BX
1877 SMC
THREE MIDDLE-IRISH HOMILIES
ON
THE LIVES OF SAINTS
PATRICK, BRIGIT AND COLUMBA.
EDITED BY
WHITLEY STOKES.
\Om hundred copies privately printed^
CALCUTTA: 1877.
the ppesence of this Book
thejm kelly has Been made possiBle thpouqh the qeneposity
Stephen B. Roman
From the Library of Daniel Binchy
TO
PROFESSOR ERNST WINDISCH,
FROM WHOM I HAVE ALREADY LEARNT MUCH AND HOPE TO LEARN MORE.
CONTENTS.
PREFACE ... ... ... ... ... ... Vli
ON THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK ... ... ... ... 2
ON THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGIT ... ... ... ... 50
ON THE LIFR OF SAINT COLUMBA... ... ... ... 90
INDEX OF NAMES OF PERSONS ... ... ... ... 127
INDEX OF LOCAL NAMES, TRIBES, AND RACES ... ... 129
INDEX OF THE RARER WORDS ... .. ... ... 131
CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS 138
PREFACE.
THIS volume contains three Middle Irish homilies, hitherto imprinted, transcribed from the lithographic facsimile of the Lebar Brecc, a manuscript of the fifteenth century preserved in the library of the Royal Irish Academy.
The first of these homilies, on the text Isaiah IX, 2, deals with the life of Patrick. It supplies some defects found in each of the two manuscripts (Egerton 93 and Rawl. B. 512) of the so- called Tripartite Life of that saint : it sets forth with distinctness the prior mission of Palladius: it gives (p. 18) a remarkable instance of self-cremation: it refers (p. 26) to an ordeal by water: it exemplifies (p. 34) the practice of shewing reverence by walking round persons or things keeping the right hand towards them (the Indian dakshi«am kri) : it contains (pp. 20, 30) two or three old proverbs : it illustrates (passim) the incredible credulity of the medieval Irish ; and it furnishes examples of some rare words and verbal forms. But I cannot say that in other respects it is of much, or indeed of any, value.
The second homily, on the text Apoc. XIV, 4, deals with the life of Brigit, and furnishes a good example of the way in which heathen mythological legends become annexed to historical Christian Saints.* Thus from the story of Brigit one may, with out much rashness, pick out the following incidents as having originally belonged to the myth or the ritual of some goddess of fire. Brigit (cf. Skr. bhargas ' glanz' Grassmann, ^Ae'yw, OAt'yvc, QXotj/uIgur?) was born at sunrise (infra p. 56), neither within nor without a house (ibid.) : bathed in milk (ibid.) : her breath revives the dead (ibid.) : a house in which she is staying flames up to heaven : cowdung blazes before her (ibid.) : oil is poured on her head (p. 58) : she is fed with the milk of a white, red-eared cow (ibid.) : a fiery pillar rises from her head (p. 66) : sun-rays support her wet cloak (p. 82) : she remains a virgin (p. 64) : and she was one of the two mothersf of Christ the Anointed. So far the homi-
* See Jacob Grimm's Deutsche Mythologie, 2te aufl. 5.
f The other, of course, was Mary. That Agni the butterbacked (ghrita- p?-ish£ha), the son of Bhrigu, is called dvimatri ' having two mothers' (' so wird das feuer als aus den zwei reibholzern entsprossen genannt,' Grassmann) is doubtless only an accidental coincidence. The Irish texts bearing on this curious subject are : Ba oenmathair maic rig mair .i. ba hoen de matribus Christi Brigit, Broccan's hymn, 1. 63. in mathair fsu, Ultan's hymn to Brigit, 6. ise a mac fsu Grist, infra, p. 84. See Todd, Liler Hymnorum, p. 64.
viii Preface.
ly. She had a perpetual ashless fire (Giraldus Cambrensis, Topogr. Hib. c. 34), watched by twenty nuns, of whom herself was one (ibid. c. 35), blown by fans or bellows only, and surrounded by a hedge within which no male could enter (ibid. c. 36).
Besides these mythological matters, the homily here and there gives glimpses of the institutions of ancient Ireland, such as con cubinage (p. 52): dowry (ibid.): purchase and sale of slaves (pp. 52, 54, 64): wizardry (p. 54): mulcts (p. 58).
The existence of leprosy in Ireland (pp. 68, 72, 74, 80) : the practice of ale-brewing (p. 67): the use of jewelry (pp. 72, 78): the employment of wattling for buildings (p. 78), are also illustrat ed by this homily. And the conversation between Brigit and King Dunlaing (p. 72) seems to preserve an authentic utterance of an Irish heathen warrior.
The two proverbs gniad each a aimsir p. 70, and is ri cech slan p. 72, are also noteworthy.
The third homily is on the text Gen. XII, i, and deals with the life of St. Columba. A few passages from it have been printed with translations in Dean Reeves' edition of Adamnan's biography of that heroic athleta Christi, The pathetic account of the saint's death, pp. 120 — 124, is a good specimen of Middle Irish prose, and some Irish superstitions are illustrated : thus, the spaeman scanning the sky, p. 102, which seems some kind of divination by means of clouds or stars : the strange account of Odran's self-sacrifice, p. 119, an example of the universal belief in the efficacy of a victim to secure the stability of a building ; and the common superstition of the watersnake, p. 119.
As to the text of these homilies, the language is Middle Irish — with all the corruptions* found in compositions of the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries. But the author has obviously often drawn from older and purer sources. This is clear from his frequent use of the infixed pronouns, and from the many Old and
* Of these, the chief are, confusion of a and u in inlaut ; confusion of e and f, of a and u in auslaut ; final a for ae, ai and e in auslaut, ae for oe ; confusion of infected d and g ; assimilation of the dental in the groups Id, In ; sinking of c and t to g- and d (tancadar 58) ; prosthesis of f (ro f-ucc 16) : metathesis of cs and ts. In the article, use of na for the nom. pi. masc. (na lestair 6) and disuse of the neuter forms in the singular. In the adjective, use of the fem. form in the nom. pi. m. In the verb, encroachment of s-forms on reduplicated preterites (rucsat 10) and t-preterites (atbertsat 16): the consuetudi- nal forms in -ann : the pret. pass, in -at, -et, (roscribat 42, romcraidet), -it (robaitsit 42) : the use of absolute instead of subjoined forms : the disuse of infixed pronouns and of infixed verbal particles.
Preface. ix
Early Middle Irish verbal forms which he employs. It may be well to collect some of these —
Infixed Pronouns.
Sg. i: ni-m-tha 12, ru-m-craidet 36, co-r-um-digtider 36, no-m-tadbanar 80.
Sg. 2: ro-t-fcc 12, no-t-leicc 24, ro-t-bia 28, 44, ni-t-ge'tsa 64, no-t-airmitnigfe, no-t-carfa, no-t-aigthife 76. In do-t-berar ' thou art borne' 64, we have an example of the passive impersonal flexion, in the 2d singular, of which Zeuss, G. C.2 482 gives no examples.*
Sg. 3 : con-as-ebi 8, co-r-as-ebatar 8, cu-r-as-toraind 34, co-r-as-naisc 12, con-as-tall 64, con-us-bennach 40, con-us-frecc- rad 72, ro-s-esreid 4, ni-s-baithed 112, do-s-rat 6, ro-s-icc 6, ro-s-airig 6, ro-s-bennach 8, do-s-gni 8, ro-s-glan 10, ro-s-maith 10, co-ro-s-aicilled 16, do-m-bert 64, ro-t-cairig 6, ro-t-guidestar 38, no-tm-benand 118. Probably friscerut 18, stands for fris-d- gerat.
PI. i. ro-n-faid 22, ro-n-be 63.
PI. 3. con-us-leic 6, no-s-baist 32, ro-s-bennach 32, ro-n- baist 32, no-s-baidet 36, ro-s-icc 74.
Pronouns suffixed to Verbs. tet-e 34, dochuaid-si 63, dober-si 63, atbert-si 70. Verbal Forms.
Preterite 3d sg. in -ai, -a : dernai 44 = derna 36, 56, 72, 76, 108, rolabra 84, robennachai (?) 30.
These forms, like nat-labrai F£l. Dec. 22, (W. llafarodd}, frism- bruchtai, Fel. Nov. 30, ropritchai, Egerton 93, p. 3 a i, rolassai, Corm. B. s. v. gaire, rothinai, Rawl. B. 512, p. 7 b i, ro-d-scrfbai, Goid. 106 (^N.ysgrifodd), adcobra, Fiacc 28, 45, agree with Welsh forms in -awdZ. 925 now -odd;\ and I take them to have been originally imperfects in -ayat corresponding with Lithuanian forms in -o/o, Sanskrit in -ayat, Bopp Vergl. Gram. II, 396. The abnor mal forms in -tai, -ta, of which some are cited by Zeuss, G. C.2 456, were likewise probably imperfects.
Reduplicated Preterite. Sg. i : atconnarc 68, itconnarc 68, itchonnarc-sa 60 (root dark, Skr. darq), ba-sa 12 (root bu, Skr.
* Other examples are con-dat-oscaigther (gl. commonere) Ml. 23d, mad no-t-fergaither fria gilla, LB. lob.
f Here </, as often, has arisen from y. See Rhys, Revue Ccltique, II, 109 ; III, 87.
x Preface.
bhu) : dulhracur-sa 27, if miswritten for duthracar-sa, is an exam ple of the deponential form. Sg. 2 : dorochar 22 (root kar, Skr. <?ar), ro-m-ba 32. Sg. 3 : acca 14, 58 (root kas), conacca 14, 20, atconnairc, itconnairc 2, 60, atacomnaic 4, ro-s-cuala 18, atchuala 14, itchuala 12 (root klu Skr. ^ru), dochiiaid 14 (root kud, Skr. cud), dor[o]ega 106 (root gus), dorochair 74, dor[o]chuir 8, tor- chair 20, 24, 74, at-ro-chair 24, cor-ri-muid 6 = cor-re-muid 36, 1 08 (root mat, Skr. math), t-anic 14 (root ank), ro-iarfaig 68 (root vak), do-attaig 72 (root tak), boi, ro-boi, 4, bai 74, ro-fo-dail 62, ro-s-cum-taig 34 (root stag), att-ib 24 (root pa). Deponential : genair, ge*nir 4, 56 (root gan), coemnacair 68 (root nank), for- coemnacair 34. Plural i : t-ancumar 64 PL 3 : acutar 62, itchon- catar 62, itconcatar 56, 122 (O. Ir. at-chonacatar), cualatar 38, 102, ebatar 8, docotar 34, dochuatar 78, 80, atchotar 34 == itchuatar 60, fo-rai-langatar 82, r-ancatar 6, 22, t-ancotar 8, batar 112, ro-batar 2.
Reduplicated Future. Sg. i : ni geb-sa 14, atber-sa 22, dingen 26, doge"n 40, 68, dogen-sa 62, ni rag 36, ni-t-get-sa 64. Absolute form: berut-sa 100, regut 52. Sg. 2 : raga 12, atbera 62, do-s- b£rai 64, com-bera-su 100, getai 64. Sg. 3: dobeVa 22, 62,66, do-s-bera 12, atbera 22, eberai 40, no-s-faiceba 120 (root gab), doraga 62, 98, 100. Absolute form : beraid 54, gebid 94. Rela tive form: gebus qui capiet 32, gebus qui cantabit 38, gignes 32. Plural i : dogenum-ne 26, taircebum-ne 70. PL 2 : fogebthai 80 (where an absolute is wrongly used for a subjoined form). PL 3 : friscerut (= fris-d-gerat ?) 18. Passive: doberthar 28, dobertar 38, tiberthar 118.
Reduplicated Secondary Future. Sg. i : rofogenaind* 70. Sg. 3 : noragad 18, tomelad 70. 3d sg. passive : no-tusemtha 56.
T-preterite. Sg. i : do-r-arngert-sa 38. Sg. 3 : 40. roiarfacht 54, r-iarfacht 52, 56, eracht, erracht 24, atracht 8, deracht 118, toracht 16, 20, roacht 70, daruacht 14, dorocht 34, ro-siacht 22, 32, arroet 84 ( = ar-ro-fo-em-t), roforcongart 16, dorogart 56, do-r-arngert 40, 98, r<5edbairt 104, epert 2, atbert 8, atrubairt 20, 28, erbairt 94, 98, erbailt 16, epilt 92, doromailt 102, atbath 6, luid 30, 1 08, dolluid 98, doluid 122. PL 3 : lotar 58.
T-futures are apparently canta no, bidat 54, 80. But these forms are very obscure. In scerdait (leg. scerdait), 1 10, we seem to have a mixture of reduplicated and t- forms : in genfedit 28, a mixture of b- and t- forms.
* Here and elsewhere in this page I have supplied the mark of length which, owing to the scribe's carelessness, is wanting in the manuscript.
Preface. xi
S-future. Sg. i : atfessar (leg. adfesur?*) 42. Sg. 2 : dechais 44 (3d sg. pret. dechaid 16, root KAD, Skr. cad, Lat. cadere). Sg. 3: forbia 18 (= farfia Ml. 550). tii 28, ti 38, 62, tair 8, 66. PI. i : roissam 46, risam 124, fessamar 24. Passive sg. 3: essair 1 20.
Reduplicated S-future. Sg. i : do-bibus-sa 52.
Secondary S-futtire. Sg. 2 : tista-su 14. Sg. 3 : ti'sed 58, tisad, roissed 74.
Forms which appear to be corruptions are fortachtfuidea 42, foillsigfides 100, ropsam 120.
In printing the text I have extended the contractions, always representing the extensions by italics. In a very few instances, I have corrected an obvious blunder of the scribe, giving, however, in a footnote the reading of the manuscript. The proclitics (the article, possessive and relative pronouns, verbal particles, verb substantive when used as a copula, prepositions, certain conjunc tions, negative particles, and the interjection a) have been printed as they are written in the manuscript, viz., as part of the word to which they respectively belong. The same course has been fol lowed as regards the pronominal enclitics -sa, -su, -sin, -side, -som, (-sium), -so, (-seo). The dotted f and the digraph fh represent not only infected or (as native grammarians say) aspirated, f, but also f changed in pronunciation to v, owing to the influence of a preceding nasal.
Lastly, I have to say a few words as to the translations. That of the homily on Patrick is founded on a manuscript version by the late Dr. O'Donovan, lent me, many years ago, either by Dr. Todd or Dr. Reeves. It obviously never received O'Donovan's final revision. Thus dorchataid, p. 4, is misrendered by ' servitude' : clarenech, p. 6, by ' cripple/ buan bann, p. 1 8, by ' for ever,' berrtha, p. 20, by 'fat,' aes gradai, p. 22, by ' servants of trust/ abraf, p. 24, by ' I will say/ erlund, p. 32, by ' top^ancnde, p. 34, by 'enmity/ 7 rocumtaigtea ocpatraic ifoss, p. 36, by 'and Patrick erected here in Ireland.' Hitagar dul, p. 36, by 'There went/ deoraid,p. 40, by 'kingship/ atfessar duib mmo, p. 42, by 'ye know the man/ fri fomtin, p. 42, ' to evade.' I cite these errors, not with any base delight in picking holes in the unfinished work of a great scholar,
* Perhaps from adfiadaimm refcro, not atfetar as I have said in the Index of Words, p. 142 infra.
xii Preface.
but simply to excuse myself for not printing O'Donovan's version precisely as it left his hands.
The translation of the homily on Brigit is wholly by myself, and those who have (what I have not) access to Cogitosus' life of that saint* will doubtless find much to correct therein.
The translation of the homily on St. Columba is founded on a manuscript version, either by O'Donovan or the late Mr. Curry. I suspect it was made by the latter, as it contains a note with his initials (' E. C.') on the expression coer comraicc, p. 96. This ver sion required much amendment. For instance, arrachf, p. 92, is misrendered by ' monsters' : an ben imtha sin, p. 100, by ' a woman that envied her':_/h'<z muir anair, p. 102, by ' by the sea on the east,' iarmergt, pp. 106, 124, by 'matins': clere fila for a lar canta molta maic thigirnd, p. no, by ' clerics and poets within its centre shall sing laudations to noble chiefs' : brodirne, p. 114, by 'shred': dia rechullsom, p. 120, by ' of his episcopal vestments' : methil, p. 120, by 'workmen': no cosmad, 124, by 'he blessed.'
Of all three homilies it may be said that the fragments of verse which they contain are often corrupt, and that the transla tion of those fragments is, therefore, to some extent conjectural. Compare, for instance, the verses in p. 1 8 infra with the reading in Egerton 93, p. 2 b. 2 :
Bendacht de for dichuin dorat damsa in saball.
rombi esum dar he"issi. nemthech ngleisi nglanoll.
Bendacht d£ for dichuin dichu co lin cro.
ni baisfer nach buan bann clann na ciniud d6. And the verses in p. 36 infra with the reading in Rawl. B. 512, p. 13 b. 2 :
Attagar techt hi cruaich cruind druing cen crabz^/ armocinn.
romgab ecla fri s£t sell deich c// cenn ic tacra frim. Several errors which I discovered after the sheets had been worked off, are set right in the Corrections and Additions, pp. 138 — 140, infra, to which I beg the particular attention of the few scholars who will care to read this book.
February 2%th, 1877. W. S.
* Printed in the Acta Sanctorum at Febr. i, in Colgan's Triadis Thau ma- lurgqe ... Acta, Lovanii, 1647, and probably elsewhere.
I.
BETHA PHATRAIC.
ON THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK.
xii Preface.
but simply to excuse myself for not printing O'Donovan's version precisely as it left his hands.
The translation of the homily on Brigit is wholly by myself, and those who have (what I have not) access to Cogitosus' life of that saint* will doubtless find much to correct therein.
The translation of the homily on St. Columba is founded on a manuscript version, either by O'Donovan or the late Mr. Curry. I suspect it was made by the latter, as it contains a note with his initials (' E. C.') on the expression coer comraicc, p. 96. This ver sion required much amendment. For instance, arrachf, p. 92, is misrendered by ' monsters' : an ben imtha sin, p. 100, by ' a woman that envied her':_/ra muir anair, p. 102, by 'by the sea on the east,' iarmergi, pp. 106, 124, by 'matins': clere fila for a lar canta molta maic thigirnd, p. no, by ' clerics and poets within its centre shall sing laudations to noble chiefs' : brodirne, p. 114, by 'shred': dia rechulhom, p. 120, by ' of his episcopal vestments' : methil, p. 120, by 'workmen': no cusmad, 124, by 'he blessed.'
Of all three homilies it may be said that the fragments of verse which they contain are often corrupt, and that the transla tion of those fragments is, therefore, to some extent conjectural. Compare, for instance, the verses in p. 1 8 infra with the reading in Egerton 93, p. 2 b. 2 :
Bendacht d6 for dfchuin dorat damsa in saball.
rombi esum dar he'issi. nemthech ngleisi nglanoll.
Bendacht d£ for dichuin dichu co lin cro.
ni baisfer nach buan bann clann na ciniud do. And the verses in p. 36 infra with the reading in Rawl. B. 512, p. 13 b. 2 :
Atta"gar techt hi cruaich cruind druing cen crabw^ armocinn.
romgab ecla fri set sell deich cet cenn ic tacra frim. Several errors which I discovered after the sheets had been worked off, are set right in the Corrections and Additions, pp. 138—140, infra, to which I beg the particular attention of the few scholars who will care to read this book.
February 2%th, 1877. -yy g
* Printed in the Ada Sanctorum at Febr. i, in Colgan's Tnadis Thau ma- tvrgqe ... Acta, Lovanii, 1647, and probably elsewhere.
I.
BETHA PHATRAIC.
ON THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK,
[BETHA PHATRAIC INCIPIT.]
Lebar Brecc p. 24,b //. I — 29.
[Pjopulus qui sedebat in tenebris uidit lucem magnam. INpo- pul deisicf indorchuib afrwmaircc sollsi moir. Et sedentibus in regione et in umbra mortis lux orta est eis. INf*oirenn robatar hiferund 7 ifhoscad bais. fuaratar sollsi diatanic aninorchugud.
INspir«/ noem inspire/ isuaisliu inas cech spirw/. inspire/ dorm- fid indeclas cechtarda fetarlacthi 7 nuafiad#tfz«re o rath ecna 7 fatsine. ise inspire/ sin roraid na briaMrasin trz'agin inpnmfatha ysaias mzc amois. De cuius laude dicitur quod non tarn dicendus esset pro- pheta quam euangelista. IS diamoladside atfv/t cirine noem. conid c6ra suiscelaig dorada fr/'ss andas faitfi. arafollsi 7 araimchuibdhe fnanufiadw^z'je roindis scela crw/. ITa enim uniuersa christi ecclesieque misteria ad lucidum prosecutus est ut non eum putes de future uaticinari sed de [prae]terito historian! texere. Arroboi dia follsi roindis uli mine cm/ 7 naheckri noime. connabud doig lanech combad taircetul raet todocha^ itzr dogneth. acht aisnes raet reimtechtach chena iarfbrpthiugud angnima.
Oen \ra diathairc^/laib fdllsib ani atfiadar sund tm aiswj sech- madataz'.
' Populus qui sedebat in tenebris uidit 1. m. INpopul dessid indorchuib ifcwmairc sollsi mair. ise immurro leth atoibe indais- neisea lasinfaith codii indep^rt remi isinsceol c//na. Pnmo tempore alleuatazabulonet terra neptalim. Tanic lahathniug^namsire. gloir mor 7 inocbail dothreb zabuloin 7 dothreb neptahiw. inde dicitur. conid forslicht nambria/^arsin atberar. Populus qui sedebat in tenebris. INpopul deisid indorch^. mad iarstair cipinnas. pop*// isra^l [ise"]
ON THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK.
Populus qui sedebat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam. The people that sat in darkness beheld a great light. Et sedentibus in regione et in umbra mortis lux orta ets. They that were in the land and in the shadow of death found a light whence came their illumination.
The Holy Spirit, the spirit which is nobler than every spirit, the spirit which inspired both churches of the Old Law and of the New Testament with the grace of wisdom and prophecy, it was that spirit which spake those words through the mouth of the chief prophet Isaiah son of Amoz ; de cujus laude dicitur quod non tam dicendus esset propheta quam evangelista. -To praise him, St. Jerome said that it were meeter to call him an evangelist than a prophet, because of the clearness and the fitness for the New Testament wherewith he told the tidings of Christ. I/a enim uni- versa Christi ecclesiaeque mysteria ad lucidum prosecutus est ut non eum putes defuturo vaticinari sed de praeterito historiam texere. For such was the clearness wherewith he told all the mysteries of Christ and the Holy Church that one would not think that it was a pro phecy of things to come he was making, but a declaration of things already foregone after they had been done completely.
Now one of his manifest prophecies is what is here set forth through a narrative of what is past.
Populus qui sedebat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam. The people that sat in darkness beheld a great light. Now the prophet has a parallel passage as far as the place where previously in the same story he said primo tempore allevata terra Zabulon et terra Nep- talim, there came with .... of time, great glory and renown to the tribe of Zabulon and to the tribe of Naphtali. Inde dicitur, after these, words he said, Populus qui sedebat in tenebris. The people who sat in darkness if [we go] according .to history, this was the people
4 Betha Phatralc, Lelar Brecc, p. 24 b, //. 30-63.
sin robdi indorchataid nadaire lahasardu. afewmairc sdllsi athaith- creca dondairesin .i. hestras 7 nemias iosuae 7 zorobel. mad iarsians tra ise sin popw/ atb^rar sund. popw/ nang^nti roboi indorchataid aneolais ocddrad hidal 7 arracht. c&n coroartraig infirsdllsi .i. isu cm/ <r0«[a]asp0/u. Nox enim erat in mundo usque dum christus qui sol iustitie est radios suos aspersit in mundum. Uair b<5i dorchotu mdr 7 temel darchroidib nang/nti. ce"in coroscdil gn'an nafirinde. isu cm/, aruthni fd cetlwraird indomain diainsorchugud.
Oen \.ra donaruthnib rosesreid gnan nafirinde isindomun .i. inruithen 7 inlassar 7 inlia Idgmar 7 inlocharnd loinderdai roin- sorchaig iarthar in betha1 .i. sanctus patricius episcopus .i. Noem- pdtm/'c ardepsft?/ iarth^/r betha.1 athat'r baitsi 7 cretmi fer
ISand tra innister 7 atfiadar ni da fertaib 7 diamirbulib donatusmidib 2 ongenir. 7 diabunad thalm««da intfi noempatraic ineckjib na cm/aide3 .i. x. ui. kl. apreil arai lathi mis graie insin 7rL
Patraic din. do bretnaib ailcluaide4 acenel. Calpruind ainmm aatruzr. uasalsacart esside. O'tid ainm asenathar. deochain ata- cdmnacside. C<?«chess immurro ainm amaMar. ingen ochbais do francuib acenel .i. smr do martain5 hf,
Patraic tra mac calpruind m^ otide rm'c ddissi irnc gorniuth mic lub^wiuth mic mercuit mi'c otta im'c muric mic oricc mic leo mtc maxim mic ecreti mic eresi mtc felesti mz'c ferine mic britti. diatatt bretnaig.
Bat^r .u. sethracha acca .i. lupait. 7 tigris. 7 darercca ocus liamain. 7 richell.
INnemthur tra rogenir. 7 inlecc forsangenair .i. cech oen dogni luga neithig fothi dofuissim usce ama/ bid occained ingu- fhdrcill dobeth. Madfir aluga tairisid inchloch in[a]aicniud choir.
1 Ms. bethad. 2 Ms. tusmigib. 3 Ms. cmfaige.
* Ail Cluaide lit. ' rock of Cluad' (now Clyde) == cloda, hlutr, lauter. 5 S. Martin of Tours is meant.
On the Life of St. Patrick.
of Israel who were brought into the gloom of slavery by the Assyrians. They beheld the light of their redemption from that captivity, to wit, Hesdras and Nehemias, Jeshua and Zembbabel. But if [we go] according to the spiritual sense, the people men tioned here are the people of the gentiles who were in the darkness of ignorance, adoring idols and images until the true Light arose, to wit, Jesus Christ with his apostles. Nox enim erat in mundo usque dum Christus, qui soljustitia est, radios suos aspersit in mundum. For there was great darkness and dimness over the hearts of the heathen until the Sun of righteousness, Jesus Christ, scattered his splen dors throughout the four quarters of the world to enlighten it.
Now one of the splendors which the Sun of righteousness shed upon the world was the splendor, and the flame, the pre cious stone and shining lamp which enlightened the west of the world, Sanctus Patricius Episcopus, to wit, holy Patrick, high bishop of the west of the world, father of the baptism and belief of the men of Ireland.
Now the day whereon they tell and set forth, in the churches of the Christians, somewhat of his miracles and marvels, and of the parents of whom he was born, and of the earthly stock of the holy Patrick, is the sixteenth of the Kalends of April as to the day of the solar month.
Now Patrick's race was of the Britons of Dumbarton. Cal- purn was his father's name, a high priest was he. Otid (Potitus) was the name of his grandfather : he was a deacon. But Con- chess was his mother's name : daughter was she of Ochbas : of France was her race, that is, she was a sister of Martin's.
Patrick, then, (was) son of Calpurn, son of Otid, son of Odisse, son of Gorniuth, son of Lubeniuth, son of Mercut, son of Otta, son of Muric, son of Oricc, son of Leo, son of Maximus, son of Ecretus, son of Eresus, son of Felestus, son of Ferinus, son of Brittus, from whom are the Britons.1
He had five sisters, namely, Lupait and Tigris and Darerca and Liamain and Richell.
At Nemthur, now, was he born, and (as to) the flagstone on which he was born, when any one commits perjury thereunder, it sheds water as if it were bewailing the false declaration. If the oath is true the stone abides in its proper nature.
1 See Flann Manistrech's version of this legendary pedigree in the Four Masters, A. D. 432.
Bet ha Phatraic, Lelar Erecc, p.
