¹ By St Chalianus, or Coelanus, monk of the monastery of Inis-Kel- tra, from the ancient manuscripts of the library of Cas- sinensis; compared with another copy from the Vati- can Library and several others.

Prologue #

¹ In the western regions there is described a most excellent land, By name, and in ancient books called Scotia. An island rich in wealth, in garments, gems, and gold: Wholesome in body, air, sun, and soil. Scotia flows with honey, and with beautiful grassy and milk-bearing fields, With garments, and weapons, strawberries, craftsmanship, and men. There is no rage of bears there; nor has the fierce breed Of lions ever been borne by the soil of Scotia. No poisons do harm there, nor does any serpent creep in the grass, Nor does the chattering goose cry vainly from the lake. In it the peoples of the Scots are worthy to dwell: A renowned race of men in war, peace, and faith. From this land was once born the most holy Virgin Brigid, glory of the Scots, their name and honour, A tower reaching to the heights of the fiery heaven, An inexhaustible light, the lofty crown of God. A blessed spring, joyfully restoring the hearts of the Scots, She herself refreshes, heals, nourishes, and strengthens them. A ladder prepared for men, lofty for boys and girls, For mothers and saints; it stretches to the stars of heaven. Her father was called Dubhtach by surname; A man renowned for his merits, and renowned for his ancestors; Noble and humble, gentle and filled with piety; Made nobler by his virtuous wife and holy offspring. Many have written of the virtues of the gracious virgin, The learned Vitaianus, and the eloquent Eleranus. One called Animosus described many books Concerning the life, studies, and merits of the Virgin. I shall begin with lesser things, and greater things will follow; But I shall gather fitting meadows full of flowers. If, in their order, one gazing upon the shining stars of heaven, Could know them in their lofty course; If one could distinguish by number the smallest grains of sand upon the shore, Which the troubled wave of the sea has scattered upon the lands; Then such a one could count the virtues of the maiden’s life, In whom God himself remained forever.

Here begins the Life of Saint Brigid #

¹ For one day the mother, while by chance she sat in a carriage, pregnant, and not yet delivered of the girl, And while she held the foaming necks of the snorting horses, Her long dusty tracks indeed resounded. The prophet had heard the rumbling creak of the wheels And had said: look, she comes: this is the Queen who rules the realm. Yet the Countess alone guided the carriage.

² The time for giving birth had come, the hour had come, When the mother should bring forth the holy offspring from her womb. A bed was there, on which this gracious woman in childbed Is said to have lain upon the couch: which a golden flame Had covered with a blazing ray sent down from heaven. The mother herself kept the measure of events, and the hour: And yet she is said to have kept silent, not knowing what work the fire Signified, or what true omens It showed there; but pondering them in her silent heart. They often also saw the roof the house beneath reddish flames And Bridget’s little cradle and bed.

³ At this time the nurse, lying sick with fevers, Was being ravaged in her tender limbs by a destructive fire, The illness disturbed her vital organs: With parched throat she said (her words scarcely sounded): “Fetch me ale; mead would give me great pleasure.” Brigid (for then she was a young and beautiful girl) Was sent to the villages seeking the drink, The maiden of God hurrying, with one sister accompanying her. A certain man had ale, though he kept it hidden: The fool refused to give it to the holy virgins, When they began to return home, Brigid saw a spring And filled a cup with its flowing waters: For because God is often present by his power among the saints, He who turned the cold waters into the wine of Lyaeus [John 2:1–11]: Through the merit of the virgin the nature of the waters was changed; It became sweet cider; the maiden offered it to the suffering woman, Unaware of the wondrous deed; when the woman had drunk The draught, at once the cold fever entirely departed. Those who sought draughts of milk, to anyone asking She gave cold cups from the dew of the spring: But God himself changed the nature of the waters Into the taste of milk, or cider, or perhaps wine.

⁴ If she happened to see ale with her own eyes, Or had touched a little milk or perhaps butter, It increased so greatly that it could not satisfy the crowd. As she was towards boys, servants, and likewise girls, So this most beautiful virgin in holy love Was towards all, generous to the poor and needy, lavish to orphans; She showed due honour to all men, Yet she herself had never looked upon any man’s face.

⁵ A shepherd was losing some of her father’s sheep, or perhaps pigs: But he fell at the feet of the gracious virgin, And she, moved with pious sorrow, took care To plead with her father and defend the boys with kindly words, Who had wrongly surrendered their father’s animals To thieves and wolves in the woods; then Brigid, the holy girl, Restored the full number of the flock (wonderful to tell?), Rejoicing: no one perceived anything had been taken.

⁶ One day by chance the same girl Had gone to the meadows, gathering bright flowers in pleasant places, She carried lilies mixed with roses in her basket, The troubled sky burst forth with gathered rainclouds, A cold shower drenched the virgin’s cloak. And her garment hung cold about her tender neck. As she returned home, she scattered the fragrant herbs; The sun revealed its rays with clear light, And looked upon her with its beams; the troubled rain departed, While the glowing sky sent forth its rays above, Like fire it penetrated the dark roof. The Virgin of God set down her garment beneath the serving ray: And the ray bore the wet cloak upon its summit. The most holy virgin made a covenant with Christ That a ray of sunlight should carry her garment unstained.

⁷ When the holy one was in the middle vault of the temple. Praying to the Father with devoted heart, the virgin, Still caring for the poor by the teaching of piety; many came with grievous cries, Beating on the virgin’s ears with their voices, and seeking food alike, The sober virgin came down: She addressed a boy, lame with a bent knee, And deaf in the ears, who was then losing the speech of throat and tongue through a continual illness. The maiden, unaware of the evil, drew words from her heart; “Run quickly, boy; now carry food to the one who asks.” Then the holy woman spoke to the one who was sitting in such words. And the manifest power of God accompanied the virgin’s speech: the lame, deaf, and bent boy went away Sound in body, being carried by his own steps: And the triple sickness left the boy as he went. All the people praise Christ through the virgin’s deed, Who heals so many lands with varied powers.

⁸ A young man was close by, whose only care was for his parents; he kept battering the virgin’s ears By himself, and through his father, and through his brothers and sisters, promising to add gifts to gifts, Purple earrings, weights of silver, garments, And the wealth of the house, thousands of estates, servants. The holy virgin of God despised all these gifts, as though foul dung were trampled by black earth. She said: “I have only one bridegroom, born of a virgin, and that man’s Father has never known a woman’s bed, more beautiful than the star-filled heavens, higher in the order of heaven, more lovely to angelic minds, loftier than the stars. By his holy fragrance the bonds of death are loosed; he has enclosed precious stones for me with gold: he himself has offered me beautiful necklaces for my neck: and he has handed jewelled gold to my ears: he has woven a necklace, mingled the bridal chamber with gold, and shown his own finest treasure to me; he has fitted these pearls to my ears, and he himself has marked me with his ring, to keep the bed chaste for himself, from every embrace.

⁹ She had spoken, and with a sorrowful face wiped her eyes: Look, her own brothers address her with wicked words, And compel the sad father to betroth the girl. The most holy virgin prepares to answer them in words, And to keep her chastity for Christ’s bridal chamber. Hearing such words, they began to laugh: One wicked man had risen from among the brothers themselves, And struck the servant of Christ, who stood with steadfast heart; He himself, perversely, lost one eye: [Some words are missing] A light, mixed with blood, sprang from his head And flowed to the ground; an angel had struck him. Then the holy one cursed the wretched brother, And said that his descendants would be servants in future. She had spoken, and the brothers began to beg their sad sister, With the eye hastening back, on account of the brother’s grievous misfortune, They began. She was moved likewise in her tender heart: And she restored the eye, gathering the fragment together. The water was not lacking there: a wondrous thing to tell, through her merits! Christ had given water, and restored the beloved light, To the stream cut from the earth by the virgin’s prayer. She washed his head, carrying it in both arms. O holy one, long to be remembered, and for many years to be revered, All the people of God offer to Christ the praises of your witness: the frightened young man went away.

¹⁰ But then the holy one of God, drawing words from her heart, Addresses the young man, who had brought many marriage gifts; “Look now, young man, at a castle on a lofty height Set among a neighbouring people in former times; In it dwells rightly a prudent man, sprung from noble Blood; great power is his: His only offspring, born to him of a chaste wife, And the delight of her father, a virgin of outstanding form. That beautiful girl is ready for you, young man: Hear this, now that it has been spoken to your ears; A chaste household for you, and a fair line of descent too. Believe me, just go away: so your fated lot will remain.” Then, in the holy virgin’s words, he went on his way Trusting in his heart; the virgin perceives the end, Foretelling it with prophetic mind.

¹¹ Time and hour fly; the virgin grew in esteem, She gave many signs through the years of Christ being kept apart. And since this saying from the father came to his ears, That his daughter of her own will served God and Christ, What harmful things of the fragile world she despised; the bishop himself decided to send messengers To the cell, with the holy girl accompanying them, As those men were coming, one from the fields Met them; “Bless you,” he said, “What are you seeking in truth? by what route do you wish to go?” So that the virgin might be consecrated from a devoted heart, And, after taking the sacred veil herself, to God; Dubhtach and the holy virgin then passed on Until at last each one spoke on the bishop’s road. Such words they were giving: the traveller answered; “I myself shall be your guide; now look at the temple.” As they entered together: then the bishop stood at the altar. The blessed virgin was surrounded by seven virgins, The number of a vow assigned by matching signs. Holy Brigid rolled herself at God’s feet and prayed: She begs the bishop with prayers, tears, and voice; “O kindly father, you see how we stand fixed at the altars. Now bless your devoted handmaids, And mark their foreheads with the holy chrism.

¹² At that time the bishop was pouring out the waters of chrism, and at the same time he blessed the virgins’ cloaks with his thumb; and when the holy woman was bowing her head, her veil folded, while she knelt, holding fast to the altar’s foot, she was; (Marvellous to say!) from the holy top of the virgin a flame was seen to rise up to heaven: her parents said it was a sign. The bishop Melchon marvels at such things, “O blessed virgin, consecrated to God by the holy veil: holy Brigid, mindful of me, said, may you be under the veil.” He addressed her with such words. He dismissed the whole company. *****. Some things are missing here

¹³ For she also left another sign of her power, reduced thus to ashes, consumed by flames: yet the fourth foot, which the virgin had held with her hands, had remained at the altar. The fire did not touch it. The mighty power of God kept the standing beam unharmed by the flames, and long age did not corrode it; the fourth foot of the altar is preserved from the three that were burned.

