_Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine and restored unto Life._
And another prince, named Elelius, strenuously resisted the doctrine of
the saint, nor ever opened his ears unto his preaching until misery
gave him understanding. For on a certain day his best-beloved son was
trampled on by the swine, and torn in pieces and almost devoured.
Which when the father heard, he rent his garments, and cast himself at
Patrick's feet, and, weeping, told unto him what had happened, and
promised him to believe in his God and obey his precepts, if, in His
name, the saint would revive his son. Then the saint commanded one of
his disciples, by name Malachia, by nation a Briton, that he should
restore unto life the dead and mangled youth. But he, disobeying and
disbelieving the word of the saint from the faint-heartedness of his
faith, thus answered: "Who is the man that may replace the bones which
are broken in pieces, renew the nerves, and restore the flesh, recall
the spirit to the body, and the life to the dead corpse? I will not
endeavor it, nor will I with such rashness tempt the Lord, nor essay a
work which I cannot finish." And the saint answered unto him: "Hast
thou not read the promise of the Lord? If ye ask anything from my
Father in my name, He will grant it unto ye: and again, If ye have
faith, though but as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this
mountain, Move thou hence, and cast thyself into the sea, and it shall
be done." And he answering that often had he so read, the saint
rejoined: "Since, as much as in thee lieth, thou hast rendered naught
the word of the Lord, I prophesy unto thee that thou shalt possess on
earth but a poor and slender household, and in thy church shall be the
dwelling of one man only." Then commanded he two bishops, his
disciples Elbeus and Hibarus, that they should revive the dead youth,
adding that he would assist them with his prayers. And they obeyed the
commands of their father, and, being aided by his prayers, they
restored the torn and mangled boy not merely unto life, but unto his
former health and unto his beauty and his strength. Therefore the
prince believed, and with all his household and with all his people was
baptized. And in the place where this miracle was worked he builded a
church, and, in memory of Saint Patrick, and of the two bishops, and of
the revived youth, he erected four very huge stones. But what the
saint foretold of his disciple Malachia happened in due time. Why,
however, he did not this miracle himself, but willed it to be done by
his disciples, is, I confess, to me and many such as I, utterly
unknown. Yet by these things a wise man will understand that as Saint
Patrick, in the name of the Lord, raised this dead body and divers
others, so, what is still more excellent, his disciples, when enjoined
by his commands and assisted by his prayers, were enabled to work this
great miracle.