CatholicaPlummer (ed.), Miscellanea Hagiographica Hibernica (1925) — translated from the Irish.
1 I. A king once took the kingship and overlordship of the two provinces of Munster — Aengus son of Nadfraích, son of Cuirc, son of Lughaidh, son of Oilioll Flannbec, son of Fiacha Muillethan, son of Eógan Mór, son of Oilioll Olum. And that Aengus took the full kingship of Mogh’s Half, and was thirty-four years in kingship over them. And the wife of that good king was Eithne, daughter of Crimthann the victorious; and it was she who bore the famous children to that king — Eochaid mac Aengusa, who was high-king after his father.
2 II. To that Eithne came a strange and wondrous vision: that a pregnancy befell her, and it was carried to full term, and that a powerful hound-whelp was born of that pregnancy, and it was bathed in milk until every district and every border in Ireland was full of ale and true milk after it. And the queen started from her sleep at the wonder of the vision, and roused the king right readily, and they made these verses:
3 “A vision I saw without sin,
O Aengus of the nimble deeds,
O king of Cliu — royal the valour —
that brought great care upon my mind.
4 I saw a woman heavy with child,
O Aengus of the slow eyes,
O king of Munster — great the right —
through nine months without exchange.
5 I was brought to bed thereafter,
O son of mighty Nadfraích —
what I bore, O bright-toothed,
was a manly hound-whelp.
6 In its full milk it is bathed —
the whelp with its small swimming —
till every land at its time
was full of all milk in Ireland.”
7 Aengus said, fair of skin:
8 “A son shall be borne — he shall be your profit —
he shall fill Ireland without treachery
with his piety and his fair reading.
9 Patrick gave a lasting blessing
to you and me in hard Cashel,
when we gave the sweet steading
to great Patrick mac Calpuirnn.
10 He said to you that a son would be borne
to me, O maiden of fair palm,
that the mouths of the men of Ireland would be full
of his piety and his fair reading.
11 O daughter of Crimthann of the noble deeds,
be joyful, O fair fierce one —
there for you, though fair your hue,
is the ready bearing of the vision.”
12 III. So they passed without anxiety, without failing of their kingship, until the queen conceived and bore a great famous child of that pregnancy. And when it was desired to baptise him, the angel came upon the end of the altar in the presence of all generally, and said to them in a clear pure voice: “Let Naile be given as a name to the young child, for right holy will be the golden candle; and everyone shall believe in the fair patron.”
13 IV. So the young child was reared thereafter, and every word he spoke was full of grace from the royal angel without doubt. And the close patron was a teacher to him during his seven years, without doubt, in the seven liberal sciences that are ever remembered. Then the angel commanded the great cleric to go to Colum Cille, that the young child might be ordained without want, and the place where he should make his dwelling with his bells and his bell-relics.
14 V. And Naile went on that holy journey (on holy teaching!) with a company of clerics at his foot. The place where Colum Cille mac Feidhlimidh was, son of Fergus Cennfada, son of Conall Gulban, son of Níall of the Nine Hostages, was at Inver — Naile’s new-formed — singing his psalms and sweetly singing his prayers and praising the Creator fervently, and the clerics of Conn’s Half in his company, when they saw the fair-stepping holy-belled band coming towards them, and a fresh youthful noble tree in the very middle of the clerics to teach them together, and a thousand attendant angels lighting upon him without stumbling.
15 And when Colum Cille with his clerics looked upon Naile with his fair company, they let themselves down on their knees to him. And when Naile saw that honour at the pre-eminent purple-edged sweet-patered(?) one being given to himself, he let his knees to the ground promptly in homage to the noble patron. And they gave three kisses to one another promptly — Colum Cille and Naile; and the clerics made common welcome to him moreover; and Colum Cille spoke these words:
16 VI. “Welcome your coming here,
O Naile, to our new garth;
you shall have, O saint of sweetest voice,
our saints and our honour.”
17 “The angel of heaven told me,
O pious Colum Cille,
to seek a steading from you
where my bells and my clerics may be.”
18 Said holy Colum Cille:
19 “Bless this stead where I am —
make a fair pure church
in it, O son of the great king of Munster.”
20 Bright Naile arose,
and Colum, who was a word of rule,
and by them the pure stead is blessed,
between virgin and patron.
