12. Now after those things Ciaran thought it time to go a-schooling
to Findian of Cluain Iraird, to learn wisdom. He begged a cow of his
mother and of his father, to take it with him to serve him.[17] His
mother said that she would not give it him. He blessed one of the
kine, to wit the Dun Cow of Ciaran, as she was called thenceforward,
and she went with her calf after Ciaran thence to Cluain Iraird.
Afterwards he drew a line with his staff between them, for between
them there was no fence, and the cow used to lick the calf and neither
of them transgressed the mark. Now the milk of that cow used to be
divided between the twelve bishops with their folk and their guests,
and it was sufficient for them; _ut dixit_,
Ciaran's Dun was wont to feed,
three times fifty men in all;
Guests and sick folk in their need,
in soller and in dining-hall.
The hide of the Dun is in Clonmacnois, and whatsoever soul parteth
from its body from that hide [hath no portion in hell, and][18]
dwelleth in eternal life.