Catholica1 Prompt: There are some stray numbers in the text. From examinining the context, if they are clearly stray, then delete them.
2 Around the year of our Lord one thousand one hundred and forty-eight, and the twelfth of King Stephen, there occurred that vision or penance of Tundal, at once marvellous and very terrible to sinners. There was in Ireland, in the diocese of Cashel, a certain man named Tundal, noble by birth but cruel in deed; handsome in bodily form, strong in might, and in no way concerned for his salvation. He took it very ill if anyone spoke to him, even briefly, about the salvation of his soul. He neglected the Church, would not even look upon Christ’s poor, but for vain glory distributed whatever he had to buffoons and jesters. Though he had many friends and companions, among them he had one to whom another man was indebted in the price of three horses. And when he awaited the appointed term, after the term had passed Tundal confronted him. When the man replied that he did not have the money at hand, Tundal withdrew, greatly disturbed and angered against the debtor. And look, immediately struck invisibly, he could not draw back the hand he had stretched out, but began to cry out terribly: “Look, I am dying,” and at once his body fell lifeless, as if it had never had a soul. All the signs of death were present; the household ran up, the squires shouted, the host wept, the body was laid out, the bells were rung, the clergy came running, and the people marvelled. From the tenth hour on Wednesday until the same hour on Saturday he lay thus dead; yet a slight warmth was felt on the left side of his chest. After this he recovered his breath and with a weak gasp began to breathe for about the space of one hour; and he indicated that they should bring him the body of the Lord. When he had received it, and had drunk wine, he began to praise God and to say: “O my God, your mercy is greater than my iniquity, though it is exceedingly great. How many tribulations you have shown me, many and grievous, and having turned, you have given me life again, and have brought me back again from the depths of the earth” [Psalm 71:20]. When he had said this, at once he scattered all that he had and gave it to the poor, and ordered himself to be marked with the sign of the cross; and he recounted all that he had seen and suffered, saying:
3 “When my soul left the body and knew that it was dead, the awareness of its guilt began to be afraid, and it did not know what to do. It was afraid indeed, but did not know what it feared. It wished to return to the body, but could not enter it. Therefore, weeping and lamenting and trembling, and not knowing what to do, trusting in nothing except the mercy of God, at last it saw coming towards it so great a multitude of unclean spirits that they filled not only the whole house and the courtyard, but even the streets and squares of the city; and surrounding the wretched soul, they said: “Let us sing to this wretched soul the due song of death, for she is a daughter of death, and food for unquenchable fire, a friend of darkness and an enemy of light.” And turning towards her they gnashed their teeth at her, and with their own claws in excessive fury tore their most foul cheeks, saying: “Look, wretch, the people whom you chose, with whom you shall enter to burn in hell. Nurse of scandal, lover of discord, which we also love, why are you not now proud? why do you not commit adultery? why do you not fornicate? Where is your vanity and vain joy? where your immoderate laughter? where your strength, with which you insulted very many? Why do you not now beckon with your eyes, stamp with your foot, speak with your finger, nor devise evil with a wicked heart, as you were accustomed to do in your trifles?” When they were saying these and similar things, it saw from afar a star coming, as it were very bright, upon which it immediately fixed its unwearied gaze, hoping to receive some comfort through it. Now it was an angel of the Lord. And when he drew near, he greeted it by its own name, saying: “Hail, Tundal. What are you doing?” And it saw a very handsome young man, and hearing itself greeted by its own name, from fear and joy together it answered thus: “Alas, lord father, the pains of hell have surrounded me, the snares of death have come upon me” [Psalm 18:5]. To whom the angel said: “Now you call me lord and father, whom you always had with you and never judged me worthy of such a name.” “Where, lord,” it said, “have I seen you, or where have I ever heard your most sweet voice?” To which the angel said: “I always followed you from your birth, wherever you went, and you never wished to consent to my counsels.” And stretching out his hand towards one who above the others reviled and mocked it, he said: “Look, that one to whose will and counsel you were obedient. But mercy shall be present to you which you have not deserved. Therefore be secure and glad, for you shall suffer a few things out of the many that you have deserved. Follow me, and whatever I shall show you, hold it in memory, for you shall return again to the body.” Then she, exceedingly terrified, leaving her body over which she had stood, came nearer. The demons, hearing these things, and hearing that they could not inflict the evils which they threatened, blasphemed God, saying that he was unjust because he did not render to each one according to his works [Romans 2:6]. And after this they rose up against one another and struck each other with whatever blows they could, and leaving behind a great stench, they departed with great sadness and indignation. But the angel, going before, said to the soul:”