21 “Naile lifted up his hands
to God, and prayed boldly
that he might get food and choice drink
for Colum with his clerics.
22 The whole strand was full of fish —
great were his miracles;
the beach was full of purple wheat —
it was a cause of great praise.
23 All the clerics knelt
at seeing the miracles —
the greatness of his miracles side by side,
and the youth of the lad.
24 Inver Naile of the ford
is its name till the day of doom.
“I grant,” said Colum of the sweet tones,
“to you, O Naile — welcome.”
25 VII. So Naile spent miraculously, nobly and modestly, and piously and holily, the fame of his course in Inver Naile; and a labouring chapel was fashioned by him there, and a firm pious oratory for the noble chanting of his psalm-reading and for the strong praising of his Lord, till the destruction of the great sin and unbelief of high Ireland was the miracles of the saint being fulfilled.
26 VIII. Now at that time and season it befell that Molaisse of Devenish was in a noble direct reading, and twelve of his people in the place of the apostles about him. Then a sharp sudden sickness seized Molaisse on the spot, and he was committing himself to God and to the good saints without stumbling. And the clerics said: “Who will leave us a place, O high patron? Or who will be God’s son to teach us well, to destroy our sins and to avenge our divinity?” “With whom should I leave them?” said Molaisse, “but with the ready-wise settled salmon, and with the divine well-pious candle — with my fosterling and my good brother — with famous-wise Naile? And if you believe not that the cleric is the fair choice for me and for God — the sweet-voiced whole-bodied bell that is about me shall leap upon the bosom of the man worthy of the good place.”
27 Now after this converse his soul parted from his body, and his soul was carried without doubt to fulfil the nine angelic orders. And while they were being consecrated, and the saints were at their bright funeral, it was then that Naile came to his place in the spot where they were; as they were there, the sweet-voiced fair-miraculous bell leaped from Molaisse’s direction in the clerics’ presence, and alighted upon the holy cleric’s bosom; and the clerics sang, working welcome:
28 IX. “Slow your going, coming on the road —
O Naile, it is no lie;
you have not brought in your little life
any hurt to Molaisse of Devenish.”
29 “Since my divine tutor is gone —
Molaisse, whose rule was smooth —
head of the piety of all Ireland,
he was godly, he was a good man.”
30 “He gave a sign to us before death —
Molaisse, who hated not falsehood —
he upon whom the fair bell should alight,
he would be our lord on earth.
31 Welcome to you, O heavenly saint,
O Naile of new form;
take lordship over us for a while,
that our faith may be rightly.”
32 “In Devenish of the sweet bells
Naile was, it is certain with us;
he comes for the space of nine years(?)
to set right our fair rule.
33 Great was his piety and his right,
his godliness, the closeness of his law;
he was holy, good was his fame
among the clerics of Devenish.
34 The saints of Conn’s Half were thankful,
and the saints of slow Mogh’s Half,
to Naile, who was dear to them,
and to his gentle slow words.”
35 X. Now when Maedóc heard the many various miracles of that saint — Naile — and that he was a true well-ordered saint in Molaisse’s place, he sent messengers to him to confirm the close friendship and to rectify his fair faith as it had been between Molaisse and Maedóc; and the particular fitting place that the pure patrons took was bright-welling eastern Dísert na d’Topar, which is called Naile’s fair-judging Cell today; and Cluain Caomh was its other name without doubt, until Daternóc took the lord-stead.
36 Now Naile came with his great clerics and Maedóc with his monks to that assembly at the fair bell-miraculous church; and Naile sat with his great clerics on the top of the great hill, with his back to the pillar-stone above the stead. And a mighty thirst seized him in that place; and he called Flannán mac Fiachna meic Fergusa to him, and told him to go to the saints of the stead to ask for a drink quickly. And Flannán went on that errand and asked a drink of Daternóc for his lord; and Daternóc refused and rejected that errand, and this is what he said: “As I have made water by my own miracles and wonders, let that head of the faith and piety of Conn’s Half do the same.”
37 And Flannán went swiftly with those answers, and told his tutor the news. And Naile grew venomously angry at those words, and thus he was — his lasting-miraculous crozier straight in his right hand — and he gave a cast across the three full ridges with the smooth-carven crozier, so that it went under the earth’s enduring flags promptly; and Naile said venomously: “Follow, Flannán, my crozier, and take with you my bright-formed red-stone chalice, and in whatever place the crozier comes up out of the earth, ask water of the patrons there.”
