ard stone into a soft mass of curdled
milk, and of this milk, in the name of Christ, he changed two soft
pieces into hard stones. But lest these should be accounted false and
like unto the signs of the magicians, the stones continued in the same
hardness whereunto they were transformed. But this which was
corporally done before the eyes of men, doth the divine virtue
spiritually do in the conversion of believers; inasmuch as the
worshippers of stones, men of hardened hearts, become soft unto the
faith and love of Christ, and as if again born infants, they desire the
milk of the apostolic doctrine, that thereby they may grow up unto
salvation. So did it happen unto the magician, who beholding this
miracle believed in the Lord and was baptized.

CHAPTER CLV.

_A Wagon laden with Twigs is saved from the Fire._

And Saint Patrick requested of a certain man, that he would bring unto
him two wagons laden with twigs, for that such were required for
certain needful uses. And the man fulfilled his request, and brought
the twigs unto the appointed place. But a fire seized the two wagons
and burned one thereof, yet left it the other unharmed of the flame.
And all the beholders marvelled, that the fire should exercise its
natural power over the one wagon, and on the other have no effect; as
of yore it happened unto the three children which were cast into the
fiery furnace, but which were saved from the fire, nor did any hurt
come on them. We however admire in this miracle the merit of the
saint; but in no wise think that the cause thereof needs to be
discussed.

CHAPTER CLVI.

_The Saint is preserved untouched from the falling Rain._

The man of God was wont to observe with singular devotion the Lord's
day, for the remembrance of that great solemnity, which the life of
death reviving unto resurrection, hath made worthy of rejoicing in
heaven, in earth, and in the grave. Wherefore this holy custom was
fixed in his mind, even as a law, that wheresoever the Sabbath-eve
arrived, he for reverence thereto passed the night and the next holy
day in hymns, and in psalms, and in spiritual songs; and heartily
devoting himself unto divine contemplation, so he continued until the
morning of the succeeding day. And on a time the observance of this
holy custom caused the blessed Patrick to celebrate the vigil under the
open air; and a violent fall of rain inundated all the field around:
but the place whereon the holy w