Chapter LIV: The Panegyrics (la, Vg)

There is little that need be said about these paragraphs, which are of conventional type. There are two references in VG which may, however, be noted. The first is to the relics left in the hollow elm, of which we have already heard at the beginning of these annotations: here said to have been deposited by Benen (the pupil of Patrick, and his successor in Armagh) and by Cumlach (the leper of Saint Patrick). The second is an allusion, on which I am unable to throw any light, to some evidently well-known story of a certain Peca and his blind pupil.

THE METRICAL PANEGYRIC IN LB

This is a patchwork of extracts from different sources.

1. Fifteen-syllable lines, with caesura at eighth syllable; every line ending in a trisyllabic word, rhyming (not always) with a word preceding the caesura. A dissyllable or trisyllable precedes the caesura. Rhythm of Tennyson's _Locksley Hall_, proceeding by stress only, independent of vowel-quantity or hiatus. In line seven, 'Keranus' must be pronounced in four syllables, Kiaranus. Refers to the wizard's prophecy, incident II.

2. Four lines, in _Locksley Hall_ rhythm, with a dissyllabic rhyme running through the quatrain. Relates incident IX.

3. Four lines, twelve syllables trochaic, caesura at seventh syllable. Each line ends with a trisyllable or a tetrasyllable, with dissyllabic rhyme running through the quatrain. The rhythm is that of the following line (which is intentionally misquoted to serve the present purpose)--

"Gather roses while you may, time is still a-flying."

The incident is not recorded in the prose lives; but it appears in the _Book of the Dun Cow_, in the story of the Birth of Aed Slaine (son of King Diarmait, reigned A.D. 595-600). Diarmait, it appears, had two wives (for, notwithstanding his friendship to Ciaran, he was but a half-converted pagan), by name Mugain and Muireann. Muireann had the misfortune to be bald, and Mugain, who, as is usual in polygamous households, was filled with envy of her, bribed a female buffoon to remove her golden headgear in public at the great assembly of Tailltiu (Telltown, Co. Meath), so as to expose the poor queen's defect to the eyes of the mob. The messenger accomplished her purpose, but Muireann cried out, "God and Saint Ciaran help me in this need!" and forthwith a shower of glossy curling golden hair flowed from her head over her shoulders, before a single eye of the assembly had rested upon her. Compare Ciaran's own experience, incident XLVI.

4. Three lines in the same metre, but apparently with three instead of four lines in each rhyming stanza. Refers to incident XVIII.

5. Three lines in the same rhythm as extract 1, but with a different rhyme-scheme; apparently three lines from a quatrain rhyming _abab_. Refers to incident XLI.

6. Six lines in elegiac couplets. This probably refers to XLVI, but without their original context the lines must remain obscure. In any case the versifier has the story in a rather different form from the prose writers, and appears to regard it as an incident of the boyhood period.

7. Eight lines from the hymn of Colum Cille, already commented upon.

ADDITIONAL NOTE ON CIARAN'S BIRTHPLACE

Some place-names in the barony of Moycashel (S. Co. Westmeath), which lies in Cenel Fiachach, support the tradition that Ciaran's birthplace is to be sought there, and not in Mag Ai at all. I can find nothing in the local nomenclature to suggest Ráith Cremthainn; but "Templemacateer" (_Teampull mhic an tsaoir_, the "Church of the Wright's son") may be compared with, and perhaps equated to the similarly named "house" (p. 111); "Ballynagore" (_Baile na ngabhar_, the "town of the goats," or "horses") perhaps echoes the "Tir na Gabrai" of VG 3. About half a mile to the west is _Tulach na crosáin_, the "Mound of the crosslet"--possibly the missing cross of Ciaran (LA 4). At the outflow of the Brosna from Loch Ennell is "Clonsingle," which it is tempting to equate to the place-name corrupted to "Cluain Innsythe," in LA 12.

An additional suggestion may here be made to the effect that the eldest son and daughter of Beoit were twins. Their names, _Lug-oll_ "big Lug," and _Lug-beg_ "little Lug," are in correspondence, as twins' names often are.

[Footnote 1: For brevity we shall refer to certain books, frequently quoted in these Annotations, by the following symbols--

LL. _Lives of Saints from the Book of Lismore_, ed. Stokes.
CS. _Codex Salmaticensis_ (Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae), ed. de
Smedt and de Backer.
VTP. _Vita Tripartita Patricii_, ed. Stokes.
VSH. Plummer's _Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae_.
TT. _Trias Thaumaturga_ (Colgan's collection of the lives of
SS. Patrick, Brigid, and Colum Cille).]

[Footnote 2: There is a different version, which need not be given here, in the _Martyrology of Oengus_ (Henry Bradshaw Society edition, p. 204).]

[Footnote 3: Mentioned in _Annals of Ulster_, anno 1166, _Annals of Loch Cé_, anno 1189, _Annals of the Four Masters_, annis 1121, 1166.]

[Footnote 4: A collection (in Irish) of the traditions of this person will be found in _Targaireacht Bhriain ruaidh uí Chearbháin_, by Micheál ó Tiomhánaidhe (Dublin, 1906).]

[Footnote 5: The passage would then read thus--_Rothircan Bec mac De condebairt andsin_--

"_A maic in tsaeir, cot clasaib, cot coraib,
It casair chaeim, cot cairpthib, cot ceolaib._"

The transposition has probably been caused by the error of some scribe who copied first the parts of the two lines preceding the caesura.]

[Footnote 6: The roll of the Kings of Tara was evolved from various sources by the Irish historians of the early Christian Period. Tigernmas was properly a pagan culture-hero, to whom was traditionally attributed the introduction of gold-smelting and of other arts, and who was said to have perished, apparently as a human sacrifice, at some great religious assembly.]

