life to me.”  He (the dead man) rose up immediately at the command and he greeted Declan and all the others.  Whereupon Declan and his disciples received him with honour.  At first he was not completely cured but (was) like one convalescent until (complete) health returned to him by degrees again.  He however accompanied Declan and remained some time with him and there was much rejoicing in Declan’s city on account of the miracle and his (Declan’s) name and fame extended over the country generally.  This disciple of Patrick was named Ballin; he returned with great joy and he told him (Patrick) that Declan had raised him from the dead.  To many others likewise he related what had happened to him.  Patrick, in presence of many persons, hearing of the miracle gave glory and thanks to God and the name of Declan was magnified.

44.  With this extraordinary miracle wrought by Declan we wish to conclude our discourse.  The number of miracles he wrought, but which are not written here, you are to judge and gather from what we have written.  And we wish moreover that you would understand that he healed the infirm, that he gave sight to the eyes of the blind, cleansed lepers, and gave “their walk” to cripples; that he obtained hearing for the deaf, and that he healed many and various diseases in many different places throughout Ireland—­(things) which are not written here because of their length and because they are so numerous to record, for fear it should tire readers to hear so much said of one particular person.  On that account we shall pass them by.

45.  When Declan realised that his last days were at hand and that the time remaining to him was very short he summoned to him his own spiritual son, scil., MacLiag (residing) in the monastery which is on the eastern side of the Decies close to the Leinstermen in order that, at the hour of death, he might receive the Body and Blood of Christ and the Sacraments of the Church from his hands.  Thereupon he foretold to his disciples the day of his death and he commanded them to bring him to his own city, for it was not there he dwelt at the time but in a small venerable cell which he had ordered to be built for him between the hill called Ardmore Declain and the ocean—­in a narrow place at the brink of the sea by which there flows down from the hill above a small shining stream about which are trees and bushes all around, and it is called Disert Declain.  Thence to the city it is a short mile and the reason why Declan used go there was to avoid turmoil and noise so that he might be able to read and pray and fast there.  Indeed it was not easy for him to stay even there because of the multitude of disciples and paupers and pilgrims and beggars who followed him thither.  Declan was however generous and very sympathetic and on that account it is recorded by tradition that a great following (of poor, &c.), generally accompanied him and that moreover the little cell was very dear to him for the reason we have given, and many devout people have made it their practice to dwell therein.