Now Carthagus was of the descendants of Fergus [mac Roich,]389 to speak particularly. His father's name was Figenius, and his mother's Med. He was dear (carthanach) to God and man, and therefore he was called Carthagus.
An angel prophesied390 one day to Comgall of Bangor, some years before his [Mochuda's] birth: ‘There will be born,’ said he, ‘in the west of Ireland an eminent offspring, of whom the lips of men will be full both here and there. And he will come to the place in which thou shalt be, in order to go to Rome; and it is the will of Jesus that thou shalt keep him in thy company a year.’
And there came an augury to Brendan with this prophecy when the angel parted from him, [saying:] ‘A child shall be born of the race of which thou art,’ said he, ‘and many will be his miracles in heaven and on earth, and Carthagus shall be his name.’ So the augury of Comgall and Brendan coincided.391
Now the descendants of Fergus were in Ciarraige Luachra at that time; and a general assembly of the tribe was held, and the mother of Carthagus was there; and a ball of fire came down from heaven upon her head. This ball Jesus sent to indicate the holiness of the birth that was in the woman's womb. And afterwards it went back (to heaven) again.
The woman was delivered, and bore a son beside the river Maine; and there was no water on that hill; and a stream broke forth from the side of it. And Aidanus, [a priest,] was fetched to them, and baptized the child (with water) out of the stream, and Carthagus was given him as a name. And he was taken to Carthagus, the aged bishop, to be nurtured. My portion (mo chuidig) art thou, said the holy bishop. And hence the name Mochuda became attached to him.
However,392 he was called Mochuda, because his master used to call him so by reason of the great love and care which he had for him. And there are few who know him by any other name than Mochuda (lit. who know any alteration of Mochuda to be a name on him); and it is (equally) appropriate to write his name as Mochuda,
And this proved true; for he was beautiful and well favoured, like David; he avoided all evil desires, like Daniel; he was gentle and compassionate, like Moses. But he was not held in honour of his father and mother, because he would not consent to their worldly views. And the saying of David was fulfilled which he spake: ‘My father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord hath taken me up.’ And as David kept his father's sheep, so Mochuda in his boyhood kept his father's swine along with the other swineherds.393 And he would go to tend his father's swine with the other herdsmen.
One day the herdsmen went to the king's fort, and Mochuda with them. The king loved Mochuda [when he saw him,] for he was very lovable. The queen, a daughter of Maelduin, son of Aed Bennan, asked him: ‘What is this love that you have to the herd-boy?’ said she. ‘This is what appeared to me,’ said the king: ‘a golden crown upon him, and a golden column (reaching) from his head to heaven, and a golden palace all about him, without any top to it; {folio 151b} and I loved him by reason of these signs.’
Mochuda went with the swine through the woods of the Maine, and heard Carthagus, the aged bishop, singing his psalms; and he (Mochuda) loved the psalms greatly. And he followed the road behind the clerks, and came to the place where they were, to the monastery called Tuam.394 The king wondered whither Mochuda had gone that night; and he sent men in pursuit of him. And he was brought to him under arrest.
The king was at the time at a banquet at the house of Mochuda's father; and he offered Mochuda military arms. ‘Here,’ said he, ‘[are arms worthy of thee,] and remain with me in the inheritance of thy father.’ ‘I will not,’ said he, ‘I prefer395 the words which I heard from the clerks.’ And when the king perceived that the grace of God was with Mochuda,396 he gave him to the bishop for him to preach the word of God to him. And they were both glad thereat. And he remained with him till the bishop conferred priest's orders upon him.
He took him with him to the place where the king was. ‘Here,’ said he, ‘is the pupil thou gavest me; and he is well instructed in the Scripture. And (now) offer thyself and thy kingdom397 to him, and to God.’ ‘He seems to us young and immature,’ said they.398 The holy old bishop threw himself on his knees, and said: ‘I offer myself and my church to him,’ said he. Then the king threw himself
Mochuda departed thence, and built a church to the north of the Maine, and he founded another church south of the Maine in Machaire Colmain, and left (provision for) divine service in them. Then he went to Rostellan where Ciaran was, to find out from him where he should abide. Ciaran said: ‘An angel {folio 154a} of God came to Comgall,400’ said he, ‘and told him that in mid Ireland would be thy abode, in a place named Rahen, which is in Fircall. And thou wilt be sixty years there, and afterwards a monastery will be built by thee in the southern part of Ireland, and Lismore is the name of it, and there will the end of thy life come.’