[Footnote 7: This is certainly the reading, curiously misread in LL p. 356, (Irish text), and in VSH i, p. li, note 3.]

[Footnote 8: Ossianic Society's _Transactions_, vol. v, p. 84 ff.]

[Footnote 9: Edited by Dr. Hyde in _Celtic Review_, vol. x, p. 116 ff.]

[Footnote 10: On this whole subject see Chapter IV of MacNeill's _Phases of Irish History_, a book which may be unreservedly recommended as giving a clear and accurate view of the early history of the country.]

[Footnote 11: It may be noted for the benefit of the reader unaccustomed to Irish nomenclature, that persons are named in one of the following formulae: "A mac B" (_mac_, genitive _mic_, in syntactic relation _mhic_ [pronounced _vic_] = son): "A ó B" (_ô_ or _ua_, genitive _ui_ = grandson or descendant): and "A maccu B" (_maccu_ = descendant, denoting B as the name of a remote ancestor). Of course the name B will in every case be in the genitive.]

[Footnote 12: For division of labour between the sexes, see Frazer, _Spirits of the Corn and of the Wild_, ii, 129. For prohibitions of the presence of males when specifically female work was being transacted, Plummer quotes Grimm, _Teutonic Mythology_, Eng. Trans., iv, 1778 ("Men shall not stay in the house while women are stuffing feathers in the beds, otherwise the feathers will prick through the bed-ticking"). O'Curry (_Manners and Customs_, iii, p. 121), commenting on this story, refers to times and seasons deemed unlucky for dyeing, at the time when he wrote; but the prohibition of the presence of males was forgotten.]

[Footnote 13: Vafthrudnismál 41; Grimnismál 18. (_Edda_, ed. Hafn, 1787, vol. i, pp. 24, 48.)]

[Footnote 14: F.M. Luzel, _Contes populaires de Basse-Bretagne_ (Paris, 1887), vol. i, p. 219 ff. Some other parallels are quoted by Plummer, VSH, i, p. cxliii, note 5.]

[Footnote 15: There is evidence from various literary sources that cattle thus peculiarly coloured were accounted sacred in ancient Ireland.]

[Footnote 16: There should be no hypermetric syllables, but I have been unable to avoid them.]

[Footnote 17: _Horae Hebraicae_ in Evangel. Matt., xv, 36, following the tract _Berakoth_.]

[Footnote 18: O'Donnell's _Life of St. Columba_, ed. O'Kelleher, p. 120.]

[Footnote 19: For the story of Coirpre, see _Lismore Lives_, ed. Stokes, preface p. xvi; _Revue celtique_, xxvi, 368. For the story of Ambacuc, see _Silua Gadelica_, no. xxxi; _Eriu_, vol. vi, p. 159.]

[Footnote 20: A fully illustrated description of this relic by Mr. E.C.R. Armstrong will be found in _Journal_, Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. xlix, p. 132.]

[Footnote 21: _Book of the Dun Cow_, printed in _Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie_, iii, 218.]

[Footnote 22: _Féilire Oengusso_, Henry Bradshaw Society edition, p. 12.]

[Footnote 23: _Revue celtique_, xv, at p. 491.]

[Footnote 24: I should here have quoted as a parallel the oft-described Indian rope-trick, which is alleged to be a hypnotic feat, had I not been recently assured by a relative who knows India well that no one has yet been discovered who has actually seen this trick performed, and that it is probably nothing more than a piece of folk-lore.]

[Footnote 25: See his important series of papers, _Ueber directe Handelsverbindungen Westgalliens mit Irland im Altertum und früher Mittelalter_, published in _Sitzungsberichte der königliche preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften_, 1909, vol. i.]

[Footnote 26: _Life of Colman mac Luachain_, Todd Lectures Series, Royal Irish Academy, vol. xvii, p. 86.]

[Footnote 27: Bede's _Life of Cuthbert_, § xxxix.]

[Footnote 28: This is evidently a mistranslation of _bóbán_, the translator having in mind the word _bán_, "white."]

[Footnote 29: Henry Bradshaw Society edition, vol. i, p. 157.]

[Footnote 30: Although the sense appears to run continuously from one stanza to the next in their present collocation.]

[Footnote 31: MS. illegible.]

* * * * *

=APPENDIX=

THE LATIN TEXT OF LB

[Sidenote °1: R1 162b; R2 127d] [Sidenote °2: R2 128a] [Sidenote °3: R1 162c]

1.[°1] Vir gloriosus, et uita sanctissimus abbas, Queranus, ex patre Boecio, matre Darercha [Darecha R2] ortus fuit. Hic traxit originem de aquilonali parte Hibernie, Aradensium silicet genere. Diuina quoque gratia a puerili etate sic ipse illustratus est, ut qualis[°2] foret futurus luculenter appareret.[°3] Erat [Cras MSS.] enim tanquam lucerna ardens eximia caritate, ut non solum feruorem pii cordis et deuocionem erga hominum inopiam releuandam [reuelandam MSS.] exhiberet; uerum et in creaturum irrationabilium necessitatibus infatigabilem ostenderet affectum. Et quia tanta lucerna non debuit sub modio abscondi, ideo a puerili etate cepit miraculorum prod[ig]iis coruscare.

