_The King Echu is raised from Death._
And after some time had passed, the King Echu was reduced to the bed of
sickness, and when he perceived that his strength failed, and the day
of his death approached, he sent a messenger to call Saint Patrick unto
him. And he strictly forbade that his body should be buried until the
arrival of the saint; for that he had promised unto him the heavenly
kingdom, and especially, that the king desired to receive from him the
heavenly baptism. Thus saying, he expired, and his body was kept for
the space of one day and one night unburied, in expectation of the
saint. And he, then abiding in the Monastery of Saballum, which was
distant two days' journey, knew in the spirit of the king's death, and,
ere the messenger could arrive, had made ready for the journey. And
the saint came, and mourned over the king, especially for that he had
died without baptism. Therefore prayed he unto the Lord, and loosed
him from the bonds of double death, and forthwith instructed in the
faith him restored unto life, and baptized him, and bade him that for
the edification of the people and for the proof of his preaching he
should relate what he had seen of the pains of the wicked and of the
joys of the just. And he told unto them many wonders, and there among
that in that heavenly country he had beheld the place which Patrick had
promised unto him; but, because he was not then baptized, he could not
enter therein; and so at the prayers of the saint his body was revived.
Then the saint enquired of him whether would he longer live in this
world, or instantly go into that place which was prepared for him; and
he answered that all the power, all the riches, all the delights of the
whole world, were to him but as the emptiest smoke compared with those
celestial joys which he had proved with the eye of faith. But I
entreat, said he, that I may be loosed from the body of this death, and
delivered instantly from this prison-house; for earnestly I desire to
be dissolved and to be with Christ. Thus having said, he received the
Eucharist, and, falling asleep in the Lord, went unto the place of
immortality.