This was fulfilled; and Colman Ela prophesied the same thing, and Columcille also had foretold it previously, when he had come to Rahen and wished to settle there. But he said: ‘Not to me has God granted to be here, but an honourable man will come after a time, whose patrimony401 this place will be, and his name will be Carthach, and he will be illustrious in mighty works and miracles.’ And Columcille planted three rods there402; and it was from them that Mochuda got the first materials of his church after his arrival.403
Once as Mochuda was praying by himself he saw a man named Magus coming to him, who said to him incredulously404: ‘Bring leaves,’ said he, ‘on to that apple-tree by thee.’ He made the sign of the Cross over the apple-tree, and it was all covered with leaves. ‘It were more beautiful with blossom on it,’ said Magus. He produced the blossom as was said to him. ‘It were better if it remained with apples on it (lit. if it subsisted as apples),’ said Magus. He did this, and it was fully laden with apples. ‘It were better that they were ripe,’ said Magus, ‘so that we may eat them.’ This was fulfilled, so that they came down in a ripe shower on the ground by the apple-tree. Magus took up an apple to eat it, for they seemed to him desirable for their size and beauty; but he could not eat it by reason of its sourness. ‘It were better not to produce them,’ (said he,) ‘than (to produce them with) such sourness.’ Mochuda blessed them then, and they had the taste of honey. Thereupon Magus departed, and he was blinded at Mochuda's word for a year because of the incredulity405 which he had shown in respect of him. And at the conclusion
Once a deaf and dumb boy came to Mochuda; and he entreated God for help on his behalf; and he was healed forthwith.
{folio 154b}A leprous man set out and came to Mochuda, and was afterwards made perfectly whole through the prayer of Mochuda.
An ill-shapen man406 came to Mochuda to bewail his misery to him. He was healed then, so that no one was shapelier than he. And he remained in his (Mochuda's) service thereafter.
A certain miserable man came to Mochuda, who had no implements407 of ploughing; and asked help of him. Mochuda had no such implements either, for he had neither oxen nor ploughs,408 for it was digging that served his monks, because he would not accept worldly cattle of any one. And he bade one of his (monastic) household go to the neighbouring wood, and bring two deer to the miserable man. They did so, and they ploughed his property, and afterwards went mad.409
Another man came to Mochuda, who was mad, owing to a demon having entered into him. He besought Mochuda for healing; and he (Mochuda) entreated God on his behalf, and he was healed thereupon.
Once upon a time Mochuda went to a neighbouring mill to grind the portion of the monks. There was a cruel king over the district who was bitterly hostile to Mochuda, and he sent a party to attack him. Thereupon a fiery flash appeared between them (and Mochuda), so that they could do nothing to him. They410 went to the king and told him their story. He was furious thereat, and went himself to seek him. The same flash appeared between them and the mill. One of his attendants said: ‘Let us wait for him,’ said he, ‘till he comes from his grinding, and then let him be killed.’ ‘That is a good idea,’ said every one. They waited thus till he came, and then they drew their weapons, but the weapons clave to their hands, so that they could do nothing to him. [On seeing this miracle,] they prostrated themselves before him, and entered his service, and did all his pleasure.
Another time, when Mochuda was in Rahen, an angel came to him, and said to him: ‘Go to thy country,’ said he, ‘for the
Once upon a time Mochuda went to Lann Eala to Colman to get him to come with him to Rahen to bless a mound and tomb for him; for God had granted it to him (Colman) that no one destined to hell should ever enter a mound blessed by him. ‘Go back to Rahen,’ said Colman, ‘and I will come there on Thursday.’ Colman did not come as he had promised; and Mochuda went again to seek him, and said: ‘Why didst thou not fulfil the promise that thou gavest?’ said he. ‘An angel took me to bless another burial-place,’ said he, ‘and now go to Lismore, and thou wilt find a sign that a mound and burial-place has been consecrated by angels. And let it be built and blessed by thyself, for it is there that thy resurrection shall be, and no one shall be doomed to hell if he enter therein.’ He (Mochuda) did as he was bidden.
Once while Mochuda was at Rahen, the only son of the king of Delbhna was drowned. The king entreated Mochuda to raise his heir. He had then been a day and a night under the river. Mochuda went with the king (and stood) over him (i.e. the son), and prayed God to raise the son. And he arose from the bed of the river (and came) to the place where they were. The king offered the son to Mochuda. ‘Let him remain and protect his kingdom,’411 said Mochuda. And it was this son that was king of Delbhna after his father, and his children after him.
