146 CORNISH DEDICATIONS. 



entire psalter. When Maelruan got out, lie took a brooch from 

 his hairy habit, and smote himself on the breast with it, and then 

 invited his visitor to observe that from the wound made by the 

 pin of the brooch, a liquid exuded that was pale in colour and 

 not red like wholesome blood, "and that," said Maelruan, '-is 

 token that there remains very little pride in me." Maignenn was 

 so impressed, that he begged the Saint to hear his confession. 

 Maelruan hesitated " Do you exercise yourself in any manual 

 labour ?" he asked. Maignenn was forced to confess that he did 

 not. His time was occupied in saying his Offices, and in 

 wandering about the country. Maelruan then bluntly told him 

 he could not and would not minister reconciliation to a man who 

 did not work for his daily bread, but lived on alms. 



The visitor then humbly entreated the ascetic to give him at 

 least some spiritual advice. This Maelruan did in these words : 

 — " "Weep for the sins of your friends and neighbours, as though 

 they were your own. Set your affections on Grod and things 

 above, and not on persons and things below. Meditate on Mary, 

 Mother of Grlory, on the Twelve major prophets, on John the 

 Baptist and the minor Prophets, together with Habacuc. Think 

 on the four Grospels, the Twelve Apostles, and the Eleven Disciples, 

 on the band of youths that attend on the King Eternal, the token 

 of their service being a cross of gold on their foreheads, and a 

 silver cross on their backs. Meditate on the nine Angelic Orders, 

 and on the blessing of the Heavenly City." Maelruan then 

 promised Maignenn that his fire should be as celebrated at 

 Kilmainham as were the two other famous fires in Ireland, that 

 is to say those kept perpetually burning at Kildare. 



Maignenn seems to have been disposed to imitate these 

 austerities, and he allowed his body to become a prey to vermin. 

 But one day he met S. Fursey, and the two saints began to talk 

 of their mutual discomforts. Eursey said that he was much 

 bothered with dysentry. " If you will take my vermin, I will 

 take your dysentry, and so exchange troubles," said Maignenn, 

 and we are gravely assured that the saints did thus pass over 

 their afflictions to one another.^ 



2. Vita S. Cuannathei, cod. Sal., col. 936. 



