And then Saint Brandon bade the shipmen to wind up the sail, and forth
they sailed in God's name, so that on the morrow they were out of
sight of any land. And forty days and forty nights after they sailed
plat east, and then they saw an island far from them; and they sailed
thitherward as fast as they could, and they saw a great rock of stone
appear above all the water; and three days they sailed about it ere
they could get into the place, but at the last, by the purveyance of
God, they found a little haven and there went aland every each one. And
then suddenly came a fair hound, and fell down at the feet of Saint
Brandon and made him good cheer in his manner. And then he bade his
brethren be of good cheer, "For our Lord hath sent to us his messenger
to lead us into some good place." And the hound brought them into a
fair hall, where they found the tables spread, ready set full of good
meat and drink. And then Saint Brandon said graces, and then he and his
brethren sat down and ate and drank of such as they found, and there
were beds ready for them wherein they took their rest after their long
labour.
And on the morn they returned again to their ship, and sailed a long
time in the sea after, ere they could find any land, till at last, by
the purveyance of God, they saw far from them a full fair island, full
of green pasture, wherein were the whitest and greatest sheep that ever
they saw; for every sheep was as great as an ox. And soon after came to
them a goodly old man, which welcomed them and made to them good cheer,
and said: "This is the Island of Sheep. And here is never cold weather
but ever summer, and that causeth the sheep to be so great and white:
they eat of the best grass and herbs that is anywhere." And then this
old man took his leave of them and bade them sail forth right east, and
within short time, by God's grace, they should come into a place like
paradise wherein they should keep their Eastertide.
And then they sailed forth, and came soon after to that land, but could
find no haven because of little depth in some place, and in some place
were great rocks. But at the last they went upon an island, weening
to them that they had been safe, and made thereon a fire for to dress
their dinner, but Saint Brandon abode still in the ship. When the fire
was right hot and the meat nigh sodden, then this island began to move,
whereof the monks were afeard, and fled anon to the ship and left
the fire and meat behind them, and marvelled sore of the moving. And
Saint Brandon comforted them and said that it was a great fish named
Jasconye, which laboureth night and day to put his tail in his mouth
but for greatness he may not.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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