Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Bethada Náem nÉrenn (Author: [unknown])

Life 9

{folio 278a}

Life of Coemgen as written by a monk named Solomon who was his own disciple

  1. 1] Search made Coemgen through great part of Erin
    2] With the angel duly,
    3] To find a place in which to perform (ascetic) devotion;
    4] He did not rest till he found it.
  2. 5] Coemgen crossed the summits
    6] With the angel — 'twas great swiftness —
    7] He built a monastery among the glens;
    8] The heavenly Father blessed it from above.
  3. 9] Wherever Coemgen performed ascetic devotion,
    10] He planted Gaels beside him,
    11] Henceforth they fast dangerously
    12] Right often in the sacred dwelling.
  4. 13] A glen without threshing floor or corn rick,
    14] Only rugged rocks above it;
    15] (Yet) a glen where no one is refused entertainment,
    16] (For) the grace of the Lord is there.
  5. 17] A glen dreadful, monster-haunted, frightful,
    18] Glen da Loch (Glen of the two lakes) was (its name) once
    19] Finn of the hundred heroes prophesied,
    20] That it would be a cemetery at last.
  6. 21] Patrick the son of Calpurnius prophesied
    22] (Saying) that the glen of the cliffs pleased him,
    23] 'On the side of it, (in spite of) whoever shall reproach,
    24] A saint will make his abode there.'

    Search.

  1. 1] Thirty years exactly
    2] After the prophecy of him by the tonsured one,
    3] Was the time that was born
    4] The saint named Coemgen.
  2. 5] The mother of the child did not feel
    6] Heartburn or pain in her conception;
    7] Women take him without question or vexation
    8] To Cronan to have him baptized.

  3. p.128

  4. 9] God sent an angel from heaven
    10] Before the infant was baptized,
    11] Who persuaded through pure intent
    12] That his name should be Coemgen.
  5. 13] The angel met the women,
    14] He said to them without contention:
    15] 'The loving God has persuaded me
    16] To come to baptize the infant.
  6. 17] 'God confides most in me
    18] In respect of the infant who will be a high saint;
    19] I am the mighty untiring angel,
    20] Who will be perpetually accompanying him.
  7. 21] 'Take up the infant, O women!
    22] It is I who entreat it,
    23] I will baptize it without ... without ...98
    24] In the high name of the Trinity.'
  8. 25] Twelve angels, as was fitting,
    26] God sent after them in his honour;{folio 278b}27] A taper of gold with pure flame
    28] Was in the hand of each angel.
  9. 29] This was his attendance from heaven,
    30] While his baptism was being performed;
    31] He who bound his lot aright,
    32] (Was) his own guardian angel.
  10. 33] This is the name which God fashioned in heaven,
    34] Which shall cleave to the child;
    35] Consider, O women of fair attendance,
    36] That this is his baptismal name, Coemgen.

  1. 1] ‘The angel said to the women:’
    2] ‘Do not neglect the matter of Cronan;’
    3] ‘Show the infant to him;’
    4] ‘He will tell you the truth.’
  2. 5] (Cronan said) ‘Why have ye brought, O women,’
    6] ‘Your little infant to me?’
    7] ‘Nobler than I is he who baptized him,’
    8] ‘So that I cannot do it.’

  3. p.133

  4. 9] ‘The baptism which the God of Heaven ordained’
    10] ‘Is that which was conferred upon the infant;’
    11] ‘His own angel knows it;’
    12] ‘'Tis he that will be at his disposal in perpetuity.’
  5. 13] Cronan made a prophecy
    14] And welcome for the infant,

    p.129

    15] And said: ‘The lands shall be’
    16] ‘Zealously under Coemgen's tribute.’
  6. 17] ‘I give in behalf of the King of heaven’
    18] ‘Myself to thee specially,’
    19] ‘So that thy estimation may be greater with all men,’
    20] ‘If I am thy first servant.’
  7. 21] Then his own angel gave
    22] After this a wise commission;
    23] He was like the pure sun,
    24] Like strongly blazing fire.
  8. 25] When the business of the infant was finished,
    26] He was taken to his loving angel.
    27] The melodious gentle women take him
    28] With them to the fort in which he was born.
  9. 29] Sacred the fort in which Coemgen was born,
    30] 'Tis the grace of the infant which causes it;
    31] Never did frost nor snow conceal
    32] The sod on which he was brought forth.
  10. 33] The snow of winter when it comes,
    34] Hinders grazing for every one's kine;
    35] Through the grace of God in his (Coemgen's) fort unconcealed
    36] A herd will find abundant pasture.
  11. 37] There was further sent for his nourishment
    38] To the infant a pure white cow;
    39] A cow of which it was not known whence it came,
    40] Nor to what herd it went.
  12. {folio 279a}41] Till the hour of refection every Friday,
    42] And each privileged fast-day,
    43] The breasts of his mother, sacred the rule,
    44] He would only suck once.
  13. 45] There would come moreover to visit him
    46] His own angel delightfully;
    47] He would be continually perceiving
    48] That it was time for him to be put to study.
  14. 49] He parted from friends — better the business —
    50] His own angel guiding him;
    51] For seven years, it was a prosperous (?) craft,
    52] He was in an order of monks being instructed.

