neral _Tendenz_ of the Lives of
Saint Ciaran. The rest of the eulogy is a free paraphrase of Rom. xii,
9 ff. There is extant a metrical "Monastic Rule" attributed to Saint
Ciaran, which was edited by the late Prof. Strachan in _Eriu_ (The
journal of the Dublin "School of Irish Learning") vol. ii, p. 227.
The subject-matter of this composition is a series of regulations
on morality and mortification of the flesh, but the language is so
obscure, and the text of the single MS. which alone contains it is so
corrupt, that even the pre-eminent Celtist who edited the poem would
not venture on a translation.

XXXIX. THE COMING OF OENNA (LA, LB, VG)

_Parallels._--As Ciaran recognised Oenna by his voice, so Colman
picked out by his voice one of a number of soldiers destined for a
religious life (VSH, i, 261). With the incident of the consecration,
as successor, of an unprepossessing intruder, compare the tale of
Findian consecrating for the same purpose a raider whom he caught
hiding in the furnace-chamber of his kiln (LL, 2628 ff.; CS, 198).
The version in LB conveys the impression that Oenna's learning was
imparted to him miraculously, as Oengus the Culdee inspired an idle
boy with a miraculous knowledge of his neglected lesson.[22]

The story of Oenna is told rather differently in the glosses to the
_Martyrology of Oengus_ (Bradshaw edn., pp. 48 ff.). Oenna with two
companions was going for military service to the King of Connacht.
They came to the embarking-place, not of Inis Aingin, but the larger
Inis Clothrann (now sometimes called Quaker Island), where there are
extensive ancient monastic remains. Ciaran was at the time in Inis
Clothrann. He summoned Oenna to him, and asked him whither he was
faring. "To the King of Connacht," answered Oenna. "Were it not better
rather to contract with the King of Heaven and earth?" asked Ciaran.
"It were better," said Oenna, "if it be right to do so." "It is
right," answered Ciaran. Then Oenna was tonsured and began his
studies. Here the miraculous insight which recognised in the warrior
youth the future abbot is ignored. The tract _De Arreis_[23] tells us
of the penance which Ciaran imposed upon Oenna: briefly stated it was
as follows. He was to remain three days and three nights in a darkened
room, not breaking his fast save with three sips of water each day.
Every day he was to sing the whole Psalter, standing, without a
staff to support him, making a genuflexion at the end of e