el went out to a hill
to fish in the pools and furrows. When it was told to Patrick that he
had caught a salmon in this way, Patrick uttered the famous saying:
"Seorsim viri et seorsim foeminae ne occasionem dare intirmis inveniantur
et ne nomen Domini per nos blasphemetur, quid absit a nobis," for God
does not assist any unjust, false man; _i.e._, non temptabis Dominum Deum
tuum. Bishop Mel's sister then went with fire in her _casula_, Patrick
then knew there was no sin between them, dicens, "Seorsum feminis ne
occasione dare infirmis inveniamur et ne non Domini per nos blasfemaretur
quod absit a nobis, et sic reliquit eos," _i.e._, Bri-Leith between them:
she in Druim-Cheu to the west of Bri-Leith; he (Bishop Mel) to the east
of it, in Ard-Achadh.
Patrick went afterwards into northern Tethbha, _i.e._, to the territory
of Cairbre, where Granard was presented to him by the sons of Cairbre,
and he left there Bishop Guessacht, son of Milchu, his foster-brother,
and the two sisters Emir, who first put up at Cluain-Bronaigh; and this
is the reason why the sides of the churches are joined to each other; and
it is the airchinnech (superior) of Granard that always ordains the head
nun in Cluain-Bronaigh. The moment that Patrick blessed the veil on the
aforesaid virgins, their four feet sank into the rock, and the traces
exist in it always. Patrick went afterwards across the water to
Magh-Slechta, where the arch-idol of Erinn was, _i.e._, Cenn Cruach, made
of gold and silver, surrounded by twelve other idols formed of bronze.
When Patrick saw the idols from the waters called Guthard (_i.e._, he
raised his voice--_guth_, voice; _ard_, high), and when he approached it,
he lifted his hand to lay the Bachall-Isa on it; but he could not, as the
idol inclined over to its right side (for towards the south its face was
turned), and the mark of the _bachall_ lives yet in its left side,
although the _bachall_ did not leave Patrick's hand. And the ground
swallowed the other twelve idols as far as their heads; and they are in
that condition in commemoration of the prodigy. And he cursed the demon
(idol), and banished him to hell; and he called all the people, with king
Laeghaire, who worshipped the idols; and all saw him (the demon), and
feared death unless Patrick would banish him to hell. His _graif_
(fibula) fell from Patrick's garment whilst maintaining the conflict and
valor against the idol. He cut away all the heath in the p
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