One day, as they continued their voyage, they beheld an immense and a
monstrous
beast appear.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
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. Whentheysatdownattable,thebird,whichwehave already alluded to, perched on the prow of their ship, extended and agitated
his wings, so that their sound resembled the swelling of a great organ. Brendan knew, that the bird wished to communicate some message, and he heard these words : "The Almighty and clement Lord liad predestined for you four places, for four different solemnities, until the seven years of your pilgrimage be spent. First, each year, on the Feast of our Lord's Supper,
you shall be with your procurator, who is now present. Secondly, you shall be on the back of the monster, celebrating the Vigils of the Pasch. Thirdly, you shall be with us, during the Paschal festival, to the octave of Pentecost.
9' " Where birds are fresh, and every tree
Is vocal with the notes of love. " —Braiiiaid, Poetical Works.
9^ The vigil would seem to accord more with the previous narrative.
"» See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Breudani," Navigatio Sancti
Then,
! ———
428 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1 6.
And, lastly, you shall remain on the Island of Albeus, from the Nativity of our LordtothePurificationoftheBlessedVirginMary. Aftersevenyears,under- going many and great dangers, you shall find the Land of Promise of the Saints, which you seek, and there you shall remain for forty days, before the Lord shall conduct you to the land of your birth. " On hearing these words, St. Brendan poured forth many tears, prostrating liimself with his monks on the earth, giving praise and thanks to the Creator of all things. The bird returned to his own place, and the meal being finished, the procurator said : " God assisting me, I shall come the day for the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, with aidforyou. " Then,receivingabenediction,herepairedtohishome. 99
That graceful fiction, known as introducing the Paradise of Birds, finds a place in the different versions of St. Brendan's voyage. '°° There, this venerable father remained with his monks, for that destined time; and, after- wards, he ordered them to fill all their vessels from the fountain, and to pre- parefortheirvoyage. Whentheshipsailedoutontheocean,theaforesaid man met it, in his own bark, which was loaded with food. Having put this on board St. Brendan's sliip, their benefactor received the kiss of peace from the voyagers. Then, he returned to his place. For forty days, the Christian Ulysses ^°' and his monks sailed over the ocean.
One day, as they continued their voyage, they beheld an immense and a monstrous beast appear. With foaming nostrils, it hastened its rapid course, through the waves, as if to de- vour them. The terror-struck brethren cried out : " O Lord, who hath created man, deliver us thy servants. " And, to holy Brendan, they cried: " Deliver us, O father, the beast will devour us. " Brendan encouraged them, and he prayed: "Deliver thy servants, O Lord, so that he spare us. " To them, he said: "Fear not, men of lirtle faith; God is ever our defender; he will de- liverusfromthemonster'smouth,andfromallotherdangers. " Thesea- monster now approached, waves of prodigious size rolling before him on to the very shij). Seeing terror increase in the hearts of the brethren, Brendan raised his hands to heaven, and cried, " Lord, save thy servants, as thou didst thy servant David, from the hands Goliatli, the giant, and Jonas from the belly of the great whale. " At that same instant, another beast, coming from the west- ward, passed them, and rushed on the sea-monster, vomiting flames. A great struggle ensued between them,^°^ and while it lasted, Brendan said to
Breiiiliini, cap. vii. , pp. 107 to III.
'"" In Caxton's edition of the Golden Le- gend, they are represented as inhabiting Paradise, and so beguiling the time, by the sweetness of their songs, that years fleet away unperceived. See Blackwood's "Edinburgh Magazine,'' vol. xxxix. , No. ccxlviii. , p.
809.
'"' Such is the designation applied to him,
in the Preface of Thomas Wright's " St. Brandon : A Mediaeval Legend of the Sea,"
With murd'rous teeth each otlier biting,
Like trenchant swords each otlier smiting.
Sjjouted tlie blood, and gaping wide
Were teeth prints in each monster's
side
And huge and deadly deep each
wound
And blood-tinged all the waves
around,
And all a-seething was the sea.
And still the fight raged furiously. The first now fought with failing
might,
The second triumj^hed in the figbf. With stronger teeth he overbore him. And into three huge pieces toie
him
And then, the victory gained, he
goes
Back to the place from whence he
rose. "
P-
V.
