Thus, persevering for three days, in prayer and fast- ing, relief was at length
afforded
them, for they felt both wearied and weak.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
808.
term "sea-beast.
"
;
but, here you are going to
—
4iS LIVES OF 2HE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
man appeared, holding a basket full of loaves, cooked under the ashes. He had also brought other viands, and whatever was necessary to celebrate Easter, and he laid all at the feet of the man of God, saying in tears : " How is it given as a reward to me, O pearl of God, that you should be refreshed forthreedays,throughthelabourofmyhands. " Heprostratedhimselfon the earth three different times. Then, Brendan embraced on raising him up, and replied : " Son, our Lord Jesus Christ provides for us a place, where we may celebrate His Holy Resurrection. " When these words were spoken, the man proceeded to prepare all things requisite, for the use of God's servants on the following day. Having brought necessaries to the ship, the stranger
May i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 419
have you been astonished, at wliat has become of that island ? " They all cried out : " Indeed, father, we greatly wonder, and an awful trembling hath seized on us. " Their Abbot then answered : " My dear children, be not ter- rified ; for the Almighty hath revealed to me, last night, the meaning of this mystery. Youwerenotstandingonanisland,butonafish,^^thelargestof all swimming in the ocean ; and it tries in vain, to join its head with its tail, but it cannot do so, because of its extraordinary length. Now, Jasconius^^ js the name it bears. " The imaginary sea-monster of this adventure will probably recall to thereader's memorystories yetcurrent of the traditional Irish Peistha,^^ or Water Dragon, and of the Kraken,''^ supposed to rise or swim, over deep soundings. The great sea-serpent 7° is another form of supposed marine existence,? ^ and of which specimens are said to have appeared, at various times ;72 but, while there is no valid reason for doubting, that such gigantic creatures might exist,73 few scientists have ventured to suppose, they can be more than from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet in length. ^'^ Naturalists have a conviction, that the existence of these monstrous animals, popularly believed for centuries to have had a place in creation, will be one (lay proved beyond doubt ;75 and, not only several credible and trustworthy
narratives of sea voyagers are in evidence, to sustain the earlier Arctic and
^^ The English Metrical Life reads Jascom. Agassiz writes : —'* If there exists any See Thomas Wright's " St. Brandan : A animal in our waters not yet known to na-
Mediasval Legend of the Sea," in English Verse and Prose, p. 8. Another MS. reads Jastoyn. See n. p. 59, ibid.
^^ This monster is stated to be enchanted, at the bottom of nearly all the Irish lakes, and to be seen occasionally beneath their waters.
*9 An account of this amazing animal is given by Bishop Fontoppidan, in his Natural History of Norway. Its back is stated to be covered by rugged excrescences, and it is said to be an English mile and a-half in cir- cumference ; while a mane waves over the back, as it advances through the water, and it is supposed to be of a crab-like mo—del.
:
'° In 1848 Professor Owen wrote "The
creative powers of the human mind appear to be really very limited, and on all occa- sions when the true source of the great un- known has been detected, whether it has proved to be a file of sportive porpoises or a pair of gigantic sharks, old Pontoppidan's sea-serpent with the mane has uniformly suggested itself as the representative of the portent, until the mystery has been unra- velled. "
7' Small sea-serpents, about five feet long, are well known in tropical and sub-tropical seas. If all the collected accounts of the dif- ferent appearances of a gigantic sea-serpent are compared, they all so differ among them- selves, that it is evident divers people and witnesses saw different things. By some naturalists, it has been thought, there are at least two species of a larger creature Jtyled Eremotherium, one of these being in the northern and the other in the southern ocean.
turalists, answering to the description of the ' sea serpent,' it must be closely allied to the Plesiosaurus. The occurrence in the fresh waters of North America of a fish, the Lep- idosteus, which is closely allied to the fossil fishes found with the Plesiosaurus in the Jurassic beds, renders such a supposition probable. "
"In the year 1875, the daily press in these Islands gave a report sent from Zanzi- bar of an encounter between the sea serpent and a whale, seen by those on board the Pauline, when off the coast of Brazil. A drawing of the encounter, representing the sea-serpent coiled round the whale was sent
England. However, Mr. Frank Buck- land in noticing this account said, that he be- lieves the coils of that supposed sea- serpent round the whale were nothing more nor less than the airms of a large octopus, or one of its near relations. Since Mr. Buck- land's note appeared, an illustrated paper has published a woodcut of the encounter between the serpent and the whale, drawn by a naval chaplain at Zanzibar, from the description of those who saw it, and who affirmed that the drawing was a correct re- presentation.
? •• Quiteremovedfromaloveforthemar- vellous, which so many persons share, few of those, acquainted with the strange forms of extinct animal life the palaeontologist has made known to us, doubt that they rnay exist ; to the physiologist there are no diffi- culties in understanding, how gigantic ser- pent-shaped fish might live, at depths of the sea, and yet be rarely seen.
75 To the present time, however, nothing has been seen to prove their existence ; and, lished in 1871, the American Professor all the researches of scientific men have
7" In his "Geological Researches," pub-
to
420 LI V£6 OF THE UU3H SAINTS. [May 1 6.
North American traditions,'^ but, we have even pictorial representations of the sea-serpent,77 which exhibit it, in various extraordinary shapes,'^ although allowance must be made for imperfect observation and for much consequent exaggeration. Some naturalists believe, that the monsters described as such were only specimens of the octopus or of the phoca proboscia,79 if they were n. ot large whales. ^°
The vessel of our Irish voyagers, after that adventure, began to sail once more; and, for three days, it drifted towards that Island they had so lately left. When they had turned one of its headlands, towards the west, another Island was observed, with only a narrow strait intervening. That Island was covered with grass, flowers, and trees. Towards it, the crew sailed to find a port. ^' While sailing southwards of tiiis latter Island, the voyagers saw a small rivulet, just the width of their bark, running into the sea, and at its opening they landed. Disembarking, the holy superior ordered his monks to pull the vessel with ropes against the current of the river. He remained on board. When they had thus tugged for about a mile, they came to a remarkable foun- tain. Over its waters grew a large tree, not so wonderful on account of its height, as for its great spreading branches, on which had perched a vast number of white and beautiful birds,^^ so that the branches and leaves could
failed to discover any remains of such a crea- ture, or to obtain any satisfactory informa- tion as to the size, proportions, appearance, or habits, of the sea-serpent.
'* On the iSlh of March, 1874, a paper was read on " Evidence for and against Existence of the so-called Sea-serpent," by Dr. Samuel Kneeland, at a meeting of the Boston Society of Natural History, and it was published in the proceedings of that learned body. There, he gives numerous references to its appearance in Europe and America. Restates, that this animal could not be referred to fishes, nor to serpents, nor to any described form of living reptiles or mammals, and he drew attention, likewise, tothefact,thatmanyearlygeologicaltypes had been transmitted to the present time, with or without interruption—such as the cestracion, lepidosteus, chimsera, percopsis, lingula, etc.
^^ In 1811, in the first volume of the Wer- nerian Society's Transactions, ji. 41S, there is an account of an animal 56 f^eet long, which was cast ashore on the Island of Stronsa, one of the Orkney Islands, a. d. 1808. The drawing which is given, based on the affi- davits of people who saw it, represents the animal with six legs and a serpent-like body. Portions of the animal were preserved and sent to the museum at Edinburgh ; but those points of interest, which make the creature a "sea-serpent," rest only on the statements of people made from memory. Again, in the " Monthly Magazine" for 1818,
counts of the sea-serpent's appearances, but with great diversity of description. See vol. vi.
7* A singularly-looking monster, rearing up mast-high and spouting water, makes an effective picture, as drawn by Hans Egede.
'' Such is the conclusion arrived at, by Professor Owen, in October, 1S48, when there appeared in the " Illustrated London News" some drawings of the great sea-ser- pent as seen by the crew of the Dsedalus, Cap- tain M'Quhoe. There was a carefully exe- cuted drawing, on an enlarged scale, repre- senting the head and neck of the animal and this, together with the rlescription given byCaptainM'Quhoe,ledProfessorOwento the conclusion, that a seal's head approached more nearly to the description than any other. None of the men of the Daedalus saw any portion of the body, except about four feet of the neck raised out of water. The length of the body in the water was only guessed at ; but, Professor Owen holds, that if what the men of the Dxdalus saw was really a serpent, then their description and drawing must be inaccurate. The creature seen by that crew, it is assumed, was evi- dently an air-breather
;
there is notice of the Scoliophis Atlanticus,
which was killed on the shore, but there is
no proof it was marine ; however, it was
only between five and six feet long, and it is
a pure assumption, to call it the young of
the great sea-serpent. In the Naturalists'
Library, published A. D. 1843, Sir William scribe the ' Island of Sheep," and the
*^ "Some of the Arabian geographers de- Jardine has produced various collected ac- ' Island of Birds,' in the Western Ocean, in
wherefore, it would make an effort to dive, and its carcase when dead should float ; yet, never has a trace of
any part of the body been found.
