23.  Also, when the most blessed abbot of Christ, Columba, heard of the death of Saint Keranus, he composed a notable hymn about him:  and he brought it down with him to the monastery of Cluayn, where, as was fitting, he was received with hospitality in honour.  Now as for the hymn, the abbot who was then presiding, and the others who had heard it, lauded it with many lofty praises.  But when Saint Columba was departing thence, he took away with him earth from the sacred grave of Saint Keranus, knowing in the spirit how useful this would be against future perils of the sea.  For in the part of the sea which bears towards the monastery of I, there is a very great danger to those who cross, partly because of the vehemence of the currents, and partly because of the narrowness of the sea; so that ships are whirled round and driven in a circle, and thus are often sunk.  For it is rightly compared to Scylla and Charybdis; I mean that by its grave and unmitigated dangerousness, evil is there the lot of sailors.  When they were coming to this strait, they suddenly began to glide into it in their course:  and when they looked for nothing but death, and because they were as though apt to be devoured by the horrible jaws of the abyss, then Saint Columba taking some of the aforesaid dust that had been taken from the tomb of blessed Keranus, cast it into that sea.  Then there befell a thing marvellous and worthy of great wonder; for sooner than it is told, that cruel storm ceased, and accorded them a quiet passage.  Truly do the just live for ever; among whom blessed Queranus reigneth, the earth or dust of whose sepulchre stilled the sea, established in the Faith the hearts of those who feared, and strengthened them to good works.  Wherefore blessed Keranus liveth not only for God, to whom he is inseparably bound, but also for men, on whom in time of need he bestoweth benefits.

A RIME ABOUT HIM

1.  As the mother of Quiaranus sat in a noisy carriage, a wizard heard the sound and said out to his attendant lads, “See ye who is in the carriage, for it soundeth under a king.”  “The wife,” say they, “of Beodus the wright sitteth here.”  The wizard says:  “She shall bear a king acceptable to all, whose works shall shine like Phoebus in the sky.”  The soldier of Christ, Keranus, a temple of the Holy Spirit, flourished in the virtue of spiritual piety.

2.  He bestowed the sucking calf of a cow on a hound; then his mother severely upbraided Queranus.  He asked the devoured calf from the hound itself, and presently bearing back its bones he restored it.

3.  The bald head of a royal woman had been made bare by the envy of an evil concubine; when it was signed in the name of Queranus it shone adorned with golden hair.

4.  When Queranus was occupied with sacred studies, and asked time that he might engage himself therein, then the mill is moved for him by angels.