'"- In the metrical legend, we find this
strange contest thus described :
" And now they close in deadly fight,
With Inigc heads rcar'd, a fearful sight
While from thcirnoslrils flames spout high,
As are the clouds in the upper sky ; Blows with their fins each gives his
brother,
Li'-'' rloshing shields on one ano-
ther:—
;
May i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
429
his monks : "See, my sons, the wonderful ways of our Redeemer. See the obedience, which the creature renders to its Creator. Meantime, look for the final issue. This battle bodes no evil for us. The rather shall it redound to God's glory. " So it happened, and the beast that pursued the servants of God remaineddead,torninthreeparts. Themonsterwhichwasvictoriousreturned to where he had come from ; and, on the day following, the voyagers saw another Island, full of grass and very large. While approaching the shore, the monks found the hindmost part of that monster, whicli had been killed, when they were about to land. Then, Brendan said to his monks : " Behold him, who wished to devour us. Now, you shall feed on him, and be satisfied with his flesh. For, indeed, you shall dwell a long time on this Island. Draw the vessel further into the port, and seek a suitable place for your tent. " Then, their venerable superior showed them a spot, convenient for their dwelling. When the monks had religiously observed his directions, they brought all their commodities into the tent, and he said to them : " Take you a sufficient number of slices from the flesh of this animal, to serve us for three months, because to-night the remainder shall be devoured by beasts. " By Brendan's order, the brethren took their portion, and it served them for food. Having obeyed their superior, in all his commands, the monks now say to him : " Abba, how can we live here without water? " He replied: "Is it more difficult for the Almighty to give you drink, rather than food? Go ye, there- fore,tothesouthernpartofthisIsland. There,youshallfindalimpidfoun- tain, with abundance of herbs and roots ; take thence the quantity required for your use. " As the holy man predicted, they found all fulfilled.
There, Brendan remained for three months, asagreatstorm ploughed the sea- waves, and a violent wind, with changes of temperature, brought hail and rain. The monks went to see what had become of the monster's remains, and when they arrived at that spot, where his carcass lay, only bones were to be found. TheyreturnedtothemanofGodsaying: "Abba,it isasyouhavesaid. " He replied : " I know, my sons, you wished to find out, whether or not I spoke the truth. " The brothers answered: " Certainly, father, it is so. " He then said : "I shall give you another token. A portion of a fish, which has escaped the fisher's net, shall float here to-night, and to-morrow you shall eat it. " Next day, the monks went to the place where it lay, as the servant of Christ had predicted, and they brought of it so much as they could carry. The venerable superior said to them : " This carefully keep, and salt it, for it shall be required to satisfy your wants. The Lord gives us a calm to-day and to-morrow; after the third day, we shall set out from this place, when the turbulence of the sea and of the waves shall subside. '°3 The time having now come, St. Brendan ordered them to load the ship, and to fill their bottles and vessels from the fountain. They were also directed, to gather roots and herbs. After discharging the office of his priesthood, the saint fasted, as the spirit of life was strong within him. Having loaded their vessels, th-e monks now sailed towards the north. There, they came in sight of a certain Island; and Brendan, pointmg it out to the crew, began to explain what they were now about to experience. " There are here, so to say," said Brendan, " three nations—the children, the young, and the old ; and, here must remain one of the brethren, who joined us at the moment of our departure. " Then, they asked him, which it should be but, he felt unwilling to tell them. However,
;
he saw, that they felt sorrowful, and anxious to know about him, who should
there remain. Then, he pointed out to them that monk, who had followed
-—Blackwood's "Edinburgh Magazine," vol. xxxix. , No. ccxlviii. , p. 8ii.
'°3 See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moian's
" Acta Sancti Brendani," Navigatio Sancti Brendani, cap. viii. , pp. into I13.