*" It is almost universally admitted, that
widely spread popular beliefs in natural his- tory—especially when professing to rest upon credible testimony—have generally some portion of scientific truth for their basis.
•*= See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta vSancti Brendani," Navigatio Sancli Brendani, cap. iv. , pp. 95 1097.
;
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 421
scarcely be seen. Then said the holy father: "Behold, brothers, the Lord hath given us a place for remaining, until His Holy Resurrection," and he added : " If we had no other provision, I believe this fountain should suffice for our food and drink. " He then began to consider, wherefore or how it was, that such a multitude of birds could have been collected together, in the same place. Moved with some deep feeling and in tears, Brendan fell upon hiskneescryingout ''OLord,therevealerofthingsknownandunknown,
:
thouknowesttheanxietyofmyheart; wherefore,I,asinner,entreatoftheeto
reveal such a secret, through tliy great mercy, as thou hast given to my sight so : great a vision. This grace I dare not ask, because of any merits I possess, but - solelyIpresumeit, throughthyclemency. " Whenthesewordswereprb- - nounced, one of the birds flew from the tree towards the ship, where the
servant of God remained, and the motion of his vings sounded like a little cymbal. Whenhealightedonthetopoftheprow,hiswingswereexpanded in token of joy, and with a pleased look, the bird regarded St, Brendan. This holy man, understanding that the Lord had heard his prayer, then said to the bird: "If thou art one of God's messengers, tell me whence come those birds, or why is there such a number of them here ? " The bird immediately spoke:^3 "We are of that ruin caused by the old enemy; yet, not by sinning, nor by full consent, have we fallen ; but, where we have been created, owing to the fall of that wicked one and with his satellites, our ruin has happened. ^* But, the Omnipotent God, who is just and true in his decrees, hath sent us to this place. We do not endure pains. In part, we enjoy the presence of God ; he has, however, separated us from the companionship of those who remained faithful. We wander through different parts of this world, through air, earth, and space, as other spirits do. But, on Sundays and Festive days we receive such bodies as you behold us in, and through Almighty dispensa- tion here we dwell, and praise our Creator. You and your brethren have now journeyed a year, while six years yet remain for your course. And, wliere to-day you have celebrated the Easter, there every other year you shall observe it. Afterwards, you shall find that, which is so dear to your hearts, namely, The Land of Promise of the Saints," When that bird spoke these words, he flew from the ship's prow, and returned towards the other birds. Another wonder is to be added. When even-tide approached, all the birds be- gan to clap their wings, and they burst forth into a chorus of song, thus warb- ling : " Te decet hymnus Deus in Syon, et tibi reddetur votum in Jherusa-
^ lem. " And always they repeated this verse each hour. ; while, the modulation of their notes, and the sound of the wings, produced a delightful harmony. . Then, St. Brendan said to his monks : "Refresh your bodies, since on this day, your souls have been filled with a Divine revelation. " Having taken
words which must have been taken from our Christian Legend. "—Thomas Wright's "St. Brandon: A Medieval Legend of the Sea," in English Verse and Prose, Preface, p. V.
^^ From Blackwood's "Edinburgh Maga- zine," vol. xxxix. , No. ccxlviii. , iu the Anglo- Norman Trouveres, p. S09, we have this pas- sage versified :
"Then sang the bird, 'Erst we were high
In power and glory in the sky,
For angels were we, but we fell When pride drove Sathanas to hell : For we his vassals were, and driven
Thus for his surquedie from Hea- ven—
Now exiled for a space to stay
Upon this island, till the day
That shall restore us to the skies, For we are birds of Paradise,
But ye have much,' said he, ' to do And bear ere Paradise ye view,
And six years' toils must suffer still, Rocked by the winds and waves at
will;
And aye each year your Pasch shall
keep
Upon some monster of the deep. ' "
^' This is not a literal translation, but it
422
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
supper, and discharged the duties of their Divine Ofifice, the servant of God, and those who were with him, retired to rest, until the third watch of the night. Then rising, the man of God aroused his brethren for the nightly virgil, and they began with this versicle : " Domine, labia mea aperies. " Having finished the sentence, all the birds with throats and wings responded : " Laudate Dominum omnes Angeli ejus, laudate eum omnes Virtutes ejus. " Inlikemanner,atVespers,theyunceasinglysangforafullhour; andwhen the morning dawned, they began to sing, " Et sit splendor Domini Dei nostri super nos," with modulation equally ravishing, and with measured intonation, as when singing Matins. In like manner, at the Tierce, this verse was given : " Psallite Deo nostro, psallite, psallite regi nostro, psallite sapienter. " At Sext, they sung : " liluminavit Dominus vultum suum super nos, et miserea- tur nostri. " At None, they sang : " Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum habitare fratres in unum. " So day and night did those birds sing God's praises. Wherefore, holy Brendan, on hearing and seeing this, blessed the Almighty, for all his wonderful works.
During the Octave of that Easter Festival, and while they remained, his brothers were refreshed with spiritual food. This time having elapsed, the blessed Abbot said : " Let us take our portion from tliis foun- tain ; for, until now, there was no need to wash our hands or feet. " When he had thus spoken ; behold, that man, with whom they had been three days before the Pasch, came to them, having his ship filled with food and drink for their use. Removing these things and placing them before the holy father, that man of God said : "Men and brothers, see here what is sufficient for you, to the time of Pentecost ; but, drink not from this fountain, for only the strong can drink, as the nature of it is to cause sleep during four-and- twenty hours, on whosoever shall taste its waters. While it flows from the fountain, however, it has the taste and properties of water. " Saying these words, he obtained St. Brendan's blessing, and then he returned to his own place. There, the holy Abbot and his monks remained until Pentecost; for, the music of its birds had greatly charmed them. When that feast had come, and when the voyagers were preparing to celebrate the holy Mass, their venerable procurator once more appeared, and bearing with him all things that were necessary for this great solemnity. When tliey sat down to dinner in com- pany, that same man said to the rest: " Brothers, a great journey is before you. Take from this fountain your vessels filled with water, and hard bis cuits, which shall last you for another year, and I shall give you so much pro-
visions, as your vessel can carry. " When this had been accomplished, receiving a benediction, that stranger returned. Eight days having elapsed, Brendan commanded his monks to load their vessel with all the stranger had given them, and to fill their vessels at the fountain. Having brought all those matters to the shore, the bird again flew towards them, and it alighted on the prow of their ship. The blessed superior, wishing once more to know what it had to reveal, heard the following words, as if emitted by the human voice: "With us, you have celebrated the Holy Eastertide this year, and you shall keep it with us, on the succeeding year. And, wliere you were celebrating the Festival of our Lord's Supper the past year, there, on the same occasion, shall you be tlie year to come. In like manner, you shall celebrate the night of our Lord with the Easter, where you have always kept it, on the back of the monster Jascon, and after eight months shall you find Ailbey's ^5 Island. " There you shall celebrate the Nativity of our Lord. "
appears to us, as conveying the meaning of the writer.
*5 In the old French version, it is called the Isle of Albeu or Albeus. See "Les
Voyages Mcrvcilleux ile Saint Drandan a la Recherche du I'aradis Terrcslre, edited by Francisque- Michel, 11. 6i8, 721, 729, 785,
S77, pp. 30, 35, 36, 38, 43.
*^ See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's "Acta Sancti Biendani," Navigatio Sancti Brendani, cap. v. , pp. 98 to loi.
**' This was the Isle, dedicated to " Saint Albeu li pelerin. " according to "Les Voy- ages Merveilleux de Saint Brandan a la Recherche du Paradis Terrestre," edited by Francisque-Michel, I. 721, p. 35. Although, the writer of an article on The Anglo- Norman 'J'rouveres thinks the author of "Le Voyage de St. Brandan," taken from the Cotton Library, Vespasian B. x. , to have been an Englishman, on very slender grounds; yet,headmitstheimprobabilityof St. Albaii, the Protomartyr of England, being identical with St. Albeu or Albeus, who was indeed a well-known Irish saint.