2. Quum enim equus fili regis terrae illius subita morte periret, ac de eius casu iuuenis ille multum doleret, apparuit ei in sompnis uir uultus uenerabili ac rutilentis, qui eum prohibuit tristari pro morte equi, dicens ei, "Voca" inquit "sanctum puerum Keranum, qui aquam in os equi tui infundat, frontemque aspergat, et reuiuiscet. Illum quoque pro resuscitatione eius munere debito dotabis." Cumque regis filius de sompno euigilasset, misit pro puero Kerano ut ad se ueneret; qui cum sui presentiam ei exhiberet, atque sompnium scriatim [seruatem _or_ seritatem R1] audiret, secundum quod angelus illum docuit, equum aqua benedicta aspergens de morte resuscitauit. Viso hoc magno miraculo, agrum fertilem et amplum rex terrae illius in honore Dei Omnipotentis, in cuius nomine equus suus est resuscitatus, sancto Kerano contulit.

3. Accidit autem quadam die [q.d. _omitted_, R2] quod mater ipsius Kerani eum reprehenderet, eo quod mel siluestre, sicut ceteri pueri suis parentibus ferebant, non portaret. Quod cum dilectus Deo et hominibus audiret, mentem eleuans ad Puerum illum qui subditus erat parentibus, aquam de fonte uicino allatam benedixit, in nomine Eius qui mel potens est producere de petra, et oleum de saxo durissimo; et mox aqua illa in mel dulcissimum, Deo cooperante, conuertitur, et sic matri defertur. Hoc mel parentes eius sancto Dermicio diacono, cognomento Iusto, qui eum baptizauit, transmiserunt.

[Sidenote °4: R1 162d] [Sidenote °5: R2 128b]

4. Lectis autem a[°4] memorato sancto literarum rudimentis, beatum Cluayn Hir[°5]ardensem abbatem, discendi causa, adire proposuit. Et cum opere uellet complere quod animo cepit cogitare, uaccam unam a parentibus ad uictum sibi postulauit. Sed cum eius peticionem mater eius non acquiesceret, celestis Pater, qui intimios [_sic_ R1, intuitos R2] suos quantum mater filium diligit, desiderium dilecti sui adimplere non distulit. Nam uacca una lactifera, una cum uitulo, consecuta est eum, acsi a suo pastore minaretur post eum. Qui cum ad sacrum collegium sancti Fynniani uenisset, gaudium non modicum de eius aduentu omnes habuerunt. Vacca uero, que secuta est eum, simul cum uitulo pascebatur, nec ubera materna sine licencia tangere attemptabat. Keranus eius pascua sic discriminauit atque distinxit, ut tantum uitulum mater lambe[re]t, nec tamen ei ubera praeberet. Istius uero uacce in tanta habundancia exubrabat lac, ut xii uiris cotidie distributum sufficientem copiam uictus praeberet. Sanctus uero adolescens Keranus, diuine scripture intentus, inter condiscipulos suos sanctitate ac sapientia, uelut sidus perfulgidus inter alia [alique R2] sidera, emicabat. Erat uero perfecte caritatis fragrantia plenus, et moris probitate, et uite sanctimonia, ac humilitatis dulcedine, presentibus et absentibus gratiosus, honorabilis, et admirabilis.

[Sidenote °6: R1 163a]

5. Vna dierum ad regem quendam, Tuathlum nomine, pro cuiusdam ancille liberacione intercessurus accessit. Cumque regem deuote pro ea rogaret [pro ea deuote oraret R2] ac preces famuli Dei quasi deliramenta sperneret, nouam artem liberacionis eiusdem cogitans, semet ipsum regi seruiturum pro ipsa decreuit. Veniente autem eo domum in qua puella molebat, clause iam fores illi patuerunt. Intransque, alterum se illi[°6] Paulinum episcopum exhibuit. Nec mora, rex illam emancipauit, et insuper Dei famulo suum indumentum donauit. Quod ille accipiens, continuo pauperibus distribuit.

[Sidenote °7: R2 128c]

6. Nocte quadam[°7] contigit ut eum doctor egregius Finnianus cum annona frumenti ad molendinum transmitteret. Regulus uero quidam prope habitans, quendam de discipulis uiri Dei illuc aduenisse intelligens, carnes et ceruisiam ei per ministrum destinauit. Cumque illi exenium tanti uiri presentaret, respondit ipse, "Vt commune" inquit "sit fratribus, totum in os molendini proice." Quod cum nuncius compleret, in farinam totum mutatum est. Quo audito, rex uillam in qua manebat cum omnibus bonis suis in perpetuam dedit illi; sed Keranus suo condonauit magistro, ibidem enim monasterium postea constructum est. Panis uero de illa farina factus, uelut caro et ceruisia fratribus sapiebat et eos sic recreabat.

[Sidenote °8: R1 163b] [Sidenote °9: R2 128d]