38 And Flannán arose with that saying, and took the chalice without doubt, and the place where he found the smooth-carven crozier was through the unbroken lofty rock; and a pure cold stream of blue water burst after it right swiftly; and he bent the chalice under the fair water, and raised the crozier out of the enduring earth, and went to Naile untiringly, and told the miracles to the clerics, and gave a drink of the good water to Naile. So that it was then Flannán said:
39 “O Naile, pleasant is the treasure
you have found — it is no lie —
a sunny well, it is sure with me,
through a mysterious firm rock.
40 you did cast your white crozier
from beside the pillar without vexation,
across the three full ridges to our assembly,
under the earth without lifting.
41 It is then it raised its head
through the mysterious firm rock,
so that there is bright pure water
in its place readily.”
42 “I leave a virtue to my well —
let everyone tell the people —
meet for washing and for drinking
is my well with fair brightness.
43 Other virtues I leave on it,”
said Naile — smooth was the story —
“healing of rough sicknesses
from its water without dispute.
44 Washing early at my well —
my steward who is prosperous —
a payment of honour shall be for long
got in his guest-house.
45 After washing swiftly,
let him take a pater quickly —
my monks shall be freed with fame
from devils and from evil sins.
46 Woe to him who frees my holy church,
woe to him on whom they call,
woe to him who rings my bells
every morn and every even.
47 Woe to the man who goes under my termon,
woe to him who frees my temple —
he shall get here for a while
shortness of life and hell.
48 I am the fire of strongest burning;
I am the serpent of hardest cost;
sharper than a spear’s wounding
are my clerics and my relics.”
49 XI. Now when Daternóc saw those great miracles, and Naile preparing them venomously, the patron went on his knees from the sunny well where he was to the hill where Naile was with his clerics, and this is what he said to him: “O divine showman of good deeds, and O steady pious candle burning, and O royal gracious saint, put no venom on me for my words or miracles.” Naile answered those words of his venomously, and said: “I put no venom on you, O holy cleric, and I shall strike the stead where we made our patrons’ come water(?). And I leave to you, whatever district you go into, and whatever place you take a church in without doubt, that its priest be preaching, and its good clerics praying closely to God there — wild hounds digging your burial-ground, and foxes burrowing in it(?).”
50 And Daternóc answered those heavy sayings and said: “I leave that there be no sheep in your fair church.” And Naile answered him, saying: “I leave the jealousy of the sheep’s fault upon their fair garments.” “I leave,” said Daternóc, “fleas on your wool, and lice for your swift destruction.” Naile answered him, saying: “I put the fleas into the close bushes, and the lice into the broad woods.” And Daternóc spoke and said: “I leave mildew of one night on your rushes.” And Naile said: “I leave rushes up to the thresholds in the high-stead, and I leave virtues in the smooth church — that it be the third smoke of good service serving in the soft-miraculous district of Breifne — the smoke of this holy church of mine, and the smoke of great-miraculous Maedóc, and the smoke of enduring-gracious Bricín.”
51 And the saints spoke these verses:
52 “O Ternóc, arise on a journey —
leave the stead to me by law;
depart from the church of pure hue —
you shall not have its prosperity.”
53 “O Naile of sweet speech,
your like among saints there is not;
O wretch, I am driven eastward
from my own hereditary church.”
54 “O Ternóc who are at the cross,
it is not impiety for you to do it —
refusal to a man worthy of drink
under the fruit of the strong earth.”
55 “I leave,” said Ternóc of the strifes,
“the ill-luck of sheep on you.”
“I grant it,” said Naile, “from heaven —
the luck of clothing and dignity there.”
56 “A multitude of fleas and lice there,”
said Ternóc through mischief.
Said Naile: “I shall destroy
them in bushes and in woods.”
57 “I leave there,” said fair Ternóc,
“the night’s mildew on your rushes.”
“It shall be,” said Naile — “it is sure —
your rushes up to the thresholds.”
58 “I shall baptise your smooth stead;
Cluain Caomh was the fort’s first name;
Dísert na dTopar — smooth the road —
was its name in Daternóc’s time;
Cell Naile — true the cause —
shall be its name till doom come;
mine shall be the pure stead
for piety and for devotion.
