Reading Notes: Saints and Animals part B

Bibliography:

The Fish Who Helped Saint Gudwall, The Wolf-Mother of Saint Ailbe, The Ballas of Saint Athracta's Stag, The Ballad of Saint Felix, The Ballad of Saint Giles and the Deer, Saint Francis of Assisi story source: The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown, 1900
Image: a stain glass picture of Saint Ailbe as a baby with his wolf mother http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/saints-wolf-mother-of-saint-ailbe.html

The Fish Who Helped Saint Gudwall

Welsh Coast beautiful scenery and terrible storms
Saint Gudwall was born a Welshman, chose to run into danger just because it was dangerous
Gudwall moved to an island just off the coast of Wales with a friend
island was a high mountain with green grass on top and gray rocks below
the rocks had caves where smugglers and pirates choose to hide their treasures
Gudwall wanted to be left alone with his pupil
no reason why a bad man's hiding place couldn't make a good saint's retreat
they chose the largest and deepest caves to live in
the ocean would come into the cave just a little bit with a roar then would creep away
sea-birds would come fluttering and screaming in then leave just as quick when they realized that they had come uninvited to a strangers home
things changed when old winter came. waves from the North in his chariot of ice drawn by winds and angry storm clouds
the waves tried to seize and swallow them in its cruel jaws
no longer content with pausing at the threshold, the sea swept through their whole house
it tried to drag the two men from the corner where they were clung to the rough rock
they scrambled out of the cave covered in salt spray and began to climb the slippery seaweed rocks above
they finally reached the top of the cliff where they were safe
they couldn't live ontop of the cliff since there was no shelter, if only they had a barrier to keep the sea out
Gudwall prayed for help
the fish of the sea answered his prayers and each brought a single grain of sand to the threshold of their cave
all day long the fish did this, so by night fall a little bar of sand had begun to grow gradually before the entranced to the cave
the pupil noticed the wall the fish had built and asked Gudwall what it was
Gudwall said with a thankful heart "the Lord has given us a defense"
"it is the fish who have built us the wall, blessed be the fish who have this day helped us in our need."
Saint Gudwall could now live in his cave during both summer and winter

The Wolf-Mother of Saint Ailbe, Cont.

story of a poor little Irish baby whose cruel father and mother did not want him
they couldn't sell nor give him away tried to lose him
the left him on the mountain side lying all alone on a bush of heather
an old mother wolf was taking a walk after tending to her babies and heard a faint funny little cry
her ears perked up "whats that!" she found the Irish baby
her heart was touched for she thought of her own littles
she picked up the baby carefully and took him home to her den
the baby's name was Ailbe, and he grew and played with the baby wolves, sharing there meals
the wolf mother took care of him and saw that he had the best everything that he needed
Ailbe grew stronger, taller, and more handsome everyday living his happy life in the wild woods of green Ireland
about a year or two later a hunter passed by the cave where the wolves and Ailbe lived
he saw a creature run across the path in front of him
first he thought it was a rabbit but the creature was to large for a rabbit
the hunter chased the creature on foot finally the hunter caught the creature in a bush were it was hiding
come to find out this creature did not have fur, horns, four feet, or a tail. but was a beautiful child who couldn't stand upright whose body ran around on all 4s like a baby wolf
the creature was Ailbe the wolf mothers pet, who had grown so fast was almost able to take care of himself
the hunter though he was not quite able to, and thought that he would carry the baby home to his kind wife who would care for him
Ailbe was kicking, screaming, and biting like the wild animal he was when the hunter picked him up
the hunter wrapped him up in his cloak and jumped on his horse to ride away
Ailbe did not want to leave the wild and home with the wolves, especially his dear foster mother
he called to the wolves in their native tongue to come help him
out of the forest came the great mother wolf and her 4 children, now grown to be as nearly as big as herself
the chased after the hunter, snapping at them, and howling with grief and anger
but they could not catch them nor get her adopted son back
after following for a great distance the wolves one by one started to drop further behind
with one last howl of farewell, stretching over the shoulders of the hunter, he saw his family panting in the road behind them
the wolves gave up the hopeless chase, with their tails between their legs and their head hung low they went back to their den.
it was a sad day for the wolf mother
Ailbe never knew his first mother but knew she was cruel, his second mother was the kind wolf, and now the third was a beautiful Princess.
the hunter was actually a Prince
the prince and princess lived in a great castle by a lake near Tipperary with hundreds of servants, horses, dogs, and little pages for Ailbe to play with
Ailbe was very happy, and learned all the things which in those days made a little boy grow up into a wise and great man
Ailbe was made Bishop and had a palace of his own in the town of Emly
people came from far and wide bringing gifts, asking him questions, and ate his dinners
he never forgot his second mother the good wolf, nor his four footed brothers, in their coats of gray fur
he would long for his wolf family
for they made more sense and they never kissed the Blarney Stone which makes one talk good Irish

