Mochuda's curse, their race became extinct. Next to the prince of
Cluain Earaird who also had seized him by the hand, he said: "You shall
be a servant and a bondman ere you die and you shall lose your territory
and your race will be a servile one." To another of those who led him
by the hand he said:--"What moved you to drag me by the hand from my own
monastery?" The other replied:--"It pleased me not that a Munster man
should have such honour in Meath." "I wish," said Mochuda, "that the
hand you laid on me may be accursed and that the face you turned against
me to expel me from my home may be repulsive and scrofulous for the
remainder of your life." This curse was effective for the man's eye was
thereupon destroyed in his head. Mochuda noticed that some of
Columcille's successors and people from Durrow, which was one of
Columcille's foundations, had taken part in his eviction. He thus
addressed them:--"Contention and quarrelling shall be yours for ever to
work evil and schism amongst you--for you have had a prominent part in
exciting opposition to me." And so it fell out.

The king and his people thereupon compelled Mochuda to proceed on his
way. Mochuda did proceed with his disciples, eight hundred and sixty
seven in number (and as many more they left buried in Rahen). Moreover,
many more living disciples of his who had lived in various parts of
Ireland were already dead. All the community abounded in grace: many
of its members became bishops and abbots in after years and they erected
many churches to the glory of God.

Understand, moreover, that great was the charity of the holy bishop, as
the following fact will prove:--in a cell without the city of Rahen he
maintained in comfort and respectability a multitude of lepers. He
frequently visited them and ministered to them himself--entrusting that
office to no one else. It was known to all the lepers of Ireland how