Orogenir immurro intn noem patrazh ise leth ruccad diabaitsed cusmmac dall clarenech. gormas aainmsium. acht nirabi usce acca asand/rnad inbathis. Cotarut airdhi na crochi dolaim na ndiden darsintalrmwz. corrfmaid topur usci ass. Dosrat gornias inus^? foagnuis [p.25a] feisin. 7 rosicc foc/$//oir. 7 rothuicestar nalittrz' c6in co facctf iat remi riam. Dorigne dia tra firt tredai sund fochetoii arpaVtfz'c .i. intopur usci asintalmain 7 arose donm^c dall. 7 eolas arlegind do urd na baiste cenaichne na litter remi riam. Robaitsed din. patraic iarsin.
Roalt tra intn noempatra/<r innemtur combagilla. 7 islia turim 7 aisnds arand<?rna incoimdiu fair dofertaib 7 mirbulib ina noiden- &acht 7 inagilla(cht). arboi rath de inachomaitecht incer/^ais. ocus incer^ni dognid. acht aisnedfimne uati dohilib dib.
Fecht and dolluid tdla usa isintech ambdi patraK corusbmd intenid uli. 7 combatar nalestair forsnam. Luid p&traic iarsin coport tirimm boi isintig. corthiimm a .u. mera isin usce. 7 roptar (5ible tened na .u. banni silset estib. corohadannad inteni sin isintig. 7 nirosartraig intus^ foc/^#oir. Romorad ainm de 7 ndem- pztrat'c and tmsinfhirtsin.
Feet aile dosb^rt pztraic utlach dobissib digrid conusleic forlar ifiadw^e amuime. Bamou rancwwar aless brosna cnnaig dun fortenid ol amumi. <r^id andsin tuc pdtraic indigriud forsintenid. 7 dosrat aandil fdi. 7 Izssais amal cnnach. Romorad tra. ainm de* 7 patr^Jr desin.
aile dolluid cu allaid corruc chairig leis opatrazc don tre'ot. diamboi oc ingaire choerech. 7 rotcairig amumi he comdr foressbuid nacoerech. Diambdi immurro patraic is[in]inud c//na iarnabaruch tanic incu allaztf. corothaisselb incairig slain inafiad- naise. dr nirbo gndth aissec uad ^nicesin. Romorad sanm de ocus pa/raic insin.
ele dolluid pdtraic immaille fnaaide indail mbretan Orancator c/^inddil atbath in[t]aide dodianbds. orosairigtra patrai'c
On the Life of St. Patrick.
Now when the holy Patrick was born, he was brought to be baptized to the blind flat-faced youth named Gornias. But Gornias had not water wherewith the baptism could be per formed, so with the infant's hand he made the sign of the cross over the earth, .and a wellspring of water brake therefrom. Gornias put the water on his own face, and it healed him at once, and he understood the letters (of the alphabet), though he had never seen them before. Now here at one time God wrought a threefold miracle for Patrick, the wellspring of water from the earth, and his eyesight to a blind youth, and skill in reading aloud the order of baptism without knowing the letters beforehand. There after Patrick was baptized.
The holy Patrick was reared at Nemthur until he was a lad ; and it were overmuch to recount and declare what the Lord wrought for him of miracles and marvels in his childhood and in his boyhood, for the grace of God accompanied him at every age and in every thing that he did. But we will relate a few of the many of them.
Once upon a time came a flood of water into the house wherein was Patrick, and quenched all the fire, and the vessels were afloat. Patrick then went to a dry place which was in the house and dipt his five fingers into the water, and the five drops which trickled from them became sparks of fire, and that fire was kindled in the house, and the water at once ceased to rise, and God's name and Saint Patrick's were magnified through that miracle.
At another time Patrick brought a lapful of pieces of ice and left them on the floor in the presence of his fostermother. " We rather need a faggot of withered sticks for fire," said his foster- mother. Then Patrick put the ice upon the fire, and breathed under it, and it blazed like withered sticks. So God's name and Patrick's were magnified thereby.
At another time a wolf went and carried off a sheep of the flock from Patrick when he was shepherding ; and his fostermother rebuked him much for the loss of the sheep. But as Patrick was at the same place the next day, the wolf came and shewed the sheep safe before him, [which thing was a marvel] for up to that time restitution from him was not usual. God's name and Patrick's were magnified therein.
At another time Patrick went along with his fosterfather to a meeting of the Britons. When they came to the meeting the
8 Betha Phatrak, Lebar Brecc, p. 25% //. 32-64-
Us aaide. attert fnss. Erig 7 tiagum diartig. htiicht foc^'/oir intaide aba's labrethir patraic.
Techt ba dimdach amumi desium. arnatabrad mil da miltenaib ama/ doberiis m«c becca inbaile diamotf rechuib. Lmaid p^raa: lestar asinsruth banessu d<5. 7 rostowmach inusce corosoud immil. 7 tucc diamumi comboi dochretraib aicci «miccad ce^teidm ecus
J?echt ann atbath mac aroli mnd nochungnad fnamumisium ocblegun ab6. Albert tra m«»/mi pdfraic tuc latt dom^c isinairge indiu f«». [leg. feib] dob^rthea cerA lai 7 dordnad amlaid. Diam- bater Ira namna ocblegun 7 inm^c marb forlar nabuailed. dobert amwwmi lemn^/ do pff/ra/r . 7 atb^rt fns gair chucat thfer cumtha cwasebi cumaid arsen fritt. Albert pdfraic tair afhir chumtha con- w.$-ebem cumaid. 7 atracht fochetfh mmac abas fn'gairm pdtraic corasebator cumaid \a.rum andi's.
Jfecht de dopdfrat'c 7 diashiair .i. lupait ocingaire choerech. cotancotar nahuain cohopund dochumm zmdthar ama/ babe's ddib. Otro«nairc pdtraic 7 asiur innisin. rorithset codian diaterpdd nan- iian. dorchuir iningen corasben acend fochloich cumbacomfocus bds di. Tanic patraic chucci cen fuirech. 7 dorat ardhe nacrochi darsincrecht corosla'naig1 cennach gakr de.
fecht and luid amwwmi pdtraic doblegan bo. \uidsium do hdl dige \emr\achta. Dastar imon mboin isinbuale .i. demun tanic innte corw-miarb .u. bii aile. B6i torsi mor f<?ramtt;;zmi domandar nambd. condepert fr/sium todw^cad nambd. Rodw^aig iarsin nabu 7 hiccaid inmboin dasachtaig.
fecht e!e f<7rorcongair re^/aire inn'g formwwmi patraic glanad tellaig inrigthige inailccluade. Tanic ira patraic conzmummi fors6t doglanad intellaig. Isannsin tanic intaingel cvpatraic condepert friss. Dena airnaigthe. 7 nibahecen duitt ingnfmsa. Dosgni ira patraic
Ms. coroslanaid.
On .the Life of St. Patrick.
fosterfather died. of a sudden death. But when Patrick perceived his fosterer's death, he said to him, " Arise and let us go to our home." Straightway at Patrick's word the fosterfather arose from death.
On a time his fostermother was unthankful to him because he brought no honey from the combs as the little boys of the hamlet were wont to bring to their mothers. Patrick fills a vessel out of the stream that was nearest to him, and he blessed the water, and it was turned into honey, and he gave it to his fostermother, so that she had it for relics, and it used to cure every disease and every illness.
Once upon a time there died the son of a certain woman, who used to help his (Patrick's) fostermother in milking her kine. So the fosteress said to her ' Bring with thee thy (dead) son into the cowshed this day, as thou wert used to bring him every day,' and thus was it done. Now as the women were milking, and the dead child on the floor of the byre, his fosteress gave new milk to Patrick, and said to him " Call to thee thy comrade that he as well as thou may drink it." Patrick said " Come, my comrade, that we may drink it together," and at Patrick's call the boy arose at once from death, and then they both drank it equally together.
At another time as Patrick and his sister Lupait were herding sheep, the lambs came, as was their wont, suddenly to their mothers. When Patrick and his sister saw that, they ran swiftly to separate the lambs, and the girl'fell down, and her head struck against a stone, so that death was near her. Patrick came to her without delay, and made the sign of the cross over the wound so that he healed it without any disease therefrom.
Once upon a time Patrick's fostermother went to milk a cow, and he went to drink a draught of new milk. The cow goes mad in the byre. A devil entered into her so that she killed five other kine. Great sadness was upon his fostermother for the destruction of the kine, and she told him to bring them to life. Thereafter he brought the (dead) kine to life and the mad cow he cures.
At another time the king's steward ordered Patrick's foster- mother to cleanse the hearth of the palace at Dumbarton. So Patrick came with his fostermother on the way to cleanse the hearth. Then the angel came to Patrick and said to him " make prayer, and this work will not be needed of thee." So Patrick prayed, and the
io Betha Patraic, Lelar Brecc, pp. 25a-25b.
airnaigthe 7 rosglan intaingel intellach in&dchesin. Aiberi pdtraic iarnabarach cianoloiscthe connud brettan uli forsin tellach nabud £cen aglanad cobrdth. amal comaillter sin beos.
[p. 25 b.] Fecht de dolluid re^/aire inrig dochunchid gr^tha 7 imme comummi pdtraic. 7 niroibe ecci ni dob^rad isincis. conid annsin dorigne patraic ingruth 7 innimm donshnechta corructha uad donrig. Orotaisselbad ira donrig sin roscdig1 inanaicned f£n. Rosmaith iarsin inrig incis do pdtraic dogre's. romorad ira ainm d^ 7 patraic triasinfhirtsin.
Andorigne ira patraic dofertaib 7 dadamruib inanoidendor^/. isnatfrib sin. nihetir fmnech atuirem naV^ anaisn^s.
Isheseo din. tuirthmd tidechta "p&iraic docum nerenn. uii. m<?zc sechtmaid .i. uii. meic rig bretan batar forlongais. Doronsat orcuin itir mbfetan. 7 batar ulaid immalle firm, cotucsat p&irai'c leo himbroit dochumm nerenn. 7 adi siair .i. tigris 7 lupart conw^rensat pdtratc friamiliucc mac hm buain .1. fr/rig dal araide. 7 fhathriar mbrdthar. 7 rensat adfshiair uwzaille miiirthemni. 7 nimafitir doib. 7 niconfitir nech dib ciatir inroreccad aroile.
Dofhognad ira pafraic donrig 7 diatrmr brdlhar. conid airesin tuccad fair innainm iscothraige .i. mog cethrair. Batar din2 .{iff. hanmand fair .i. succait aainmm othwrtidib.3 cothraige diamboi ocfognum doncethrur. magonius (.i. magis agens) aainm icger- man. pa/ricius (.i. pater ciuium .i. athair nacath^rda) aainm ic[c]omorba petair (.i. celis[tinus]).
Otawnairc ira mfliucc corbamog iresach pdfraic rochennaig ontrmr aile corofhognad dd aoenur. 7 rofhogain dd cocend secht mbli'adan fob^s nanebra^. 7 ised roherbad do ingaire mucc indith- rebu4 slebi miss.
Ticced immurro uictor aingel dia acallaim 7 diaforcetul imchra-
bud dode"num .i. cet slechtain etch Mithi 7 cet etch noidche dognid.
1 Ms. roscaid. 2 The facsimile has dit 3
4 Over the d is a dot.
On the Life of St. Patrick. n
angel cleansed the hearth that night. Patrick said on the morrow that if all the firewood of Britain were burnt on the hearth, it need not be cleansed till Doom. So it is still fulfilled.
At another time the king's steward went to demand curds and butter of Patrick's fostermother, and naught had she which she could give for the tribute. Then of the snow Patrick made the curds and the butter, and they were taken from him to the king. Now when those things were shewn to the king, they changed into their own nature. After that, the king always forgave the tribute to Patrick, so God's name and Patrick's were magnified through that miracle.
But the number of miracles and of wonders which Patrick in his childhood wrought in those lands, it is not possible for any one to enumerate or relate them.
Now this was the cause of Patrick's coming to Ireland. Seven sons of Sechtmad, to wit, seven sons of the King of Britain, were in exile. They wrought rapine in the land of Britain, and Ulstermen were along with them, and so they brought Patrick in captivity to Ireland, and his two sisters Tigris and Lupait, and they sold Patrick to Miliucc maccu Buain, that is, to the King of Dalaraide1, and to his three brothers, and they sold his two sisters in Conaille Muirthemne,3 and nothing was well known of them, (that is) and no one of them knew into what land another was sold.
Now Patrick served the king and his three brothers, where fore there was given unto him the name of Cothraige, that is, the slave of four persons. Now four names had he, to wit, Succet, his name from his parents : Cothraige, when he served the four per sons: Magonius (i. e. magi's agens), his name with Germanus: Patricius (that is, ' father of the citizens') his name with Peter's successor, Celestinus.
Now when Miliucc saw that Patrick was a faithful slave, he bought him from the other three that he might serve him alone. And he served him to the end of seven years after the custom of the Hebrews, and what was committed unto him was the herding of swine in the wildernesses of Sliab Mis.3
Howbeit, Victor an angel, used to come to speak unto him, and to teach him as to performing devotion, that is, one hun-
1 A territory in the east of Ulster.
2 A level country in the present county of Louth, extending from the river Boyne to the mountains of Cuailgne, or Carlingford, O'D.
3 Now Slemmish in the county of Antrim.
12 Betha Phalraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 25'
Oroboi tra patraic .ufi. mblizdna oc fognum fobe*s nane*braide. ztbert intaingel fn'ss hifhis. Bene oras 7 bene ieiunas cito iturus eris ad patriam tuam .i. ismaith dogni ernaigthe. ismaith dogni aine. raga coluath cotathardai fodein.
Rochomfocsig tra aimser thuaslaicthe pa/rate addire arno- chlechtatis nag<?nti saerad amogad ism j^/mad \Aiadain. Ondim- raided immurro1 miliucc indus noastfad intii patraic rochendaig cumai'l corw^naisc dopatraic hi. Orocuirtha hitech foleth aidche nabaindsi. isandsin prz'tchais patrai'c donchumail corothochathitis innuli naidche ocernaigthe. ISinmatain iarnabaruch at^wmairc patraic ingelchrecht hindreich nacum«/7e. 7 roiarfaig2 di fochann inchrechtai. Albert inchuma/. intan basa innemthur imbretnaib. darochdr corw^ben mochend frzcloich cwwba focus bas dam. Ot- connzirc mobrdihair .i. succet increcht. dorat ardhe crochi cm/ tairis combahdgshlan foc^?oir. ISed atbert patraic messi f£a dobrathair. 7 isme roticc. gniset insin atlugud dodia 7 tiagait isindithreb.
Orobdi tra patraic isindithr«3. itchuala guth indaingil atb^red friss. ISfairithe inlong rowdecasu innte cohetail dofogluim na- screpttm. Albert patraic nimtha l(5g do (5r domthig^rnai. 7 nichom- arlecfi chena dam. Albert intaingel fhssium. feith intret indiu 7 atcierasu torcc icclaide intalman. 7 dosb^ra maiss noir ass ocu£ tabair dotchind dottig<rna. 7 imthig asintirsea do fogluim ecnai: 7 crabuid. roscometsww intorcc 7 fuair inmaiss do or. 7 dosrat darachend dathig^na 7 roscomairlec alecud uad arbafailid fnsino'r.
Luid pa/rate iarsin forfecA/. 7 fuair luing «wafoinnd dog«?ntib. 7 fuair failte accu. 7 rucsat leo h<§ darmuir. BahaitAr^ch tra fria athigmia .i. fn miliuc alecud ass. Dochuaid inadiaid 7 nitharraa/ he 7 niroscar int(5r iarsin.
Roergab^/ din hicreich intii patraic fora s«? coraba accu fnre damis. dosgni pa/ra^ ernaigthi 7 roshasr dia he coiocM slan coa- thwtidib.3 Roatachsat athiwtide* he corothairis accu osin amach
1 Ms. hautem. * Ms. roiarfaid. « Ms. thurtigib. « Ms. athwrtige.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 13
dred genuflexions every day and a hundred every night he used to make.
Now when Patrick had been serving seven years, after the custom of the Hebrews, the angel said to him in a vision " Bern oras et bene jejunas, cito iturus eris ad patriam tuam" that is, ' well thou prayest, well thou fastest, quickly shalt thou go to thine own fatherland.'
Now the time of Patrick's release from bondage drew nigh, for the heathen were wont to free their slaves in the seventh yean As Mfliucc could not think how (else) he could detain Patrick, he bought a bondmaid and wedded her to Patrick. On the bridalr night, when they were put into a house apart, then Patrick preached to the bondmaid, and they spent the whole night in prayer. On the next morning Patrick beheld the white scar on the bondmaid's face, and he asked of her the cause of the scar. Said the bondmaid, " when I was in Nemtur in Britain, I fell, and my head struck against a stone, so that death was near me. When my brother Succet beheld the wound, he made the sign of Christ's cross over it, so that I was well at once." Patrick said this—" I myself am thy brother, and I am he that healed thee." They then gave thanks to God, and go into the wilderness.
Now when Patrick was in the wilderness, he heard the voice of the angel, saying to him, " Ready is the ship wherein thou mayest fare to Italy to learn the scriptures." Said Patrick, " I have not the price (of my ransom) in gold for my lord, and without that he will not allow me (to leave him)." The angel said to him, "Mind thou the herd to-day, and thou wilt see a boar uprooting the earth, and he will bring a mass of gold thereout, and give thou that gold to thy lord for thy head, and fare forth from this land to learn wisdom and piety." He watched the boar and found the mass of gold, and gave it for his head to his lord, who consented to let him go, for he was glad at the gold.
Patrick then went on (his) way, and found a ship with her crew of heathen. And he had welcome of them, and they took him with them oversea. His master Miliucc was sorry for letting him leave. He went after him; but Patrick tarried not, and Miliucc loved not the gold thereafter.
Then Patrick on his road was captured in a foray, and he was with them (the reavers) for two months. Patrick made prayer, and God delivered him, so that he came safe to his parents. His parents
14 Bet ha Phatralc, Lelar Brecc, pp. 25 b — 2,6*.
dogr/s. sed tamen tame intaingel chuice inachotlud conepistlib immdaib leis tnagoedeilg. 7 intan b6isium occanairlegend atchuala gair mor dondidenu ambronnaib amaithrech hicn'chaib connacht. INmacradsin [p. 26a.] acaille fochlad. conidedso aibertis. ueni sancte patrici saluos nos facere.
ISandsin dochuaid patraic dofbgluim ecna 7 cnzbuid inoir- th^desaH etaile cog<?rman escop. 7 tarrw^tar accu .xxx. bliadan. ocfogluimm nascreptra noibe. 7 icacomalLz^/ cohumal inisel. ocus ,xxx. aile aaes intan tanic cog^rman .xxx. \Aiadan do icafoglaim ,lx. icpr^cept ineinww.
Celebrais dog^rman. 7 dosb<?r g^rman bend^tu lais. 7 teit uasalsacart leis diaforcill cucomorba petair imcechngrad .i. signe- iius cruimther aainmside.
Luid \>atraic iarsin formuir thorren. isann sin dorala aninis do. cona.cca intech nua 7 lanomain dec ann. 7 ifcwmairc senchail% crm indoras1 intige. Cid das inchaillech ol patraic. INgen ingine damsa sin arintoclach 7 ismarb am#7/fozr do chri'ne. Cid fodera sin olpatraic. Ciist dorala chucaind diambdi itir ddinib arintdc- lach. cond^rnswwarni fleid dd. B<?wnachais artegdais 7 sind fen. ocus nitharaill inbennachtu arclannu 7 rotharngir duin cotistasu chucdind 7 foracaib abachaill accaind diatabairt detsiu. Nigebsa olpatratc cotarda f6n dam.
Taraill iarsin coaraile nuasal[epscop] cotarut grad nescwp fair. Dochuaidsium iarsin doroim 7 fuair onoir 7 oirmitin icrd- 7 iconabbaid .i. celestinwj aainmsium.
Isess/i/e rofhaid fer diam««tir docum ner^w doshilad cretmi 7 irse do feraib erenn .i. palladia aainm. conAib feraib .x. dopro- cept do goedelaib. arislacomorba petair lesugud naheorpa uli 7 acend«j. Odaruacht palladia hi crich laigen fri'thoriss^r do nahii mac garrchon m«c fotha/i/ mete echac/i laimd^rg mete mesin- corb 7 roindarb uadae. Araide robaist uati ann. 7 rofhoth^ trt
1 The (/ is dotted.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 15
besought him to abide thenceforward always with them. Sed tamen, the angel came to him in his sleep, having many letters in Gaelic, and when he was reading them out he heard a great cry from infants in their mothers' wombs in the regions of Connaught. Those children were of Caille Fochlad,1 and this is what they were saying, 41 Veni Sancte Patrici salvos nosfacere"
Then went Patrick to learn wisdom and piety in the south east of Italy, unto bishop German, and he tarried with him for thirty years, learning the holy scripture, and fulfilling it in humble and lowly wise. And another thirty years was his age when he went to German. Thirty years was he learning, sixty preaching in Ireland.
He bade farewell to German, and German gave him his bless ing, and a chief priest went with him to testify of him to Peter's successor as to every grade, to wit, Segetius the priest was his name.
Thereafter Patrick went upon the Tyrrhene sea : it was there he met with the island. He saw the new house and a young mar ried couple therein, and in the door of the house he beheld a withered old hag. " Who may the hag be ?" said Patrick, " She is a daught er's daughter of mine," replied the young man, "and her mother is dead of decay." " What caused that ?" said Patrick. " Christ came to us when he was among men," said the youth, " and we made a feast for him. He blessed our dwelling and ourselves. Now the blessing did not visit our children, and unto us he fore told that thou wouldst come to us, and he left his staff with us to be given to thee." " I will not take it," said Patrick, " until he himself gives it to me."
Thereafter he went to a certain chief bishop, who conferred episcopal rank upon him. He afterwards fared to Rome, and found honour and reverence from the Romans and from the Abbot, whose name was Celestinus.
He it was who had sent a man of his family to Ireland to sow belief and faith among the men of Ireland — Palladius was his name, — with twelve men, to preach to the Gael, for unto Peter's suc cessor belong the bettering of the whole of Europe, and the headship thereof. When Palladius arrived in the province of Lein- ster, Nathf, son of Garrchu, son of Fothad, son of Echaid Redhand, son of Mesincorb, withstood him and expelled him from thence.
1 Near Killala in the county of Mayo.
16 Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 26*.
cella ann .i. cell fine hifarcaib aliubra cotaissib poll 7 petazr \pcus tech na rdman 7 domnach airte].1 7 f0#erbailtsium aninis bretan, ocdul sair. f^widandsin roordaigset patraic uadib inaaps/a/ doctim nere«». 7 atb^rtsat aingil fnssium tider^/ cosokw dociim nerc«». Atb<?rtsum naticfad corosaicilW fe"n incoimdiu. iarsin rofucc in- taingel inarboric letha cus'm czthraig dianad ainm capua isl&b armdin., super ripam2 maris tyrreni. corosacaill incoimdid isin lucsin. ama/ rosacaill m[o]ysi isleib sfna. 7 condepert3 friss techt doprocept do goedelu. 7 cotarut bachaill isu dd ind. Conid doreir shenaid nardma 7 inaingil 7 inchoimded tanic pafratc docum
Tanic iarsin for conair .xx. iiii. fer alin. 7 fuair noei forachind inerlaime M\\xacht mara bretan. intan tra tanic \>atraic isincurach. isann bdi clam occuinchzi/ inaid fair. 7 nirobi inad fas \iir ann. corolaswfl* remi amach inimaltoir clochi forsandenad oifrend cech laei. sed tamen dorigne dia firt mor and .i. nidechazi/ incloch anich- tar. 7 nitharasar dianessi. acht rosnai imoncurach bacuairt cuto- lacht meirmn.
ISandsin itownairc patraic circull trom dodemnaib timchell erenn .i. uide .ui. laa uathi forcechleth.
Odharuacht patraic cohinb^r ndea hicn'ch laigen. 7 coaroile fich comfoc«j. nf fuair failte inntib. 7 mallachais patraic aninb<?rsin. conid etoirthech osin ille he. 7 cotanic muir darsintirsin. Nathii mac garrchon tra ise rodiult frf patraic.
Teit patraic izrum tar muir cohull,tu. dosaigid mflicc rig dala- raite dopmrept anma d^. arisaccu rosboi anddire artMj comad do tdisech noprz'tchad. comad chomlan infognam diachurp 7 daan- main. sed tamen tanic miliuc inaagaid cuslogu moraib dogewtib. con&otecQd he fothfr. uair roforcongart loegaire for firu erenn. conz- roslectis patraic fothfr. uair rothirchansatar adniide doloegazre
These churches were situated in the territory of Ui-Garrchon, which was
* "* °f "" presart
2 Facs. risam. » The d dotted.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 17
However, he baptized a few there, and founded three churches there, namely, Cellfine, where he left his books, with relics of Paul and Peter, [and ' the House of the Romans' and Domnach Arte] and, going eastward, he died in the island of Britain : where fore then they ordered Patrick as an apostle from them to Ireland, and angels told him to go to Ireland promptly. He said that he would not go, until the Lord should speak unto himself. There after the angel brought him into Armoric Letha, to the city named Capua, in Mount Hermon, on the shore of the Tyrrhene sea, and the Lord spake to him at that place, as He had spoken to Moses on Mount Sinai, and told him to come to preach to the Gael, and He gave him the staff of Jesus : wherefore it was according to the will of the synod of Rome and of the angel and of the Lord that Patrick came to Ireland.
He then fared forth on his road, four and twenty men were his number, and he found a ship in readiness before him on the strand of the sea of Britain. When Patrick came into the boat, a leper was asking him for a place, and there was no empty place therein. So he put out before him (to swim in the sea) the stone altar whereon he used to make offering every day. Sed /amen, God wrought a great miracle here, to wit, the stone went not to the bottom, nor did it stay behind. But it swam round about the boat [with the leper on it] until it arrived in Ireland.
Then Patrick saw a dense ring of demons around Ireland, to wit, a six days' journey from it on every side.
When Patrick came to Inver Dea1 in the territory of Leinster, and to a certain hamlet hard by, he found no welcome in them, and Patrick cursed that rivermouth, wherefore it is barren (of fish) from that to this, and the sea hath come over that land. Nathi, the son of Garrchu, was he who denied Patrick.
Patrick afterwards passed over sea to Ulster to seek Miliuc, King of Dalaraide, to preach the name of God, as it was with him he was in servitude at first, that it might be to him he should first preach, and the service to Miliuc's body and to his soul might thus be complete. Howbeit Miliuc came against him with great hosts of heathens, and would not let him land, since Loegaire2 had ordered the men of Ireland that they should not let Patrick on land : for his soothsayers had foretold to Loegaire, five years before, that Patrick would arrive in Ireland, to wit, Lochra and Lothrach and Luchat-
1 *The mouth of the Vartry river in the County of Wicklow,' O'Don. - Overking of Ireland, A. D. 438.
i8 Betha Phatraic, Lclar Brecc, pp. 26a— 26b.
tidecht patraic docum nerenn .u. \Aiadna remi feisin .i. lochra ocus lothrach 7 lucatmoel 7 renell ananmunna. 7 bahedso atb^rtis
Ticfai taillcend tarmuir meircend
abratt1 toillcend. a crand2 cromcend
amias3 anairthz'wr athige
fn'scerut am««ter uli amra amra.
Ocus traigfid czch flaithi«j 7 CQch adrad 7 ce^ cum^/a naba humal do. 7 isasaflaithiwj fe"n forbia cobrath.
Dochuaid patraic \zrum inachurach cohinber slani. 7 tanic inaagfl/# dichil m«c trechim. corogreis inaaghaid coin rdgeir b(5i occa, sed tamen dorat pa/rate ardhe nacr0chi coimdeta inahagaid. 7 rogab infers fhathacda. Ne tradas domine b. a. con. f. 1. 1. ocus tarrw^ar incii isin inadsin 7 forfemid cor de. ISannsin ronocht^- tar dichu acloidem. 7 teit domarbad patraic. Dosfor patraic arde cr^chi cm/ inaagazif corfemid cor dochois no do laim de. larsin dosgni dichu ai/^rige 7 slechtais ifiadwaz^e patraic cotarut adgreir do. 7 rocreit innoendia. 7 robaitsed coslogu mora immaille fr/ss. 7 dorat inferonnsin dodia 7 dop«/r«?'c. Rochumtaig patraic eclas isininudsin. dianid ainm saball patraic indi'u 7 rotharngir do dichoin. isann noragad dochum nime. 7 dorat b^nachtain moir dodichoin 7 diaclannaib ut dixit patraic insin.
