[15] Sānctus vērō Brendānus, cum appropinquāsset ad ōstium spēluncae ūnīus, dē alterā ēgressus est senex forās obviam sibi, dīcēns: “Ecce, quam bonum et quam iocundum habitāre frātrēs in ūnum.” [16] Cum haec dīxisset, praecēpit sānctō Brendānō omnēs frātrēs suōs venīre dē nāvī. [17] Ōsculantibus sē invicem ac residentibus, propriīs nōminibus singulōs appellābat. [18] At ubi frātrēs audiērunt, admīrātī sunt valdē, nōn tantum dē suā prophētīā, vērum etiam dē suō habitū: [19] erat enim coopertus tōtus capillīs suīs et barbā et cēterīs pilīs usque ad pedēs, et erant candidī sīcut nix, prae nimiā senectūte. [20] Tantum faciēs et oculī vidēbantur illīus; nihil aliud indūmentī erat sibi iūnctum, exceptō pilōs quī ēgrediēbantur dē suō corpore.
notes
An old man (Paul) emerges from one of the caves, welcomes Brendan, and tells him to invite the other monks to join them. Paul knows the names of each monk, much to their surprise. They are also surprised by his appearance, since he is covered in white hair and wears no actual clothes.
[15] dē alterā: = dē alterā (spēluncā).
Ecce, quam bonum ... in ūnum: Psalm 132.1 (133.1), quoted at 11.36 and 17.13.
[16] praecēpit sānctō Brendānō omnēs frātrēs suōs venīre dē nāvī: CL would be praecēpit sānctō Brendānō (ut) omnēs frātrēs suī venīrent dē nāvī.
[18] dē suō habitū: "because of the way he was dressed"; probably alluding to a monk's habit, mentioned at 26.21.
[19] candidī sīcut nix: his hair was white, like a Christian in a baptismal robe.
[20] exceptō pilōs: CL would be exceptīs pilīs. Unlike Paul of Thebes, who wore rough clothing, this Paul wears nothing except his hair, like Adam before the Fall, and like a medieval Christian at baptism.
vocabulary
| appropinquō appropinquāre appropinquavī | to approach, draw near15 |
| ōstium ōsti(ī) n. | door |
| spēlunca spēluncae f. | cave |
| forās | outside, on the outside |
| obviam (adv.) | in the way, so as to meet |
| iūcundus –a –um | pleasant, delightful, agreeable |
| habitō habitāre habitāvī habitātus | to inhabit |
| ōsculō (1) | to kiss (usually but not always deponent in CL)17 |
| invicem | alternately |
| resideō residēre resēdī ressus | to be seated, remain seated; to stand back, stand still |
| admīror admirārī admirātus sum | to wonder at, marvel18 |
| valdē | powerfully; intensely, exceedingly |
| prophētīa –ae f. | prophesy, prediction (LL) |
| vērum | but indeed |
| habitus habitūs m. | style of dress, “get-up” (OLD 3) |
| co-operiō –operīre –operuī –opertum | to cover over19 |
| capillus capillī m. | hair |
| barba –ae f. | beard |
| pilus –ī m. | a hair |
| ūsque | until (often with ad or dum) |
| nix nivis f. | snow |
| prae (prep. + abl.) | in front of, in the face of (ML); by means of, because of, in view of |
| senectūs senectūtis f. | old age |
| indūmentum –ī n. | a garment20 |
| pilus –ī m. | a hair |