59 This shall be the third pure smoke
that shall be of best service —
the smoke of Naile, of long sod(?) —
the smoke of Bricín and of Maedóc.
60 Famous shall be my sweet stead;
many a cleric about my church;
many a guest in my pure fort;
and hard shall be its piety.
61 Woe to him who shall come to free me;
woe to him who shall enslave me;
woe to him who shall judge me, though sharp my spear;
woe to him on whom my ambush(?) shall be.
62 Woe to the neighbour who shall come into my port;
woe to him who shall destroy my grass and my field;
hell between old and young,
and shortness of life, O Ternóc.”
63 XII. Now after their friendship had been confirmed by sweet-spoken Maedóc and by new-formed Naile, and after Daternóc had gone promptly, Naile stayed setting in order the fair church, smoothing his burial-ground, confirming his oratory, exalting his altars, preparing his vessels, drawing together his crosses, and clearing the sides of his well, till it was an angelic golden-belled church — heavenly, customary, saint-beautiful, godly, bounteous, pious, wise, consecrated thereafter.
64 XIII. Now a company of assembly and gathering was proclaimed among the clerics of the district without doubt, and among the high saints of Loch Érne without uncertainty. And there came to it Tigernach the prompt and bright-sided, and Ronán the gracious-wise of ready word, and Sinell the often-kneeling, snake-smooth(?) and Senach the comely noble-craftsman, and Fergus the law-abiding clear-judging, and Comhgall the wise bell-holy, and many other saints in that general assembly.
65 And the place where the fair clerics’ meeting was, at the ordained appointment, was where Naile’s flagstone is, and where the baptism without falsehood was performed. Now a holy cleric was prepared by Naile, and he went to meet the saints untiringly to the same busy friendship, and welcome was made by the high saints to Naile with his clerics. And the miracles and marvels and great piety of the holy cleric were praised by them.
66 XIV. And while they were there setting their friendship in order and confirming their good rule and stirring up their great miracles, it was then they saw the brave victorious band, and a young lad, comely and well-formed, at the head of that strong band; and he blessed them with steady wise prudence to the clerics; and that was answered by them pleasantly with sweet words; and the clerics asked in one voice who that many-formed unknown young sapling was. And those sayings were answered by them, and they said that he was a son of Irghalach, son of Eignech, son of Fergus, son of Aed, son of Corbmac, son of Coirpre the Silver-Ox, son of Féicc, son of Deghad Durn, son of Rochada, son of Colla Focrích, son of Eochaid Doimlén, son of Cairpre Lifechair.
67 And the clerics asked in one voice: “What is the cause of his going right readily, and his errand so promptly?” And the lad answered that converse with sweet words, and this is what he said: “Under your protection am I,” said he, “and to meet you I have come; and my sixteen years are safely reckoned, and I have not been baptised from birth until the enduring age in which I am today. And what I desire is my baptism from the fierce devil, and my choice for the Trinity.”
68 And the clerics said it was a fitting counsel and a royal-sounding speech; and the clerics asked of victorious Sinell who should perform the baptism without falsehood, for he was bishop over the noble saints and eldest of the noble clerics. And Sinell of the great wealth answered and said that Naile was the fittest to do it, for the chief cleric had no benefice in enduring earth save keeping his divinity closely guarded. And Naile answered the holy bishop and said that the one God himself permitted his close baptism.
69 And envy and heavy jealousy of the clerics seized upon the bashful-sweet Naile’s being first to baptise; and thereafter their pure lasting-miraculous book of baptism was brought to Naile, and he sang his enduring mighty baptismal reading over the lad in the presence of the high clerics. And he took his hand-bell and gave his three palmfuls of pure water of the sunny lake over the lad’s head, greatly baptising him, so that that sound-formed bell was a father, and a lasting famous well of baptism was Lúán being healed(?).
70 And thereafter Naile took the lad into his bosom or between his two hands healing him and put him under the water; and thus the lad came up — a speckled purple salmon in every fork of his — and the saint lifted him upon Naile’s famous flagstone. And Flannán mac Fiachna meic Fergusa and the clerics moreover saw those miracles; and Flannán said swiftly: “It is sportive — it is wonderful — the purple-cheeked noble-faced blue-eyed offspring has come from the pure baptism.” And Naile answered those sayings pre-eminently, and this is what he said: “Victoriously has the flower-candle been baptised; for Lúán shall be his name without doubt, from the leap(lúth) that the lad made at his baptism.”
