_Of Conallus, and of the Prophecy of Patrick concerning him._
And the saint, leaving those children of darkness in the anger and
blindness of their hearts, and the depth of their error, turned his
steps towards Conallus, who was to be the child of the truth. And he,
rejoicing and giving thanks, received him as the angel of peace and of
delight, and opened the ears of his hearing unto the words of
salvation, and, through the laver of the regeneration and renovation of
the Holy Spirit, deserved he to be incorporated with Christ. Whereby
are we plainly showed that the Heavenly Potter out of the same clay can
form at His will one vessel unto reproof and another unto honor. Then
Conallus, being comforted and confirmed in the Catholic verity, offered
unto the saint his dwelling-house, and his land, and his farm, and
besought of him with many prayers that for the spreading of the
Christian faith he there would build a city for him and for his people;
and he said he would build a habitation for himself on the borders
thereof. And the saint, praising so great charity in his novice, lest
he should seem to reject his entreaty, builded there a city, which is
now called Domnhach Phadruig--that is, the City of Patrick; and
touching it with his staff, he marked out the dwelling-place of
Conallus, which is now called Rathyr-tair. And the saint blessed him
in the name of the Lord; and among other things which were to happen
unto him, thus did he prophesy: "Happy and prosperous shall be this
dwelling-place, and happy shall be they who dwell therein; nor shall
the blood of any man, save only one, be shed in it; and the Lord,
giving His blessing, shall bless thee, and He shall confirm thy throne
and multiply thine empire, and the seed of thy brother shall serve thy
seed for ever and ever." And all these things which the saint
prophesied were not in the event disproved.