Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Life of St. Declan of Ardmore (Author: Patrick Power)
chapter 30
One night Declan was a guest at the house of a wealthy man who
dwelt in the southern part of Magh Femhin; this is the kind of person
his host was, scil.:—a pagan who rejected the true faith, and his
name was Dercan. He resolved to amuse himself at the Christians'
expense; accordingly he ordered his servants to kill a dog secretly,
to cut off its head and feet and to bury them in the earth and then
to cook the flesh properly and to set it before Declan and his
company as their meal. Moreover he directed that the dog should be
so fat that his flesh might pass as mutton. When, in due course, it
was cooked, the flesh, together with bread and other food, was laid
before Declan and his following. At that moment Declan had fallen
asleep but he was aroused by his disciples that
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he might bless their meal. He observed to them:—‘Indeed I see, connected with this meat,
the ministry of the devil.’ Whereupon he questioned the waiters as
to the meat—what kind it was and whence procured. They replied:
‘Our master ordered us to kill a fat ram for you and we have done as
he commanded.’ Declan said, ‘Our Master is Jesus Christ and may He
show us what it is that connects the ministry of Satan with this meat
and preserve thy servants from eating forbidden food.’ As he spoke
thus Declan saw in the meat the claw of a dog, for, without intending
it, they had boiled one quarter of the dog with its paw adhering;
they thought they had buried it (the incriminating limb) with the
other paws. Declan exclaimed, ‘This is not a sheep's but a dog's
foot.’ When the attendants heard this they went at once to their
master and related the matter to him. Then Dercan came to Declan,
accepted his faith and received Baptism at his hands, giving himself
and his posterity to Declan for ever. Moreover he gave his homestead
to Declan and his people were baptised. After this Dercan requested
that Declan should bless something in his homestead which might
remain as a memorial of him (Dercan) for ever. Then Declan blessed a
bell which he perceived there and its name is Clog-Dhercain
('Dercan's Bell'); moreover, he declared: ‘I endow it with this
virtue (power) that if the king of Decies march around it when going
to battle, against his enemies, or to punish violation of his rights,
he shall return safely and with victory.’ This promise has been
frequently fulfilled, but proud (men) undertaking battle or conflict
unjustly even if they march around it do not obtain victory but
success remains with the enemy. The name of that homestead was
Teach-Dhercain ('Dercain's House') and its name now is Coningean,
from the claw of the hound or dog aforesaid. To this place
came the saintly concourse, scil:—Coman and Ultan, MacErc
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and Mocoba and Maclaisren, who dedicated themselves to (the service of) God and
placed themselves under the spiritual rule and sway of Declan.