Bendacht de do dichoin romfoir imon saball ronbiasww diaessi innoemtech nglesed nglanoll. Bend^/ de for dichoin dichu dilcend cro nibahifornach buan ban« eland nacined do. Luid patraic ia.mm doforcetul miliuc am^/ rotr/all«st(7r. Oroscuala miliuc patraic forset chuca. iadais atech fair fen ocus fora, uli indmas. 7 dosbtr tenid fair md. coroloiscedsww cona.u\i drilliud. arnarochreted do patraic. Roairis patraic ocfegad natein- ed. 7 iss^ atb^rt.
IN fer asaerbaid airi siut narocreted damsa 7 donchoimdiu
1 .i. cochall. 2 .i. bachall.
On the Life of Sf. Patrick. 19
macl and Renell were their names, and this is what they used to say —
" An Adzehead shall come across stormy (?) sea : His mantle1 hole-headed, his staff2 crook-headed : His dish3 in the east of his house : All his people shall answer Amen, Amen ; And every princedom and every worship and every might that will not be humble to him shall ebb away, and his own princedom shall abide for ever."
Patrick went afterwards in his boat to Inverslany,4 and there came against him Dichu, son of Trechem, and he set against him a fierce hound which he had. Sed tamen Patrick made the sign of the cross of the Lord against it, and he chanted the prophetic verse, ne tradas, Domine, bestiis animas confitentium tibt, and the hound stopt in that place and was unable to stir. Then Dichu bared his brand, and went to kill Patrick. Patrick made the sign of Christ's cross against him, so that he could not stir either foot or hand. Thereafter Dichu repented and knelt before Patrick and gave him his full will, and Dichu believed in the one God, and he and great hosts along with him were baptized, and he gave that land (whereon he was converted) to God and to Patrick. In that place Patrick built a church which is called Saball Patraic5 to-day, and he foretold to Dichu that it would be there he should go to heaven. And he gave a great blessing to Dichu and to his children, ut dixit Patricius then —
God's blessing on Dichu who granted me the Barn. It shall remain after him the holy beautiful fine great house, God's blessing on Dichu, who forgives (?) blood : No children or race of his shall be for ever in hell. Patrick afterwards went to teach Miliuc as he had (before) proceeded. When Miliuc heard that Patrick was on his way to him, he closed his house upon himself and upon all his wealth, and he set fire to himself in it so that he was burnt with all his goods, in order that he might not believe in Patrick. Patrick, seeing the fire, stopt and he said —
" The man who had resolved (?) upon this That he might not believe in me and in the Lord,
1 cowl. 2 crozier. 3 his altar.
4 The estuary of the Slany ' a small river at the S. W. extremity of Strang- ford Lough,' Todd.
* ' Patrick's Barn.' Now Saul in the County Down.
20 Betha Phatraic, Lclar Brecc, p. 26h.
nibia rigc na oirechws uad cobr«th 7 aanimm aniffrmd tr/abithu.
7 otrubai'rt patraic nabria/^rasa roimpo dessel ina fr/thlorg doridisi itir nulad. cotorar/^/ mag ninis ] codichoin mac trechim. ocus roan and fr/re cian.
Teit iarww patraic cosaball fodess copntchad do nls m0r trechim. isisedfe bdi inderlw^ fr/dun leth glasi* indess. Ata cathair becc and indiu. 7 brectain ahainmsium. dti hita escop loairnd.
Diamboi patratc tra iarnas^t r<?»acca inmoethoclach ocingaire mucc. Mochoa aainmsium. pn'tchats patraic d6 7 robaist. 7 roberr 7 dorat sos<r^7a. 7 menist/r do. 7 dorat do tra tan aile bachaill tucad doib odia. acend inucht patraic 7 acoss inucht mochoe. isi'sin Ira indeittech mochoe noendromae. 7 doordaig muicc mb^rr- tha ce^a bliad«« do patraic 7 dob^rar fous»
Celebrais patraic dodichoin. 7 trz'allaid • do acalta loegaire cotemraig iarfairgi comag mbreg. 7 fuair failte moir isininad sin oc aroli fir uasal. 7 rochreit conzmuntir do. 7 rdbaitsed conid acca foracaib achurach.
Mac becc boi isintig dorat seircc do patraic 7 gebis achois ocdul d(5 isincarp^/. 7 dilsigit anrm«ter do patraic he. 7 nosb«r patraic leis «>nid hesin binen gilla patraic.
ISandsin roecnaig aroli drui eccraibtech .i. mantais aainm
do patraic. Fergaither patraic fris. 7 dobeir amwj do bachaill isu
fair, cotordkwr ifiad^we nasldg. 7 corosluic talum he. conid desin ata. noconuil amain mdntais.
Teit patraic iarsin cuferta fer feicc. Adhanntar tenid occa isininudsin ifescor nacasc. Fergaither loegaire otchi intenid arbahi sin geis temrach ocgoedeluib. 7 nilamad nech tenid dfhatdd ineinJwi isindlousin. ndcunadanta hitemraig artwj isinsollamain. ocus
' Now Lecale in the County Down, O'Don., Four Masters A. M. S52o » Generally called Dun-dd-lethgla*, the fort of the two broken locks or fetters now Downpatrick.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 21
Nor kingdom or chieftainship shall be from him till Doomr And his soul shall be in hell for ever."
And when Patrick had uttered these words he returned right- handwise by the same road again into the land of Ulster until he reached Mag Inis (and came) to Di'chu, son of Trichem, and there he staid for a long time.
Patrick went afterwards to Saball southward, and preached to Ross, son of Trichem. It was he that dwelt at Derlus to the south of Dun Lethglasse. A small town is there to- day whose name is Brechtain, the place wherein is Bishop Loairn.
As Patrick was (going) along his way he saw the tender youth herding swine, Mochoa was his name. Patrick preached to him, and baptized and tonsured him and gave him a gospel and a reliquary, and at another time he gave him a crozier which had been sent to them from God, its head falling in Patrick's bosom and its foot in Mochoa's bosom. This is the Eittech of Mochoa of Noendruim1 ; and he ordered a shaven pig (to be given) every year to Patrick, and it is still given.
Patrick bade farewell to Dfchu, and proceeds to Tara to speak unto Loegaire. [He sailed] along the sea to Mag Breg, [and stopped at Inver Colptha,2] and he found great welcome in that place from a certain gentleman who both believed in him with all his people and was baptized, wherefore with him he (Patrick) left his boat.
A little boy that was in the house gave love to Patrick, and took hold of his leg as he was going into the chariot, and his family bestow him on Patrick, and Patrick takes him with him, and this is Bendn, Patrick's gillie.
It was then a certain impious wizard named Mantais reviled Patrick. Patrick is enraged with him, and he makes a thrust of Jesus' crozier at him, and he fell before the hosts, and the earth swallowed him, whence is [the saying] noconuil amain Mantais.
Patrick went thereafter to Ferta Fer Feicc.3 Fire is kindled by him at that place on the eve of Easter. Loegaire is enraged when he sees the fire. For that was a prohibition of Tara which the Gael had, and no one durst kindle a fire in Ireland on that day until
1 Mahee Island. The Eiitech (' winged' crozier) of Mochoa was so called from the belief that it was coditus missus, Reeves' Columla 460.
2 The mouth of the Boyne.
3 Fiacc's (or FeccolV men's graves.' Now Slane in Meath.
22 Bet ha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p.
atbcrtsatar [2ya] nadruide. mine baiter rianoidche anocht intene ut. bid laisintii isatene suit flaith erenn cobraih.
Tune dixit rex. nibamlaid bess acht bid sinde nosricfasww oats ndsmuirbfe. Atraig inrig conaslogu dosaigid patraic dia marbad. Nirancatar immurro riand<?riud didche. Orosiacht tra inrig com- focus. atbert adriiid fr/ss. naheircsiu chuicesium oleat narup comartha onora do. acht corapeisium tn cucatsu. 7 naherced nech remi. Daronad amkz'</. Ofowmairc pa/rate naheich 7 nacarp«?7 isandsin rochan infersasa. hii in curribus 7 hii in equis. nos hautem in nomine domini dei nostri magni. acht nama dthanic patraic isin- oirecht. atracht remi m^c dega .i. epscop ercc fil icslani.
ISandsin tanic cohesamain 7 cofergach m&gaid patraic oen donadraidib .i. lochru. 7 rosecnaig1 don iris cm/aide. Tune sanc- tus patricius dixit. Amochoimdiu istii ^wmicc inuli. isatchum<2^/u att«/. istii ronfaid illcthsa. malartar nunc int^craibdechsa fil oce"c- nach thanmasu ifiadwaz!re chaich.
Deniurad labrethir patraic tuarcaibset demnu isindasor indruid 7 roslecset uadib fhlar coroben achend fncloich 7 condemn men ocus luaith de ifiadwazje chdich. corwjgab cnth 7 uamun dofuk^/a nasluaig bator and.
Rofergaiged tra loegaire Sri patraic 7 toet diamarW. Otcon- nairc patraic tiduapairt nangenti inaagazi/. isandsin atbert oguth mor. Exurgat deus et disipinitur ini[mici]eius. Tanic talamchum- scugud mor 7 torand and. 7 goeth coroscail nacairpthiu 7 nagregu cofata forcechleth. corrancatar cobrig gr«ide. 7 co sliab moenuir«&d. 7 comboi cdch dib anar achele tramalkzc&ain patraic. ^warfacbad ifail inrig acht oenchethrur isininudsin .i. he fen 7 asetig 7 dias dia ses gradai.
Orwjgab uamun inrigan dodechaid cvpatraic. 7 atbert fnss. Aduine fireoin 7 aduine cum^/aig. nirosmarba inrig. vair slecht' faid duitt 7 dobdVa doriar fen duit. Tanic inrig 7 doratsom areir dops/r^obeolu 7 nitharut ocJnffiu. 7 atbert fripatrau: dul inadhiaid cot^mraig cotartad ariar do hi fiad«azje fer ner«i». Nihedsin Ira
1 Ms. rosecnaid.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 23
it had been kindled first at Tara at the solemnity. And the wizards said " unless that fire be quenched before this night, he whose fire it is shall have the kingdom of Ireland for ever."
Tune dixit rex " it shall not be so, but we will go to him and kill him." The king arises with his host to seek Patrick and kill him ; but they did not arrive before the end of night. When the king drew nigh his wizards said to him " go not thou to him," said they, " that it may not be a token of honour to him. But let him come to thee and let none rise up before him." Thus was it done. When Patrick saw the horses and the chariots, he then sang this verse : " Hi in curribus et hi in egm's, nos autcm in nomine dominiDei nostri magni" But, when Patrick came in to the assem bly, only the son of Deg rose up before him, that is, Bishop Ere, who is (venerated) at Slane.
Then came one of the wizards, to wit, Lochru, fiercely and angrily against Patrick, and reviled the Christian faith. Tune sanctus Patricius dixit — " O my Lord, it is Thou that canst do all things : in Thy power they are : it is Thou that sentest us hither. Let this impious one, who is blaspheming Thy name, be destroyed in the presence of all."
Swifter than speech, at Patrick's word, demons raised the wizard into the air, and they let him go (down) against the earth, and his head struck against a stone, and dust and ashes were made of him in the presence of all, and trembling and intolerable dread seized the hosts that were there.
Loegaire was enraged with Patrick, and went to kill him. When Patrick perceived the attack of the heathen upon him, he then said, with a mighty voice, "Exsurgat Deus et dissipentur inimici ejus." Came a great earthquake and thunder there, and a wind, and scattered the chariots and the horses afar on every side, so that they came even to Brig Graide and Sliab Moenuirnn,1 and they were all slaughtering each other through Patrick's curse, and there were left along with the king but four persons only in that place, to wit, himself and his wife and two of his priests.
When terror seized the queen she went to Patrick and said to him, " O righteous one and O mighty one, kill not the king, for he shall submit to thee, and give thee thine own will." The king came and gave his will to Patrick by word of mouth, but gave it not from his heart ; and he told Patrick to go after him to Tara that he might give him his will before the men of Ireland. That,
1 ' ad montem Moncluirn,' Lib. Annach. 4 a 2.
24 Betha Phatrak, Lelar Brecc, p. 3J\
boi inam^/main. acht marbad pafrat'c vair foraccaib etarnaide1 CQC/I belaig forachind ota sin cotemraig.
Dochuaid patraic iarsin ochtm mor la gilla .i. bindn seeh inuli etarnaide.1 hirricht ocht noige nalltai. 7 enloeg alkiA/inandiaid. OCTIS en find fbragualaind .i. binen sin 7 polire pa/raic foramuin. cotrde- chaidz iarsin doirrsib foriattaib isintemraig. collar inrigthaigi. isandsin boi inrig ocfledugw^ corigraid eretm imi ar insollamainse .i. vair ba hi sin feis temra.
Ni erracht nech ria patratc itemraig acht fili inrig .1. diibthach mac hut lugair. 7 rochreit 7 robaist. 7 dosbeir pa/raic b^wnach- tudo.
Gairmth^r insin pafraic docum leptha inrig. corosthoimlcd biad. nirohobb immurro patraic innisin. Dorat \ra indrdid lucat- mael banni doneim inerdig patraic. 7 dosrat illaim patraic. roben- naig immurro patraic indrdig 7 rosimpoi inlestar. 7 atrochair ass indneim. 7 nitorch0/r abecc donlfnd. 7 attib ^pa/rate inlind i&rum.
ISandsin atb^rt inrig fhagilla .i. fr/crundmasl. eirg immach for clochan natemrach 7 notleic fein fair. 7 coimlet toes cww[asc]tha fuil imotchend. 7 abrat istutim dorochar forsnaclochaib rw/erbaltais. 7 atb</rsa fn'sinclerech techt dot toduscad. 7 ciatbttrasom fntsa ergi naherig. Dordnad amlaid. Otwwnairc ira patraic incorp. rofol'lsig dia do corobrec tucc^ imme. con[id]airesin atb<?rtsom.
A mo chrundinasl. A mo gillmael. A mo gerat. gerothiacht ni. cen corosiacht. nirotera^/ gedorochar. cencotorcrwr forsnaclocha comul cricha gerotsiacht ni cencotiacht. nirotichthar.
ISderb din. nochorhiccad labrethir pa/raic crundmsel 7 nier- achl itir osin illc,
Dochotar iarsin nasloig asintemraig immach. isandsin atb*rt indruid Denumm comferta cofessamar cia uaind bus calma.
Ms. eUiraaige. 2 Dot over first d.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 25
however, was not what he had in his mind, but to kill Patrick, for he left ambushes before him on every road from that to Tara.
Thereafter went Patrick (and his train of) eight, together with a gillie Bene*n, past all the ambushes, in the shape of eight deer and behind them one fawn with a white bird on its shoulder, that is, Benen with Patrick's book-satchel on his back ; and there after he went into Tara, the doors being shut, to the middle of the palace. The king was then feasting with the kings of Ireland around him at this festival, for that was the Feast of Tara.
No one rose up before Patrick at Tara except the king's poet, Dubthach Macculugair, and he believed and was baptized, and Patrick gave him a blessing.
Patrick is then called to the king's couch that he might eat food, and Patrick refused not that. The wizard Lucatmael put a drop of poison into Patrick's cruse, and gave it into Patrick's hand : but Patrick blessed the cruse and inverted the vessel, and the poison fell thereout, and not even a little of the ale fell. And Patrick afterwards drank the ale.
Then said the king to his gillie Crunnmael, " Go out on the causeway of Tara, and lay thee down thereon and let them rub dough mixed with blood about thy head, and let them say that thou fellest1 upon the stones and that thou diedst, and I will tell the cleric to come to bring thee to life, and though he tell thee to rise, arise not." Thus was it done. When Patrick saw the body, God made manifest to him that guile was practised on him, where fore he said—
O my Crunnmael, O my bald youth, O my hero, Though thou attainedst one thing, though thou hast not
attained, thou hast not arisen, Though thou hast fallen, though thou hast not fallen
upon the stones — a final deed, Thou thou attainedst one thing, though thou hast not
attained, thou art not healed.
It is certain that Crunnmael was not healed by Patrick's word", and from that time forth he arose not.
Thereafter the hosts fared forth out of Tara. Then said the wizards, " Let us work miracles together that we may know which of us is the stronger." " So be it done," said Patrick. Then
1 lit. ' that it is a fall thou fellest/
2,6 Bet/ia Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 27* — 27b.
Dentar amlaid olpa/raic. isandsin dorat indrui [p. 27b] snechta darsinmag corocht formna fer. dixit pa/ricius fris Dichuir fodechta. si potes. dixit magus. Nichumcaim cusintrath ce/'na imbarach. Dar- mode'broth .i. darmodia mbr«tha olpa/raic isinulcc atta documtf^- /u 7 nifil iitr amaith. Senais pa/raic inmag. coroleag insnechta foc^^/oir.
Dorogart indrai demnu cotuc dorchai sholam^/aige darsin mag. corosgab cn'th 7 uamun each, dixit pa/rictus. Beir ass indor- chatu. si potes. Albert indraf nichumcaim cw^intrath c//na imba rach. Senais pa/raic inmag. 7 tiagat ass nadorchatu foc/^^7oir corolass ingr/an ataiblebech (?). Rosgniset inuli batar and atlugud dodia 7 pa/raic.
Tune dixit rex. curid bar libra inusce. 7 cibe uaib isalibair elait dogenumne adrad do. isamerlumsa do sin o\patraic. Atb^rt indrai. dia usce adras infersa. 7 niragsa imoenfuigell fris.8 Rath nabaits/ sin roairigsium oc pa/raic.
Albert in rig. curid bar libra itenid. isamerlumsa do sin ol patratc. Nidingen amlaid olindrai. vair dia tened adras infersa cecM-abliadain .i. rath inspir/a noib rorathaig oc pa/rate indsin. conid andsin fh'th aroli comarli ann .i. tech dodenum isinvairsin- aleth lir. 7 aroli crin. 7 indrai dochur isin[leth]iir 7 dtach pa/raic imme. gilla pa/raic .i. binen dothabairt isinleth crin 7 tonach indrvad imme.
ISandsin tancatar copa/raic teora m^ccoemu bater aneteriaj ocloegaire. Ciit fri pa/raic. roiarfaigi pa/raic cid sin am^cu. fir fkMa areat dobriss^ hiprimcat^raig na ngoedel indiu. Cait on olpatraic. Intech gnith^r dondraf 7 dotgillasu \szmlaid gnfth^r .i. leth de lir. 7 leth crin .i. inleth ilr dondrai. 7 incrin dotgillasa.
Tuc pa/raic amer forgruad ndeis ce^ meic dib. 7 tuc der tar- gr«aid deis ce^ meic forad^naind clii. tuc aanail fothib condemn ieor* gemma dib. Slucid olpa/raic nagemma. Slucfemit areat
1 Ms. roiarfaid.
habet'
On the Life of St. Patrick. 27
the wizard brought snow over the plain till it reached men's shoulders. Dixit Patricins to him, " Put it away now if thou canst." Dixit magus, " I cannot till the same time to-morrow." " By my debroth" (that is, " by my God of judgment,") saith Patrick, " it is in evil thy power lieth, and nowise in good." Patrick blessed the plain, and the snow melted at once.
The wizard invoked demons, and over the plain he brought darkness1 that could be felt, and trembling and terror seized every one. Dixit Patricius, " Take away the darkness si potes." The wizard replied, " I cannot till the same time to-morrow." Patrick blessed the plain and the darknesses at once depart, and the sun shone forth ..... All who were there gave thanks to God and to Patrick.
Tune dixit rex, " Put your books into water, and him of you whose books escape we will adore." " I am ready for that," saith Patrick. Said the wizard, " a god of water this man adores, and I will not submit to the ordeal of water." That was the grace of Baptism which he had perceived with Patrick.
Said the king, " Put your books into fire." " I am ready for that," saith Patrick. " I will not do thus," saith the wizard, " for this man adores a god of fire every two years," that is, it was the grace of the Holy Ghost he perceived with Patrick. Then another counsel was taken, that is, to build a house in that hour — the half thereof fresh and the other withered, and to put the wizard into the fresh half with Patrick's raiment about him, (and) to place Patrick's gillie, Bendn, into the withered half, with the wizard's tunic about him.
Then came to Patrick three striplings, who were kept in host- ageship with Loegaire. They weep unto Patrick. Patrick asked, " What is that, my sons ?" " In the chief city of the Gael a prince's truth," say they, " hath to-day been broken." " Where is this ?" saith Patrick. " The house which is abuilding for the wizard and thy gillie, in this wise is it abuilding : half thereof fresh and half withered ; the fresh half for the wizard and the withered for thy gillie."
Patrick put his finger on the right cheek of each of those boys, and on his left palm he put a tear (which had trickled) over the right cheek of each boy ; and he breathed on the tears, and made thereof three gems. " Swallow," saith Patrick, "the gems." "We will swallow (them)," say they. "Good, now," saith Patrick:
1 Tenebrae . . . tarn densae, ut palpari queant. E.iW. x, 21
28 Eetha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 27 b.
Maith tra o\patraic genfedit teora, gemma uaisle oirmitnecha vaib .1. colomb cille 7 comgall bennchm'r 7 finden maige bile.
Doronad tra ama/ atb^rtsat narcuzccoim 7 twad teni isin tech. 7 loiscth^r inleth ur 7 indrdi ind. 7 niroloisced etach patratc boi imme. Niroloiso?*/ tra inleth crin nach ingilla. 7 roloisotf tonach indruad boi immi.
Oclaichtlw inrig domarbad indruad. 7 tri&\\aid marbd^ patraic. Tanic din ferg d6 fnsinpopw/ n^craibdech ftmepil sochaide dib. xii. mt'lh'a.
Rogab uaman ia.rum \oegaire coroslecht do patraic 7 rocreit dodia obeolu nama. 7 ni ocride glan. Cretit inuli archena ocus robaitsit.
Atb^rt pa/rate fri \oegaire vair rocretisiu dodia doberihar fot saegail duit hirrigi. illog immurro tanumla anallana. 7 vair naro- gabais inmbathis odiithra^/. ciarocretis obeolu. rotbia iffi?rnd. 7 nisbia rigi no airechw^ otchiniud cobr^th.
Roguid tra inrigan intii patraic naromallach^ ingein boi ina- broind .i. lugaid mac \oegairi. Atbfrt patraic nimaill^w^ cotii frmm. Rogab immurro \ugaid ft&ith erenn. 7 tanic iarsin cohachad fhorcha 7 isandsin atb^rt nach hisiut cell inclerig atrubairt na<r/^ biad rig no rigdamna diarsilne cobrtith. Deniurad. tarlaiced forcha tened foc/fo7oir inachends«;« corwj-marb wwiddesin ata &chad forcha imiib cremthainde.
Teit patraic insin cohaenach taillten1 cormzcu neill. Rocreit maine do 7 robaist i&rum. Tanic tra mzzgaid coirpr^ mac neill comd he ainm tucc patraic fairsium. mimics dei. 7 atb^rt patraic isdoclannaib abrathar fognifitis achlandsww cobrath. 7 nigenfitis rig no escmp no ecnaide vad. 7 ropad becc aferond. 7 ropad essfth amlatd.
Rocretistar tra cona\\ (.i. cremtan) m0c neill. 7 robaits^ 7 tuc aninad arobi do patraic. 7 rocwwdaiged eclas and dianainm dom- nach patraic 7 tuc bermachfam do. 7 rothoraind raith inairthi«r
' uenit ad Taltenam ubi fit agon [dywy] regale ' Lib. Armach. 10. a. 2.
On Ike Life of St. Patrick. 29
" three noble venerable gems shall be born of you, that is, Colomb Cille, and Congall of Bennchor, x and Finden of Magbile. *
It was done as the striplings had said ; and fire was put into the house, and the fresh half is burnt with the wizard therein, and Patrick's raiment which was about him was not burnt. But the withered half was not burnt, nor the gillie, but the wizard's tunic which was about him was burnt.
The king grows terrible (?) at the killing of the wizard, and he proceeds to kill Patrick. But God's anger came against the impi ous folk, so that a multitude of them (twelve thousand) perished.
Terror then seized Loegaire, and he knelt to Patrick, and believed in God with (his) lips only, and not with a pure heart. All the rest, moreover, believe and were baptized.
Patrick said to Loegaire, " Since thou hast believed in God, length of life shall be given to thee in the kingdom, but in guerdon of thy disobedience aforetime, and because thou hast not received the baptism with desire, though thou believedst with thy lips, Hell shalt thou have, and from thy race till Doom there shall be neither sovranty nor chieftainship."
But the queen besought Patrick not to curse the child that was in her womb, namely, Lugaid, son of Loegaire. Patrick said : " I will not curse him till he opposes me." Now Lugaid took the realm of Ireland ; and thereafter he came to Achad farcha, and there he said " is not that the church of the cleric who said there would never be king nor crownprince of our seed ?" Swifter than speech a bolt of fire was hurled against him and killed him. Wherefore thence is called Achad farcha in Ui Cremthainne.3
Patrick then goes to the Assembly of Telltown, to the sons of Niall. Maine believed in him, and he was afterwards baptized. But Coirpre, son of Niall, opposed him, and the name which Patrick gave him was Inimicus Dei, and Patrick said that his children would serve his brother's children for ever; and that neither kings nor bishops nor wise men should spring from him, and that his land would be small, and the issue was so.
But Conall (i. e. Cremthann), son of Niall, believed, and was baptized, and gave the place where he was to Patrick, and a church was built there which is named Domnach Patraic, and Patrick gave him a blessing, and measured out a rampart in
1 Bangor in Ulster. 2 Movilla in the county Down.
3 In the parish of Enniskeen, the most northern part of Meath diocese. See Mr. Hennessy's note to his translation of the Tripartite Life, p. 391.
30 Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, pp. 2;b — 28*.
doruis nacille. 7 rotharrngir congenfitis rig immda vad foremnn. ocus ordnige laech 7 clerech cumor. conid dasil c\ann colmam 7 sil aeda slaine. 7 rob0mach<z/' aenach taillten. cona. biad marb fair cobnzth. 7 iw/abiad acht aenmarb hirraith airrth/r. 7 foraccaib aimmaltoir hindomnach pafraic 7 luid pa/raic assin hi cn'ch h## m//th immen- doit tire. 7 nitaraill inard macha [p. 28 a] donchursin. 7 foracaib sruthi noeba diamwwtir itig thalan.
ISandsin tallsat tr/ar doeb mid m^wdoit ti're. indara bocc nobid octabairt use/ do ^atraic. 7 tancator dialuga inethiuch. Beccis asambronnaib atmir. Modebroth ol pa/raic nidichlend inbocc fen baile hita.
Luid \2ccum cofiru breg. 7 pn'tchwjtar bMhir nde doib cumor. 7 robaist 7 rob<?#nach.
Taraill leiss ath cliath. 7 fuair failte moir and. 7 atb^rt \>atraic nosbiad ordan 7 oirechwj- isini[n]ud sin feib comallfither sin beos.
Rola pafraic cuairt laigen. 7 prz'tchaid br/thir fide doib. ocus robaitsz'. 7 rosb^wnach 7 rocreitset m«c dunlaing tra don chdimdid 7 do pa/ra/'<r cuslogaib mora. 7 doratsat ariar do. conid leo inflai-
dsin cobrath.
Drichd barf hua ngarrchon forcind pa/raic 7 ingen \oegain meic neill domnai occa. Diultaid in patraic ocraith inbir. armaith fn'loegaire. Doratsam \m??iurro cillme failte do. 7 romarb aaenboin d(5 patraic. 7 dorat aird(ig) do tucad do atig inri-g. Tune dixit pa/ricws fnsinmnai fuine.
A ben talaig dom^ccan
dotoet torcc mdr do orccan
isdo aibill fasas breo
bid beo bid slan domaccan.
INarbor
asdech do lossa[ib] talman
ismarcan mac cilline
isdech bias do hib garrchon.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 31
front of the door of the church, and foretold that many kings over Ireland would spring from him, and many noble laymen and clerics. And of his seed are the Clann-Colmain, and the seed of Aed Slaine. And Patrick blessed the Assembly of Telltown, so that no one should ever be killed thereat, and that only one should be killed at Rath Airthir,1 and he left his altar-stone at Domnach Patraic. And Patrick went from thence into the territory of Ui Meith in Mendait Tire, and he tarried not in Armagh at that season, and he left holy elders of his people at Tech-talain.