¹⁴ One day, by chance, she came to visit her sisters and turned into one holy cell. In that cell the holy maidens were then blooming in flower. They received the holy woman and were preparing to serve her. She knelt at their feet, and they set kisses on her hands; sweet dishes were set before them at the handsome tables. But in the meantime there appeared before her an unclean spirit, rolling its blazing eyes. Gnashing its teeth; its grey throat flashed with flame, and it stood there on black, twisted legs. Brigid, holy servant of God, questioned the dreadful monster: “Why, accursed one, do you, with your tricks, pervert those whom Christ has bought with his own blood? Why do you disturb the holy places of God? Why, poisonous serpent of old, do you poison the hearts of the people? Why, accursed one, have you entered these houses of plague?” “You want to set them ablaze,” said the most glorious Virgin. “Only one virgin keeps agreeing with my deeds. She is the one who gives me a warm bed in the evening, and I lie all night in secret upon a virgin’s couch,” the Tartarean angel said quickly with his mouth. All were silent; what they had not been able to see was made plain. The sound of the two voices reached the ears of the holy women alike. Then the first of the sisters said: “Alas for me, who is speaking? I should like to see the speaker.” Brigid blessed the virgin’s clouded sight; she had seen and was afraid, and wanted to hide her face. The girl we mentioned before had come, trembling, who in a warm bed was warming her black lover. At no time did she wish to visit the churches of the saints, nor would she steadily consent to speak with others. Then the holy woman sharply rebuked the miserable girl: “Why do you leave these holy places to evil spirits alone? Look now at the one who has made you his friend; why are you not ashamed to serve black shapes?” She, trembling, turned her frightened face away from the guest. “Alas, wretched me! What shall I do, I do not know,” she said. And then, suppliant, she fell at the gracious virgin’s feet. The other hurried to her with trembling hand raised her up, and the wise virgin commands the dragon to flee. ] It fled, leaving a foul stench upon the bed, and the choir of virgins paid thanks for the gift; by the virgin’s merit, Christ’s praises are often proclaimed.

¹⁵ When time had passed, the venerable bishop came there hurrying towards the holy place by the long roads, himself in darkness; but the woodland path misleads. By evening the edges of night were already closing in, night rushed down, and heavy shadows rolled from the hills, hope of life fled, and the chance of staying in the woods, or of making one’s way home: nor did he have any hope left: he drew words from his heart for all his companions; “Ah, the rain-clouds of the shadowy sky are descending badly, what shall we do?” he said. “Ask the holy girl.” Look, beneath the dark leaves of the woodland, fire flashed out, which had scattered clear flames from a lovely lamp, and had seen the maidens in snow-white garments on the right side of the woods, with a bright light: they were going more suitably, carrying fire-bearing lamps. The elder man, through the trackless ways, marvelling at the maidens, speaks more kindly and wisely, saying: “You fire-bearers, what lights are you carrying by night, and what trembling flames are you holding in your hands in such a procession? Why are you here? What does this light mean? Who has entrusted these lamps to you? Tell me, girl?” They all replied; Brigid, their instructing mistress, “We have come to you: now for you, go, we are preparing the house filled with your banquets and fodder for the horses.” O manifest power of God! in that very place there are shown ready-made temples, and spacious dining rooms all at once rise there in the wilderness, and handsome meals as well: they set out cheerful dishes and tables, and prepared wine, wooden seats spread with coverings of rushes, white cloths now hang from the beautiful hangings they mark out the number of beds in the first arrangement, so that each bed might have its own master they adorn the sweet feast in the handsome buildings, and then set great fires in the middle rooms, after rest had now been given to the boys, when, in the night, the sisters had departed: they leave oil for the lamps, and the lights.

¹⁶ For on the next day, while Phoebus lights up the world with twelvefold rays, and surveys both sea and sky, and the earth likewise has scattered its trembling shadows; in the morning they see themselves under the trees’ leaves to have remained through the night on the grassy turf without a roof. All rose up, and then they saw no buildings there; they repeated their speech, beating the air with their voices; nor had it been doubted that Christ, through the merits of the gracious virgin, was then ready to send these great ones into the wilderness, and to give flames as attendants by angelic hands. The bishop leads the boys by the trackless woods to the virgin’s cell: together they pay the Lord the heralds of praise, and to Christ return thanks for the gift. The virgin was aware of the power; at the altars, The virgin then provided lodging fit for the boys, after their holy bodies had been duly refreshed with food, and had sprinkled their feet with warm water; then, because they were thirsty, she set out Scottish drink, and afterwards the holy woman spoke words of heavenly teaching. Then everyone praised the Lord of heaven with their voices, who always grants the saints the greatest miracles.

¹⁷ And after the red sun had driven his chariot across the heavens, and, looking round, had begun another year’s course, when twelve signs had been passed in the course of time, the holy woman then resolved to visit her own lands. One young man was running in haste across the fields, who was carrying his mother on his neck, though she was weak in the legs, and who, with her own hands, could not bring food to her lips, for a foul disease was tormenting her body: while the sun, rising, was giving bright light to the world, holy Brigid was being carried by cart through the crossroads: and the sick mother had been cast into the virgin’s shadow. Marvellous to tell, that old woman, her steps made firm, they saw at once running on her own feet. No delay, no rest: across the fields the woman runs, until she too fell prostrate at the virgin’s feet with her whole body, and gave thanks for the gift of water.

¹⁸ Another great sign of her power shone forth. A hideous leper had come to the holy woman, his limbs cold, covered with a black wound, and scab, and rotten matter flowed from the flesh; his body was ulcerated all the way to the soles, and his head like a tower, and his innards were twisted by poisonous fibres; his filthy lips were bright with foul, bloody phlegm. His head, dreadful with scabs, shone beneath a hood, and his chest alike was wearied with long sighs. Yet though he was thus oppressed by his continual disease, avarice burned in him, and a great desire for worldly goods. And pain in the depths of his mind crept through his very heart; he had said to the holy woman: for the name of Christ, a cow you will always have. If the holy girl is now willing to give a milking one, may your will deign to grant it; alas for me, let it afterwards be kept for the use of my poor self: and Christ will give you much in return for so small a gift. She soothes the needy man with kindly words of desire: “Dear brother, my storehouse has no cow for Christ’s gift. For no cow is kept for me at home. But since God often grants much to the one who asks, be patient a little while, and receive the cow when she comes, with udders foaming with white milk.” Then he said: “I am willing, if it is your will, to go; I shall not wait any longer.” Then the holy girl spoke to the wretched man, flowing with leprosy and foul corruption, and with a body full of pustules and wrinkles; “Since you are so hideous, and your limbs are swollen beneath the skin, your inward parts are greatly numbed with black poison; yet if, with devout faith, you trust in Christ’s help, perhaps he may cleanse the stain of your flesh: but first let us ask these things with prayers and a devoted mind.” *****. Some things are missing here.

¹⁹ Within it there was a crowd of holy women, as of right, there the virgin would be carried with many girls in a cart: for they always begged in prayer that she would visit them, and by her words bless them all with her right hand. Then the humble people stretched out their hands towards the stars and with sweet voices sang sacred hymns; she duly performed the service of washing. One of her sisters, badly afflicted by hostile fevers, at home; the ailing limbs were burning in her trembling body: “Bring me, my friend, straight away the water you have with you, in which indeed the feet of the gracious virgin were washed; now let health come to the limbs from the wholesome stream, see, be willing to pour me over completely with holy waters;” she said to her sick one, as she lay near death: with anxious, dry lips she could scarcely utter words, the woman brought water, sprinkled it, gave it, and comforted her. For a cold drop could conquer the hot plague; when the blessed water touched the body, it relieved it. She rose to her feet; the virgin immediately ran. No delay, no rest remained for the venerable girl until, instructed in the service of the holy women, she came, and was ready to serve, mingled with her girls; and with her sisters she carried out the orders given to the servants. The worthless crowd begins shouting in that place, and fills the ears with great, trembling voices; *. Here too some things seem to be missing.

²⁰ When she was asked, the virgin came with her girls, to a certain cell of one consecrated virgin, at Easter, to celebrate Brigid’s feast; on the eve of the Lord’s Supper, when the holy woman would fulfil Christ’s command with a warm washing, and with her own hands soothe limbs of the wretched. Four, alas, were oppressed by a great sickness, beset by different and lasting diseases: one was leprous, and her body was covered in sores; another poor woman’s limbs were held by paralysis: the third was blind and could not have sight: an unclean spirit had publicly seized the fourth. They were all in one house: no one takes pleasure in living with such sufferers, nor does anyone wish to join them. The virgin wished to soothe wretched limbs with water, and wash their heated, filthy bodies, yet she could not do so, for they persisted stubbornly: each one wanted vessels to be prepared separately for herself, and one would not, of course, be washed in another’s bath; lepers are usually plagued by such disgust. The most holy virgin said, “I shall provide everything you wish to ask of me.” Only let your peaceable concord remain, she said to them, encouraging Brigid with pious words, the sick women, laid low in body by powerful disease. The first paralytic is brought from the bed to be washed: she cried out in great pain, with loud voice; “Alas for me, who will restore to me health worthy of my sickness, the limbs of my nerves and sides, with my bodily frame unstrung, and grant me that much at least, to see that temple, so that Christ’s mercy may make it possible for me to walk?” She spoke such words: she is poured over with warm waters, then the virgin washed the wretched woman, sparing her right hand, and more gently supported her body in both arms, and with holy hands she rubbed the numb limbs. A miracle occurs: at once the bent woman gains lively strength. She felt herself whole; gradually the body felt the very free health of its limbs: rising, and with her own strengthened steps she went, and the woman gave worthy thanks to the Lord.

²¹ After the other three wretched women saw, before the virgin’s eyes, the one who had been healed, moving herself; they cried out together to the holy virgin, “If your holy hand passes over our limbs with the washing, it will be able to bring health to body and soul.” With these words they all struck the virgin’s ears. Filled with God, she washed those three with the waters, one after another, and the fourth too: thus in the same vessel the virgin carried out her work, by a gift of mercy. Peace was made for the sick, and great power of healing. The rage of disease was driven out of all the girls, the blind girl is washed by the waters: sight returned to her eyes. The terrible leprosy fled, as the trembling waters were sprinkled. The unclean spirit finally left the one it possessed. Marvellous to tell! the wretched four sick women are all healed through the merit of one virgin.

Chapter 3 #

¹ In those days a certain man, having followed the rule, left the sweet fields and the houses scattered apart: he, pierced with fear of God, and through the rough places with the boys went on, the burdened teacher, and sought a deserted place, and the secrets of the wilderness. These men at once turn aside to one virgin’s cell. She would remain there with the holy girls. At the time when the same priest came, for among the ancients it was the custom, wherever there was a holy woman, that they would pass by the place; then no one wished to see women’s faces; they said these words among themselves. For that reason they would not then look upon the Blessed One. They laid down the burdens hanging at their necks. They take counsel, and rest their limbs for a little while. Afterwards, when rest had been given, they were to travel further, until the sun hid his bright eyes beneath a black veil, and the trembling shadows came down from the hills. They left the houses of the holy sisters, then, because of this concern; and forgetfulness touched their minds: the brothers had forgotten their burdens. Utterly confused, after their losses they came back again; unmindful of their food, they were looking for signs of their own people; and yet theirs was not there. At last, to the gracious virgin’s cell they came, sad; but joy filled their hearts. For suddenly the virgin showed all that had been lost. Christ, marvellous to tell, was preserving, by the virgin’s merit, all the burdens of the men. Then Brigid and the brothers, rejoicing together, passed their sweet lives in perpetual gifts.

