Page:Faoistin naoṁ-Ṗadraig (1906).djvu/88

72 days, and on that night on which we came to where people were, we had really no food.

23. And once more. after a few years, I was in Britain with my parents, who received me as a son, and earnestly besought me that now, at least, after such tribulation as I had suffered, I should not leave them any more. And there, truly, I beheld in a vision of the night a man called Victoricus coming as it were from Ireland with letters innumerable. And he gave me one of them, and I read the beginning of the letter, which contained: The Voice of the Irish; and while I was reading aloud the beginning of the letter methought that at that very moment I heard the voice of those who lived beside the wood of Foclut, which is near the Western Sea. And as with one voice they thus exclaimed: "We beseech thee, O holy youth, that thou come hither and still walk amongst us." And I was greatly affected at heart and could read no more. And so I awoke. Thanks be to God, that after many years the Lord granted to them according to their solicitation.

24. And another night, whether within me or beside me I know not, God knoweth, in most skilful words which I heard but could not understand except at the end of prayer, He spoke thus: "He who laid down his life for thee, He it is who speaketh in thee." And so I awoke in gladness.

25. And on another occasion I saw Him praying within me, and I was as it were within my body. And I heard Him above me, that is, above the inner man, and there He was praying mightily with groanings. And thereupon I wondered greatly, and began to think who it could be that was praying within me. But at the end of the prayer He said that He was the Spirit and so I awoke, and I called to mind the saying of the apostle: The Spirit assisteth the infirmities of our