Sanctus Brendanus et insula mirabilis

St. Brendan (Sanctus Brendanus) was an Irish monk who lived in the 6^th century CE, and whose legend grew with time until by the 9^th century, when this text was written, the story of his god-given mission of exploration had reached mythic proportions. In this story, Brendan and the faithful (but not always too bright) monks who accompanied him find themselves on a very strange island. But perhaps it isn’t really an island at all …

The text is written in Mediaeval Latin, which has some differences from the classical variety – but all of these differences (such as some changes in word order and use of prepositions) tend to make it easier for English-speakers to read, so be flexible, keep in mind the characters and story line, and be willing to guess at what you don’t know.

Note: some of the “little words” like, ac, atque, vero, etc., do not really need to be translated – they give the sense of the narrative in Latin but in English, they would be superfluous. (_____________)

Fratres ad insulam mirabilem veniunt (part ultima Capituli X)

Grammar:

• infinitives review (Wheelock ch. 25)
• cum clauses (Wheelock ch. 31, pp. 211-12)
• perfect and pluperfect subjunctive (Wheelock ch. 30, pp. 202-2-3)
• coepi, -isse
• eo, -ire (Wheelock ch. 37, p. 260)

Vocabulary:

arena, -ae f = sand

exeo, -ire, -ii, -itum = to leave

litus, litoris n = shore

oratio, -onis f = speeches, prayers

porro = but, indeed

portus, -us m = harbor

praecipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum = to command

rarus, -a, -um = scarce

silva, -ae f = forest

sto, stare, steti, statum = to stop, to stand

ullus, -a, -um = any

Cum autem venissent ad aliam insulam, coepit illa navis stare antequam portum* illius* potuissent tenere. Sanctus Brendanus praecepit fratribus exire de navi et ita fecerunt. Tenebantque navem ex utraque* parte cum funibus* usque dum* ad portum venit. Erat autem illa insula petrosa* sine ulla herba. Silva rara erat ibi et in litore illius nihil de arena fuit. Porro pernoctantibus* in orationibus et in vigiliis* fratribus foras (de) navi vir Dei sedebat intus.

*portus, -us = harbor *illius = of it (the island) *praecipio, -ere, -cepi, ceptum = to command *utraque = either *funis?? = ropes *usque dum = until *petrosus, -a, -um = rocky *pernocto, -are, -avi, -atum = to spend the night *vigilium, -ii, n = vigils foras (adv.) = outside (of) intus (adv.) = inside

Igne a fratribus incenso quod evenit (Capitulum XI)

Grammar:

• ablative absolute (Wheelcok ch. 24, pp. 155-7)
• nolo, nolle, nolui (Wheelock ch. 32, pp. 221-3)
• ne + subjunctive
• result clauses with subjunctive
• purpose clauses with subjunctive
• indirect command with subjunctive

Vocabulary

deprecor, -ari, deprecatus sum = to pray or beseech

fero, ferre, tuli, latum = to carry

mane = morning

nolo, nolle, nolui = to refuse, to not want to

sacerdos, sacredotis, m or f = priest (also, monk)

scio, scire, scivi, scitum = to know

vero (adv.) = but, indeed

Sanctus vero Brendanus sciebat qualis erat illa insula, sed tamen noluit illis indicare ne fuissent perterriti. Mane autem facto praecepit sacerdotibus ut singuli missas* cantasset* et ita fecerunt. Cum ergo sanctus Brendanus et ipse cantasset missam in navem, coeperunt fratres crudas* carnes* porterare foras de nave ut condidissent sale* et etiam pisces quos secum tulerunt de alia insula. Cum haec fecissent, posuerunt cacabum* super ignem. Cum autem ministrassent* lignis ignem et fervere* cepisset cacabus, coepit illa insula se movere sicut unda*. Fratres vero ceperunt currere ad navem deprecantes patrocinium* sancti patris.

*missa, -ae f = Mass *cantassest = cantavisset, “they sing” * crudas carnes = *condidissent sale = salt them (preserve them with salt) *cacabus, -i m, = a cauldron *ministrassent = ministravissent, they tended to *fervere = to boil *unda, -ae f = a wave * patronicium, -i n = protection

Brendanus insulam quod verum esset illis narrat (Capitulum XI)

Grammar:

• deponent verbs
• diminutives
• relative pronoun beginning sentences

Vocabulary:

ignis, ignis m = fire

admiror, -are, -atus sum, to be amazed

caput, capitis n = head

iungo, -ere, iunxi, iunctum = to join

piscis, -is m = fish

valde (adv) = greatly, a lot

expavesco, -ere = to become terrified

nato, -are, -avi, -atum = to swim

pavor, pavoris m = fear

quaero, -ere, quaesivi, quaesitum = to seek

At ille singulos per manus trahebat intus*. Relictisque omnibus quae portabant in illam insulam, coeperunt navigare. Porro illa insula ferebatur in oceanum. Tunc poterant videre ignem ardentem super duo miliaria*. Sanctus Brendanus narravit fratribus quod hoc esset dicens: “Fratres, admiramini quod fecit haec insula?” Aiunt: “Admiramur valde, nec non et ingens pavor* penetravit nos.” Qui dixit illis: «Filioli* mei, nolite expavescere. Deus enim revelavit mihi hac nocte per visionem sacramentum* huius rei. Insula non est ubi fuimus sed piscis. Prior omnium natanium in oceano, quaerit semper suam caudam* ut simul iungat capiti, et non potest pro longitudine* quam habet, nomine Jasconius».

*intus = inside the ship (where St. B has stayed) *ardeo, -ere, arsi, arsum = to burn *miliarium, i n = a mile *Aiunt = they said *filiolus = diminutive of filius *sacramentum = *cauda, -ae f = tail longtitudo, longtitudinis, f = length