4 “Follow me.” But it replied: “Alas, my lord, if you go before, they will seize me from behind and hand me over to eternal fires.” To which the angel said: “Do not fear, for there are more with us than with them. If God is for us, who is against us? A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Nevertheless, with your eyes you shall see and see the recompense of sinners” [Psalm 91:7]. These things having been said, they set out. And when they had gone further together, and had no light except the brightness of the angel, they came to a valley terrible and very dark and covered with the shadow of death. It was deep and full of burning coals, having an iron cover of the thickness of six cubits, which by its excessive heat surpassed the burning of the coals themselves. The stench of it surpassed all the tribulations which the soul had until then endured. Upon that plate descended a multitude of wretched souls, and there they were burned until they melted like fat in a frying pan, and what was more grievous, they were strained through the same plate just as wax is accustomed to be strained through cloth, and then again in the burning coals of fire they were renewed for torment. This was the punishment of parricides, fratricides, murderers, whether by deed or by consent. “After this punishment,” said the angel, “they are led to greater ones; but you, although you are a murderer, shall not now suffer this.” After this they came to a mountain of marvellous size and horror and vast desolation, which to those passing by offered a very narrow path. On one side of that mountain there was foul sulphurous and dark fire, on the other side icy snow and a horrible wind. And that mountain was full of tormentors, who had iron forks glowing with heat and very sharp tridents, with which they pierced the souls wishing to pass and dragged them to punishments, and in turns they cast them from snow and hail into the fire, and conversely. “This,” said the angel, “is the punishment of plotters and the treacherous.” After this that soul, following the angel step by step in fear, came to a valley very deep and foul and dark, whose depth the soul itself could not see, but it heard the sound of a sulphurous river and the howling of those suffering in it. A foul smoke arose from the sulphur and from the corpses there, which surpassed all the punishments it had seen before. There was there a very long beam, stretched from one mountain to another, in the manner of a bridge extended over the valley, which was a thousand paces in length and one foot in width. This bridge no one could cross except the chosen. From this bridge that soul saw many fall, and only one priest pass across unharmed, who was a pilgrim, carrying a palm and clothed in a cloak, and he alone, first of all, passed across without fear. But the angel, consoling the fearful soul, said: “Do not be afraid, for from this punishment you shall be freed; but you shall suffer another.” And going forward he took it and led it unharmed beyond the bridge, saying: “This,” he said, “is the horrible valley in the punishment of the proud.” Then they went on by a dark and winding road, and very difficult. And when they laboured much in going through the darkness, the soul saw from afar a beast of incredible size and intolerable horror, which was greater than all the mountains it had seen before. Its eyes were like burning hills; its mouth appeared to it very wide and open, able to contain nine thousand armed men. It had in its mouth two giants with very misshapen faces, one of whom had his head upward to the upper teeth of the said beast and his feet downward to the lower, the other the reverse; and they were like columns in its mouth, dividing that mouth in the likeness of three gates. An unquenchable flame came out of that mouth, which was divided into three parts through those three gates; and against that flame the damned souls were forced to enter. An intolerable stench also came out from the mouth itself, and the lamentation of a multitude was heard from its belly through the same mouth. For within there were many thousands of men and women undergoing dreadful torments. Before its mouth also stood a multitude of unclean spirits, forcing souls to enter, afflicting them with many blows and scourges before they went in. And when the soul of Tundal had long looked upon so horrible a monster, greatly terrified it said to the angel: “Lord, why do you approach there?” And the angel: “We cannot complete our journey otherwise. None can avoid this torment except the chosen. This beast is called Acheron, and it devours all the greedy. Of it it is written: ‘It shall swallow up the river and shall not wonder, and it has confidence that the Jordan may flow into its mouth’” [Job 40:23]. “But those who appear set in its mouth and among its teeth are giants, and in their times none were more faithful in their following than they.” And when the angel had said this, drawing nearer he went before the soul and stood before the beast, and the soul, though unwilling, followed. And when they stood together before the beast, the angel disappeared and the wretched soul remained alone. Then the demons surrounded it like mad dogs, and, having scourged it, dragged it with them into the belly of the beast. How great things it suffered there, its appearance and the change of its conduct afterwards showed. There it suffered the bites and tearing of dogs, bears, lions, serpents, and other innumerable unknown and monstrous beasts, the blows of demons, the burning of fire, the harshness of cold, the stench of sulphur, the darkness of the eyes, the flow of burning tears, the gnashing of teeth, and an abundance of tribulations. There the wretched soul accused itself of its past deeds and, from excessive despair and sorrow, tore its own cheeks. And when it thought itself there eternally condemned, not knowing in what manner, it felt itself to be outside the beast. And when it lay at some distance from the beast, weak, opening its eyes it saw near it the one who had gone before, the angel of light. Then it, rejoicing though greatly afflicted, praised the Lord for his mercy. But the angel touched it and strengthened it. Going further on from there they saw a very wide and stormy lake; its swelling waves did not allow the sky to be seen. In it was a very great multitude of terrible beasts, bellowing as if to devour souls. Across the breadth of the lake there was a bridge very narrow, and two miles in length; its width was of one palm. It was longer and narrower than the former bridge. And that plank of the bridge was full of very sharp iron nails fixed in it, which pierced the feet of all who passed. All the beasts gathered at that bridge, to take food from it, namely the souls which could not cross. And the beasts were of such size that they might be likened to great towers. From their mouths there came forth fire so violent that the lake itself seemed to those looking on to be boiling. And it saw there a certain soul upon the bridge weeping greatly and accusing itself of many crimes; and it was burdened with a great weight of sheaves of wheat, and was compelled to cross this bridge; and although the nails piercing its soles caused great pain, yet it feared more to fall into the