_Of the Woman in Travail, and of her Offspring._
A certain prince, named Brendanus, who was then lately baptized,
earnestly besought the saint that he would bless a certain pregnant
woman; for he believed that his blessing would much avail unto her and
her offspring. And the saint, assenting to his petition, raised his
hand; but suddenly, before he had given the word of blessing or had
made the sign of the cross, he drew it back. For, at the revelation of
the Spirit, he knew that her child was conceived of Coirbre, of whom he
had prophesied that not one of his succession should remain. But why
the saint thus did the prince marvelled, and unto him the man of God
delayed not to declare the mystery nor the cause thereof. Then did he
the more earnestly entreat the saint that at least he would in some
other manner vouchsafe to bless the woman and her offspring. And
Patrick, raising his right hand, blessed her, and said: "The infant
which thou bearest in thy womb shall not reign, for the word that in
the name of the Lord I have spoken on Coirbre and on his seed shall
stand fixed; yet shall he be one of the chiefs of the land, and very
needful shall he be unto the king and unto the kingdom." And what the
saint foretold without doubt happened.