8.  One day a certain poor man came to Saint Kyeranus, and begged of him a cow.  Then Saint Kieranus asked of his mother that a cow should be given to the poor man; but his mother would not hearken unto him.  When Saint Kieranus saw this, he made the poor man accompany him out of doors with the herds, and there he gave unto him a good cow with her calf.  Now the calf itself was between two kine, and both of them had a care for it; and as the dutiful boy knew that the second cow would be of no service without the calf, he gave them both, with their calf, to the poor man.  For these, on the following day, four kine were gifted to Saint Kiaranus by other folk as an alms, and these he gave to his mother as she was chiding him.  Then he exhorted his mother in reasonable manner, and she was thereafter in awe of him.

XII.  HOW CIARAN GAVE A GIFT OF A PLOUGH-COULTER

9.  Saint Kiaranus on another day gave the coulter of his uncle Beoanus to a certain poor man, for which likewise on another day he received four coulters.  For four smiths came from the steading called Cluain Cruim, with four coulters, which they delivered for an alms to Saint Kyaranus; and these the holy boy restored to him for his coulter.

XIII.  HOW CIARAN GAVE A GIFT OF AN OX

10.  On another day Saint Kyaranus gave the ox of the same uncle to a man who begged for it.  And he said unto him, “Son, how shall I be able to plough to-day, seeing that thou hast given mine ox to another?” To him responded the holy boy, “Set thou to-day thy horse with the oxen in the plough, and to-morrow thou shalt have oxen enough.”  Forthwith the horse, set under the yoke with the oxen, in place of the ox that had been given, became tame; and the whole day it ploughed properly under the yoke, like an ox.  On the following day four oxen were gifted for an alms to Saint Kiaranus, and these he delivered to his uncle instead of his ox.  For men who heard and saw the great signs wrought by Saint Kyaranus were wont to beg for his prayers, and to offer oblations unto him.

XIV.  HOW CIARAN GAVE THE KING’S CAULDRON TO BEGGARS, AND WAS ENSLAVED

11.  One day the father of Saint Kiaranus bore a royal vessel from the house of King Furbithus, to keep it for some days.  Now the king treasured that vessel.  But Saint Kiaranus delivered that vessel of the king to certain poor men who asked an alms in Christ’s name, as he had nothing else.  When the king heard this, his anger was kindled mightily, and he commanded that Saint Kiaranus should be enslaved to his service.  And so for this cause was blessed Kiaranus led into captivity, and was a slave in the house of King Furbithus.  A task chosen for its severity was laid upon him, namely, to turn the quern-stone daily for making flour.  But in wondrous wise Saint Kiaranus used to sit and read beside the quern-stone,