lake and into the gaping mouths of the beasts. When Tundal asked what this was, the angel said: “This punishment is especially fitting for you and for those like you who commit theft, whether great or small; yet not in the same way do those who offend in small things and those in great things suffer, unless that small thing has been sacrilege. But those are most guilty who sin under the appearance of religion. You must cross this bridge, and lead with you an untamed cow, and deliver it to me unharmed beyond the bridge, because you once stole the cow of your godfather.” To whom Tundal said: “Lord, did I not return it?” “You did return it,” he said, “but only when you could not hide it; and therefore you will not suffer the full punishment, because it is less evil to will than to accomplish, although both are evil before God.” And the angel showed him an untamed cow; and whether he wished it or not, Tundal held the cow and, with whatever threats he could, tried to drive it towards the bridge. But the beasts, bellowing, came and awaited their food from the bridge. Tundal began to make his way, but the cow would not follow him. When Tundal stood still, the cow fell; and when it stood, Tundal fell. And so, taking turns falling and standing, they came to the middle of the bridge. And when they had come there, he saw the one who carried sheaves of wheat coming to meet him, who begged the soul of Tundal, who was leading the cow, not to block the bridge for him; and Tundal likewise begged him to allow him to complete his journey, which he had already half accomplished. Neither could return, nor even look back. And so, standing and weeping, they stained the bridge with the blood of their feet. And when they had stood there for a long time, not knowing how, each saw that he had passed the other. Tundal then saw his angel, whom he had left behind, before him, who said to him: “Welcome; do not trouble yourself any further about the cow, for you owe it nothing more.” And when Tundal showed his feet and said that he could go no further, the angel replied: “You must remember how swift your feet were to shed blood; and therefore destruction and misery are in your ways” [Romans 3:15–16]. And touching them, he healed them, and so he went on. And when Tundal said, “Lord, where are we going now?” the angel replied: “A certain most foul tormentor awaits our coming, whose dwelling we cannot pass by. This dwelling is always full of guests, but that host still desires to find more guests for punishment.” And as they went through dark and barren places, there appeared to them a very great open house, like a certain steep mountain because of its immense size, round like a furnace; from it came a flame which for a thousand paces burned the souls it could find. Seeing this, Tundal said to the angel: “Look, we are approaching the gates of death; who will deliver wretched me?” To whom the angel said: “You will indeed be delivered from this outer flame, but you will enter the house itself from which it comes.” And when they drew nearer, they saw executioners with axes and knives and double-edged blades and adzes and drills and sickles and very sharp tongs and spades and other instruments by which they could flay or behead or split or cut to pieces souls, standing in the midst of the flames, and under their hands a multitude of souls enduring all these things. Seeing this, Tundal said to the angel: “I beg you, Lord, if it pleases you, deliver me from this one punishment alone, and I grant that I may be handed over to the others which will come after this.” To whom the angel said: “This is a greater punishment than all that you have seen so far, but you will yet see one greater. Enter into this punishment, for swift dogs await you.” But Tundal, trembling and faint with anguish, begged not to enter, but it was of no use. The demons, seeing him given over to them, surrounded him and, reproaching him with great mockery, tore him to pieces with the same instruments. The lord of this house was called Phistrinus; in it there was groaning and sorrow, weeping and gnashing of teeth, a slow fire outside and within a vast blaze; there was an insatiable hunger for food, nor could the excess of gluttony be satisfied; the private parts were tormented with the greatest pains, and the genitals themselves, corrupted by decay, seemed to swarm with worms, and into those same parts of men and women, not only of the secular but also of the religious, certain dreadful beasts entered. There the soul of Tundal confessed that it justly suffered such things. But when it pleased God, not knowing in what manner, he found himself outside the torments. But he sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, and seeing his angel, he said: “Alas, my lord, where is that which we have heard: ’the mercy of the Lord is full in the earth’?” [Psalm 33:5] The angel answered: “This saying has deceived many; for God, although he is merciful, is nevertheless just. He punishes much, but forgives more. You have suffered justly, but you will give thanks when you see what torments you have escaped through the mercy of God. If God forgave everything, why would a man be just? And if he did not fear punishments, why would he fear to sin or turn himself away from his pleasures? And what need would there be for the confessing to repent, if they did not fear God? To sinners who do not do penance in the body, pardon is mercifully granted by God, yet they will nevertheless be punished after death for their deeds. Likewise, from the just, for their transgressions, temporal comfort while living in the body is justly taken away, but good things that will remain without end are laid up for them. God forgives many evil deeds, yet he leaves no good work without reward. No one is free from sin, not even an infant of one hour; yet many are freed from punishment, so that the shadow of death does not touch them. And for this reason the just, who do not suffer punishments after death, are nevertheless led to see them, so that, having seen the torments from which they are delivered by the grace of God, they may burn more fervently in the love of God and in the praise of their Creator. Just as, on the contrary, souls worthy of eternal punishments are first led to the glory of the saints, so that, having seen the rewards which they freely abandoned, they may afterwards grieve the more. For no punishment is so grievous as to be separated from the glory of God and of the