Saint Patrick addressed his well-beloved, the Prince Conallus; and
he enquired of him whether would he assume the habit of a monk. And
the prince replied that his heart was prepared to do whatsoever the
saint would command. Then the saint rejoicing at his devotion said
unto him, "For the sign of power and protection, and for the proof of
thy spiritual worth, shall thou bear thy shield and thy sceptre; the
name of a laic shalt thou show; but the mind and the merit of a monk
shall thou possess, inasmuch as many saints shall proceed from thee,
and many nations shall in thy seed be blessed." And he signed his
shield with the sign of the staff of Jesus, declaring that no one of
his progeny who should carry this shield in battle should ever by any
one be vanquished. And the chronicles of Hibernia declare, and her
bards record, that this the saint's prophecy unto Conallus and his seed
duly came to pass.

CHAPTER CXXXIX.

_A Heavenly Light shineth around Saint Patrick, and Victor is converted
unto the Faith._

And Saint Patrick coming into the territory of Mogharnd, went toward
the town of Domnhach Maghin, over which a man named Victor ruled. And
he hearing of the saint's arrival, yet loving darkness rather than
light, concealed himself in the shades of a thick grove, for much he
feared, lest being driven from the darkness of his unbelief, he should
though unwilling be compelled to believe in the true light. But the
shadows of the night season came on, nor yet did Patrick the son of
light therefore delay his journey. And when the curtain of deep night
had covered all things with surrounding darkness, it darkened not the
course of Patrick, who was the precursor of light; for unto him the
night was as day, and the deep shadows were as brightness. And the
light piercing through the darkness poured around the man concealing
himself, nor could he longer hide from before the face of the light.
Then Victor by so signal a sign being vanquished, and being even as
bound with the chains of the fear of the Lord, came unto Saint Patrick,
and devoutly entreated and received from him the holy baptism. And
being with all his household and all his people baptized, he gave unto
the saint his inheritance for the erection of a church, and among his
disciples he abided. And after a while he increased in holiness and in
the knowledge of the divine law, and being at length consecrated by
Saint Patrick, he received in that church t