great." "Is that His decision?" said Patrick. "It is," answered the
angel. "This is my decision, then," said Patrick: "I shall not leave
this Cruachan until I die or all the demands shall be given." Patrick
was afterwards with illness of mind in Cruachan, without drink or food,
from Shrove Saturday to Easter Saturday, just like Moses, son of Amra;
for they were alike in many things. God accosted them both out of the
fire; six score years was the age of each; the place of sepulture of both
is uncertain. At the end of those forty nights and forty days the
mountain around him was filled with black birds, so that he could see
neither heaven nor earth. He sang cursing psalms at them, but they went
not away from him. He then became angry with them; he rang his bell at
them, so that the men of Erinn heard its sound. And he flung it at them,
so that a gap was broken out of it, and that [bell] is Bernan-Brighte.

Patrick afterwards cried until his face and the front of his _casula_
(cowl) were wet. No demon came after this to Erinn for the space of
seven years, and seven months, and seven days, and seven nights.

The angel subsequently went to protect Patrick, and he cleaned his
_casula_, and brought white birds about the Cruachan; and they used to
chant sweet melodies for him. "I will bring so many souls from pain,"
said the angel, "and as many as would cover as far as your eye could
reach on the sea." "That is no great boon for me," said Patrick; "not
far can my eye reach over the sea." "You shall have between sea and
land, then," added the angel. "Is there anything more granted to me
besides that?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the angel; "you can bring
seven every Saturday from the pains of hell for ever." "If anything be
granted to me," observed Patrick, ["let me have] my twelve men." "You
shall have it," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I shall not
depart," said Patrick, "because I have been tormented, until I am