² For an island had been there, one amid the mid-seas, to which, if he wished, that priest could have gone, and dwelt there to the day of his death. Already the third hour had spread dark shadows over the hills. Then: “Now, father, holy girl, we ask for help, and all of us beg you greatly: where shall I, a pilgrim, go? where can I turn? Give us the help of your pity; have mercy on our labour. If it is possible for us to provide horses, so heavy is the burden on our shoulders, that it may be lifted from those loaded down, lead us on to the nearest shores of the sea.” Filled with God, the holy girl answered. “See, I myself will travel with you: Christ in his goodness will provide it, and as you go on he will release the burdened boys.” They went on together; manifest power is seen. Look, through the dark woodland paths the course of horses is suddenly seen in the wilderness. Brigid, holy servant of God, drew words from her heart: “Believe me, Christ will have mercy on those boys: let your burden now, which here wearies you so greatly, be put on the horses; then you will be able to go more easily.” They were going on a little way; the blessed girl said, as she saw the shore near at hand: “Unload the weights of your things: it will not be lawful to keep them any longer. The horses Christ himself gave me for your sake for a while: before this, no one had seen them in those regions. Afterwards, marvellous to say, at no time were they seen.

³ The pious priest came all the way to the harbour of the sea: He crossed by boat; then the island in sight pleased him, And he wanted to live there. But the settler himself stood his ground and said, “This is my land; be off,” said the fool with hardened heart in these words. The holy woman had already begun to ask the man to concede to Christ the smallest part of the land. That wicked settler despised the virgin’s words, with ears shut, and would not listen to this, holding his thick, hardened neck very stiff. “For here I shall give no share,” I told you, “Go on your way, and stop scattering words any further. It is necessary.” And he turned his back, saying, “Go.” The virgin of God turned her eyes away with a sorrowful face, pondering these things for a little while in her silent heart. Look, beneath the sky, when the prison of the winds was broken open, they were troubling Neptune’s realm with a great blast. That evil Aeolus let them out and did not pull in the reins: Eurus leapt over sea and land with tireless force; look, he entangles the man and sweeps him right up, as the west wind swiftly scatters the clouds from on high; just so a falcon, once released from its loose tether, when it has seen prey from the high rocks, flies off and beats the clear air with its wings, is scarcely seen by the eyes, and, seizing the prey’s head with its claws, thus lifts it, and the strong wind carries the wretched man away in like manner); across the sea it drove him against the current, afterwards setting him down on the shores and then on the highest hills; his body was broken, and scarcely any breath remained in his heart, while, with his insides in turmoil, sighs beat against his breast. “Alas for me now, wretched man,” he said, scarcely able to speak; “What frenzy was that? Or what madness of mind? I shall not be able to resist the virgin’s holy words."

⁴ The other cause of his great sorrow was this: His only care was his son, whom his parents had loved too much; he had been alone in the field. That little child fell asleep beneath the scorching sun. Alas, it was an evil sleep; a sea-vulture had struck the father’s insides and had not let them go: that evil sea-bird had seen him at once and twisted about the little one, pierced him with greedy claws; he hung by his clothing; it was carrying the wretched child to the sea-cliffs. What changed matters? God himself is present by his power with the saints and restored the boy to his father, sound and whole in body. The whole island is given over: the priest rejoices greatly. Brigid spread bright joys throughout the whole land: the virgin of God cries out the public praises so that they may give Christ a thousand thanks openly.

⁵ There was a certain merchant, whom vain desire had driven to give the holy woman a stone wrapped in cloth; for a rock, falsely wearing the form of salt, was present: but God himself, who knew the guilt of the deceit, changed that false substance into the thing itself. Whatever profit that wicked man had hoped to gain by selling to the people, he then lost, the stone once found. The fool gave the stone with hardened heart; Christ fashioned salt for the use of the virgins. The salt alone remained as punishment for that man’s crime. Brigid, holy servant of God, transformed the whole hardness of the stone, marvellous to tell, into a soft use. Then the rock offered the taste of salt’s savour, whereupon priests, mothers, and the crowd of men rightly praise the girl’s countless virtues; and together they pay their vows to the Lord who thunders.

Chapter 4 #

¹ At last the poor man, turning aside, came to the holy virgin’s dwelling, reviving this needy life for the moment: Stripped of all worldly things, and even of clothing, he addresses the saint, crying out to the maiden in these words; “Brigid, holy one of God, if it is right for me to ask your help, give me food and clothing; restore my wretched limbs with sustenance.” The holy Brigid, with gentle words, comforts the man who was crying out, and said with compassion; “Look, I freely give you clothing with a devoted heart: see, if you wish, take one cow away with you, one of the very best cows shall now be given to you, and you will also carry away my cloak to keep.” So said the maiden. The poor man replied thus: “I cannot now take your gifts away with me: naked, I hurry to my homeland; dangers lie on every side. And thieves surround the difficult road at every turn. Take pity on me, if you can, for Christ’s sake.” She said, “I will”; the maiden was pierced in her heart. From her virgin body the holy one used to take off the garment with which the maiden was accustomed to gird her side with a thread: Small gifts indeed, the very belt with which we are girded, we give you as great gifts; Christ will bring joy. Receive now, brother, this pledge of our love: Through me the great God of powers had worked mighty signs for the people in our Kildare lands, every kind of sickness, by which frail human kind is so greatly held fast, or by which the source of every form of evil creeps in; this can drive away thousands of troubles, and no plague will be able to resist it: though a thousand infections creep through men’s bodies, and cast them down everywhere, taking strength from their limbs, it will prevail, and no one will need to seek a doctor’s cure; the friend who loved me provided that remedy for me, if I was deemed worthy to touch the sufferer’s aching limbs with my hands. Christ gave rich help to the wretched, every evil fled, and the laws of health prevailed. In this way, believe me, if you wash these threads of mine in life-giving water for one whom illness has seized; believe me, with God’s favour, the struggle of disease will depart, the spiteful cause of evil, every present pain, will disappear, Thus said the holy woman, weeping with love and pity; you would think the inmost hearts of the Virgin and of Christ trembled. Her innermost parts burned; within, her heart was wounded by love.

² So the poor man, carrying God’s bride and no small gifts, went on, and made his way all the way back to his homeland, the poor man, rejoicing on the journey: afterwards he lived for many years, and then he bestowed on the people many gifts of healing: No harsh force of sickness could do any harm, no defect of the eyes of the head, nor blindness of the ears, nor to the teeth, tongues, gums, throats or ears, nor choler or fever, or wounds made by iron, nor black ulcers burning, nor humours in the limbs, nor phlegm, nor malignant blood breaking the bones; no sickness, no power of disease, could resist the sacred threads of the virgin. Why do I delay? Every evil was wiped away by the poor man’s thread as he carried it home, conquering all by its healing power: that poor man himself was never such in those days, he surpassed his elders in rich treasure, he amassed wealth from the spoils of many, as a servant; and he was rich at the altar while he lived for many years: from this, the virgin’s fame spread through the land because of him,

³ At the time when the year is adorned with fair garments, every field brings forth fresh herbs together with flowers, the fruitful and green tree is clothed with leaves, nor are the rains sifted by high clouds, nor do turbid rivers burst their dry banks; but all things were blossoming anew in the time of spring, honey falls in abundance from the clear air, and white lilies are born in the shining meadows; at this time the virgin, accompanied by holy maidens, mounted a chariot and was carried behind the horses: once Patrick, most holy, held a council, to which bishops were going from many cities; and the holy woman went on with her own maidens; at the time when the red sun traverses the rushing stars of the Twins, and the borders of Cancer burn, heat is made upon the earth, and the fiery sun blazes among the stars, as she was making her journey she saw the wretched, the blind, the crippled: then in the middle of the heat they all cry out from the carts with exhausted voices; “O holy virgin of God, have mercy on our pain,” as that holy voice of the virgin reached her ears, she had listened, had stood, and had remained there in pity, she spent the night in watchfulness and much prayer: and then, very early the next morning, before the dawn had departed, she filled her hands, and washed the blind men’s eyes, and was soothing the limbs of the lame, bloodless, with pure waters, see, healing dripping from her hands, hostile to diseases, then from the virgin’s eyes the sight of the blind, with their eyes closed, is restored, and the gait of the lame by the law of salvation: they sprang down, kept to the road, the carts were left behind, they hastened on, those whom they had been preparing to implore the blind man himself could see; the lame man was swifter than the east wind they rejoiced together: they paid due thanks, they tended their eyes and lifted their hands with a cry. Then she, with holy admonitions, spoke twice words of salvation.

⁴ Hence the journey begun, the maiden accompanied by holy ones, proceeds, guiding the horses on a peaceful course. The sun turns its eyes; the dark inner bedchamber enters by the known way, and shuts the open way behind it, It hides its bright head beneath the shade of the leaves. There and then comes rest: afterwards a much sweeter sleep overcame the sisters, as tender herbs with flowers gathered themselves, to sootheir bright little eyes They began together: but Brigid keeps watch all night until the golden sun rose and with its twelve twice-six rays illuminates the heavens with light and shows the bright face to everyone at the doorway, All rose together along the open roads, and from there they again went on with straight steps to the bank of a certain river called Banna (11) A single man, by chance, not far from the river’s wave, was seen by the girls alone in the green meadow they say, in alarm: whom they placed near the herds, and the shepherds mixed their joys with tears. Then the journey taken, as was their custom, by the girls **** Some text is missing here. She, filled with God, went on with many companions.

⁵ There had been in the hall a certain many-coloured vessel of the king; she marvelled at the work, a notable piece from men of old, a great number of cups compacted together at once from seven metals, a golden-hued glass gleaming with joined electrum; the mixture of the cups is hidden, but that pliant one scattered flashing lights from bright gems, struck, and the flame of the onlooker’s eye shone: for they were an ancient workmanship, for in such cups the kings of old were accustomed to adorn banquets with sweet fare among the people in the ancient manner. Delightful, indeed, but very fragile in form. One day by chance, when the king was lying at table, the servants run about as they set the dishes on the table, while the boys duly arrange every kind of drink, they set down at the same time a vessel of very strange shape. A foolish man from the crowd had come up at the time admiring the work, and just then was holding the cup: it slips suddenly on to the table, falling from on high alas, it fell, the gems scattered by the beautiful fragment it breaks, and the smallest splinters gleam: the table was sprinkled with the shining metals of the cups. At such a sight the servants were long and greatly astonished: the king was greatly distressed, but the broken cup tormented him: he had ordered the wretched man, alas, in cruel chains round the neck shamefully, and with his hands tightly bound behind his back, to be thrown into the deepest darkness of the prison, until he should make good such a vessel, cast and fashioned.