'"^ These are said to have been : " Deus
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
him from the monastery, and regarding whom he had prophesied, before they left their own country in the ship. By degrees, they approached the shore. This Island was a plain, wonderfully smooth, like the sea ; hardly a tree was to be seen, and nought that the wind could agitate. It was vast, however, and covered with white and purple fruit. There, they beheld three troops, each separated from the other two, by about a sling's cast ; they were constantly walking,sometimesinonedirection,andsometimesinanother. Onestopped and sang : " The saints shall go from virtue to virtue, and the God of gods shall be seen in Sion. " When that verse finished, another stopped and sang, and the third in turn, and so on without ceasing. The first, thatofchildren, wore robes of dazzling white ; the second were arrayed, in garments of hyacinth ; the third, in purple dalmatics. At Sext, they sang a hymn, with other psalms, to the end ,^°^ and others again at Nones ;'°5 and, at Vespers, '°^ they sang again. '°7 When the chant was over, a cloud enveloped the island ; it was bright, yet the isle was veiled. Only the chant of hymns was heard, continu- ing till morning, at the hour of the Nocturns, when the new psalms began. '°^
When day dawned, that Island was uncovered from the haze. Then three other psalms were sung. '°9 At Tierce, also, three other psalms were en- toned. "" Then, they immolated the spotless Lamb, and all went to Holy Communion, saying : " Take ye this Holy Body of our Lord, and the Blood of our Saviour, to eternal life. " Then, two young men approached with a basket full of fruit, and these laid it on the ship, saying : " Behold fruits of the Isle of the Strong;'" take them and give us our brother; then go in peace. " Brendan, calling him, said : " Embrace thy brethren, and go with those who claim thee. Happy was the moment when thy mother conceived thee, since thou hast merited to live in this company. " Then kissing him, with all his monks, Brendan said to him: "Remember the good things which
go, and pray for us. " When he had departed with his new companions, to the schools of the saints, other holy men began to sing this versicle, " Ecce quam bonura," and again, with a loud voice the " Te Deum laudamus" resounded. When all had embraced the monk, he became one of the band. The brethren resumed their way, over the ocean ; and, at meal time, Brendan took a fruit ; it was of marvel- lous size, and full of abundant juice. This he poured into a vessel, and it weighed about one pound ; he divided this again into twelve ounces, each one of which was destined to give sustenance, for twelve whole days, to one monk. Thus, he divided that wonderful juice among the brethren, and its taste was that of delicious honey. After that, by St. Brendan's order, they fasted three days. Then, behold, a bird of prodigious size came flying towards thein, and bearing in his beak a branch of an unknown tree. The branch fell on Brendan's knees. It bore a cluster of enormous size, of a bright pur- ple hue ; the grapes were like apples, and that branch fed all the brethren for
430
the Lord hath bestowed upon thee in this life
;
four days.
misereatur nostri," " Deus in adjutorium," " Credidi propter," and a prayer.
'°5 These psalms were : " De profundis. " "Ecce quam bonum," and " Lauda Jeru- . salem. "
crelis," then " Cantate Domino," and next, " Laudate Dominum in Sanctis ejus. " Afterwards, they sang twelve psalms, in the order of the psaltery, to "Dixit insi- piens. "
"* The psalms then sung were: "Te
decet," "Beneiiic anima mea," and " Lau- Domine refugimti," and "Deus Deus
date pueri Dominum. "
'"' 'I'hc Navigatio Sancti Brendani adds :
"et quiiidccim psahnos graduum cantave- runt sedendo. "
"* These, were : " Laudate Dominum de
meus.
""These were : " Omnes gentes," " Deus
in nomine," and " Dilexi quoniam," with Alleluia,
'"It is remarkable, that St. Brendan'
"
'°9 These were : "Miserere mei Deus,"
cruise was from Island to Island, in the great Atlantic. Now, according to Sir Alexander Mackenzie's Arctic Voyages, a tribe of North American Indians have tradi- tions, that their ancestors crossed a great lake full of Islands.
"^ Quite differently is this adventure re- lated, in the metrical legend :
" A flaming griffin in the sky,
With fearful hearts they now espy, With crooked claws to seize I ween, And flaming wings and talons keen And o'er the ship he hovereth low, And vainly may the strong wind
blow
More swift is he, than barque more
strong,
And fierce he chaseth them along. But lo ! a dragon takes his flight, With outstretched neck, and wings
of might,
A flaming dragon he, and grim, And toward the griffin beareth him. And now the battle furiously
In mid air rageth fell to see,
Spavks from their teeth fly thick
around,
And blows, and flames, and many a wound
Is given. The pilgrims anxiously Gaze up, O which shall victor be ? The griffin's huge—the dragon slight, But far more lightsome for the fight And lo ! the griffin in the sea Fallsdead. Thedragonvictory Hath won—O then they joyed out-
right.
And thanked the God of power and
might. "
—Blackwood's "Edinburgh Magazine," vol. xxxix. . No. ccxlxiii. The Anglo-Nor- manTrouveres, p. 812.
'-^ At a period, even before the introduc- tion of Christianity among the Saxons, the unknown author of " Beowulf " described the "fire-drake," full fifty measured feet in length, winged, and breathing flame and poisonous vapour, and reposing all day on his " horde " of century buried wealth.
