XIV. HOW CIARAN GAVE THE KING'S CAULDRON TO BEGGARS, AND WAS ENSLAVED

11. One day the father of Saint Kiaranus bore a royal vessel from
the house of King Furbithus, to keep it for some days. Now the king
treasured that vessel. But Saint Kiaranus delivered that vessel of the
king to certain poor men who asked an alms in Christ's name, as he
had nothing else. When the king heard this, his anger was kindled
mightily, and he commanded that Saint Kiaranus should be enslaved
to his service. And so for this cause was blessed Kiaranus led into
captivity, and was a slave in the house of King Furbithus. A task
chosen for its severity was laid upon him, namely, to turn the
quern-stone daily for making flour. But in wondrous wise Saint
Kiaranus used to sit and read beside the quern-stone, and the
quern-stone used to turn swiftly of itself, without the hand of man,
and to grind corn before all the folk. For the angels of God were
grinding for Saint Kyaranus, unseen of men. And after no long time a
certain man of the province of Mumenia, that is, of the people of the
Desi, who was called Hiernanus, stirred up by divine favour, came with
two most excellent vessels, like unto the vessel of that king, of the
same sort and the same use, and gifted them in alms to Saint Kiaranus.
When the king heard the miracle of the quern-stone, he accepted those
two vessels, and gave his liberty to Saint Kiaranus; for beforetime he
would not for anger accept a ransom for him. Thus was Saint Kiaranus
freed from the servitude of the king; and Saint Kiaranus blessed that
man with his tribe, by whom he himself obtained his liberty.


XXXIII. HOW A PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED