CHAPTER CLXXXIX.

_Saint Brigida bringeth unto Saint Patrick the Garment which was to

enshroud his Body._

And Saint Patrick, being instructed of heaven, understood the desire of

the heart of Brigida, and the words of her mouth, and her preparation

of the garment, and that she would enshroud therewith his body, as the

spiritual token of their mutual love in Christ. And he himself

returned unto the monastery of Saballum, which he had filled with a

fair assembly of monks; and there, down lying on the bed of sickness,

awaited he with a happy hope the termination of his life, nay, rather

of his pilgrimage, and his entrance into the life eternal. And the

venerable virgin obeyed the word of her father and bishop; and she went

unto the monastery, and took the garment, and with four virgins in her

train hastened she to return unto the saint; but forasmuch as they were

afflicted with too long abstinence and with the difficulty of the

journey, for very weariness they stayed on their way, nor could they

speed thereon as they had purposed. Yet the saint, while in Saballum,

knew at the revelation of the Spirit the weariness of the virgin; and

he commanded his charioteer to meet them on their way with four

chariots, and the charioteer obeyed, and met them at the place

exceeding wearied, and brought them unto the saint. And they offered

unto him the garment, the which he kindly received; and kissing his

feet and his hands, they obtained his benediction.

The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings · 第 189 / 196 章