After leaving this they came to a lovely island on which was a church
standing all alone: and when they drew nigh they heard the voice of a
cleric singing the psalms with a sweet voice. They came to the door and
struck it with the hand-wood; and straightway a beautiful
bright-coloured bird came to speak with them. When they had told him
who they were and what they wanted, he flew back to the cleric, who bade
him have the door opened for the pilgrims. And when they had come in,
they found the cleric--a very old man with white hair--who sang his
hymns continually. And they saluted each other; and the pilgrims stayed
there that night. And an angel came and brought them supper, and
ministered unto them. On the morrow the old priest bade them depart,
since that was not to be the place of their resurrection on the Judgment
Day. But before they went he foretold all that should happen to them
during the rest of their voyage.
XIX.
From that they came to an island in which was a disciple of Christ.
Glorious and beautiful was that island; and on it stood a church and a
kingly shrine. As they came near they heard some one singing the Pater
to God in the door of the church: whereupon one of the clerics said:--
"Welcome the prayer of our father and teacher, Jesus."
And the priest who stood praying at the door said:--
"Why say you so? Who are ye; and where have ye seen Him?"
And when they had told him that they were servants of Jesus, he spoke
again:--
"I too am one of His disciples. And when I first took Him for my Lord I
was faithful and steady; but after a time I left Him and came to sea in
my curragh, and rowed till I came to this island. For a long time I
lived on fruit and herbs; till at length an angel came from heaven to
visit me. And he said to me:--
"'Thou hast not done well: nevertheless thou shalt abide on this island,
eating the same food without either decay or death till the Judgment
Day.' And so I have lived here to this hour: and no daily meal is sent
to me, but I eat of the herbs and fruit that grow on the island."
Then they all went together into one house; and being very hungry, they
prayed fervently for food. And presently an angel came down from heaven;
and while they looked on he placed a supper for them on a flagstone hard
by the strand, namely, a cake with a slice of fish for each. And while
they ate, whatsoever taste each man separately wished for, that taste he
found on the food. In the morning, when they were about to bid the
cleric farewell, he foretold all that should happen to them, saying:--
"Ye shall go from me now on sea till ye reach the western point of
Spain. And as ye near the land, ye shall meet a boat with a crew of men
fishing, who will bring you with them to land."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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