[1] Ascendentibus, porrō tendēbant vēlum in classe, quō ventus dirigisset. Et cum nāvigāssent, appāruit illīs avis quae vocātur grifa, ā longē volāns obviam illīs. [2] Cum hanc vīdissent frātrēs, dīcēbant ad sānctum patrem: “Ad dēvorandum nōs venit illa bēstia!” [3] Quibus ait vir Deī: “Nōlīte timēre: Deus adiūtor noster est, quī nōs dēfendet etiam hāc vice.”
[4] Illa extendēbat ungulās ad servōs Deī capiendōs. Et ecce subitō avis, quae illīs alterā vice portāvit rāmum cum frūctibus, vēnit obviam grifae, rapidissimō volātū. [5] Quae statim voluit dēvorāre illam; at vērō dēfendēbat sē, usque dum superāsset ac abstulisset oculōs grifae praedicta avis. [6] Porrō grifa volābat in altum, ut vix frātrēs potuissent vidēre; attamen interfectrīx nōn dimissit illam dōnec eam interēmit. [7] Nam cadāver eius cōram frātribus iuxtā nāvim cecidit in mare. Altera vērō avis reversa est in locum suum.
notes
A "bird" appears in the distance; it is really a gryphon, a mythical beast with the body of a lion but the head and wings of an eagle. The monks think it will eat them, but Brendan is sure that God will help. Right at the last moment the bird that brought them the grapes at 18.2 returns to defend them.
[1] Ascendentibus: CL would be ascendentēs. Here ascendō has to mean “embark, board a ship” (OLD 4a).
cum nāvigāssent: CL would be cum nāvigārent.
[4] illa: = illa bēstia.
illīs: dat., indirect object of portāvit rāmum.
alterā vice: “the other time”; see 18.2.
portāvit: CL would probably be portāverat.
[5] quae: i.e.. the grifa.
[6] in altum: “into the sky."
vocabulary
| porrō | next1 |
| vēlum vēlī n. | sail; curtain; cloth |
| dīrigō (dērigō) –ere –rēxī –rēctus | to make straight, direct, guide |
| nāvigō nāvigāre nāvigāvī nāvigātus | to go by ship, sail; to row |
| grifa -ae, f. | a female griffin (ML; CL gryps grȳpos or grȳpus –ī m.); a mythical beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. |
| volō volāre volāvī volātus | to fly |
| obviam (adv.) | in the way, so as to meet |
| dēvorō dēvorāre dēvorāvī dēvorātus | to swallow, devour2 |
| bestia –ae f. | beast, creature |
| adiūtor –ōris m. | a helper3 |
| vicis (gen.), f. | a recurring occasion, a turn, a time |
| extendō –ere –tendī –tentus (–tēnsus) |
to stretch forth; stretch4 |
| ungula –ae f. | talon (OLD 2) |
| vicis (gen.), f. | a recurring occasion, a turn, a time |
| rāmus rāmī m. | branch |
| obviam (adv.) | in the way, so as to meet |
| grifa -ae, f. | a female griffin (ML; CL gryps grȳpos or grȳpus –ī m.); a mythical beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. |
| rapidus –a –um | swift |
| volātus –ūs m. | flight |
| dēvorō dēvorāre dēvorāvī dēvorātus | to swallow, devour5 |
| ūsque | until (often with ad or dum) |
| grifa -ae, f. | a female griffin (ML; CL gryps grȳpos or grȳpus –ī m.); a mythical beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. |
| praedīcō praedīcere praedīxī praedictus | to say beforehand; mention |
| porrō | next6 |
| grifa -ae, f. | a female griffin (ML; CL gryps grȳpos or grȳpus –ī m.); a mythical beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. |
| volō volāre volāvī volātus | to fly |
| altum altī n. | the deep, the sea; a high place (in the sky) |
| attamen | nevertheless, however (at + tamen) |
| interfectrīx –īcis f. | a murderess |
| interimō interimere interēmī interēmptus | to kill |
| cadāver –eris n. | dead body7 |
| corām | (adv. or prep. + abl.) face to face; in the presence of, in front of |
| iūxtā | next to (prep. + acc.) |