He was called a pilgrim, on account of his desire, to seek a desert island out in the ocean, and therefore, it was meet that he should be selected as the patron of that found in St. Brandan's romantic voyage.
^^ In Blackwood's "Edinburgh Maga- zine," vol. xxxix. , No. ccxlviii. , this passage we find rendered in English verse :
But faint were they, blithe they go
To slake their thirst. * No, brothers. no,'
Brandan out cried, ' first seek and know
If this strange spring be wholesome drink. '
Affright they hastened from the brink,
Tho' sorely pained with thirst ;— then nigh
An old nian came, and when his eye
Glanced on St. Brandan, and he saw
The holy freres, with mickle awe
He prostrate fell, and kissed the
hand
Of the abbot, who now bade him
stand.
And soothly tell by word or sign Where were they. Well could he
divine.
Although he spoke not what was
said,
And joyfully and swiftly led
The abbot and his companie,
With care and ail huniilitie.
Unto an abbey fair and good (Beneath the moon none holier
stood). "
-The Anglo-Norman Trouveres, p. 810.
•' When lo spring,
!
they found a wond'rous
From whence two springs their waters fling;
The one was foul, the other bright Much gazed the faith ul at the
sight,
——
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Having thus spoken, the stranger left them, for his own place. ^^ Soon, the sails were spread, and they began to move out on the ocean. All the crew heard the birds chaunting, as if with one voice : " Exaudi nos Deus salutaris noster, spes omnium finium tcrrae et in mari longe. "
After Whit Sunday, they sailed for three months, seeing nothing but sea and sky;onlyeatingonce,everytwoorthreedays. Then,theydescriedanlsland;^^ but, the wind blowing in one direction, for forty days they sailed around it, with- out being able to find a port. In tears, they entreated the Almighty, that he might come to their aid.
Thus, persevering for three days, in prayer and fast- ing, relief was at length afforded them, for they felt both wearied and weak. At last, they found a port, but it was very narrow, and so as to give room only foronevessel. Twofountainswerethere,onewasturbid,andtheotherwas limpid and clear. ^^ As the brethren hastened to draw water, the saint stopped them, saying, "You cannot do what is unlawful, without the permission of the fathers who inhabit this country. Will they not give you this water, which you now wish to steal ? " Then disembarking, and considering what course they should take, an old man of venerable mien advanced towards them. His hair was white as snow, and his countenance was radiant. Thrice did he prostrate himself on the ground before Brendan, who raised him up, and they embraced. The old man took Brendan by the hand, and walked with him a stadium towards the monastery. When they reached its door, Brendan asked his guide, " Whose is this monastery } Who governs it ? Whencecomethesaintswhodwellhere? " Theoldmanspokenot,inreply to those queries ; but, his thought answered, and it miraculously penetrated Brendan's mind. The old man made a motion of his hand for silence. Seeing this, Brendan said to his brethren : " Hold your tongues, in silence, lest our brethren be sullied by our dissipation. " Eleven brethren soon
423
424
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. \V[k\ i6.
appeared, attired in copes, bearing the cross, and chaunting : *'0 saints, arise
from your abodes go to meet the truth ; sanctify the place ; bless the people ;;
and vouchsafe to keep thy servants in peace. " At the moment that verse finished, the monastery superior embraced Brendan and his companions after him; his companions and the brethren also embraced each other. When they had thus given the kiss of peace, the travellers were led into the monas- tery, according to the custom of the west. After prayer, their feet were washed, while the antiphon, "Behold, I give you a new commandment," was chaunted. Then, their hands were washed. All sat down, and when the servant gave a signal, the table was prepared. Loaves of surpassing whiteness and roots of exquisite savour were served up. Each of the voyagers was placed, between two of his hosts, and a whole loaf was set before each two of the guests. After their meal, the monastic Abbot said to the strangers : " Brethren, you wished this morning to steal water from that fountain, the limpid waters of which you saw ; but, you may now draw thence, at will, re- joicinginthefearoftheLord. Theotherfountain,withitsturbidwaters,
serves for our daily ablutions, for it is tepid all the year round. As to these loaves, we know not where they are prepared, nor how they are brought to us. It is an alms, that God sends us, by one of his obedient creatures. What Divine truth says: 'Nothing is wanting to those fearing the Lord,' is accom- plished. We are twenty-four brethren, and we have twelve loaves every day, for our refreshment. On Sundays and Festival days there is a loaf for each one. To-day, in consequence of your arrival, the ordinary number of loaves has been doubled. Such are the presents, that Christ has continued to bestow on us, since the days of St. Patrick and of St. Albeus, our patrons. Eighty years have passed, and yet our bodies have not grown old, during all that time. We have no need here of things prepared by fire. We suffer neither from cold nor heat. When the hour for Mass or the Offices comes, those candles, that we brought from our land, li-,ht of themselves in the church; and, by a Divine disposition, they burn on without ever diminishing. " AVhen they had all eaten and drank, their Abbot, according to his usual custom, gave the signal, when the monks stood up from table, and in profound silence, they offered thanks to God, for his benefits to them. Then rising, Brendan, and the Abbot of the monastery, after them, entered the church. There ten other brethren met them, and immediately made genuflexions. On seeing them, Brendan said to the Abbot: "Father, why have not these sat down with us to eat ? " He replied : "It was because you are here, for our table could not accommodate so many ; but, soon they shall partake of refresh- ment, by God's will, so that nothing shall be wanting for tiiem. Immediately, we shall enter the church and chaunt Vespers, so that our brethren who now take their meal may be able in their turn to sing. " When the evening song Iiad ceased, St. Brendan began to admire the church and its manner of con- struction. It was quadrangular, longer than broad. There was a middle altar, before which three lamps were jilaced; besides two other altars, each having two lights before it. All these altars were of crystal, as were the chalices, patens, and other sacred vessels, which appertained to Divine worship. There were twenty-four sedilia around the choir, and the Abbot occupied a place between the two choirs. One of these commenced the psalm, while the other resjionded ; but, the Abbot first intoned. Not a voice nor a murmur was heard, in all the monastery. If a brother had a question to ask, he went before tiic abbot, bending the knee, and speaking to liim, in his heart ; the abbot under- stood him, by a revelation from on higii, and wrote on a tablet his answer. While Brendan was pondering on all he had seen and heard, the Abbot said to him : " Falliur, it is time for us to leave for the refectory, so that all be
.
beiig? could preserve it.
^ The account adds : "Abbas vero cum premisisset veisiculum : Dens in adjuto- r/«;« Wif/<w /«/'t'«i/f ; dedissetque simul liono- rum Trinitati, subjungunt istum versiculum : "Pecavimus, injusie egimus, iniquitatcm fecimus. Tu qui pius es, miserere nobis. Christe Domine. In pace in id ipsum dor- miam et requiescam. " After this expression, they sang that part of the office belonj^ing to this special hour.
8° See Exodus, xix. , xxiv.
»' See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Breudani," Navigatio Sancti Bremlani, cap. vi. , pp. I02 to 107.
'= The Iii-^h Saint and Bishop, whose feast occurs, on the 12th of September.
