Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The birth and life of St Mo Ling (Author: [unknown])

chapter 7

CHAPTER VII

23

Thirty years till to-day Brénainn son of Findlugh came from the sea,22 and took land and harbour by the streampools of the Barrow.23 Then said Brénainn to his

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community: ‘Cast your net into this haven: belike it is a place for catching fish.’ They cast forth their net, and in every third mesh there chanced a salmon. ‘Cast again,’says Brénainn. They cast a second time, and in every second mesh there chanced a salmon. For the third time the net was cast and a salmon chanced in every mesh. ‘Let us make an abode here,’ says Brénainn, ‘for this is a place for ecclesiastics.’

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In that place Brénainn built the hearth of their house, and there arranged the place of the monastery. A huge hill was above the house. Brénainn and his monks were levelling it every day, in order that it might be a place of service to the Lord; and this may have been the lofty hill which angels had prophesied for him. But then an angel came to Brénainn and said to him: ‘Do not make an abode here now, for in prophecy it is not for thee to make an abode here; but the boy who will be born at the end of thirty years from to-day, he it is, Moling of Linn mor, that will make a dwelling there. And 'tis he that will settle at the Point of Ross Bruicc24 on the brink of the Barrow, and 'tis a multitude that he will bring to heaven. And there he will perform his miracles and his marvels, and his Lord will come to converse with him in the guise of a leper.’25

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So then said the angel:26
‘Thirty years,’ etc.
‘Thou, then, art that Moling, for it is thou that has leapt the greatest leap that a man has leapt and will ever leap. And 'tis thou whom the angel Victor foretold, and now this in future will be thy famous name, Moling of Luachair.’

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‘What is that? have I another fatherland besides this?’ says Moling. ‘And if I have, let it be told to me that I may go to visit it and dwell therein.’

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‘There is indeed,’ says the priest; ‘and thy mother is in the steading, and let her tell thee.’The mother was afterwards brought to him, and she told him his own country and his kindred, and how he had been begotten. ‘O son,’ says the mother, ‘leave thy blessing with me, and give me forgiveness for the deed I have done!’ So then he said:
    1. The woman of Cenél Setnai,27
      'tis she that reared me in the first place;
      and, O God, forgive the woman
      payment for all the theft she committed.28

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‘Much of blame for thee I got,’ quoth she. ‘Many said to me that thou wast a child of my sin and corruption.’ ‘Heaven to thee, O woman,’ saith Moling.

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‘What then dost thou leave to me?’ says the priest; ‘for through thee I have been greatly blamed. For many used to say that thou wert a carnal son of mine.’ ‘Heaven and length of life to thyself and to thy successor,’ to wit, the priest of this place. ‘Palm, too, of hounds and women and horses thereout, for they came to help me from the Spectres.’29