CONNECTION WITH ASTROLOGY, ETC. 167 



lambs, had it cooked ; and, on an angel sending them a 

 sufficency of good bread, they made a very excellent repast. 

 But ere they were away, the island they were upon seemed 

 moving fast, and going further, and further from the ship. 

 The saint, who was on board saw that it was in reality 

 no island at all, but a huge beast or fish. The ship was 

 steered towards the frightened monks ; and their leader 

 addressed them thus : 



" Brothers, know well 



Wherefore this strange mischance befel, 

 No land was that, but monstrous least 6 

 Whereon you sought to hold your feast : 

 Nor marvel thus why this should be, 

 Hugest of all are fish in sea, 

 For they were formed by heaven's great king, 

 Before all other earthly thing." 



On the festival of St. Peter, St. Brandan chants the 

 service so delightfully, ih&tfahes of all sorts and sizes are 

 attracted by his singing. His monks, who seem to have 

 been more engaged in looking about them, than in at- 

 tending to their abbot, go to him, and pray him to sing 

 lower, for " so clear is each wave, where the sea is deepest, 

 that we see as though upon earth, both fishes innumera- 

 ble, and fishes great and cruel, that we scarcely dare to 



6 The word "beste" was constantly employed by writers of the 

 times for any large fish. In the Scriptures we have the phrase 

 c< beasts of the sea ; " and Milton, in the Paradise Lost, uses the 

 word " sea-beast." 