7. Transacto autem temporis spacio, accepta magistri sui licentia et benedictione, ad sanctum Nynnidum in quadam silua stagni Erny commorantem properauit. Et cum [cum _omitted_ R2] illuc peruenisset, cum magno gaudio et caritate non ficta susceptus est. Cumque idem in moris ac uirtutum disciplina cotidie proficeret, quadam die ad nemora uicina cum fratribus ad scindenda ligna ut [ut _omitted_ R2] uerus obediens properauit. Erat enim consuetudo in sacro illo collegio ut iii monachi cum seniore ad ligna deportanda secundum ordinem temporis semper irent. Cedentibus uero ceteris ligna, ipse seorsum [deorsum R2] Deum, secundum quod moris erat sibi, attente orabat. Interea quidam nefandi latrones, rate ad insulam illam transuecti, in prefatos fratros irruerunt, atque eos occiderunt, et eorum capita secum detuler[°8]unt. Keranus uero, dum strepidum soc[i]orum [_sic_] percucientium non audiret, mirabatur; et propter admiracionem festine peruenit ad locum ubi eos laborantes reliquit. Viso quoque eo quod de fratribus actum est [est _omitted_ R2], alta trahit ipse suspiria, et uehementer contristatus est. Secutus est quoque homisidas [_sic_ R1] illos e uestigio, atque eos in portu ut suam nauiculam in portu ad aquam [aquas R2] deducerent desudantes, sed minime hoc facere potentes [fatentes R1, facientes R2] inuenit; sic uero [sic eis R2] Deus scapham[°9] eorum terre conglutinauit ut nequaquam eam amouere potuissent. Et cum uoluntati Cunctipotentis contraire non possent, a uiro Dei tunc presente [-entem R2] ueniam suppliciter postulant. Qui memor sui Magistri pro Iudeis eum crucifigentibus orantis, sanctus pro illis licet indignis preces ad fortem pietatis effudit; et uirtute orationis eius potiti, ratem suam facillime ad aquam ducere potuerunt. Pro munere uero huius beneficii, optinuit a latronibus capita suorum fratrum. Acceptis uero hiis, ad locum ubi corpora iacuerant deueniens, Deum deuote rogauit ut omnipotenciam suam in seruorum suorum resuscitatione hac uite ostenderet. Mirum quoque est quod narro, sed ueritate facti euidentissimum; capita corporibus coaptauit, ut illos uirtute sacre orationis ad uitam reuocauit, immo quod uerius est, reuocari meruit. Hii quoque sic mirabiliter resuscitati, ligna secum ad monasterium transuexerunt. Quam diu tamen uixerant [_sic_], cicatrices uulnerium in collis suis portauerunt.

[Sidenote °10: R1 163c]

8. Alio tempore cum peccora parentum in quodam loco custodiret, uacca una peperit coram eo uitulum. Veniens uero imacie omnino confectus [canis][1] cupiens de hiis que cum uitulo cadunt de uentro matris [uentrem suum][2] implere, stetit coram pio pastore. Cui ait "Commede, miser, uitulum istum, quia multum eo indi[°10]ges." Canis uero iussa Querani complens, usque ad ossa uitulum commedit. Redeunti uero Querano cum uaccis ad domum, illa ad memoriam reducens uitulum mugiendo huc illucque discurrebat. Causam uero mugitus cognoscens mater Querani, cum indignatione puero ait "Redde uitulum, Quirane, etsi igne sit combustus uel aqua submersus." At ille iussis maternis parens, ad locum ubi uitulus erat commestus accedens, ossa eius collegit et uitulum resuscitauit.

[Sidenote °11: R2 129a]

9. Quodam tempore, transeunte eo per uiam, quidam mali[°11]gno spiritu uexati canem ferocissimum excitauerunt ut sibi[3] [_sic_] noceret. Sed confidens in Domino suo Queranus scuto deuote orationis se muniuit, ac dixit "Ne tradas bestis [_sic_ R1, bestiis R2] animas confitentium tibi, Domine." Et mox canis ille mortuus est.

10. Alio tempore solo eo in insula illa relicto, pauperem quendam audiuit in portu ignem sibi dari rogantem. Erat enim iam frigidum tempus; sed ratem non habuit ut pauperis peticioni, licet multum desideraret, satisfaceret. Et quia caritas omnia sustinet, ticionem ardentem in stagnum proiecit, et feruore [-rem MSS.] dilectionis mittentis in aquis preualente [preualens MSS.] ad pauperem usque peruenit.

[Sidenote °12: R1 163d]

11. Aliquandiu uero ibidem moratus homo Dei, cum licencia Nynnidi ad sanctum Endeum Arnensem abbatem properauit; qui in aduentu eius non modica perfundebatur leticia. Nocte uero quadam sompniauit se uidisse iuxta ripam magni fluminis Synan arborem magnam frondosam et fructiferam que totam obumbrauit Hyberniam. Quod sompnium beato Edeo indicauit crastina die [die _omitted_ R2]. Sed et ipse Endeus eandem uisionem ea nocte [e.n. _omitted_ R2][°12] se uidisse attestatus est, quam uisionem sanctus Endeus interpretatus: "Arbor" inquit "illa tu es, qui coram Deo et hominibus magnus eris, et per totam Hiberniam honorabilis, propter quod et tui adiutorii et gracie umbra a demoniis et aliis periculis protegetur uelut sub umbra arboris salutifere; plurimisque prope ac procul tuorum fructus operum subuenient. Igitur secundum Dei imperium qui reuelat secreta, ad praeostensum accede locum, et ibi habita secundum graciam a Deo tibi datam." Confortatus ex huius uisionis interpretacione, paruit uerus obediens iussioni Sancti Endei patris sui spiritualis.

[Sidenote °13: R2 129b]

12. Et profectus in uiam inuenit quendam pauperem in itinere cui ab eo eleemosinam petenti casulam suam tribuit. Cumque ad insulam Cathaci uenisset, beatus Senanus aduentum eius, Spiritu reuelante, didicit; eique obuiam ueniens quasi subridendo ait, "Nonne presbitero pudor est absque casula incedere?" Senanus enim in spiritu nouit quomodo ipse pauperi eam dedit. Et ideo cum ca[°13]sula ei occurreret. Et ait Keranus, "Senior" inquit "meus sub uestimento suo casulam mihi aufert."

[Sidenote °14: R1 164a]

13. Quam cum accepisset et gracias datori egisset, pro sancta colloquia ad cellam fratris sui Luctigernni [-gerimi R2] peruenit, ubi et alius frater eius Odranus [Ordanus R2] nomine erat. Ibi aliquanto tempore moram traxit ac magister hospicium fuit. Die uero quadam eo sub diuo legente in cimitherio, hospites ex improuise uenerunt, quos, librum oblitus apertum, ad hospicium adduxit; eorumque pedes deuote lauit, et cetera que eis necessaria erant propter Christum ministrauit. Interea cum nocturne adessent tenebre, grandis facta est pluuia. Sed Ille qui uellus Gedeonis ir[°14]rorauit, at praeterea a rore intactum custodiuit, librum sancti Kerani sic ab ingruentibus aquis licet apertum [aquis hoc apertum R2] reserauit quod nec una gutta super eum cecidit.

