les. And after a season, the charioteer of Darius sent his horse
into this field, there to pasture during the night; the which when on
the morrow he would lead forth of the field, found he dead. Which when
Darius heard, he was moved with wrath, and preventing all excuse, all
delay, all revocation, commanded that Patrick should be slain, as the
slayer of his horse. But scarcely had the word issued from his lips,
when lo, suddenly came on him a monitory, nay, a minatory weakness of
death, and cast him on his sickbed; and as suddenly were his feet which
were prompt unto mischief, and his hands which were accustomed unto
evil, recalled from the shedding of innocent blood; for misery alone
gave him understanding. Which things being told unto the saint, he
bade that the steed and the man should be sprinkled with water which
had been blessed of him: and being so sprinkled, each arose; the horse
from death, and Darius from the bed of sickness.

CHAPTER CLXII.

_Of the Vessel which was given unto Saint Patrick, and again taken from
him._

And Darius being thus healed, sent unto the saint by the hands of his
servants a large brazen vessel, the which contained thrice twelve
gallons, and was most needful unto him and his companions for the
dressing of their food. And he, much requiring such a vessel, kindly
received it; yet said he only: this "I thank him." And the servants,
returning unto their master, when he enquired of the saint's answer,
replied that he said nothing other than, "I thank him." Then Darius
thereat wondering, accused the saint of rashness and of rudeness; yet
desiring to try the virtue of the word, commanded that they should take
the vessel from Patrick and bring it back again. Which when they did,
the saint, as he was thereto accustomed in his words and in works,
said, "I thank him." And again Darius demanded what Patrick had this
time said: and hearing that even then he had only spoken as before, "I
thank him," and admiring and understanding his firmness, pronounced he
the saint to be a man of consummate constancy, and that the word of his
mouth was most excellent. "Truly," said he, "this is a magnanimous man
and of unalterable mind, whose countenance and whose word could not be
changed, whether the vessel be given unto him or taken from him; but
ever do they continue the same." Then did he, following his servants,
salute the saint with appeasing speech, and gave unto him a field near
his dw