provided there be no hatred [in their hearts] nor too great
covetousness of a physician's fee to him, God and myself shall send
relief." This promise of Declan has been fulfilled in the case of that
family.

37. On another occasion, as Declan was travelling in the northern part
of Magh Femhin beside the Suir, he met there a man who was carrying
a little infant to get it baptised. Declan said to the people [his
"muinntear," or following]: "Wait here till I baptise yonder child," for
it was revealed by the Holy Ghost to him that he [the babe] should serve
God. The attendant replied to him that they had neither a vessel nor
salt for the baptism. Declan said: "We have a wide vessel, the Suir,
and God will send us salt, for this child is destined to become holy and
wonderful [in his works]." Thereupon Declan took up a fistful of earth
and, making prayer in his heart to God, he signed the clay with the sign
of the cross of redemption. It (the handful of earth) became white, dry
salt, and all, on seeing it, gave thanks and honour to God and Declan.
The infant was baptised there and the name of Ciaran given him. Declan
said: "Bring up my spiritual son carefully and send him, at a fitting
age, for education to a holy man who is well instructed in the faith for
he will become a shining bright pillar in the Church." And it was
this child, Ciaran Mac Eochaidh, who founded in after years a famous
monastery (from which he migrated to heaven) and another place
(monastery) besides. He worked many miracles and holy signs and this is
the name of his monastery Tiprut [Tubrid] and this is where it is:--in
the western part of the Decies in Ui Faithe between Slieve Grot [Galtee]
and Sieve Cua and it is within the bishopric of Declan.

38. On another day there came a woman to Declan's monastery not far from
the city where she dwelt. She committed a theft that day in Declan's
monastery as she had often done previously, and this is the thing
she stole--a "habellum" [possibly an item of tribute]; she departed
homewards taking it with her and there met her a group of people on the
highway, and the earth, in their presence, swallowed her up, and she
cast out the tabellum from her bosom and it was quickly turned into a
stone which the wayfarers took and brought with them to Declan. Declan
himself had in supernatural vision seen all that happened to the woman
in punishment of her theft, and the name of Declan was magnified owing
to those marvels s