⁶ Then a venerable bishop came to the king, to speak on his own behalf, or to ask a favour; he had heard of the public loss of the broken cup and of the poor young man imprisoned in chains for the fault: then, moved by piety, he wished to beg the king that he would there forgive this offence, which the foolish man had made from his heart, for Christ’s name’s sake, in grace. The king said, ‘I will not spare him, I swear by this right hand; he himself who broke that precious cup: I shall have him afflicted with various torments either to be gnawed by savage dogs, or fastened to stakes, or handed over to wild beasts as their prey, that villain; to be burned by hot fires, or subjected to flames, or, with his head cut off, his body as food for birds shall be kept, unless he restore the cup, or forfeit his life.’ Now let it be done, beyond doubt; and do not alter my words any further. The bishop, answering him again, said, “Let it be yours, If only you leave me the fragments of the cup To carry to the cell, to be taken back to the maidens: This is what I want.” And when he wished it, the king yielded up the fragments of the vessel, Yet he was then seized by grief at heart. The holy one, hurrying to the cell, turned the reins, The bishop recounted everything, in order, to the maidens of Christ: he was preparing long sighs. Brigid, holy of God, tears *** This, he said, alas, is a great suffering of the flesh that is inflicted; he grieved deeply with a mother’s compassion. And the bishop again, repeating the matter in order, had said it, and the fragments of the remembered cup he unfolded before the virgin’s eyes: she had scattered them and left them there. She, with holy hands, gathering up the fragments, wished to make up that cup, which the madman had broken from above; (for the breaking had carried away a piece from the other part) she fixed them as they had been, placed them all in position, holding each piece in turn, she joined one to another one, and from the two fragments formed the cup with skilled hands; the beautiful vessel, rightly fashioned, he handed over more fitly in a purple cloth in the bishop’s hands. The bishop goes to the king, while he carries the cups in his hands, and seven little vessels are said to belong to one cup. For seven feet rose up from one cup. The king gave a thousand thanks for the gift; the wretched man is released, after the fault, with full grace restored, and from then on Christ is believed even more, and present in the virgin, and that he had performed such signs: at once a single cry sounds, and rises to the stars from the people; “O holy virgin of God, they cried, the grace of Christ!” The whole region extols the virtues of the virgin.

Chapter 5 #

¹ O dear woman to God, Christ’s most holy bride. Brigid, who left signs of her powers among the people, every swift kind, whatever of the wild beasts in the woods It is born in darkness, or whatever winged thing flies, the east wind carries it aloft through the clear air on its wings; At her voice, even what was mute came to her, and she would touch them with her holy hands whenever she wished; and they gladly rendered her obedience. The rage of diseases she drove away with an easy word.

² One woman grievously complained of belly-pain, a cold dropsy had seized her languid inward parts, bearing swollen entrails, the humour grew more foul: alas, her belly bore such a burden: for the vital parts were horribly swollen with black poison; only the voice sounded from the throat; Alas for me, what shall I do? I can do nothing; I am close to death: now, look, the day has come; what is left but to live in torments? Thus she spoke, and fell at the saint’s feet, speaking from her mouth; O blessed one, whom a mother first bore, merciful Virgin of God, now hear with your ears the words of your suppliant, and restore my numb limbs. I believe indeed that, through the prayers of my own limbs, I shall receive a very complete healing, of body and soul, if I earnestly beg Christ. She had said this, and, weeping, stretched out her hands and face, her whole body laid before the Virgin’s eyes. Then the Virgin saw the wretched woman rolling her limbs, and stretched out there, weeping, with her body twisted round, with swollen blotches and the disease of the belly; and that sad woman, often calling on Christ to help her, and holding her head at the saint’s feet and her garment, she looked on; she grieved, and with her right hand gently raised her up, she lifted her, and made the sign of the holy cross upon her with her consecrated thumb. She blessed her in words, and healed her. I speak of a wondrous and sudden thing about her limbs: the woman attains a very complete health: no differently than a shadow by day: when it has begun the sunrise at the new morning shows a bright face on the horizon, the black shadow flees, frightened, as we said, every evil had fled, with the fountain of health poured out. From the virgin’s hands there flowed the grace of Christ.

³ She performed many miracles for the smallest of causes Brigid the virgin of God did this and such things. At the time when she was carrying tree fruit from the orchard, heavy autumn as the year ripens crops, the field blooms with ears, and the vine with sweet grapes, hanging apples are seen on the branches of the tree, she had apple-bearing and plum trees at home: for she was a useful cultivator of her own garden. She, with a basket hanging from her right hand, suddenly, had come to the cell carrying gentle apples, and she gave the fruit of her labour to the maidens of God. Holy Brigid, having received the apples at once, said that they were to be given to the poor, as she often used to do. When the old woman heard such words being spoken then, she who had previously brought the gifts of apples freely, was grieved, troubled with overwhelming sorrow at heart: for she thought that she was being slighted by that holy one. So, unable to bear it, she flared up in great anger, and, churlishly, took back the gifts, and violently snatched away from those poor of Christ. The greedy woman committed a disgraceful act and said, hurling insults in swollen words; “When I was bringing you gifts of salvation, virgin of God, why have you quickly given this away to others, thus slighting me? And another woman was giving great apples with plums: then that holy girl gave them to the poor; and she blessed her, promising rewards for the deed, in the present time, flourishing, and in the future spring this tree of promise will bring you many apples, and it will never be barren, but a fruitful tree.” So she spoke, and dismissed the old woman, her heart relieved. The wicked woman stood fast in her hardened offence and wickedly snatched the apples from the poor ones: she spoke to the widow, who had then brought beforehand the gifts received to the poor, and the sad needy remained; “Fool, go away now; are you not ashamed to be arrogant, and in your orchard, where you see the tree full, finding no apple hanging from the tree: nor shall there be, as there was, fruit fit for you for ever.” It happened to both women as the knower of truth had said.

⁴ Not long after this, Brigid drove on in her chariot once more through the crossroads or across the fields to many people, surrounded everywhere by a great retinue, she travelled in public, accompanied by holy maidens. While the most holy virgin was making her journey, then a crowd on foot came to meet them, mothers with children, youths with their mothers from the countryside, and fathers, wearied, unable to set down their steps: for a burden heavier than wretchedness hung from their necks, and the loaded body sweated too much in the heat. And when the careful charioteer had firmly checked the reins in place, lest any horse should go on, or trample the wretches; and so that by turning aside she might go on more safely, she urged on the horses without delay. And when the exhausted poor saw the chariot, they stood still and cried out aloud; “O too fortunate the one borne on a horse’s back, if only he might now go on with horse’s help alone!” They all said this together: the holy maiden was moved; then, filled with God, weeping with a murmuring voice, she ordered the horses and the chariot to stop on the path and to be given to the poor for carrying, and for being carried. Nor did the charioteer’s willing obedience then prove sufficient: yet he is overcome by the maiden’s great compassion. The burdened people indeed take the horses, the virgin’s charioteer, the chariot and the garments: the sisters follow the varied crowd, the people, and the brothers.

⁵ Since dry thirst had gripped the fields in the summer time, and the water of the river had not been cold enough for drinking: under the burning sun the crowd moved on; one woman, wiser than the rest, had come to the holy one, she murmured, “Look, hunger; no drink, no food, the crowd holds crumbs: what could be had in the fields? What shall we do,” she said, “or what do you wish to say?” “Now with your staffs in the same place,” she said, “go, men, hollow out the ground, dig for a little while: that spring will be mine. My bridegroom, the source of waters, will pour streams from the hard flint at the Lord’s command: was not a rock once struck with the tip of a rod? Did he not here satisfy many thousands with five loaves? Christ has now chosen this wilderness for a spring to be found: and it shall be,” she said, “a spring with swift, cold waters,” Look, the liquid flows; suddenly it bursts forth into a stream: the people went, and eagerly drank from the clear spring.

⁶ The road was a public thoroughfare: beside it the holy one was sitting Then at once there came a large assembled throng, of foot-soldiers and horsemen, or a great host of the common people, in carts, and with lively, tamed horses she had come, and then asks the crowd sitting in the country. And when they knew that the holy maiden was seated, she brought up her chariot, hastening down to her; she speaks kindly, and adds these words of greeting: “O holy Virgin of God, what now in these lands does your coming declare? Where do you wish to go? Here I see a chariot: where are your horses? Have you made gifts to widows burdened with grief, or perhaps to lepers? Take, holy virgin, my better horses: here I have young ones whom no chariot has been able to subdue, untamed, strong, and very proud. If now they are gentle to you, keep them always; and once thus tamed, then fit for your uses, they are wholly given over.” She spoke these words to the seated woman. “Look, I give thanks to God,” replied the holy maiden, “for the free gift.” Then she ordered the charioteer of the horses to hold the reins in his hand, and to guide them only: and when the charioteer held those reins with his right hand, look, they gave a light leap (a marvellous thing to tell!), rejoicing, and the swift horses together from the country until the young man, with merciful hand restraining them, held them, and placed their gentle necks for carrying and bearing, and, once set beneath the chariot, they went more slowly, like lambs or humble sheep, and did not move a limb. Moreover, the people marvelled at the spring dug out of the turf, and drank from the clear dew: food of various kinds she had brought with her, the crowd dines at once: fragments of food remain. A confused cry sounds; the crowd had struck the air and the people, with praises, left the people in peace.

⁷ As the sun runs through the bounds of another sign, when all had passed, in months and minutes, it leaps along the heavenly boundary, and begins its hour: Brigid had then remained with the holy maidens alone, they prayed together, calling on Christ with one voice. There had been a certain noble man who was ill: for within his body his inward parts were burning with a hot fever, the field held rich wealth, gold that would be lost, and abundance of silver, the weight of many things, patchwork garments, goads, cattle, and vast estates, all these joys of the present world what profit are they to wretches, set on the threshold of death? He, loving salvation for his own part, as the pain grew, said to his servants: send such a cow better for the maidens of Christ, to be kept always. But the wretched servants were unwilling to lose this one, and another, which was worse, in the patron’s absence is sent, and the cunning trick of fraud shone through the darkness. For on the following night the greatest power of Christ was shown, a sign against the perverse, and a great one appeared to them, look, suddenly, seven wicked men, for the crime of deceit, slew the cow we mentioned before. (A wondrous thing I speak, while I tremble as I tell these miracles!) On the new morning, while the sun looked back with golden eyes over the broad lands of earth, mountains, and fields, and woods; the fleeing shadow lurks, darkness beneath prevailing light, the bright day has arisen; the shepherd revisits his herds, he found, in the middle of the field, seven huge bodies, suddenly struck down by ravening wolves: At once, too, in the morning he saw that same cow lifeless among the beasts: he sees cruel wounds which the wicked had only inflicted, and the wolves did not presume to eat the flesh: they surround the prey on every side, their jaws hung with bared teeth, this memorable power, long celebrated in those lands, one cow of the virgin, the death of seven slain wolves.