53 See L. Tachet de Barneval's " Histoire I. egendaire de I'Irlande," chap, xxiii. , pp. 257 to 261.
'j-t The Anglo-Norman Trouvere says,
—
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 425
done by day, as it is written, ' Who walketh in the light, doth not offend. '" Having finished, according to the diurnal order, all hastened joyfully to begin Complin. ^9 When this Compline ended, the monks retired to their cells, showing the brothers, who were their guests, to their beds. But, St. Brendan and ibeir Abbot remained in the church, until dawn. Our saint then enquired fron tVe Abbot, regarding the wonderful silence observed, and how human
The Abbot then said to St. Brendan: " I attest in tbj j/i'esence of Christ, that for the eighty years, we have been on this island, wt have heard tlie human voice only in that chant of praise, which we address totheLord. Avoiceisnotraisedbyourtwenty-fourmonks,exceptitbe by signal of finger or eye, and, this practice have we received from our elders. None of us has felt the miseries of the flesh, or the approach of the evil spirit, who prowls around the human race, since we came here. " Then Brendan asked, if it were lawful for himself and his companions to remain with them. The Abbot replied : " It is not lawful, for it is not God's will ; but why, father, do you ask me ? Hath not the Lord revealed to you, what you were to do, before coming to us? It is incumbent on you to return, with your fourteen brethren, to the place assigned for your burial. " He said also, " Of the two brothers, whom you know, one shall remain in the Island of the Anchorets ; the other, by a shameful and lamentable death, shall be plunged into hell. " The event corresponded with this prediction. While they thus conversed in the church, a fiery dart came through the window, from Heaven; and, immediately, all the candle^ that stood before the altar were lighted up. The arrow afterwards returned tlirough the same window, and seemed to bury itselfamongsomestones,thatwerewithout. TheholyBrendanthenenquired, how these lights should be extinguished, in the morning ; and, the venerable host invited him to come, and to witness the mystery, for himself. " You see," said the Abbot, " these which burn, in the middle of their sockets, they consume not, nor decrease, and the fire leaves no trace, nor mark, for it is wholly immaterial. " "Then," asked Brendan : " How can a incorporeal fire burn in a corporal object ? " The venerable sage answered : " Have you not read of the burning red, on Mount Synai ; and the red, however, remained unconsumed. "9° Thus, they watched until morning, and then St. Brendan asked for leave to depart. " No, holy fatlier," said the sage," but you shall celebrate the Nativity of the Lord with us, and give us solace, even to the OctaveoftheEpiphany. " Wherefore,theholyBrendanandhiscompanions remained during that time prescribed in the Island. 9' This is variedly called, the Island of Ailbe,^^ or the Island of Ailbe's Family^ When they had spent the allotted number of days there, and having received a sufficient allowance of food for their voyage, with a parting blessing from that father and his monks,
it was deemed necessary to spread their sails for another ocean voyage. Accordingly, Brendan and the brethren re-embarked. Using but seldom their oars and sails, their ship drifted about to different quarters; but, at the beginning of Lent, an Island was seen not far ahead. At this time, they suffered from hunger and thirst, for three days.
426 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
provisions having failed them. The crew eagerly desired to land, and now their exertions were put forth, for that purpose. A port was found, St. Brendan blessed it, and all went on shore. There, they discovered a foun- tain, whose limpid waters flowed to the sea, and were full of fish. Around it were various roots and herbs. Then, on seeing this, blessed Brendan said to his monks: "Certainly, my brothers, God gives us consolation after our labours. Takeasmanyfishesasshallbenecessaryforoursupper,andbroil them on the fire. Collect those herbs and roots, also, which the Lord has prepared for his servants. " They did as commanded. Then, taking some water from the fountain, Brendan tasted it, and warned his brethren: "Drink cautiously, my brothers, this water is dangerous to health. " But, they dis- regarded his word. Some drank one cup of it ; some drank two and even three cups. Those who had tasted less than others were seized with a drowsi- ness, which lasted for a day and night ; those who had indulged to a greater excess, were seized with a sleep, that lasted three days and three nights. Meanwhile, the saint prayed unceasingly, asking pardon for their ignorance, whichhadledthemintotinsperil. Attheendofthethirdday,Godawakened them anew,93 and then, St. Brendan said to them: "My sons, let us fly from this death-bearing water,94 lest a worse affliction befall us. For, although the Lordaffordsus refreshment, yet, would you convert it into a detriment. Where- fore, let us leave this Island, taking with us so many fishes, and so many roots, as may be required for our use, until the Feast of our Lord's Supper ; besides, let each one only take a cup of water. " When they had thus complied with their superior's requirement, the crew sailed out upon the ocean once more, and this time, their course was northwards. For three days and as many nights, a dead calm set in, while the waves were smooth and lustrous as glass, the winds ceasing to blow. Then said the holy father : " Draw in your oars and loose your sails, trusting to the Lord for guidance of your bark, wheresoever it shall please him to direct. " For, about twenty days, their ship was thus drifting ; and then a favouring gale arose. After each triduum, the crew was refreshed ; and from the west to the east, they now stood, stretching their sails, and at the same time rowing. While St. Brendan sailed one night on the great ocean, it is related, 95 that the soul of one, who had been an angry monk, and who had been a sower of strife among his brethren, came and supplicated for the favour of his prayers. ^^
At last, during the continuance of their voyage, and looming like a cloud in thedistance,anIslandappeared. Then,Brendansaidtohismonks:"My sons, know you this Island ? " They answered in the negative. He resumed : " I know it, liowever, as the Island, in which we spent the last Holy Thursday, and where our good friend the procurator dwells. " Having lieard these words, the crew hastened with all hands to work their shi|). On seeing this, tlie man of God said to them : " Be not unwise, and do not waste your strengtii.
Hath not the Almighty guided your vessel? Leave its direction to Inm, and he will direct our course as he desires. " They then resumed their steering, iind reached the Isle, where they had passed the previous vigil of Easter, and the procurator, whom they had already seen the last year, came to meet
was "embetumee " by flowing over metallic ores, i^ee BLickwood's " Eclinbiirt;li May;;i- zine, ' vol. xxxix. , No. ccxiviii. The Anglo- Norman Trouveres, )). 311.
is published, in the Rev. C. P. Meehan's iranslation of " Pii Antistitis Icon ; sive iJe N'ita ct Moi te Reverendissimi Francisci Kiro- rani, Alladensis K]iisco]>i. Authurc Joanne Lynchaeo, Archidiacono Tuamensi. Mac- A new edition was '''' Thi> has been conveyed to us in an ]>ublislicd, Dublinii apuil Jacobuni Duffy,
95 See Archbishop Ussher's " Religion of ihe Ancient Iri>h," p. 20.
lovii. M. DC. LXix. "
agreeable ballad, intituled "The Strife- M. DCCC. XLVIII. , Notes, chapter i. , n. 7. hi>\Ner,' l>y Tiiomas D'Arcy McGee, and it pp. 174. 175.
:
May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
427
them, and to lead them to the old port," saying : " Admirable in his saints istheGodofIsrael; hewillgivehispeoplefortitudeandcourage,blessed be He. " At the same time, the good man kissed the feet of St. Brendan, andofallhismonks; thenhavingfinishedtheversicle,andtakenallthings from the ship, he pitched a tent and prepared a bath for them. It was now the Feast of Holy Thursday; and all prepared to celebrate it, according to thecustom. TheyalsospentGoodFridayandHolySaturdaythere,observ- ing the usual religious ceremonies. Having finished these celebrations and sacrifices, with the customary prayers, the angelic procurator then said: "Go on board your ship, so that you may observe the Feast of our Lord's Resur- rection, where you have celebrated it last year, and remain until the sixth hour of that day. Then, sail to that Island, known as the Paradise of Birds, wherefromEastertotheOctaveofPentecost}'ouremainedlastyear. Take with )'ou the necessary food and drink, and I shall again visit you, when the Sundaycomesround. " Thisorderoftheprocurator,thebrothersobserved.
In due time, St. Brendan bestowed his blessing on their benefactor, who had even provided them with new clothes. All went on board, and so they sailed for another Island. When they approached the place for debarkation, and were about to leave the ship, lo ! that cauldron, which they had left behind them last year on the Jascon's back when flying away from it, now appeared to their full view. Wherefore, Brendan, going out from the vessel to the shore, began to sing the Hymn of tlie Three Children, from the beginning to the end. Having finished this hymn, St. Brendan gave an admonition to his brethren : " O my sons, watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation. Consider how the Almighty sunk the huge monster under us, without any difficulty. " Then, the monks severally kept watch on that Island, to the hour for Matins. Afterwards, all the priests sang their several Masses to the third hour. But, blessed Brendan and his monks, going on board the ship, immolated the Immaculate Lamb to God, and then said to his brethren : "The year before, we celebrated here the Feast of our Lord's Resurrection.
So, the Lord willing it, I desire to observe it this year. " Thence departing, the voyagers next visited that Island, called the Paradise of Birds. 97 When approaching the port of that Island, all the birds appeared, and they began to sing out, as if with one voice : " Salus Deo nostro sedenti super thronum et agno. " And again : " Deus Doniinus illuxit nobis. Constituite diem solemnemincondempsisusqueadcornualtaris. " Withthenotes,theirwin^s also made music, until the holy father and his mariner monks were in the tent, pitched to receive them on shore. There again did the crew celebrate their Eastertide, until the octave of Pentecost. And, as he had promised during the octave 9^ of our Lord's Resurrection, the procurator appeared, bringing the provisions necessary for their sustenance. Rejoicing, the monks gavethankstoGod.
