ing over
with unsoiled feet, he went unto her. And while the saint was
consecrating the virgin Treha, a veil is dropped on her head by the
angel of the Lord, and reaching even unto her lips, covering her eyes;
and the saint stretched forth his hand, willing to remove the veil from
her eyes; but the damsel humbly prevented him, saying, "I beseech thee,
my father, let the veil remain, even as it is placed on the head of
thine handmaid, that mine eyes may no longer behold the vanity of this
world, but rather may, looking inward, contemplate the brightness of
mine heavenly Spouse!" Therefore Patrick, rejoicing at the pious
purpose of the damsel, let fall her veil; and as it was at first placed
on her from heaven, through all her life, covering her eyes like a dove
and her knees like a turtle-dove, it remained as if it were joined to
her face. Thus did the covering of the sacred veil exclude every
alluring object from her eye, lest death should enter therewith.

CHAPTER LXXXIX.

_Saint Patrick Prophesieth of the Sanctity of Saint Columba._

A certain prince named Conallus sought and obtained a blessing from the
saint. And with the like purpose came also his younger brother,
Fergus, who was one of the most powerful chiefs of the country. And
him, the holy prelate, having prayed, blessed, and laid his hand upon
his head with much solemnity and with peculiar devotion. But Conallus,
who was elder in birth and in dominion, seeing that the saint had
blessed his brother more earnestly and more devoutly than himself,
wondered and grieved mightily. Therefore Patrick, observing his face
unusually clouded, explained the cause of this so solemn benediction,
and, prophesying, said unto him: "I have blessed thy brother Fergus for
the sake of the blessed child that will be born of his race. For his
son Fedhleminus will beget a son who will be called Columba--a name
well fitted to his birth, since even in his mother's womb will he be
filled with the Holy Spirit. Forasmuch as he will be enriched with the
treasures of the divine wisdom and grace, rightly will he be called the
bright and shining lamp of his generation, and the prophet of the Most
Highest; and from the time that he cometh to the age of understanding
never shall a purposed falsehood issue from his lips." How truly was
this prophecy made of Saint Columba, who is called Coluimcille, and was
the founder of an hundred monasteries, he who would more fully know,
let