Chapter VIII.—A Large Congregation.

While Peter was thus speaking, the multitudes, as if they had been called by some one, entered into the place where Peter was.  Then he, seeing a great multitude, like the smooth current of a river gently flowing towards him, said to 272Maroones, “Have you any place here that is better able to contain the crowd?”  Then Maroones conducted him to a garden-plot in the open air, and the multitudes followed.  But Peter, standing upon a base of a statue which was not very high, as soon as he had saluted the multitude in pious fashion, knowing that many of the crowd that stood by were tormented with demons and many sufferings of long standing, and hearing them shrieking with lamentation, and falling down before him in supplication, rebuked them, and commanded them to hold their peace; and promising healing to them after the discourse,^10951095    [In Recognitions, iv. 7, the healing is represented as occurring at once.—R.] began to speak on this wise:—