;
but, here you are going to
—
4iS LIVES OF 2HE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
man appeared, holding a basket full of loaves, cooked under the ashes. He had also brought other viands, and whatever was necessary to celebrate Easter, and he laid all at the feet of the man of God, saying in tears : " How is it given as a reward to me, O pearl of God, that you should be refreshed forthreedays,throughthelabourofmyhands. " Heprostratedhimselfon the earth three different times. Then, Brendan embraced on raising him up, and replied : " Son, our Lord Jesus Christ provides for us a place, where we may celebrate His Holy Resurrection. " When these words were spoken, the man proceeded to prepare all things requisite, for the use of God's servants on the following day. Having brought necessaries to the ship, the stranger
May i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 419
have you been astonished, at wliat has become of that island ? " They all cried out : " Indeed, father, we greatly wonder, and an awful trembling hath seized on us. " Their Abbot then answered : " My dear children, be not ter- rified ; for the Almighty hath revealed to me, last night, the meaning of this mystery. Youwerenotstandingonanisland,butonafish,^^thelargestof all swimming in the ocean ; and it tries in vain, to join its head with its tail, but it cannot do so, because of its extraordinary length. Now, Jasconius^^ js the name it bears. " The imaginary sea-monster of this adventure will probably recall to thereader's memorystories yetcurrent of the traditional Irish Peistha,^^ or Water Dragon, and of the Kraken,''^ supposed to rise or swim, over deep soundings. The great sea-serpent 7° is another form of supposed marine existence,? ^ and of which specimens are said to have appeared, at various times ;72 but, while there is no valid reason for doubting, that such gigantic creatures might exist,73 few scientists have ventured to suppose, they can be more than from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet in length. ^'^ Naturalists have a conviction, that the existence of these monstrous animals, popularly believed for centuries to have had a place in creation, will be one (lay proved beyond doubt ;75 and, not only several credible and trustworthy
narratives of sea voyagers are in evidence, to sustain the earlier Arctic and
^^ The English Metrical Life reads Jascom. Agassiz writes : —'* If there exists any See Thomas Wright's " St. Brandan : A animal in our waters not yet known to na-
Mediasval Legend of the Sea," in English Verse and Prose, p. 8. Another MS. reads Jastoyn. See n. p. 59, ibid.
^^ This monster is stated to be enchanted, at the bottom of nearly all the Irish lakes, and to be seen occasionally beneath their waters.
*9 An account of this amazing animal is given by Bishop Fontoppidan, in his Natural History of Norway. Its back is stated to be covered by rugged excrescences, and it is said to be an English mile and a-half in cir- cumference ; while a mane waves over the back, as it advances through the water, and it is supposed to be of a crab-like mo—del.
:
'° In 1848 Professor Owen wrote "The
creative powers of the human mind appear to be really very limited, and on all occa- sions when the true source of the great un- known has been detected, whether it has proved to be a file of sportive porpoises or a pair of gigantic sharks, old Pontoppidan's sea-serpent with the mane has uniformly suggested itself as the representative of the portent, until the mystery has been unra- velled. "
7' Small sea-serpents, about five feet long, are well known in tropical and sub-tropical seas. If all the collected accounts of the dif- ferent appearances of a gigantic sea-serpent are compared, they all so differ among them- selves, that it is evident divers people and witnesses saw different things. By some naturalists, it has been thought, there are at least two species of a larger creature Jtyled Eremotherium, one of these being in the northern and the other in the southern ocean.
turalists, answering to the description of the ' sea serpent,' it must be closely allied to the Plesiosaurus. The occurrence in the fresh waters of North America of a fish, the Lep- idosteus, which is closely allied to the fossil fishes found with the Plesiosaurus in the Jurassic beds, renders such a supposition probable. "
"In the year 1875, the daily press in these Islands gave a report sent from Zanzi- bar of an encounter between the sea serpent and a whale, seen by those on board the Pauline, when off the coast of Brazil. A drawing of the encounter, representing the sea-serpent coiled round the whale was sent
England. However, Mr. Frank Buck- land in noticing this account said, that he be- lieves the coils of that supposed sea- serpent round the whale were nothing more nor less than the airms of a large octopus, or one of its near relations. Since Mr. Buck- land's note appeared, an illustrated paper has published a woodcut of the encounter between the serpent and the whale, drawn by a naval chaplain at Zanzibar, from the description of those who saw it, and who affirmed that the drawing was a correct re- presentation.
? •• Quiteremovedfromaloveforthemar- vellous, which so many persons share, few of those, acquainted with the strange forms of extinct animal life the palaeontologist has made known to us, doubt that they rnay exist ; to the physiologist there are no diffi- culties in understanding, how gigantic ser- pent-shaped fish might live, at depths of the sea, and yet be rarely seen.
75 To the present time, however, nothing has been seen to prove their existence ; and, lished in 1871, the American Professor all the researches of scientific men have
7" In his "Geological Researches," pub-
to
420 LI V£6 OF THE UU3H SAINTS. [May 1 6.
North American traditions,'^ but, we have even pictorial representations of the sea-serpent,77 which exhibit it, in various extraordinary shapes,'^ although allowance must be made for imperfect observation and for much consequent exaggeration. Some naturalists believe, that the monsters described as such were only specimens of the octopus or of the phoca proboscia,79 if they were n. ot large whales. ^°
The vessel of our Irish voyagers, after that adventure, began to sail once more; and, for three days, it drifted towards that Island they had so lately left. When they had turned one of its headlands, towards the west, another Island was observed, with only a narrow strait intervening. That Island was covered with grass, flowers, and trees. Towards it, the crew sailed to find a port. ^' While sailing southwards of tiiis latter Island, the voyagers saw a small rivulet, just the width of their bark, running into the sea, and at its opening they landed. Disembarking, the holy superior ordered his monks to pull the vessel with ropes against the current of the river. He remained on board. When they had thus tugged for about a mile, they came to a remarkable foun- tain. Over its waters grew a large tree, not so wonderful on account of its height, as for its great spreading branches, on which had perched a vast number of white and beautiful birds,^^ so that the branches and leaves could
failed to discover any remains of such a crea- ture, or to obtain any satisfactory informa- tion as to the size, proportions, appearance, or habits, of the sea-serpent.
'* On the iSlh of March, 1874, a paper was read on " Evidence for and against Existence of the so-called Sea-serpent," by Dr. Samuel Kneeland, at a meeting of the Boston Society of Natural History, and it was published in the proceedings of that learned body. There, he gives numerous references to its appearance in Europe and America. Restates, that this animal could not be referred to fishes, nor to serpents, nor to any described form of living reptiles or mammals, and he drew attention, likewise, tothefact,thatmanyearlygeologicaltypes had been transmitted to the present time, with or without interruption—such as the cestracion, lepidosteus, chimsera, percopsis, lingula, etc.
^^ In 1811, in the first volume of the Wer- nerian Society's Transactions, ji. 41S, there is an account of an animal 56 f^eet long, which was cast ashore on the Island of Stronsa, one of the Orkney Islands, a. d. 1808. The drawing which is given, based on the affi- davits of people who saw it, represents the animal with six legs and a serpent-like body. Portions of the animal were preserved and sent to the museum at Edinburgh ; but those points of interest, which make the creature a "sea-serpent," rest only on the statements of people made from memory. Again, in the " Monthly Magazine" for 1818,
counts of the sea-serpent's appearances, but with great diversity of description. See vol. vi.
7* A singularly-looking monster, rearing up mast-high and spouting water, makes an effective picture, as drawn by Hans Egede.
'' Such is the conclusion arrived at, by Professor Owen, in October, 1S48, when there appeared in the " Illustrated London News" some drawings of the great sea-ser- pent as seen by the crew of the Dsedalus, Cap- tain M'Quhoe. There was a carefully exe- cuted drawing, on an enlarged scale, repre- senting the head and neck of the animal and this, together with the rlescription given byCaptainM'Quhoe,ledProfessorOwento the conclusion, that a seal's head approached more nearly to the description than any other. None of the men of the Daedalus saw any portion of the body, except about four feet of the neck raised out of water. The length of the body in the water was only guessed at ; but, Professor Owen holds, that if what the men of the Dxdalus saw was really a serpent, then their description and drawing must be inaccurate. The creature seen by that crew, it is assumed, was evi- dently an air-breather
;
there is notice of the Scoliophis Atlanticus,
which was killed on the shore, but there is
no proof it was marine ; however, it was
only between five and six feet long, and it is
a pure assumption, to call it the young of
the great sea-serpent. In the Naturalists'
Library, published A. D. 1843, Sir William scribe the ' Island of Sheep," and the
*^ "Some of the Arabian geographers de- Jardine has produced various collected ac- ' Island of Birds,' in the Western Ocean, in
wherefore, it would make an effort to dive, and its carcase when dead should float ; yet, never has a trace of
any part of the body been found.
