Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Life of St Féchín of Fore (Author: [unknown])
section 24
Now Diarmait son of Aed Sláine had a warrior of noble race in custody. He was a friend of Féchín's, and his name was Aedán. Féchín came along with a band of his monks to ask the king, even Diarmait, for his captive. When Féchín was seen coming to the fortress, Diarmait, for fear of being
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asked for the captive, ordered the gates of the fortress to be closed. Féchín came to the fortress, and the locks and the gates open of themselves, so that Féchín came to the house wherein were the kings, even Diarmait and Blathmac, and many other persons of noble race. He asked the kings to let Aedán go forth, and all entreated that he should be delivered to Féchín, save only one man, who gave his counsel against the saint and forthwith died. The kings besought Féchín to restore him to life and (promised) that he should have Aedán. So it is done, namely, Féchín resuscitated the dead man and Aedán is let go with him. And Féchín came with his people happily and joyously to Fore, and Aedán was with them, and he asked Féchín to put him to reading, and so it is done. God and Féchín's prayer bestowed upon him the grace of wisdom, and he afterwards lovingly took holy orders. And through Féchín's powers God lessened Aedán's appetite.29 For he previously used to consume a dinner for seven, and thenceforward he would make (only one) monk's dinner.30 It was not strange that he consumed a big dinner, such was the greatness of his body and his strength. For he was stronger and stouter than any (other) man of his time. And the measure of his girdle would go under Féchín to the ground on the outside of his raiment. And great was the body accordingly, as we have found in the books. And God's name and Féchín's were magnified by those many miracles which God wrought for him.