."
Then to him the saint: "Our God is the true light illumining every man
at his entrance into the world; our God, who came to send upon earth
that fire which He desireth should burn in the hearts of the faithful:
for the word of the Lord is bright, and his speech is as fire; whereof
by my preaching hast thou had in thyself the proof."

CHAPTER CLIX.

_The holy Virgin Memhessa departeth unto God._

There was a noble and beautiful damsel, named Memhessa, the daughter of
a prince who reigned in a certain part of Britain. And she, being
occupied with the grace of the Holy Spirit, through the virtue which is
innate in a good disposition, and from the divers species of all
created creatures, understood the Creator; and Him, being so
understood, she affected with all her heart and with all her soul; for
the love and desire of the which affection she looked down on all the
riches, and all the delights, and all the splendors, and all the charms
of this world's glory, and she despised them in her heart. Yet had she
not been washed in the holy font, though in her manners she represented
the purity of the Christian faith. And her parents being heathens,
mainly endeavored with words and with stripes to frustrate and to shake
her purpose; but the column of her virgin heart being builded on the
rock of Christ, could neither be subverted by their persuasions, nor
shaken by their threats, nor could she by any their evil doings at all
be moved from her fixed firmness. And forasmuch as the spring-time of
her youth made her beautiful, and the elegance of her form made her
right lovely, while in her countenance the lilies and the roses of the
garden were mingled together, very many princes of royal stock desired
her in marriage; however in no wise could she thereunto be persuaded or
compelled. Wherefore having a long time vainly labored, her parents by
general consent brought her unto Saint Patrick, the fame of whose
holiness was proved and published through all that country by many
signs and miracles. Then they unfolded unto the saint the purpose of
the damsel, earnestly entreating him that he would bring her unto the
sight of his God whom she so loved and toward whom her heart yearned.
This the saint hearing, rejoiced in the Lord, giving thanks unto Him,
whose breath doth blow even whither and how he listeth; and who
oftentimes calleth unto himself without any preaching those whom he had
predestinated unto life. Then, hav