  15. p.130

  16. 53] He followed his order, though harsh the rule,
    54] He remained in retirement studying it;
    55] He received the noble orders of a priest;
    56] He acquired every serviceable accomplishment.
  17. 57] The angel said to him steadfastly:
    58] 'Here shall not be thine abiding,
    59] Remain not thus in a desert glen
    60] Of whom Finn prophesied.'
  18. 61] The prophecy of Finn was fulfilled,
    62] And that of Patrick son of Calpurnius;
    63] He reached the slope of the loughs afterwards,
    64] As was destined for Coemgen.
  19. 65] 'Now it is pleasant to my heart,
    66] I give thanks therefor to God,
    67] My going to the glen is a good fortress,
    68] And only my angel will be at my disposal.'
  20. 69] He was fleeing from the world,
    70] Fear of its peril possessed him;
    71] He would have preferred, had it not been wrong,
    72] To go from it forthwith to heaven.
  21. 73] Afterwards he slept not on a couch,
    74] But a pillow of hard stone under his head;
    75] As if every pasture were without hardness, (?)
    76] He was concealing himself in a hard hollow.
  22. 77] Coemgen was among stones
    78] On the border of the lake on a bare bed,
    79] With his slender side on a stone,
    80] In his glen without a booth over him.
  23. 81] Hard was his bed on the flag-stone,
    82] Stretched out till morning without beauty;
    83] He did not seek for anything easier in the world,
    84] Though it were harder (still), he would persevere in it.
  24. 85] In the dread valley of the branching trees
    86] Not beauteous was the clothing of the saint;
    87] (With) skins of wild animals about him,
    88] He would be among the mountains.
  25. 89] Coemgen would go on the broad pool
    90] Without boat or ferry daily,
    91] To say Mass on his skerry,
    92] A place well-pleasing to God.

  26. p.131

  27. 93] He would be with no one near him,
    94] All alone under the tops of the branches;
    95] The angels were his clerks,
    96] Right melodious to them was the service of the saint.
  28. 97] Fearless and undismayed he would be
    98] In his cave responding to God,
    99] And the lough below him like the ocean
    100] Scoring the rocks near by.
99
  1. 1] Dread was the monster of the miry lough
    2] In wreaking harm and slaughter;
    3] Often did it defeat the ‘fían’,
    4] And Finn himself with great terror.
  2. 5] Coemgen took up his position in the lough of the scald-crow
    6] Early, as was pleasing to God,
    7] And drove the monster into the lesser lake;
    8] It will not be listening to the canonical hours.
  3. 9] Coemgen would recite diligently
    10] His psalms around it early;
    11] The good saint expelled without any residue
    12] The drop-poison of the monster from the lough.
  4. 13] This was the baneful black lough
    14] In which was the furious monster;
    15] To-day it is the sacred wonder-working lough,
    16] Which overcomes every trouble.
  5. 17] Plagues were removed from the kine of the Gaels
    18] By Coemgen — holy was the scion —
    19] And (by) driving them through the lough to cleanse them,
    20] They do not carry their sickness away with them.
  6. 21] The gracious lough removes from them
    22] Their sickness with (its) great anguish,
    23] It (the sickness) goes into the stream towards (lit. to visit) the monster,
    24] Water without any residue (of the poison) remaining.

    Dread.

  1. 1] Strong was the bond which Coemgen imposed,
    2] He defeated the monster of the fair lough;
    3] He imprisoned tight and fast
    4] Its body in the lair in which it is.

  2. p.136

  3. 5] When turns from one side to the other
    6] Each year the monster that is there,
    7] The lough rises on high blood-red
    8] Level with the crags above it.

  4. p.132

  5. 9] (It is one) of the wonders of the lesser lough,
    10] (Great the danger to him who sees it,)
    11] Not another day nor night afterwards
    12] Will he remain alive.
  6. 13] 100Gidh iomdha na fagbála
    14] Do fhácc Caoimhgin 'na ghlendaibh
    15] Se féin ar tí a thárthála,
    16] Ar gach áon n-achar chennaigh.101
  7. {folio 279b}17] Seven years in tangled deserts
    18] Wert thou in gentle sort,
    19] Dwelling beside thy people,
    20] Without food, except (the fruits of) Cáel Fáithe.
  8. 21] Coemgen (was) for length of years
    22] Among deserts in woods,
    23] And he saw no man,
    24] Nor did any man see him there.

    Strong.

  1. 1] Far from his friends was Coemgen
    2] Steadfastly among the crags;
    3] Nobly and alone he saw the order
    4] Which was brought to the brink of the fair lough.
  2. 5] At night he would rise without fear
    6] To perform his devotion in his fort;
    7] There he would early recite his hours
    8] (Standing) habitually in the lough up to his girdle.
  3. 9] At the end of night on a surface of snow
    10] He would arise, as he was wont, early;
    11] After he had victoriously recited his psalms,
    12] His psalter fell into the lough.
  4. 13] The psalter fell headlong
    14] From (the hands) of Coemgen of the hard devotion,
    15] No letter nor lesson was the worse
    16] For (all) the water or gnawing which it got.102

  5. p.137

  6. 17] The angel came to converse
    18] With Coemgen full of grace;
    19] He remained with him till an otter brought
    20] His little book to him from the lough.
  7. 21] The holy angel said to him:
    22] ‘Thou shalt not be in the glen alone,’
    23] ‘Since it is thy destiny to be seen of men,’
    24] ‘Thou shalt not conceal thyself any longer.’.

