CHAPTER XIV.

_Of Milcho's Dream, and of its Interpretation._

And Milcho beheld a vision in the night; and behold, Patrick entered

his palace as all on fire, and the flames issuing from his mouth, and

from his nose, and from his eyes, and from his ears, seemed to burn

him. But Milcho repelled from himself the flaming hair of the boy, nor

did it prevail to touch him any nearer; but the flame, being spread,

turned aside to the right, and, catching on his two little daughters

who were lying in one bed, burned them even to ashes; then the south

wind, blowing strongly, dispersed their ashes over many parts of

Ireland. And Milcho, awaking, meditated with himself on his couch what

prodigy might this remote vision portend. On the morrow, Patrick being

called before him, he declared unto him his dream, entreating and

abjuring him that if he knew he would unfold its interpretation. And

Patrick, being filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, answered unto

Milcho: "The fire which thou sawest to issue from me is the faith of

the Holy Trinity, with which I am entirely illumined, and which I shall

endeavor to preach unto thee; but my speech will find in thee no place,

for thou wilt, in the blindness of thine heart, repel from thee the

light of the divine grace, and thou wilt die in the darkness of thy

unbelief; but thy daughters shall at my preaching believe in the true

God, and, all the days of their lives serving God in holiness and in

justice, shall, in a pious end, rest in the Lord; and their ashes, that

is, their relics, the Lord revealing them and making of them signs,

shall be carried into many places through Ireland, and shall give the

blessing of health to many who are infirm; and thy dream is true, and

its interpretation is true, and all shall be fulfilled in due time."

Thus having said, Patrick departed to his accustomed labor; and all

these things happened unto Milcho and unto his daughters even as

Patrick had foretold.

The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings · 第 14 / 196 章