*" It is almost universally admitted, that
widely spread popular beliefs in natural his- tory—especially when professing to rest upon credible testimony—have generally some portion of scientific truth for their basis.
•*= See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta vSancti Brendani," Navigatio Sancli Brendani, cap. iv. , pp. 95 1097.
;
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 421
scarcely be seen. Then said the holy father: "Behold, brothers, the Lord hath given us a place for remaining, until His Holy Resurrection," and he added : " If we had no other provision, I believe this fountain should suffice for our food and drink. " He then began to consider, wherefore or how it was, that such a multitude of birds could have been collected together, in the same place. Moved with some deep feeling and in tears, Brendan fell upon hiskneescryingout ''OLord,therevealerofthingsknownandunknown,
:
thouknowesttheanxietyofmyheart; wherefore,I,asinner,entreatoftheeto
reveal such a secret, through tliy great mercy, as thou hast given to my sight so : great a vision. This grace I dare not ask, because of any merits I possess, but - solelyIpresumeit, throughthyclemency. " Whenthesewordswereprb- - nounced, one of the birds flew from the tree towards the ship, where the
servant of God remained, and the motion of his vings sounded like a little cymbal. Whenhealightedonthetopoftheprow,hiswingswereexpanded in token of joy, and with a pleased look, the bird regarded St, Brendan. This holy man, understanding that the Lord had heard his prayer, then said to the bird: "If thou art one of God's messengers, tell me whence come those birds, or why is there such a number of them here ? " The bird immediately spoke:^3 "We are of that ruin caused by the old enemy; yet, not by sinning, nor by full consent, have we fallen ; but, where we have been created, owing to the fall of that wicked one and with his satellites, our ruin has happened. ^* But, the Omnipotent God, who is just and true in his decrees, hath sent us to this place. We do not endure pains. In part, we enjoy the presence of God ; he has, however, separated us from the companionship of those who remained faithful. We wander through different parts of this world, through air, earth, and space, as other spirits do. But, on Sundays and Festive days we receive such bodies as you behold us in, and through Almighty dispensa- tion here we dwell, and praise our Creator. You and your brethren have now journeyed a year, while six years yet remain for your course. And, wliere to-day you have celebrated the Easter, there every other year you shall observe it. Afterwards, you shall find that, which is so dear to your hearts, namely, The Land of Promise of the Saints," When that bird spoke these words, he flew from the ship's prow, and returned towards the other birds. Another wonder is to be added. When even-tide approached, all the birds be- gan to clap their wings, and they burst forth into a chorus of song, thus warb- ling : " Te decet hymnus Deus in Syon, et tibi reddetur votum in Jherusa-
^ lem. " And always they repeated this verse each hour. ; while, the modulation of their notes, and the sound of the wings, produced a delightful harmony. . Then, St. Brendan said to his monks : "Refresh your bodies, since on this day, your souls have been filled with a Divine revelation. " Having taken
words which must have been taken from our Christian Legend. "—Thomas Wright's "St. Brandon: A Medieval Legend of the Sea," in English Verse and Prose, Preface, p. V.
^^ From Blackwood's "Edinburgh Maga- zine," vol. xxxix. , No. ccxlviii. , iu the Anglo- Norman Trouveres, p. S09, we have this pas- sage versified :
"Then sang the bird, 'Erst we were high
In power and glory in the sky,
For angels were we, but we fell When pride drove Sathanas to hell : For we his vassals were, and driven
Thus for his surquedie from Hea- ven—
Now exiled for a space to stay
Upon this island, till the day
That shall restore us to the skies, For we are birds of Paradise,
But ye have much,' said he, ' to do And bear ere Paradise ye view,
And six years' toils must suffer still, Rocked by the winds and waves at
will;
And aye each year your Pasch shall
keep
Upon some monster of the deep. ' "
^' This is not a literal translation, but it
422
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
supper, and discharged the duties of their Divine Ofifice, the servant of God, and those who were with him, retired to rest, until the third watch of the night. Then rising, the man of God aroused his brethren for the nightly virgil, and they began with this versicle : " Domine, labia mea aperies. " Having finished the sentence, all the birds with throats and wings responded : " Laudate Dominum omnes Angeli ejus, laudate eum omnes Virtutes ejus. " Inlikemanner,atVespers,theyunceasinglysangforafullhour; andwhen the morning dawned, they began to sing, " Et sit splendor Domini Dei nostri super nos," with modulation equally ravishing, and with measured intonation, as when singing Matins. In like manner, at the Tierce, this verse was given : " Psallite Deo nostro, psallite, psallite regi nostro, psallite sapienter. " At Sext, they sung : " liluminavit Dominus vultum suum super nos, et miserea- tur nostri. " At None, they sang : " Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum habitare fratres in unum. " So day and night did those birds sing God's praises. Wherefore, holy Brendan, on hearing and seeing this, blessed the Almighty, for all his wonderful works.
During the Octave of that Easter Festival, and while they remained, his brothers were refreshed with spiritual food. This time having elapsed, the blessed Abbot said : " Let us take our portion from tliis foun- tain ; for, until now, there was no need to wash our hands or feet. " When he had thus spoken ; behold, that man, with whom they had been three days before the Pasch, came to them, having his ship filled with food and drink for their use. Removing these things and placing them before the holy father, that man of God said : "Men and brothers, see here what is sufficient for you, to the time of Pentecost ; but, drink not from this fountain, for only the strong can drink, as the nature of it is to cause sleep during four-and- twenty hours, on whosoever shall taste its waters. While it flows from the fountain, however, it has the taste and properties of water. " Saying these words, he obtained St. Brendan's blessing, and then he returned to his own place. There, the holy Abbot and his monks remained until Pentecost; for, the music of its birds had greatly charmed them. When that feast had come, and when the voyagers were preparing to celebrate the holy Mass, their venerable procurator once more appeared, and bearing with him all things that were necessary for this great solemnity. When tliey sat down to dinner in com- pany, that same man said to the rest: " Brothers, a great journey is before you. Take from this fountain your vessels filled with water, and hard bis cuits, which shall last you for another year, and I shall give you so much pro-
visions, as your vessel can carry. " When this had been accomplished, receiving a benediction, that stranger returned. Eight days having elapsed, Brendan commanded his monks to load their vessel with all the stranger had given them, and to fill their vessels at the fountain. Having brought all those matters to the shore, the bird again flew towards them, and it alighted on the prow of their ship. The blessed superior, wishing once more to know what it had to reveal, heard the following words, as if emitted by the human voice: "With us, you have celebrated the Holy Eastertide this year, and you shall keep it with us, on the succeeding year. And, wliere you were celebrating the Festival of our Lord's Supper the past year, there, on the same occasion, shall you be tlie year to come. In like manner, you shall celebrate the night of our Lord with the Easter, where you have always kept it, on the back of the monster Jascon, and after eight months shall you find Ailbey's ^5 Island. " There you shall celebrate the Nativity of our Lord. "
appears to us, as conveying the meaning of the writer.
*5 In the old French version, it is called the Isle of Albeu or Albeus. See "Les
Voyages Mcrvcilleux ile Saint Drandan a la Recherche du I'aradis Terrcslre, edited by Francisque- Michel, 11. 6i8, 721, 729, 785,
S77, pp. 30, 35, 36, 38, 43.
*^ See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's "Acta Sancti Biendani," Navigatio Sancti Brendani, cap. v. , pp. 98 to loi.
**' This was the Isle, dedicated to " Saint Albeu li pelerin. " according to "Les Voy- ages Merveilleux de Saint Brandan a la Recherche du Paradis Terrestre," edited by Francisque-Michel, I. 721, p. 35. Although, the writer of an article on The Anglo- Norman 'J'rouveres thinks the author of "Le Voyage de St. Brandan," taken from the Cotton Library, Vespasian B. x. , to have been an Englishman, on very slender grounds; yet,headmitstheimprobabilityof St. Albaii, the Protomartyr of England, being identical with St. Albeu or Albeus, who was indeed a well-known Irish saint.
