Thereafter Collanach the priest clipt Moling's hair, and put upon him a monk's tonsure, and said a pater noster over him,30 and told him to go to Maedóc of Ferns and be his pupil. Young, beautiful, youthful was that cleric. White as snow was his body: ruddy as purple plants his face. In his time there was none equal to him in shape, for the splendours of the Godhead were in his company.
Thereafter he fared forth on the road till he came to Clúain Cáin Maedóc.31 Maedóc was then in his church performing his ecclesiastical order at terce. It was revealed to Maedóc that a noble unknown guest had come to him. ‘Leave off for us the order there,’ says Maedóc, ‘for on his way to us is one whom it is not meet to delay.’ Moling reached the church, and Maedóc rises up before him, and Moling did not sit down in his place. The order is then performed. Thereafter the clerics make their union. ‘Leave a blessing with us,’ says Maedóc. ‘I will leave (three),’ says Moling: ‘Palm of safeguard and protection in this place! Palm of dispute in every assembly which the erenagh of this place shall enter! Though much quarrelling be in the place, provided they (the quarrellers) enter the temple, they will go thence in peace, without bringing the reproach of the place past the great cross of the green.’