saints and from their fellowship. Therefore that priest whom you first saw cross the bridge safely was led to punishment, so that, having seen the pains, he might more ardently praise him who called him to his glory. For he was found a faithful and prudent servant, and therefore he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” [James 1:12]. “But since you have not yet seen all the evils, let us hasten.” Then, as the angel went on, Tundal saw a beast far different from the others he had seen before, having two feet and two wings, a very long neck, an iron beak, and iron jaws; from its mouth it belched an inextinguishable flame. This beast sat upon a lake frozen hard with ice, and it devoured souls, which in its belly were reduced to nothing by torments, and it brought them forth again into the lake frozen with ice, and there they were renewed again for torment. All the souls, both of men and of women, who descended into the lake were made pregnant, and thus heavy with child they awaited the time of birth. Within, they were bitten in their entrails in the manner of a viper by the offspring conceived, and so they were miserably sustained in the cold water of the frozen sea of death. And when the time came for them to give birth, crying out they filled hell with their wailings, and thus they brought forth serpents. Not only women gave birth, but men also, and this not through the members which nature has appointed for such an office, but through their arms and their chests, and they burst forth through all the limbs of those bodies from which they emerged, having burning and iron heads and very sharp beaks, with which they tore the very bodies from which they came. In their tails those same beasts had many barbs, like hooks turned backwards, with which they pierced the souls from which they issued. For when those beasts wished to come out, since they could not draw their tails after them, they did not cease to turn back their burning and iron beaks into the very bodies from which they came, until they consumed them down to dry bones; and so together the clashing of the swelling ice and the howling of the souls enduring such punishment and the bellowing of the beasts coming out from them rose up to heaven. For in all their various limbs and fingers there were heads of different beasts, which bit those limbs down to the sinews and bones. They had living tongues like asps, which consumed the whole palate and the passages down to the lungs. The private parts also of men and women were in the likeness of serpents, which tore the lower parts of the belly and strove to draw out the entrails from within. Then the angel said: “This is the punishment of canons, monks, nuns, and other churchmen who are known to lie to God by their tonsure and habit, who have sharpened their tongues like serpents and have not restrained their members from unclean deeds and the enticements of the belly. This punishment will be endured by those who defile themselves with immoderate lust, and therefore you must endure this.” When he had said these things, the demons seized him with violence and gave him to the beast to be devoured. But when, after the same torments, he was in the travail of vipers, the angel of light was present to him, and touching him healed him, and commanded him to follow. Apart from the brightness of the angel they had no light. And they went on through terrible places and far more dreadful than those before, along a very narrow path, as though leading from the summit of a very high mountain into a precipice. And the more that soul descended, the less it hoped for a return to life. Then Tundal said to the angel: “Lord, where are we going?” The angel replied:
5 “This way leads to death.” And the soul said: “What then is that which is written, ‘Broad and spacious is the way that leads to death, and many there are who enter by it’?” [Matthew 7:13] “when we see no one here except ourselves?” The angel answered: “It was not said of this way, but of the shameless and unlawful worldly way which leads to this one.” And going on further, and labouring beyond measure, they came into the valley of smiths, and there they saw workshops in which the greatest lamentation was heard. Then the angel said: “This tormentor is called Vulcan, by whose skill many have fallen and by whom they are tormented.” “Lord,” said the soul, “must I suffer that torment?” “You must,” he said. And when he had said this, he went before him, and he, weeping, followed him. And look, the tormentors with glowing tongs seized him and threw him into a furnace of burning fire, and blowing with bellows, as iron is accustomed to be tested in a forge, so they tested him, until the souls that suffered there were reduced to nothing. And when they were thus melted so that they appeared as nothing but water, they were pierced with three-pronged forks, and placed upon an anvil they were struck with hammers, until they were reduced to the lowest mass; and yet, which is more grievous, not even thus did it profit them; for they desired death and could not find it. Then the tormentors spoke to one another, saying: “Is it enough?” And others in another forge answered: “Try it on us, that we may see whether it is enough.” And they threw them forward, and others caught them in iron tongs before they touched the ground, and as the first had done, so they also delivered them to the flames. And thus miserably now here, now there, they were cast forward and everywhere burned, until at last skin and flesh and sinews and bones were reduced to ashes and the flame of fire. After many sufferings his guide came to Tundal and, taking him from the midst of the flame, said: “How do you fare? Were the pleasures of the flesh so sweet to you that for them you should have to endure so many and so great evils?” He was wholly unable to answer, because after such punishment he had not the strength to speak. Then the angel said: “Take courage, for the Lord brings down to hell and brings back again” [1 Samuel 2:6]. “For although the things you have suffered thus far are great, yet greater are those from which you will be delivered by the mercy of God.” And he added: “All those whom you have seen above await judgement, but those who are still below have already been judged. For you have not yet reached the lower hell.” And, as was his custom, touching him and strengthening him, he went on before. And when they went together and spoke as they walked, look, a sudden