"•* In a Saxon geographical work, the griffins are mentioned, as employing their tremendous claws, for the very useful pur- pose of " digging up gold ! "
"^ Huet and Warton derive the dragons,
;
—
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 431
After another three days' fast, they perceived an Island, all covered with tufted trees, laden with fruit, like that brought by the bird, and of the same colour. The branches, loaded with their fruit, bend to the very earth. There were no other trees in the island, when the monks had touched the shore \ and, the whole country was perfumed, like a hall filled with oranges. St. Brendan disembarked, and began to walk around that Island, while the monks awaited his return in their vessel. The scent from shore was so deli- cious, as to make them forget they were fasting. Then, the holy senior found six flowing fountains, with green herbs and roots of every description. Afterwards, Brendan returned to his monks, bearing with him specimens of the fruits of that Island, and he said : " Go out from your ship, and erect a tent on the shore, so that you may be consoled and refreshed with the deli- cious fruits of this land, which the Lord hath showed us. " On grapes, herbs, and water-cresses, they continued to feed. They stopped there forty days.
The foregoing accounts seem to relate a voyage, among the West Indian Islands, where the fruits are of so delicious a flavour, and of large size, while they are unlike anything to be found in northern climes. These circum- stances of narrative, however, are sufficiently mingled with the marvellous
; because, they relate to what had been beyond the range of experience to those Celts, who poured out the exuberance of imagination in compositions, proba- bly based upon facts, yet still strangely distorted in tradition, and shadowy as dealing with the unknown. Going afterwards on board, the monks took with them the fruits of that Island. The sails were loosed, and the ship went before the wind. Directly against their course was seen a griffin flying; and, when the monks saw it stretching out its claws to seize them, they prayed St. Brendan to save them, from being devoured by that creature. But, he said : " Fear it not, for the Lord is our protector. " Then, a bird in rapid flight came to meet the griffin ; and, for a time, both engaged in conflict. "^ Thus, the dra- gons, the fire-drakes,"3 the griffins,"4 and the sea-serpents of huge dimen- sions, were described by the Celtic and Teutonic bards ; so that, we have no occasion, to seek for those monsters, through eastern sources. ^'5 At last,
;
;
432
—"—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
the griffin's eyes were torn out, he was vanquished and killed, so that his body fell into the sea. Seeing this, the monks praised God. The victorious bird returned to his former quarter.
Again, in the Island of Ailbe, the religious voyagers from Erin cele-
bratedourLord'sNativity. Havingfinishedthosefestivedays,St. Brendan,
receiving a benediction from the father of the monastery, circumnavigated the
ocean for a considerable time ; and only, at the Festival of Easter and of the
Nativity, had they rest in their allotted places. "^ There is a religious
legend,"7regardingthreeyoungclerics, whowentoutonthewesternocean,
in a vessel, and wIto landed on an unknown island, where they built a church,
and continued to reside, until two of them died. During his navigation, St.
Brendan found the survivor, and prepared him for death ;"^ but, this
account is not to be found, in the usual narratives of his voyage. Another
time, while celebrating the Festival of St. Peter in their vessel, the navigators
saw all the sea lighted up ; it vvas so transparent, that they could fathom its
abyss, see various animals of the deep, as if beneath their hands, and distin-
guishwhatwasatthedepths,ingreatnumbers. Theywerelikecattleina
pasture crowded together ; or, as if a densely-peopled city lay beneath the
waters, appeared the multitude of heads and tails. The brethren pray their
Abbot to sing tlie Mass lower, and thus to avoid attracting those monsters of
the deep. They say to him : " So clear is each wave, where the sea is deepest,
that we see as though upon earth, both fishes innumerable, as also fishes great
and cruel, so that we scarcely dare to speak of them, for if the noise disturbed
them, know you that killed we shall be. " But, their holy father pleasantly
replied: " I greatly wonder at your folly. Why fear you those animals? Hath
not the greatest monster of all been devoured . '* For you both sat and sang
on his back you have also cut wood, and kindled a fire, and cooked his ;
flesh. Why, therefore, do you fear these? For our God is the Lord Jesus Christ, who can subdue every creature. " Saying these words, Brendan sang in a higher tone, while the monks beheld the monsters surging here and there, in great numbers,butapartfromtheirvessel. WhentheservantofGodhadfinishedthe Mass, all those fishes swam away, in different directions through the ocean. "9
With a favouring wind for eight days, and with sails spread, once more the voyagers careered over a clear sea. One day, after the celebration of three Masses, the crew witnessed another miraculous appearance, the material of which they could not surmise. They also beheld a tower, reared from the
sea, and reaching above the clouds. '^°
asalsoothermon<-,terswhichfigureinlegend and romance, from Oriental accounts, and it has been thought the Crusaders brought suchfictionsbackfromPalestine,tofurnish materials for mediceval northern romance. This, however, is a supposition, now easily disproved.
"* See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's "Acta Sancti Brendani," Navigatio Sancti Brendani, cap. ix. , pp. 11410 117.
"7 This Irish Tract is in vol. xxii. of the O'Longan MSS.
.
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. Whentheysatdownattable,thebird,whichwehave already alluded to, perched on the prow of their ship, extended and agitated
his wings, so that their sound resembled the swelling of a great organ. Brendan knew, that the bird wished to communicate some message, and he heard these words : "The Almighty and clement Lord liad predestined for you four places, for four different solemnities, until the seven years of your pilgrimage be spent. First, each year, on the Feast of our Lord's Supper,
you shall be with your procurator, who is now present. Secondly, you shall be on the back of the monster, celebrating the Vigils of the Pasch. Thirdly, you shall be with us, during the Paschal festival, to the octave of Pentecost.
9' " Where birds are fresh, and every tree
Is vocal with the notes of love. " —Braiiiaid, Poetical Works.
9^ The vigil would seem to accord more with the previous narrative.
"» See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Breudani," Navigatio Sancti
Then,
! ———
428 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1 6.
And, lastly, you shall remain on the Island of Albeus, from the Nativity of our LordtothePurificationoftheBlessedVirginMary. Aftersevenyears,under- going many and great dangers, you shall find the Land of Promise of the Saints, which you seek, and there you shall remain for forty days, before the Lord shall conduct you to the land of your birth. " On hearing these words, St. Brendan poured forth many tears, prostrating liimself with his monks on the earth, giving praise and thanks to the Creator of all things. The bird returned to his own place, and the meal being finished, the procurator said : " God assisting me, I shall come the day for the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, with aidforyou. " Then,receivingabenediction,herepairedtohishome. 99
That graceful fiction, known as introducing the Paradise of Birds, finds a place in the different versions of St. Brendan's voyage. '°° There, this venerable father remained with his monks, for that destined time; and, after- wards, he ordered them to fill all their vessels from the fountain, and to pre- parefortheirvoyage. Whentheshipsailedoutontheocean,theaforesaid man met it, in his own bark, which was loaded with food. Having put this on board St. Brendan's sliip, their benefactor received the kiss of peace from the voyagers. Then, he returned to his place. For forty days, the Christian Ulysses ^°' and his monks sailed over the ocean.
One day, as they continued their voyage, they beheld an immense and a monstrous beast appear. With foaming nostrils, it hastened its rapid course, through the waves, as if to de- vour them. The terror-struck brethren cried out : " O Lord, who hath created man, deliver us thy servants. " And, to holy Brendan, they cried: " Deliver us, O father, the beast will devour us. " Brendan encouraged them, and he prayed: "Deliver thy servants, O Lord, so that he spare us. " To them, he said: "Fear not, men of lirtle faith; God is ever our defender; he will de- liverusfromthemonster'smouth,andfromallotherdangers. " Thesea- monster now approached, waves of prodigious size rolling before him on to the very shij). Seeing terror increase in the hearts of the brethren, Brendan raised his hands to heaven, and cried, " Lord, save thy servants, as thou didst thy servant David, from the hands Goliatli, the giant, and Jonas from the belly of the great whale. " At that same instant, another beast, coming from the west- ward, passed them, and rushed on the sea-monster, vomiting flames. A great struggle ensued between them,^°^ and while it lasted, Brendan said to
Breiiiliini, cap. vii. , pp. 107 to III.
'"" In Caxton's edition of the Golden Le- gend, they are represented as inhabiting Paradise, and so beguiling the time, by the sweetness of their songs, that years fleet away unperceived. See Blackwood's "Edinburgh Magazine,'' vol. xxxix. , No. ccxlviii. , p.
809.
'"' Such is the designation applied to him,
in the Preface of Thomas Wright's " St. Brandon : A Mediaeval Legend of the Sea,"
With murd'rous teeth each otlier biting,
Like trenchant swords each otlier smiting.
Sjjouted tlie blood, and gaping wide
Were teeth prints in each monster's
side
And huge and deadly deep each
wound
And blood-tinged all the waves
around,
And all a-seething was the sea.
And still the fight raged furiously. The first now fought with failing
might,
The second triumj^hed in the figbf. With stronger teeth he overbore him. And into three huge pieces toie
him
And then, the victory gained, he
goes
Back to the place from whence he
rose. "
P-
V.
'"- In the metrical legend, we find this
strange contest thus described :
" And now they close in deadly fight,
With Inigc heads rcar'd, a fearful sight
While from thcirnoslrils flames spout high,
As are the clouds in the upper sky ; Blows with their fins each gives his
brother,
Li'-'' rloshing shields on one ano-
ther:—
;
May i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
429
his monks : "See, my sons, the wonderful ways of our Redeemer. See the obedience, which the creature renders to its Creator. Meantime, look for the final issue. This battle bodes no evil for us. The rather shall it redound to God's glory. " So it happened, and the beast that pursued the servants of God remaineddead,torninthreeparts. Themonsterwhichwasvictoriousreturned to where he had come from ; and, on the day following, the voyagers saw another Island, full of grass and very large. While approaching the shore, the monks found the hindmost part of that monster, whicli had been killed, when they were about to land. Then, Brendan said to his monks : " Behold him, who wished to devour us. Now, you shall feed on him, and be satisfied with his flesh. For, indeed, you shall dwell a long time on this Island. Draw the vessel further into the port, and seek a suitable place for your tent. " Then, their venerable superior showed them a spot, convenient for their dwelling. When the monks had religiously observed his directions, they brought all their commodities into the tent, and he said to them : " Take you a sufficient number of slices from the flesh of this animal, to serve us for three months, because to-night the remainder shall be devoured by beasts. " By Brendan's order, the brethren took their portion, and it served them for food. Having obeyed their superior, in all his commands, the monks now say to him : " Abba, how can we live here without water? " He replied: "Is it more difficult for the Almighty to give you drink, rather than food? Go ye, there- fore,tothesouthernpartofthisIsland. There,youshallfindalimpidfoun- tain, with abundance of herbs and roots ; take thence the quantity required for your use. " As the holy man predicted, they found all fulfilled.
There, Brendan remained for three months, asagreatstorm ploughed the sea- waves, and a violent wind, with changes of temperature, brought hail and rain. The monks went to see what had become of the monster's remains, and when they arrived at that spot, where his carcass lay, only bones were to be found. TheyreturnedtothemanofGodsaying: "Abba,it isasyouhavesaid. " He replied : " I know, my sons, you wished to find out, whether or not I spoke the truth. " The brothers answered: " Certainly, father, it is so. " He then said : "I shall give you another token. A portion of a fish, which has escaped the fisher's net, shall float here to-night, and to-morrow you shall eat it. " Next day, the monks went to the place where it lay, as the servant of Christ had predicted, and they brought of it so much as they could carry. The venerable superior said to them : " This carefully keep, and salt it, for it shall be required to satisfy your wants. The Lord gives us a calm to-day and to-morrow; after the third day, we shall set out from this place, when the turbulence of the sea and of the waves shall subside. '°3 The time having now come, St. Brendan ordered them to load the ship, and to fill their bottles and vessels from the fountain. They were also directed, to gather roots and herbs. After discharging the office of his priesthood, the saint fasted, as the spirit of life was strong within him. Having loaded their vessels, th-e monks now sailed towards the north. There, they came in sight of a certain Island; and Brendan, pointmg it out to the crew, began to explain what they were now about to experience. " There are here, so to say," said Brendan, " three nations—the children, the young, and the old ; and, here must remain one of the brethren, who joined us at the moment of our departure. " Then, they asked him, which it should be but, he felt unwilling to tell them. However,
;
he saw, that they felt sorrowful, and anxious to know about him, who should
there remain. Then, he pointed out to them that monk, who had followed
-—Blackwood's "Edinburgh Magazine," vol. xxxix. , No. ccxlviii. , p. 8ii.
'°3 See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moian's
" Acta Sancti Brendani," Navigatio Sancti Brendani, cap. viii. , pp. into I13.