Chapter 6 #

¹ When there was near the cell of another virgin a noble house, as is said, renowned by a splendid name, and built, according to old custom, from its own property, night-time thieves break in and seize what they find, often driving off the cattle, after they had broken the walls, and indeed the plunder of the farmers to carry on their shoulders, to hide themselves in the woods; all the worst that thieves could do, they did, stealing together in the dark time of night they turn aside to the river-bank called Liffey, they wanted to cross the shallow ford of the stream. But then the river grew high beside the tall alders through the merit of the virgin, and they stood still, with the burden hanging from the wretched man’s neck: anxious care for the cattle gnawed the men’s hearts: nor could they, on foot, cross the ford in order: beyond the river they wander along the banks for longer in the night hours: at last they took a slower plan, and all with naked bodies, their clothes stripped off, and gathered together, with the cattle-plunder tied by a rope, they placed on it the plunder of the cattle (which we mentioned before), spread out by the horns, and thrust it into the river’s waters. Holy Brigid of God, recalling her promises to the maidens, saw the loss of the house, standing present on the bank. The rivers prepare battle against the cattle, and straightaway the men themselves, when they had followed after them with limbs stretched out amid the waves, bare shoulders, hair thrown back, then through the waters, you would have seen many fleeces floating like wild things, the dead hides of the wicked marked with black knots were being carried on the backs and feet of the cattle. As the wave of the sea is accustomed, when with its highest surges it rises to the sky, and licks the shining stars, the whole earth trembles, about to fall in sudden ruin, when it rushes on, and the foaming rivers, with stolen wind, cover wide shores, scatter places, marbles, wood, not otherwise did those herds rush, the thieves upon them, they seek the first shore, the rebels leave their backs behind, they carried their clothes, and came close by: At last the thieves drove the cattle, with breasts laid bare, through mountains, valleys, woods, and fields; not otherwise does the bow-bearing hunter, through high glades with savage hounds, follow the tracks of the deer; he slips away, and the breeze outpaces him in its course with no delay, no rest, and he does not hide himself in high cover, nor is he caught by dogs, nor avoided by nets so likewise the thieves set the cattle behind them stripped of clothes and arms, seeking the open road, where a great crowd stood, and the common people were there. worshipping the holy rites at the virgin’s cell. The kindly day had come, and Phoebus had now brushed away the shadows of night; looking from heaven’s axle, he laughed to see the cattle running in the morning, and the thieves naked, and the whole plunder restored close at hand to the farmers.

² When one maiden had been from the neighbouring parts, she had come to the holy one in like manner: for the dear mistress wished her sweet words to be kept, with attentive ears, and also with an equal heart. That girl indeed loved her sisters greatly: she had said this: “Would that I might stay with you this neart” she had left her house with no guardians, the cows and calves wandering scattered through the fields, except the wretched man, whom long-standing disease had bent into bed, and old age, heavier and long, and there was no right for him to look after the house, nor care for the stock. The girl said, with God guarding your health, this neart you may rightly stay: now fear to lose nothing of your possessions: Christ guards your goods. She stayed. Tomorrow she again went to visit the house. O power of God, worthy to be remembered! O great might! No killing was there, the sun ever being present, the day had been long, by four times twelve hours. That girl then found the old man sitting alone. She found the calves gladly grazing together with the cows in the countryside: nor yet had the calves forgotten their mothers’ milk to seek its taste, over a great stretch of time: truly wonderful! The night was dark in which the girl stayed there; the clear day is felt by the calves under the warming sun

³ One day, by chance, as the occasion required, there went Saint Brigid, holy of God, accompanied by many maidens: A very large crowd of all different kinds followed her, And lepers too, at the same time, very haughty, accompanied her, Whom she all cherished with her mother’s own kindness. Anger had stirred two lepers, in perverse-minded fury, And those men were quarrelling with all their strength, They stretched out their hands and tore at their own hair: Then the first raised his right hand struck the one going past: The other, turning quickly, returned it more effectively: With arms thrust out strongly, each contended To batter the other’s face with hard fists. When she saw it, she checked them with pious words. A wonder I tell! the first who had struck his brother before, Could not again stretch out his bent right hand, The other did not sluggishly lift his right hand up to heaven, So that he might repay the same, if he could, with force: Yet he could not, as he wished, bring his brother down so, That hand grew stiff, stretched out towards the stars again, No skill could bend back the suspended right hand, The lepers’ hands grew rigid; they could do nothing, Until the holy Virgin of God came to the aid of the two. Then she said, “O wretched brothers, you, by the blood of Christ Who were bought at a crimson price, take up holy peace again: And repent of the evil you have just done; Christ You were bought at a precious price; put aside your quarrel, And repent of the evil you have done just now: Christ Has been offended too much: take up holy peace again. They promised together to commit no further fault: Their right hands are loosened, their limbs return to health: At peace once more, they follow her as she goes on; And they give great thanks to Christ for the gift,

⁴ The next cell was built in those lands for holy virgins, and they were closely related in the flesh, adorned with worthy conduct, and chaste in body: The sisters came together, with determined minds, earnestly begging the saint with joined prayers to deign to come, and to bless their house, and whatever was theirs in those dwellings. Christ’s Vingo kindly agreed to the maidens: She climbed into the cart, and was carried through the wide streets. One man had come hurrying to meet them: He said, “Keep peace now, deceitful maidens: I myself am a messenger; I tell you the truth, that the sick man lies there now,” says the old man: “Now the final times of life have fully come: Send away your cart, for he will come, and the horses.” They excuse themselves, saying they had no cart prepared, “Take and carry my cart,” Brigid replied Then the cart was sent to the needy man, as she had said. He is brought there at once, the one who had been ready for death; The sick man is laid more gently on the grassy turf. Then the leprous men, swollen in goatskin, came, and with reproachful voices they struck the Virgin’s ears, complaining and asking for the cart and the horses. Their speech was contrary to that of the maidens; “If a cart is given to you, how can we carry our sad journey home?” the maidens said. At once the lepers answered with a great shout; “We shall go away ungrateful; we seek nothing of yours at all, O work of mercy! so great and marvellous a will: The Virgin’s heart burned with the love of Christ and God: She granted the eager lepers the use of the cart, and with devoted mind gave them the horses. I tell a wonder: the very sick man we have now mentioned is healed; he feels no illness, nor any pain: He cries out Christ’s praises in splendid acclaim; “O highest God, King of kings, supreme power, Creator most high of earth, sea, air, and fire, angelic people, and likewise the throng of humankind and beasts, may they praise you; we sing praises to you; we worship you So he said: and then he himself follows the maidens on foot

⁵ In those days, a certain man, whom his own wife hated, came to the saint, and had sought the sacred water: which the holy Virgin graciously gave, a little sanctified water. The foolish woman despised her harsh husband, hated him too much, and denied the weariness of married life: harmful vexations disturb the miserable mind. Then she quickly sent for the priest, who would sprinkle clear water, which the pious virgin had first blessed with her own mouth, and in the husband’s presence she had these sprinkled over the house and beds, the doorposts, and the tables for food; and after that the priest himself came back home. For the woman loved her husband with excessive love, and on no occasion had left him, not even for a while. Her husband happened to set out before daybreak and had crossed the nearby strait by boat, alone, borne by love of sailing, and toils in the deceitful waves. But the wife remained at home, overcome by sleep, and did not know where her husband had gone, when he had left. She suddenly got up: through the roof, the nearby bed, the intervals, the wide streets, and all around, the woman runs, as far as the seashore, and the footprints grew for all to see, when she lifted her head and eyes, she looked beyond the foolish woman saw her husband, alone on the shore as a phantom ** One or two lines are missing. The fierce shallows of the sea, with the south winds blowing, the waves of the river waters, and the high mountains, raised up together their curling lashes in spray: They beat against the upper banks, and plunge marble beneath, they stir the air, and touch the shining stars The fire of love was violent, and the little breast heaved His wife’s longing and madness tormented his mind: And ever more it grows, swelling through his innermost parts. If there had not been at once a man nearby, with boats, who would lift the one snatched away by the waves, and with his hands seize the wretch as she sank into the deep, straightway she would have gone on to perish amid the waves. Such was the strong peace between the two: the sweet affection of wife and husband remained always, right up to the day of death: marvellous to tell! This virtue, made known to many peoples, is reported, and for the Virgin’s merit Christ strengthened their love

Chapter 7 #

¹ In those times a great crowd, with a murmur, came together, wishing to celebrate the solemn feast of the holy saints’ feast. And then Saint Bridget of God, needing things to be given, happened to see them coming. She had said to her own people, moved by love of compassion; “If I could, I would now wish to feed these crowds, who have come from far-off lands to seek food; so you, our boys, and you, girls, go and prepare food; let us feed them with these loaves: there was plenty of grain; the girls had been fully supplied. Why should I go on? The ministers set out dishes for the different crowds with hearts quite devout all satisfied with what was set before them, the lowly common people, mothers with their children, young men with their fathers in the fields, raise their hands towards the stars with exceptional praises.

² When the wicked servants took in this deed of the virgin, they were more ready to blaspheme, and the girls were sad. Bridget had at once fled to her usual church, there she herself was praying to God with a devout heart. One common man had come to the king with carts, he went slowly along the straight road, laden. And as he was carrying on the journey he had taken up before, and was bringing many of the king’s riches to the court, he was carrying the grey grain that was to be given for the saints’ feasts, the common man was wandering with his cart in his own fields. Look, as night fell, with the stars gathered on the summit of heaven, night rushed down, and covered the earth with clouds, a thick mist descending from the high mountains covered the oxen, and wrapped the men who were journeying through the countryside as well. For the servants knew the broad way through the fields, but a dark mist met the blind men, until they come to that same house, where the holy woman was staying; the virgin came straight out to meet the men: for, aware of her power, she brought forth sweet words for the boys. The common man replied, he said; “All these gifts God has sent to you, virgin: receive our little offerings with a pious heart. For I had planned to go to the king with our carts, and to send the grain, worthy of our lord, to ours: but God turned the oxen aside in the middle of these fields to your cloisters. Such is our wish now: we can give twice as much back to the king, if he asks: all ours together, if there is strength, let it be taken away, let it be taken. These things will always be yours; only bless us,” he said. He had sent the men to the king to explain the reasons in due order. The king was astonished by such signs. At once the great hero sent gifts, the magnificent house where that king was then staying, and whatever gifts had previously existed, the king then granted to the virgins of Christ always to possess: that good common man, whom we mentioned before, was handed over to the holy women by the whole family of his kin; afterwards he served the holy girls without deceit.

