31. Thereupon Declan established a monastery in that place,
scil.--in Coningin--and he placed there this holy community with a
further band of disciples. Ultan however he took away with him to
the place whither he went.

32. On another (subsequent) occasion Declan visited Bregia, i.e.
the original territory which belonged to his race previous to the
expulsion of his ancestors. There he was treated with particular
honour by the king of Tara and by the chieftains of Meath by whom he
was beloved, since it was from themselves (their tribe and territory)
that his forbears had gone out, for that region was the patrimony of
his race and within it lies Tara. Declan instituted therein a
monastery of Canons, on land which he received from the king, and it
is from him the place is named. Moreover he left therein a relic or
illuminated book and a famous gospel which he was accustomed to carry
always with him. The gospel is still preserved with much honour in
the place and miracles are wrought through it. After this again he
turned towards Munster.

33. Declan was once travelling through Ossory when he wished to
remain for the night in a certain village. But the villagers not
only did not receive him but actually drove him forth by force of
arms. The saint however prayed to God that it might happen to them
what the Sacred Scripture says, "Vengeance is mine I will repay"
[Deuteronomy 32:35]. The dwellers in the village, who numbered
sixty, died that same night with the exception of two men and ten
women to whom the conduct of the others towards the saint had been
displeasing. On the morrow these men and women came humbly to the
place where Declan was and they told him--what he himself
foreknew--how miserably the others had died. They themselves did