XIV. HOW CIARAN GAVE THE KING'S CAULDRON TO BEGGARS, AND WAS ENSLAVED

11. One day the father of Saint Kiaranus bore a royal vessel from

the house of King Furbithus, to keep it for some days. Now the king

treasured that vessel. But Saint Kiaranus delivered that vessel of the

king to certain poor men who asked an alms in Christ's name, as he

had nothing else. When the king heard this, his anger was kindled

mightily, and he commanded that Saint Kiaranus should be enslaved

to his service. And so for this cause was blessed Kiaranus led into

captivity, and was a slave in the house of King Furbithus. A task

chosen for its severity was laid upon him, namely, to turn the

quern-stone daily for making flour. But in wondrous wise Saint

Kiaranus used to sit and read beside the quern-stone, and the

quern-stone used to turn swiftly of itself, without the hand of man,

and to grind corn before all the folk. For the angels of God were

grinding for Saint Kyaranus, unseen of men. And after no long time a

certain man of the province of Mumenia, that is, of the people of the

Desi, who was called Hiernanus, stirred up by divine favour, came with

two most excellent vessels, like unto the vessel of that king, of the

same sort and the same use, and gifted them in alms to Saint Kiaranus.

When the king heard the miracle of the quern-stone, he accepted those

two vessels, and gave his liberty to Saint Kiaranus; for beforetime he

would not for anger accept a ransom for him. Thus was Saint Kiaranus

freed from the servitude of the king; and Saint Kiaranus blessed that

man with his tribe, by whom he himself obtained his liberty.

The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran Translations Of Christian Literature. Series V. Lives Of The Celtic Saints · 第 26 / 184 题