Then three of the Ui Meith Mendait Tire stole (and ate) one of the two goats that used to carry water for Patrick, and came to swear a lie. It bleated from the bellies of the three. " My debroth," said Patrick, " the goat himself hides not the stead where in he is."
He afterwards went to the men of Bregia and mightily preached the word of God unto them, and baptized and blessed them.
He visited the Ford of Hurdles (Dublin), and found great welcome there, and Patrick said that there would be rank and primacy in that place, even as shall be still fulfilled.
Patrick went a round of the Leinstermen, and preached the word of God to them, and baptized and blessed them ; and the sons of Dunlaing with mighty hosts believed in the Lord and in Patrick, and they gave him his will, wherefore they have the king ship thence for ever.
Drichu was king of Ui Garrchon before Patrick, and a daughter of Loeguire, son of Niall, was his wife. They rejected Patrick at Rath Inbir2 for Loeguire's sake, but Cillme welcomed him and killed his only cow for Patrick and gave him a cup which had been bestowed upon him in the king's house. Then. Patrick said to the cooking woman —
" O woman, cherish thy child ! A great boar cometh of a pigling. From a spark groweth a flame. Thy child shall be alive, shall be safe. The corn
That is best of earth's plants Is Marcan, son of Cillme : He will be the best of the Ui Garrchon."
1 i. e., The Eastern fort, anglicised Oristown, Four Masters, A. D. 784.
2 At Bray, about 10 miles south of Dublin.
Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 28*
Luid iar«»z pafratc inosraigib 7 fothaigis cella 7 «?»gbala intib. 7 dixit nobetis ordnige Isech 7 clerech dfb. 7 nibiad furail nacA cd[i]cid form cein nobetis dore'ir pafrat'c.
Celebrais pa/rate izrum do osraigib imbelach gabrdn. 7 forac- caib martin sruthi occu 7 drem diamwwtir dii hita martharthech indi'u amuig raigne.
Luid pafrat'c izrum brbelach ngabran icn'ch ma/wan. 7 pn'tcais donatuathaib 7 donacellaib corocretset 7 robaitsz' 7 rosb^nach. (7f«j- foraccaib oes ngr«id occu ocforcetul 7 occrabud.
Orosiacht mag femin docuirith^r do sengw^ mac natfr^z'ch .i. ri mw/wan. ferais sengw^ failte moir fh'ss. 7 nosb^r leis diathig c^wice caissel. Pn'tcais patraic dd. Teit erlund nabachla tnana- chois corocrechtnaz^ comor hi. Asb^rt pafratc cid romba centim- diten. Andarlium araen^w^ rope cdir nacretmi. Albert pafratc nitelcfider fuil isininudsa ondiu cobrath. 7 nfgonfaith^r acht oen ri doneoch gobus tinud.
Baistittur sengw^ cuslogu mora immalle fr/'ss. b^«nachais patrat'c sengw-y forleicc cat/^raigi foranordnigtea narig iccaissel.
B^«nachais pafratc doeogana^/ 7 teitt hinurmwwain. pn'tchais pafratc doib 7 nosbaist. 7 foraccaib bf«na<:^tain 7 sobarthain occu. Timcellaid mwwain uli 7 pn'tcruzzi doib. 7 ronbaist 7 rosb^wnach. <?<T«J facbuid cella 7 clerchiu occu. Celebrais pafratc 7 dosb^'r b^«nachtu dichra doib ut dixit.
JSennacfif de formw^ain. feraib rmzcaib mnaib bennackf forintal/w«z'« dobeir tarad daib. ~Bennacht forced nindbas gignes forambrugaib1 cennach fore cobair. bennachf de form«wain. ~Bennachf fora mbenda. foralecca lomma b<?«nacht foranglenda. benna^/ forandromma.
1 Ms. brigaib.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 33
Patrick afterwards went into Ossory and founded churches and church-buildings there, and said that there would be noble laymen and clerics of the men of Ossory, and that no province would prevail against them so long as they should obey Patrick.
Patrick afterwards bade farewell to the men of Ossory at Belach Gabrain,1 and he left with them Martin, an elder, and a party of his people where Martharthech is at this day in Mag Raigne.8
Patrick passed afterwards by Belach Gabrain into the pro vince of Munster, and preached to the territories and to the churches, so that they believed and were baptized, and he blessed them. And with them he left priests instructing (them) and prac tising piety. When he reached Mag Femin,3 he was received by Oengus, son of Natfraech, King of Munster. Oengus made him great welcome, and brought him to his house to Cashel. Patrick preached to him. The hinder end of the crozier went through his foot, and wounded it greatly. Patrick said, " Why didst thou not protect thyself?" " Methought," saith Oengus, "that it was a rite of the religion." Said Patrick, " Blood shall not be shed in this place from to-day till Doom, and of all those that shall suc ceed thee but one king shall be slain."
Oengus was baptized with great hosts along with him. Patrick blessed Oengus upon Lia Cathraige (Cathraige's stone), whereon the kings were appointed to office at Cashel.
Patrick bade farewell to the Eoganacht and went into Ormond. Patrick preached to them and baptized them, and left with them blessing and prosperity. He goes the rounds of all the Munster- men, and preached to them and baptized them and blessed them, and leaves churches and clerics with them. Patrick bade them farewell and gave them a fervent blessing, ut dixit —
God's blessing on Munster, men, children, women.
Blessing on the land which gives them fruit,
Blessing on each wealth which is brought forth on their
marches
Without any need (?) of help. God's blessing on Munster. Blessing on their peaks, on their bare flagstones, Blessing on their glens, blessing on their ridges,
1 Gowran Pass in the County of Kilkenny.
2 A plain in the barony of Kells, County Kilkenny.
3 A plain in Tipperary.
34 Bet ha Phatraic, Lebar Brecc, p. 28a— 28b.
gainem lir folongaib ropat lin atellaig. ifanaib irredib. islebtib imbendaib. b.d.
Tanic patratc iarsin do ard macha labr/Mir inangil. 7 coraith dari .i. fer soimm oirmitnech boi inoirth^raib .i. dare mac fmdcrK&/a mei'c eogam meic niallain. dorats#/# inad ardeclazrc do patraic bale hita in ferta indiu.
Otharnic inre'cles dochumtach. 7 rofhas afe"r cumor. rucc gilla dare aech maith isinrecles dochum indfeoir diguind. Rothoccraid sin cumor do patraic 7 tanic ingilla iarnabarach isinmatain. 7 fuair aech marb isinrecles. Dochuaid ira ingilla ass cutoirsech. 7 roindis doddre aech domarb^ don chlerech. dixit dare, inclerech fen do marbad ind. Atbail dare foc^i/oir lasinmbre/^irsin. dixit setig dare, ise fochund inbaissea intancn'de dorigne fh'sin clerech. tiagar coluath 7 tabar ariar do. Docotar natechta copatrax 7 atchotar do inni forcoemnacair ind. senais pa/rate usce. 7 dosbeir darsin ech 7 darsinfer. 7 atregut diblinib abas.
dixit dare fri di'is [p. 28.b] diamwwtir. berid mo chori humai don clerech. Atb^rt pafraic iartorar^/u inchori dd. graticum .i. deo gratias ago. larfaigis dare diathimthmb cid atb^rt inclerech. gra- tiam olnatimthmg. ismaith inluach cori umai sin ol dare, ercid ocus tabraid vad forciila. Dob^rar incori forcula o patnzzi:. gratiam ol- patraic. larfaigis dare donatimthmb. cid atrubat'rt pafraic icathabairt vad. ingratiam ce?na olsiat. isnf maith acasww inbriaM^r sin oldare. ingratiam ocabm'M vad. ingratiam ocathabairt do.
Teit dare f^n lasincori. 7 dorat are*r dopatrai'c conid andsin tucc d(5 aninud hita ard macha indiu. Ard sailech ira aainm cdsin. 7 t&t dare iarw/ra timchell inferaind.
isinoidche iarsin atrc>«nairc patratc hifhfs .i. uictor aingel dp- thidecht chuice. cosruthi erenn maroen ris. curastoraind incat^raig inafiadwawe 7 inad intempuil 7 nacuicni 7 intige aiged. 7 tete dessel narathai 7 pa/raze inadiaid <wzabachaill isu nalaim. 7 smthi eienn occlassc^/ul imbe.
Rosciimtaig izrum pafraic incat^raig fomndus sin am^7 tarfas do. 7 atb<?rt intaingeal ris. bid imda rath de" isininudsa. 7 force^oen
On ike Life of St. Patrick. 35
Sand of sea under ships be their hearths' number, On slopes, on plains, on mountains, on peaks !
Thereafter Patrick came to Armagh at the angel's word, and he arrived at Rath Daire, the fort of Daire, a wealthy, venerable man, who was in Oriors, to wit, Daire, son of Findchad, son of Eogan, son of Niallan. He gave a site for a high church to Patrick in the stead where the Ferta is to-day. When the build ing of the close was finished, and its grass grew greatly, Daire's gillie brought his good horse into the close to the grassplot (?) This vexed Patrick greatly, and the gillie came on the morrow in the morning, and found his horse dead in the close. The gillie went away sorrowfully, and told Daire that his horse was killed by the cleric. Daire ordered the cleric himself to be killed for it. Daire died anon at that word. Said Daire's wife, " The cause of this death is the wrong which he wrought against the cleric. Go quickly and give him his will." The messengers went to Patrick, and they told him what had been done. Patrick sained water and puts it over the horse and over the man, and both arise from death.
Said Daire to twain of his people, " Take my caldron of copper to the cleric." Patrick said when the caldron had come to him, " Gratzacham," that is, Deogratias ago. Daire asked of his servants what the cleric had said. " Gratzacham," say the servants. " That is a good price for a copper caldron !" saith Daire, " go ye and bring it back from him." The caldron is brought back from Patrick. " Gratzacham," saith Patrick. Daire asked of the servants what Patrick said at the taking away of the caldron from him. " The same gratzacham" say they. " The word is a good one with him," saith Daire, " the gratzacham on taking it from him and the gratzacham in giving it to him."
Daire himself went with his caldron, and gave Patrick his will, bestowing on him the stead wherein Armagh is at this day (now Ard Sailech had been its name till then), and Daire afterwards went round the land.
On the night thereafter Patrick beheld in a vision Victor, an angel, coming to him with Ireland's elders along with him, and they marked out the city in his presence, and the place of the temple and of the kitchen and of the guest-house, and he went right-hand-wise round the rampart, and Patrick behind him with his bachall Isu — Jesu's crozier — in his hand, and Ireland's elders a-chanting around him.
Patrick afterwards built the city in the same wise as it had appeared to him. And the angel said to him : " Abundant
36 Betha Phatraic, Lebar Brecc, p. 28b.
dogena1 maith and. Atb^rt intaingel iri patraic hiccfa dia erutsa .xii. cedfcasatluwhid sund. 7 morfessiur ce^adardain. cein maras ires forpthi nahddine.
ISlia tuirem 7 aisne's ce^ahd^rna patraic dofertaib 7 domir- bulib imon macha macuairt.
Tanic patraic iarsin doroim intresfecht cotucc tassi poll ocus petazr. 7 zepain 7 laurint 7 martirech immda archena. 7 minda ocus libra 7 anart cofuil cm/ fair. 7 rocumtaigtea ocpatraic ifoss .i. iscn'n poil 7 petair.
Luid pa/razi: iarsin indithrub .i. hicruachan oigle. foindsamail moysi 7 helii. 7 crw/. coroain xl. lathi 7 xl. aidche isinluccsin. ocus iiii. clocha imbe 7 cloich foi. ama/roain moysi isleib sina octidnocul do inrechta. vair roptar cosmaile h<5 ilmodaib .i. moysi 7 patraz'c. c. xx. mblia<&7* ana3s diblinib. Toisech popwz'/ cechtar de. roain- sct .xl. naidche islebtib. At indreba. 7 anadnocuil diblinib.
Orosiacht ira comfocus [sollamain] nacasc. rolinfad] insliab fair dodemnaib indelbaib en dub. Canaid patraic psalmu escaine forru. 7 ciid. 7 benaid achlocc corremuid bernd ind. ut dixit patricius.
Hitagar dul icruaich cuirr draing cencrabuid armochind romgab ecla re s// sell. .x. c. cend ictaccra frimm.
Techit nademnu fac^e/oir ead radaircc fi?rsinfairgi. 7 nosbaidet fen isininudsin. 7 nitaraill demun tir nerenn osin cocend .uii. lathi. 7 uii. mis 7 uii. mbli'adan.
Tanic iamm slog mor doainglib irrer^tu en ngel. corchansat ceol nuasal donchomdid dochomdidnad patraic. Atb^rat fairend comad incomlinsin nob^radsom lais docum nime.
ISandsin atb^rt uictor aingel fn'ssium. Erig cotm««tir arsol- lawain nacasc. dixit patricius. Ni rag orumcraidet corumdi[g]tider.
1 Ms. dodcna. 2 Jot over n.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 37
will God's grace be in this place and upon every one who' will do good therein." The angel said to Patrick, " God will heal for thee here twelve persons every Saturday and seven every Thursday, so long as the perfect faith of the people abideth."
Overmuch it is to recount and declare all the wonders and miracles which Patrick wrought round about Armagh.
Thereafter Patrick went to Rome for the third time, and he brought relics of Paul and Peter and Stephen and Lawrence and many martyrs besides, and reliquaries and books and a sheet with Christ's blood thereon, and Patrick set up here in Ireland the shrine of Paul and Peter.
Thereafter Patrick gat him into the wilderness, that is, to Crua- chan Oigle,1 after the manner of Moses and Elias and Christ, and for forty days and forty nights he fasted in that place, having four stones about him and a stone under him, even as Moses fasted on Mount Sinai when the Law was delivered unto him. For they, Moses and Patrick, were alike in many ways. One hundred and twenty years was the age of them both. Each was a leader of people: forty nights on mountains they fasted, and the burial- places of both are uncertain.
Now when [the solemn festival of] Easter was at hand, the mountain was filled against him with devils in the shapes of black birds. Patrick sings psalms of cursing against them, and he weeps and strikes his bell, until a gap broke in it, ut dixti Patridus —
I fear to go to the round (?) Rick : bands without piety (are)
against me, Fear has seized me for a time, ten hundred heads (are)
contending with me.
The devils flee at once upon the sea, as far as eye can reach, and drown themselves in that place, and no devil visited the land of Ireland from that time to the end of seven days and seven months and seven years.
Then there came a great host of angels in the shapes of white birds, and they sang noble music to the Lord to comfort Patrick. Some say that it is an equal number he will take with him to heaven.
Then the angel Victor said to him, " Go to thy people for the solemn festival of Easter." Patrick said, " Since I was tormented,
Erne's Rick, now Croagh Patrick, a mountain in Mayo.
38 Eetha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, pp. 28b —
7 cotartar dam .uii. nidche onchomdid .i. cipe doferaib erenn dogne aithrigi rembas. cid fri re envaire. narohiatta iffernd fair imbrath ocus <wzaroaittrebat echtrmnd inindsi. 7 coti muir tarsi .uii. mbliadna riambrath. 7 corasaerursa morfessiur ce^adardain. 7 xii. ce^a sathuzzhid arphianuib iffzrnd. 7 cipe gebus mimund hillou aetsechta comb nemidach. amal dorarngertsa dosechnall. 7 cotz/<:arsa apian- aib iff/hid, illou bratha morfessiur ce^a brodhirne domchass- ul doneoch nodonaidlife 7 corup me fen bus bn'Mem imbrath doferaib ere«w. Dobertar duit indsin uii arintaingel. vair rotguid- ester muntei nime uii erut. l&etmacht forinrig olpatraic. 7 [or inmz^tir.
Benais \>atraic achlocc cocualatar fir erenn iitr biu 7 marbu. Bennachais iarsin firu erenn asin cruaich. 7 ordaigid morfessiur dia muniir [2Qa] imbethaid icoimet fer nerenn .i. fer icrwachan ailge. 7 fer imbeind gulban. 7 fer isliab bethad. 7 fer isliab chua ocus inlanomain icluain hiraird. 7 domangort slebi slangai.1
Dotoet doncruaich iarsin 7 celebrais inchaisc ocachad fobair.
Luid pafraic 7 brigit imaille fhss do ess ruaid 7 adcobair [eclais] and 7 congbail du hita disiurt patraic indfu. Diultais carpr^ mac neill friss 7 rofaid dis diamwwtir dogabail alama .i. carbacc 7 cuangzw ananmunna. Nimaith andogni olpatraic. dia- leicthea damsa congbail sund. robad tamzwe roma letha w»atibir trethi. mocatha/rsi c<?»aessruaid tr^nalar. 7 robad doclannasu beti's comorbada innte. Rohop immorro cairprc sin. F^rsith <eda tra rob^nach pafraic conall mac n&ll. isandsin dofutitfs lama pa/rate
1 the g is dotted.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 39
I will not go till I am satisfied, and until seven things are given to me by the Lord, namely, that at Doomsday hell be not shut upon whichsoever of the men of Ireland repenteth before death, were it even for the space of a single hour ; that outlanders may not inhabit this island; that the sea may come over it seven years before Doomsday ; that seven persons every Thursday and twelve every Saturday I may free from the pains of hell ; that whoever shall sing my hymn on the day of his death may be a dweller in heaven, as I promised unto Sechnall ; and that on Doomsday I may bring from the pains of hell ... for every hair of my chasuble, seven of those that shall visit it ; and that I myself may be judge over the men of Ireland on Doomsday. " All this shall be granted to thee," said the angel, " for all the family of heaven have prayed for thee." " A blessing upon the King [of heaven]," said Patrick, "and upon the family [of heaven]."
Patrick rang his bell, so that all the men of Ireland, both living and dead, heard it. Thereafter he blessed the men of Ire land from the Rick, and he ordered seven persons of his people in his lifetime to guard the men of Ireland, to wit, a man at Cruachan Aigle, and a man at Benn Gulbain,1 and a man in Sliab Bethad,3 and a man in Sliab Cua,3 and the married pair at Cluain Iraird4 and Domangort of Sliab Slangai.5
He went from the Rick after this, and celebrated the Easter at Achad Fobair.6
Patrick and Brigit along with him went to Essruaid,7 and he was minded to erect a church and a manse there at a place wherein to-day is Disert Patraic. Cairbre, son of Niall, rejected him, and he sent two of his people to seize his hand, Carbaic and Cuangus (were) their names. " What thou hast done is not good," said Patrick ; " hadst thou permitted me to settle here, my city, with its [river of] Essruaid through the middle thereof, would have been a second Rome of Latium with its Tiber flowing through it, and thy descendants would have been (my) successors there in." But Coirpre refused that. Now Patrick blessed Conall, son
now Binbulbin, a hill in the County of Sligo.
now Slieve Beagh in Ulster.
now Slieve Gua, in the County of Waterford.
Clonard in Meath.
now Slieve Donard, in the County of Down.
now Achagower.
Assaroe, a cataract on the river Erne.
40 Betha Phatraic, Lebar Brecc, p. 29*.
[forcenn] fergusa. 7 ba ma^/ad hcono.ll innisin. ut dixit patricius.
Genfid m^cfan] dia fine bidsui bidfaid bidfile inmain lespaire glan gle nadebe'rai immarbe. arbrigit—
Mtfccan ethni toebgile sech isbal isblathugw^/ colomb cille can cenon nirborom arathugud.
larsin tra robmnach patrai'c conall mac neill. 7 dora[r]ngert rigi for ein'/m vad. 7 ordnige loech 7 clerech. 7 foraccaib ben- nachtu foradainiu 7 forainberu. 7 tanic iarum hitir neogain. conid annsin rogell ^atraic 7 sechnall alog fh'muiredach mac eogain dianairaled foraatha/r cretem dodia. Cialdg armuiredech. Bid vait rigi cobrath ar sechnall. Dogen amlaztf armuiredach. Doro- nad zmlaid. 7 rocreit eogan dodia 7 dop<z/ra/c.
Luid ^atraic assin cohailech narig. conw^b^nach 7 foracaib aleicc and. 7 dorarnger rigi 7 ordan for ein>z# ahailech. 7 dorat gaiscid foreogan con&maccu. ut dixit frm.
Bendac^/ forsnatuatha dobiur obelach ratha
robet dochiniud eogain deoraid cola mbrdtha.
Cein bess macha fothoraib bvaid catha laferaib
cend sluaig fer fail dia magin saigid daib fbrcech teltaig.
Sfl eogain maic neill sin1 abrigit ban
acht [condernat maith] flaith uadib cobrath.
ut dixit brigit.
Armbennacht arndis foreogqn mac
forcach geinfess vad acht corup vaig [di]arreir.
read sen ?
On the Life of St. Patrick. 41
of Niall, on Sith Aeda.1 Then Patrick's hands were falling on the head of Fergus, and Conall had wonder thereat, ut dixit Patridus —
" A man-child shall be born of his family :
He will be a sage, a prophet, a poet.
Dear the luminary, pure, bright,
Who will never utter falsehood. Saith Brigit—
Man-child of Ethne, the white-sided,
He is bright, he is a blossoming (?).
Colomb Cille, fair without blemish,
It was not oversoon to perceive him.
Now after that Patrick blessed Conall, son of Niall, and he foretold that sovranty over Ireland (would descend) from him, and also noble laics and clerics, and he left a blessing on his people and on his rivermouths, and he afterwards came into Tyrone, and there Patrick and Sechnall promised a reward to Muiredach, son of Eogan, if he would prevail on his father to believe in God. " What reward ?" saith Muiredach. " Kingship shall be from thee for ever," saith Sechnall. "Thus will I do," said Muiredach ; and thus was it done, and Eogan believed in God and in Patrick.
Patrick fared thence to Ailech of the Kings,2 and he blessed it, and left his flagstone there, and foretold that the kingship and supremacy of Ireland would be out of Ailech, and he left blessing of valour upon Eogan and his sons, saying to them —
" A blessing on the territories I give from Belach Ratha : There shall be of Eogan's race pilgrims till Doomsday : So long as plain shall be under crops, victory of battle shall
be with their men : The head of the host of the men of Fal (be) to their place :
power (?) to them over every hearth : The race of Eogan, son of Niall, sain, O fair Brigit ! Provided they do good, a king [will be] of them for ever."
Brigit said —
" The blessing of us both upon Eogan, son of Niall, Upon every one who shall be bom of him, provided they be wholly at our will."
1 now Mullaghshee, at Ballyshannon. * Now Elagh in Inishowen.
42. Hct ha Phatraic, Lebar Brecc, p. 29*
Luid pii/raic iarsin hicrich ulad co maginis. cwndindsin dorala1 ir duine angbuid nobid ocslat 7 ocmarbad nacuitechtad .i. cuill aainm. ut dixit fr/amwwtir. iseseo intailcend. tiagum cotard///// amttf fair. d«j infurUt7;/faidea adea do. Tucsat \zium for diamwwtir fivfvat. am<;/ marb. diatodhwjcad dorvz/Tw/i:. garban din ainm infhirsin. ice duin oliat iripiz/rj:/<; infersa diarmw/tir ut dixit pn/ridus.
Bratt garban
$ft/bias forcolaind marban
acht atfessar duib inmo
ise garban bias fd.
Rolaiset am//;/ter indsin inbratt do agaid garban <w*id aml<;/«/ [fjvarutar he marb. Rocretset t/w. nagditi. 7 robaitsit. 7 rotod/^- cit garban abas it ,-abr/Mir \kitraic.
ITlia tra twream 7 aisnes andorigne dia dofhertaib 7 mirbulib frnntii noemp<;//'<7/i-. vair .uii. libair. Ix. roscr/'bat dib 7 cided on nidat uli.
Rosamlad tra. \*itmic f; v'huasalat^rjchaib .i. firoilithrech ce'Jus ani(7/ abraham. cendais dilgudach am(7/ moysi. salmcetlaid molta de he ama/ dabid [mac] iese. istud ecnai anu/ solmuin. losti/r tog(Z/'(/e fr/'foccra firinde amj/ pol nasp<7/. fer kin dorath 7 dodeol- aidcrA/ inspir/a no73 am<2/ coin mac zepideii. leo armrtmaire 7 calmatwj fr/tabairt corad 7 eccraibdech intsa^gail documm nirse 7 cretim.3 nathir arthuailchi 7 tretk7/n fr/Tomtin cocha. hamuis. colum cendais ailgen oduthrj^/ cr/'de 7 obr^Air f<?rpthi 7 ognim firen. inog s^t^rach donduilenu/); iar crabud 7 umaloit 7 f<?rcetail feib innises soch<?/</e.
Bahiseo immurro riag^/ achrabuid .i. nogebed inuli salmu ,,'vanimnaib 7 cantacib 7 abcolips. cc. 7 ernaigthi aile cerA- lai. Nobait&v/ nop/^ntchad nochelebrad natratha iarnacoras. No[p. 2gb]-hidbrad corp crw/ 7 afuil. Dobcred sigen nacr0chi daraagi7/i/ coba Ct?V ontrath coraile. ISinc^Cna fr/thaire na- luxichi nochanad cet salm 7 dognid .cc. slechtain. isin[f5]rithaire
1 The facsimile has doralala, * kg. cretmi ?
On the Life of St. Patrick. 43
Thereafter Patrick fared into the province of Ulster to inis,1 and there Patrick met a ruthless man who was spoiling and killing the congregation — MacCuill was his name, ut dixit to his people: " This is the Adzehead, let us go and make an attack upon him, to see if perchance his god will help him." They after wards brought one of their people upon a bier, as though he were dead, to be raised from death by Patrick. Garvdn was the name of that man. " Heal for us," they say, " this man of our family." Ut dixit Patricius—
Garvan's mantle
Shall be upon a dead man's body,
But this, besides, shall be known to you,
It is Garvan that shall be under it.
Then his people put the mantle off GarvaVs face and thus they found him, dead. So the heathen believed and were baptized. and Garvan was raised to life from death by Patrick's word.
What God wrought of wonders and miracles for the holy Patrick are over-many to recount or declare ; for there were sixty books and seven written of them, and still they are not all (set forth).
Now Patrick hath been likened to the patriarchs — for first. (he was) a true pilgrim, like Abraham; meek, forgiving, like Moses ; a psalmist of God's praise was he like David son of
Jesse * a of wisdom, like Solomon ; a chosen vessel
to proclaim the truth, like apostle Paul; a man full of the grace and loving-kindness of the Holy Ghost, like John son of Zebedee ; a lion in strength and courage to bring the impious and wicked of the world to faith and belief; a serpent in cunning and prudence for observing every attack ; a dove, mild and gentle in heart's desire and perfect word and righteous deed ; a laborious servant to the Creator as to piety, and humility, and instruction in every goodness, as many relate.
Now, this was the rule of his piety, to wit, he used to sing all the psalms with their hymns and canticles and apocalypse, and other prayers every day. He used to baptize, to preach, and to celebrate the hours according to their due order : he used to offer Christ's Body and his Blood. He used to make the sign of the cross over his face a hundred times from one (canonical) hour to another. In the first watch of the night he used to sing a hundred psalms and make two hundred genuflexions. In
• Now Lccale in the County Down.
44 Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brccc, p. 29**.
inusa uar. isintress frtthatre iteoir. incethrumad foniir luimm 7 cloch fdchind 7 culchi fliuch imbi. Noordned nocosm&d Twcoisrecad nobennzchad nohiccad clamu ocus dallu 7 baccachu 7 bodra 7 amlabru 7 aes ce<r^£ tedma archena. no indarbud demnu not6dusc&d marbu.
Othanic tra czmiadedenchu do pafraic diamboi ocsabull himaginis hicr/'ch ulad. tic forawair do ard macha combzd ind atbelad. Atchi inmwmi forlassad arachind 7 niloisced inteni inmuine. ocus uictor aingel icaacalkzksium ass. ut dixit friss.
Nidechais doardmacha vair dorarngertais do maccu trechim combad accu thesergi.
tune dixit patricius —
Maid sund bes mesergi ard macha mochell nilem comus mo saire isi indaire choitchend.
dixit patricius —
Ard macha nocharaindsi inmain treb inmain tulach diin Cftrtathig manimsi bid fas emain nacurad.
dixit angelus —
Uair issunna thesergi rotbia ni bus ferr eriu uli o ind cofond ardmacha dochell.