³ After a short time, once again from those regions there came to Brigid a certain queen, and she asked this with tears, to make amends properly for her sins: and she offered a beautiful chain with a devout mind, at whose very top there had been formed a figure of a human head: a fine image shines, with precious silver threads, and woven hooks and little spheres brilliantly gleaming in alternate tawny gems. This outstanding ornament the queen offered to the girls. They take it and, rightly storing it away in the treasury, lest Brigid should secretly hand it over to the poor: for she was accustomed, as often as she could, to scatter wealth to the little wretches; and the grasping servants feared this loss. One day by chance, when with hoarse voice the lepers were asking together for clothes, food, and meals, such as might enable them to defend their needy lives, they came, and their complaints beat upon the virgin’s ears. The holy virgin comforts them with pious words; but more and more they all kept shouting with raised voices, and then the gracious virgin checked the proud with these poor people. For there in the little chests which the girls then had, in which they stored whatever was given, she searched about: there she found the very precious chain. Hurrying, she took it up in her hands, and secretly handed it over to Christ’s poor to keep. After the chain had been given to the poor as I have said, and was not found in the treasury, the sisters were very much distressed, and said to their holy mistress: “Why do we labour? Why have we guarded these things for the dead? You wear us out greatly with our own hands, by making us toil; you, virgin, hand all our possessions over to the wretched lepers: is care for the poor then yours alone? Is ours worthless?” The holy virgin comforts the sisters with pious words: “Leave off now your foolish sharp words; always keep good peace, let patience rule among us; go and see the place where we are accustomed to pray, to pour out prayers often to Christ, and frequently to the saints, before God’s altar, where the relics perhaps rest: search, perhaps I am lying; let your insults cease,” she said. But a certain person testifies that he saw a girl handing the chain to the poor. When the sisters’ concern to look for it had been greatest, one girl was more perceptive than the rest, this virgin maiden being quicker, and so she was the first to enter the open church. O deed far too worthy to be remembered, when virtue was offended it shone forth! Having found the gleaming silver chain at the altar on the ground, and rejoicing in the bright one lying before her, like it in shape, gems, and workmanship to the earlier one.

⁴ There came to the saint from the nearby people one holy man, Conlaidus, called by his own surname (14) He wished to see the holy and worthy maiden. He is carried in a cart, with a boy as companion: all the sisters received the patron with devout minds. For these, before, there was warm hospitality and a bath in the usual way, the rooms prepared for feasts, bedding, and flames serving them. After they had duly refreshed their bodies with food and drink, Brigid, holy to God, led out by timid girls, paid the debt of charity due to Christ’s guests; sweet words come forth from a peaceful heart. And after that day had stayed some little time with the virgin, and had taught them all with heavenly words, and had planted worthy seed for everlasting life, so that the harvest would grow in Christ after many future days, the patron wished to return to his own cell and insisted on having his own carriage properly prepared. He ordered the boy to fasten the horses’ necks under the yoke. But the boy, alas, foolishly had neglected to secure the cart properly, forgetting to put the wheel on the axle. When this had happened, it is not known by what cause the dangers should go forward; out came the old man and the holy girl: the old man mounted the cart: “bless us,” he said, “now this journey of ours, and stretch out your holy right hand,” Brigid, holy to God, full of the bowels of charity, then blessed them and added the sign of the cross to them: the axle alone remained, and the cart went off without its check, and then no wheel fell off across the fields while Christ guarded it. O manifest power of God, O great might! O blessed hand, and astonishing sign of the maiden! When such things were heard, the mind burns with love, our inward feeling is nourished by the sweet words of the heart, it tends almost to the heights, flying upward, it escapes to the things above; earthly things seem foul, while these holy deeds of the virgin, as I now announce them,

⁵ Virtue like this is equal to the virtue before it, it builds no less (if I may say so, I will say it): at that time the care of piety stirred and decided to visit the house of a certain virgin Brigid, holy to God, accompanied by a few girls, ascended the cart and set out by the straight path. She came even to the place where a certain virgin dwelt holy; and was gladly received by worthy girls: the virgin’s arrival was a joy to all: for she brought great joy to many people. White lilies are scattered through the beautiful house, roses are mixed with violets and white flowers, they prepare pleasant things, and set out sweet drinks. But first she spoke the teaching of the saints. With heavenly dew she restores dry hearts sufficiently. After the proper rest had been ended for the girls, after a sweet space of a few days had passed, she insisted on having her carriage properly prepared: for the holy woman wished to return to her own cell. The charioteer and the girl mounted the cart together. When they wanted to travel through the open places to the cell; Brigid, holy to God, with a blazing heavenly beam had said to the driver, “Utter the holy word, and now say Christ the Lord to our ears: then let it please you to turn your face towards us, behind you, you will fasten your loose reins: so that our horses may properly recognise this road.” He, wishing to obey, turned his face towards them and said that the sweet words of God, or the great rewards to come, belonged to the good; as for evil things, pain will burn them up, and while they pursued the journey they had taken up across the fields coming to the bank of the river named Berua, immediately one horse, which drew their cart, in the middle of the river, when it felt the loose reins, dragged the collar from beneath the yoke: the other horse held back; with the cart alone it went on, carrying the cart across the fields at an even pace. And the cart did not fall, nor did it feel any danger: they kept their ears attentive to the word and their hearts. A certain king had been placed on a high hill, there he happened to be sitting above with a large crowd: and all marvel, when they saw such things, and they cried out together. The horse, grazing, heard the noise and sounds of the crowd; he leapt, and went off: there was no delay, no rest; he outstripped the winds themselves, following after the cart until he placed himself beneath it. No one forced the horse then to lower his neck beneath the yoke. The right hand of God held back the cart at the crossroads, and the cart did not fall, for it is said, indeed, without a horse because of the merit of the virgin: Christ, with his hand, deigned to uphold the cart in the air: great power!

Chapter 8 #

¹ If I wished to speak of the lepers and the various diseases of the body, the contracted, the lame, the blind deprived of sight in their eyes, whom the devout virgin of God cured, they exceed number; time is passing, and the tongue of another. One leper had been stripped of the arrows in the virgin’s ways of life, at feasts, vain and greedy with murmuring: whatever evil he could see, he wanted to have burning with greed and blind desire for things. “Give me the chief cow, give me the calves, give me a driver, who now may lead the cow with the calf through the streets (for I alone cannot drive it); I want to have it kept for the use of milk.” Brigid, holy to God, answered with calm heart; “Do you also want clothing and food for the body from me? I am willing to give you the cow; if that is your wish, take it, go away now; peace be with you, brother and friend.” One of the girls had cooked there food from meat for the children. She had ordered the man to wash the wretched leper. And when that woman had given the cow of better shape in the field, and the calf had not been with it, it rejected it. The cow of another was seeking to have the calf: “Give this to me,” he said, “since it is bigger in body than the others: if not, look, your oxen are there; always keep them.” ***.Some things are missing here. Because of this merit of the virgin, as it is said, (a marvellous thing to tell) the cow of another sought and loved the calf. When then the leper was going with the virgin’s gift, he was carrying the calf in the cart as he went; the cow was ready, and the dwarf followed the tracks, running through hills, valleys, woods, and rivers: she burned too greatly with love for the calf, having forgotten her offspring. Nor could the men go this distance in two or three days: then the cow could. Afterwards the man who had cooked the meat before, found not the cooked meat, although then he had left it by the fire; then the other cow did not pass over the ford, and the other cow, utterly forgetting her own calf, begins to love that one whom the leper’s cow had left: O great power, to be remembered long by all, how great a virtue is shown in small causes!

² At the time when holy Patrick was dying, he who taught the people of Christ well with holy doctrine, and after the years of his life had been completed more fully, brought his course to an end, and sought the kingdoms of heaven; he who once had sown the seed of life for the Scottish people, purifying hearts with star-bringing baptism; holy Brigid knew the day by divine prompting, the day on which her father himself was to die: the virgin had said to the girls; “Look, sorrow, mourning, and now everything sad hold our hearts, the destined salvation of the people, the light in the western lands has been overcome by darkness, the light of the bishop will die with the death of the Scots’ leader. Therefore let us, lamenting the funeral of our father, bring the final gifts of a devoted mind: I wish to wrap my father’s body in a clean linen cloth, which I have woven with my own hands, made of fine linen.” She said this, weeping, and orders a cart to be prepared and commanded the boys, servants, and chosen girls to go and make ready whatever had been told them beforehand.

³ As nothing else was available, she ordered, moved by love of charity One day she was unwilling that her people should eat pork meat. Two foolish girls despised the commands of their mistress and placed the pork meat in the hollow of a tree. Brigid, holy from this new morning, rebuking the girls, said, “You have done wrong to hide the meat: go now and see.” Then when the girls had gone, they saw two great snakes beneath the branches: their spotted breasts flicker, their mouths quiver with darting tongues, their swollen shining necks with scaly breast. The girls feared this, and threw themselves at the feet of the virgin, and begged that she herself would forgive their fault; leaning down, they are said to have cried aloud in supplication. That most holy virgin began to ask her spouse that he might indeed change the form of the serpents into the form of bread, or whatever food he himself wished. And afterwards the virgin of God signed the holy dragons with the cross. Wonderful to tell! The holy woman changed the swollen serpents into the forms of loaves, alike in colour to the two of them. Then they saw the offered snakes with astonished minds. From this the trembling girls were even more greatly amazed, they marvel together, beating their breasts with their hands. Therefore the priest had carried with him these shining loaves from the oak, to be kept afterwards, to be consumed at the Lord’s Passover, or at Christ’s feast days, by the servants of God and the holy girls.

⁴ After this virtue, hurrying along the byways, with five the holy virgin of God was going on in carts, until she had come to the lofty city where Patrick then had arrived; where there was great mourning for the people, because of the bishop’s death. Christ, through the gracious virgin, brought back these tears as a great and wondrous sign: the bishop rose again; he revived from death a second time. From this grief, from this mourning, cease; from here joys arise, a gathering of the people from the different parts of the city, and there was great rejoicing for the virgin’s choir. Brigid, holy to God, went forward more slowly, and said, “O loving father, instruct us all with your words, restore our dry hearts with the dew of your teaching, and scatter the lessons of present life and of the life to come, See, I have brought the gifts of our service, the ephod that we have woven for you with our own hands. You, holy father, told me to weave such a one, so that your body might be wrapped cleanly in linen. Look on your sheep, shepherd; receive your maidens who are coming. See, I have come with devoted boys and girls. And the father replied more gently, saying, “Peace be with you, virgin of God.” After this, the two more secretly spoke, I know not what, or what words: God himself knows; alas, Patrick returns, seeking the heavenly kingdoms, and the holy one returned as remembered.

⁵ It was the virgin’s custom, for the love of Christ alone, to give food to the poor, or whatever she had; she wished to serve all guests even more than this, than the abundance of possessions she had for giving. One day by chance, when with holy girls she had stood in praises of Christ, as she was accustomed to do in prayer: look, priests came by a long road with poor, weary, and dirty boys: they were seeking to have the hospitality due to them paid, their tired bodies refreshed with food, drink, and warmth, when the holy virgin of God saw them having come, “Go, prepare food, such a guest must be entertained,” she said. One sister, answering more gently, said, “Tell us what to give, or how much we ought to give? But nevertheless there is no share of food in our houses, that a person could give: we have given, for nothing remains. Nor can you doubt, sister, for Christ gives all things, has given them, and will give them (thus all ought to believe) Let the storeroom be swept, let the food cupboard be shut.” She said this; and again, after a little space of time, “Run well, sister; now give food to the one who asks,” she said: “the house is open; whatever you find inside, do not delay to hand over to the poor, with Christ as guest.” Now both the newcomers and the sisters rejoice together. Why do I linger over words? The power shone out plainly. An abundance of such food had been found. Christ gave dishes to the virgins and to the strangers; all the neighbours were called round about, and the company of the children was placed, and splendid feasts are prepared with great food for seven continuous days; and yet this food was known then not to the people, but only the signs to the ministers, were later made manifest to all. And by the virgin’s merit this manna rained down in the desert the crowd of those praising the lady’s voice sounded as one.