71 XV. So it was then Naile said:
72 “Lúán above every Monday(?)
for ever, though it be told —
that he shall be a king over the children of the race
until your end(?) come.”
73 As he said:
74 “I grant the grace of kingship
and the lordship of the land
to you, O Lúán, from this out
until the ending-times come.”
75 And he turned to the lad then and said: “What would you give me, O holy cleric?” “In return for my baptismal fee from my holy clerics, for yourself and for your kindred after you.”
76 And Lúán said right joyfully: “Name you fittingly everything of it of good baptism, that it may be right, and that the holy clerics may be witnesses of this tribute-law from today till the doom without falsehood.”
77 And Naile spoke these words naming the tribute-law:
78 “Here is the price of your healing,
O young weapon-purple Lúán —
for your being brought from the fierce devil
to the Trinity that lifts,
and for the kingship of your strong race
over the borders of the Érne-harbour;
79 To yourself and to your kindred
is due the heaven-bell of Naile
at the coming of every strong battle
before them right truly;
80 Nor shall your enemies break
on you battle or combat-slaughter,
if the dignity of my busy bell
be upon you without strife.
81 Safe it shall be from fresh weapons —
I and my miracles shall be
between you and every cast
shot at you of red weapons.
82 Keep my warring law
for me loyally, willingly,
and your great kingdom shall not be destroyed
to the end of the evil world.
83 Here for you is that close law —
I claim it from your kindred:
the first colt of every mare,
and the first pig of every breeding sow,
and the first calf of every smooth-horned cow,
the first lamb of every sheep;
84 A full grip from every enduring holding
of your neighbours’ raids —
or, if the heavy holding be in a land,
an eighth of three grips customary
to be got from you and from your kindred;
a palmful in its pure horn,
a fistful in its close hoof(?),
a palmful in its enduring tail.
85 I claim also right truly
the horn of every firm circle
of a vat and of close skin(?),
and a bag of every flower-grain;
a share of drink after it
from every one of our noble clergy;
I claim also witnessingly
a churn-draught of every great churning.
86 I claim a shapely city’s scruple
from every one of your kindred,
between son and great daughter —
a penny of gold at its naming,
or six of silver after it;
a victorious queenly scruple
is due to me from every good wedding
of the seed of swift-raiding Lúán.
87 I claim Easter in common
from every strong chieftain of nine men
of your seed, O weapon-venomed youth;
decay or the world’s ruin
if they make not that holy Easter(?).
I put Christ as surety
over me, O swift-weaponed Lúán —
for you and your children in just aftermath.
88 May your great prosperity be the greater —
of food and smooth clothing,
of cattle and treasures —
my law without its diminishment.
89 I say after that,
if this great law be destroyed,
I shall bring my strong evils
upon you among neighbours’ borders;
90 I shall bring sharp sharp famine
and destruction on good cattle,
and dangerous shortness of life
on women and on children,
unless they keep this fair law
I claim from your great kindred.
91 O Lúán son of Iorghalach,
here is the price of your healing.”
92 XVI. Then Naile took the staves of Tigernach and Sinell and Ronán and of every saint that was in the assembly to keep the tribute; and if they gave it not, their rising together and their help with Naile to the curse, and their expulsion from the good kingdom.
93 XVII. Now at that time and season holy-pure Colum Cille went into the beautiful-ivied isle of Alba to bless it and lastingly heal it; and after its consecration in fair Alba his currach was steered straight-nailed by Colum Cille; and he was not long on the wondrous ocean when he saw a fierce, very gloomy, horribly high, broad-breasted, spiky, great-headed, wide-mouthed beast. And very great fear seized the modest-judging son of Feidlimid at seeing it; and it set its face on Colum’s height, for it wished to gulp down right eagerly his currach, and Colum with his clerics.
94 And Colum Cille prayed dutifully to Senach the old smith, for Senach was a mother’s son to Colum Cille; and thus that Senach was — a bright quivering coal in the strong tongs’ mouth being lifted. And a sign came into his face at that time, and was shown to him that his mother’s son was in that great distress; and he gave a cast to meet Colum Cille from enduring-gracious Doire of Brosccagh to the ocean between Ireland and Alba. And the place where that battling coal landed was in the beast’s mouth, so that it killed it with one cast.