.i. dorath 7 tordan 7 toirech«j inard macha olintaingel cidsund bess tesergi.
Rofaid pafrat'c aspire/ iarsin 7 rogab comaind 7 sacarbaic dolaim tassaig escwz'p. iarmbre#A bvada 7 coscair lais dodomun ocus demun 7 dualchib. 7 rofaid aspirw/ cwincoimdid diand^rnai fognam 7 mfltnidecht isnatalmawtaib.
Toet sldg mdr do aingliu nime dia[f]restul cosollsi mair. con- idiatsin rochometsat incorp isinoidche sin. cocualatar sruthi erenn clascetul nanaingel isinoidchesin. Tancater sruthi erenn .xff. aidchi cosalmu 7 imannaib. 7 nithesta form intsollsi natA inbolad angelacda. acht bdi isintir uli cocend mbli&dne.
Roas cosnam mor etir airgiallu 7 ulltu imoncorp. contracht gabul fairrge1 etorru. cona.ma.rba each dib acele. Ato«naicset
— • • — !
1 (f return quoddam quod collum lovis vocatur'— Lib. Armach. 8. b. a.
On the Life of St. Patrick. 45
the second watch (he used to be) in cold water : the third watch in contemplation : the fourth watch on the cold clay, with a stone under his head and a wet quilt about him. He used to ordain, anoint, and consecrate. He used to bless and cure lepers, the blind, the lame, the deaf, the dumb, and folk of every disease besides. He used to cast out devils ; he used to raise the dead to life.
Now when Patrick came to the ending days, while he was at Saball in Mag-inis in the province of Ulster, he sets out on the road to Armagh that he might die therein. He sees the brake blazing before him, and the fire was not burning the brake, and Victor an angel (was) speaking to him thereout, ut dixit to him — " Thou shalt not go to Armagh, for thou promisedst To Trechem's sons that with them thy resurrection
would be." Then Patrick said—
" If here be my resurrection, Armagh will be my church : My freedom is not in my own power, it is the common
bondage." Dixit Patricius :
Armagh I used to love : a dear household, a dear hill, A fortwhich my soul haunteth. Emain of the heroes
shall be waste. Dixit angelus :
Since thy resurrection is here, thou shalt have what
is better —
All Ireland from top to bottom, Armagh thy church, that is « Thy grace, and thy dignity, and thy primacy (will be) in Armagh," said the angel, "though thy resurrection will be here." Thereafter Patrick sent (forth) his spirit, and he received communion and sacrifice from Bishop Tassach's hand, after gain- in- victory and triumph over the world and the Devil and vices. And he sent his spirit to the Lord, for whom he had . service and warfare in earthly things.
A -reat host of heaven's angels came with a great light to attend him, wherefore it was they that waked the body on night. And Ireland's elders heard the quiring of the angels on'that night. Ireland's elders came for twdve nigh s wh psalms and hymns, and the light and the angelic odour them not, but abode in the whole land to a year's end.
There grew up a great strife between the men of One] the men of Ulster about the body, and an arm of the sea arose
46 Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 29 b.
indsin airrthzwr da dam allaid rempu cofhcn eterru 7 incorp and. tancatar rempu coardmachai. 7 roptar budig dodia.
tra patraic conznoir 7 ormitin. cofhertaib 7 mir- bull cechalathidib1 hindun lethglassi.
Ocus cidmor aanoir coleicc fiado[i]nib. bid mou aanoir indail bm/y&a. du imbia ama/ cech pnmasp<?/ ocbr^emn^r^/ forfiru erenn diarop^n'tchwjter conid andsin tatnigfess am<z/ gmn. inoentaid noem 7 noemog indomain. inoentazi/ uasalathrach 7 fatha. inoentatd zspol 7 descipw/ isu cm/ m«c d^ bii. inoente^ .ix. ngrad nime na tarmdechutar. inoentaid doena^/a mete de. isinoen/«/(/ isuaisle andas cerAoen/w. inoen/«/(/ nanoemtrmoti vaisle oirmit[n]igi. athazr 7 mac 7 spirw/ n^(5.
trocaire nde tmimpide patraic. roissam uli moen/aid sin. rosairilk/w. rosaitr<?uam. in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Read cechlathidib.
On Ike Life of St. Patrick. 47
between them, so that they might not kill each other. They saw before them in the east two stags,1 with a wain between them and the body therein. They went forward to Armagh and they were thankful to God.
Patrick was buried, with honour and veneration, with daily wonders and miracles, in Dunlethglaisse.
And though great is his honour still among men, his honour will be still greater at the meeting of Doom, where he will be like every chief apostle, passing judgment on the men of Ireland unto whom he preached. It is there he will shine forth like the sun in the union of the saints and holy virgins of the world; in union of patriarchs and prophets ; in the union of apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ, Son of living God ; in union of nine orders of heaven that have not transgressed ; in the union of the Manhood of Jesus Christ son of God ; in the union which is nobler than every (other) union ; in the union of the holy, noble, venerable Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Ghost.
I implore God's mercy through Patrick's intercession ! May we all attain to that union, may we deserve it, may we dwell there in saecula saeculorum \ Amen !
1 Or perhaps ' two wild oxen,' ' .ii. boves indomiti,' as in Lib. Arm. 8. b. a.
II.
BETHA BRIGTE.
ON THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGIT.
BETHA BRIGTE INCIP1T.
Lelar Brecc, p. 6ib.
Hii sunt qui sequntur agnum quocunque ierit. .i. isiat so inlucht lenait innuan nemhelnide cipe conxu dech.
lOham mac zepedei brundalta isu. comorba nahogi. ise roscrzb nabriaM/Tzsa. 7 foracaib iciiimne iat isineclazV cm/aide donfhocraic 7 donlog dothidnaic dia dontresgrad nahechwi .i. dolucht nahoige .i. tochoscem innuain nemhelnide.
INde iohannes hie ait. hii sunt qui sequntur agnum etc. ISe tmmurro leth atdibe inaisftor laheoin codu indep^rt remi inashosfe/a. Nemo potest dicere canticum nisi ilia .c. xl. iiiim. milia qui emperti (leg. redempti ?) sunt de terra, .i. fortitudinem uirtutum acipiunt pro terrenis. Nithic doneoch fordomun admolad dingmala no class-
comadais do d6num donchoimdid. acht nech ecin dochom- naheckui cechtarda rocongbad ingenus 7 inoige. 7 rocend- gad doluag fola cm/.
Uirgines enim sunt. Uair isiatsin nahoga codemin. conid forslicht nambria/Aarsin atb^'r iohannes. hii sunt qui sequntur agnum quocunque ierit id est uirgines tertius gradus eclesiae. Nam sunt gradus eclesiae quibus xxx.mus 7 .Ix.mus 7 .c.mus fructus datur testante iohanne Vicente. Ecce agnus dei. ecce qui lollet peccata mundi. Agnus hautem propter innocentiam dictus est. Sequntur agnum, quid enim est sequi christum nisi imitari cum. ut petrus ait. Sequimini uestigia eius .i. sequimini eum uirginitate cordis et carnis. quia caro utique agni uirgo est. Nihil enim prodest carnem habere uirginem si mente quis nupserit .i. Nitharmnaig doneoch techtasin colla oigi. mad trualnide omra- main. Uirginitas enim carnis corpus intactum libidine. uirginitas anime fides incorrupta. lactantia hautem uirginitatem perdit. uirgines enim de suis meritis gloriantes hipocritis comparantur. hoc enim est euangelio non habere uirgines oleum in uassis suis. non seruare intra concientiam boni operis testimonium. sed in facie gloriam (?) apud homines Arisft/ fil isintshosw'/a «?»idiat
ON THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGIT.
Hi sunt, etc. These are the folk that follow the unpolluted Lamb, whatsoever way He may wend.
John, son of Zebedee, Jesus' bosom-fosterling, heir of the Virgin, he it is that wrote these words, and that left them in the Church Christian in memory of the reward and guerdon which God hath given to the third grade of the Church, namely, to the Virgins, that is, the following of the unpolluted Lamb.
Inde Johannes, etc. Now this is the parallel part of the declar ation by John, as far as where he previously said in his Gospel (sic) Nemo potest, etc. There cometh not to any one on earth to make unto the Lord meet praise or fitting quire-song, save only of a surety one of the all-fullness of either Church, who hath been brought up in chastity and in virginity, and hath been redeemed with the price of Christ's blood.
Virgincs enim sunt. For those are the virgins assuredly. So on the track of these words John saith Hi sunt, etc.
Nihil enim prodest, etc. It profiteth not any one to have the flesh a virgin if he be corrupt in mind. Virginitas enim, etc.
Hoc est enim in Evangelic, etc. For this is in the Gospel, that these are the virgins that have not oil in their vessels, namely,
52 Bet ha Brigte, Lelar Brecc pp. 6ib. — 62s.
nahoga natechtand ola inalestrrfib .i. nahoga nach forcoimeta deminqftf (?) inchoimded. acht maidmige fiad chach.
Haec est falsa castitas (.i. uirginitas). quocunque ierit. hunc (.i. agnum) in eo quisque sequitur in quo imitatur. non quoniam ille filius dei est sed in quoniam filiis hominum se praebuit imitan- dum. quibus apostolus ait. Obsecro uos fratres ut exibeatis corpora uestra hostiam uiuam sanctam ueteris et noui testamenti placentem deo. Rochomailset din uas(al)at^r<7ig intfmna nahdigi iremfiu- gra(d) cm/, rochomailset din. apsta/7 7 descipw/7 isu cm/ meic de bi'i hi beos Martire 7 ancharait inchoimded. Noib 7 noeboga indomain archena. ama/ rochomaill innog uasal oirmitnech diata Kth 7 foraithmet inecmowg nareesea [p. 62*] 7 innahaimsire .i. sancta uirgo dei brigida .i. isann ian/flz celebrait nacrw/aide feil 7 lithlathi nahi noembrigte .i. kl. ebrai arai lathi mi's g/'/ne. isinund on 7 arai lathi sechtmaine ismbli&fci'a itaum dobeith fair.
IXdist^r din sund ni diafertaib 7 diamirbulib 7 diagein chol- laide ineclojib nacmtaide.
Brigit ingen dubtha/^- m^;c demri ( no dreimne) m«'c bre- sail m^'c dein mev'c conla meic artrach m«c artchirp mac coirpn nfad meic connate meic oengw^a mind meic echath find fuathnairt mt7*c fedli/n/^ rechtuda 7 rl.
INdubthachsin tra mac demri. rochendachside cumail. broic- sech ahainm. ingen dallbrdnaig dodal concbobair adeisc<frt breag. Roscentaig dubthach ico[m]mam«j di r0wbahakr^tu uad. lArsin ^daigis seug dubthaig immoncum<7/7 .i. brechtnat blaithbec-ainm mna dubth<w^. conepen inrigan. mina renasu inchumailsa itirib cianaib dobibwjsa (.i. doibegait) mothindscra dhit 7 regut uait.
Nirbotol dodubthj^ recc nacumj//e et/'r.
Dolluid dubth^f^ 7 acumj/ icarput immalle fns sech thegdais araile drwad. Or«jcld indnii fogwr incharpa^1 istd roatbert! fe? agille ciafil isincarpw/. arisfogwr charpj// forig indso. Atb^rt ingilla dubtbzr^-fil and. luid indrai iarsin forcind incharpk?/?. coriar- iacht cdich inben b<5i isincarpw/. Atlvrt dubthach cumal lemsa sin olse. Maithgen ainm indruad isuad ainmnigth^r ross maith- gen. IMchomarcis indroi cia orbohalachta inchuma/. Odhub- thach orinchumj/. Albert ind/tii bid amra ingein. nibia asamail isnatalnw//daib.
On the Life of St. B
the virgins that do not keep (to themselves) the approbation of the Lord, but (make) boasting before every one. Hate cst falsa autitas, etc.
Now Patriarchs fulfilled the testament of virginity in prefigura- tion of Christ. And apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ son of the living God, fulfilled it also, the martyrs and anchorites of the Lord, the saints and holy virgins of the world besides, even as the holy, venerable virgin fulfilled it, she that hath a festival and a commemoration on the occasion of this season and this time, to wit, sancta rirgo Dd Brigida, for then it is that the Christians celebrate the feast and festal day of this holy Brigit, to wit, the Kalends of February as to the day of the solar month.1
Here then is related in the churches of the Christians some what of her miracles and man-els, and of her birth according to flesh.
Brigit (was the) daughter of Dubthach, son of Demre (or Dreimne), son of Bresal, son of Den, son of Conla, son of An.. son of Art Corb. son of Cairpre the Champion, son of Connac. son of Oengus the Dumb, son of Eochaid Find Fuathnart, son of Fedlimid the Lawgiver, e
. that Dubthach son of Demre bought a bondmaid, named Broicsech, daughter of Dallbronach of Dal Conchobair in the south of Bregia. Dubthach united himself in wedlock to her, and she became pregnant by him. Thereafter Dubthach's consort grew jealous of the bondmaid (Brechtnat Blaithbec was the name of Dubthach's wife), and the queen said "unless thou sellest this bondmaid in far-off lands, I will demand my dowry of thee, and I will go from thee."
Dubthach did not at all desire to sell the bondmaid.
Dubthach went, and his bondmaid along with him, in a chariot past the house of a certain wizard. When the wizard heard the noise of the chariot, this he said : " See, O gillie, who is in the chariot, for this is the noise of a chariot under a king.'' Said the gillie, " Dubthach is therein." Then the wizard went to meet the chariot, and he asked whose (was) the woman who was biding in the chariot. Said Dubthach, ''That is a bondmaid of mine," quoth he, Maithgen was the wizard's name, and from him Ross Maithgen is named. The wizard asked by whom the bondmaid was pregnant. " By Dubthach." says the bondmaid. Said the wizard, " Marvellous will be the offspring, the hie of her will not be in (all) the 1-
cannot translate the rest of this arrtrncr..
54 Bet ha Brigte, Lelar Brecc p. 62*.
Albert dubthach nildic dam mose'tig cenacreicc nacunW/esi.
Albert indrai tmrath faitsine fognife sil domnasu dosil nacumailesi. arberaid inchuma/ ingen uasal oirmitnech fiadainib intalm^w. ama/ taitnes gnan et/r rendaib. taitnigfet gnimruda ocus ariltne nahingene.
Rofailtnig dubthach 7 incbumal desin. Albert dubthach uair techtaimsea macu. ropad maith leamm din combeih ingen occum.
Dochoid dubthach iarsin diathig 7 achum<z/ lais. Bahetaid immurro beos inben fhsincunW/.
Bamor tra airmitiu nahinginisi ocdia. ardodechuter di epscop dobretnaib otd elpa (no alba) diataircetul 7 dianoebud .i. epscop mel 7 melchu (nomina eorum). Dorat immurro &ubthach failte doib. 7 dorigne inchum<7/ anumaloit 7 atimthirecht. Bronach tra s6tig tiubthaig desiu. IMcomaircis epsw/ mel di fochund atorsi. Atb^rt inben ardoroisce &ubthach achumai'l dimm. Atb^rt epscop mel isamlaid bias armz/ asbm. uair fognife dosflsa dosil naomW/e. acht tarmnaigfid asilse dotsflso. Bafergachsi deside. Roiarfoc^/ tra \ntepscop di ciamet m^c techtaisiu orse. Atb^rt inben se mez'c olsi. Dixit eps^ mel. berasu insechtmad mac. 7 bid h^ bus mesa dfb. 7 bidatolca nanWc aile acht mine saera sil nacumaile iat. ocus bidatmallachdasu fein forinancr/de dogni donchum^z'/.
lArsna brkMrasin tra tanic araile drdi acrfch hua maccuais othochur maine dothig (\ubthaig. Orafit/r immurro indrrti combahi inchum^/ fochund fergi mna Aubthaig albert indr^i. increcfa inchu- mat'L crecfat o>r<\ubthach. Atb^-tsat naihepscmp. crecc incumat/ ocus nacrecc inngein fil inabroind. Doroine &ubthach
Dochuaid ass indrai 7 inchuma/ lais. Dodechaid mdrai con- z'/ diathaig.1
Tanic araile filid acr/ch rh0»aille dothaig indmad remrati doluag2 mogad no chum«z'/e. Rocrecc indrai fa's inchuma/ ocus
1 This sentence comes in the MS. after the next two.
2 MS. doluad.
On the Life of St. Brigit.
Said Dubthach, " My consort did not allow me not to sell this bondmaid."
Said the wizard through his gift of prophecy, " Thy wife's seed shall serve this bondmaid's seed, for the bondmaid will bring forth a daughter, noble, revered, before the men of the earth. As sun shineth among stars, (so) will shine the maiden's deeds and merits."
Dubthach and the bondmaid rejoiced thereat, (and) Dubthach said, "Since I have (already) sons, I should like to have a daughter."
Then Dubthach went (back) to his house and his bondmaid with him. The wife however was still jealous of the bondmaid.
Great was the honour in which God held this girl. For two bishops of the Britons came to her from Alba to prophesy of her and to sanctify her, to wit, Bishop Mel and Melchu nomina eorum. So Dubthach gave them a welcome and the bondmaid served them and tended them. Now Dubthach's consort was mournful thereat, and Bishop Mel asked her the cause of her sadness. Said the wife, "Because Dubthach hath distinguished his bondmaid from me." Said Bishop Mel, " Thus shall it be as thou sayest, for thy seed shall serve the seed of the bondmaid, but her seed shall be profitable unto thy seed." She was angry with him. So the bishop asked her, " How many sons hast thou ?" Said the wife, " Six sons." Dixit Bishop Mel, " Thou shalt bear the seventh son, and he will be the worst of them, and the other sons will be bad unless the bondmaid's seed ennobles them, and thou thyself shalt be accursed, because of the cruelty which thou shewest to the bondmaid."
After these words there came to Dubthach's house, out of the border of Hui-Maiccuais,1 another wizard who had been gathering treasures. Now when the wizard knew that the bondmaid was the cause of the anger of Dubthach's wife, he said, " Wilt thou sell the bondmaid ?" " I will sell," saith Dubthach. Quoth the bishops, " Sell the bondmaid, but sell not the child that is in her womb." Thus did Dubthach.
The wizard went forth and the bondmaid with him. The wizard with his bondmaid arrived at his house.
A certain poet came out of the province of Conaille2 to the house of the wizard aforesaid in order to buy a slave or a bondmaid.
1 Four districts so called are mentioned by the Four Masters : Ui-Mic-Uai.s (now Moygish) in Westmeath, Ui-Mic-Uais Airghiall, Ui-Mic-Uais-an-Fhachla, Ui-Mic-Uais Breagh.
2 Probably Conaille-Murthemne in the County of Louth.
56 Eetha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 62*, 6sb.
nirochrecc inchoimp^rt. isand dorala dondrai fled mor dodenum 7 dorogart rig conzille chuice donfleid. isand \.ra ropamm tw^meda domnai inrig. Boi faith icoimtecht inrig coriarfar^/ de cara donrig. Ciahuair bid maith donrigain1 tusmmd intsil rigdai. dixit propheta. in gein notw^mtha imbarach la turgbail ngraie nofomaisligfed czch turned inein«#. Remdechaid dana turned na rigna inuarsin corruc mac marb. i^acht din infile donfaith dws cia huair bud maith donchumaz'/ turned. Atb«t infaith ingein notw-remtha im barach laturcbail ngrme. 7 nabud itaig na^ [p. 62b] amuig doroiscfed cech ngein inein'««.
INtan dodech^</ incumal iarnabarach latwrcabaij ngrme ocus lestar Ian dolemnac^/ inalaim. intan tuc acois dartairsech intaige istech. 7 in choss aile amuig. isandsin rue iningein .i. noembrigit.
Nigset nabantimthirid iningen donl^mnac^/ bdi illaim am«- thar. Bsicubaid tra sin fr/hariltne noembrig/e .i. fh'adellrud ocus fn'ataitnem ahdgi.
Hicetain din 7 inochtmad uatru&/ rogenair brig?'/ ifochart mwrthemni. Ata beos frz'sineckzir anairdess inlecc forsangenair brig//. 7 rucad iningen focMoir iarnabreith c^inmac marb narigna. 7 orosiacht anail mbrigte chucca atr^cht abas coluath.
Luid \2caum indrai 7 (in) churns/ ^wahingin icrfch chotmacht. zmdthan dochonnacfaaib. ahathair amwwain. aaittreb la connacht- aib.
INaraile 16 luid inchumal dia hinis. 7 dofalaig ahingen ina- taig. ifcwmcatar araile comaicse integdais amboi iningen forlassad cond«?rna breo thened di othalm#m coneam. intan tancater docho- bair intaige niroartmigset2 intene 7 ised atb^rtsat cowbalan dorath inspir/a noib iningen.
Laa naile dochuaid indrai ««acumail dochuairt inacet^n. incannadas b(5i forcind nahingine itcess forlassad. orosinset alama chuci. indrai 7 inchum^/ niroartraig intene.
Facs. rigam. * Read niroartraig.
On the Life nf St. Brigit. 57
The wizard sold him the bondmaid, but sold him not the offspring. Then it came to pass that the wizard made a great feast, and bade the king of Conaille to the feast, and it was then the time for the king's wife to bear a child. There was a prophet along with the king, and a friend of the king's asked him what hour would be lucky for the queen to bring forth the royal offspring. Dixit pro- pheta, " The child that shall be brought forth to-morrow at sunrise shall overtop every birth in Ireland." Now the queen's travail came on before that hour, and she brought forth a dead son. Then the poet asked the prophet what hour would be lucky for the bondmaid to bring forth ? Said the poet, " The child that shall be brought forth to-morrow at sunrise, and neither within the house nor without, shall surpass every child in Ireland."
Now on the morrow, at sunrise, when the bondmaid was going with a vessel full of milk in her hand, and when she put one foot over the threshold of the house inside and the other foot out side, then did she bring forth the girl, to wit, Brigit.
The maid-servants washed the girl with the milk that was in her mother's hand. Now that was in accord with the merits of Saint Brigit, to wit, with the brightness and sheen of her chastity.
On a Wednesday and in the eighth moon was Brigit born in Fothart Murthemni.1 Still, to the south-east of the church is the flagstone whereon Brigit was born, and the girl was taken straight way after her birth to the queen's dead son, and when Brigit's breath came to him he swiftly arose out of death.
Then the wizard and the bondmaid with her daughter went into the province of Connaught : her mother (was) of Connaught, her father out of Munster, her abode with the Connaughtmen.
On a certain day the bondmaid went to her island, and covered up her daughter in her house. Certain neighbours saw the house wherein was the girl all ablaze, so that a flame of fire was made of it from earth to heaven. But when they went to rescue2 the house, the fire appeared not, and this they said, that the girl was full of the Holy Spirit.
One day the wizard went with his bondmaid to visit the cattle. The cow-dung (?) that lay before the girl was seen ablaze. But when the wizard and the bondmaid stretched down their hands to it, the fire appeared not.
1 Fochaird Muirthemhne occurs in the Four Masters, A. D. 248. O'Dono- van says it is Foughard in the County of Louth, about two miles to the north of Dundalk.
2 lit. to help.
58 BetJia Brigte, Lebar Brecc, p. 62b.
Tan and roscotail indrai comtsacca trzar clerech ine'taigib gelaib .i. trz'haingil donim. 7 roimbretar ola forcend noembrig/e ^wraforbachsat ord nabatsi. 7 atb^rt intres clerech frz'sindrai Bidhe ahainm nanoeminginese sancta brigita. Atracht indrai 7 roraid inni at<:h0;mairc.
Roalt ira inndebingensa .i. brigz'/ ochomairbz'rt bith 7 samail frz'acombessaib archena 7 nofrithbruitiud (.i. noobad) tecosc in- druad 7 noasced. Roimraid indrai iningen. ddig lais combad aringlaine 7 arcoirpthecht abfid. corerb iarsin bo find hdd^rg diablegun do brigz'/ 7 erbais bannscal niressaig diablegun. domeil iningen insasad sin.
Roalt innoemingensin ^wzbatimthirid 7 cer^ni fnsacomraiced alam noforbred 7 noairmitniged dia. Nosforbred cechcuccan atchid 7 dathimthired. nolesaiged nacserchu. nothimtired dodhall- aib. nobiathad bochtu.
Accobair do brigz'/ techt dothdrruma ahathardu. 7 rofhoid indrai techta codubthach cotised f<?rcend aingine. roindiset natech- ta dodubthach ferta 7 mirbuli hile inahingine. Teit dubthack i&ium 7 feraid indr^i failte fr«. 7 dorat dd afngein saeir.
~Lotar iarsin dochumm atire .i. dubthach 7 aingen .i. hicnch hua failge. conid andsin dosgni \>rigit firt namra .i. amum- mi boi anindlubra galair. 7 fdidis inmummi intii noembrz^-z'/ 7 araile ingin immalle frza. dothig araile fir. Boethcu aainmside.1 dochuinchid dige dochormaimm fair, erais brigtf. Rolin l>rigit iarsin lestor asaraile topur. 7 rosb^nach corasoud imblass chorm^ ma. 7 dosb^zr damw/wmi wwbahdgslan de foc^e^oir. INtan ira docoas diahdl naflede nifrz'th banna di.
Ba dof<?rtaib brig/e diamboi ocingaire mucc dubthaz^. tanca- dar damerlech cutallsat dathorcc dontreot. dochotar darsinmag cocomranic dubthach frzu 7 corosnaisc eraicc amucc forru. A.iberf dubfhach fribrz^z'/ inmaith ingaire namucc aingen olse. dixit "brigit iri dubthach airimse namucca. roairim dubthach namucca 7 nicon- to/a ni dib.
On the Life of St. Brigit. 59
Once upon a time when the wizard was sleeping, he saw three clerics in white garments, to wit, three angels of heaven, and they poured oil on St. Brigit's head, and they, completed the order of baptism. And the third cleric said to the wizard " This shall be the name of this holy maiden : Sancta Bri'gita" The wizard arose, and told what he had beheld.
Now this holy virgin, namely, Brigit, was nourished with food and like to her compeers (?) besides, and she rejected the guid ance of the, wizard and used to give it (the food) away. The wizard meditated on the girl, and it seemed to him that it was because of the impurity and the corruption of his food. Then he enjoined a white red-eared cow to give milk to Brigit, and he enjoined a faithful woman to milk the cow. The virgin took her fill of that.
That holy virgin was reared till she was a handmaiden, and everything to which her hand was set used to increase and rever ence God. Every store of food which she saw and served used to grow. She bettered the sheep : she tended the blind : she fed the poor.
Brigit was minded to go and watch over her fatherland. And the wizard sent messengers to Dubthach, that he might come for his daughter. The messengers declared unto Dubthach the maiden's miracles and many wonders. Then Dubthach came, and the wizard bade him welcome, and gave him his daughter free.
Then they went to their country, Dubthach and his daughter Brigit, in the province of Offaly j1 and there did Brigit work a wondrous miracle, to wit, her fostermother was in weakness of disease, and the fostermother sent the holy Brigit and another maiden with her to the house of a certain man named Boethchu", to ask him for a draught of ale. He refused Brigit. Then Brigit filled a vessel out of a certain well, and blessed it, and (the water) was turned into the taste of ale, and she gave it to her foster- mother, who straightway became whole thereby. Now when they went to drink the banquet not a drop thereof was found.
This (was another) of Brigit's miracles : while she was herd ing Dubthach's swine, there came two robbers and carried off two boars of the flock. They fared over the plain, and Dubthach met them and bound on them the eric (mulct) of his swine. Said Dubthach to Brigit, " Is the herding of the swine good, my girl ?" saith he. Dtxit Brigit to Dubthach, " Count thou the swine." Dubthach counted the swine, and not one of them was wanting.
1 in Leinster.