horror and intolerable cold and an unbearable stench and darkness beyond all that had come before seized the troubled and distressed soul of Tundal, so that all the foundations of the earth seemed to him to be shaken, and, compelled, he said to the angel going before: “Alas for me, what is this, that beyond what is usual I cannot stand?” And when he had said this, he could not move himself for terror. And look, the angel quickly disappeared, and he could no longer see him. For there is no wisdom, nor knowledge, nor understanding in hell, to which that soul was hastening [Ecclesiastes 9:10]. But he heard cries and wailings of wondrous greatness, and a thunder so terrible that neither our smallness could comprehend it nor the human tongue describe it. Looking around, therefore, if by any means he might see from where they came, he saw a pit, square and four-sided like a cistern, from which that well sent forth a column of foul flame and smoke, which column stretched up to the heavens; and in that column there was a very great multitude of souls and demons, like sparks, rising with the flame, and being reduced to nothing, they fell again with the demons into the furnace down into the depths. When Tundal saw this, he wished to draw himself back, but he could not lift his feet from the ground. And while he tried this again and again, but could not do it, filled with extreme frenzy he burned within himself, and tearing his cheeks with his nails cried out: “Woe is me, why do I not die! What madness has deceived me!” Hearing this, the demons who were rising with the flame surrounded him with the instruments by which they dragged souls to torments, saying: “O wretched soul, worthy of pains and torments, from where have you come here? You have experienced nothing yet; you will still see a torment worthy of your deeds, from which you will not be able to depart, nor will you perish in it, but always living in torment you will burn, without relief, without light, without consolation, without any help; you will no longer be able to hope for any mercy. You have drawn near to the gates of death, and you will without delay be brought into the lower hell. He who led you here has deceived you; let him deliver you, if he can, from our hands—you will not see him again.” And they spoke among themselves: “Why do we delay any longer? Let us drag him and give him to Lucifer to be devoured,” and thus brandishing their weapons against him they threatened him with eternal death. And those unclean spirits were black as coals, their eyes like lamps burning with fire, their teeth whiter than snow, they had tails like scorpions, sharp iron claws, wings like those of a vulture. Meanwhile the angel of the Lord was present, and, driving away the spirits of darkness, comforted him, saying: “Rejoice and be glad, daughter of light, for you shall obtain mercy and not judgement.” [Matthew 9:13] “For you shall see great punishments, but you shall not suffer them. Come therefore, and I will show you the worst enemy of the human race,” and going before to the gates of hell, he said: “Come and see. Know, however, that no light shines for those who are assigned here; but you will be able to see them, and they will not see you.” And as the soul approached, it saw the prince of darkness and the depths of hell. What and how great unheard-of torments it saw there, even if there were a hundred heads, and in each head a hundred tongues, they could in no way be told. There was seen the prince, the devil, who in size surpassed all the beasts he had seen before, to whose bodily magnitude the soul could compare nothing it had seen. For he was a beast blacker than a raven, having the form of a human body from the feet to the head, except that he had very many hands, and he had a tail. Indeed, he had no fewer than a thousand hands, and in length he was about a hundred cubits, and in thickness ten. Each hand had twenty fingers, and his fingers had a hundred palms in length and ten in thickness. He had claws thicker and longer than soldiers’ spears, and those of iron; and as many upon his feet. His beak was exceedingly long and thick, his tail very rough and long, prepared to harm souls with the sharpest barbs. And that horrible monster lay upon an iron grating with burning coals set beneath it, and was surrounded by an innumerable multitude of demons blowing with bellows. Around him was so great a multitude of souls and demons that it would not be credible that the world could have produced so many souls from the beginning. And that ancient enemy was bound through every joint of his limbs with iron and bronze chains, glowing and very thick. And when he turned himself upon the coals and was burned on every side, blazing with excessive rage he turned himself from one side to the other, and stretched out all his hands into that multitude of souls and grasped them full of souls, as a peasant pressing bunches of grapes squeezes out wine from them, so that there was no soul there which by such crushing was not deprived of head or feet or hands. And then, sighing, he blew out and scattered the souls into the various parts of hell, and immediately that pit of which we spoke before belched forth a foul and horrible flame. And when that dreadful beast drew back his breath, he drew back to himself all the souls which he had scattered before, and as they fell into his mouth with smoke and sulphur, he devoured them. But those which had escaped his hands so as not to be crushed, he struck with his tail. And so that miserable beast, striking always, was himself struck, and while inflicting torments upon souls, he was tortured in all torments above all. Then the angel said to the soul: “This is Lucifer, the first of God’s creatures, who once dwelt in the delights of paradise. If he were loosed, he would throw heaven and earth and all things down to hell into confusion. Yet those who are with him are partly angels of darkness, partly the sons of Adam, and they have already been judged, and they await many others who have either denied Christ or caused him to be denied by their deeds. They have suffered those lesser torments which you have seen before, and afterwards have been brought to these, from which no one who has once entered can ever depart. Here are evil prelates and princes, of whom it is written: ‘The mighty shall be mightily tormented’” [Wisdom 6:6], “because they did not make good use of the power given to them by God.” Then the soul said to the angel: “Why is power not given to the good, that they may rule well?” The angel answered: “Either the faults of their subjects demand this, that they should not have good teachers, or it is spared to those who are good in this matter, that they may better provide for the salvation of their own souls. But this wretched one is called the prince of darkness, not because of any power that he has, but because of the rule which he holds in darkness. And all other punishments, although they are very great, are counted as nothing in comparison with this.” And the soul said:
