an heard
this and (saw) the sea standing still at the word of the youth it
displeased him and turning round he struck him a slight blow on the nose.
Three drops of blood flowed from the wound on to the ground in three
separate places at the feet of Declan. Thereupon Declan blessed the nose
and the blood ceased immediately (to flow). Then Declan declared:--"It
was not I who drove out the sea but God in His own great power who
expelled it and He would have done still more had you not spoken the
words you have said." Three little wells of clear sweet water burst
forth in the place where fell the three drops of blood at the feet of
Declan, and these wells are there still and the colour of blood is seen
in them occasionally as a memorial of this miracle. The shore, rescued
from the sea, is a mile in width and is of great length around (the
island) and it is good and fertile land for tillage and pasture--lying
beneath the monastery of Declan. As to the crosier which was in Declan's
hand while he wrought this miracle, this is its name--the Feartach
Declain, from the miracles and marvels [fertaib] wrought through it. I
shall in another, subsequent, place relate some of these miracles
(narrated).

21. After the expulsion of the sea by this famous Saint, scil.: Declan,
whose name and renown spread throughout Erin because of his great and
diverse miracles, he commenced to build a great monastery by the south
side of the stream which flows through the island into the sea. This
monastery is illustrious and beautiful and its name is Ardmor Declain, as
we have said. After this came many persons to Declan, drawn from the
uttermost parts of Ireland, by the fame of his holy living; they devoted
themselves, soul and body to God and Declan, binding themselves beneath
his yoke and his rule. Moreover he built himself in every place
throughout the territory of the Decies, churches and monasteries and not
alone in his own territory (did he build) but in other regions of Ireland
under tribute to him. Great too were the multitudes (thousands) of men
and women who were under his spiritual sway and rule, in the places we
have referred to, throughout Ireland, where happily they passed their
lives. He ordained some of his disciples bishops and appointed them in
these places to sow the seed of faith and religion therein. Gentleness
and charity manifested themselves in Declan to such an extent that his
disciples preferred to live under h