And then there came to them a fair young man, and full courteously he
welcomed them all, and called every monk by his name, and he said that
they were much bound to praise the name of our Lord Jesu, that would,
of His grace, shew to them this glorious place where is ever day and
never night. And this place is called Paradise Terrestrial. By this
island is another island wherein no man may come, and this young man
said to them: "Ye have been here half a year without meat, drink, or
sleep," and they supposed they had not been there the space of half
an hour, so merry and joyful they were there. And the young man told
them that this is the place that Adam and Eve dwelt in first, and ever
should have dwelled here if that they had not broken the commandment of
God.
Then the young man brought them to their ship again and said they
might no longer abide there; and when they were all shipped, suddenly
this young man vanished away out of their sight. And then within short
time after, by the purveyance of our Lord Jesu Christ, they came to
the abbey where Saint Brandon dwelled, and then he with his brethren
received them goodly and demanded them where they had been so long, and
they said: "We have been in the Land of Behest, tofore the gates of
paradise, whereas is ever day and never night." And they said all that
the place is full delectable, for yet all their clothes smelled of the
sweet and joyful place.
And then Saint Brandon purposed soon after for to seek that place by
God's help, and anon began to purvey for a good ship and a strong, and
victualled it for seven years. And then he took his leave of all his
brethren and took twelve monks with him, but, ere they entered into
the ship, they fasted forty days and lived devoutly, and each of them
received the sacrament. And when Saint Brandon with his twelve monks
were entered into the ship, there came other two of his monks and
prayed him that they might sail with him, and then he said: "Ye may
sail with me, but one of you shall go to hell ere you come again." But
for all that they would go with him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account