'"^ These are said to have been : " Deus
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
him from the monastery, and regarding whom he had prophesied, before they left their own country in the ship. By degrees, they approached the shore. This Island was a plain, wonderfully smooth, like the sea ; hardly a tree was to be seen, and nought that the wind could agitate. It was vast, however, and covered with white and purple fruit. There, they beheld three troops, each separated from the other two, by about a sling's cast ; they were constantly walking,sometimesinonedirection,andsometimesinanother. Onestopped and sang : " The saints shall go from virtue to virtue, and the God of gods shall be seen in Sion. " When that verse finished, another stopped and sang, and the third in turn, and so on without ceasing. The first, thatofchildren, wore robes of dazzling white ; the second were arrayed, in garments of hyacinth ; the third, in purple dalmatics. At Sext, they sang a hymn, with other psalms, to the end ,^°^ and others again at Nones ;'°5 and, at Vespers, '°^ they sang again. '°7 When the chant was over, a cloud enveloped the island ; it was bright, yet the isle was veiled. Only the chant of hymns was heard, continu- ing till morning, at the hour of the Nocturns, when the new psalms began. '°^
When day dawned, that Island was uncovered from the haze. Then three other psalms were sung. '°9 At Tierce, also, three other psalms were en- toned. "" Then, they immolated the spotless Lamb, and all went to Holy Communion, saying : " Take ye this Holy Body of our Lord, and the Blood of our Saviour, to eternal life. " Then, two young men approached with a basket full of fruit, and these laid it on the ship, saying : " Behold fruits of the Isle of the Strong;'" take them and give us our brother; then go in peace. " Brendan, calling him, said : " Embrace thy brethren, and go with those who claim thee. Happy was the moment when thy mother conceived thee, since thou hast merited to live in this company. " Then kissing him, with all his monks, Brendan said to him: "Remember the good things which
go, and pray for us. " When he had departed with his new companions, to the schools of the saints, other holy men began to sing this versicle, " Ecce quam bonura," and again, with a loud voice the " Te Deum laudamus" resounded. When all had embraced the monk, he became one of the band. The brethren resumed their way, over the ocean ; and, at meal time, Brendan took a fruit ; it was of marvel- lous size, and full of abundant juice. This he poured into a vessel, and it weighed about one pound ; he divided this again into twelve ounces, each one of which was destined to give sustenance, for twelve whole days, to one monk. Thus, he divided that wonderful juice among the brethren, and its taste was that of delicious honey. After that, by St. Brendan's order, they fasted three days. Then, behold, a bird of prodigious size came flying towards thein, and bearing in his beak a branch of an unknown tree. The branch fell on Brendan's knees. It bore a cluster of enormous size, of a bright pur- ple hue ; the grapes were like apples, and that branch fed all the brethren for
430
the Lord hath bestowed upon thee in this life
;
four days.
misereatur nostri," " Deus in adjutorium," " Credidi propter," and a prayer.
'°5 These psalms were : " De profundis. " "Ecce quam bonum," and " Lauda Jeru- . salem. "
crelis," then " Cantate Domino," and next, " Laudate Dominum in Sanctis ejus. " Afterwards, they sang twelve psalms, in the order of the psaltery, to "Dixit insi- piens. "
"* The psalms then sung were: "Te
decet," "Beneiiic anima mea," and " Lau- Domine refugimti," and "Deus Deus
date pueri Dominum. "
'"' 'I'hc Navigatio Sancti Brendani adds :
"et quiiidccim psahnos graduum cantave- runt sedendo. "
"* These, were : " Laudate Dominum de
meus.
""These were : " Omnes gentes," " Deus
in nomine," and " Dilexi quoniam," with Alleluia,
'"It is remarkable, that St. Brendan'
"
'°9 These were : "Miserere mei Deus,"
cruise was from Island to Island, in the great Atlantic. Now, according to Sir Alexander Mackenzie's Arctic Voyages, a tribe of North American Indians have tradi- tions, that their ancestors crossed a great lake full of Islands.
"^ Quite differently is this adventure re- lated, in the metrical legend :
" A flaming griffin in the sky,
With fearful hearts they now espy, With crooked claws to seize I ween, And flaming wings and talons keen And o'er the ship he hovereth low, And vainly may the strong wind
blow
More swift is he, than barque more
strong,
And fierce he chaseth them along. But lo ! a dragon takes his flight, With outstretched neck, and wings
of might,
A flaming dragon he, and grim, And toward the griffin beareth him. And now the battle furiously
In mid air rageth fell to see,
Spavks from their teeth fly thick
around,
And blows, and flames, and many a wound
Is given. The pilgrims anxiously Gaze up, O which shall victor be ? The griffin's huge—the dragon slight, But far more lightsome for the fight And lo ! the griffin in the sea Fallsdead. Thedragonvictory Hath won—O then they joyed out-
right.
And thanked the God of power and
might. "
—Blackwood's "Edinburgh Magazine," vol. xxxix. . No. ccxlxiii. The Anglo-Nor- manTrouveres, p. 812.
'-^ At a period, even before the introduc- tion of Christianity among the Saxons, the unknown author of " Beowulf " described the "fire-drake," full fifty measured feet in length, winged, and breathing flame and poisonous vapour, and reposing all day on his " horde " of century buried wealth.
