answered unto them: "Believe in and confess the God who giveth food
unto all flesh, and by whom, when He openeth His hand, ye shall be
satisfied from His goodness." And he prayed earnestly, and behold, as
he prayed for them, suddenly an herd of swine appeared, and they saw
wild honey, and therewith they were sufficed even to fulness, nor from
that day through their whole journey did ever a supply of food fail
unto them. And this great miracle being seen, they all gave thanks
unto God and held Saint Patrick in the highest reverence.




CHAPTER XVIII.

_Of his Fast continued for Twenty Days._

And all things succeeding prosperously, and their provision much
abounding, these men soon forgot the Lord who had saved them from the
straitness of hunger, and, ungrateful for the benefits extended unto
them by the divine bounty, they sacrificed of their food to devils, and
not unto God, imitating herein those Samaritans whom the Book of Kings
records to have worshipped God, yet not to have the service of their
idols. Wherefore it seemed good to Saint Patrick to eat no earthly
food for twenty continual days, and, albeit he was much entreated
thereto, he would in no wise join with them in their meals, lest he
should appear to be contaminated with their sacrifices. And the power
to endure this abstinence was given unto Patrick by the Lord, who had
theretofore enabled Elias the prophet to fast forty days.