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Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



49. But though I he rude in all things^ nevertheless I hare 

 endeaToured in some sort to keep watch over myself, even as regards 

 the Christian brethren, and the virgins of Christ, and the religious 

 women who used of their own accord to present me with their little 

 gifts, and would throw off their ornaments upon the altar, and I 

 retui^ned them again to them. And they were scandalized at my 

 doing so. But I did it on account of the hope of immortality, so as 

 to keep myself warily in all things, for this reason, namely, that the 

 heathen might receive me and the ministry of my service on any 

 grounds, and that I should not, even in the smallest matter, give 

 occasion to the unbelievers to defame or disparage. 



50. Perchance, then, when I baptized so many thousands of men, 

 I hoped, from any one of them even as much as the half of a scruple ? 

 Tell me^ and 1 shall restore it to you. Or when the Lord ordained clergy 

 everywhere by means of my mediocrity, and I imparted my service to 

 them for nothing, if I demanded from one of them even the price of 

 my shoe ; tell it against 7ne, and I shall restore you more. 



51. 1 spent for you that they might receive me, and both amongst 

 you, and wherever I journeyed for your sake, through many^^r^7s, 

 even to outlying regions beyond which no man dwelt, and where never 

 had anyone come to baptize or ordain clergy, or confirm the people, 

 I have, by the bounty of the Lord, done everything, carefully and 

 very gladly, for your salvation. 



52. On occasion, 1 used to give presents to the kings, besides the 

 hire that I gave to their sons who accompany me, and nevertheless 

 they seized me with my companions. And on that day they most 

 eagerly desired to kill me, but my time had not yet come. And every- 

 thing they found with us they plundered, and they bound me myself 

 with irons. And on the fourteenth day the Lord freed me from their 

 power, and whatever was ours was restored to us for the sake of God, 

 and the near friends, whom we had provided beforehand. 



53. Moreover, ye know by proof how much I paid to those who 

 acted as guides through all the districts which I more frequently 

 visited ; for I reckon that I distributed to them not less than the 

 price of fifteen men, so that ye might enjoy me, and I might ever 

 enjoy you in God. I do not regret it, nor is it enough for me. 

 Still I spend and will spend more. The Lord is mighty to grant to 

 me afterwards to be myself spent for your souls. 