Now Mochuda was the comeliest man of his time. Thirty maidens loved him so passionately that they could not conceal it. This was grievous to Mochuda, and he prayed God to turn this love into a spiritual love, and He did so. And Mochuda made nuns of412 these maidens, and they were serving God till they died.
One day Mochuda went to Kerrycurrihy, and found there in the district Corc, the king of Munster. {folio 155b} There fell a fiery ball from the air, and killed the wife and son of the king, and two of his chariot horses. The king entreated Mochuda to raise them; and he did so with the grace of God.
There was a king of this district, blind and dumb; and Mochuda healed (lit. helped) him.
There was another man in it, suffering from an inflammatory disease. And Mochuda put his girdle across him, and he found relief at once. And Mochuda remained a year in this district after receiving large alms from the king. And he returned to Rahen.
One day as Mochuda was crossing a ford on the Owenmore (Munster Blackwater), he found an apple on the water and took it. Now the king of Fermoy had a daughter who was maimed, paralysed in one arm, her right arm being fixed to her side. And Mochuda took the apple with him to the place where the maiden was. ‘Here,’ said he, ‘[is an apple.]’ The maiden stretched out her left arm as she was wont. ‘Stretch out the other arm,’ said Mochuda. ‘I cannot,’ said the maiden. ‘Try it,’ said Mochuda. She stretched it out, and the ligament between the arm and the side gave way, and the flesh and blood of the arm and side were renewed (lit. grew), and she was perfectly whole.
Joy and gladness possessed the king, and he said: ‘There is no husband whom thou choosest, that thou shalt not have.’ ‘I choose yon clerk who healed me,’ said she. The maiden went with Mochuda, and he made a church for her in Cluain Dalláin; and she was a holy virgin thenceforth.
One time two monks from Britain came to seek Mochuda, for he was renowned far and wide, and they remained some time with him. Then they were seized with hostility413 and envy towards him, for they thought that if (only) he were dead, they would have his place and the headship of his monks. So they plotted treachery against him, for they felt sure that he would be long-lived, if he were not put to a violent death. And this was the plan they adopted, to bind him, and drown him secretly.
But at that very moment a monk of Mochuda's family who was wont to watch and pray, and visit cemeteries and relics [of saints] every night, chanced to meet them; and he asked them what they were carrying. They said that it was clothing of the monks to be washed {folio 156a} and cleansed. ‘Let it be shown me,’ said he, for night is not the usual time for that. He raised the covering414 and found Mochuda there. ‘Ill is the deed that ye attempted,’ said he, ‘and let it be.’ ‘It would have been well for me,’ said Mochuda, ‘though they would have gone to hell for it.’ And he bade them depart to their country, and (said) that the crime which they had attempted would not fail to bring vengeance upon them.
Once, when Finan came to visit Mochuda, he saw the monks digging, and some of them carrying bags and burdens. ‘It is
A certain honourable man, named Lasianus, came to visit Mochuda, and brought with him secretly415 thirty milch cows for Mochuda. The monks went to refection, and he (Lasianus) pretended to be unwell, and said that he would not drink anything but milk; for he felt sure that the monks had no milk. This was told to Mochuda, and he blessed the water that was before him, and it became milk, and it was given to Lasianus. And it seemed to him that it was water which had been turned into milk, and he prayed God that it might return [again] to its proper nature; and thereupon it was turned into water as he requested.
‘That is not well,’ said he; ‘it is water that is there, not milk.’ And this was told to Mochuda, and he went to Lasianus, and acknowledged that it was from God that he (Lasianus) had obtained the changing of the milk (back) into water416; and he said to him: ‘Why dost thou not go to refection with us?’ ‘I will not,’ said Lasianus, ‘till thou accept alms from the secular monks (or tenants), and from every one else who wishes (to offer) it.’ ‘It shall be done,’ said Mochuda; and he did so as long as he lived. And Lasianus left the thirty cows with him; and they made a compact (of fraternity), and so bade farewell to one another.
{folio 156b}On one occasion the monks said to Mochuda: ‘Our fields are ripe,’ said they, ‘but we have no reapers.’ ‘God is able [to give] you reapers,’ said Mochuda. So a band of angels descended on the field and reaped it.