He was called a pilgrim, on account of his desire, to seek a desert island out in the ocean, and therefore, it was meet that he should be selected as the patron of that found in St. Brandan's romantic voyage.
^^ In Blackwood's "Edinburgh Maga- zine," vol. xxxix. , No. ccxlviii. , this passage we find rendered in English verse :
But faint were they, blithe they go
To slake their thirst. * No, brothers. no,'
Brandan out cried, ' first seek and know
If this strange spring be wholesome drink. '
Affright they hastened from the brink,
Tho' sorely pained with thirst ;— then nigh
An old nian came, and when his eye
Glanced on St. Brandan, and he saw
The holy freres, with mickle awe
He prostrate fell, and kissed the
hand
Of the abbot, who now bade him
stand.
And soothly tell by word or sign Where were they. Well could he
divine.
Although he spoke not what was
said,
And joyfully and swiftly led
The abbot and his companie,
With care and ail huniilitie.
Unto an abbey fair and good (Beneath the moon none holier
stood). "
-The Anglo-Norman Trouveres, p. 810.
•' When lo spring,
!
they found a wond'rous
From whence two springs their waters fling;
The one was foul, the other bright Much gazed the faith ul at the
sight,
——
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Having thus spoken, the stranger left them, for his own place. ^^ Soon, the sails were spread, and they began to move out on the ocean. All the crew heard the birds chaunting, as if with one voice : " Exaudi nos Deus salutaris noster, spes omnium finium tcrrae et in mari longe. "
After Whit Sunday, they sailed for three months, seeing nothing but sea and sky;onlyeatingonce,everytwoorthreedays. Then,theydescriedanlsland;^^ but, the wind blowing in one direction, for forty days they sailed around it, with- out being able to find a port. In tears, they entreated the Almighty, that he might come to their aid.
Thus, persevering for three days, in prayer and fast- ing, relief was at length afforded them, for they felt both wearied and weak. At last, they found a port, but it was very narrow, and so as to give room only foronevessel. Twofountainswerethere,onewasturbid,andtheotherwas limpid and clear. ^^ As the brethren hastened to draw water, the saint stopped them, saying, "You cannot do what is unlawful, without the permission of the fathers who inhabit this country. Will they not give you this water, which you now wish to steal ? " Then disembarking, and considering what course they should take, an old man of venerable mien advanced towards them. His hair was white as snow, and his countenance was radiant. Thrice did he prostrate himself on the ground before Brendan, who raised him up, and they embraced. The old man took Brendan by the hand, and walked with him a stadium towards the monastery. When they reached its door, Brendan asked his guide, " Whose is this monastery } Who governs it ? Whencecomethesaintswhodwellhere? " Theoldmanspokenot,inreply to those queries ; but, his thought answered, and it miraculously penetrated Brendan's mind. The old man made a motion of his hand for silence. Seeing this, Brendan said to his brethren : " Hold your tongues, in silence, lest our brethren be sullied by our dissipation. " Eleven brethren soon
423
424
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. \V[k\ i6.
appeared, attired in copes, bearing the cross, and chaunting : *'0 saints, arise
from your abodes go to meet the truth ; sanctify the place ; bless the people ;;
and vouchsafe to keep thy servants in peace. " At the moment that verse finished, the monastery superior embraced Brendan and his companions after him; his companions and the brethren also embraced each other. When they had thus given the kiss of peace, the travellers were led into the monas- tery, according to the custom of the west. After prayer, their feet were washed, while the antiphon, "Behold, I give you a new commandment," was chaunted. Then, their hands were washed. All sat down, and when the servant gave a signal, the table was prepared. Loaves of surpassing whiteness and roots of exquisite savour were served up. Each of the voyagers was placed, between two of his hosts, and a whole loaf was set before each two of the guests. After their meal, the monastic Abbot said to the strangers : " Brethren, you wished this morning to steal water from that fountain, the limpid waters of which you saw ; but, you may now draw thence, at will, re- joicinginthefearoftheLord. Theotherfountain,withitsturbidwaters,
serves for our daily ablutions, for it is tepid all the year round. As to these loaves, we know not where they are prepared, nor how they are brought to us. It is an alms, that God sends us, by one of his obedient creatures. What Divine truth says: 'Nothing is wanting to those fearing the Lord,' is accom- plished. We are twenty-four brethren, and we have twelve loaves every day, for our refreshment. On Sundays and Festival days there is a loaf for each one. To-day, in consequence of your arrival, the ordinary number of loaves has been doubled. Such are the presents, that Christ has continued to bestow on us, since the days of St. Patrick and of St. Albeus, our patrons. Eighty years have passed, and yet our bodies have not grown old, during all that time. We have no need here of things prepared by fire. We suffer neither from cold nor heat. When the hour for Mass or the Offices comes, those candles, that we brought from our land, li-,ht of themselves in the church; and, by a Divine disposition, they burn on without ever diminishing. " AVhen they had all eaten and drank, their Abbot, according to his usual custom, gave the signal, when the monks stood up from table, and in profound silence, they offered thanks to God, for his benefits to them. Then rising, Brendan, and the Abbot of the monastery, after them, entered the church. There ten other brethren met them, and immediately made genuflexions. On seeing them, Brendan said to the Abbot: "Father, why have not these sat down with us to eat ? " He replied : "It was because you are here, for our table could not accommodate so many ; but, soon they shall partake of refresh- ment, by God's will, so that nothing shall be wanting for tiiem. Immediately, we shall enter the church and chaunt Vespers, so that our brethren who now take their meal may be able in their turn to sing. " When the evening song Iiad ceased, St. Brendan began to admire the church and its manner of con- struction. It was quadrangular, longer than broad. There was a middle altar, before which three lamps were jilaced; besides two other altars, each having two lights before it. All these altars were of crystal, as were the chalices, patens, and other sacred vessels, which appertained to Divine worship. There were twenty-four sedilia around the choir, and the Abbot occupied a place between the two choirs. One of these commenced the psalm, while the other resjionded ; but, the Abbot first intoned. Not a voice nor a murmur was heard, in all the monastery. If a brother had a question to ask, he went before tiic abbot, bending the knee, and speaking to liim, in his heart ; the abbot under- stood him, by a revelation from on higii, and wrote on a tablet his answer. While Brendan was pondering on all he had seen and heard, the Abbot said to him : " Falliur, it is time for us to leave for the refectory, so that all be
.
beiig? could preserve it.
^ The account adds : "Abbas vero cum premisisset veisiculum : Dens in adjuto- r/«;« Wif/<w /«/'t'«i/f ; dedissetque simul liono- rum Trinitati, subjungunt istum versiculum : "Pecavimus, injusie egimus, iniquitatcm fecimus. Tu qui pius es, miserere nobis. Christe Domine. In pace in id ipsum dor- miam et requiescam. " After this expression, they sang that part of the office belonj^ing to this special hour.
8° See Exodus, xix. , xxiv.
»' See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Breudani," Navigatio Sancti Bremlani, cap. vi. , pp. I02 to 107.
'= The Iii-^h Saint and Bishop, whose feast occurs, on the 12th of September.