    Far.


p.133

  1. 1] There was a hundred-cow farmer
    2] On the borders of sea-girt Leinster;
    3] He was a prudent hero
    4] Named Dima son of Fergna.
  2. 5] To him it had been prophesied
    6] That he should light on Coemgen in the glen;
    7] It was not long after this
    8] That the patron saint was found by him there.
  3. 9] One of Dima's cows lighted
    10] On Coemgen in the hollow of a tree;
    11] An angel came to protect him,
    12] When he turned his back on men.
  4. 13] The cow did not remain on the pasture of the wilderness,
    14] But (was) licking the feet of the saint;
    15] She yielded more milk
    16] Than half the cows of the place where she was (put together).
  5. 17] Dima wondered greatly
    18] At the way the cow had grazed;{folio 280b}19] He bade his herdsman follow her,
    20] And find out for him the cause of it.
  6. 21] Dima told his household
    22] To follow the cow early;
    23] They did not find its track before them
    24] On the slope above Glendalough.
  7. 25] When the kine of Dima came
    26] Eagerly to graze in the glen,
    27] Their herdsman lighted on a fruitful tree,
    28] He found Coemgen easily in it.
  8. 29] There was offered by Coemgen to the herdsman
    30] A reward in return for concealing him from every one;
    31] He offers him heaven — he had power to do that —
    32] And not to go to pasture103 for ever.
  9. 33] ‘The cow of Dima comes,’, said the herdsman,
    34] ‘Going backwards and forwards to thee in the glen;’
    35] ‘To conceal thee is not in (my) power’
    36] ‘After seeing thee clearly there.’.

  10. p.134

  11. 37] Sooner did the cow than the herdsman
    38] Find Coemgen in the green wood in which he was,
    39] She having remained with (Coemgen) continually,
    40] And returning home at night.
  12. 41] Not willingly did the herdsman confess,
    42] To Dima the movement of the cow,
    43] Till he bound him closely in his fort,
    44] So that he told the matter to him.
  13. 45] Dima said to his noble offspring
    46] That they would go to the glen where the cow was found,
    47] That they might bring with them the pure saint,
    48] And that they would all believe him.
  14. 49] In Dima's mind was great gladness
    50] That he should be found in his hollow in his (Dima's) time;
    51] He said to his children courteously:
    52] ‘Let us make neatly a litter for him’.

    There was.

  1. 1] ‘Fulfilled is now Finn's prophecy,’
    2] ‘And that of Patrick son of Calpurnius’
    3] Said Dima to them severally,
    4] ‘And it is we who have found the promised one.’
  2. 5] ‘O Coemgen, to us was the destiny,’
    6] ‘To bear thee from thy little hollow;’
    7] ‘Let us go forth further into the glen’
    8] ‘In which thou wilt be without limit or end.’.
  3. 9] As he went in his course through the trees,
    10] Dima spoke the gracious matter,
    11] That the litter should not be allowed to be destroyed
    12] Through the thick compact wood.
  4. 13] Then the trees of the oak wood bow themselves
    14] To the generous scion — divine was the vision —
    15] Through the miracles of the patron saint lay down
    16] The forest, and rose up again.
  5. {folio 281a}
  6. 17] To Coemgen to be at his disposal came
    18] The noble angel, as he was wont;
    19] He kept the green wood prostrate
    20] Till he (Coemgen) found a straight road through it.
  7. 21] Hell and shortness of life
    22] Coemgen bequeathed to any one
    23] Till doom, who should burn either its fresh wood
    24] Or its dry wood from thenceforth.

  8. p.135

  9. 25] They lift Coemgen into the litter
    26] The children of Dima of the fierce onset,
    27] Till he reached the bottom of the glen,
    28] Where he performed the functions of his order.
  10. 29] The saint wrought a miracle forthwith
    30] On the most mad son of Dima,
    31] The one who opposed his full will,
    32] He brought his body to a cruel pass.
  11. 33] He left not his hunting for the patron saint,
    34] The insensate Dima son of Dima;
    35] Inasmuch as he did not believe on him — it was no prosperous omen —
    36] He became a portion for his own hounds.
  12. 37] Have ye heard of Cellach son of Dima,
    38] How he died unweariedly in suffering (lit. on the cross)?
    39] Coemgen, with his gifts of grace, sent him
    40] To his home alive again.
  13. 41] Though he found that the litter was destroying him,
    42] Not the slower was his rush in his course;
    43] 'Twas Coemgen helped him, though he died;
    44] He did not give up his effort through faintness.
  14. 45] When the youth had arisen from death,
    46] The first word he said to every one (was):
    47] ‘The man who rescued me from every need,’
    48] ‘I will not forsake him till the judgement comes.’
  15. 49] This counsel he gave to his friends,
    50] His speech was pleasing to Coemgen;
    51] They came gently to entreat him,
    52] And his heart was full of their love.

    Fulfilled.