14. Monasterio in quo tunc uir Dei morabatur, erat quaedam insula uicina, quam seculares quidam inhabitabant, quorum tumultus uiros Dei multum molestabat. Vnde contigit ut beatus Keranus, eorum inquietacione compulsus, ad stagnum accederet, et orationi se totum dans, elongationem illorum uexancium seruos Dei perueniuit. Cum enim ab oratione cessaret, ecce subito insula cum stagno et habitatoribus in remotum locum secessit, ut ullatenus [nullatenus R2] habitatores eius eius [_sic_ MSS.] amicos Altissimi possent turbare. In Eius enim nomine hoc miraculum factum est qui Sodomam propter peccatum inhabitancium subuertit ac igne succendit. Adhuc extant signa illius stagni, ubi ante erat.

[Sidenote °15: R2 129c] [Sidenote °16: R1 164b]

15. Vir Dei, cum in usum [usus MSS.] pauperum bona monasterii distribueret, fratres super hoc conquirentes ad ipsum temere accedentes, dixerunt, "Discede," inquierunt "a nobis, simul enim cohabitare non possumus." Quibus ipse acquiesce[n]s, et uale in Domino faciens, ad insulam quandam se transtulit [a. i. s. t. q. R2] nomine Anginam; in qua insula fundato monasterio, multi undique properantes fama sanctitatis eius eos attrahente[°15] seruicium Dei mancipauerunt. Sub stricta instruens regula, uultu et habitu, sermone et uita, se eis in exemplum exhibuit. Erat enim tanquam aquila prouocans ad uolandam pullos suos quantum ad contemplacionis sublimitatem; sed fraterna humilitate sicut minus [unus R2] ex eis uiuebat. Erat enim in spiritualibus meditacionibus suspensus ad supera; infirma tum imbecillitate sic condescendebat ut quasi uideretur se inclinare ad infima. Ipse quoque fide erat perfectus, caritate feruidus, spe gaude[n]s, corde mitis, ore affabilis,[°16] paciens et longanimis, hospitalitate erat humanus, in operibus pietatis semper assiduus, benignus, mansuetus, pacificus, sobrius, et quietus. Et ut multa breui concludam sermone, omnium uirtutum erat ornatus decore. Hiis et huiuscemodi sollicitum impendens studium Marie contemplacioni ac Marthe erga temporalium dispensacionem ordinata succasione [succisione R2] adimplebat officium. Nec potuit talis ac tante lucerne lumen sub modio abscondi, sed circumquoque gracie sue splendore diffuso mundum copiose illuminauerat irradiauit lumine.

16. Erat nihilominus prophecie spiritu inspiratus, quam ex precedentibus et subsequentibus patet exemplis. Quadam namque die uox cuiusdam nauigium postulantis aures ei[us] pulsauerat. Tunc ait ad fratres; "Vocem," inquit "eius audio quem Deus uobis preficiet abbatem; euntes ergo ipsum adducite." Illi itaque properauerunt, atque ad portum peruenientes quendam adolescentulum illiteratum inuenirent. Quem negligentes adducere ad sanctum uirum reuersi neminem nisi adolescentulum illiteratum qui profugus in siluis errabat se inuenisse asseruerunt. Sanctus autem Queranus ait; "Adducite" inquit "illum, et nolite futurum pastorem uestrum despicere." Qui adductus Dei inspiracione et sancti uiri instructione religionis habitum suscepit, et per modum literas didicit. Ipse est enim sanctus Oenius, uir uite uenerabilis: et, sicut sanctus ante predixit, fratribus per modum prefuit.

[Sidenote °17: R2 129d] [Sidenote °18: R1 164c]

17. Elapso denique tempore, quidam uir sanctus nomine Dompnanus,[°17] Mumoniensis genere, ad uirum Dei uisitandum peruenit. Cumque ab eo sanctus Keranus causam aduentus scicitaretur, respondit se uelle locum habere in quo Dominum [habere in Deo R2] secure posset seruire. Sanctus uero Keranus, non que sua[°18] [supra R2] sed que Ihesu Christi querens ait "Hic" inquit "inhabita, et ego Deo duce locum habitandi alibi queram." Denique sacro eum comitante [conm. MSS.] conuentu ad locum eius a Deo premonstratum profectus est, in quo celebri ac famoso monasterio constructo quod hodie Cluaynensis [Claynensis R2] appellatur ciuitas insignium miraculorum luce ipse, tanquam sol mundum istum ita illuminauit.

18. De quorum miraculorum multitudine quedam hic subnectemus. Quodam tempore dum fratres in messe laborantes sitis periculo grauarentur, miserunt ad sanctum patrem Queranum ut aque [aqua MSS.] beneficio refocillarentur. Quibus per ministros ipse ait: "Vnum" inquit "de duobus eligite; aut aqua nunc uos recreati, aut hic post uos habitaturos rebus mundanis beneficiari." At illi respondentes dixerunt "Eligimus," inquiunt "ut illi qui post nos ueniunt in bonis temporalibus habundent, et nos tollerantie mercedem in celis habeamus." Et sic futurorum spe gaudentes, a potu abstinuerunt, licet multum indigentes. Vespero uero illis domum redeuntibus, pius pater, laborancium lassitudinem compaciens, uas aqua plenum benedixit, et iam sanctum miraculum in Chana Galilee renoua[n]s, in optimum uinum transmutauit aquam. Quo uino siti deficientes recreati sunt, et in fide insoliti miraculi ostensione recreati laudes omnipotenti Dei dederunt. Huius enim uini miraculosi sapor solito graciosior erat, et odor in propinatoris pollice quamdiu suruixit redoleuit.

