Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Life of St. Declan of Ardmore (Author: Patrick Power)
chapter 40
When it was made known to a certain holy man, scil.:—Ailbe of
Emly Iubar, chief bishop of Munster, that his last days had come, he
said to his disciples: ‘Beloved brethren, I wish, before I die, to
visit my very dear fellow worker, scil.:—Declan.’ After this Ailbe
set out on the journey and an angel of God came to Declan notifying
him that Ailbe was on his way to visit him. On the angel's
notification Declan ordered his disciples to prepare the house for
Ailbe's coming. He himself went to meet Ailbe as far as the place
which is called Druim Luctraidh. Thence they came home
together and Ailbe, treated with great honour by Declan and his
people, stayed fourteen pleasant days. After
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that the aged saint returned home again to his own city, scil.:—to Emly Iubar. Declan
came and many of his people, escorting Ailbe, to Druim Luchtradh, and
Ailbe bade him return to his own city. The two knew they should not
see one another in this world ever again. In taking leave of one
another, therefore, they shed plentiful tears of sorrow and they
instituted an everlasting compact and league between their successors
in that place. Ailbe moreover blessed the city of Declan, his clergy
and people and Declan did the same for Ailbe and they kissed one
another in token of love and peace and each returned to his own city.