  1. 1] ‘O Dima, seeing that to thee it was destined’
    2] ‘To bring me out of my little hollow,’
    3] ‘Desert me not through any other matter,’
    4] ‘For no lie was the prophecy.’
  2. 5] ‘Though against my will ye have brought’
    6] ‘Myself from my little hollow in the tree,’
    7] ‘Yet will I show kindness’
    8] ‘To thee and to thy offspring’.
  3. 9] ‘If my counsel were performed,’
    10] ‘There would be help with you moreover;’
    11] ‘My church and my coarb-ship (would be)
    12] ‘With the Leinstermen habitually.’.

  4. p.136

  5. 13] Dima said — a stranger was he
    14] From afar, from the regions of Meath —{folio 281b}15] ‘Here are we to do the will’
    16] ‘Of thee, O tonsured one of the King of Heaven.’
  6. 17] ‘All that we have (is thine)
    18] ‘to support thee Against the unquiet world;’
    19] ‘Here are we to entreat thee’
    20] ‘To build thy city (monastery).’.
  7. 21] Great questioning with the sons of Dima
    22] Held Coemgen in his hollow,
    23] As to going with them and with their father
    24] And quitting his accustomed seat.
  8. 25] Coemgen heard the questioning of the sons
    26] And the cause by which they might gain his love;
    27] Coemgen forgave to the son of Fergna
    28] Earnestly the wrong which they had done.
  9. 29] Lo, here is what they established,
    30] The descendants of Dima with Coemgen;
    31] He gave them all that they entreated
    32] Till the end of the world shall come.
  10. 33] ‘At a time when men were few’
    34] ‘On this side of the world,’,
    35] ‘God granted,’, said Coemgen,
    36] ‘That a stranger should come to my help.’.
  11. 37] Coemgen makes erenachs
    38] Of the seed of the fair kings;
    39] He did not forsake them, though it was lawful;
    40] They were the true foundation of his church.
  12. 41] ‘It is I, Coemgen, that will protect them,’
    42] ‘The seed of which the men came’;
    43] To Dima — since near their kinship —
    44] To his steward he gave what he asked.

    O Dima.

  1. 1] Coemgen used to perform a kind of devotion,
    2] Such as no saint before was ever wont to do;
    3] He would go into a pen every Lent,
    4] A decision from which he found profit from God.
  2. 5] He would stand on a rough bare flag-stone,
    6] Though the cold hurt his feet;
    7] The chant of angels was round about him,
    8] To him in his strong pen it was refection.

  3. p.137

  4. 9] A fortnight and a month without food,
    10] Or somewhat longer, was he, though great the effort
    11] Suddenly a blackbird hopped from a branch,
    12] And made a nest in the hand of the saint.
  5. 13] Coemgen remained in the pen
    14] Alone, though great was the pain,
    15] And the nest of the blackbird on his palm,
    16] Till her birds were hatched.
  6. 17] God sent an angel to say
    18] To Coemgen of the hard devotion,
    19] That he should go out of his narrow pen promptly
    20] To fight against the wretched world.
  7. {folio 282a}21] ‘Alas 'tis a pain more than the requital,’
    22] ‘My hand like a log under the blackbird;’
    23] ‘The blood of His hands, of His side, of His feet,’
    24] ‘The King of Heaven shed for my sake.’.
  8. 25] The angel said expressly:
    26] ‘Thou shalt not be torturing thyself any longer;’
    27] ‘Depart from thy bondage without delay,’
    28] ‘Thy business is ready with God.’.
  9. 29] Coemgen said to the angel:
    30] ‘From my captivity I will not go before my time,’
    31] ‘Till I obtain for my tributaries’
    32] ‘Freedom from Jesus the Son of God.’.
  10. 33] ‘Thou shalt have that,’ said the angel,
    34] ‘Go forth from thy bondage without making excuse;’
    35] ‘Seven times the full of thy glens on every side’
    36] ‘Shall be under thy judgement in the day of doom.’
  11. 37] This was the reward of Coemgen,
    38] As the Gaels shall hear in his day;
    39] He will receive in the day of doom without delay
    40] All that was promised to him.
  12. 41] Whatever matter God granted to Coemgen,
    42] And his angel asked for in heaven,
    43] He gives to him to-day without dishonour
    44] In perpetuity whatever he sought.
  13. 45] God gave power to Coemgen
    46] Such as He gave not104 to every saint in the world,
    47] That he should be strong in His assemblies,
    48] Where the children of Adam will be trembling.

  14. p.138

  15. 49] When the judgement of doom shall come,
    50] Dread will be the power over every one;
    51] The people of the glen will not be decreed to imprisonment,
    52] But (will be) like mist on the tops of twigs.
  16. 53] Coemgen takes with him to paradise
    54] His own true family without condition;
    55] After the judgement of the mighty King,
    56] And (with) a spear of red gold in his hand.
  17. 57] This is the high banner of Coemgen,
    58] Each one would be the better who shall have it
    59] In his hand nobly at the day of judgement,
    60] The company would be pleasing to God.
  18. 61] Whoever has heard of the might of Coemgen,
    62] If during his life in the world
    63] He is not tributary to the patron saint,
    64] He never committed greater folly.

    Coemgen used.

