The Latin Irish Lives of Ciaran | Page 6

LB VG XXX. The adventure of the robbers of Loch Erne -- 7 -- XXXI. How Ciaran floated a firebrand on the lake -- 10 -- XXXII. Ciaran in Aran 22 11 24 XXXIII. How a prophecy was fulfilled 12 -- 25 XXXIV. How Ciaran visited Senan 23 12 26 XXXV. Ciaran in Isel 24 13 28 XXXVI. The removal of the lake 25 14 29 XXXVII. Ciaran departs from Isel 26 -- 30 XXXVIII. Ciaran in Inis Aingin 27 15 31 XXXIX. The coming of Oenna 28 16 32 XL. How Ciaran recovered his gospel 29 -- 33 XLI. How Ciaran went from Inis Aingin to Clonmacnois 30 17 34
The difference of opinion as to the setting of incident XXXIII is to be noted. Also noteworthy is the absence of any reference to a second visit to Senan, though such is postulated in the lives of the latter saint.
=D.= The fourth phase covers the time--according to all our texts a few months, according to other authorities some years--intervening between the foundation of Clonmacnois and the death of Ciaran. The traditions of LA and VG here run along the same lines; LB is curiously diverse. There are in all twelve incidents, namely--
LA LB VG XLII. The foundation of the church 31 -- 35 XLIII. How Ciaran sent a cloak to Senan 32 -- 27 XLIV. Ciaran and the wine 34 18 36 XLV. The story of Crithir 33 -- 37 XLVI. How an insult to Ciaran was averted -- 19 -- XLVII. How Ciaran was saved from shame -- 20 -- XLVIII. How a man was saved from robbers -- 21 -- XLIX. The death of Ciaran 35 22 38 L. The visit of Coemgen 36 -- 39 LI. _The earth of Ciaran's tomb delivers Colum Cille from a whirlpool_ 37 23 -- LII. The envy of the saints -- -- 40 LIII. Panegyrics of Ciaran 38 24 41
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THE FIRST LATIN LIFE OF SAINT CIARAN
_Here beginneth the Life of Saint Kiaranus,[1] Abbot and Confessor._
II. THE ORIGIN AND BIRTH OF CIARAN: THE WIZARD'S PROPHECIES
1. The holy abbot Kyaranus sprang from the people of the Latronenses, which are in the region of Midhe, that is, in the middle of Ireland. His father, who was a cart-wright, was called Beonnadus; now the same was a rich man; and he took him a wife by name Derercha, of whom he begat five sons and three daughters. Of these there were four priests and one deacon, who were born in this order, with these names--the first Lucennus, the second Donanus, the third that holy abbot Kyaranus, the fourth Odranus, the fifth Cronanus, who was the deacon. Also the three daughters were named Lugbeg, and Raichbe, and Pata. Lugbeg and Raichbe were two holy virgins; Pata, however, was at first married, but afterwards she was a holy widow. Now inasmuch as the wright Beonedus himself was grievously burdened by the imposts of Ainmireach King of Temoria, he, eluding the pressure of the impost, departed from his own region, that is from the coasts of Midhe, into the territories of the Conactha. There he dwelt in the plain of Aei, with the king Crimthanus; and there he begat Saint Kyaranus, whose Life this is.
Now his birth was prophesied by a wizard of the aforesaid king, who said, before all the folk, "The son who is in the womb of the wife of Beoedus the wright shall be had in honour before God and before men; as the sun shineth in heaven so shall he himself by his holiness shine in Ireland." Afterwards Saint Kyaranus was born in the province of the Connachta, namely in the plain of Aei, in the stronghold called Raith Crimthain; and he was baptized by a certain holy deacon who was called Diarmaid in the Scotic [= Irish] tongue; but afterwards he was named Iustus, for it was fitting that a "just one" should be baptized by a "Iustus." And Saint Ciaran was reared with his parents in the aforesaid place, and by all things the grace of God was manifested within him.
III. HOW CIARAN RAISED THE STEED OF OENGUS FROM DEATH
2. One day the best horse of Aengussius, son of the aforesaid King Crimhthanus, died suddenly, and he was greatly distressed at the death of his best horse. Now when in sorrow he had fallen asleep, in his dreams a shining man appeared to him, saying to him, "Sorrow not concerning thy horse, for among you there is a boykin [_puerulus_], Saint Kiaranus son of Beoedus the wright, who by God's grace can quicken thy horse. Let him pour water into the mouth of the horse, with prayer, and upon its face, and forthwith it shall arise sound. And do thou bestow a gift on the boy for