and swallowed
them up, and so many of the people of Teamhrach as were consenting
thereto; and the abyss opened its mouth and devoured them, even alive.
And they who remained, and all the dwellers of that land seeing or
hearing of these things, feared with mighty fear; and, lest they should
be punished with the like punishment, they believed in Christ, and
crowded together unto the font. And the king trembled, and threw
himself at the feet of Patrick, and besought pardon, and promised that
he would thenceforth obey him. And the saint forgave him; yet, though
he a long time instructed him in the faith of the Lord Jesus, in no
wise could he persuade him unto baptism. Therefore he dismissed him,
that, following his free will, he might go on in the inventions of his
own heart, nor seem to be compelled unto the faith; yet, at the
revelation of the Spirit, what he foreknew of the king and his
posterity thus was prophesied by the saint: "Since thou hast always
resisted my doctrine, nor ceased to afflict me beyond measure;
moreover, since thou thoughtest scorn to believe in the Creator of all
things, therefore art thou the child of perdition, and thou, with all
that were partners in thine offence, shouldst justly, even at this
instant, go into eternal punishment; but since thou humbly besought of
me forgiveness, and, like the King Achab, hast humbled thyself before
my God, the Lord will not at this time bring on thee the evil which
thou hast deserved; yet shall none of thy seed sit on thy throne after
thee, but they shall become servants unto thy brother, who will believe
in Christ, and to his posterity for ever and ever." But the queen
believed in Christ, and was baptized and blessed of Patrick, and at
length, with a pious end, rested in the Lord. And he went forward with
his people, baptizing in the name of the Holy Trinity all those who
believed, while the Lord assisted and confirmed his labo