  1. 1] God granted to him everything he asked
    2] Till the end of the world comes;
    3] He granted heaven to the soul of every fair body
    4] That should be (buried) under the pure soil of Coemgen.
  2. 5] On every noble Saturday nine
    6] Of the souls of his tributaries{folio 282b}7] Go with fair pleadings
    8] Among the holy angels of Jesus.
  3. 9] Whoever is buried on Saturday
    10] Under the wall of the true prince,
    11] They will be free from hell truly
    12] In their death on Friday.
  4. 13] The kings of Erin chose
    14] And her queens customarily
    15] To be buried in his noble church,
    16] Where are triumphs till doom.
  5. 17] There are the relics of the bishops
    18] Under the soil till the day of the vast judgement;
    19] Near the pen of Coemgen of the devotion,
    20] Till they go with him in the assemblies.
  6. 21] To go with him in the Day of Judgement,
    22] This was their hearts' desire,
    23] And that their cause should be with Coemgen,
    24] For angels will be awaking him.

  7. p.139

  8. 25] The angels used to follow him
    26] In his life (lit. business) under the tops of the bushes;
    27] He was the true fount unfailing,
    28] 'Twas afar that his miracles were heard.
  9. 29] Afar were the miracles of Coemgen heard
    30] Throughout Erin, east and west;
    31] God never did for any other saint
    32] Of them all more than He did for him.
  10. 33] Coemgen went to the court of Rome,
    34] And brought back with him the wondrous earth,
    35] And received openly from the pope
    36] (Right of) pilgrimage and excellent honour.
  11. 37] Great is the pilgrimage of Coemgen,
    38] If men should perform it aright;
    39] To go seven times to his fair is the same
    40] As to go once to Rome.

    God granted.

  1. 1] It is thy church with its hundreds,
    2] O pleasant, furrowed (?) Coemgen,
    3] That is a Rome of Latium without mire
    4] In the west of the hovel-like world.
  2. 5] In the four quarters of Erin
    6] They desired to go aright
    7] On their errand to Coemgen's pilgrimage,
    8] To take part in their fairs which he established (lit. made).
  3. 9] Coemgen brought with him the earth of Rome,
    10] To place it triumphantly in his cemeteries;
    11] And he made of his fair glen without concealment
    12] A church of saints on whom the hosts believe.
  4. 13] One of the four havens for cleansing souls
    14] The best that exist across the sea to the west,
    15] (Patrick and Finn prophesied it),
    16] Coemgen sought out for his friends.
  5. {folio 283a}17] Glendalough would be full of angels,
    18] The glen of the hard troublous fight;
    19] A glen which God did not despise,
    20] A glen which is the Lord's very own.
  6. 21] High above every church is the seat of Coemgen,
    22] The (bond of) alliance between Leinster and Leth Cuinn;
    23] A place triumphant with its cemeteries, wild,
    24] Lofty, compact, with its harbours and woods.

  7. p.140

  8. 25] Great is the character of the church of Coemgen,
    26] Sad the story that Gaels should be devouring it;
    27] A gracious Rome, city of the angels,
    28] Rightly did his hand bless it.
  9. 29] There he made the beginning of his devotion,
    30] Before any saint ventured on it;
    31] And he made of the glen of the sharp-weaponed fíans
    32] A church in which there would be no mean fair.
  10. 33] The glory of Leinster is the fair of Coemgen,
    34] The triumph of the Gaels, 'tis a goodly show,
    35] Though any one should search through the sorrowful world,
    36] (He would find) every fair a sorry thing compared with it.
  11. 37] Whoever shall spend aught on my fair
    38] For the love of Coemgen, as is fit,
    39] (Long) life, and luck and ease,
    40] And heaven at last (shall be) his reward.
  12. 41] He left with his school of melodious monks,
    42] And with the clerks of his relics,
    43] The collection of his tribute without enslavement,
    44] Since God gave freedom for his sake.
  13. 45] No fight may be dared at his fair,
    46] Nor challenge of wrong nor of rights,
    47] No quarrel, nor theft, nor rapine,
    48] But going and coming in security.
  14. 49] To whoever should violate his fair,
    50] Coemgen left — no weak force —
    51] Hell and shortness of life,
    52] And never to be free from danger till doom.
  15. 53] Three glories Coemgen procured
    54] For the host of his lively fair,
    55] Heaven and (long) life, and health,
    56] And welcome from God, as he requested.
  16. 57] Coemgen desired to be in the desert
    58] To be satiated by the fair angel;
    59] He remained under the crags of the rocks,
    60] Many other quarters he explored.
  17. 61] Here are some of the doings of Coemgen,
    62] The God of Heaven was not displeased with them;
    63] And the angels (were) directing him,
    64] And instructing him as he explored.

  18. p.141

  19. 65] I am Solomon, pupil of Coemgen,
    66] I was in danger in the eastern land,{folio 283b}67] When my tutor came to my help,
    68] 'Tis a large part of the world that he searched.

    It is.