6 “It is certainly true, for merely to see this place troubles me more, and to endure its stench weighs upon me more than all the things I suffered before. Therefore I beg you, if it can be done, to take me quickly from here, and do not allow me to be tormented here any longer. For here I see many known to me, and companions and acquaintances of mine, with whom I rejoiced to have fellowship in the world, whose company here I greatly abhor. And I know for certain that unless divine grace comes to my aid, as my merits require, I shall suffer these things no less than they.” To whom the angel said:
7 “Come, O blessed soul, return to your rest, for the Lord has dealt kindly with you” [Psalm 116:7]. “For you shall not suffer this, nor anything further, unless you deserve it; these things you shall see. Until now you have seen the prison of the enemies of God; now you shall see the glory of the friends of God.” The soul, turning, followed the angel going before; and when they had gone not far, the stench vanished, and the darkness being dispelled, light appeared. And fear having been driven away, security returned, and with sorrow laid aside that soul was filled with joy and gladness, so that she marvelled that she had been so quickly changed, and said: “O Lord, how have I been so quickly changed?” To whom the angel said: “Blessed are you; do not be afraid; for this is the change of the right hand of the Most High” [Psalm 77:10]. “But we must pass by another way into our region. Therefore bless the Lord and follow me.” And as they went, they saw a wall very high, and within the wall, on that side from which they had come, there was a very great multitude of men and women enduring rain and wind; and they were very sorrowful, suffering hunger and thirst; yet they had light and did not perceive any stench. Then the angel said: “These indeed were not very wicked, but they lived honourably, yet they did not give their temporal goods to the poor; and therefore for some years they will endure rain and wind, hunger and thirst, but afterwards they will be led to a good rest.” Going on a little, they came to a gate, which opened of its own accord for them. And when they had entered it, they saw a beautiful field, fragrant, full of flowers, bright and very pleasant, in which there were many souls of both sexes rejoicing; and night was never there, nor did the sun ever set, and there is there a fountain of living water. And the angel said: “Here dwell those who are good, but not very good, who, having been rescued from torments, do not yet deserve to be joined to the company of the saints. This fountain is called living; if anyone tastes of this water, he shall live for ever and shall not thirst again” [John 4:14]. And going on a little, he saw laymen known to him, among whom were the kings Concober and Donatus. When he had seen them, the soul said to the angel: “Lord, what is this? These two men were in their life very cruel and greatly hostile to one another; by what merit then have they come here?” The angel answered: “They repented of that enmity before death. Concober, however, was long afflicted and made a vow that, if he lived, he would become a monk. Donatus, moreover, having been bound for many years in chains, gave all that he had to the poor, and therefore his righteousness endures for ever and ever; and you shall tell all these things to the living.” And when they had gone on a little, they saw a house wonderfully adorned, whose walls and entire structure were of gold and silver and of every kind of precious stone; but there were no windows there, nor a door, and yet all who wished to enter did so. Within it was so bright that, not to say one sun, but as if many suns were shining there. And it was exceedingly spacious and round, and supported by no columns, and all its pavement was laid with gold and precious stones. And looking around, Tundal saw a throne of gold, adorned with gems and silk and every ornament, and King Cormac sitting upon that throne, clothed in garments marvellous beyond all earthly value. And as he stood in wonder, many came into that house with gifts to the king, and each offered his gifts with joy. And while Tundal stood there for a long time before his lord King Cormac—for he had been his lord in the world—many priests and Levites came, solemnly clothed as for the singing of Mass, with silken chasubles and other very precious ornaments, and that royal house was adorned on every side with marvellous decoration. They placed cups and chalices of gold and silver and ivory caskets upon stands and tables, and thus that house was adorned, so that if there were no greater glory in the kingdom of God, this would seem to suffice. Therefore all those who ministered, coming before the king and bending the knee, said:
8 “You shall eat the labours of your hands; blessed are you, and it shall be well with you” [Psalm 128:2]. Then Tundal said to the angel: “I marvel, lord, at so many servants, among whom I recognise not one of his household.” And the angel said: “These are not of his household, but the poor of Christ and pilgrims to whom the king gave his goods, and therefore through their hands an eternal reward is repaid to him.” Then Tundal said: “Lord, did my lord suffer any torments after death?” “He has suffered,” he said, “and still suffers daily, and will yet suffer. Wait a little and you shall see.” And when he had waited a little, the house was darkened, and all its inhabitants were immediately struck with fear, and the king, made sorrowful, went out with weeping. And when Tundal followed him, he saw that multitude which he had seen before within, with hands stretched out to heaven most devoutly praying to God and saying: “O Lord God almighty, as you will and as you know, have mercy on your servant.” And looking, he saw the king in fire up to the navel, and from the navel upwards clothed in haircloth.
