Page:The most ancient lives of Saint Patrick - O'Leary.djvu/83

 the demands shall be given." Patrick was afterwards with illness of mind in Cruachan, without drink or food, from Shrove Saturday to Easter Saturday, just like Moses, son of Amra; for they were alike in many things.  God accosted them both out of the fire; six score years was the age of each; the place of sepulture of both is uncertain.  At the end of those forty nights and forty days the mountain around him was filled with black birds, so that he could see neither heaven nor earth.  He sang cursing psalms at them, but they went not away from him.  He then became angry with them; he rang his bell at them, so that the men of Erinn heard its sound.  And he flung it at them, so that a gap was broken out of it, and that [bell] is Bernan-Brighte.

Patrick afterwards cried until his face and the front of his casula (cowl) were wet. No demon came after this to Erinn for the space of seven years, and seven months, and seven days, and seven nights.

The angel subsequently went to protect Patrick, and he cleaned his casula, and brought white birds about the Cruachan; and they used to chant sweet melodies for him. "I will bring so many souls from pain," said the angel, "and as many as would cover as far as your eye could reach on the sea." "That is no great boon for me," said Patrick; "not far can my eye reach over the sea." "You shall have between sea and land, then," added the angel. "Is there anything more granted to me besides that?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the angel; "you can bring seven every Saturday from the pains of hell for ever." "If anything be granted to me," observed Patrick, ["let me have] my twelve men." "You shall have it," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I shall not depart," said Patrick, "