And that which the saint foretold
unfailingly came to pass--whereby a prudent man may take heed, lest
misled by ambition he should ever attempt the like.

CHAPTER CXXIV.

_The Blind Man is restored to Sight; from him who seeeth is Sight
taken; and three are relieved of Lameness._

A certain man named Domhhaldus, who was blind even from his birth,
hearing the saint passing by, placed himself in his way; for he trusted
that through him should he receive the light so much desired. But
forasmuch as the darkness was before his steps and the light was
withdrawn from his eyes, while running forward he fell, and when he
would have arisen no one was there who would help him with their hand.
And a certain priest in the company of the saint seeing him to fall,
laughed, and mocked the mischance of the blind man. The which Saint
Patrick observing, was offended, and lest any among his disciples
should so again presume, he checked the foolishness of the scorner with
reproof and with punishment, saying, "Verily I say unto thee, since in
the name of my God the eyes of this man, which are closed in darkness,
shall now be opened, the eyes of thee, which are opened only to evil,
shall now be closed." Thus he said, and making the sign of the cross,
he removed the darkness from the blind man, and the light from the bad
man who saw. And herein was the word of the Saviour, recorded in the
Holy Scriptures, fulfilled: "That they which see not might see, and
that they which see might be blind." And even on the same day healed
he three lame men who besought his aid; and according to the prophet,
he made the lame to leap as a hart, and run on their way rejoicing.

CHAPTER CXXV.

_Nine Evil-doers are consumed by Fire from Heaven, and a Fountain is
produced out of the Earth._

And nine evil-doers contriving the death of Patrick, the herald of
life, pretended to be monks and ministers of righteousness; and they
put on them white cowls, that the easier might they destroy the saint,
who was clothed in the same habit. And herein did they imitate their
preceptor, Satan, the angel of darkness, who sometimes transfigureth
himself into an angel of light, and unto whom in their arts and in
their acts they paid obedience. But an illustrious man named Enda, the
friend of the holy prelate, observing the treachery of these wicked
men, sent unto them his own son named Conallus, that he might prevent
their endeavor, and repulse their viole