[1] Venerābilis autem pater cum suīs sodālibus nāvigāvit in ōceanum, et ferēbātur per quadrāgintā diēs nāvis. [2] Quādam vērō diē, appāruit illīs bēstia immēnsae magnitūdinis post illōs ā longē, quae iactābat dē nāribus spūmās, et sulcābat undās vēlōcissimō cursū, quasi ad illōs dēvorandōs. [3] Cum hoc frātrēs vīdērunt, ad Dominum clāmābant, dīcentēs: “Lībera nōs, Domine, nē nōs dēvoret ista bēlua!” [4] Sānctus vērō Brendānus cōnfortābat illōs, dīcēns: “Nōlīte expavēscere, minimae fideī. [5] Deus, quī est semper noster dēfēnsor, ipse nōs līberābit dē ōre istīus bēstiae et dē cēterīs perīculīs.”
[6] At vērō cum appropinquāsset illīs, antecēdēbant undae mīrae altitūdinis usque ad nāvim dumtaxat. Frātrēs magis ac magis timēbant. [7] Venerābilis quoque senex, extēnsīs manibus in caelum, dīxit: “Domine, līberā servōs tuōs, sīcut līberāstī Dāvīd dē manū Goliae gigantis. < Domine, līberā nōs, sīcut līberāstī †.> Domine, līberā nōs, sīcut līberāstī Iōnam dē potestāte cētī magnī.”
notes
After sailing for forty days the monks see a sea monster rushing towards them. They pray for help, but Brendan tells them to have faith. As the monster gets closer, Brendan himself prays to God.
[4] Nōlīte expavēscere, minimae fideī: compare Jesus to his disciples, during the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8.26): “Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Quid timidi estis, modicae fidei?).
[6] cum appropinquāsset: sc. bēstia.
mīrae altitūdinis: appositional genitive (AG § 343.d).
usque ad nāvim dumtaxat: i.e., the waves came up to the ship but only that far (dumtaxat).
[7] < Domine, līberā nōs, sīcut līberāstī †.>: We learn in 16.8 that there were three Biblical verses, so editors assume something has been omitted, and are not confident about a restoration; we might expect a reference to Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6), or to the Hebrew children in the burning fire (Daniel 3).
vocabulary
| venerābilis –e | venerable, deserving of respect 1 |
| sodālis sodālis m. | comrade |
| nāvigō nāvigāre nāvigāvī nāvigātus | to go by ship, sail; to row |
| ōceanus –ī m. | the ocean |
| per | through; by means of [OLD 14] |
| quādrāginta; quādrāgesimus –a –um | 40; 40th |
| bestia –ae f. | beast, creature 2 |
| immēnsus –a –um | immense |
| iactō iactāre iactāvī iactātus | to throw through the air, hurl |
| nāres –ium f. pl. | the nose, nostrils |
| spūma –ae f. | foam, froth |
| sulcō sulcāre sulcāvī sulcātus | to drive a furrow through, plow through |
| vēlōx –ōcis | fast |
| dēvorō dēvorāre dēvorāvī dēvorātus | to swallow, devour |
| clāmō clāmāre clāmāvī clāmātus | to call, shout 3 |
| līberō līberāre līberāvī līberātus | to free |
| dēvorō dēvorāre dēvorāvī dēvorātus | to swallow, devour |
| bēlua –ae f. | beast |
| cōnfortō confortāre | to strengthen much; comfort (LL) 4 |
| ex–pavēscō –pavēscere –pāvī — | to become afraid |
| minimus –a –um | least, smallest |
| dēfēnsor dēfēnsōris m. | defender, protector 5 |
| līberō līberāre līberāvī līberātus | to free |
| bestia –ae f. | beast, creature |
| appropinquō appropinquāre appropinquavī | to approach, draw near 6 |
| antecēdō –cēdere –cessī –cessum | to go before |
| mīrus –a –um | marvelous, wonderful |
| altitūdō altitudinis f. | height |
| ūsque | until (often with ad or dum) |
| dumtaxat | at least; no more (than), at most, only |
| venerābilis –e | venerable, deserving of respect 7 |
| senex senis | old, aged |
| extendō –ere –tendī –tentus (–tēnsus) |
to stretch forth; stretch |
| līberō līberāre līberāvī līberātus | to free |
| Dāvīd m. | David |
| Golīās –ae m. or Goliath (indecl.) |
Goliath (name) |
| gigās –antis m. | a giant |
| līberō līberāre līberāvī līberātus | to free |
| Iōnas -ae m. | Jonah |
| venter ventris m. | stomach, belly |
| cētus (cētos) –ī m. | whale; any large sea-animal |