60 Betha Brigte, Lebar Brecc, pp. 62 b, 63*.
Luidset din aigid co&ubthach. rannais tiubthach assil tsalli hi cdic tdchtaib. 7 foracaib ocbrigit diambruith. doluid cu goirt elsco- thach isintech cobn'git. dorat brtgtt di incdiced tdcht arthrocaire. On/^caith incii intdchtsin dorat brigtf tdcht aile do. Tanic Aub- thach iarsin 7 atb^rt fr/a brigit inroberbais insaill 7 inmarait uli naherranda. airimsea iat (Abrigit. roairim ftuUhach 7 nithesta nf clib. itchuatar nahaigid do tiubthach inni dorigne brtgtf. Atimdai OT&ubthach ferta nahinginesin. niroscaithset iarw^ na haigid inbiad. uair roptar esindraice. acht rofodlad [p» 63a] dobochtaib 7 do- aidelcnech^ inchoimded.
Fecht and dorothlaig araile bannscal iressach tt&ubthach twdigsead brtgit lea amuig life, arbdi comthinol senaid laigen and. Rofoillsiged hifhis diaraile fir noeb bdi isindail .i. muire ingen dothidecht dochumm nadala. 7 atb^rt fh'ss wnatrifer isindail. Teit inbannscal iarnabarach 7 \srigit immalle fr/a docum nadala. 7 inti itchonnairc infis ise</ atb^rt. issi seo inmuire iteh<?;znarcsa orse tribrigit. Ronb^nachsat inuli slogu inti noembn^'/ foanmaimm1 7 ondir muire. com'dhi \>rigit mwz're nangsedel dsin ille.
Fecht and tanic form^main brigte. trz'arath inspir/0 noib. techt3 dofiss seel am«//for bdi indaire corochuindig ceat aathar. 7 nitharut di. araide dochuaidsi cenchetugud dd dubthach. Ba- heim donmdthatY intan doriacht. basast/^rach bagallrach mmattair 7 ro . . . . daressi amathai. 7 rogab forlesugud nahairge. INcet- na maistred ira dosgni brigtt rosfodail athorud indibrendaib dec inonoir da aps/a/ .x. induileman. 7 rosuidig intres cuibrend dec corba mou he indas czch cuibrend inonoir isu cm/. 7 dosrat3 uli iar«#z dobochtaib inchoimded. Rom«t^/naig immurro buachail indruad innordugw</ tuc brz^z'/ forsin immum. ISand sin atb^rt krigit. Cmt conadib aps/alu .x. dorigne precept do dainib indo- main. isnaainm sasaimsea bochtu. ar bid cm/ ip^rsaind ce^ bocht iressach.
Luid intara (.i. inbu(a)chail) dothaig indruad. 7 ro izrfacht de indrai 7 aben inmaith lesaiges inndg inairge. ut dixit intara
1 Facs. foanniainm. 2 Facs. decht.
a In the facsimile there is a dot over the t.
On Ike Life of St. Brigit. 61
Guests, then, came to Dubthach. Dubthach sundered a gam mon of bacon into five pieces, and left them with Brigit to be boiled. And a miserable, greedy hound came into the house to Brigit. Brigit out of pity gave him the fifth piece. When the hound had eaten that piece Brigit gave another piece to him. Then Dubthach came and said to Brigit : " Hast thou boiled the bacon, and do all the portions remain ?" " Count them," saith Brigit. Dubthach counted them, and none of them was wanting. The guests declared unto Dubthach what Brigit had done. " Abundant," saith Dubthach, " are the miracles of that maiden." Now the guests ate not the food, for they were unworthy (thereof), but it was dealt out to the poor and to the needy of the LORD.
Once upon a time a certain faithful woman asked Dubthach that Brigit might go with her into the plain of the Liffey, for a congregation of the synod of Leinster was held there. And it was revealed in a vision to a certain holy man who was in the assembly, that Mary the Virgin was coming thereto, and it was told him that she would not be (accompanied) by a man in the assembly.1 On the morrow came the woman to the assembly, and Brigit along with her. And he that had seen the vision said " This is the Mary that I beheld 1" saith he to Brigit. The holy Brigit blessed all the hosts under the name and honour of Mary. Wherefore Brigit was (called) ' the Mary of the Gael' thenceforward.
On a time it came into Brigit's mind, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, to go and see her mother who was in bondage. So she asked her father's leave, and he gave it not. Nevertheless, she went without permission from Dubthach. Glad was her mother when she arrived. Toil-worn and sickly was the mother
and she (Brigit) for her mother, and took to bettering
the dairy. The first churning that Brigit had she divided the fruit thereof into twelve shares in honour of the twelve apostles of the Creator, and she set the thirteenth portion so that it was greater than every (other) portion in honour of Jesus Christ, and she gave them all then to the poor of the Lord. Now the wizard's herdsman marvelled at the ordering that Brigit gave the butter. Then said Brigit : " Christ with his twelve apostles preached to the men of the world. In His name it is that I feed the poor, for Christ is in the person of every faithful poor man."
The charioteer (that is the herdsman) went to the wizard's house, and the wizard and his wife asked him " hath the virgin well
Very doubtful. Should we read con-ndtri fir ' ne exsurgat vir ' ?
62 Betha Brigte,. Lebar Brecc, p.
{.i. inbuachail) Ambuidechsa cipind&tf 7 atremra nal(5ig. uair nirolam e*cnach mbrig/e inahecmais. Doberi intara ruse lais ochtnduird ina ardi. dixit intara fria "brigit doraga indrai rwamnai dolinad inruiscsea do immim natogorta (.i. nahairge). Mochen jdoib olbngi'f. Tanic indrai 7 asetig don airge owacutar naloig remra. fi?rais bn£7/ failte firm 7 tuc biad doib. IS andsin atb^rt ,ben indruad fribrigif. ised tancwwar dafis d^ inrosgab gram inni roherbad duit. Cid fil dimmim ocut. Niboi aicesium inerlaime acht torud 3enmhaist«?rda coleith. 7 dosb<?rt inleth hfsin fortiis. 'Rofaitbester lasodain ben indruad 7 ised atb^rt. ismaith orsi Dolinad rdisc moir accum inmdit nimmesea. Lmaid bar ruse ol br?^'/ 7 dobera dia imm ind. Nothegedsi beus inaculid 7 dob^read leth toraid cef^afecais esti. uair nirbail dodia ahenechsi dobreith cora- h'nad inrusc fonindw^sin. 7 ised nogebedsi octecht inaculid.
Add amorurisea . conic inahuilisea
bffwnach ade nuall cengeis
cotlaim deis inculidsea.
Ti mac muire mochara
dob£«nachad mochuile
flaith indomain cohimbel
ronbe imbed lasuide.
Ro ermitnig indrai 7 asetig incoimdid triasinfirt atchonncatar conid annsin atb<?rt indrai frz'a bngi^ INtirnm 7 nabii robligis idpraimsea duit iat. nisbia indaire damsa acht fogain donchoimdid. Rosfrecair brigit d6 7 atb^rt fris. bersiu nabu 7 tabair damsa sairse momdthar. atb^rt indrui. acht sserfaith^r domdt/iaiY. doberihar •duit nabii 7 secipni atb/ra dogensa. rofodail brigtf nabii doboch- •taib 7 doaidilcnechaib de. robaitsed indrai 7 bahiressach 7 bdi icomitecht brig/e osin immach.
Tanic Wgit iarsin 7 zmdthair lea cotech ahath^r. AccotxK? iarsin ftubthach 7 asdtig creicc inti noem brig/e indaire. uair baholcc la dubthach aindile 7 aindmas dofodail dobochtaib. 7 ised sin dognid bngtf. Luid tra dubthach icarpw/ 7 br/^/'/ immalle
On the Life of St. Brigit. 63
cared for the dairy?" And the charioteer (2. e., the herdsman) said " I am thankful anyhow, and the calves are fat" — for he durst not carp at Brigit in her absence. The charioteer took with him a firkin (?), eight fists in height. Said the charioteer to Brigit : " The wizard will come with his wife to fill this firkin with the butter of the dairy." " They are welcome," saith Brigit. The wizard and his consort came to the dairy, and beheld the calves fat. And Brigit made them welcome and brought them food. Then said the wizard's wife to Brigit : " We have come to know whether that which hath been entrusted to thee hath profited. Of butter what hast thou?" She had none in readiness, except the mak ing of one churning and a half making, and she first brought the half. The wizard's wife mocked thereat and said : " This quantity of butter," says she, " is good to fill the big firkin that I have \" " Fill your firkin" saith Brigit, " and God will put butter into it." So she kept going still into her kitchen and carrying out of it a half making at every journey, for God did not wish to deprive her of honour, so in that wise the firkin was filled. And this is what she repeated on going into her kitchen —
O God, O my Prince
Who canst do all these things,
Bless, O God (a cry unforbidden),
With thy right hand this kitchen !
May Mary's Son, my Friend, come
To bless my kitchen !
The Prince of the world to the border,
May we have abundance with Him !
The wizard and his consort venerated the Lord because of the miracle which they beheld ; wherefore then said the wizard to Brigit : " The butter and the kine that thou hast milked, I offer them to thee. Thou shalt not abide in bondage to me, but serve thou the Lord/' Brigit answered him and said : " Take thou the kine and give me my mother's freedom." Said the wizard : " Not only shall thy mother be freed, (but) the kine shall be given to thee, and what soever thou shalt say (that) will I do." Then Brigit dealt out the kine unto the poor and the needy of God. The wizard was baptiz ed and was faithful, and accompanied Brigit from that time forth. Then came Brigit, and her mother with her, to her father's house. Thereafter Dubthach and his consort were minded to sell the holy Brigit into bondage ; for Dubthach liked not his cattle and his wealth to be dealt out to the poor, and that is what Brigit
64 Betha Brigte, Lclar Brccc, pp. 63% 6$b.
fris. ised atb<?rt &ubthach fri brigit niforonoir na forairmitin duit dotberar icarpw/. acht dotbreith dotchreicc 7 dobleith broan do dunlang mac enda dorig laigen. Orancatar dun inrig luid dubthach isindun cusindrig. boi brigit inacarpw/ indorus induine. foracaib dubthach aclaideb isincarpw/ ifail mbrig/e. Dothaet [p. 63b] clam co brigit dochuinch/</ almsaine. dob^-rsi c\aideb Aubthaig do. Dixit Aubthach fnsinrig incendgaid cwwail .i. mingensa orse. dixit dunlaing cid foracrecca tingin fen. dixit dubthach ni anand ocreicc mindmais 7 icathabairt dobochtaib. dixit inrig. toet inog isindun. Toet &ubthach arcend br/g/e. 7 fergaigis1 fna ior%.z\aideb dotabairt donbocht.2 Otanic brigit ifiadnaise inrig. atb^rt fr/a inri. intan ise indmas tathar aingen gatai. ismor mo diacendgorsa g£tai mindmas 7 mindile. 7 dosb/rai dobochtaib. dixit br^/'/ rofitz'r mac nahingine damad lemsa dochumungsa colagnib 7 cotuli indmas dob/raind donchoimdid nandula. dixit inri tri&ubthach Nidat comadais dibli- naib dochunnrad nahinginesea. arisuasli ahairilhW fiadia oldaini. 7 domb^rt inri claideb det dodhubtha^ daracend. et sic liberata est sancta uirgo brigita captiuitate.
Garit iarsin cotanic araile fer sochenowl co&ubthach dochuin- chid aingine. batol dodhubth^^ 7 diamacaib inm'sin. rosopustar ira Wgit. Atb^rt bratha/V diabrathrib friasi .i. beccan aainmsium. isespach insiiil caeim fil atchindsa cenabeith foradart hifail fir. Roftor mac nahingine clbrigt'f nibeoda dunni masahi dosbeir pudar forinn. Dorat brigif indsin am6r foasiiil rowastall asacind comboi foragruad. 7 artwt acso duit dosuil nalaind abeccain. Moidis ira asuilside focheVoir. Otchonnairc tiubthach 7 abrathirsi sin. gellsat nachepertha fna dul cofer dogre's dorat iarsin adernaind fmrosc ^wbahogslan fo^//dir. nirboslan \ra suil beccain coabas.
Atb^rt dubthach frza brigit A ingen olse geib kattte fortchend. mad rochindis togi dodia nitgetsa aire. deo gratias ol brigit.
Ms. fergaidis. a Facs. donbcht.
On the Life of St. Briglt. 65
used to do. So Dubthach fared in his chariot, and Brigit along with him. Said Dubthach to Brigit : " Not for honour or rever ence to thee art thou carried in a chariot, but to take thee to sell thee, and to grind the quern for Dunlang MacEnda, King of Lein- ster."1 When they came to the King's fortress, Dubthach went in to the King and Brigit remained in her chariot at the fortress door. Dubthach had left his sword in the chariot near Brigit. A leper came to Brigit to ask an alms. She gave him Dubthach's sword. Dixit Dubthach to the King : " Wilt thou buy a bondmaid, namely, my daughter?" says he. Dixit Dunlang: "Why sellest thou thine own daughter ?" Dixit Dubthach : " She stayeth not from selling my wealth and giving it to the poor." Dixit the King : " Let the maiden come into the fortress." Dubthach went for Brigit and was enraged against her, because she had given his sword to the poor man. When Brigit came into the King's pre- .sence, the King said to her : " Since it is thy father's wealth that thou takest, much more, if I buy thee, wilt thou take my wealth and my cattle and give them to the poor ?" Dixit Brigit : " The Son of the Virgin knoweth if I had thy might with (all) Leinster, and with all thy wealth I would give (them) to the Lord of the Elements." Said the King to Dubthach : " Thou art not fit on either hand to bargain about this maiden, for her merit is higher before God than before men." And the King gave Dubthach for her an ivory-hilled sword, et sic libcrata est sancta virgo Brigila captivitatc.
^-Shortly after that came a certain nobleman unto Dubthach to ask for his daughter (in marriage). Dubthach and his sons were willing, but Brigit refused. Said a brother of her brethren named Beccan unto her : " Idle is the fair eye that is in thy head not to be on a pillow near a husband." " The Son of the Virgin knoweth," says Brigit, " it is not lively for us if it brings harm upon us." Then Brigit put her finger under her eye, and drew it out of her head till it was on her cheek ; and she said : " Lo, here for thee is thy delightful eye, O Beccan !" Then his eye burst forthwith. When Dubthach and her brethren beheld that, they promised that she should never be told to go unto a husband. Then she put her palm to her eye and it was quite whole at once. But Bee- can's eye was not whole till his death.
Said Dubthach to Brigit : " O daughter, says he, " put a veil on thy head. If thou hast dedicated thy virginity to God, I will not snatch it from Him." ' Deo gratias,' says Brigit.
1 A Dunlang mac Enna Niadh, ri Laigen occurs in the Four Masters, A. D. 241. As Brigit is said to have died A. D. 523, there is probably some error here.
66 Betha Brigte, Lebar Brecc, pp. 64% — 6^, 6^.
Luid brigit 7 araile dga immalle fra dogab[ail] challe cdhepscop mel itelcha mide. Bafailid side frz'u. Anais brigit aru- maloit ttwzbadiside dedinach forsatib^rtha calle. Atracht columu tenntide diacind cocleithe naheckm. Roiarfaig1 epscop mel. ciahdg suut. Rofrecair mac caille brigV/ sin orse. Tair anoembrigt? corosentar caille fortchend rasnahogu aile oresc^p mel.
IS«/ dorala ann tm rath inspir/a ndib. gr«d epscmp derlegend for brfgit. Albert mac caille conarbz hord grad nepscm'p forbann- scail. dixit epscop m61. Nocolemm achomw^. uair is o dia doratad inremiadsin sech cech mbannscail di. Conid onoir epscuip dob^rat fir QYenn dochomorbii br/'g(t)e.
INochtmaid uathaztf rogenair. inochtmad d^c rogab caille f<?racend. inochtmaid fichet dochoid dochumm nime. Conocht ndgaib rocoisecrad brigit folin ocht mbiaiti intdosr«7a rocho- maillestor. Maraid beus coss nahaltori boi illaim bn'g/e. cia roloiscthea natn* cossa aile.
Ba dof<?rtaib brig/e orachomacsig solkwain nacasc gabais brigit inaraile locc icomfacnzib doepscop m^l gar ria caplait. ropail dobrtgt'f tn'a deircc cdirm dode'nw/w dona heck-rib immdaib robatar immpe 7 nirbognath [p. 64b] coirmm dodenum isinaimsir- sin. acht nirothecht brigit acht senmiach bracha. Nirabatar lestair la m«»tir brig/e acht dalothar. doronsat dabaig dondaraloth^r. ocus rolinsat indlestar aile donchormaimm. 7 doberiis nahoga bew obrigz'/ inchoirm dona heckjib. 7 balan bzus oc brigit foracind inlestar corourthastar torad inasnmeich bracha tnasobarthain mbrz'g/e secht neclori fer telach arincaplait 7 arocht lathib nacasc.
[p. 6$b. 1. 28] Oraforbad sollamain nacasc roiarfaig1 brigif dahingenaib inrabai fuigell occu dolind nacasc. Atb^rtsat nahoga. dobera dia biad olsiat. isandsin tancatar daingin istech 7 dr^lmach Ian do usa leo. Rofitzr mac nahingine olbrigit ata maith and. doig leesi ftwfbacoirmm. isdeniu2 raid ama/ atb^rtsi sin rosoud intus« hicoirmm togaide focetoir.
MS. Roiarfaid 2 Facs seems deniti<
On the Life of Si. Brigit. 67
Brigit, and certain virgins with her, went to Bishop Me*!, in Telcha Mide, to take the veil. Glad was he thereat. For hum bleness Brigit staid, so that she might be the last to whom the veil should be given. A fiery pillar arose from her head to the ridgepole of the church. Bishop Mel asked : " What virgin is there ?" Answered MacCaille : " That is Brigit," saith he. " Come thou, O holy Brigit," saith Bishop Mel, " that the veil may be sained on thy head before the other virgins."
It came to pass then, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, that the form of ordaining a bishop was read over Brigit. Mac Caille said that the order of a bishop should not be (conferred) on a woman." Dixit Bishop Mel : " No power have I in this matter, inasmuch as by God hath been given unto her this honour beyond every woman." Hence, it is that the men of Ireland give the honour of a bishop to Brigit's successor.
In the eighth (day) of the lunar month (?) was she born. On the eighteenth did she take the veil oa her head. On the twenty- eighth did she go to heaven. Together with eight virgins was Brigit consecrated. According to the number of the eight beati tudes of the gospel did she fulfil (her course).
This was one of Brigit's miracles. When the solemnity of Easter drew nigh, Brigit set up, shortly before Maunday-Thursday, in a certain place near unto Bishop Mel. Brigit desired, through (her) charity, to brew ale for the many churches that were around her, and it was not usual to brew ale at that time. Brigit possessed only one measure of malt, and Brigit's family had no vessels save two troughs. They made a tub of one of the two vessels, and they filled the other vessel with the ale, and the virgins kept tak ing the ale from Brigit to the churches, and still the vessel before Brigit remained full. And thus the produce of one measure of malt, through Brigit's blessing, supplied (?) seven churches of Fir Telach1 for Maunday-Thursday and for the eight days of Easter.
When the solemnity of Easter was fulfilled, Brigit asked her maidens whether they had the leavings of the Easter ale. Replied the virgins : " God will give food," say they. Then two maidens came in with a tub full of water. " The Virgin's Son knoweth," says Brigit, " that there is good (ale) there." She thought that it was ale. Quicker than speech, as she said that, the water was turned into choice ale forthwith.
» Now Fartullagh, a barony in the County Westmeath.
68 Betha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 63^ 64*.
Dochuaid brigit coaraile eclat's itir thethba dochelebrad nacasc. oragab brigit forosaic diadardain cendla donasenorib 7 donadainib fannaib batar isindeckzir. Cethrar dodhainib galair robatar and .i duine abrachtach 7 dasachtach 7 dall 7 clam. Dorigne brigtj anosaie acethrar. 7 rohiccha fochetoir ocech theidm boi form.
Fecht boi brigit itaig foraigidecht ra/zdechsat1 uli immach acht macc&m .iiii. blizdan .x. boi cenlabra riam. 7 cenlud icois no ilaim do. 7 nisfitzr brigit abeth amkz</. <wzid annsin tancatar oegid istech cobrigit. Albert brigit frzsinmaccaem frz'thoil nahoegedu. Dogen arinrmzrcsem. Atracht focMoir 7 dogni timthirecht nanoiged. ocus ropogslanscw osin immach.
ISandsin dorala comddl fer nerenn itailltin inairmm amboi patraz'c. 7 senad clerech nerenn imbi. Dochuater din docum nadala .i. brigtf 7 epscop mel. Tainic araile bannscal docum nadala 7 lenabb ina laim. 7 ised ztbert conid laheps^ mbron inlenabb. Rodmlt tra inteps<r^ anfsin. Roiarfaig2 brtgit don- bannscail cia orochoimpr<?star ingein. 7 roraid frza ^nahebred breic. 7 rofrecair inben. iso epscop bron olsi. rolin tra att atengaid foc^/oir ^nacoemnacair labra. dorat brigit arrdhe na crochi darab61 nanoiden. 7 roiarfaig.3 cia thathazrsiu. rorecair innoidiu 7 isft/atb^rt. Duine d<?roil fil animul inairechta ise sin mathair olse. corosserad epscop bron am/azi/sin trzarath mbrz'g/e.
Luid brigit doacalkzw patmzV immuig lemne. diamboi ocpr^- cept sostela.4 wwidrochotail brigit frzsin precept, dixit patratc cid forarchotlais. Refill brigit agluni fot/^H 7 is^ atb*rt. fis itownarc olsi. dixit patrazc indis dun inffs. Atc^narc olsi .iiii. arathru anairdheas 7 roarsatar [p. 64**] innulinindsi 7 riasiu rosiacht asilad rofhas inbuain. Tancatar topair gela 7 srotha taitnemacha asnahe- trzgib 7 4taige gela imnasiltaidib5 7 imnahairemnu. Ato«narc6 .iiii. harathru aile atuaid. 7 roarsetar aninnsi fortharsnu. 7 resiasiu7 rosiacht inbuain doridise roas incorca. rosilsat foc^d?oir corboabaid.8 ocus
1 dot over d. 2 Facs. Roiafaid. 3 Ms. roiarfaid. 4 Facs. sosa. 5 Ms. siltaigib. 6 Facs. Atconnairc. 7 Read riasju ? 8 MS> abaig.
On the Life of St. Brigit. 69
Brigit went to a certain church in the land of Teffia1 to cele brate Easter, when Brigit took to washing the feet of the old men and the feeble folk who were in the church. Four of the sick people there, were a maimed man, a madman, a blind man, and a leper. Brigit washed the feet of the four, and they were straight way healed from every disease that was on them.
Once Brigit was in a house as a guest, and all went out, save a stripling of fourteen years. He had never spoken, nor moved foot or hand, and Brigit knew not that he was thus. So then came guests into the house to Brigit. Said Brigit to the stripling : " At tend on the guests." " I will do so," saith the stripling. He got up at once and did service to the guests, and he was quite whole thenceforward.
Then there came to pass a meeting of the men of Ireland in Tailtin,2 in the place where Patrick abode, with a synod of Ireland's clerics around him. Now Brigit and Bishop Me"! went to the meet ing, and a certain woman (also) went thither with a babe on her arm, and she said that the babe was by Bishop Bron. The Bishop, however, denied that. Brigit asked the woman by whom the child had been conceived, and told her not to utter a lie. And the woman answered: 'It is by Bishop Bn5n.' Then a swelling straightway filled her tongue, so that she was unable to speak. Brigit made the sign of the cross over the infant's mouth and asked it : " Who is thy father ?" The infant answered and said : " A wretched man who is in the outskirts of the assembly, that is my father," saith he. So in that wise Bishop Br<5n was saved through the grace of Brigit.
Brigit went to converse with Patrick in Mag Lemne3 while he was preaching the gospel. And Brigit fell asleep at the preach ing. Dixit Patrick : " Wherefore hast thou slept ?" Brigit bent her knees thrice and said : " I saw a vision," quoth she. Dixit Patrick : " Tell us the vision." " I saw," quoth she, " four ploughs in the south-east, and they ploughed the whole island, and before the sowing was finished the harvest grew up, and clear well- springs and shining streams came out of the furrows, and white garments were round the sowers and the ploughmen. I beheld four other ploughs in the north, and they ploughed the island athwart, and before the harvest came again, the oats which they had sown grew up at once and ripened, and black streams came
1 A territory in Westmeath. * Now Teltown in Meath.
3 Semite Magh-Leamhna of the Four Masters, " now the territory of Closach in Tyrone," O'Don.
Betha Brigtc, Lclar Brccc, p. 64*.
tancatar sw/ha duba asnahetr/gib 7 etaige duba imnasiltaidib1 7 im- nahairemnu. 7 bamtoirsech desin olbngif.
Dixit patraic nabi itorsi uair ismaith inni atrho«narcais. NacetA/7 harathru toisechu at<rh0«narcais. mise sin 7 tussu silmait .iiii. libair intsos<:e7a cosil irse 7 foisiten. INbuain tarfas duit inaires forphe innahdoine sin. Nacet^r/ harathair aile. nasaebfor- cetlaide 7 na brecaire sin. cuirfit darcend naforcetla silmait. ocus noco taircebumne sin. Bemitne messe 7 tussu argnuis induileman annsin.
Luid brigit iarum codunlaing doguide dilsigthe dahathair inchlaideb dob<?rt do diambdi indorus indiiine. Tanic din mog domogadaib inrig do acalkz'/w brigte 7 ised atb^r/ fr/a. danamsser- thasu donfognum hitii ropadam crz!r/aide. 7 rofogenaind duitsiu f^n. 'Roraid brtgit wwdiugsa 2 sin forsinrig. Luid brigit iarum isindun 7 conzteig daascaid forsinrig. dilsiugud inclaideb dod«3- thach 7 asaire don mogaid. atb^rt brigit fnsinrig madail duit eland tsainemail 7 rige dotmacaib 7 nem duit fen. tabair damsa nada itghe (wmaigimm. Aibert inrig iri brigit flaith nime orse uair nach facimm 7 nachfetar ciaret nichunchimm. Rige tra domomacu nichunchimm. uair nibeo fen foraird. 7 gniad each aaimsir. Tabair dam fot saegail irrige 7 each buaid fn'hu neill. uair ism^wicc coccad etraind. 7 tabair dam coscar isin cetchath corbamcreitmech isna- cathaib aileib. 7 ised on rocomailk/ hi cath lochair fn'a h« neill.
Fecht ann tanic ri laigen doestecht frzpr<?cept. 7 celebrad dia case docum brig/e. iarforba uird inchelebartha. luid ass inrig for Sd/. dochoid bn^-// dopra'md. Asb^rt lomman clam br/'g/e nato- melad ni cotuctha do armgaisc#/ rig laigen eti'r goei 7 o\aideb ocus sciath. corumb^rtaiged foi. Luid techtaire obn'git indegaid inrig. Omedon lai cunowa donrig fonmmachor. 7 niroacht cid mile cemend cotucad intarmgaisced uad. 7 ft?tardad donchlam.
Fecht and do epscop ercc 7 do brigit itir laigen. Atbertsi iri hrpscop ercc. ata cath etzr dothuaithsiu innossa 7 acomaithgiu. dixit marclerech domuntir epscuip ercc. Ni doig leind orse armad firsin. Senais brigit aroisc inm^clerig. Asb^-rt in macclerech
1 Facs. imnasiltaigib 7 imnasiltaigib.
dot over d.
On the Life of St. Brigit. 71
out of the furrows, and black garments were on the sowers and on the ploughmen. And I am sorrowful thereat," quoth Brigit.
Dixit Patrick : " Be not in sadness, for good is that which thou beheldest. The first four ploughs which thou beheldest, those are I and thou. We sow the four books of the gospel with seed of faith and confession. The harvest which appeared to thee, that is the perfect faith of those men-folk* The four other ploughs, those are the false teachers and the liars, and they will overturn the teachings that we sow, and those we shall not uplift. But we, I and thou, shall then be in the presence of the Creator."
