The Latin Irish Lives of Ciaran | Page 6

this he removes to Inis Aingin,
now Hare Island in Loch Ree, which is his last halting-place before
reaching his goal at Clonmacnois. There are twelve incidents. The first
forms incident 13 of LC, which then breaks off; this text therefore no
longer requires a special column. The wander-years end with 548, the
year of the saint's arrival at Clonmacnois.
LA 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
* * * * *

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