(b) Then certain of them asked which of the saints should have the greatest reward in heaven.  “Mercy on us,” said Ciaran, “that will be made known in our habitations on earth.”  Then Brenainn of Birra made a prophecy of him:  “We shall take two habitations,” said Brenainn, “on two streams between chief cities, and the difference that shall be between the two streams shall be the difference between the size of the cities.”

(c) When it was time for Ciaran to depart from Cluain Iraird, after learning letters and wisdom, he left the Dun Cow with Saint Ninned; but he said that her hide should come to him afterwards, and Ciaran said further, “Though many be succoured by her milk, yet there shall be more to whom her hide will give succour.”  And he said, “Every soul that parteth from its body from the hide of the Dun Cow shall not be pained in hell.”

(d) Findian saw a vision of him [Ciaran] and of Colum Cille, namely, two moons in the air with the colour of gold upon them.  One of them went north-east over the sea, [and the other][27] over the middle of Ireland.  That was Colum Cille, with the glory of his nobility and his good birth, and Ciaran with the glory of his charity and his mercy.

XXVI.  HOW CIARAN FREED A WOMAN FROM SERVITUDE

21.  Thereafter Ciaran went to parley with the King of Ireland, Tuathal Moel-garb, to ask him for a slave-girl that he had.  Ciaran put his hand on the quern for charity, and he promised that he would serve in the place of the girl.  Then Tuathal gifted the girl to God and to Ciaran, and further he gave him his kingly apparel, and Ciaran gave it forthwith to poor folk.

XXVII.  HOW CIARAN FREED ANOTHER WOMAN FROM SERVITUDE

22.  One time Ciaran went to ask another slave-girl of King Furbaide.  Then one man gifted him a cow as an alms, another gifted him a cloak, and another a kettle.  Forthwith on the same day he gave them all to poor folk; and God gifted to Ciaran three gifts yet better, a cauldron instead of the kettle, twelve robes instead of the one robe, twelve kine instead of the one cow.  When the king saw that, he gave him the slave-girl.

XXIX.  THE PARTING OF FINDIAN AND CIARAN

23.  When the time came for Ciaran to bid farewell to his teacher, he offers to put his monastery at his service.  “Nay,” said Ciaran,[28] “sever not thy monastery for any save for God alone, Who hath given thee favour beyond us all.” ["The monastery I give thee,” said Findian.][29] Ciaran weeps, for he thought it noble of his teacher to offer him his monastery.  “Well, then, let there be unity between us henceforth,” said Findian, “and let him who breaketh that unity have no part in earth or in heaven.”  “Be it so,” said Ciaran.  Then Ciaran went his way; and Colum Cille uttered this testimony of him—­