THE SCENE: In this scene from a medieval Irish Immram, a group of monks sailing through the sea encounter two different sea monsters. Fortunately, they come out of the experience better than when they began.
THE TEXT: The venerable father and his companions sailed out into the ocean and their boat was carried along for forty days. One day there appeared to them a beast of immense size following them at a distance. He spouted foam from his nostrils and ploughed through the waves at a great speed, as if he were about to devour them. When the brothers saw this they called upon the Lord, saying: “Deliver us, Lord, so that that beast does not devour us.” Saint Brendan comforted them, saying: “Do not be afraid. You have little faith. God, who always defends us, will deliver us from the mouth of this beast and from other dangers.”
As the beast came near them he caused waves of extraordinary height to go before him right up to the boat, so that the brothers were more and more afraid. The venerable elder also raised his hands to heaven and said: “Lord, deliver your servants, as you delivered David from the hand of Goliath, the giant, Lord, deliver us, as you delivered Jonas from the belly of the whale.” After these three pleas asking for deliverance, a mighty monster passed near them from the west going to encounter the beast. He immediately attacked the first monster, emitting fire from his mouth. The elder spoke to his brothers:
“Look, my sons, at the great deeds of our Savior! See how the beasts obey their creator. Wait presently for the outcome of this affair. This battle will do us no damage. It will redound to the glory of God.” When he had said this the wretched beast that pursued the servants of Christ was cut into three pieces before their eyes. The other returned after his victory to where he had come from.
Another day they saw at a distance a very large island full of trees. While they were drawing near its shore and disembarking from the boat, they saw the end portion of the beast that had been slain. Saint Brendan said: “See what wished to devour you! You now shall devour it! You will stay a long while in this island.”
– The Voyage of Saint Brendan, 10th Century AD