  1. 1] Though many be the bequests
    2] Which Coemgen bequeathed in his glens,
    3] He himself strove to protect them
    4] For every one for whom he acquired (lit. bought) them.
  2. 5] There is no tradition of ancient men,
    6] And no learned men among them;
    7] Nothing is now there regarded,
    8] Except that their robe be fine and elegant.
  3. 9] Neither asceticism nor celebration105
    10] Do the clerks perform in their churches;
    11] They are (all) through the evil of their mind
    12] Intent on destroying one another.
  4. 13] There are far more foreigners in his church
    14] Than native erenaghs;106
    15] Their true origin has gone
    16] With his miracles into oblivion (lit. stifling).
  5. 17] There the triumphs and miracles
    18] Of Coemgen (are) unknown in their history,
    19] Because there no longer remain narrators
    20] To tell of their virtues.
  6. 21] But unless they are found written
    22] On paper in other lands,
    23] It is certain that they will be forgotten
    24] In the sanctuary of Coemgen of the glen.
  7. 25] The young clerics of every holy church
    26] Go with the relics continually,
    27] Not like Coemgen of the glen,
    28] With his relics in decay (?) till doom.
  8. 29] For he himself when alive bequeathed
    30] (Some) of his miracles — sacred the cause —
    31] His relics are stored up;
    32] To leave them needlessly is strange.

  9. p.142

  10. 33] Give an offering to the young clerk
    34] By whom the relics are being carried,
    35] For the love of the great saint without reproach,
    36] 'And thou shalt receive deliverance (lit. acknowledgement) when thou art plundered.
  11. 37] Here is the vengeance belonging to the relics of Coemgen,
    38] Woe to him who goes to swear by them without excuse;
    39] They leave permanently, if there be occasion,
    40] Their trace furiously upon every one (who does so).
  12. 41] Woe to him who hastily incurs
    42] A curse from the relics of Coemgen;
    43] Unless there be a doomed man who prefers
    44] To quit the world without delay.
  13. 45] Whoever it be that shall be smitten
    46] By the fingers of my monks with my relics,
    47] Whether it be prince of Fal with power (?)
    48] Or ecclesiastic, or servant;
  14. {folio 284a}49] If it be a curse direct,
    50] It will split stock and stone,
    51] (Even) if he be for awhile in his usual form,
    52] He will be a weakling who shall not be comely.
  15. 53] If my church be outraged —
    54] Which will be a danger to kings —
    55] Their punishment yonder (in the next world) is certain.
    56] And shortness to their life (here).

    Though many.

  1. 1] ‘Whatever wrong was done,’
    2] ‘Is being done, or shall be done,’
    3] ‘Vengeance for it falls unerringly’
    4] ‘On the might of him by whom it is done.’.
  2. 5] Coemgen made this stave
    6] (Not falsely did he make it)
    7] To leave freedom to his poor
    8] Against the evils of every period.
  3. 9] The Gaels left honour
    10] To Coemgen without (exacting) due or tribute;
    11] The church to which they gave freedom
    12] Is reduced to slavery again.
  4. 13] There will come a time at the end of the world,
    14] Though to me it will be a sore trespass,
    15] When my beloved church will be ravaged,
    16] And will be left under its full of treachery.

  5. p.143

  6. 17] ‘I will come after the ravaging,’
    18] ‘I, Coemgen, with the might of my wrath107;’
    19] ‘Their kings shall not remain in this world,’
    20] ‘And I will take vengeance for their expedition.’
  7. 21] ‘Afterwards I will slay without quarter’
    22] ‘Them on the peak on high;’
    23] ‘Woe to him who incurs before going thither,’
    24] ‘Shortness of life and hell.’
  8. 25] ‘Every king who breaks our compact,’
    26] ‘And does not fulfil to me what he promised,’
    27] ‘Shall be dragged among devils,’
    28] ‘And his soul tortured in the next world.’
  9. 29] ‘Every king who dies in submission to me,’
    30] ‘I will be there myself to meet him,’
    31] ‘And I will give welcome to his soul’
    32] ‘Through the kindness wherewith he protects the church.’

    Whatever.

  1. 1] Coemgen chose four diseases,
    2] Not for his friend did he do it,
    3] (But) to bind the ravagers of his church,
    4] To destroy them all by his will.
  2. 5] Ulcer, and scrofula,
    6] White anthrax with great destruction,
    7] Madness which brings ruin to hosts,
    8] Through the virtues of (his) relics and bells.
  3. 9] These are the cruel diseases
    10] For which they find no surgery (lit. cutting) here;{folio 284b}11] The man whom they (these diseases) wound,
    12] No leech or herb can help.
  4. 13] A spark which burns stock and stone,
    14] And checks the noise of every fierce stream
    15] (Is) the wrath of Coemgen on every servant
    16] Who shall ravage his high church.
  5. 17] He will place the sign of the church
    18] On the gentiles of Glen Giadail;
    19] Their faces turned backwards behind them,
    20] He will not conceal them from the desires of the devil.

  6. p.144

  7. 21] Strong moreover is the might
    22] Which God the Father conferred on Coemgen,
    23] To drive awandering the wretches
    24] Who treat not his holy church as sanctuary.108
  8. 25] The Gaels shall not hastily desert
    26] The honour of Coemgen without exacting it;
    27] (If they do), he will leave them feeble,
    28] (And) sorrowful above every Gael.
  9. 29] Woe to the Gael who admits into his camp
    30] The plunder of Coemgen of the hard asceticism;
    31] He tramples on his prosperity and fortune,
    32] All his good goes from him (and is turned) into misfortune.
  10. 33] He (i. e. Coemgen) gives short life to their body,
    34] And their soul to the black devil;
    35] Diseases for which there is no healing
    36] In the presence of the multitude he inflicts.