[Sidenote °19: R1 164d] [Sidenote °20: R2 130a]

19. Die quadam cum in uia incederet, nephandissimi latrones eum comprehendentes, caput beati uiri radere ceperunt. Set quod peruersitas hominis delere uoluit, diuina pietas ad magni mirac[u]li ostensionem conuertit. Rassorum enim capillorum loco alii statim capilli cresceba[n]t.[°19] Quo miraculo latrones perculsi,[°20] ad ueritatis semitam sunt conuersi, ac deinceps diuine milicie sub tanto duce seruientes, in sancta conuersacione uitam finierunt.

20. Alio tempore bonus pastor peccora pascens, tres pauperes ei occurrerunt. Quorum primo capam, secundo pallium, tercio tunicam contulit [secundo tunicam, tercio pallium eius tulit, R2]. Abeuntibus uero illis, uiri quidam, secularis uite professores, aduenierunt. A quibus quoniam uestimentorum expertum se uideri erubuit, adiutor in opportunitatibus Dominus aqua eum circumdedit adeo, quod preter caput nullum membrum illi uidere potuerunt. Sed postquam hii uiri transierunt, aqua ilia mox disparuit [desperauit MSS.].

21. Elapso post hoc tempore, quidam satellites diabuli uirum quendam iuxta monasterium eius commorantem interficere conabantur. Quem beato uiro pro eo orante Deus mirabiliter eripuit. Illi [illium MSS.] enim eundem uirum iugulantes statuam quandam lapideam percuciebant. Quo tandem percepto, latrones corde compuncti, ad pastorem animarum Queranum properant, culpam humiliter recognoscunt, atque uite sue emendato calle, sub iugo Christi usque ad mortem fideliter seruierunt.

[Sidenote °21: R2 165a]

22. Hiis atque aliis perplurimis gloriosissimus Christi miles tamquam luminare quod diei presidet fulgens, ad occasum naturalis cursus deueniens correptus infirmitate graui appropinquiuit. Sed quia qui perseuauerit usque in finem his salus erit, ideo athleta Christi, non solum se in bello huius certaminis confortans, uerum et animos ad uincendum inuitans, lapidem quo capiti supposito soporis modicum corpori hactenus indulgebat, humeris etiam fecit subponi; sanctamque eleuans manum fratres benedixit et uiatici salutaris perceptione munitus, spiritum celo reddidit. Exiens enim beata illa anima de corpore, chori angelorum [angelorum _omitted_ R2] cum ympnis et canticis[°21] illam in Dei gloriam assumpserunt.

[Sidenote °22: R2 130b]

23. Beatissimus quoque abbas Christi Columba, audito sancti Kerani obitu, egregium de ipso composuit ympnum: eumque ad [de MSS.] Cluaynense secum detulit monasterium, ubi prout decuit hospicio honorifice susceptus est. Ympnum uero abbas qui tunc preerat, ceterique qui eum audierant, multis et ma[°22]gnis laudibus extulerunt. Discedens autem inde Sanctus Columba, de sacro sancti Kerani sepulchro humum secum detulit, sciens in spiritu quam utile hoc foret contra futura pelagi pericula. In parte enim maris que tendit uersus Iense monasterium, est maximum transeuntibus periculum, tum propter fluminum impetuositatem, tum propter maris angustiam, itaque naues circumuoluuntur, atque in rota mouentur; ac frequenter sic submerguntur. Scille enim atque Caribdi merito asi[mi]latur, uelim periculositate perfecta tristique [-teque MSS.] nautis malum ibi subministratur. Ad hoc eurippum ipsi peruenientes, repentino ceperunt in eum delabi cursu; quumque nil preter mortem [Quumque uelut propter mortem R2] sperantes, et quia iam quasi tetris essent abyssi faucibus deuorandi, tunc sanctus Columba prefati pulueris de tumba beati Kerani assumpti aliquid assumens, mare in ipsum immisit. Res mira ac nimium stupenda tunc accidit; dicto [uicto MSS.] namque cicius tempestas illa seua cessauit ac transitum eis tranquillum administrauit. Vere iusti in perpetuum uiuunt; cum quibus beatus Queranus corregnat, cuius sepulchri terra uel puluis mare sedauit [cedauit MSS.], corda trepidancium in fide solidauit, et ad bonum operandum irrigauit. Beatus ergo Keranus non solum uiuit Deo, cui inseperabiliter adheret, uerum et hominibus quibus beneficia oportuno tempore impendit.

METRUM DE EO SIC

[Sidenote °23: R1 165b]

Matre Quiarani sedente in curru uolubili
[°23]Sonitum magus audiuit perdixitque seruulis
"Videte quis sit in curru, nam sub rege resonat."
"Coniunx" inquiunt "Beodi sedet his artificis."
Magus inquit "Gratum cunctis ipsa regem pariet,
Cuius opera fulgebunt ut Phebus in ethere."
Miles Christi Keranus, Sancti sedes Spiritus,
Spiritali pietatis uirtute floruerat.

Vitulum uacce lactentem iam cani concesserat,
Queranum inde grauiter mater reprehenderat;
Vitulum cane uoratum ab ipso exegerat,
Cuius ossa mox apportans ipsum restaurauerat.

[Sidenote °24: R2 130c]

Mulieris regie caput decaluatum
Seue zelo pelicis fuerat nudatum.
In Querani nomine cum esset signatum,
[°24]Aurea cessarie fulserat ornatum.

