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 preserve her virginity for Christ,
Father Finnianus said to Saint Kiaranus, "Son, let this virgin,
Christ's handmaid, daughter of an earthly king, read with thee in the
meanwhile, till such time as a cell of virgins shall be built for
her." Which duty Saint Kiaranus obediently accepted, and the virgin
read with him the Psalms and other lections. Now when holy Father
Finnianus was establishing that virgin and other holy virgins in a
cell, the blessed fathers questioned Saint Kiaranus as to her manners
and her virtue. To them Kiaranus said; "Verily, I know naught of her
virtues, of manners or of body; for God hath known that never have I
seen her face, nor aught of her save the lower part of her vesture,
when she was coming from her parents; nor have I held any converse
with her save only her reading." For she was wont to take her