    Coemgen chose.

  1. 1] His tutor was angry with Coemgen —
    2] For long the matter was not forgotten —
    3] Because he did not bring fire with nimble diligence
    4] To him for the saying of Mass.
  2. 5] A vessel in which he might bring it to him
    6] He asked of his tutor, and did not obtain it:
    7] ‘If thou findest no other place,’
    8] ‘Bring the fire with thee in thy bosom.’
  3. 9] In accord with his tutor's bidding
    10] Did Coemgen through love, and he brought
    11] To him, since he flinched not from the embers,109
    12] As much of them as he could carry in his bosom.
  4. 13] He who put heat into the fire,
    14] (Conceal it now from none,)
    15] The angel came to help him,
    16] And protected the thread (of his garment) from burning.
  5. 17] ‘To thee He listened, and not to me,’
    18] ‘It is thou who art dearer to God;’
    19] ‘Thou art full of the Holy Spirit,’
    20] ‘I will not be beside thee (any longer).’

  6. p.145

  7. {folio 285a}21] ‘It is clear that there is, as I hoped,’
    22] ‘Love of thee in perpetuity with God;’
    23] ‘Since the course of our sacred converse is not the same,’
    24] ‘We will not be in the same place any longer.’
  8. 25] Excellent of guidance to Coemgen
    26] That an angel of God was his guide
    27] Both by day and by night,
    28] To bring him to the royal mansion in which he shall be.
  9. 29] This was the beginning of his career,
    30] To Coemgen without error or deceit;
    31] God sent the angel to help him,
    32] And he protected him from wrong and wrath.

    His tutor.

  1. 1] One day when he himself was going,
    2] Coemgen, with his sheep onto the hill,
    3] There came to him a troop of poor men,
    4] Starving for want of food.
  2. 5] As soon as ever they came to him,
    6] They asked alms for the love of God;
    7] Coemgen answered regretfully
    8] That there in the wilderness he had no food.
  3. 9] They set out to go at once
    10] Without delaying at his request,
    11] He stopped them for refection — divine was the means —
    12] And gave them food abundantly.
  4. 13] He gave the seven wethers to the poor,
    14] Coemgen, without any defect in the tale of them;
    15] Not diminished was the herd when numbered,
    16] And God saved him Himself from shame.
  1. 1] To the monks each single day
    2] A little otter — great its kindness —
    3] In Cell Iffin without early delay (?)
    4] Brought a salmon during the whole of Lent.
  2. 5] When Cellach sees the otter
    6] Bringing a salmon for the community,
    7] He thought that it would be good for the church
    8] To make a glove of its skin.
  3. 9] It brought dispersal on the saints
    10] The thing which Cellach had consented to;
    11] Thenceforth the otter made off
    12] And brought no salmon to the monk.

  4. p.146

  5. 13] Cellach confessed his sins
    14] To the nobly wise elders;
    15] Afterwards, though hard the judgement,
    16] Coemgen sent Cellach away.

    Each

  1. 1] Coemgen made a prosperous device
    2] For his monks because of their goodness,
    3] To free himself from shame,
    4] And from the complaint of the mercenaries.
  2. {folio 285b}
  3. 5] The seed that was sown in the morning
    6] In Cell Iffin — divine was the grace —
    7] From it without withering at night
    8] Were fed the elders in turn.
  4. 9] More than foolish the musicians
    10] Who would not stop with Coemgen at his request;
    11] When they did not find food prepared,
    12] They refused to remain as he arranged.
  5. 13] Coemgen made stones
    14] Of their sweet-voiced wooden instruments,
    15] And brought sorrow on the men who played them,
    16] Who did despite to him which gained nought.
  6. 17] Foolish was it of the musicians
    18] Who did not remain steadfastly to be satisfied;
    19] Their wooden instruments are — not as an offering —
    20] Turned into a little stone-heap under the feet of all.
  7. 21] He did not give them a decree of refusal,
    22] But they went away of their own free will;
    23] Well did this protect Coemgen from shame,
    24] And a theme of laughter he made.

    Coemgen made.

  1. 1] To Coemgen for baptism was sent
    2] By the good king of Ui Faelain his son,
    3] And to be with him as his foster-child,
    4] To him he desired that he should go.
  2. 5] There were neither cows nor boolies
    6] With the people who were in the glen,
    7] From which they might get milk for the foster-child,
    8] There was scarceness of milk there.
  3. 9] Coemgen saw a doe
    10] And a little fawn following her;
    11] He prayed to God for half her milk
    12] To nourish his fosterling.