Cum Queranus studiis sacris teneretur,
Atque tempus posceret ut operaretur.
Pro ipso ab angelis tunc mola mouetur.

Textus euangelicus in stagnum ceciderat,
Sed uoluto tempore per Querani merita,
Integrum de gurgite uacca reportauerat.

Cum puer oraret Dominum, precibusque uacaret,
ignis ab excelsis uenerat arce poli.
Defunctusque puer conspexit lumina uite,
et sancti magnum glorificant Dominum [Deum MSS.].
De celis lapsus rutilans accenditur ignis,
et peragit proprium protinus officium.

Alto et ineffabili apostolorum cetui
Celestis Ierosolime, sublimioris specule,
Sedenti tribunalibus solis modo micantibus,
Queranus sacerdos sanctus, insignis Christi nuntius,
Inaltatus est manibus angelorum celestibus,
Consummatis felicibus sanctitatum generibus;
Quem Tu Christe apostolum mundo misisti hominem,
Gloriosum in omnibus nouissimis temporibus.

[Footnote 1: This word omitted in MSS.]

[Footnote 2: Omitted in MSS.]

[Footnote 3: Corrected by a note in the margin to _illi_.]

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INDEX

(For the leading incidents in the Life, see the list, pp. 11 _ff._).

Abban, St., Adamnan, St., Aed, St., Aed mac Brenainn, Aed Slaine, Aei. _See_ Mag Ai. Aengus maccu Luigse. _See_ Oenna. Aengussius. _See_ Oengus. Ailbe, St., Ailithir, abbot of Clonmacnois, Ainmire mac Colgain, Ainmire mac Setna, Ainmireach. _See_ Ainmire mac Colgain. Alban, St., Alexander, almsgiving, _See also_ hospitality. _Altus Prosator_, Ambacuc, angels, Angina. _See_ Inis Aingin. animals, _See also_ resuscitation, hound. Anmereus. _See_ Ainmire mac Colgain. _antilum_, Ara (Aran Is.), Aradenses. _See_ Dal nAraide. Aran Is. _See_ Ara. Ard Abla, Ard Machae (Armagh), Ard Manntain, Ard Tiprat, _See also_ Cluain maccu Nois. assemblies, austerities, Ay. _See_ Mag Ai.

Baithin, St., Ballynagore, Bangor. _See_ Beannchor. Beannchor (Bangor, Co. Down), bearer, Becc mac De, bells, benediction of food, Benen, St., Beoanus, Beoedus. _See_ Beoit. Beoit, Beonedus, Beonnadus. _See_ Beoit. Birra (Birr, King's Co.), birthplace of Ciaran, boban, _See also_ Bells. Boecius, Boeus. _See_ Beoit. bones, bonfire, books and book-satchels, books preserved from wet, Brenainn, St., Brenainn of Cluain Ferta, St., Brigit, St., Brigit of Cu Cathrach, Brynach, St.,

Cadoc, St., Cael Cholum, Cainnech, St., Camerarius, Cana of Galilee, Carabine, Red Brian, Cathach, a monster, Cathacus, Cathi. _See_ Inis Cathaig. Cattle, sacred, Cellach mac Eogain Beil, Cenel Conaill, Cenel Fiachach, Cenel Fiachrach, _See also_ Cenel Fiachach. Christ, parallels between lives of Ciaran and. _See_ Tendenz. Ciaran, _passim_. Poem attributed to, Ciaran of Saigir, St., Ciaran, other saints called, Ciarraige, clairvoyance, cloak floated on water, cloak of Senan, Clonard. _See_ Cluain Iraird. Clonmacnois. _See_ Cluain maccu Nois. Clonsingle, Cluain Cruim, Cluain Innsythe, Cluain Iochtar, Cluain Iraird (Clonard, Co. Meath), Cluain maccu Nois (Clonmacnois, King's Co.), _passim_ Cobthach mac Brecain, Coemgen, St., Coire Bhreacain (Corrievreckan), Colman, St., Colmán Elo, St., Colmán mac Luacháin, St., Colmán mac Nuin, Colum Cille, St. (Columba), Colum Cille, hymn of, Colum of Inis Cealtra, St., Comgall, St., compacts between saints, companions of Ciaran, Conn of the Poor, Connachta (people of Connacht), Corco Baiscind, Corpre the Crooked, Cow, Ciaran's. _See_ Dun Cow. crane, pet, Cremthann, Crichid. _See_ Crithir. Crithir, Croagh Patrick. _See_ Cruachan Aigli. Cronan, crosses, Cruachan Aigli (Croagh Patrick), Cualu, Cuimmin, St., Cumlach, curses, Cuthbert, St., Cybi, St.,

Dal n-Araide, Daniel, Darerca, mother of Ciaran, Darerca, St., dates of Ciaran's life, dates of documents, deafness cured, decapitation, Decies, Deece, Delbna, Derercha. _See_ Darerca. Dermag (Durrow, King's Co.), Dermicius. _See_ Diarmait (deacon). Desi, Dessi, Diarmait, deacon, _See also_ Iustus. Diarmait, St., Diarmait mac Cerrbeil, king, Dompnanus. _See_ Donnan. doors open automatically, Donnan, brother of Ciaran, Donnan, St., dreams, drolls, druids, _See also_ wizards. drying corn, Dun Cow of Ciaran, Durrow. _See_ Dermag. dye and dyeing,

earth of Ciaran's tomb, eavesdroppers, Eile, elders, Cell of the, at Cluain maccu Nois, Emer, St., end of world, beliefs regarding, Enda, Endeus, Enna, Henna, envy against Ciaran, Erne, Loch, Ernin, St., Euthymius, exogamy, expletives, saintly, eye plucked out and restored,

