[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.

    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.

    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
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