  4. p.147

  5. 13] The doe came to the place
    14] To the monk — an unaccustomed thing —
    15] To the gentle fawn and to his foster-child it gave
    16] Their fill of milk exactly.
  6. 17] It would drop its milk completely
    18] Into a hollow stone till it was full;
    19] This is the name of the place distinctly,
    20] 'The Doe's Milking-stead,' from that time forth.
  7. 21] One day when it came from the crag,
    22] Though long (the distance) it came in a short time,
    23] A wretch of a ravening wolf killed
    24] The one fawn of the doe, and ate it.
  8. 25] A miracle was wrought by Coemgen
    26] On the wolf, though hideous its appearance,
    27] He put under the doe actually
    28] The wolf in place of the fawn.
  9. 29] The doe would remain motionless
    30] With the holy monk beside her,
    31] And the wolf before her,
    32] As if she were giving suck to her fawn.
  10. {folio 286a}33] Caineog, a fairy witch,
    34] Followed the king's son thither;
    35] She and her company of women, (turned) into stone,
    36] Are there above the lough of the churches.
  11. 37] The fairy folk carried off the children
    38] Of the king, though strong the tower;
    39] (But) this child to be baptized to Coemgen
    40] Through fear of the fairies he sent.

    To

  1. 1] The heads of two women upon their trunks
    2] Coemgen did plainly set,
    3] He brought them back safe from death to life,
    4] Though the field was full of their blood.
  2. 5] ‘O Coemgen, who earnest so promptly’
    6] ‘To bring us back safe from a violent death,110
    7] ‘We will be at thy will while we remain,’
    8] ‘And will not part from thee all our lifetime.’
  3. 9] Coemgen brought home alive
    10] The women whose heads had been cut off,
    11] And made of them black nuns
    12] Devout and proper in his church.

  4. p.148

  5. 13] Thus he remedied the murder
    14] Which enemies did in his church;
    15] After all the evils which they (the women) received,
    16] He welded their heads to their bodies.

    The heads.

  1. 1] Coemgen the fitting, the mindful, saw
    2] A poor clerk, though evil was his appearance,
    3] Come running across the crags,
    4] His voice was trembling on his lips (lit. head).
  2. 5] Coemgen recognized the voice of a sinner,
    6] Though he had never seen him before,
    7] He perceived clearly by his snarl
    8] That he had killed his companion on the hill.
  3. 9] ‘O clerk who didst not shrink from (lit. refuse) murder,’
    10] ‘'Tis no wonder though ill be thy look;’
    11] ‘Guide me to the cliff’
    12] ‘On which thou didst leave thy companion dead.’
  4. 13] Had Coemgen not come at that time,
    14] Wolves would have eaten his body;
    15] As his soul came (again) into the dead man,
    16] 'Tis clear that he (Coemgen) made good his injury.
  5. 17] Coemgen found his profit in this matter;
    18] He helped him against the wolves though fierce,
    19] He took them111 to his house — it was a prosperous omen —
    20] And made of them monks in (his) order.
  6. 21] The first time that Coemgen came across the mountain
    22] And remained in solitude under thatch,
    23] There was store of contests on the skerry,
    24] Many a wonder he saw there.

    He saw.

112
  1. 1] Fruits that are healing to men
    2] Coemgen left for them,
    3] To whomsoever they shall come,
    4] It will not be long before he gets help.

  2. p.153

  3. 5] Blackberries in winter,
    6] Apples of a sallow branch.
    7] And shoots from the rock
    8] Which heal sicknesses without delay.

  4. p.149

  5. 9] They remain — and great is the marvel113
    10] Often has it been proved,
    11] Blackberries from a root
    12] Which grows on rough rocks.
  6. {folio 286b}
  7. 13] They are not found at this time
    14] In other parts of the world,
    15] (Nor) shoots growing on stones,
    16] But (only) on the brink of Coemgen's lough.
  8. 17] God gave openly to Coemgen
    18] That they should grow on rocks in the winter
    19] Methinks 'tis a cause of joy,
    20] The fruits that are healing to men.
  1. 1] Great was the speed of the wild boar
    2] With the hounds yelping at him all day long;
    3] When the hour of its danger came,
    4] It took refuge with Coemgen.
  2. 5] Coemgen easily wrought
    6] At once upon the dogs
    7] The binding of their feet to the ground,
    8] That they should follow was not likely.
  3. 9] When the hunters came
    10] To the glens to seek their hounds,
    11] They wondered, and without wounding them to death,
    12] By what contrivance he had bound them.
  4. 13] They marvelled much at the miracle,
    14] And all men marvelled much,
    15] That a wild boar in peril
    16] Should take refuge with Coemgen.
  5. 17] ‘Release our hounds, O Coemgen;’
    18] ‘After we have given satisfaction for it,’
    19] ‘Here for thyself without oppression’
    20] ‘Is the boar; great was the speed.’
  6. . . . (Something wanting.)
  7. Great.

  1. 1] ‘O monk yonder, what is the reason’
    2] ‘That thou art so hard upon us?’
    3] ‘They are not cheeses but webs (of cloth)’
    4] ‘That we carry on our back.’

  2. p.150

  3. 5] The cheeses were concealed by the women
    6] From the saint, though foolish the proceeding;
    7] And Coemgen made of the white curds
    8] Stones as a reproach to the women.
  4. 9] Coemgen was pleased to see this,
    10] To deceive him was no good matter;
    11] The cheeses turned to stones
    12] Are on the hillock for all to see.
  5. 13] To the work people Cellach meeted out
    14] Their hire in pure silver;
    15] Coemgen was displeased with their answer,
    16] And punished the contention of the women.

    O monk

xxiv

114


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