The Latin Irish Lives of Ciaran | Page 8

the timber to which the
fastening was hanging, and thus it broke its head. Its head being broken
and the brains scattered, the dog expired. When they saw this they
feared greatly.
X. HOW CIARAN WAS DELIVERED FROM ROBBERS
7. On another day certain robbers, coming from a foreign region, found
Saint Kiaranus alone, reading beside his herds; and they thought to slay
him and to reave his herds. But as they came toward him with that
intent, they were smitten with blindness, and could move neither hand
nor foot till they had wrought repentance, praying him for their sight.

Then the dutiful shepherd, seeing them turned from their wickedness,
prayed for them, and forthwith they were loosed and their sight restored
(_soluti sunt in lumine suo_). And they returned and offered thanks,
and told this to many.
XI. HOW CIARAN GAVE A GIFT OF CATTLE
8. One day a certain poor man came to Saint Kyeranus, and begged of
him a cow. Then Saint Kieranus asked of his mother that a cow should
be given to the poor man; but his mother would not hearken unto him.
When Saint Kieranus saw this, he made the poor man accompany him
out of doors with the herds, and there he gave unto him a good cow
with her calf. Now the calf itself was between two kine, and both of
them had a care for it; and as the dutiful boy knew that the second cow
would be of no service without the calf, he gave them both, with their
calf, to the poor man. For these, on the following day, four kine were
gifted to Saint Kiaranus by other folk as an alms, and these he gave to
his mother as she was chiding him. Then he exhorted his mother in
reasonable manner, and she was thereafter in awe of him.
XII. HOW CIARAN GAVE A GIFT OF A PLOUGH-COULTER
9. Saint Kiaranus on another day gave the coulter of his uncle Beoanus
to a certain poor man, for which likewise on another day he received
four coulters. For four smiths came from the steading called Cluain
Cruim, with four coulters, which they delivered for an alms to Saint
Kyaranus; and these the holy boy restored to him for his coulter.
XIII. HOW CIARAN GAVE A GIFT OF AN OX
10. On another day Saint Kyaranus gave the ox of the same uncle to a
man who begged for it. And he said unto him, "Son, how shall I be able
to plough to-day, seeing that thou hast given mine ox to another?" To
him responded the holy boy, "Set thou to-day thy horse with the oxen
in the plough, and to-morrow thou shalt have oxen enough." Forthwith
the horse, set under the yoke with the oxen, in place of the ox that had
been given, became tame; and the whole day it ploughed properly
under the yoke, like an ox. On the following day four oxen were gifted

for an alms to Saint Kiaranus, and these he delivered to his uncle
instead of his ox. For men who heard and saw the great signs wrought
by Saint Kyaranus were wont to beg for his prayers, and to offer
oblations unto him.
XIV. HOW CIARAN GAVE THE KING'S CAULDRON TO
BEGGARS, AND WAS ENSLAVED
11. One day the father of Saint Kiaranus bore a royal vessel from the
house of King Furbithus, to keep it for some days. Now the king
treasured that vessel. But Saint Kiaranus delivered that vessel of the
king to certain poor men who asked an alms in Christ's name, as he had
nothing else. When the king heard this, his anger was kindled mightily,
and he commanded that Saint Kiaranus should be enslaved to his
service. And so for this cause was blessed Kiaranus led into captivity,
and was a slave in the house of King Furbithus. A task chosen for its
severity was laid upon him, namely, to turn the quern-stone daily for
making flour. But in wondrous wise Saint Kiaranus used to sit and read
beside the quern-stone, and the quern-stone used to turn swiftly of itself,
without the hand of man, and to grind corn before all the folk. For the
angels of God were grinding for Saint Kyaranus, unseen of men. And
after no long time a certain man of the province of Mumenia, that is, of
the people of the Desi, who was called Hiernanus, stirred up by divine
favour, came with two most excellent vessels, like unto the vessel of
that king, of the same sort and the same use, and gifted them in alms to
Saint Kiaranus. When the king heard the miracle of the quern-stone, he
accepted those two vessels, and gave his liberty to Saint Kiaranus; for
beforetime