he
other saints of Ireland who were there. He asked of his parents that a
cow might be led with him to the school, for the sake of her milk to
sustain him; but his mother denied it, saying, "Others who are in that
school have no kine." Then having received the licence and blessing of
his parents--though his mother was grieved, for she wished to have him
always with herself--Saint Kyaranus went on his way.

Coming to the cattle of his parents, he blessed a cow, and commanded
her in the name of the Lord to follow him. Forthwith that cow followed
him with her new-born calf; and wheresoever he would go the cow walked
after him, to the city of Cluayn Irayrd, which is in the boundary of
the Laginenses and Ui Neill. But the city itself lies in the territory
of Ui Neill.

When Saint Kyeranus had come thither, he used to make a barrier in the
pastures between the cow and her calf with his rod; and by no means
did they ever dare to cross the tracks of the holy rod, nor used they
cross it; but the cow would lick her calf across the track of the rod,
and at the proper time they would come to their stall, with full store
of milk.

That cow was of a dun colour, and was called _Odar Ciarain_, "Ciaran's
Dun." Her fame endures for ever in Ireland, for she used to have the
greatest store of milk, such as at this time could not be believed.
Her milk was daily divided among the school, and sufficed for many.
Her hide in like manner remains to this day honourably in the city
of Saint Kiaranus; for through it, by the grace of God, miracles are
wrought. This grace greater than all it has, as the holy ancients,
the disciples of Saint Kiaranus, have delivered unto us; that it is
revealed by divine inspiration that every man who shall have died upon
it shall possess eternal life with Christ.

XVIII. THE ANGELS GRIND FOR CIARAN

16. Now in the school of the most holy master Finnianus there were
many saints of Ireland; to wit, two Saints Kiaranus, and two Saints
Brendanus, Columba, and many others; and each of them on his day would
grind with his own hands on the quern. But the angels of God used to
grind for Saint Kiaranus, as they did for him in his captivity.

XIX. CIARAN AND THE KING'S DAUGHTER

17. The daughter of the King of Temoria was conducted to Saint
Finnianus that she might read the Psalms and the other Scriptures with
the saint of God, and should dedicate her virginity. And when she
promised of her own free will to preser