95 And Colum Cille prayed God that, as the beast followed them alive, it should follow them dead to the high port of Ireland; and when Colum with his clerics took harbour, the beast came to land in one place with them. And it was reprimanded(?) by the clerics, and the coal was taken out of it at once. And the coal was brought to Senach, to his smithy, and he made of it three miraculous mighty relics — the little knee of Senach, and the short one of the currach, and Naile’s bright-carven bell; for it was that great-labouring Senach who gave to Tigernach the bright-sided the noble bell, for the Glasán of Tigernach was its name. And Tigernach gave the broad bell to Molaisse so that it might be in Molaisse’s cuchtair(couch/shrine), so that a hundred persons’ meal might be got in its honour in the cuchtair; and it was the bell of testament and counsel to Molaisse at his death; for it was the thumb and choice of Naile in Molaisse’s place, in the presence of the saints of Loch Érne, by the words of God and Molaisse; so that it is Naile’s holy bell ever since, as was said in declaring his miracles:
96 “Naile’s bell — great its heaven(?) —
its miracles shall be named on earth;
let everyone listen to me
praising its miracles.
97 Many a monk by its monks(?)
between heaven and earth;
many a profit by the right bell;
many nobles and honour.
98 Many its heritage and its law;
great its tribute from every race,
since Senach made it —
very great its miracles on earth.
99 Senach cast the strong coal
to meet Colum of the churches,
that slew the ugly stormy beast —
bare-sided, great-headed, body-feeble.
100 The beast follows them to harbour —
Colum and his people with speed;
it comes dead to the land outside
after Senach’s cast.
101 It was checked there by Colum —
the beast that was ugliest of body —
till he brought to Senach thereafter
the coal from the beast’s breast.
102 Senach makes of the coal
three smooth relics — it was strong —
the first-born little knee of Senach,
and the short one of the currach together.
103 This bell is great Naile’s bell —
the third relic of them, as is likely;
there, as is sure for you,
are the most heavenly relics on earth.
104 To Tigernach Senach gave
the bell — he gave it off the path;
the Glasán of Tigernach firmly
is its name with all generally.
105 Tigernach gave to Molaisse
the bell — great its beauty —
Molaisse’s cuchtair bell,
and the bell of testament in his sickness.
106 When the bell was in the right cuchtair —
royal to Rome —
a hundred persons’ meal from heaven — great its might —
was got of it every night.
107 Molaisse, when he died southwards
in Devenish, whose skin was fair —
Naile was chosen from heaven —
the bell and the clerics were left to him.
108 The third thumb of great Naile —
of that bell it was the right name;
it was the bell Naile chose thereafter
from the bosom of hard God.
109 With Naile — true the cause —
is the bell, and shall be for ever;
there is the truth — stern the judgement —
from Naile to Senach.
110 It got the honour thus
that no bell on earth got —
whatever stead it comes into,
it is served by its clerics.
111 A wealth of profit with the bell there
Colum Cille gave him there —
decay or death to Corall’s fair children
unless they answer its honour.
112 Tigernach, whose foot was fair, gave
a wealth of profit with the relics —
for the monks of strong Tigernach
in the noble district of Oriel.
113 Naile took away
that bell for Molaisse’s sake(?),
and Molaisse left with the bell
the front of honour in his high port.
114 With heavenly Naile
was that bell according to rule,
till full Lúán was baptised with it —
famous Irgalach’s son.
115 The bell that was father of baptism
to warlike Lúán the mighty —
at his side, greatly merry,
Sinell and Tigernach.
116 Lúán came, with sixteen men(?) —
to seek his baptism, it is no lie —
Fíonnachta and Murchad from outside,
from whom are the children of great Murchad.
117 The sixteen men were baptised
by Naile — it is no lie —
with Tigernach’s leave from the sea,
and Sinell’s and Ronán’s.
118 Lúán made a leap of victory —
famous to everyone who heard —
a salmon in every fork with him,
between foot and broad hand.
119 Said Flannán whose skin was fair,
son of Lógha: “you have done a feat.”
“Lúán shall be upon him,” said modest Naile,
“from this out for ever.”
