Celtic Scotland : a history of ancient Alban / by William F. Skene.

  • William Forbes Skene
Date:
1886-1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Celtic Scotland : a history of ancient Alban / by William F. Skene. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The chess-board of Crimtliann Nia-nair— A little boy could take it1 in his hand ; The half of its party - was of yellow gold, And its other half of findruine.3 One man alone of its party 2 Would purchase six cumhal*.4] When it came then to the last hours for Colum Cille, and when the bell was rung for matins on the night of Whitsunday, he went before the others to the church, and made genuflexions and earnest prayers at the altar. At that time an angelic bright- ness filled the church about him on every side, and the venerable patron then resigned his spirit to heaven, to the joy and gladness of the people of heaven in general. His body, moreover, is in the earth here, with honour and veneration from God and men, attended with virtues and miracles every day of them.5 And though great his honour hitherto, it will be greater in the assembly of judgment, when he will shine like the sun, through the incorruptibility of his body and soul. ’Tis then, moreover, this great glory and respect shall be given to him, in the union of the nine orders of heaven which cannot be surpassed ; in the union of the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ; in the union of the divinity and humanity of the Son of God; in the union that is higher than every union; in the union of the noble, illustrious, holy, almighty Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. I implore the mercy of Almighty God, through the interces- sion of St. Colum Cille. May we all reach that union. May we deserve it. May we possess it in specula sseculorum. Amen. 1 Could take it. Nosberaidh, A.L. The reading in the Amra Lebor na hUidre is nhbeir, ‘ carries it not.’ 2 Party. Fair end; lit. ‘a crew,’ or ‘ company.’ 3 Findruine. A metal, the consti- tuents of which are not well known. O’Clery describes it as pras go n-air- gead buailte, ‘ brass, with silver hammered on it.’—Mart. Donegal. App. to Introduction, xli. 4 Cumhals. A standard of value frequently mentioned in the Brehon Laws as worth three cows. Here ends the addition from A. L., which begins with the bracket, p.505,supra. 5 Of them; i.e. of the days that elapsed since St.Colum Cille’sdeath.