Failbe, famines, fasting, feasts, Fergus, Fidarta (Fuerty, Co. Roscommon), Finan, St., Findian, St. (Finnianus), Findian of Mag Bile, St., finger scented with wine, Fintan, St., fire, consecrated, from heaven, Paschal, firebrand, Flannan, St., flesh turned to wheat, _See also_ transformations. flocks, keeping of, fosterage, foundation sacrifices, fox, Fuerty. _See_ Fidarta. Furban, Furbith, king, Fursa, St.,

garments, genealogy of Ciaran, gifts made by Ciaran, _See also_ almsgiving. Glas the poet, Gleann da Locha (Glendaloch, Co. Wicklow), glosses, gospel, reading of, gospels, _See also_ books. grain turned to gold, _See also_ transformations. Gregory, Pope, Guaire, king,

hair restored miraculously, harbour of island, meaning of expression, Hare Island. _See_ Inis Aingin. harvesting, Helena, empress, Henna. _See_ Enda. historicity of Lives of Ciaran, holy water, homiletic purpose of Lives, horse ploughing, hospitality, _See also_ almsgiving. hound miraculously killed, Hyde, Dr. Douglas, hymn of Colum Cille, hymns to Ciaran, hypnotism,

I (Iona), Illtyd, St., Inis Aingin (Hare Island), Inis Cathaig (Scattery Island), Inis Clothrann, Inis Muige Samh (Inismacsaint), _See also_ Ninned. intoxication, Iona. _See_ I. Irluachra, Isel Chiarain, Iustus, _See also_ Diarmait, deacon.

Keranus, Kiaranus. _See_ Ciaran. Kiarraighe. _See_ Ciarraige. King, Adam, 8 kings of Ireland, 103 Kyaranus, Kyeranus. _See_ Ciaran.

Laigen (Laginensea, Lagenians, Leinstermen), Lann, Larne, _See also_ Latharna. Lasrian, St., Latharna, Latronenses. _See_ Latharna. lepers and leprosy, Lissardowlin. _See_ Ard Abla. Little Church of Cluain maccu Nois, Little Height of Cluain maccu Nois, Lives of Saints, their nature, Loch Erne. _See_ Erne, Loch. Loch Rii. _See_ Rib, Loch. Lonan the Left-handed, lucky and unlucky signs, Lucoll (Lucennus, Luchennus, Luctigernnus), Lugaid, priest, Lugaid, St., Lugbeg, Lugbrann, Lugna maccu Moga Laim, Luimnech (Limerick),

Mac Cuillind of Lusk, Mac Natfraeich, Mac Nisse, Mael-Odran, Mag Ai, Mag Molt, Magic, Maignenn, St., manuscripts of Lives, matriarchate, merchants of wine, metres, Mide (Meath), Mil of Spain, Milesians, milk, miraculous supply of, mills, Mo-Beoc, Mo-Bi, St., Mo-Chua, St., mockery of druids, Moin Coise Bla, Mo-Laise, St., Moling, St., Mo-Lioc, Mugain, Muinis, bishop, Muireann, Muma (Mumenia, Munster, Mumunienses), Munnu, St.,

nicknames, Ninned, St. (Nynnidus), Nunnery, Cluain maccu Nois,

oats turned to wheat, _See also_ transformations. Odrán, Odranus, Odrán of Letrecha Odráin, Oengus mac Crimthainn, Oengus the Culdee, Oenna maccu Laigsi (Aengus, Oenius), Oran, St., oxen ploughing,

pagan sanctuaries, panegyrics, Pata, Patrick, St., Paul and Peter, SS., relics of, Paulinus, Peca, Peden, Alexander, pedigree of Ciaran. _See_ Genealogy. periods of Ciaran's life, Pieran, St., ploughing, Port of the Gospel, _See also_ Inis Angin. Pre-Celthic tribes, priest, Ciaran consecrated, prophecies, Psalms, use of,

Queranus. _See_ Ciaran. quern, grinding at, Quiaranus, Quieranus, Quiranus. _See_ Ciaran.

raids on Cluain maccu Nois, Raithbeo (Raichbe), Ráith Crimthainn, relics, resuscitation of animals, of boy, of Cluain, of murdered monks, process of, Rib, Loch (Loch Ree), robbers, Ruadán, St., rule of St. Ciaran,

Saehrimnir, Saigir (Seir-Kieran, King's Co.), Samthann, St., Scattery Island. _See_ Inis Cathaig. scent of wine on finger, secondary interments, Segine, abbot of I, Seir-Kieran. _See_ Saigir. Senan, St., separation of cows and calves, ship Sinann (Sinna, Synna, Shannon), slavery, springs, miraculous,

taboo, Tailltiu (Telltown, Co. Meath), Tara. _See_ Temair. Tech meic in tSaeir, Teffia. _See_ Tethba. Temair (Tara, Co. Meath), Templemacateer, Templevickinloyhe, _Tendenz_ of biographies of Ciaran, Tethba, threshing, Tigernmas, Tir na Gabrai, Toirdelbach ó Briain, tonsure, effacement of, trade, Irish, transformations, tree, sacred, Tren, Tuathal Moel-Garb, king, Tulach na Crosáin, twins,

Ui Failge, Ui Maine, Ui Neill, Uis. _See_ Iustus. Uisnech, uncle, relationship of,

voice, recognition by, voice heard from long distance, voice from heaven,

water turned to honey, to wine, _See also_ transformations. whirlpool, wine, Winefred, St., wizards, wolves, women, relations with,

Yseal, Ysseal. _See_ Isel.

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End of Project Gutenberg's The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran, by Anonymous