wain. Then the man of God well knowing that this could not uncausedly
happen, enquired of the grove, and unto whom it belonged; and he was
told that it had been consecrated unto the infernal spirits.
Wherefore, knowing the divine will, and agreeing with the sentence of
heaven, he raised his left hand, and cursed the grove. Wonderful was
the event! Forthwith, like the fig-tree in the Gospel, it withered;
nor from that time was it ever fit unto any use, save only to be hewed
down and cast into the fire.

CHAPTER CXXVIII.

_The Sentence pronounced by the Saint on his Deceivers._

A certain prince and his people, which dwelled in a place called
Nadese, within the country of Momonia, appointed a day and an hour
whereon they might meet in the presence of Saint Patrick to deliberate
concerning the erection of churches. And the saint came at the fixed
time, and he waited during the whole day until the evening, but no man,
at least no man thereunto deputed, came to meet him. And in this
manner did they oftentimes deceive the servant of God. Nevertheless
the Holy Spirit dwelling in Patrick concealed not from these men the
reward of their presumption delivered through his mouth; for when on
another evening they came, he said openly unto them, "Since ye have not
only deceived me, but the Holy Spirit, neither ye nor your children
shall ever in this place finish any your business until the evening."
And according to the common saying, this the sentence of the saint is
continually fulfilled, for if the people of this place begin any
business in the early morning, never can they finish it until the
latest evening.

CHAPTER CXXIX.

_A Mountain is swallowed up in the Earth, and again it is raised._

And among the chiefs of Momonia was a certain wicked man named
Cearbhallus, and he always hindered Saint Patrick, so that a church
could not be builded in the lands of his inheritance. And not far from
this man's dwelling was a lake which was fair and pleasing to the eye,
but a lofty mountain which stood between intercepted all the delight
from his view. Him did the saint address for the building of a church,
exhorting and entreating; but long time he resisted. And on a certain
day this wicked man, endeavoring with subtle argument to circumvent the
saint, said unto him: "If in the name of the Lord thy God thou wilt
remove yonder mountain, so that mine eyes may be freely satisfied with
this desired lake, then shall