Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

324 Fictions of the Irish Celts.
dissatisfaction. He ordered apartments to be assigned
to Patriclv and his companions, and uppointed him to
argue with his Dniids on the morrow.
Thousands were assembled next day on the wide plain,
and the stem-looking Druids filled the greater part of the
space enclosed for the disputants. After some explanations
and arguments were adduced by the missionary
which told heavily on the priests, the Chief cried out in
an arrogant tone, " If the Son of God has redeemed the
human race, and if you are sent by Him, work a miracle
to prove your mission." " I will not seek to disturb the
order of Providence to gratify mere curiosity," modestly
answered the saint. " Then will I approve the truth of
druidic worship by effecting what you fear to attempt,"
cried the infuriated pagan ; and beginning to describe
h'nes in the air with his wand, and to chant spells, a
thick veil of snow shut out the light and heat of the sun,
and covering the ground several feet, an intense cold
was felt, and the teeth of every one in the assembly
chattered. Cries of discontent arose, and the saint ad-
" You see how the assembly suffer
dressed the Druid :
banish this snow and cold, and admit the warm sunshine."
" I cannot do so till this hour on to-morrow."
" Ah ! you
are powerful for evil, not for good. Very
different is the gift bestowed on the messenger of the
Giver of all good." He made the sign of the cross
invoked the aid of the Holy Trinity, and the snow sunk
in the soil, the grass again emerged green and dry, and
the blue air again appeared, warmed by the bright and
comforting sunbeams. All the people invoked blessings
on the head of the beneficent Apostle.
" To convince you all," cried the Druid, " of our
power and that of our gods, behold what I am empowered
to do!" In a few seconds darkness such as
seldom shrouds the earth fell on the assembly, and they
groped about and murmured. Again was the thick
black cloud dispersed at the prayer of the Apostle, and
thousands of tongues blessed him.
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