120 From that leap that was done —
the baptism’s ground, the gillie —
meet for him are sea and land.”
121 Naile the heavenly said
to Lúán with great spirit:
“Your slim seed shall destroy — and destroy not
my law, O smooth-sweet Lúán.”
122 Lúán reddened, whose hue was fair,
at Naile’s saying being spoken:
“What is the law that my seed
will destroy, O noble young saint?”
123 “I claim from you and from your seed
the price of your baptism — great its force —
a law from you and from your seed after that —
the price of kingship for them thereafter.
124 Easter on you every third year —
fame to my law, right to seek it —
decay or death to him who takes it not(?),
that it be in the forefront of noble tops.
125 A cow or a horse at Easter to me
from Lúán’s seed following it;
my bell claims — it is true —
harness of foot and hand following it.
126 A civic scruple — better my lot —
I claim of you and of your women,
six pennies of white silver,
or a penny of gold is my due.
127 The horn of every circle from the vat
my monks claim of you moreover —
of the vat and that skin,
a share of drink after that horn.
128 A victorious queenly scruple
I claim from your children, I have heard;
victory of children and prosperity rightly
they shall have, since they shall get my blessing.
129 If they curse my hard bell —
the married folk through ill-luck —
both of them shall get without treachery
shortness of life and hell.
130 Every mare’s first pregnancy is mine —
I claim from your seed, it is a strong course —
the first calf of every smooth-horned cow
shall be mine from your kindred ever.
131 The first pig of every sow is my right
from Lúán of the combats’ seed;
the first lamb of every famous sheep
from your seed is mine, O Lúán.
132 The first bag of every fresh grain
to me before it goes into the corner —
from me the grain for that —
the prosperity of its stack and its cuchtair.
133 A churn-draught of every churning from you
I claim for my tribute-law from cows;
there shall be got from me for that
victory of milk and victory of fruit.
134 An eighth of three grips of every hard raid
I claim, though it be, for your host —
given to me loyally the meeting(?),
though few take it.
135 Victory of rout from me for that
to the host that does the service;
from me to the men of Loch Érne
victory of battle, victory of rising together.
136 I let not their wound go in danger,
while they keep their law;
I let not disease into their land;
I let not raid with borderers.
137 I let not ugly sickness;
I let not many plagues;
while they keep my right law,
they do not evils nor wrongs.
138 My blessing from today for ever
on Lúán’s seed — true the cause —
and let them keep for me my right law
with godliness and humanity.
139 A curse from me unless they keep
for me my royal right-quick law;
the curse of Sinell of enduring vow;
the curse of Bricín and of Maedóc;
140 The curse of phantom Tigernach
on your seed, O spirited son;
the curse of fair Bishop Eógan
if the law I claim be destroyed.
141 Good my force of avenging evil —
Sinell, Senach of bright body,
Molaisse, and strong Tigernach,
Fergus, Ronán, and Comhgall.
142 Faenche, and great Bishop Eógan,
Bishop Cárthan, complete Lasar —
there arise with me then
to sanctify my protection.
143 My friendship and great Maedóc’s —
Christ is the right between us both —
that it be fulfilled thus,
as long as sun is over earth.
144 With my bell in Breifne of the roads —
equal with Maedóc’s relics —
Maedóc gave me, it is sure,
a circuit every year to my clerics.
145 Maedóc gave a curse in his port
to every Breifne-man who did me ill,
to my bell and my eastern temple,
for keeping their friendship.
146 Everyone of them who shall not be under my shelter
of the Breifne-men — lasting their force —
I shall give them, and Maedóc of the relics,
shortness of life and hell.
147 I promised, and noble Maedóc,
to Lúán’s seed with many hosts,
that our clerics might be equal —
Lúán’s seed and the noble Breifne-men.
148 It is not known to change our friendship;
it is not known to check our battling;
it is not known to reap the household —
I and great-spirited Maedóc.
149 Molaisse first confirmed
that friendship in passing(?);
I afterwards confirmed
with Maedóc the hardness of our friendship.
150 Merry Bricín promised me,
and great-meeting Maedóc,
destruction on the Breifne-men of every soil
who violate my termon.
151 Said Lúán whose body was fair:
“Whoever of my seed does you ill,
if they break by it your fair law,
O smooth gracious Naile?”