Then Brigit went to Dunlaing to ask him to forfeit to her father the sword which he had given to him while he was in the door-way of the fortress. Then a slave of the slaves of the King came to speak with Brigit and said to her : " If thou wouldst save me from the servitude wherein I am, I would become a Christian, and I would serve thee thyself." Brigit said : " I will ask that of the King." So Brigit went into the fortress and asked her two boons of the King — the forfeiture of the sword to Dubthach, and his freedom for the slave. Said Brigit to the King ; " If thou desirest excellent children and a kingdom for thy sons and Heaven for thyself, give me the two boons that I ask." Said the King to Brigit : " The kingdom of Heaven, as I see it not, and as no one knows what thing it is, I seek not, and a kingdom for my sons I seek not, for I shall not myself be extant, and let each one serve his time. But give me length of life in my kingdom and victory always over the Hui N&ll, for there is often warfare between us. And give me victory in the first battle, so that I may be trustful in the other fights." And this was fulfilled in the battle of Lochar, (which he fought) against the Hui Neill.
Once upon a time the King of Leinster came unto Brigit to listen to preaching and celebration at Easter-day. After the end ing of the form of celebration, the King fared forth on his way and Brigit went to refection. Lomman, Brigit's leper, said he would eat nothing until the weapons of the King of Leinster
were given to him — both spears and sword and shield
A messenger went from Brigit after the King. From mid- day to
evening a thousand paces until the weapons were given
by him, and bestowed on the leper.
Once upon a time Bishop Ercc and Brigit were in the land of Leinster. She said to Bishop Ercc : " There is at present a battle between thy tribe and its neighbours." Dixit a student of Bishop Ercc's family : " We think not," saith he, " that that is true." Brigit
72 Bet ha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 64*, 64*.
atciusa mobrathre icommarbad innossa. Dorigne at^r/ge moir iarum inmacclerech.
[p. 64b line 7] Fecht and tanic araile clam cobrigit dochunchid bo. Dixit brigt'f frz's. Cia de isferr lett. bd dobreith no thicc don- chlaime. Albert inclam baferr lais afcc diachlaime oltas rigi induli domain do. Arisrig CQch slan olse. Dorigne ira brigif ernaigthi fn'dia corohfctha inclam 7 corfhdgain do \>rigit iarsin.
Odachuaid tra clii brigte foeiri#« uli ifertaib 7 imirbuilib. tancatar dadhall dobretnaib. 7 mac bee clam leo dianicc ccforigit. 7 dochuatar amunigin epscutp mel immanicc. Albert \irigit biat amuig coleic coroisc (?) incelebnzd. Atb^rtsat nabretnaig aris d<?inmmnetach innaddinesin. rohiccais doine dotchen^l fen inde. cenconicca sinde indiu. Dorigne \>rigit ernaigthi 7 rohictha atrz'ur focMoir.
Ised dochuaid brigit iarsin owahdgaib do ardachad epscmp me*!. Bdi rig tethba icomfocus ddib icfleid. Bdi lestar ciimdachta d ilgemaib illaim inrig. gabais araile fer anfaitech asalaim condor- chair 7 <:^d<?rna bloga de. rohergabad infersin lasinrig. dochuaid eps^op mel dia chunchid 7 ni e"tas onrig. achi abas, doattaig immurro epscop mel cotuctha dd inlester briste onrig. 7 techtais iarsin 7 rue lais czmrVtech amboi brigit. Dorigne brigit ernaigthe fr/'sincoimdid coroathnuged inlester icruth budfearr. Ruc'ad iarsin donrig 7 rotuaslaiced incimbid. dixit epscop mel. niformsa dosgnf dia infirtsa. acht i
dochuaid brigif dofhorruma araile dige .i. brigit ingen <r^«ghaile dognid ferta hile. 7 intan batar icpraind .i. brigit c^wahdgaib rothairis brigt't immedon naprainde. 7 dixit fmraile ndig. tabair croiss cm/ tar hagaid 7 tar dhoshiiilib cofhaiceraso. anatciusa, w«idannsin itch<?«nairc indg insattan itoeb nam^si ocus achend sis 7 achossa suas. ade" 7 alassar asacraess 7 asasronaib sechtair. dixit brigtt frz'sindemon conus freccrad df.
1 Facs. demnaib.
On Ike Life of St. Brigit. 73
sained the student's eyes. Said the student : " I see my brothers a-slaughtering now." Then the student repented greatly.
Once upon a time a certain leper came to Brigit to ask for a cow. Dixit Brigit to him : " Which wouldst thou prefer, to carry off a cow or to be healed of the leprosy ?" The leper said, that he would rather be healed of his leprosy than have the kingdom of all the world, for 'every sound man is a king,' saith he. Then Brigit made prayer to God and the leper was healed and served Brigit afterwards.
Now, when Brigit's fame in miracles and marvels had travelled throughout all Ireland, there came unto Brigit for their healing two blind men from Britain, and a little leper boy with them, and they put trust in Bishop Me"! to get them healed. Said Brigit : "Let them stay outside just now till mass is over." Said the Britons (for those people are impatient), " Thou healedst folk of thy own race yesterday, though thou healest not us to-day." Brigit made prayer and the three were healed at once.
Brigit went afterwards with her virgins to Ardachad1 of Bishop Mel. The king of Teffia was at a feast near them. There was a vessel covered with many gems in the king's hand. And a certain careless man took it out of his hand, and it fell and broke into pieces. That man was seized by the king. Bishop Mel went to ask for him, but nothing could be got from the king save his death. However, Bishop M£l asked that the broken vessel might be given to him by the king, and then he had it and took it with him to the house wherein was Brigit. And Brigit made prayer to the Lord, and the vessel was restored in a form that was better than before, and then it was taken to the king, and the captive was loosed. And Bishop Me"l. said : " Not for me hath God wrought this miracle, but for Brigit.""
Once upon a time Brigit went to watch over a certain virgin, namely, Brigit, the daughter of Congaile, who used to work many miracles. And when Brigit and her virgins were at dinner, Brigit paused in the middle of the meal, and she said to a certain virgin : " Make thou Christ's cross over thy face and over thine eyes that thou mayest see what I see." So then the virgin beheld Satan beside the table with his head down and his feet up, his smoke and his flame out of his gullet and out of his nostrils. Said Brigit to the demon that he should answer her :
Now Ardagh in Teathbha.
74 Bet ha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 64^ 65*.
Nichiimcaim achaillech centacallfl/w. uair coimetai tfmna d£. 7 atogaillse1 fnabochtaib 7 fm mwwtir nde.
INdis duinn ol brigtf cid arnercotige inbtfrndenmaib don- chiniud doenna.
dixit demon, conaroissed inchiniud orse dochum parduis.
dixit brfgif fn'a demon, cid diatanacaise chucainde inar- c&illechu.
araile 6*g craibdech fil sund ordemon. 7 isnacomitecht atiisa.
dixit brigtf fr/sinoig. tabair cross cmt dar do siiilib. 7 itcon- nairc indg foc^/oir intorathor grana hisin. 7 rogab oman mor inog otth^nairc indemon.
Cid foranimgaibe Q\bngit indalta ocatai lessugud triri ciana.
don'gne inog athrige iarsin. 7 rohictha dondemon crais ocus etraid boi inacomitecht.
Fecht and doluid brigif dartethba 7 sloig mora innacomi- techt. Batar dachlam inandiaid. dorigenset debaid forsin set. INti tuarcaib dib alaim artiis. seccaid inlaim. roshecc din lam inchlaim aile. Dorigenset iarsin athrige. 7 rosicc bngit iatsin diaclaime.
Fecht do brigit conz hogaib inard macha. dolluid dias secca 7 dr<?lmach usce forru. Tancatar dob<?«nachad dobrtgtf. dorochair indrolmach dian^isi. 7 dochuaid druimm dar driiim otha dorus ratha co loch lapan 7 nirobris 7 ni torcha/r banda esti. Basuach- nid lecach ba b<?«nachtu brig/elforuair iarsin. patricius dixit. fodlaid in usce foard macha. 7 foairtheru. rofodlad iarww 7 rohicc cock ngalar 7 cech nances bdi isintfr.
Luid brigz'f icrich fer ross dothuaslucud chimmedabai [p. 65a] illaim ocrig fer ross. Dixit brigt't insaerfa damsa incimmid lit. Albert inrig. Cia dotvrthasu damsa orse n'ge fer mbreg. nithibrind duit he. acht nadigsiu foera orinrig doberthar aanimmcomdt«j oen6idche fortsu do. Roartraig din brigit diulai donchimmid.
Read at togaillse ?
On the Life of St. Brigit. 75
" I cannot, O nun, be without conversing with thee, for thou keepest God's commandments and thou art .... to God's poor and to His family."
" Tell us," saith Brigit, " why thou art hurtful in thy deeds to the human race ?"
Said the demon : " That the race may not attain unto Pa radise."
Said Brigit to the demon : " Wherefore hast thou come to us among our nuns ?"
" A certain pious virgin is here," saith the demon, " and in her company am I."
Said Brigit to the virgin: "Put Christ's cross over thine eyes." And the virgin beheld at once the hideous monster there, and great fear seized the virgin when she beheld the demon.
" Wherefore shunnest thou," saith Brigit, " the fosterling whom thou hast been cherishing (?) for long seasons ?"
Then the virgin repented, and she was healed of the devil of gluttony and lust that had dwelt in her company.
Once upon a time Brigit went over Teffia, and there were great hosts along with her. There were two lepers behind them, who quarrelled on the road. The hand of him that first raised his hand withers, and then the hand of the other leper withered. Thereafter they repented and Brigit cured them of their leprosy.
Once upon a time Brigit, with her virgins, was at Armagh, and two went by her bearing a tub of water. They came to Brigit to be blessed, and the tub fell behind them and went back over back from the door of the Rath as far as Loch Lapan. And it brake not, and not a drop fell thereout. It was well known to every one that Brigit's blessing had caused this, and Patrick said : " Deal ye the water throughout Armagh and Airthir." So it was dealt, and it cured every disease and every anguish that was in the land.
Brigit went into the province of Fir Ross1 to loosen a captive who was in manu with the King of Fir Ross. Said Brigit : " Wilt thou set that captive free for me ?" The King replied : " Though thou shouldst give me the realm of the men of Breg, I would not give him to thee. But go not with a refusal," saith the King. " For one night thou shalt have the right to guard his life for him." Then Brigit appeared at the close of day to the captive
1 in the south of Oirghialla in Ulster.
76 Bet ha Brigte, Lebar Brecc, p. 65*.
7 atb<?rt fhs intan tuaslaicfith<?r inslabrad ditt. geib indimunnsa nunc populus l 7 e*la fortlaim ndeiss. Dognith^r amlaid. 7 elaid incimbid labr^ir mbrzg/e.
Fecht tanic brigit tarsliab breg inaraile laithe. Boi dasachtach isintsleib. noaircead nacuitechta. Rosgab uamun mor nahdga batar ifail brig/e ofcwmcatar indasachtach. dixit brigt'f fr/sindem- nach. uair doratla and prztcha biethir hd6 dun. Nichumcaim orse cenumaloit duit. arisittrocair fnmwwtir inchoimded .i. fina bochtaib 7 frAr6gaib. isandsin atb^rt indasachtach. airmitnigid incoimdid achaillech2 7 notairmitnigfe each, car incoimdid 7 notcarfa each, aigthi incoimdid 7 notaigthife each. Luid iarum indasachtach uadib 7 nid^rna ndch nerchoit doib.
Fecht dobngtf ocimddcht amuig laigen cofacca mac legind inarith secci .i. ninnid scolaige.
Cid dogni aforusta olbrigtt 7 cid the*gi colluath.
dochum nime arinscolaige.
rofit/r mac nahingeni olbrigtt duthracursa dul lett.
dixit inscolaige. A chaillech orse nachumtoirmisc domshet. no mascwwthoirmes duit guid incoimdid lem corupsoraid damsa techt dochum nime. 7 guidfetsu dia letsu corub reid duit. 7 coruca hilmile let documm nime.
gabais brigtt pater leis. 7 bacraibthech osin immach. 7 atb^rt brigit nabiad riag no pian fair. 7 ise dorat comaind 7 sacrapaic iartain dobrigtf.
Luid brigit cobepscop hibair. corothoirned acat^raig di con- dechsat3 iarsin co dii hita cell dara indiu. Bahi sin re" 7 inbuid dorala ailill mac dunlainge 7 cet marclach do findchselach leis tr/alar chille dara. Tancatar daingin obrigz'/ amach dochunchid neich donaslataib. 7 tucad e>a form. Rofailgide foc^//oir innahuli
1 in the MS. these two words occur at the beginning of line 5, immediately before Roartraig.
2 MS. achaillechu.
3 dot over d.
On the Life of St. Brigit. 77
and said to him : " When the chain shall be opened for thee repeat this hymn, Nunc populus, and turn to thy right hand and flee." Thus it is done, and the captive flees at the word of Brigit.
Brigit one day came over Sliab Breg.1 There was a mad man on the mountain who used to be destroying the companies. Great fear seized the virgins who were near Brigit, when they saw the madman. Said Brigit to the demoniac : " Since thou hast gone there, preach the word of God to us." " I cannot," he saith, " be ungentle to thee, for thou art merciful to the Lord's family, to wit, to the poor and to the wretched." So then said the madman : " Reverence the LORD, O nun, and every one will reverence thee ; love the LORD, and every one will love thee ; fear the LORD, and every one will fear thee !" Then the madman went from them and did no hurt to them.
Brigit was once journeying in Mag Laigen,8 and she saw running past her a student,3 namely, Ninnid the scholar.
" What art thou doing, O Sage 1" saith Brigit, " and whither art thou wending (so) quickly?"
" To heaven," saith the scholar.
"The Son of the Virgin knoweth," saith Brigit, "that I would fain fare with thee !"
Dixit the scholar : " O nun," saith he, " hinder me not from my road ; or, if thou hinderest, beseech the Lord with me that the journey to heaven may be happy, and I will beseech God with thee that it may be easy for thee, and that thou mayst bring many thousands with thee to heaven."
Brigit repeated a Paternoster with him, and he was pious thenceforward ; and Brigit said that neither gallows nor punish ment would be for him ; and he it is that afterwards administered communion and sacrifice to Brigit.4
Brigit went to Bishop Ibair that he might mark out her city for her. So they came thereafter to the place where Kildare is to-day. That was the season and the time that Ailill son of Dun- laing,5 with a hundred horse-loads of peeled rods, chanced to be going through the ground of Kildare. Two girls came from Brigit to ask for some of the rods, and they got a refusal. Forth with all the horses were struck down under their loads against
1 in the County of Louth. s the plain of Leinster.
3 lit. a son of reading.
4 Ninnid Lam-idan, Todd Lib. Hymn, i. 8 Four Masters, A. D. 489.
78 Betha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 65% 65b.
ech foamarclaigib fmlar. Rogabtha siiind 7 slipre doib. 7 nf er- rachtatar corosidpair ailill mac dunlaing ince'/marclach sin dobrigit comd desin dorigned tech sancbrig/e hicill dara.
ISandsin atfort brigit —
Odur eccur mothech
marroferthar adulguine
rope* flaith laigen cobrdih
oai/z'll mac dunlainge.
Tan and tancatar dachlam dochuinchid almsaine cobrigif. N(i)bdi araill isincoitchend acht oenbd. Dorat ira brigit dona- clamu inoenboin. Dorigne indaraclam atlugud budi dodia arinm- boin. Dimmdach immurro inclam aile. uair badiumsach.
Dochuaid orse cid mairesi moenar imm boin. Onice indiu din orse* achaillecha nirocomairemsa riam etzr chelib d6 7 et/ir bochtaib 7 lobraib 7 nibeomm din icummaid immoenboin.
dixit brigit fn'sinclam numal. ansu ifoss dus intibre dia nf isincoitchend 7 teit ass inclam diumsach lit conabo'm. isandsin tanic araile tuata combo'm leis dobrigi/. Dorat immurro brigit inmboinsin donchlam umal. Odochuaid for set inclam diumsach. foremdid immain ab6 aoenur. cotanic iterum forciila ctibrigit 7 dochumm afir chummtha comboi i[c]glamud 7 icimmdergud mbrig/e. Nf ardia orse doratais tidpairt. acht isarlisdatwj 7 tromdatwj rotgab fh'msa.
Tiagait diblinaib nadachlam dochumm naberba iarsin. atraig inabaind frm. ^laid inclam umal r^aboin triabennachtam mbrig/e. Dofuit immurro isinsruth inclam diumsach 7 abo foathairr coros- baided.
Fecht ann tanic rigan cremthain m^'c enna cheindsek?^ [p. 65b.] .i. rigan laigen. 7 slabrad argait lea dobrigit anfdpairt. Fuath delbi duine isindar[a]cind de. 7 uball argait forsin cind aile. Dorat \>rigit donahdgaib. corothaisciset he cenfis dobrigit. uair bamor nogata brigit acrod 7 dosb^red dobochtaib. Araide tanic clam cobrigit corotriall brigit inslabrad cenfis donahdgaib 7 cotarut do. Orw-yfetatar nahdga is#/ atb^rtsat cofergluinde moir 7 cofuasnaid. Becc domaith diin dothr<5cairesiu fn'cach olsiat. 7 sind fen ic rich-
On the Life of St. Brigit. 79
the ground. Stakes and wattles were taken from them, and they arose not until Ailill son of Dunlaing had offered unto Brigit those hundred horse-loads ; and thereout was built Brigit's house in Kildare.
Then said Brigit —
my house
Let the kingship of Leinster for ever be From Ailill son of Dunlaing.
On a time came two lepers unto Brigit to ask an alms. Nought else was in the kitchen save a single cow. So Brigit gave the single cow to the lepers. One of the two lepers gave thanks unto God for the cow. But the other leper was displeased, for he was haughty. " I alone," saith he, " have been set at nought with a cow ! Till to-day," saith he, " O ye nuns, I have never been counted among Culdees and amongst the poor and feeble, and I am not to be slighted with a single cow." Said Brigit to the lowly leper : " Stay thou here to see whether God will put anything into the kitchen, and let that haughty leper fare forth with his cow." Then came a certain heathen having a cow for Brigit. So Brigit gave that cow to the lowly leper. And when the haughty leper went on his way he was unable to drive his cow alone, so he came back again to Brigit and to his comrade, and was reviling and blaming Brigit. " Not for God's sake," saith he, " bestowedst thou thine offering, but for mischief and oppres siveness thou gavest to me."
Thereafter the two lepers come to the Barrow. The river riseth against them. Through Brigit's blessing the lowly leper escapes with his cow. But the haughty leper and his cow fell into the stream, and went to the bottom, and were drowned.
Once upon a time the Queen of Cremthan,1 son of Ennae Cennselach, came and brought a chain of silver to Brigit as an offering. The semblance of a human shape was at one of its ends, and an apple of silver on the other end. Brigit gave it to her vir gins ; they stored it up without her knowledge, for greatly used Brigit to take her wealth and give it to the poor. Nevertheless, a leper came to Brigit, and without her virgins' knowledge, she went to the chain and gave it unto him. When the virgins knew this, they said, with much angry bitterness and wrath, "Little good have we ffom thy compassion to every one," say they, " and we ourselves in need of food and raiment." " Ye are sinning," saith
1 Slain A. D. 465, Four Masters.
8o Bet ha Brigte , Lebar Brecc, p. 6f.
tain lessa biid 7 etaig. Atathai forandagud aibrigrt ercid isineckw. baili indenaim ernaigthi. fogebthai and barslabrad. Dochuatar labr///$ir mbrig/e. acht cia doratad donbo[c]ht fuaratar nahoga andsin aslabrad.
Fecht ann itchonnairc brigit fer cosalond foramuin. cid fil fordamuin olbrigif. Clocha orinfer. Bidatclocha din oVorigit.ocus daronait clocha dontsalond. Tic doridise infer ctf/na co (no sech) bn'gti. Cid fil fordamuin olbrigif. salond arinfer. Bid salond din olbrigit. dorigne[d] salond de doridisi tr/a br/Mir mbrig/e.
Fecht ann tancatar dachlam dianicc cobrigti. dixit brigit frisindaraclam. nige araile. dorigned amlaid. 7 bahogslan foc/ze/oir. dixit \>rigit fhsinclam slan. dena fr/sinclam naile osaic 7 nige thfir chumtha. arm?/ dorignesium umaloit duitsiu. Acht inned tt?ranc«war orse ' nichomricfem. uair incoir letsu achaillech orse. misse slan ^^ballaib niiib. 7 cometach nuaglan donige inchlaim granai u[c]ut. 7 abaill dubglassa ictuitimm de. Ronig tmmurro \>rigit fen inclam nwwall trog. INclam diumsach roniged ann fortus. ised atb^rt ann darliumm orse isaible tened moidit trem- chroicend. ddniu raid immurro lobenadsum foc^eVoir dchlami oniullach achiVfr/ comcQ abonnaigib foraanumaloit dobrigtf.
Fecht naill dobrigif ictecht dolaim in epscmp cotarfas di cend buicc isincailech affrmd. Rooipdester brigit incailech "affrind. Cid orinfer graid aranoipdi. mnse isaire opdim olbrigit. Cend buicc olsi nomtadbanar isincailech zffrind. Dorogart intepscop ingilla tuc animaltoir. tabair dochoibsena agilla onntepscop. isinmatain indiu oringilla dochuadw^ iteach nangabur cotallus bocc meath ass. ocus conduzdus afeoil. rophewd ingilla 7 dorigne athr/ge. Dochuaid brigit iarsin dolaim. 7 nifacoz infuath.
ann tancater .uff. nepscmp cobrigtf 7 ni boi aiccesi n( dob^rad doib. iarmblegan namb6 fatAn'. robliged tra doridise. naba intresfecht. 7 bahuilli inas cech blegun.
Feet ann din rogab mian araile caillech domw«tir brig/e immsalond. dorigne brtgti ernaigthe coroshai incloich boi inna- fhiad«fl«je isalond 7 corohiccad inchailkfA iarsin.
On the Life of St. Brigit. 81
Brigit : " Go ye into the church : the place wherein I make prayer, there will ye find your chain." They went at Brigit's word. But, though it had been given to the poor man, the virgins found their chain therein.
Once upon a time Brigit beheld a man with salt on his back. " What is that on thy back ?" saith Brigit : " Stones," saith the man. " Let them be stones then," saith Brigit, and of the salt stones were made. The same man again cometh to (or past) Brigit. " What is that on thy back ?" saith Brigit : " Salt," saith the man. " It shall be salt then," saith Brigit. Salt was made again thereof through Brigit's word.
On a time came two lepers unto Brigit to be healed. Said Brigit to one of the two lepers : " Wash thou the other." Thus was it done, and he was quite sound forthwith. Said Brigit to the sound leper : " Bathe and wash thy comrade even as he did service unto thee." " Besides the time that we have [already] come together," says he, " we will never come together, for it is not fair for thee, O nun, (to expect) me, a sound man with fresh limbs and fresh clean raiment, to wash that loathsome leper there, with his livid limbs falling out of him." However, Brigit herself washed the poor, lowly leper. The haughty leper who had been washen first, then spake, " Meseems," saith he, " that sparks of fire are break ing through my skin." Swifter than speech he was straightway smitten with leprosy from the crown of his head to his soles, because of his disobedience to Brigit.
Another time as Brigit was going to confess to the bishop there was shewn to her a he-goat's head in the mass-chalice. Brigit refused the chalice. " Why," saith the ecclesiastic, " dost thou refuse it ?" " Not hard to say," saith Brigit, " this is why I refuse : the head of a he-goat is shewn unto me in the chalice." The bishop called the gillie who brought the imaltoir (credence- table ?) " Make thy confessions, O gillie," saith the bishop. " This very morning," saith the gillie, " I went to the goat-house, and took thereout a fat he-goat, and his flesh I ate." The gillie did penance and repented. Brigit thereafter went to confession, and saw not the semblance.
Once upon a time came seven bishops to Brigit, and she had nought to give them after milking the cows thrice. So the cows were milked again the third time, and it was greater than any milking.
Once upon a time a certain nun of Brigit's family took a longing for salt. Brigit made prayer, and the stone before her she turned into salt, and then the nun was cured.
82 Betha Brigte, Lel-ar Brecc, pp. 65*, 66*.
Fecht ann din boi bachtarA domw/rtir brig/e ocbein chonnaid. Dorala do coromarb petta sindaig larig laigen. rdhergab<&/ inbach- lach lasinrig. roforcongart brigit forsinnach nallaid taidech: caillid. tanic din comboi occlesrad 7 ocespai donaslogaib 7 donrig l&forcongra mbrig/e. Oraforba immurro insindach agnimrad dolluid slan foncaillid 7 sloig laigen et/r chois 7 ech 7 choin innadegaid.
Bado fertaib brigte .i. methel mor boi aicce ocbuain. snigis fleochad amuig life. 7 nocorfer banne inagortsi tr/a ernaigthi mbrig/e.
Ba do fertaib brigte. tv»nachais inclarenech comba. slana adasiiil.
Ba do f<?rtaib \>rigfe. tallsat merlig adamu. tuarcaib abann liphe fr/u. tancatar nadoim itech iaraabarach 7 etaige namerlech f<?rana- darcaib.
Ba do fertaib brigte. diatarla si cwjinmbandtrebthaig .i. co [p. 66*] lassair amuig chail. corusmarb loeg abo dobrigit 7 coroloisc agarmain foi. Dorigne dia forbrigtf c<7/nbahogslan inngarmain iarnabarach. 7 boi inloeg immalle
Fecht and tanic brenaind ahiarthar erenn dosaigthin
liphfe. uair bamachtad lais inclu boi forbrigi/ ifertaib ocus immirbulib. Teit brigit onacaerchuib dofailte fr/ brenaind. tanic brigit isintech. focerd acochall flinch forbunnsachaib n 7 forailangaUzr am<z/ drolu. dixit brenaind fmgilla achocholl dochor forsnabunnsacha;^ c^na. 7 focerd ingilla form cotorch<7/r dib fado. Focerd brenaind fen intres fecht lafeirg 7 lond«j cotarrasair inco- choll form.
Cotarat each dib achobas diaraile. Dixit brenaind nirbognath modul tar secht nimarib cen mo nvwmain india. Dixit brigit O doratwj mo m<rmnain oenfecht inndia. nithucwj ass et/r.
Diamboi brigif ocingaire chaerech. tanic gataige chuicce. oetis tall sfcht mulm uathi. iaraahatuch fortus. araide orohairmed intret. foiitha doridisi namuilt t/va eraaigthi mbrig/e.
0/7 the Life of St. D 83
Once upon a time a bondsman of Brigifs family was cutting firewood. It came to pass that he killed a pet fox of the King of The bondsman was seized by the King. Brigit ordered a wild fox to come out of the wood. So he came and was playing and sporting for the hosts and the King at Brigit's order. But when the fox had finished his feats he went safe back through the wood, with the hosts of Leinster behind him, both foot and horse and hound.
(This) was (one) of Brigit's miracles. She had a great band of reapers a-reaping. A rain-storm poured on the plain of Liffey. but. through Brigit's prayer, not a drop fell on her field.
(This) was (one) of Brigit's miracles. She blessed the table- faced man, so that his two eyes were whole.
;is) was (one) of Brigit's miracles. Robbers stole her oxen. The river Liffey rose against them. The oxen came home on the morrow with the robbers' clothes on their horns.
.is) was (one) of Brigit's miracles. When she came to the widow Lassair on Mag Coel, and Lassair killed her cow's calf for Brigit and burnt the beam of her loom thereunder, God so
_-ht for Brigit that the beam was whole on the morrow and the calf was along with its mother.
Once upon a time Brenainn1 came from the west of Ireland to Brigit, to the plain of Liffey. For he wondered at the fame that Brigit had in miracles and marvels. Brigit came from her sheep to welcome Brenainn. As Brigit entered the house she put her wet cloak on the rays of the sun, and they supported it like pot-hooks. Brenainn told his gillie to put his cloak on the same rays, and the gillie put it on them, but it fell from them twice. Brenainn himself put it, the third time, with anger and wrath, and the cloak staid upon them.
Each of them confessed to the other. Said Erenainn : -X. usual is it for me to go over seven ridges without (giving) my mind to God." Said Brigit : " Since I first gave my mind to God. I never took it from Him at all."3
While Brigit was herding sheep, there came a thief unto her and stole seven wethers from her, after having first besought her (for them). Nevertheless, when the flock was counted the wethers were found again (therein) through Brigit's prayer.
1 Abbot and Bishop of Clonfert, died 576.
* So in Lib. Hymn, 16 b., Goidelka, 2nd edition, p. 134.
