Voyage of St Brendan

tr. O’Donoghue, 1893

8. They are Miraculously Saved from Destruction

They are miraculously saved from destruction

THE venerable father remained here for the appointed time, and then ordered the brethren to make ready the boat, and to fill all the water vessels from the fountain When the boat was launched, the procurator met them in his boat laden with provisions, which he quickly transferred into the boat of the man of God; and, with a parting embrace, returned whence he had come; but the saint sailed forth into the ocean, and the boat was borne along for the space of forty days.

One day a fish of enormous size appeared swimming after the boat, spouting foam from its nostrils, and ploughing through the waves in rapid pursuit to devour them. Then the brethren cried out to the Lord: “O Lord, who hast made us, deliver us, Thy servants;” and to St. Brendan they cried aloud: “Help, O father, help us;” and the saint besought the Lord to deliver His servants, that this monster may not devour them, while he also sought to give courage to the brethren in these words: “Fear not, you of little faith; for God, who is always our protector, will deliver us from the jaws of this monster, and from every other danger.” When the monster was drawing near, waves of immense size rushed on before it, even up to the gunwale of the boat, which caused the brethren to fear more and more; but St. Brendan, with hands upraised to heaven, earnestly prayed: “Deliver, O Lord, Thy servants, as Thou didst deliver David from the hands of the giant Goliah, and Jonas from the power of the great whale.”

When these prayers were uttered, a great monster came into view from the west, and rushing against the other, spouting flame from its mouth, at once attacked it. Then St. Brendan spoke: “Behold, my children, the wonderful work of our Saviour; see here the obedience of the creature to its Creator: await now the end in safety, for this conflict will bring no evil to us, but only greater glory to God.” Thereupon the rueful monster that pursued the servants of God is slain, and cut up in their presence into three parts, and its victor returned whence it came.

Next day they saw at a distance an island full of herbage and of wide extent. When they drew near it, and were about to land, they found the hinder portion of the monster that was slain. “Behold,” said St. Brendan, “what sought to devour you. Do you now make your food of it, and fill yourselves abundantly with its flesh, for you will have a long delay upon this island. Draw the boat higher up on the land, and seek out a suitable place whereon to fix our tent.”

When the father had selected a site for their tent, and the brethren had, in compliance with his directions, placed therein the requisite fittings, he said to them: “Take now, of this monster’s flesh, sufficient provision for three months, as this night will its carcass be devoured by the great fishes of the sea.” The brethren acted accordingly, and took as much of its flesh as was needed; but they said to St. Brendan: “Holy father, how can we live here without water to drink?” “Is it more difficult,” said the saint, “for the Almighty to give us water than to give us food? Go to the southern side of the island, and there you will find a spring of clear water and abundance of herbs and roots, of which you will take a supply sufficient for your wants.” And they found everything as the man of God had told them.

St. Brendan remained on this island for three months, for violent storms prevailed at sea, and severe stress of weather, from hail and rain. The brethren went to see what had become of the remains of the great monster, of which the saint had spoken; and they found, where its carcass had lain, only its bones, as the father had told them; and when they mentioned this to him: “If you needed to test the truth of my words,” said he, “I will give you another sign; this night will a large part of a fish, breaking loose from a fisher’s net, be cast ashore here, and to-morrow you will have your repast on it.” Next day they went to the place indicated, and finding there what the man of God had foretold, brought away as much fish as they could carry. The venerable father then said to them: “Keep this carefully, and salt it, for it will be much needed, as the Lord will grant calm weather to-day and to-morrow; and on the third day, when the turbulence of the sea and the waves will have subsided, we will take our departure from this island.”

The Conflict of Sea-monsters

Toward them a serpent of the sea
Rushed swift as wind most savagely—
The fire that from his nostrils came
Was like the roaring furnace flame,
Unmeasured was his length, I trew—
His very breadth was huge enew,
Full fifteen feet, and all around him
The waves were seething. Nought could found him,
He near the frighted pilgrims drew;
Then Brendan spoke, right bold and true
His words—“O sirs, now wherefore stand,
Fearing that God’s all powerful hand
Is short to save! O guard, I pray,
’Gainst senseless fear, that would gainsay
God’s word, and take this truth away.—
Who puts his trust in Heaven’s high King,
Hath need to fear no living thing.”
Then, lo! another monster rose
That huge sea-serpent to oppose—
Right toward the ship his swift course steering,
And when the other saw him nearing,
Full well, I trew, his foe he knew,
And backward from the vessel drew.
And now they close in deadly fight,
With huge heads reared, a fearful sight!
While from their nostrils flames spout high
As are the clouds in the upper sky;
Blows with their fins each gives his brother,
Like clashing shields on one another:—
With murd’rous teeth each other biting,
Like trenchant swords each other smiting.
Spouted the blood, and gaping wide
Were teeth-prints in each monster’s side;
And huge and deadly deep each wound—
And blood-tinged all the waves around,
And all a-seething was the sea,
And still the fight raged furiously.
The first now fought with failing might,
The second triumphed in the fight,
With stronger teeth he overbore him,
And into three huge pieces tore him;
And then the victory gained, he goes
Back to the place from whence he rose.

Anglo-Norman Trouvere.