9 “This punishment,” said the angel, “he suffers every day for three hours, and for twenty-one hours he rests; and this is because he defiled the sacrament of lawful marriage, and therefore he suffers fire up to the navel. But he carries the vessel because he ordered a companion to be killed near Saint Patrick and broke his oath. Except for these two things, all his sins have been forgiven him. But now let us go up.” And when they had gone a little further, they saw a wall exceedingly high and exceedingly splendid. For it was entirely of silver, very shining and fair. And though no gate appeared there, Tundal nevertheless, not knowing how, entered, and looking around saw choirs of saints rejoicing and saying: “Glory to you, God the Father; glory to you, God the Son; glory to you, God the Holy Spirit.” There were men and women clothed in white and most precious garments, without stain or wrinkle, joyful and cheerful, always rejoicing and praising the Holy Trinity. The whiteness of their garments was like fresh snow struck by the sun’s ray. Their voices, in harmony, gave forth a musical melody. Brightness, joy, delight, cheerfulness, beauty, honour, health, eternity, unity, and charity were equal in all. The fragrance of that field where they were surpassed all spices and perfumes. Then the angel said to Tundal: “These are the joys of those who were married, who kept the faith of marriage and governed their households well and justly in the fear of God, and shared their goods with the poor and the churches of Christ, who at the judgement shall hear: “Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” [Matthew 25:34]” But Tundal begged greatly that he might remain there; yet he did not obtain it. After this they set out. There seemed, however, to be no labour in walking, and whomever they passed, with bowed heads and joyful faces, came eagerly to meet him with great gladness of soul, and greeted him by his own name, and glorified God who had delivered him, saying: “Praise be to you, Lord, king of eternal glory, who do not will the death of a sinner but that he should be converted and live, who according to your mercy have deigned to snatch this soul from the cruelties of hell and join it to the fellowship of your saints.” When they had thus passed through very many crowds, there appeared another wall as high as the first, but of the purest and most precious gold, so that whatever the soul might see was more delightful in the mere brightness of the metal than in all the glory it had seen before. And when they had entered it in the same way as the first, there appeared to them many seats constructed of gold and gems and all kinds of precious stones and covered with most costly ornaments, on which sat elders, men and women clothed in silken garments and white robes and tiaras and all ornaments such as he had never before seen nor could imagine. And the face of each one shone like the sun shining at midday, and they had hair like gold, and golden crowns adorned with the same gems. And reading desks were set among them of gold, on which were placed books written in golden letters, and they sang to the Lord “Alleluia” with a new song and with so sweet a melody that the soul which once heard their voices would forget all things that had gone before.” Then the angel said to Tundal: “These are the saints who for the covenant of God gave up their bodies and washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb [Revelation 7:14]; and the continent, who turned from the worldly life to the service of God, and who, crucifying themselves with their vices and desires, have lived soberly and justly and devoutly.” And when Tundal looked about more curiously, he saw as it were a fortress and very many pavilions, fashioned with wonderful variety of purple and fine linen, of gold and silver and silk, in which he heard strings and organs, drums and harps with players, and cymbals, and all other kinds of musical instruments sounding together in the sweetest tones; and he asked what these were. The angel said: “This is the rest of the religious, of monks and converts, of canons and nuns, who gladly and devoutly render the obedience promised to those set over them, and who rejoice more to be subject than to rule, who abandon their own will and obey that of another, who while they are in the body savour the things of heaven, who restrain their tongues not only from evil but even from good for the love of silence.” Then Tundal said: “Lord, if it pleases you, I wish to draw nearer and see those who are within.” “It pleases me,” he said, “that you should see and hear them, but you shall not enter among them. For these enjoy the presence of the Holy Trinity, and whoever has once entered among them, forgetting all former things, is not thereafter separated from the company of the saints, unless perhaps he be a virgin and be found worthy to be joined to the choirs of angels.” And drawing nearer, they saw souls of both sexes who were like angels, whose brightness and delightful fragrance and most sweet sound surpassed all the glory that he had seen before. All the instruments gave forth sound though no one touched them, but all this sweetness was surpassed by the voices of the spirits themselves, for whom there was no labour in the rejoicing of their voices, nor did their lips seem to move, nor did they take care to raise their hands to musical instruments, and yet at each one’s will they produced melody. The firmament above their heads shone greatly, from which chains hung, woven in most beautiful variety of pure gold with silver rods intermingled, from which hung golden cups and bowls, and little bells and cymbals, and lilies and small spheres. Among these there moved a very great multitude of angels, flying and having golden wings, who with gentle flight among the chains made a most sweet and delightful sound for those who heard. When therefore Tundal, delighted, wished to remain there, the angel said to him: “Look.” And looking, he saw a single tree, very great and very broad, with leaves most green and flowers most beautiful and most abundant in every kind of fruit; in its branches many birds of