untain. Thus being made
Christians, they besought the saint that according to his promise he
would show unto them the face of Christ, their beloved Spouse. And the
saint thus answered: "Ye must first, with the mouth of your heart and
of your body, devoutly receive the flesh and the blood of your Spouse,
so that, being quickened with the living food, and having tasted of
death, ye may pass from this impure world unto the starry
bride-chamber." Then the virgins, believing in the word of the man of
God, devoutly entreated and received the Eucharist, and, immediately
falling asleep in the Lord, they quitted their earthly tabernacles, and
went unto their heavenly Spouse. And their friends and their kindred
gathered together and bewailed them for three days, as was the custom
of the country, and returned their sacred remains unto the womb of the
mother of all human kind. And on that spot was erected a church, which
is now collated to the metropolitan seat of Ardmachia. And the two
magicians, for that they had educated the damsels, were sorely grieved
at their deaths, and reproached the saint with bitter and angry words;
but he, touching the harp of David, and preaching unto them the kingdom
of God, converted them unto the faith, and they were baptized.

CHAPTER LIX.

_Of the Magician Struck by Lightning, and of Twelve Thousand Men
Converted unto Christ._

And after these things had come to pass, a great and solemn council was
held in a solemn place by the people of that province gathered there
together, whereat the seven sons of Amhlaich, a man eminent for his
birth, his dignity, his riches, and his power, were present with a
numerous train of their followers. Then the saint, that he might gain
many of that multitude unto Christ, threw himself into the midst of the
assembly, and took the spiritual armor of the power of God unto the
extirpation of idolatry. But when this renowned preacher unsheathed
the sword of the Spirit to the destruction of devils and the salvation
of man, a certain magician named Rochait with all his strength
endeavored to slay him. Lest, however, his wicked attempt should
accomplish the yet more wicked deed, the hand of the Almighty, sending
on him fire from above, consumed this child of hell, and smote him with
lightning, even in the presence of all. And beholding this marvellous
and fearful miracle, the seven sons of Amlaich, with twelve thousand of
the people, believed in Christ, an