53 See L. Tachet de Barneval's " Histoire I. egendaire de I'Irlande," chap, xxiii. , pp. 257 to 261.
'j-t The Anglo-Norman Trouvere says,
—
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 425
done by day, as it is written, ' Who walketh in the light, doth not offend. '" Having finished, according to the diurnal order, all hastened joyfully to begin Complin. ^9 When this Compline ended, the monks retired to their cells, showing the brothers, who were their guests, to their beds. But, St. Brendan and ibeir Abbot remained in the church, until dawn. Our saint then enquired fron tVe Abbot, regarding the wonderful silence observed, and how human
The Abbot then said to St. Brendan: " I attest in tbj j/i'esence of Christ, that for the eighty years, we have been on this island, wt have heard tlie human voice only in that chant of praise, which we address totheLord. Avoiceisnotraisedbyourtwenty-fourmonks,exceptitbe by signal of finger or eye, and, this practice have we received from our elders. None of us has felt the miseries of the flesh, or the approach of the evil spirit, who prowls around the human race, since we came here. " Then Brendan asked, if it were lawful for himself and his companions to remain with them. The Abbot replied : " It is not lawful, for it is not God's will ; but why, father, do you ask me ? Hath not the Lord revealed to you, what you were to do, before coming to us? It is incumbent on you to return, with your fourteen brethren, to the place assigned for your burial. " He said also, " Of the two brothers, whom you know, one shall remain in the Island of the Anchorets ; the other, by a shameful and lamentable death, shall be plunged into hell. " The event corresponded with this prediction. While they thus conversed in the church, a fiery dart came through the window, from Heaven; and, immediately, all the candle^ that stood before the altar were lighted up. The arrow afterwards returned tlirough the same window, and seemed to bury itselfamongsomestones,thatwerewithout. TheholyBrendanthenenquired, how these lights should be extinguished, in the morning ; and, the venerable host invited him to come, and to witness the mystery, for himself. " You see," said the Abbot, " these which burn, in the middle of their sockets, they consume not, nor decrease, and the fire leaves no trace, nor mark, for it is wholly immaterial. " "Then," asked Brendan : " How can a incorporeal fire burn in a corporal object ? " The venerable sage answered : " Have you not read of the burning red, on Mount Synai ; and the red, however, remained unconsumed. "9° Thus, they watched until morning, and then St. Brendan asked for leave to depart. " No, holy fatlier," said the sage," but you shall celebrate the Nativity of the Lord with us, and give us solace, even to the OctaveoftheEpiphany. " Wherefore,theholyBrendanandhiscompanions remained during that time prescribed in the Island. 9' This is variedly called, the Island of Ailbe,^^ or the Island of Ailbe's Family^ When they had spent the allotted number of days there, and having received a sufficient allowance of food for their voyage, with a parting blessing from that father and his monks,
it was deemed necessary to spread their sails for another ocean voyage. Accordingly, Brendan and the brethren re-embarked. Using but seldom their oars and sails, their ship drifted about to different quarters; but, at the beginning of Lent, an Island was seen not far ahead. At this time, they suffered from hunger and thirst, for three days.
426 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
provisions having failed them. The crew eagerly desired to land, and now their exertions were put forth, for that purpose. A port was found, St. Brendan blessed it, and all went on shore. There, they discovered a foun- tain, whose limpid waters flowed to the sea, and were full of fish. Around it were various roots and herbs. Then, on seeing this, blessed Brendan said to his monks: "Certainly, my brothers, God gives us consolation after our labours. Takeasmanyfishesasshallbenecessaryforoursupper,andbroil them on the fire. Collect those herbs and roots, also, which the Lord has prepared for his servants. " They did as commanded. Then, taking some water from the fountain, Brendan tasted it, and warned his brethren: "Drink cautiously, my brothers, this water is dangerous to health. " But, they dis- regarded his word. Some drank one cup of it ; some drank two and even three cups. Those who had tasted less than others were seized with a drowsi- ness, which lasted for a day and night ; those who had indulged to a greater excess, were seized with a sleep, that lasted three days and three nights. Meanwhile, the saint prayed unceasingly, asking pardon for their ignorance, whichhadledthemintotinsperil. Attheendofthethirdday,Godawakened them anew,93 and then, St. Brendan said to them: "My sons, let us fly from this death-bearing water,94 lest a worse affliction befall us. For, although the Lordaffordsus refreshment, yet, would you convert it into a detriment. Where- fore, let us leave this Island, taking with us so many fishes, and so many roots, as may be required for our use, until the Feast of our Lord's Supper ; besides, let each one only take a cup of water. " When they had thus complied with their superior's requirement, the crew sailed out upon the ocean once more, and this time, their course was northwards. For three days and as many nights, a dead calm set in, while the waves were smooth and lustrous as glass, the winds ceasing to blow. Then said the holy father : " Draw in your oars and loose your sails, trusting to the Lord for guidance of your bark, wheresoever it shall please him to direct. " For, about twenty days, their ship was thus drifting ; and then a favouring gale arose. After each triduum, the crew was refreshed ; and from the west to the east, they now stood, stretching their sails, and at the same time rowing. While St. Brendan sailed one night on the great ocean, it is related, 95 that the soul of one, who had been an angry monk, and who had been a sower of strife among his brethren, came and supplicated for the favour of his prayers. ^^
At last, during the continuance of their voyage, and looming like a cloud in thedistance,anIslandappeared. Then,Brendansaidtohismonks:"My sons, know you this Island ? " They answered in the negative. He resumed : " I know it, liowever, as the Island, in which we spent the last Holy Thursday, and where our good friend the procurator dwells. " Having lieard these words, the crew hastened with all hands to work their shi|). On seeing this, tlie man of God said to them : " Be not unwise, and do not waste your strengtii.
Hath not the Almighty guided your vessel? Leave its direction to Inm, and he will direct our course as he desires. " They then resumed their steering, iind reached the Isle, where they had passed the previous vigil of Easter, and the procurator, whom they had already seen the last year, came to meet
was "embetumee " by flowing over metallic ores, i^ee BLickwood's " Eclinbiirt;li May;;i- zine, ' vol. xxxix. , No. ccxiviii. The Anglo- Norman Trouveres, )). 311.
is published, in the Rev. C. P. Meehan's iranslation of " Pii Antistitis Icon ; sive iJe N'ita ct Moi te Reverendissimi Francisci Kiro- rani, Alladensis K]iisco]>i. Authurc Joanne Lynchaeo, Archidiacono Tuamensi. Mac- A new edition was '''' Thi> has been conveyed to us in an ]>ublislicd, Dublinii apuil Jacobuni Duffy,
95 See Archbishop Ussher's " Religion of ihe Ancient Iri>h," p. 20.
lovii. M. DC. LXix. "
agreeable ballad, intituled "The Strife- M. DCCC. XLVIII. , Notes, chapter i. , n. 7. hi>\Ner,' l>y Tiiomas D'Arcy McGee, and it pp. 174. 175.
:
May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
427
them, and to lead them to the old port," saying : " Admirable in his saints istheGodofIsrael; hewillgivehispeoplefortitudeandcourage,blessed be He. " At the same time, the good man kissed the feet of St. Brendan, andofallhismonks; thenhavingfinishedtheversicle,andtakenallthings from the ship, he pitched a tent and prepared a bath for them. It was now the Feast of Holy Thursday; and all prepared to celebrate it, according to thecustom. TheyalsospentGoodFridayandHolySaturdaythere,observ- ing the usual religious ceremonies. Having finished these celebrations and sacrifices, with the customary prayers, the angelic procurator then said: "Go on board your ship, so that you may observe the Feast of our Lord's Resur- rection, where you have celebrated it last year, and remain until the sixth hour of that day. Then, sail to that Island, known as the Paradise of Birds, wherefromEastertotheOctaveofPentecost}'ouremainedlastyear. Take with )'ou the necessary food and drink, and I shall again visit you, when the Sundaycomesround. " Thisorderoftheprocurator,thebrothersobserved.
In due time, St. Brendan bestowed his blessing on their benefactor, who had even provided them with new clothes. All went on board, and so they sailed for another Island. When they approached the place for debarkation, and were about to leave the ship, lo ! that cauldron, which they had left behind them last year on the Jascon's back when flying away from it, now appeared to their full view. Wherefore, Brendan, going out from the vessel to the shore, began to sing the Hymn of tlie Three Children, from the beginning to the end. Having finished this hymn, St. Brendan gave an admonition to his brethren : " O my sons, watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation. Consider how the Almighty sunk the huge monster under us, without any difficulty. " Then, the monks severally kept watch on that Island, to the hour for Matins. Afterwards, all the priests sang their several Masses to the third hour. But, blessed Brendan and his monks, going on board the ship, immolated the Immaculate Lamb to God, and then said to his brethren : "The year before, we celebrated here the Feast of our Lord's Resurrection.
So, the Lord willing it, I desire to observe it this year. " Thence departing, the voyagers next visited that Island, called the Paradise of Birds. 97 When approaching the port of that Island, all the birds appeared, and they began to sing out, as if with one voice : " Salus Deo nostro sedenti super thronum et agno. " And again : " Deus Doniinus illuxit nobis. Constituite diem solemnemincondempsisusqueadcornualtaris. " Withthenotes,theirwin^s also made music, until the holy father and his mariner monks were in the tent, pitched to receive them on shore. There again did the crew celebrate their Eastertide, until the octave of Pentecost. And, as he had promised during the octave 9^ of our Lord's Resurrection, the procurator appeared, bringing the provisions necessary for their sustenance. Rejoicing, the monks gavethankstoGod.