different colours and of different kinds of voices were singing and making music, beneath whose boughs lilies and roses and all kinds of herbs and fragrant plants sprang forth. And there were beneath the same tree many men and women in golden and ivory dwellings, always blessing and praising God for all his benefits and gifts. And each one had a golden crown upon his head, marvellously adorned, and a golden sceptre in his hand, and they were clothed in such garments as monks are accustomed to wear. Then the angel said to Tundal: “This tree is a figure of the Holy Church; those who are beneath it are the builders and defenders of churches, and for the benefits which they bestowed upon the holy churches they have obtained fellowship with them, because through their exhortation they left the worldly habit and lived religiously.” And when they had departed from there, they saw a wall unlike the others in height, beauty, and splendour. For it was built of all kinds of precious stones of various colours, with metals set between, so that it seemed to have gold for mortar. The stones were crystal, chrysolite, beryl, jasper, jacinth, emerald, sapphire, onyx, topaz, sardius, chrysoprase, amethyst, jacinth, and garnet. With these and similar stones the wall shone greatly and drew strongly to itself the minds of those who looked upon it. And ascending the wall they saw beyond all doubt what eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love him [1 Corinthians 2:9]. They saw there the nine orders of angels and the blessed spirits mingled with them, and they heard there ineffable words which a man cannot, nor is permitted to, speak [2 Corinthians 12:4]. The angel said: “Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house, and the king shall desire your beauty” [Psalm 45:10–11]. “See how great is the delight, the joy, the dignity, the exaltation, to be among the choirs of angels and of all the saints, and above all joy to perceive him who is the bread of angels and the life of all to be gracious and merciful.” From that place where they then stood, they saw not only all the glory which they had seen before, but also the same punishments, and, what is more marvellous, they saw the whole world as if under a single ray of the sun, as it is written: “They shall see the earth from afar” [Isaiah 33:17]. For nothing can obscure the sight of a creature to whom it has once been granted to see the Creator of all things. And in a marvellous way, while they stood in the same place in which they had stood before, without turning themselves to any direction, yet from that same place they saw all things set before and behind. And not only sight but also an unusual knowledge of things was given, so that there was no need there to ask anything further, but Tundal knew there plainly and completely whatever he wished. And while Tundal was there, there came to him Saint Ruadan the confessor, greeting him with great joy and embracing him with the affection of intimate charity, and he said: “The Lord keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore” [Psalm 121:8]. “I am Ruadan, your patron, to whom you owe the debt of burial.” And when he had said this, he stood saying nothing more. But Tundal, looking, saw Saint Patrick, apostle of the Irish, with a great company of bishops, among whom he recognised four, namely Celestine, archbishop of Armagh, and Malachy who succeeded Celestine, who, coming to Rome in the time of Pope Innocent, was appointed by him legate and archbishop, who divided among the poor all that he was able to have. He was the founder of many monasteries of monks, canons, and nuns, to whom he provided all necessities and retained nothing at all for himself. There also he saw Christian, bishop of Lyon, the uterine brother of the same Malachy, a man of remarkable continence and a lover of voluntary poverty, and Nehemiah, bishop of the city of Down, a simple and modest man, shining above others also in wisdom and chastity. These four bishops he recognised. And near them there was one seat marvellously adorned, in which no one sat. And Tundal said: “Whose is that seat, and why is it thus empty?” Saint Malachy answered: “It belongs to one of our brethren, who has not yet departed from the body; he shall sit there when he has departed.” And while the soul of Tundal was greatly delighted in all these things, the angel of the Lord who had gone before it came to it, and gently addressing it said: “Have you seen all these things?” And it said: “I have seen them, lord. I beg you, allow me to remain here.” The angel said to it: “You must return to your body and remember all that you have seen for the benefit of your neighbours.” When it heard this, the soul, sorrowful and weeping, answered: “Lord, what great evil have I done that, leaving so great glory, I must return to the body?” To which the angel said: “None deserve to enter here except virgins, who keep their bodies from every unclean touch and their hearts from every impure desire, and who would rather burn for so great glory than be defiled by any base lust—which you were not willing to do, nor to believe my words—and therefore you will not be able to remain here. Return, therefore, to your body, and refrain from those things which you formerly did. My counsel and my help shall not fail you, but shall remain with you present and faithful.” And when the angel had said this, the soul, turning back, immediately felt itself weighed down by the burden of the body; no interval nor any moment of time intervened, but in one and the same instant it spoke in heaven with the angel and on earth felt itself to be clothed with its body. Then, weak, it opened its bodily eyes, and sighing and saying nothing, looked upon the clerics standing around; and it received the body of the Lord with thanksgiving, and distributed all that it had and gave it to the poor, and fixed the sign of the Holy Cross upon its garments. And all that it had seen and was able to remember it afterwards recounted, and it urged men to lead a good life, and the word of God, which before it had not known, it preached with great devotion and usefulness and humility and knowledge.