38. The soul of Ciaran was not more than seven months in this town
before he went to heaven, on the ninth day of September. When Ciaran
knew that the day of his death was drawing nigh, he made a prophecy
with great sorrow. He said that great would be the persecution of his
city from evil men towards the end of the world. "What then shall we
do in the time of that crime?" said the monks; "is it by thy relics we
shall stay, or shall we go elsewhere?" "Rise," said Ciaran, "and leave
my relics as the bones of a deer are left in the sun. For it is better
for you to live with me in heaven than to stay here with my relics."
When the time of his death was near to Saint Ciaran in the Little
Church, in the thirty-third year of his age, on the fifth of the ides
of September as regards the solar month, on Saturday as regards the
day of the week, on the eighteenth day as regards the moon, he said,
"Let me be carried out to the Little Height," said he. And when he
looked at heaven, and the height of air above his head, he said,
"Awful is this road upward." "Not for thee is it awful," said the
monks. "Truly, I know not," said he, "any of the commandments of God
which I have transgressed: yet even David son of Jesse, and Paul the
apostle, dreaded this way."
Then the stone pillow was taken from him, to ease him. "Nay," said he,
"put it under my shoulder. _Qui enim perseuerauerit usque in finem,
hic saluus erit._" Then angels filled the space between heaven and
earth to receive his soul.
He was brought afterward into the Little Church, and he raised his
hand and blessed his folk, and said to the brethren to shut the church
upon him till Coemgen should come from Glenn da Locha.