y speak, he refreshed himself unto the labor of his
continual conflict. With such rest indulging, he girded his loins with
roughest hair-cloth, the which had been dipped in cold water; lest
haply the law of the flesh, warring in his members against the law of
the Spirit, should excite any spark of the old leaven. Thus did Saint
Patrick with spare and meagre food, and with the coarsest clothing,
offer himself a holy and living sacrifice, acceptable unto God; nor
suffered he the enemy to touch in him the walls of Jerusalem, but he
inflicted on his own flesh the penance of perpetual barrenness; and
that he should not bring forth children which might hereafter be worthy
of death, made he his spirit fruitful of abundant fruit.

CHAPTER CLXXXV.

_The Habit, the Bearing, and the Acts of Saint Patrick._

And until the five and fiftieth year of his age, wherein he was
advanced in Hibernia unto the episcopal degree, did he after the manner
of the apostles continually travel on foot; and thenceforth, by reason
of the difficulty of the journey, he used a chariot, according to the
manner of the country. And over his other garments he was clothed with
a white cowl, so that in the form and the candid color of his habit he
showed his profession, and proved himself the candidate of lowliness
and purity. Whence it came to pass that the monks in Hibernia
following his example, for many years were contented with the simple
habit which the wool of the sheep afforded unto them, untinged with any
foreign dye. And he kept his hands clear from any gift, ever
accounting it more blessed to give than to receive; therefore when any
gift was given unto him by any rich man, he hastened so soon as might
be to give it unto the poor, lightening himself thereof as of a heavy
burden. In his countenance, in his speech, in his gait, in all his
members, in his whole body, did he edify the beholders; and his
discourse was well seasoned, and suited unto every age, sex, rank, and
condition. In four languages, the British, the Hibernian, the Gallic,
and the Latin, was he thoroughly skilled; and the Greek language also
did he partly understand. The little Book of Proverbs, which he
composed in the Hibernian tongue, and which is full of edification,
still existeth; and his great volume, called Canoin Phadruig, that is,
the canons of Patrick, suiteth every person, be he secular, be he
ecclesiastic, unto the exercise of justice and the salvation of s