destruxisti" [Psalm 9:7], i.e. the dwellings of the unmerciful are laid
waste.

35. On yet another occasion Declan was in his own region--travelling
over Slieve Gua in the Decies, when his horse from some cause got lame
so that he could proceed no further. Declan however, seeing a herd of
deer roaming the mountain close to him, said to one of his people: "Go,
and bring me for my chariot one of these deer to replace my horse and
take with you this halter for him." Without any misgiving the disciple
went on till he reached the deer which waited quietly for him. He chose
the animal which was largest and therefore strongest, and, bringing
him back, yoked him to the chariot. The deer thereupon obediently and
without effort carried Bishop Declan till he came to Magh Femhin, where,
when he reached a house of entertainment, the saint unloosed the stag
and bade him to go free as was his nature. Accordingly, at the command
of the saintly man and in the presence of all, the stag returned on
the same road back (to the mountain). Dormanach is the name of the man
aforesaid who brought the stag to Declan and him Declan blessed and gave
him a piece of land on the north of Decies close by the Eoghanacht and
his posterity live till now in that place.

36. On another occasion, Declan, accompanied, as usual, by a large
following, was travelling, when one member of the party fell on the road
and broke his shin bone in twain. Declan saw the accident and, pitying
the injured man, he directed an individual of the company to bandage the
broken limb so that the sufferer might not die through excess of pain
and loss of blood. All replied that they could not endure to dress the
wound owing to their horror thereof. But there was one of the company,
Daluadh by name, who faced the wound boldly and confidently and said:
"In the name of Christ and of Declan our patron I shall be surgeon to
this foot"; and he said that jestingly. Nevertheless he bandaged the
foot carefully and blessed it aright in the name of God and Declan, and
in a little while the wound healed and they all gave praise to God.
Then Declan said to Daluadh: "You promised to be surgeon to that foot
in Christ's name and in mine and God has vouchsafed to heal it at these
words: on this account you will be a true physician for ever and your
children and your seed after you for ever shall also possess the healing
art, and whomsoever they shall practise healing upon in God's name
and mine,