"•* In a Saxon geographical work, the griffins are mentioned, as employing their tremendous claws, for the very useful pur- pose of " digging up gold ! "
"^ Huet and Warton derive the dragons,
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May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 431
After another three days' fast, they perceived an Island, all covered with tufted trees, laden with fruit, like that brought by the bird, and of the same colour. The branches, loaded with their fruit, bend to the very earth. There were no other trees in the island, when the monks had touched the shore \ and, the whole country was perfumed, like a hall filled with oranges. St. Brendan disembarked, and began to walk around that Island, while the monks awaited his return in their vessel. The scent from shore was so deli- cious, as to make them forget they were fasting. Then, the holy senior found six flowing fountains, with green herbs and roots of every description. Afterwards, Brendan returned to his monks, bearing with him specimens of the fruits of that Island, and he said : " Go out from your ship, and erect a tent on the shore, so that you may be consoled and refreshed with the deli- cious fruits of this land, which the Lord hath showed us. " On grapes, herbs, and water-cresses, they continued to feed. They stopped there forty days.
The foregoing accounts seem to relate a voyage, among the West Indian Islands, where the fruits are of so delicious a flavour, and of large size, while they are unlike anything to be found in northern climes. These circum- stances of narrative, however, are sufficiently mingled with the marvellous
; because, they relate to what had been beyond the range of experience to those Celts, who poured out the exuberance of imagination in compositions, proba- bly based upon facts, yet still strangely distorted in tradition, and shadowy as dealing with the unknown. Going afterwards on board, the monks took with them the fruits of that Island. The sails were loosed, and the ship went before the wind. Directly against their course was seen a griffin flying; and, when the monks saw it stretching out its claws to seize them, they prayed St. Brendan to save them, from being devoured by that creature. But, he said : " Fear it not, for the Lord is our protector. " Then, a bird in rapid flight came to meet the griffin ; and, for a time, both engaged in conflict. "^ Thus, the dra- gons, the fire-drakes,"3 the griffins,"4 and the sea-serpents of huge dimen- sions, were described by the Celtic and Teutonic bards ; so that, we have no occasion, to seek for those monsters, through eastern sources. ^'5 At last,
;
;
432
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LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
the griffin's eyes were torn out, he was vanquished and killed, so that his body fell into the sea. Seeing this, the monks praised God. The victorious bird returned to his former quarter.
Again, in the Island of Ailbe, the religious voyagers from Erin cele-
bratedourLord'sNativity. Havingfinishedthosefestivedays,St. Brendan,
receiving a benediction from the father of the monastery, circumnavigated the
ocean for a considerable time ; and only, at the Festival of Easter and of the
Nativity, had they rest in their allotted places. "^ There is a religious
legend,"7regardingthreeyoungclerics, whowentoutonthewesternocean,
in a vessel, and wIto landed on an unknown island, where they built a church,
and continued to reside, until two of them died. During his navigation, St.
Brendan found the survivor, and prepared him for death ;"^ but, this
account is not to be found, in the usual narratives of his voyage. Another
time, while celebrating the Festival of St. Peter in their vessel, the navigators
saw all the sea lighted up ; it vvas so transparent, that they could fathom its
abyss, see various animals of the deep, as if beneath their hands, and distin-
guishwhatwasatthedepths,ingreatnumbers. Theywerelikecattleina
pasture crowded together ; or, as if a densely-peopled city lay beneath the
waters, appeared the multitude of heads and tails. The brethren pray their
Abbot to sing tlie Mass lower, and thus to avoid attracting those monsters of
the deep. They say to him : " So clear is each wave, where the sea is deepest,
that we see as though upon earth, both fishes innumerable, as also fishes great
and cruel, so that we scarcely dare to speak of them, for if the noise disturbed
them, know you that killed we shall be. " But, their holy father pleasantly
replied: " I greatly wonder at your folly. Why fear you those animals? Hath
not the greatest monster of all been devoured . '* For you both sat and sang
on his back you have also cut wood, and kindled a fire, and cooked his ;
flesh. Why, therefore, do you fear these? For our God is the Lord Jesus Christ, who can subdue every creature. " Saying these words, Brendan sang in a higher tone, while the monks beheld the monsters surging here and there, in great numbers,butapartfromtheirvessel. WhentheservantofGodhadfinishedthe Mass, all those fishes swam away, in different directions through the ocean. "9
With a favouring wind for eight days, and with sails spread, once more the voyagers careered over a clear sea. One day, after the celebration of three Masses, the crew witnessed another miraculous appearance, the material of which they could not surmise. They also beheld a tower, reared from the
sea, and reaching above the clouds. '^°
asalsoothermon<-,terswhichfigureinlegend and romance, from Oriental accounts, and it has been thought the Crusaders brought suchfictionsbackfromPalestine,tofurnish materials for mediceval northern romance. This, however, is a supposition, now easily disproved.
"* See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's "Acta Sancti Brendani," Navigatio Sancti Brendani, cap. ix. , pp. 11410 117.
"7 This Irish Tract is in vol. xxii. of the O'Longan MSS.