152 “A son shall be born of you, O generous fair one,
O Lúán noble and weaponsome —
Cernach his name behind the raids —
seven sons shall Cernach have.
153 They shall make fame of my rule —
Cernach’s children, whose course is royal;
the hard law shall be broken by them
by part of the red-sworded children.
154 Stefán, Dalach — lasting his grace —
Firgil and proud Odhar —
the four heroes of great valour
shall ever keep my fitting law.
155 Maoldúin and brave Caomhán
shall break my city law;
they shall get from me at the meeting
ill-luck of children and prosperity.
156 I curse from today for ever
Maoldúin’s seed — true the cause —
that none shall be born of him, a right course,
that shall be for land or assembly.
157 The seed of fair Camán shall do
the destruction of my law for ever;
from Muigh Lemhna they shall be sent
through cursing into Munster.
158 A son shall be to Cernach surely;
a king shall he be without dispute;
Odhar shall be his name at his house(?)
when the race of Odhar shall be born.
159 His seed shall take strong kingship;
they shall keep my law for a while;
I shall strike kingship from them at the meeting
after my law’s being unkept.
160 When my hard law is broken,
all my hosts are gathered;
they come with me as a shield from the house —
the folk keeping my friendship.
161 My bells shall be struck as a shield
on Lúán’s seed — bitter their sorrow —
and the bells of phantom Sinell,
and the bells of bright-sided Tigernach.
162 The bells of Molaisse shall be struck there,
and Ronán’s, and mighty Fuince’s,
on Lúán’s seed with force,
for their expulsion from the good kingdom.
163 The children of Lúán shall not sit in clear kingship,
though lively their course;
they shall not get after it rightly
kingship on land or assembly.
164 I shall be the serpent destroying hosts;
I am the fire that is blood-red coal;
I am the lion destroying cattle;
I am the bear on the mind.
165 I am the beast whose course is royal;
I am great majestic Naile;
they shall be under my ravaging — it is a strong course —
shortness of life and hell.
166 I am the son of great Munster’s king;
I am the chest of the canon;
I am the most heavenly bell and port;
I am the saint of noblest high bell.”
167 XVIII. Now after the bell-holy assembly had scattered and the clerics had gone from that gathering, a ready eatable feast was offered by divine well-serving Ronán to noble-pious Tigernach mac Cairpre and to the clerics moreover. And the clerics went to partake of the feast, and the clerics were put into splendid bed-houses. And he who was the butler at the shining feast was black-browed Murchad, from whom the race of Murchad are. Now that feast was shared by Murchad among the clerics.
168 And it befell that Naile with his attendant cleric was not remembered. And Naile and his clerics were forgotten by Lúán and by Murchad right untimely. And when Naile heard of his forgetting about that good feast, the steady waiting truly-learned truth-judging salmon grew angry and passionate — and the divine bounteous human-working Spirit — for he thought not that they would keep any of his tribute or his law of his bells or his clerics after him, since that feast of his had been spoiled.
169 So the clerics arose in one place(?), and Lúán went swiftly to him, and they were raw and fearful, spoiled and ill-ordered — between cleric and conquering hero, bishop and noble saint, priest and psalm-singer, lad and great maiden — for fear of the swift curse. Now Lúán came quickly on his knees to Naile, and Tigernach set himself to appeasing the holy cleric’s great anger, telling him that it was not Lúán who was fully guilty, but Murchad, for his great forgetfulness.
170 And Naile said untiringly: “I curse that Murchad with his children — ill-fortune of butlering on his portion, and on himself, and on his kindred after him.” And Lúán said right cursingly: “Tigernach’s saying shall be taken right cursingly from myself and from my kindred after me.” And Naile said that he would take Tigernach’s judgement on that matter. And this was the judgement Tigernach gave Naile on that cause: the tithe of the feast, and the tithe of every outside hospitality from his own high port, from himself and from his kindred after him, to Naile and to his high relics after him. And of the same conditions was the protection of an alms-hand to his termon and his bell-relics.
[Colophon:] In the house of the friars at Drobaois this portion of Naile’s life was written from the track of a heaven-pure old book by Niall Meirgech, son of the son of Suibne Boghainech, 29 January 1629. The poor friar Michél wrote it.
Here the Life ends, manifestly incomplete.