⁶ The devout virgin wished the life of the earlier saints to emulate, seeking the hidden places of the desert in mountains and woods, and was looking sufficiently for springs of water. While the holy virgin was making the journey with the holy girls, she came to a place, one that was full of springs and sweet herbs, where then she lived, and the fields: the blind, and the lame, the lepers, by Christ’s power she healed completely; a crowd of people kept coming nor could flame be hidden under the shadows, but it shone for all under the clear light of the sun. And when the virgin was living there with the holy girls at nights in psalms, hymns, and throughout the days the girls were unwillingly enduring with steadfast mind. In the evening they were seeking river herbs from the springs, with which the ancient saints used to lead their life, they took cold drinks with curls and herbs. Yet in those clear springs there was found no such kind of herbs. From this confusion of mind there began to resound through the house a not small murmur of the sisters. When Brigid, holy to God, had heard such words sounding, she cared that she would spend a sleepless night in prayers, weeping, because Christ Jesus, her spouse, had himself indeed done better: “The spring (a wonder to tell!) the next morning at daybreak at once filled with the desired herbs; then the herbs in the stream had straightened out; which the girls had before been seeking with complaint at the spring. By this deed the virgin’s power shone forth clearly. The people marvel, the sisters rejoice.

Chapter 9 #

¹ One night the holy woman commanded the girls to persist in prayer with steadfast intent. She herself, filled with God, was inwardly intent on heavenly things: and while for a long time, with silent words, she kept her eyes fixed on the stars, the holy woman, in the temple, lifted up her ears in astonishment; “Look,” she said, “be silent now; who can see Christ’s mighty works? Do we not see them ourselves? Now I see the sky, the earth, the sea, and the deep heights, the wide hollow spaces and the penetrable expanse above is full of boys clothed in white garments: in the middle stands Christ, King of kings, supreme power, and holding palms in their hands they sing songs; ‘O holy Lord, holy and holy Sabaoth,’ ‘glory to the Father and to the Son in the heights of heaven’; the heavenly organs resound with sweet-sounding song. These are sung alike by the boys, these by the singers, the angelic peoples answer, alleluia. This vision greatly soothes my inmost mind: the heavenly people rejoice, I know not the song.

² When the sun of morning had drawn up the saffron cloak from her breast and the face of night from the light of day, she had seen with her clear eyes the things above the earth, nor had any cloudy image of night remained on the earth, for the day had been bright; the venerable bishop had come to her cell, the holy man of God, to say the solemn Masses to all the people (13) **. Some things also seem to be missing here.

³ One night, when the girl was among the maidens, she stayed in her father’s house, compelled by her parent. A custom always hostile to Christ’s virgins; for everyone alike flees the mockery of the crowd. Yet she agreed and carried out her parents’ commands, when, in the middle of the night, heavy sleep fell on her limbs, an angel had stood by the girl as she slept at night. Straightway he touched her, and said twice and thrice, “Get up;” a proud crowd, prepared with cruel intent, with no sense of pity, came with many weapons. Rise, for they are hurrying to kill your father, and whichever men they can overcome in battle: for your God himself does not wish to bring you grief. Go quickly; the enemy is coming: these things will be done by fire, they will burn: nothing of yours is touched by the fire: your garments and yours, if anyone wishes to join your garments, are preserved together, nor will the flame be able to burn them. The angel said this again: alas, arise, girl, go out, make no delay, and leave here none of your own: neither father, nor servants, nor those whom the house now holds. Run through the woods, or anywhere the shade may protect you. The girl rose, sad, remembering these words, and told her father, weeping: there is mourning in the hall a cry goes up to heaven, and they flee and leave everything behind, the men could scarcely cross the walls, flying; the hostile people had already rushed about every place round there: entering, within they indeed find no men but only see the sacred garments. They began at once to consume all the roofs with rushing flames and the wicked men, it is said, burn likewise but because the girl had joined the servants’ garments and those of her parents beforehand to her own sacred things, neither the enemy’s fury nor the flame was able to harm them: they thought everything they saw belonged to the priests, after the man’s roof they leave burnt up by flames they could hand none over to death in the houses. Then the father returned thanks to his daughter as a gift.

⁴ At that time the king of this people had one man afflicted in chains: then that man asks the virgin for help, so that he might go away free. The ark of orphans, faithful patron of the wretched, the suppliant went to the king’s promised hall Brigid, holy of God. When the king had heard that she was outside the doors, he ordered her to come under the roof. At once, when she saw the king’s face in the hall, pitying the poor man, she took care to state the cause. The king said, if I grant this to you with a calm mind; what gifts will you give me, virgin of God? She said that by God’s gift the life to come will be given to you, and your descendants after you will hold your kingdoms. With such words he, the foolish and proud king, unworthily of gifts, said that he did not wish for future things: who could believe that anyone would live after death? Q *** S *** I would rather live as a valiant man for many years, to be a terror to my enemies, and to conquer many wars, and never to be conquered in any conflict whatever: The foolish king said this. The virgin answered him as he spoke; you ask for lesser things, which are far too little for the good: but believe me, God will grant it to one who asks: the ruler of Olympus will grant you victory in many wars, you will be victorious, and you will not be conquered by any enemies: in earthly wars you will overcome unjust peoples, and you will rule your kingdoms, famous for battles and triumphs.

⁵ Her brother Germanus, when he had heard the saint speaking such words, then said with a groaning heart; O that this gracious promise of the virgin might be mine! I would lend my ears, I would be the virgin’s servant, and I would wish to be washed in the waters of holy baptism, if I were worthy to receive such a gift from Christ. Brigid, holy of God, answering more gently said; this great power will grant that to you who believe, for a long time beforehand, when the future life in this kingdom and then your offspring after you will hold your kingdoms, until at last the end of the age shall come. Everything that the virgin of God said came to pass.

⁶ Brigid, holy of God, had been alone in her bed, from farther away she gazed towards Rome with her eyes: it is said that she also saw the Apostolic tomb, she stood before the altar, and heard the Masses there; she was not there in body, but in the light of her mind she sees it, and she always resolved to have the holy office. Therefore she sent priests to the city of Rome to bring back new holy things, and whatever she had heard from them, wishing to hand this on to the virgins by an enduring rule. She sent compiled books, and chant, and many gifts to Brigid, the Apostolic one granted them to be held, and she passed them on to her own, turning them to use for learning. At that time we read that there were twelve (15) supreme pontiffs in Rome while the maiden was alive

⁷ Great is the power of God; a small thing seems holy: a poor woman was then afflicted by fever, and the cause of pain grew more and more, until it had now come to the very edge of death. Brigid, holy of God, foretold to the girls; “She is about to die now: wash the cloths, sisters.” There had been wind then; a stormy shower came down, the tender girls made excuses; they feared the cold. Wonderful to say! the old women saw the cloths come out; all who were there saw them, none had carried them away. And again, washed with water and brought back, they saw them as well; the holy girls were afraid. The virgin, aware of the power, saw the saint. For ignorant peoples, this wondrous sign was made, we confirm it by angelic hands, and do not doubt it.

⁸ Another wondrous power seems to me very marvellous, which was done in the great flood of the river Shannon, within which is Kells, a lawful gathering-place of prudent men, flourishing in the holy doctrine of Benedict. She had come there, with her holy girls, the only hope of the wretched, the care of healing for the sick. While she was speaking, brothers and sisters gather there from here and there: they all came together to cross the river by boats, alas, then the girls came badly and too late, wretched as they were, and cried out beyond the river-bank with their voices. The water of Shannon’s whirlpool was very rough, by continual rains impassable to all without a boat. By chance a laden boat was passing then among many, young men were running, leaping, and to the girls they said this at once: “Listen to us, sisters, now take your own garments off, entrust your cloaks to us, so that we may all carry across in our boats.” The young men mocked the girls sufficiently from the stern; with deceitful words they push them away, and leave the shore. Brigid, holy of God, to the sisters standing on the land was crying out, “Take courage,” she said, trembling; come now from there, leave me standing on the bank, and fear no evil, Christ in the river is waiting. Christ was for the people both harbour and guide on the waters.

⁹ By the river-bank she saw a man bent over, and she thought deep down that this was because of some burden. She had come with her holy girls; she herself wanted to lift the load, if he had a burden. She said to the wretched man with the crooked body: “What cause of evil has bent you down, tell me, brother? If you have a heavy burden, give it to us; we will take it away: then you will be able to move along better with a straight body.” “No burden bends the limbs of my body, but ancient pain has pressed down my shoulders,” he said. “If you are wretched in body,” the holy girl then said, “Christ gave the waters, he who cleanses with a healing spring. Now go down, I beg, and wash your body in the waters: in this river the Lord indeed grants you salvation.” “Why do I delay?” He went down undaunted into the waves of the stream and washed himself with the water, and the girl praying straightaway began to recover a lively strength from the bent shape he had borne for many years: the virgin recognised the man: now healed, he came to her and, with humble prayers, gave thanks to Christ and departed.

¹⁰ In those times there was a shortage of bread, and hunger struck many peoples most terribly. Brigid sent her holy girls to seek grain, or whatever God himself had given. They kept going to the house of a certain wealthy nobleman; he gave the boys sacks full of meal, and at last sent the virgin’s maidservants away laden. And when, by chance, they came back again, they could not cross the river on foot: there was no raft by which they could go over the waters: they set down their loads there in that place, sadly, and, falling on their faces, asking the Lord for the sake of the virgin’s merit, they all cried aloud: “Brigid, holy of God, come to help us poor girls.” Wonderful to tell! they are suddenly carried farther across with their sacks: none of the sisters noticed it. As they were perhaps raising their heads and eyes from the ground, then they saw the river quite full behind their backs.

¹¹ Brigid, whom the holy girl had once loved, was fairer than all the other sisters: a virgin in body; yet she remained corrupt in mind: for she had loved a handsome young man with great bodily desire too much, and kept the secret in her heart: The virgin used always to sleep with the holy girl: She had spent the night sleepless, thinking; at last she rose: wicked desire was overcoming her: the girl’s heart was burning fiercely with the fire of love. Then she said: O Father, the kindly Son of the Father, you, my Christ, my salvation, stretch out your right hand to my wavering self; now inspire your counsels in me, destroy my foolish ones: let virginity reign, let evil desire depart. Christ had heard the wretched woman praying in the night: he had given counsel, and strengthens the girl’s mind. Then she set her tender foot upon the coals of the fire, and asks Christ with silent words in her heart: soon the poor girl’s feet were scorched above the fire: her shameful love was departing; pain of heart consumed her inmost parts: she dragged her weak body to the bed with her hands scarcely. She had felt it, she was silent, allowing all holy things. Then he said to the wretched girl, strengthening the maiden herself: O blessed one, you have bravely overcome the evil enemy, extinguishing the flames of hell with these fires, and after this there will be no vain temptation of the flesh for you: scorched by the fires you lie, wicked desire is now defeated. Likewise, the pains of hell will be overcome. And the pain itself in your feet will go away; no wounds of the soles will remain, little virgin, believe me. Then followed complete health for the limbs of the girl: Christ, by the maiden’s merit, touched her with healing.