Once, when the monks were going to a wood, the girdle of one of them broke owing to the weight of his burden. The prior put a withe round him as a girdle, and he (the monk) kept it on till his flesh festered owing to it, and he became so feeble that he nearly died. ‘What is this weakness of thine, O monk?’ said Mochuda. ‘It is the girdle that the prior put round me,’ said the monk, ‘and it has reached my bones, and out of obedience I would not take it off till the prior should remove it from me.’ And he showed his sores to Carthagus. ‘These wounds shall have relief,’ said Mochuda, ‘and thou thyself shalt have long life, or heaven forthwith.’ ‘Heaven for
The king of Tara and the king of Meath went to expel Mochuda from Rahen, after laying many false charges against him. And they cast lots to see which of them should go to expel the clerk, i. e. Mochuda, from Rahen. And the lot fell upon the king of Meath; and he sent his brother to expel Mochuda; and the brother died forthwith. The king was angry, and they entered and scourged Mochuda and his monks out of Rahen.
There was one monk who had gout (lit. disease of the feet), and it went into the king's feet, and he himself (the monk) was able to walk. And there was many a one with Mochuda who had changed his habit (i. e. become a monk). Mochuda cursed every one who expelled him, and those who had dragged him forth, including the king.
And Mochuda passed by the grave of a holy monk who had been buried some years previously. The monk arose from the ground: ‘Take me with thee,’ said he. ‘Not so,’ said Mochuda, ‘till the time of the (general) gathering together shall come.’
And this was the number of Mochuda's train at that time, namely seven, and two score, and eight hundred (847); and they took their way through an impassable wood. There was an enormous tree lying on the path, {folio 157a} and in their weak condition they could not cross it. Mochuda raised his hand over it. ‘Arise,’ said he, ‘as thou wert aforetime.’ And the tree arose at Mochuda's word, and left the path practicable. And there were many poor and miserable, and bishops and abbots in this train; and all the lepers that were there, Mochuda with his own hands ministered to their pains and diseases.
When the king of Munster, Failbe Flann, heard that Mochuda was on the road, he went to meet him in order [to welcome him, and] to offer him a place of abode. I cannot, said Mochuda, for a (special) place of resurrection has been granted to me.
He went to Ard Fináin, and the king of the Deisi came to meet him, and offered him Ard Fináin. And the wife of this king was a daughter of Failbe Flann. And she saw a wonderful vision, to wit an innumerable flock of birds coming to the place where they were, and the leading bird of them alighting on the king. And she told the king what she had seen, and they (both) rejoiced at it. ‘It is Mochuda,’ said he, ‘who will be journeying hither, and the flock (of birds) is his train, and he himself is the bird that settled on me.’
Shortly afterwards they saw Mochuda and his train. ‘To ask thee for land on which we may settle have we come,’ said Mochuda to the king. ‘Thou shalt have Lismore,’ said the king. ‘Long since
And they proceeded to a ford on a pool of the river Nem (the Munster Blackwater, or Owenmore). And there was a great flood417 there, the tide and the river meeting (at the spot). He sent Molua and Colman on in front. Colman drove back the sea to a crag on his side, and Molua drove back the stream towards another crag. Mochuda followed them to the ford which had become dry flag-stones. And afterwards he permitted the waters to come together (again); and they did so.
They proceeded to Lismore, and dispersed themselves through the fort to bless it, and to make habitations on it. And a virgin who was in a cell in the place met them. And they had a little rampart which they were digging. ‘This is vigorous,’ said the virgin, ‘(but) dig the rampart larger (and further) from you,’ {folio 157b}said she. They did so, and hence the name Lismore (the great rampart ) was attached to it. And she offered herself and her cell to God and to Mochuda.
A poor man418 came one day to Mochuda who had a desire for ale and milk and wine. Mochuda raised his hand over a fountain which was before him, and made three divisions of it, one wine, one ale, and one milk; and the poor man drank his fill of them, and was healed. And Mochuda blessed the fountain, and restored it to its natural state.
After Mochuda had performed these godly works,419 his body became weak and decrepit. And he went into a little house away from his monks. And he told them that his day was not far distant. And420 he could not go to visit them, but they used to come and visit him. And one day he looked up, and saw the door of heaven opening, and a band of angels issuing from it, (and coming) to the place where he was. ‘To meet thy soul we are come, O Mochuda,’ said they. He sent for the monks and told them that they must part [forthwith; and he bade them farewell, and blessed them,] and he received the Body of Christ, and the sacraments of the Church were administered to him, and his soul departed from his body, and he joined the company of angels [and archangels] in the presence of the [Holy] Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
THE END