Voyage of St Brendan

tr. O’Donoghue, 1893

3. Their First Discovery of Land

Their first discovery of land

At the end of forty days, when all their provisions were spent, there appeared towards the north, an island very rocky and steep. When they drew near it, they saw its cliffs upright like a wall, and many streams of water rushing down into the sea from the summit of the island; but they could not discover a landing-place for the boat. Being sorely distressed with hunger and thirst, the brethren got some vessels in which to catch the water as it fell; but St. Brendan cautioned them: “Brothers! do not a foolish thing; while God wills not to show us a landing-place, you would take this without His permission; but after three days the Lord Jesus Christ will show His servants a secure harbour and resting-place, where you may refresh your wearied bodies.”

When they had sailed round the island for three days, they descried, on the third day, about the hour of none, a small cove, where the boat could enter; and St. Brendan forthwith arose and blessed this landing-place, where the rocks stood on every side, of wonderful steepness like a wall. When all had disembarked and stood upon the beach, St. Brendan directed them to remove nothing from the boat, and then there appeared a dog, approaching from a bye-path, who came to fawn upon the saint, as dogs are wont to fawn upon their masters. “Has not the Lord,” said St. Brendan, “sent us a goodly messenger; let us follow him;” and the brethren followed the dog, until they came to a large mansion, in which they found a spacious hall, laid out with couches and seats, and water for washing their feet. When they had taken some rest, St. Brendan warned them thus: “Beware lest Satan lead you into temptation, for I can see him urging one of the three monks, who followed after us from the monastery, to a wicked theft. Pray you for his soul, for his flesh is in Satan’s power.”

The mansion where they abode had its walls hung around with vessels made of various metals, with bridle-bits and horns inlaid with silver.

St. Brendan ordered the serving brother to produce the meal which God had sent them; and without delay the table was laid with napkins, and with white loaves and fish for each brother. When all had been laid out, St. Brendan blessed the repast and the brethren: “Let us give praise to the God of heaven, who provideth food for all His creatures.” Then the brethren partook of the repast, giving thanks to the Lord, and took likewise drink, as much as they pleased. The meal being finished, and the divine office discharged, St. Brendan said: “Go to your rest now; here you see couches well dressed for each of you; and you need to rest those limbs overwearied by your labours during our voyage.”

When the brethren had gone to sleep, St. Brendan saw the demon, in the guise of a little black boy, at his work, having in his hands a bridle-bit, and beckoning to the monk before mentioned: then he rose from his couch, and remained all night in prayer.

When morning came the brethren hastened to perform the divine offices, and wishing to take to their boat again, they found the table laid for their meal, as on the previous day; and so for three days and nights did God provide their repasts for His servants. Afterwards St. Brendan set out on his journey with the brethren, first cautioning them not to take away any property from the island. “God forbid,” said they, “that any of us should dishonour our journey by theft;” whereupon St. Brendan said: “Behold the brother of whom I spoke to you on yesterday has concealed in his bosom a silver bridle-bit which the devil gave him last night.” When the brother in question heard this he cast away the bridle-bit out of his bosom, and fell at the feet of the saint, crying aloud: “O father, I am guilty; forgive me, and pray that my soul may not be lost;” and all the brethren cast themselves on the ground earnestly beseeching the Lord for his soul’s sake. When they rose from the ground, and St. Brendan had raised up the guilty brother, they all saw a little black boy leap out of his bosom, howling loudly: “Why, O man of God, do you expel me from my abode, where I have dwelt for seven years, and drive me away, as a stranger, from my secure possession?” Then St. Brendan said: “I command thee, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that thou injure no man until the day of judgment;” and turning to the penitent brother, he told him to prepare without delay to receive the body and blood of the Lord, for that his soul would soon depart from his body, and that there would be his burial-place; but that the other brother who accompanied him from the monastery would be buried in hell. Soon after the soul of the brother who received the Holy Viaticum departed this life, and was taken up to heaven by angels of light in the sight of his brethren, who gave him Christian burial in that place.

St. Brendan and the brethren came to the shore where the boat lay, and embarked at once; whereupon a young man presented himself to them, bearing a basket full of loaves of bread and a large bottle of water, and said: “Accept this blessing from your servant, for a long way lies before you ere you obtain the comfort you seek; but this bread and water will not fail you from this day until Pentecost.” Under this blessing they sailed forth upon the ocean, partaking of food only every second day, while the boat was borne along in divers directions, until one day they came within view of an island, not far off, towards which they sailed with a favourable wind.

The Palace on the Island

Right before them there,
A noble castle, large and fair,
Like kingly hall, most rich to see,
Or emperor’s palace—royally
Within, without was it arrayed—
The walls of hardest opal made,
The palace marble, pure and bright
(No wood was there), and dazzling light
Of gems and gold shone gorgeously
From the inlaid walls, and joyfully
They entered,—but their marvelling
Was that they found no living thing;
Then to the topmost tower they hied,
But human being ne’er espied.
Now in the palace Brendan stood;
Then sate him down in wondering mood,
Looking around, and then he said:
“Brethren, for our support and aid,
Seek ye if aught of food is here.”
They sought, and found with gladsome cheer
Both food and drink most plentiful,
And silver vessels beautiful
As ere could be, and golden too,
Fairer than aught that man could view;
With daintiest cheer the stores abound,
Whate’er they wished for, that they found;
So gladly sate they down to dine,
But praising first that hand divine
That led them hither o’er the sea,
And prayed His mercy large and free.

Anglo-Norman Trouvere.