narmed man, and driven from
your borders him announcing unto ye peace and preaching salvation, ye
and your seed shall turn your backs in the day of battle." And they,
hearing this, feared his face mightily, even as a sword, and repenting
their rashness, save only five alone, bended their knees before the
saint with lamentable prayers, and besought forgiveness. Then the
saint awhile deliberated within himself, and once again spoke unto them
with prophetic speech: "The word which, at the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, hath gone out of my mouth on ye and on your seed shall be
fulfilled; but since ye have repented in your hearts, though ye shall
be turned to flight, shall none of ye, save only five alone, fall in
any conflict of battle." And the people of Hibernia vouch that this
prophecy of the saint hath been evinced by continual proofs.

CHAPTER CXIX.

_Certain Cheeses are converted into Stones, and many Wicked Men are
drowned._

And certain wicked and envious men, who lived in the country of Ferros,
contriving to destroy the life of the saint, offered unto him poisoned
cheeses, as if for his benediction; the which he blessed, and
immediately converted into stones, to the admiration of many, the honor
of God, the veneration of himself, and the confusion of the poisoners.
And unto this day remain these stones in the place where the miracle
was done, and show the virtue of Patrick, though mute, because they
underwent mutation. Then did these poisoners, seeing that their
machinations redounded to the glory of the saint and to the shame of
themselves, gather together fifty armed men to spill the blood of this
just one. And they, being assembled against him, entered the ford of a
certain river, journeying along the bank whereof the man of God met
them; and when he beheld their countenances, he understood their
thoughts, and raising against them his left hand, with a clear voice he
cried out, "Ye shall not come unto us, nor shall ye return unto your
own people, but in this river shall your bodies remain, even to the day
of judgment." Then, according to the word of the man of God,
immediately they sank as lead in the mighty waters; nor even to this
day were their bodies found, though long and often sought. Thus, at
the divine mandate, did the water punish them who conspired the death
of Saint Patrick, as erewhile the fire from heaven punished them which
were sent by King Achab to the prophet. And the place whe