Part 58 (1/2)
Soon after leaving this they saw a horseman of vast size riding on the sea; and the horse he rode was made of fire flaming red. And as he rode, great waves of fire came after him along the sea; and when a wave began to roll over him, he yelled aloud with fear and pain. Then they asked him why he was thus tormented; and he answered:--
”I am he who stole my brother's horse; and after I had gotten him I rode him every Sunday. For this I am now undergoing my punishment, riding on this horse of fire, and tormented with these great waves of fire.”
XIII.
After leaving this they came in sight of another island, full of people, all weeping and lamenting grievously. Great numbers of jet-black birds with beaks of fire and red-hot fiery talons followed and fluttered round about them, tearing and burning them with their talons, and rending away pieces of flesh, the full of their fiery beaks. Then the crew said aloud:--
”Who are ye, O miserable people?”
”We are dishonest smiths and artisans; and because we cheated while we lived, we are punished by these hateful fiery birds. Moreover, our tongues are burning, being all afire in our heads; for that we reviled people with bitter words and foul taunts.”
XIV.
Coming now to another place, they saw a giant huge in size, and of a sooty black colour all over. His mouth was all on fire; and from his throat he belched forth great flakes of fire, each flake as it came from his mouth larger than the skin of a three-year-old wether. He held in his hand an iron club larger than the shaft of a mill wheel; and on his back he bore an immense f.a.ggot of firewood, a good load for a team of horses. Now this f.a.ggot often blazed up and burned him; and he tried to free himself from his torment by lying down so that the sea might flow over him. But ever as he did so, the sea around him turned to fire, and rose up in mighty burning billows, covering him all over, so that he made the place resound with his bellowings.
”Miserable wretch, who art thou?” asked the crew.
And he answered:--”I will tell you truly. When I lived I used to cut f.a.ggots and bring them home on my back every Sunday: and lo, here is my punishment.”
XV.
They came after that to a sea of fire full of men's heads, all black, and continually fighting with each other. And many great serpents rose up among the heads and came with fury to attack the curragh, so that at one time they pierced through the outer hide. And one of the crew who looked on cried out in great horror, and said:--
”It is enough to strike one dead to behold the fearful things I see!”
And the whole crew when they saw the heads and the serpents fell flat with fear. But the elder (the bishop) comforted them, saying:--
”Be ye not afraid or troubled on account of these things; for G.o.d is able to protect us, even though we were in a curragh of only one hide; and if He wishes to save us, these monsters cannot hurt us, however furious they may be to slay us.”
And they took courage after this, and rowed out into the open sea.
XVI.
There was shown to them next another beautiful island, having in one place an open wood. The trees were laden with fruit, and the leaves dropped honey to the ground. The sides of the hills were clothed with purple blossomed heather, mixed with soft, green gra.s.s to its very centre. In the midst of the island was a pretty lake, whose waters tasted like sweet wine. They rested for a week on the sh.o.r.e of this lake, and cast off their weariness. And now, being about to leave the island, as they turned to go to the curragh, a monstrous reptile[CLXVII.] rose up from the lake and looked at them. And they trembled with fear at the sight of this terrible beast; for each man thought that he himself would be the first to be attacked. But after a little time the reptile dived again into the water, and they saw no more of him.
XVII.
From this they rowed away; and after a long time they came at midnight to an island wherein was a community of Ailbe of Emly.[CLXVIII.] On the beach they found two spring wells; one foul, the other bright and clear.
The gilla wished to drink of the clear well; but the elder (the bishop) told him it was better to ask leave, if there was anyone living on the island.
Then they saw a great light; and coming closer, they found the twelve men of the community at their prayers; and now they perceived that the bright light they saw came from the radiant faces of the twelve; so that these holy men needed no other light. One of them, an old man, comes towards the voyagers; and he bids them welcome and asks news of them.
They tell him all their adventures, and ask his leave to drink from the well; whereupon he said to them:--”Ye may fill your pitchers from the clear well, if your elder (_i.e._ the bishop) gives you leave.”
”Who are ye?” asks the gilla.
”A community of Ailbe of Emly,” says he: ”and we are the crew of one of Ailbe's curraghs. G.o.d has permitted that we live here till the Day of Judgment, praying for everyone who is drowned at sea. And now leave this land before morning,” he added, ”for your resurrection is not to be here. And if ye have not left by the dawn, so much the worse for yourselves; for if once ye get a view of this island in the light of day, bitter will be your anguish of mind for leaving it (on account of its surpa.s.sing loveliness). So it is better for you to go away during the night.”