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Updated: June 28, 2025
The holy man knelt and gave thanks to the Lord who had delivered him from the snares of the demon. Then he recognised, sitting on a block of ice, the mother bear who had spoken during the storm. She pressed her beloved child to her bosom, and in her hand she held a purple book marked with a golden cross. Hailing the granite trough, she saluted the holy man with these words: "Pax tibi Mael."
By the light of the moon the immodest sirens of the North came around him with their hempen-coloured hair, raising their white throats and their rose-tinted limbs out of the sea; and beating the water into foam with their emerald tails, they sang in cadence: Whither go'st thou, gentle Mael, In thy trough distracted?
And because women were forbidden to enter the enclosure of the monastery the old man advanced outside the gates, holding his pastoral cross in his right hand and resting his left on the shoulder of Brother Samuel, the youngest of his disciples. He asked: "Woman, who art thou?" "I am the maiden Orberosia." At this reply Mael raised his trembling arms to heaven. "Do you speak truth, woman?
"I readily believe it," answered the blessed Mael. "For woman is a cleverly constructed snare by which we are taken even before we suspect the trap. Alas! the delightful attraction of these creatures is exerted with even greater force from a distance than when they are close at hand. The less they satisfy desire the more they inspire it.
"Allow me to speak," said he; "the holy Mael has not intuitive knowledge like you, my blessed ones. He does not see me. He is an old man burdened by infirmities; he is half deaf and three parts blind. You are too severe on him. However, I recognise that the situation is an embarrassing one." "Luckily it is but a passing disorder," said St. Irenaeus.
"It is indeed," resumed St. Gal. "And I admit that my disciple, the holy Mael, has, in his blind zeal, created great theological difficulties for the Holy Spirit and introduced disorder into the economy of mysteries." "He is an old blunderer," cried St. Adjutor of Alsace, shrugging his shoulders. But the Lord cast a reproachful look on Adjutor.
He was then towards the end of his ninety-seventh year; his figure was bent, but his arms were still strong, and his speech was poured forth abundantly like winter snow in the depths of the valleys. Abbot Budoc restored the ashen staff to St. Mael and informed him of the unhappy state into which the Abbey had fallen.
And Mael was sucking pieces of ice to quench his thirst, and his food was bread dipped in dirty water. His beard and his hair were broken like glass. His habit was covered with a layer of ice and cut into him at every movement of his limbs. Huge waves rose up and opened their foaming jaws at the old man. Twenty times the boat was filled by masses of sea.
Then raising his voice and turning towards the holy Mael: "Bless Greatauk, father, for all power comes from God." Mael remained silent and motionless, with his eyes raised towards heaven; he felt a painful uncertainty in judging the monk Bulloch's doctrine. It was, however, the doctrine destined to prevail in epochs of advanced civilization.
The Rover comes, the Lover, whom you long bewail, O'er sunny seas, with honey breeze, to Grainne Mael. * Pronounced Graunia Wael, the M being modified. It is one of the endearing names given to Ireland in the Penal Times. Benella, I fancy, never had so varied a week in her life, and she was in her element.
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