84 Bethu Brigte, Lcbur Brecc, p. 66a.
Tan and dorigne araile fer dom««tir brig/e mid dorfg laigen. intan ioiacht inrig diachaithem. nifhtti bande de. uair tuc "brigtt dob[o]chtaib inmid uli. Atracht brigti foc^e/oir dothesorcain intsloig. corobranach innalestra 7 roptar lana focMoir domid thogaide. Ar cech ni conaitched \>rigit forsin coimdid dob<?rthea di focheloir. uair bahe asaint. sassad bocht. dichor ce^a docc#/wla. airchisecht cet^a trogi.
Mor tra dofertaib 7 domirbulib fonindussin dorinde incoimdiu fornoembrigz'/. ise aairet <wzachcumaing nech anindise. acht mine thisad aspiri// fadessin. no aingel de donim dianindisi.
Niroibe tra nech ba nairiu. nabafe"li indas innoemogsin, Ni- ronigestar riam alama nach acossa na^acend eter feraib. Nirod- fech din riam innguis1 ferscali. Nirolabra et/r cenlossi di. Bahaintech. bahendac. bahernedach. bafoitnech. bafalid itimnaib de. bacobsaid. bahuma/. badilgedach deshercach. bacomra coise- cartha coimeta chuirp cmt. batempol de. barigsuide tairisme dospir^/ noem acr?de 7 am^wma. badiuit fn'dia. batorsech dothrd^ gaib. bahetrocht hifertaib. ISairesin is^ asam<7/7 et/'r dulib. colum et?r enaib. finemain et/r fedaib. gr/an uasrennaib.
IShe ahathair nanoemoigesi. intatha/r nemda. ise am^c isu crt'st. ise ahaite inspirut noem. <wzidairesin dogni innoemogsa na mirbuli mora diairmidesi.
IShi fortoc/fc/aigess dacer^oen bis hicwwca 7 inguasacht. isf Iraethus natedmanna. isi thoirnes tonngar 7 ferg rnmara moir. isi seo bantairng<?rtaig crist. isi rigan indeisa'rt. isi muire nan- goedel,
Othanic tra c^nadedenchu dobrigit iarfothugad chell ocus chon[g]bal nimda. iarfcrtaib 7 adamraib atta h'n gainem mara. no rendai nime. iarndeirc 7 iartrocaire. Arroet commaind 7 sacar- baicc oninded lamidan. iartiachtain do ho roim letha. 7 rofdi
1 leg. ingnuis.
On. the Life of St. Brigit. 85
A certain man of Brigit's family once made (some) mead for the King of Leinster. When the King came to consume it, not a drop thereof was found, for Brigit had given all the mead to the poor. Brigit at once rose up to protect the host, and blessed the vessels, and they were at once full of choice mead. For every thing which Brigit used to ask of the Lord used to be given to her at once. For this was her desire : to feed the poor, to repel every hardship, to be gentle to every misery.
Many miracles and marvels in that wise the Lord wrought for Saint Brigit. Such is their number that no one could relate them unless her own spirit, or an angel of God, should come from heaven to relate them.
Now there never hath been any one more bashful or more modest than that holy virgin. She never washed her hands, or her feet, or her head, amongst men. She never looked into a male person's face. She never spoke without blushing. She was absti nent, innocent, liberal, patient. She was joyous in God's com mandments, steadfast, lowly, forgiving, charitable. She was a consecrated vessel for keeping Christ's Body. She was a temple of God. Her heart and her mind were a throne of rest for the Holy Ghost. Towards God she was simple : towards the wretched she was compassionate : in miracles she was splendid. There fore her type among created things is the Dove among birds, the Vine among trees, the Sun above stars.
This is the father of this holy virgin — the Heavenly Father. This is her son — Jesus Christ. This is her fosterer — the Holy Ghost : and thence it is that this holy virgin wrought these great innumerable marvels.
She it is that helpeth every one who is in straits and in danger. She it is that abateth the pestilences. She it is that quelleth the wave-voice and the wrath of the great sea. This is the prophesied woman of Christ. She is the Queen of the South.1 She is the Mary of the Gael.
Now when Brigit came to the ending-days, after founding churches and churchbuildings in plenty, after miracles and won drous deeds in number (like) sand of sea or stars of heaven, after charity and mercy, she received communion and sacrifice from Ninnid the Pure-handed,2 when he had returned from Rome of
1 Matthew, xii. 42. Luke, xi. 31.
2 Son of Echaid, Abbot of Inis-maige-sam (now Inismacsaint), an island in Lough Erne. Hearing Brigit prophesy that from his hand she should receive the viaticum on the day of her death, he enclosed it in a case of brass and kept the case continually locked, lest the hand should ever be denied. Hence the name Lum-glan or Ldm-idun. — Todd, Book of Hymns, 60, 61.
86 Betha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, p. 66a.
aspir«/ dochumm nime iarsin. Atat immurro atassi 7 arelgi isna- talm<2«daib cocadus mor. tw/ordan 7 conairechus. cofertaib ocus comfrbulib. Ata ahanimm am<z/ gre'in isinchathraig nemda etz'r classaib aingel 7 archaingel inoentaid iruphin 7 saraphin inoentaid1 mete mm're .i. insentaid nanaemtrzhoite uaisle uile athar 7 mic ocus spiral noib.
Ailim troccaire inchoimdead tria impide noembrigde coris- sam innaentaidsin insaecula sseculorum. Amen.,.
1 MS. inaentaig.
On the Life of St. Brigit. 87
Latium, and sent her spirit thereafter to heaven. But her remains .and her relics are on earth with great honour and with primacy and pre-eminence, with miracles and marvels. Her soul is like the sun in the heavenly City among quires of angels and arch angels, in union with cherubim and seraphim, in union with Mary's Son, to wit, in the union with all the Holy Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Ghost.
I beseech the Lord's mercy, through Saint Brigit's interces sion. May we all attain that union in scecula sceculorum. Amen.
III.
BETHA CHOLUIM CHILLE-
ON THE LIFE OF SAINT COLUMBA-
BETHA COLUIM CHILLE INCIPIT.
Lebar Brccc, pp. 2g,b 30.*
[E]xii de terra tua et de cognatione tua et de domo patris tui et vade in terrain quam tibi monstravero. Facaib dothir 7 dothal- main. dochoibne1 colkzi/e. 7 tathardu ridiles erumsa. 7 eirg isintir faillsigfetsa duit.
INcoimdid fen dorat incomairle cairdemailsea dochind nahzrsi forpthi 7 nacretmi comlani .i. do abraam mac tara corofacbad athir 7 atalmam fen .i. tir chaldea. 7 cotisad diaoilithre isintir rofaillsig dia do .i. tir tairngire.
Moysi immurro mac amra tdisech tuathi d£ infer rolinad drath 7 deolaidacht inspir/0 noeb ise roscrib incoibige coisecarthasa thall hingfliflris rechta. coromarad dogres iconectatf inchomairle cair- demail dorat incoimdiu fodessin do abraam doerail aelithre fair. conepert fn'ss. exi de terra. Facaib tiothir. 7 &o\.halmain e. s.
Haec quidem istoria nota est. abraham a domino praeceptum fuisse. ut terram caldeorum desereret. et terram repromisionis adiret. [p. 3Oa]. ISscel airdirc isinscrzptuir. incoimdiu fen diaerail for abraam facbail tire caldea ropathardu diles do 7 tidecA/ dia oilithre itir thairngm.2 ardaig inmaithiw^a nobiad do fen de ocus diacloind 7 diaciniud toranessi.
ISte hautem abraham caput fidei est et pater omnium fidelium sicut dicit apostolus. infer immurro diatarut dia inchomairlisea .i. abram isesside airmith^r isinscnptuir aratha/r donahuli iresechaz'3 ama/ demniges intasp^/ a?0apair. Omnes qui sunt ex fide hii sunt
1 Read dochoibnes ? a perhaps tarrngeri.
ON THE LIFE OF SAINT COLUMBA.
Exi de terra tua et de cognatione tua et de domo pair is tui et vade in terram quam tibi monstravero. ' Leave thy country and thy land, thy kindred in the flesh, and thine own home, for My sake, and get thee into the country that I will shew thee.'
The Lord God himself gave this friendly counsel unto the head of the perfect Faith and of the complete Belief, to wit, unto Abraham son of Terah, that he should leave his own country and land, to wit, the country of Chaldea, and that he should go in pilgrimage into the country which God shewed him, to wit, the Land of Promise.
Now Moses son of Amram, chief of God's people, the man who was filled with the grace and the favour of the Holy Ghost, it was he that wrote this consecrated text there in Genesis of the Law that it might abide perpetually with the Church, this friendly counsel which the Lord himself gave to Abraham to enjoin pilgrim age on him, when He said unto him : Exi de terra. ' Leave thy country and thy land for My sake.'
Haec quidem historia nota est. Abraham a Domino praeceptum fuisse ut terram Chaldeorum desereret et terram repromissionis adiret. It is an conspicuous tale in the scripture : the Lord himself enjoin ing Abraham to leave the country of Chaldea, which was his own fatherland, and to go on a pilgrimage into the Land of Promise, because of the good which was to accrue thereof to himself and to his children, and to their descendants after them.
Iste autem Abraham caput fidei est et pater omnium fidelium, sicut dicunt apostoli. The man, therefore, to whom God gave this coun sel, to wit, Abraham, it is he that is accounted in the scripture as the father of all the faithful ; as the apostle certified! and saith : Omnes qui sunt ex fide hi sunt filii Abraham. " The sons of Abra-
92 Bet ha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, p. 30*.
filii abrahae. ISiat m«c abraham iarfir arintaspe>/ nahuli nosinntam- laigend oiris forpthi.
Quod hautem patri fidelium praecipitur.1 hoc omnibus filiis eius implendum relinquitur. ut terram suam deserant et carnalem patriam derelinquant. INmaith din roerail dia sund for athazr naniresech .i. forabram. dlegar dia m<zcu inadiaid. .i. donahuli iressachu acomalliud .i. atir 7 atalmaz//. anindmas 7 anairfited ssegulta. dofhacbail arincoimdid nandula. 7 dul anseletir forpthi iarnainnsam#z7sium.
Tres hautem sunt modi uocationum. Otri modaib immurro thocuirith^r nadoine cohaichentz/.? 7 comunterus inchoimded.
primus ex deo. ise cetus inc<?7na mod .i. angr^sacht 7 anadan- nad nanddine onrath diada cotecat domognam donchoimdid iarn- desmirecht pdil 7 anntoin man0z£ 7 naman^f^ niresach archena rofognatar dodia tall isinegipt.
secundus per hominem. Tocuirth^r din nadaine onmod thah- aise tmduine .i. tre'snaproceptorib noemu prz'tchat inscrzptuir ndiada donaddinib iarndesmirechtsin poil aspwz'/ roprz'tchan dogen- tib conusiuc tr/a line intsos<:e7a dochumm puirt b^/had.
tertius ex necessetate. Tocuritlw din nadoine ontresmod tnaecentaid .i. intan chom^cnigth^r frifognum dodia trz'athreblatib 7 trza gvassachtu bais. no trza deliugud fn'snamaithib aimserda imbit. iarndesmb<?rechtsin popuil israel. rochomthoi com^icc cosin- comdid hoadrad hidal 7 zrracht iarnacomecnugw^ onatreblatib ocus onadoccomla fuaratar onacinedaib echtrandai amal indist<?r isin- scrzptuir noem. Hinc dabt'd dicit. conid diaforcellsin atb^z'r infaith dabid. Clamauerunt ad dominum cum tribulabantur et de necesse- tatibus eorum liberauit eos. Ofogebed pop«/ isr^l tr^blati ocus guassachtu mora. ^guided 7 noaitched incomdid corosaerad iat donadoccomlaibsin.
Abraam ergo diuina gratia instinctus mandatum quod fuerat ei imperatum a domino impleuit. et exit in carran in qua mortfu] us es/ pater eius et inde transmigrant in terram repromisionis. Abram din cend nahirsi forpthi 7 nacretmi comlani. orogrased onrath diada rochomaill intimna xoforcongrad onchomdid fair .i. dochuaid hitir chaldea cocarran airm inepilt aathair. 7 tanic asside cotir thairngire.
Tribus hautem modis patria deseritwr. uno inutili et duobus utilibus. Aidt immurro tnVrnaile ofacaib nech aathardai intan
1 Facs. praecipltum.
On the Life of St. Columla. 93
ham, in truth, saith the apostle, are all who resemble him in per fect faith."
Quod hautem patri fidelium praeceptum hoc omnibus filiis ejus implendum relinquitur, ut terrain suam deserant et carnalem patriam derelinquant. The good, then, which God enjoined here on the father of the faithful, to wit, on Abraham, it is incumbent on his sons after him, namely, on all the faithful, to fulfil it, to wit, to leave their country and their land, their wealth and worldly delight, for the sake of the Lord of the Elements, and to go into perfect pilgrimage in imitation of him.
Tres autem sunt modi vocationis. Now, in three ways are men folk cited to the knowledge and to the friendship of the Lord.
Primus ex deo. The first way is the urging and the kindling of men by the Divine Grace till they come to serve the Lord, after the example of Paul, and Antony the monk, and of the other faith ful monks who served God there in Egypt.
Secundus per hominem. Men-folk, again, are cited in the second way, through a human being, to wit, through the holy preachers who preach the divine scripture to the men-folk after that example of Apostle Paul, who preached to the Gentiles until he brought them by the line of the Gospel to the harbour of Life.
Tertius ex necessitate. Men-folk, then, are cited in the third way through necessity, that is, when they are constrained to serve God through tribulations and through dangers of death, or by separation from the temporal good wherein they sojourn, after that example of the people of Israel, who often returned to the Lord from the worship of idols and images after being constrained by the tribula tions and hardships which they met with from the outland tribes ; as is told in the Holy Scripture : Hinc David dicit. Wherefore to pro claim that, the Prophet David declareth : Clamaverunt ad dominum cum tribulabantur et de necessitatibus eorum liberavit eos. Whenever the people of Israel underwent tribulations and great dangers, they used to beseech and pray the Lord to free them from those hardships.
Abraham, ergo, &c. Abraham, therefore, the head of the perfect Faith and of the complete Belief, when he was urged by the Divine Grace, fulfilled the command which was enjoined on him by the Lord, to wit, he went into the country of Chaldea as far as Haran, where his father died, and he came thereout to the Land of Promise.
Tribus autem modi's patria deseritur uno mutili, et duobus utili- bus. Now, three ways there are in which one leaveth his father-
94 Betha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, pp. 30* — 3ob.
teit inaelethir. 7 ata oen dibside arna fagabar fochmicc odia 7 ado arafagabar. Aliquando enim patria corpore tantum relinquitur. nee mens a carnalibus studiis alienatur. nee bona opera appetuntur .i. tan and facbaid nech aathardai ochurp nama 7 nietarscarann arn^wma fhpecdaib 7 dualchib. 7 nisantaig sualchi nasognim dode- nam. IN tali ergo perigrinatione nihil nisi afflictio corporis fit.1 nullus uero anime perfectus. INaelithre iarum dognith<?r zmlai'd sin nifhasand ditorad no tarbai donanmain. acht ssethar 7 imlvad cuirp codimain. arissvail atharbai doneoch ergi aath<2rda mine d^rnai maith nahecmais. Nam et postquam abraham corpore patria exivit2 tune et dominus dixit. Uair cid abraham fen isiarfacb^/7 do athire dilis 7 isiarneterscara/ friss iarcurp dorat incoimdiu incomarlise do. conepert. exi de terra tua. ben docheill bud^/a dotir 7 dota\mam. 7 nabid donvwma rahimpod ris doridise. Acsi aperte [p. 3Ob] diceret. Carnalia uitia patriae in qua fueras corpore. mente simul et corpore deuita. ama/ bided atb^rad dia fein cufollwj rehabraam. imgaib ochurp 7 oanmain osund amach itailithri pecdai 7 dualchi intire inroatrebais inallana iarcurp. vair isinann doneoch 7 «0aittrebad innaatharda dianinntamlaiged besa aath^rda inaaili- thri. Non enim in uia pedum sed in uia morum proximatur ad dominum. Uair nocon oset choss no oimluad cuirp chomfocsiges nech dodia. acht istrza denam sobes 7 sualach.
Aliquando mente tantum patria relinquitur. et non corpore. sicut sunt quidam qui quamuis in patria peragunt uitam regione. patriam tamen uiuendo carnaliter non norunt. sed iustis causis quibusdam cogentibus in suis locis manent habitantes quasi non habitant^. Fecht aile immurro facaib nech aathardai dduthra^/ cn'de 7 mmman cencofacaib ochurp. am#/ docuirith<?r donahord- nigib tdchathit ambetha inatirib fen cobas. arnosfastat tuatha ocus ecl^i isnafera««aib imbit formet atarba dochach. 7 vair na^ archol-. laidecht tairisit inanath^rdai gebid acainduthm^/ greim noilithir doib iconchomdid.
Aliquando mente 7 corpore. ut sunt hii quibus dicitur. Fecht aile tra foccaib nech a afhardai cocomlzn ochurp 7 oanmain am<z/ f<?racsat indaps/#z7. 7 lucht nahailithrz' forpthi diarotharngir incoim diu mormaith isinsosce/a. dianerbairt. Uos qui dereliquistis omnia
1 Facs. sit. a Facs. exisit.
On the Life of St. Columba. 95
land when he goeth into pilgrimage, and there is one of these for which no reward is gotten from God, and two for which (reward) is gotten. Aliquando enim patria corpore tantum relinqui- tur, nee mens a carnalibus studiis alienatur, nee bond opera appetuntur. Sometimes a person leaveth his fatherland in the body only, and his mind severeth not from sins and vices, and he desireth not to practise virtues or good deeds. In tali ergo per egrinatione nihilnisi afflidio corporis fit, nullus vero animce perfedus. The pilgrimage, therefore, that is made in that wise, there groweth thereof neither fruit nor profit to the soul ; but it is a labour and disturbance of the body in idleness, for it little profiteth a man to abandon his fatherland if he doeth not good away from it. Nam et post- quam Abraham corpore patria cxivit tune et Dominus dixit. For even unto Abraham himself, on leaving his own country and on separating from it in the body, the Lord gave this counsel, when He said : Exi de terra tua. ' Take thy heed henceforth off ' country and land, and let not thy mind be for turning thereto again.' Acsi aperte diceret carnalia vitia patria in qua fueras cor pore, mente simul et corpore devita, as if what God himself had mani festly said to Abraham was — ' Shun both in body and soul hence forth, in thy pilgrimage, the sins and vices of the land wherein thou hast hitherto dwelt in the body ; for it is the same to anyone as if he still dwelt in his home should he copy in his pilgrim age the customs of his home.' Non enim in via pedum sed in via morum proximatur ad Dominum. For it is not by path of feet, nor by motion of body, that one draws nigh to God, but it is through practice of good customs and virtues.
Aliquando mente tantum patria relinquitur. Another time, a person leaveth his home in desire of heart and of mind, though he leaveth not in the body, as it happens to the ordained, who spend their lives in their own countries till death, for laymen and clergy1 detain them in the lands wherein they dwell, because of their great profitableness to all ; and since it is not for the sake of the body they abide in their fatherland, their good will availeth them with the Lord as a pilgrimage.
Aliquando mente et corpore, ut stint hi quibus dicitur. At another time, then, a man leaveth his fatherland completely in body and in soul, even as the twelve Apostles left, and those of the perfect pilgrimage for whom the Lord foretold great good in the gospel,
1 Lit. ' territories and churches.'
96 Betha Clioluim Chille, helar Brecc, p. 30 b.
propter me. patrem et matrem uxorem filios et filias agrum et omnia quae habere potuistis centuplum accipietis in hoc seculo. et uitam eternam in future. Denaid airithe de seo olfsu. uathad sochaide rothrecsib formsa bartir 7 bar coibnes collat'de. barselb 7 barnoib- nius saegulla cofuidbi1 ac<?7 coibes domaith vaimsea ifw isintssegul 7 isin b^Maid suthain tall iarfuigell bratha.
Hii sunt ueri perigrini qui cum psalmista possunt dicere. ISiatso lucht nahoilit^rz' cdmlani iarfir. isanapersaind atb«?rt infaith iccomaidem 7 icatlugud dodia. Aduena sum apud te domine et perigrinus sicut omnes per mundum. Bmm abuide ritt ade arin- faith isailit^n' 7 isdeoraidecht dam isintssegul iarninntsama// nasruthi remtechtach.
Soch«2(/e tra domogadaib dilsi inchoimded et/r petarlaicc ocus nufiadwtfzVe rochomaillset coforpthi incomairle chaintarbachsa .i. fcracsat ati'r 7 atalmam. anathtzrdai 7 acoibnes collaide. arincoim- did nandula. 7 dochotar inoilit^rz' toltanaig2 itirib ciana comaw- chuib. feib rochomaill 7 foracaib aduchustalw^zh. argrad 7 vaman inchoimded. intardnoem 7 intardecnaid 7 mmac toga dodia diata lith 7 foraithmet inecmo/zg innareesea 7 na haimsire. id est sanctus prespiter columba .i. vasalsacart innse goedel. inchoer comraicc roheccrad othallnib 7 odanaib examlu inspir/^ noem .i. intii noemchol#/rc cilk mac iiftiwithe.
isann immurro celebrait nacm/aztfe lith 7 sollamain aetsechta colui'm cille hiqamtid iuin arai lathi mis grene cefl&abliadfe* isinla- thise indiu, 7 rl.
INdisit immurro ecnaide nangoedel indinbuidsin cecfabliadtie becan cwwbair donfoilsiug^3 socheneoil 7 sserchlanda^/a noim- cholm'm ct'lle. 7 din donafertaib 7 donamirbulib diairmide doroine incoimdiu aire ifW isintsaegul. 7 donforbai 7 donforciund tsaine- mail dorat fadeoid forarith mbvadai .i. roc^tain coafirathardai ocus coafirduchus fen .i. cohattr^ parrduis ifr^cnarcwj de cosir.
1 Read cofuigbthi ?
2 MS. toltanaid.
3 Facs. donforoilsiugwrf.
On the Life of St. Columla. 97
when he said : Vos qui dereliquistis omm'a propter me, &c. " Take heed of this," saith Jesus, [" ye] few of many who have forsaken for me your land and your fleshly kindred, your wealth and your worldly happiness, that ye shall receive an hundred-fold of good from me here in the world and in the life everlasting yonder after the sentence of Doom."
Hi sunt vert peregrini qui cum psalmista possunt dicere : These are they of the perfect pilgrimage in truth, it is in their person that the prophet spake in praise and in thanks to God. Advena sum apudte, domine, et peregrinus sicut omnes per mundum. " I give thee thanks for it, O God," saith the prophet, " I have pilgrimage and exile in the world even as the elders who went before."
Many of the faithful servants of the Lord, both in the Old Law and the New Testament, fulfilled perfectly this kindly profit able counsel, to wit, they left their country and their land, their home and their kindred in the flesh, for sake of the Lord of the Elements, and they went into willing pilgrimage in far-off lands with monks, even as he fulfilled it and left his native country for the love and fear of the Lord, he the high saint and the high sage and the son chosen of God, for whom there is a festi val and commemoration at the occurrence of this season and of this time, to wit, sanctus presbyter Columba, to wit, the noble priest of the Island of the Gael, the focal ball1 which was inlaid with the diverse talents and gifts of the Holy Ghost, to wit, the holy Colomb Cille son of Fedilmith.
The time at which the Christians celebrate the festival and hightide of Colombcille's death is on the fifth of the ides of June, as to the day of the solar month, every year on this very day.
Now, the wise men of the Gael relate at that season every year a small abridgment of the setting-forth of the noble kin and noble descent of holy Colombcille, and of the marvels and miracles innumerable which the Lord wrought for him here in the world, and of the completion and special end which he gave at last to his victorious career, namely, the attaining to his true home and his own true native country, to the abode of Paradise in the presence of God forever.
1 Caer comraic was a ball, or something in which various colours met at a common centre. — E. C.
98 Bet ha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, pp. 3ob, 31*.
Uasal \ra acene'l coluim citte illeth intscegail .i. dochen/1 con&\\\ meic neill atacomnaic. Toich do rige nerenn iarcenel 7 tarc«j do minasleced fen vada ardia.
din cwwbad mac toga dodia he. vair bator sruthi erenn ocathairc^/ul renagenemain.
Dorarngert ceius sinnser sacart nerenn .i. seanmochtai lugbaid inti[p. 3ia] colum cille cet mbliadan renagenemain. vair fechtus dolluid achoic mochta. mac rith aainm. 7 coad cno inalaim do. ftwerbairt mochta friss. nilemsa olse inferann asatartha nacnoi sin. taisig iat coti inti isaferann. Cuin doraga sin ol incoicc. ICind cet mbliadan armochta.
Nognathaiged din. mochta aaiged fothuaid acairnaigthe. nafiarfaigiti's am««ter de cid arandenad sin ut dixit fr/u.
Macan gignith^r atuaid
latwrcbail nambitho.
torthigeid eriu an breo
ocus alba, doinech do.
Dorarngert tra zthair baitse 7 forcefail nangoedel .i. patraic. diamboi ocbetmzchad conaill isfth seda. intan rofurim adilaim ior con&\\ 7 foramac for krgus mac conaill .i. alam dess for cend fergwja 7 alam chle for [cend] conaill. Romoc^/naig comll sin. 7 roiar- faig1 de cid ararsamaig2 alamu &mal siut. ut dixit patnhkr inrannsa
Genfid rmzccan diafine bid sui bid faith bid file 7 rl. Bid sui 7 bid craibdech bid abb larig narigrath bid bvan 7 bid bithmaith rombia imbithlaith diadidnad Dorinchan ira \>rigit £0«epert
Maccan eithne toebfotai sech isbal isblathugw^ colum cille can cenon nirbo rom arathug«</.
1 MS' roiarfaid. "^
On the Life of St. Columla. 99
Noble, in sooth, was the kin of Colombcille as regards the world, to wit, of the kin of Conall son of Niall, is he. He had in right of kin, a choice of the sovranty of Ireland, and it would have been given to him had he himself not put it from him for sake of God.
It is manifest, moreover, that he was a chosen son of God, be cause Ireland's elders had been prophesying of him before his birth. Firstly, the eldest of the priests of Ireland, namely, old Moch- tai1 of Louth, foretold Colombcille an hundred years before his birth ; for once upon a time Mochta's cook (Macrith was his name)2 came to him with a dish of nuts in his hand for him, whereupon Mochta said to him: "To me belongeth not the land whence those nuts have been brought. Keep them until he whose land it is shall come." " When will he come?" saith the cook. "At the end of a hundred years," saith Mochta.
Mochta, again, was wont to turn his face to the north when praying. His household would ask him why he did so, and he said to them, —
" A manchild will be born in the north
At the uprising of the
Ireland grows fruitful, (a splendid flame)
And Scotland his."
The father of the baptism and teaching of the Gael, name ly Patrick, when he was blessing Conall at Si'th Aeda, then he placed his two hands on Conall and on his son Fergus son of Conall, to wit, his right hand on the head of Fergus and his left on the head of Conall. Conall wondered thereat, and he asked him why he placed his hands in that wise, so Patrick sang this stave : —
" A manchild shall be born of his family, He will be a sage, a prophet and a poet, &c.3 He will be a sage, and he will be pious, He will be an abbot with the King of the royal ramparts, He will be steadfast and he will be ever good, He will be in the eternal kingdom for his consolation. Brigit foretold him and said : — " Manchild of longsided Ethne, He is bright, he is a blossoming, Colombcille, clear without blemish, It was not over soon to perceive him."
1 Adamnan's Maucteus, a Briton.
a See Vita S. Maccratii, ad u Aug. Colg. Tr. Th. 449 a. a. 14.
* Vide supra, p. 41.
ioo Betha Choluim Chille, Lebar Brecc, p. 31*.
Dora[r]ngir tra espw eogain arda sratha dlanep<?rt. Mac be'rthar dofe'dlimid bid mind fbrcechcleir fedhiwid mac fergus[a] maic conaill male n&ll
Dorarngir tra boite mac bro*naig invair aetsechtai intff colut'm cille conepertfn'amuntir.1
Rogenair