¹² This is mutilated from the Cassinese Codex. The following things, however, which are missing there, I have now, after the preceding printed text, received from the MS. codex of the library of the most eminent Lord Cardinal Antonio Barberini, p. 1062, in which they are placed after the immediately preceding parts.

Chapter 10 #

¹ One day, by chance, holy Saint Patrick, the jewel of priests, was seated at the synodal gathering: he had spoken many words of God, the teaching of the holy Fathers, and was strengthening the people with the law of salvation, so that the Lord’s harvest, having received a hundredfold crop, might grow better, sprinkled with heavenly dew. Brigid, virgin of God, with her weary holy girls, had come to the synod of the saints, rightly summoned to fulfil vows to God, and to obey holy patrons. As she was sitting there, gentle sleep touched her limbs: the virgin scarcely closed her eyes for a little while, and then told the saints the mystical dreams she had seen: I thought that I was standing alone in flower-filled meadows, I looked upon a people coming from the rising sun: it was a white crowd, flourishing in white garments, they were ploughing that land with four ploughs, and they were sowing seed into the furrows with white oxen: then white rivers of milk were filling the furrows: I saw the seed suddenly growing from the seed. While I saw such things, and long marvellous signs, I also saw peoples from the seventh part of the north, coming with black oxen and black faces, they were always breaking up the fields with dark ears, they began to scatter, turning the earth with a cross-plough, they were ruining the former crops with black seed, and filling the earth with seed. Now the first vision gently soothes my mind, but alas, the later one disturbs all the earlier things.

² She said this to the old man; then, more kindly, the saint herself comforts her with holy words, soothing everything; “The vision of things now troubles you, virgin of God, because the order is disturbed, and the sowers themselves vary, with white or black oxen, who sent the seed into the furrows and by that doubtful figure signified all things: but still in a few words I shall explain what these mean. I, your daughter, shall now tell you this if I can. The first vision now signifies our times; for now we cultivate the hearts of men with the ploughshare of the word, sowing the seeds of the teaching of the Gospels: four harvests of holy souls will be seen to grow a hundredfold in the blessed countryside, and they will fill the barns of Christ with angelic peoples. Alas, evil times of the age will come after us, then the cup of the word will be taken from the sheep, greedy shepherds, who will follow their own profits more, and will care not to put grain, but chaff, under the furrows. Christ will then grant us the joys of life. The bishop said after this: peace be with you, virgin

³ In those times, with her holy father still alive, the virgin remained, believing well in body and with a devout heart; the doctrines of the saints, with the divine nectar of the word, coming down from above, from the heavenly source, she had drawn in, and had drunk with great sweetness, Brigid, holy of God, slept: she saw dreams: that Spirit, who makes even secrets open, who enlightens what is dark, and makes what is solid passable, filled the virgin’s heart by pouring out abundantly. She saw two great stones lifted on the mountain and likewise saw them in a night vision; she thought they were standing in the sight of Saint Patrick: a light dew from on high descended upon them and, as the rain poured long in trembling drops, whereby one of those stones grew harder, sprinkled. **** And the smaller stone, diminishing from the least, was gradually brought, of right, to nothing at all. But the other stone was softened by the heavenly dew, it grew greatly, held the wide places all around, and more and more had surpassed the high mountains; she saw splendid lamps on the highest summit of the stone, which illumine the heavens above with their light. It was a great vision: and then, the saintly virgin’s mind was suddenly troubled, trembling as she saw it: she. She was astonished to see the stones’ differing fate.

⁴ On the new morning, when the sun had scattered the black shadows, nothing on earth was hidden beneath the cover of night; all rose with the bright light, maiden Bridget; hastening to tell Patrick, her patron, of the past dreams she had seen in the night. Then the saint further said that what you, pious virgin, had seen in the vision of your mind, you shall see in glorious light: for two brothers, born of royal stock, whom ancient honour adorns with lofty ranks, born of noble blood and the flower of their parents, will come tomorrow; in person you will scarcely see them: to them we shall speak the holy words of God on high, mixing sweet draughts of everlasting life. Yet one will be a fool with a hardened heart, like a stone, and more stubborn than hard diamond, harder in effect; he will always depart accursed. The other, through faithful love of God, will turn his heart, and will be blessed, following Christ’s commands: he will be great among the peoples, he will rule and hold kingdoms, and his offspring will afterwards hold his kingdoms, until at last the final term of his line shall come. So spoke that servant of God; so the high things were proved, all things were thus, as chaste Bridget had seen

⁵ How great was the virtue she showed at that time Though it was indeed small, it is great, because it seems marvellous. To the holy one a foolish leper had come and had spoken with her He ventured to say that the garment which his body wore, and his own clothes, the maiden should wash, if she had pity. Yet the holy woman bent her compassionate bowels to the fool: She said, “Now grant me your clothes to wash; I shall count this light work for Christ’s name.” Yet then the leper had no other clothes: He asked for help* by which he might warm his limbs. The holy maiden then had begun to ask one girl to provide her own garment, but the sad little maiden refused her cloak. “If you would lay my back under your whips, Lady, I shall never give our clothes to the leper,” she said; and with a murmur she twisted her hard brow. Strange things I tell! The flowing leprosy, which the leper had, rightly seized the girl, perverse at heart: And the leper himself returned sound in all his body, while the white leprosy struck the maiden’s skin. Then all who saw such signs were afraid, and praised God, beating their breasts with their palms, and, hiding themselves, they press kisses to the virgin’s feet:

⁶ After this, Saint Bridget of God, in those days, had built one cell for holy virgins; in which she used to keep vigil with psalms and hymns, and with many fasts she worshipped Christ in her heart, In those days there was a shortage of bread for many neighbours, as is said, and girls. The rest is missing.*

⁷ In the same Codex of the Barbarini, too, before that description of Ireland which we set out at the beginning of this life in place of a prologue, and which begins thus, “At the western bounds” etc., there are the two following prologues, which are lacking in the Cassinese Codex.

⁸ On account of the maiden’s merit, Christ touched her with healing grace;

⁹ The Prologue to the Life of St Brigid begins on the Kalends of February.

¹⁰ Christ, power of God, splendour, wisdom of the Father, you remain in the Begetter, begotten without time, and before the ages, born of the Virgin, you took our human form, nourished, suckled at your mother’s breast. You who, cleansing our faults with holy baptism, like a new offspring are brought forth from the lofty heavens; you who, fearing the harmful fruit, dissolved the eating of the apple, and healed our wounds yourself with your own blood; you who, by dying, gave life, and by death redeemed us, and when you were buried, changed the laws of the tomb, rising from death, and condemned bitter death; you who once destroyed hell, the threshold of black Dis, overcoming the barren paths of greedy Acheron; you who in the water washed away the black enemy, twisted, of the prison of hell, and thrust him into the stream; you ascended, and led the captives to the Father’s dwelling; thousands upon thousands praise the victor’s powers; You too, who deigned to suffer such pains for us and gave heavenly kingdoms to the wretched; Grant that I may climb the steep steps of paradise, Make the gates of life open to me when I knock: let no proud guest come, let no greedy enemy, nor let an outstretched hand touch me, nor take away the rewards: But receive me, O Christ, your devoted servant, so that I may deserve to see the bright company at table, those who rejoice with you; may I see the holy feasts, you who, dwelling with the Father, reign for ever through the ages, and the Holy Spirit rejoices in no lesser honour.

¹¹ The Life begins, or rather

¹² Second Prologue.

¹³ Whoever is enclosed in this frail cave of human flesh and touched by the blackness of his own fault, has not wiped clean the wounds from the filth of many evils, which he had fixed on himself or his brother with the false point of a word, or which the deceitful reproach of the mind had twisted, whom the evil presumption of his own heart has carried away, nor does righteousness hold out to him the arms of the cross; let this man always seek comforts with many prayers through the merits of the saints; he will be able to tear out his faults, those who seek heavenly rewards with grievous struggles, and barter honours above with their own blood, they add wounds to wounds, and bodies to sufferings, they bore iron chains in closed prisons, the cruel torturer inflicted cruel wounds upon Christ’s servants; the world blazed into wrath, the nations assail with their teeth the hanging entrails of Christ’s saints, they often handed them over to the bier, they expose bodies to the bloodied bites of bears, or an iron claw tore flesh from the ribs, when fires were laid on, they gave up the saints’ limbs, the tongue of flame burns as the pyre blazes, yet these nobles did not tremble to endure all things, with consuls despised, with kings scorned, they went to torments, men and boys with manly courage, mothers fearless, maidens in the flower of youth, with hair unbound, their breasts cut away; the leopard devours their innermost hearts with savage tooth, and the lion himself of the saints, the grim lioness, raged against the innocent, and fed her ravenous cubs. Proud impiety claims that the saints were overcome, destroyed by wild beasts, their bodies held in tombs: yet still they deserved to receive eternal palms, to Christ’s martyrs the heavenly kingdoms stood open, and the triumphant companions, after the wars were ended, received beautiful crowns from angelic hands; from you, Paradise, indeed they bore your roses, mingled with angelic throngs under Christ their leader they shall reign together, and remain without the lot of death. But when the martyrdom of the saints before kings, prelates, leaders, or the great soldiery of the crowd, worked a thousand wonders before astonished witnesses, even now these things are done while Christ reigns through the world: they drive away leprosy, and restore sight to the blind, the steps of the lame, and loosen the gates of death: to the deaf and the crippled they grant senses and strength,

¹⁴ The rage of disease, weakened by a thousand cares, is driven off, and bodies are restored by wondrous healings; the lights of the present world shine most brightly, or else many gleaming stars are scattered through the sky; nor is the last part of heaven then envied by the part that the shadow of the vaulted hemisphere holds in darkness. But the force within beats the shining stars and the whole sky glitters with light No otherwise can you see the parts of the earth than those venerable bodies of the saints, which, lovingly embraced by all, they hold, and are honoured with great love. You now, who carried such great pains in your body, and your blood, poured out for the blood of Christ, unwilling champions, citizens of the heavenly court, made victors, streams of Paradise’s fountain, triers of kings, lights of the kingdom of heaven; I beg you, too, to drive away our faults by your prayers, and may we deserve to obtain forgiveness through blessed merits, and to tread the black darkness of Erebus by ascending the way that leads to the palace of heaven, when the final limit of our age shall come, may we deserve, after death, to see the holy and reigning God, and the kingdom laid open, in future peace.

¹⁵ After these words, in the same Codex, there follows next that description of Ireland, which above, in place of the Prologue, we set out before this life, and thus begins.

¹⁶ “At the western bounds the finest land is described, etc.”