[1]     Quōdam vērō tempore, cum Sānctus Brendānus celebrāsset Sānctī Petrī Apostolī fēstīvitātem in suā nāvī, invēnērunt mare clārum ita ut possent vidēre quicquid subtus erat. [2] Cum autem aspexissent intus in profundum, vīdērunt dīversa genera bēstiārum, iacentēs super arēnam. [3] Vidēbātur quoque illīs quod potuissent manū tangere illās, prae nimiā clāritāte illīus maris. [4] Erant enim sīcut gregēs iacentēs in pāscuīs prae multitūdine; tālēs vidēbantur sīcut iūnctās in gīrum, applicantēs capita ad posteriōra, iacendō.

[5]     Rogābant frātrēs venerābilem patrem ut celebrāsset cum silentiō suam missam, nē bēstiae audīssent ac elevāssent sē ad persequendōs servōs Chrīstī. [6] Sānctus pater subrīsit atque dīcēbat illīs: “Mīror valdē vestram stultitiam. [7] Cūr timētis istās bēstiās, et nōn timuistis omnium bēstiārum maris dēvorātōrem et magistrum, sedentēs vōs atque psallentēs multīs vicibus in dorsō eius? [8] Immō et silvam scindistis et ignem succendistis carnemque coquīstis. Ergō cūr timētis istās? [9] Nōnne deus omnium bēstiārum est Dominus noster Iēsus Chrīstus, quī potest humiliāre omnia animantia?”

    They come to waters so clear that they can see creatures lying on the bottom, curled up with heads touching their tails.  Brendan celebrates Mass (apparently it is Sunday), but the monks ask him to do it in silence, for fear of rousing the creatures. Brendan says there is nothing to fear, since they have previously camped on the back of the biggest sea creature of them all, Iasconius the whale: Christ is master of all living things.

    The story may have been inspired by schools of jellyfish, or sea lions.

    [1] Sānctī Petrī Apostolī fēstīvitātem: June 29, the feast of Peter and Paul.

    [2] dīversa genera bēstiārum, iacentēs: iacentēs agrees with genera bēstiārum, i.e. bēstiae.

    [3] Vidēbātur: “it seemed”; impersonal.

    illīs: “to them” (Brendan and his monks).

    potuissent: (plupf. subj.) “that they would have been able.”

    illās: = illās (bēstiās).

    [4] Erant enim sīcut gregēs iacentēs: enim should introduce an explanation of what has just been said, but here the logic is a little fuzzy; the fact that there were so many sea creatures, like herds or flocks lying on the sea floor, underscores, but does not explain, how the creatures seemed so close.

    tālēs vidēbantur sīcut iūnctās in gīrum: the creatures seemed to be curled up into a circle (in gīrum). CL would be (e.g.) vidēbantur tālēs ut (aliquās) iūnctās in gīrum, or would omit tālēs entirely.

    iacendō: CL would usually be iacentēs.

    [5] cum silentiō: without singing.

    [7] et nōn timuistis ... magistrum: = et nōn timuistis dēvorātōrem et magistrum omnium bēstiārum maris. The reference is to Iasconius the whale (chapter 10).

    sedentēs vōs atque psallentēs ... in dorsō eius: perhaps a “nominative absolute” (ML), though technically in agreement with the subject of timētis.

    [8] silvam scindistis: for the sparse bristles of Iasconius, used as firewood, see 10.3 and 10.7.

    Petrus –ī m. Peter1
    apostolus –ī m. an apostle
    festivitās –ātis f. festivity, joy; feast day
    subtus (adv. and prep. + acc.) below
    intus within, inside2
    profundum –ī n. deep water; abyss, chasm; the depths of the sea (OLD 1c)
    bestia –ae f. beast, creature
    arēna (harēna) –ae f. sand
    prae (prep. + abl.) in front of, in the face of (ML); by means of, because of, in view of3
    clāritās –tātis f. brightness, brilliance, splendor
    grex gregis m. herd, flock4
    pāscuum –ī n. or
    pāscua –ae f.
    pasture
    prae (prep. + abl.) in front of, in the face of (ML); by means of, because of, in view of
    gȳrus –ī m. circle
    applicō applicāre applicāvī applicātus to apply to, place to/near
    posterior posterius later
    venerābilis –e venerable, deserving of respect5
    silentium (silentum) silenti(ī) n. silence
    missa –ae f. the Mass (religious service) (LL)
    bestia –ae f. beast, creature
    ēlevō –āre –āvī –ātum to raise, lift up
    persequor persequī persecūtus sum to pursue
    Christus –ī m. Christ
    subrīdeō subrīdere subrīsī subrīsum to smile6
    valdē powerfully; intensely, exceedingly
    stultitia –ae f. stupidity
    bestia –ae f. beast, creature7
    dēvorātor -ōris, m. devourer
    psallō psallere psallī — to play the cithara; (LL) sing a Psalm
    vicis (gen.) f. a recurring occasion, a turn, a time
    dorsum –ī n. the back
    immō and in fact8
    scindō scindere scidī scissum to split, cleave
    succendō –ere –cendī –cēnsus to set on fire from beneath
    carō carnis f. meat, flesh
    coquō coquere coxī coctum to cook
    nōnne introduces a direct question expecting the answer "yes"9
    bestia –ae f. beast, creature
    Iēsūs –ū m. Jesus (Christ)
    Christus –ī m. Christ
    humiliō –āre to humble
    animans –antis m./ f./ n. living thing
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