he living on the
dead."[866] Not far away was that day when he spoke thus. Meanwhile he
ordered that he should be anointed with the sacred oil. When the convent
of brothers was going out that it might be done solemnly,[867] he would
not permit them to come up to him; he went down to them. For he was
lying in the balcony[868] of the upper house. He was anointed; and when
he had received the viaticum, he commended himself to the prayers of the
brothers, and the brothers to God,[869] and went back to bed. He went
down from the high balcony[870] on his feet, and again, as if that were
not enough, he went up on his feet; yet he said that death _was at the
doors_.[871] Who should believe that this man was dying? Himself alone
and God could know it. His face did not seem to have become pallid or
wasted. His brow was not wrinkled, his eyes were not sunken, his
nostrils were not thin, his lips were not contracted, his teeth were not
brown, his neck was not gaunt and lean, his shoulders were not bowed,
the flesh on the rest of his body had not failed. Such was the grace of
his body, and such the _glory of his countenance which was_ not _to be
done away_,[872] even in death. As he appeared in life so was he also in
death, more like to one alive.

72. (38). Hitherto our story has run a rapid course; but now it stays
because Malachy _has finished his course_.[873] He is still, and with
him we are still. Moreover, who would willingly hasten to [tell of]
death? Especially thy death, holy father, who could describe it? Who
would wish to hear the story? Yet we loved _in life, in death we shall
not be divided_.[874] Brothers, let us not forsake in death him with
whom we companied in life. From further Scotland[875] he ran hither to
death; _let us also go and die with him_.[876] I must, I must tell that
which of necessity I saw. The celebration, everywhere renowned, of All
Saints[877] comes, and according to the ancient saying, _Music in
mourning is an unseasonable discourse_.[878] We come, we sing, even
against our will. We weep while we sing and we sing while we weep.
Malachy, though he sings not, yet does not lament. For why should he
lament, who is drawing near to joy? For _us who remain_,[879] mourning
remains. Malachy alone keeps festival. For what he cannot do with his
body he does with his mind, as it is written, _The thought of man shall
confess to thee, and the residue of thought shall keep the day of
festival to thee._[880] Whe