12.48–54

Eventually the abbot says they should go back to the refectory (and eat) while there is still daylight. At the end of the day they go to compline (the evening service) and then to bed. Each host monk takes one of Brendan's monks to his cell.

[48] ut omnia fīant cum lūce: so that they could eat while it was still daytime; this was the practice prescribed by the Rule of St. Benedict 41.9.

[49] Et ita fēcērunt ... sicut ad refectiōnem: “And they acted in the way that they did at dinner.” ita sets up sīcut and is best omitted in translation.

Fīnītīs omnibus: neuter

secundum ōrdinem cursūs diēī: following the prescribed sequence of religious observances

ad complētōrium: Compline (bedtime)

[50] praedictum versiculum: here apparently “the well-known verse” or “the usual verse (in this situation),” since the verse hasn’t been quoted yet.

Deus in adiūtōrium intende: Psalm 69.2 (70.1): “O God, come to my assistance (Deus, in adiutorium meum intende); O Lord, make haste to help me!”

dedissent simul honōrem Trīnitātī: i.e., they sang the Gloria Patri. See 12.45.

[51] Iniūstē ēgimus, etc.: Judith 7.19-20: “We have sinned; with our fathers we have done unjustly; we have committed iniquity.  (20) Have thou mercy on us because thou art good” (Peccavimus;  cum patribus nostris iniuste egimus; iniquitatem fecimus. (20) Tu quia pius es miserere nostri).  See also Psalm 105 (106).6: “Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly” (pecavimus cum patribus nostris; inique fecimus, impie egimus). The medieval Irish church had a tradition of penitential prayers, based on selected Bible passages.

[52] In pāce in idipsum dormiam, etc.: Psalm 4.9 (4.8): “In peace, in the self same, I will sleep, and I will rest. (In pace in id ipsum, dormiam, et requiescam. quoniam tu Domine singulariter in spe constituisti me). In id ipsum is the Vulgate’s awkward translation of the Septuagint’s ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, which in turn translated a Hebrew word meaning “altogether, at the same time.

[53] quod pertinet ad hanc hōram: “which pertains to this hour”; the “monastic hour” in question was Compline, though the choice of psalms was not standard.