Saint Ailbe

many years later there was a huge hunt in Emly
the Bishop did not see any sport in killing poor crreatures
but lords for miles around were out chasing the wild beast including Ailbe's foster-father
almost night fall and the towns people was waiting for the hunters to return, the Bishop was walking home from church when he heard the horns
he heard a howl of a wolf. it spoke a language that he had almost forgotten
then in front of the dogs snapping at her heels was Ailbe's wolf-mother
he recognized her as soon as he saw her green eyes and the patch of white on her right forleg
she recognized him as well even though it had been many years since she last saw him
she ran straight to him because she knew he would keep her safe from the dogs and the hunter
he wrapped her up in his cloak and held up a hand to keep the dogs away
Ailbe said to his wolfe mother, "I will protect thee, old other, when I was little and young and feeble, thou didst nourish and cherish and protect me; and now that thou art old and gray and weak, shall I not render the same love and care to thee? none shall injure thee."
the hunters and dogs still wanted to kill the poor wolf, but Ailbe would not have any of it
he forbade them to touch the wolf, because he was so wise and holy they dared not to disobey him
Ailbe had something else to say and bade the hunters, townspeople, and the wolf to listen
he repeated the promise he had made to the wolf and warned every one thenceforth not to hurt her or her children, either in the village or the woods or on the mountain
"see mother, you need not to fear. they dare not hurt you now you have found your sin to protect you. come every day with my brothers to my table and you and yours shall share my food, as once I so often shared yours.
every day she would come with her 4 children and howl at the gate for the porter to let them in
nd every day he would open the gate for them, and the steward showed the 5 inro the great dining hall where Ailbe sat at the head of the table with 5 place settings for the rest of the family
the wolf mother's favorite child was not those in coats of fur and fine whiskers who looked like her but was the blue-eyed Saint at the top of the table in his robes of purple and white
"what a handsome family we are!" he would say and it was true.

The Ballad of Saint Athracta's Stags

Athracta ws a fair maiden, the Prince's daughter, long golden hair
sweetest rosebud face, blossomed like a dew-fed flower, stem of grace
she didn't like the court of Kings, but loved the wild, with only one maid to braid her hair and a bear for company
neat Lough Cara's silver sheen,
they made a hut on the seven cross roads, they might offer rest to pilgrims and strangers huner pressed
they got water from the lake, and tilled their little soil, and had to old horses
the horses was once gallant chargers, tourney brave and had seen wars
they served with pride at Athract'a side
their neighbors in the forrest was stately antlered deer
the maiden stayed they for years alone
the king had no pity for them

The Ballad of Saint Felix

sunny Italy, skies blue and fair, birds sing, smell of flowers in the air
sorrow in the land, the cruel Heathen Emperor slaying Christian life
Nola of Campania, full of soldiers grim, home of Saint Felix
He was old and wise and famous far and near
Saint Felix would not run and hide, thought no shame to hide until the storm passes
he didn't wear his Bishop's robe but instead a pilgrim's dress with a hat and a staff so no one could guess his name
a Captain asked if he had seen Saint Felix since they were just at his house and he was not there
Captain threatened to cut off his head if he was lying
Saint Felix replied "I met him not,"
the soldiers let him pass
Saint Felix hurried along also for they could soon guess that he was lying
the soldiers came back chasing him, Saint Felix gave up running from them and said a prayer
he found a hiding place in an old broken wall and said a quick prayer
a spider came to Saint Felix's help, and spun a web through the hole he was hiding in
the soldiers saw the web and said that no one had passed through here in several days and went on their way
Saint Felix hid here for many months, he had found a half dug well
a lady would bring him bread for many months, being stealthy so she will not get caught
when it was safe to leave the well he had a warm welcome of his folk he had

The Ballad of Saint Giles and the Deer

Saint Giles was a hermit, alone in the woods
his home was a rocky cave beneath an aspen tree
as a friend he had a deer than wandered free
the deer was red and mottled, came without fear when Saint Giles would call her name
there never was a deer so tame in France
she would give him milk
his inly neighbors were woodland beasts
human voices had never troubled him
one April came the wind of a silver horn, halloos and whistles shrill
horses running, hounds howling, broke through the silent forest and echoed deadly sounds
Saint Giles loved men who did not hunt to kill, and didn't love the rich and grand
in these days Pagans still held lordship in the land
they were hunting his gentle friend the Deer
not far behind her there was the pack of hounds
Saint Giles bared the harm of an arrow from a archer with a true aim
he cried for all to hear "my life for hers, dost understand?"
the King, a pagan man, played nurse to the Saint to heal him whole
Saint Giles had earned the Kings heart by his brave deed and bold

Saint Francis of Assisi, Cont.

Saint Francis was always smiling for the love in his heart
his smile opened hearts of men, drew beasts to his side and the birds to nestle in his bosom, it was like a magic charm
great Princes, the sick and sorrowful, and the beggars in the street all knew his smile.
Saint Francis was a beggar as well
he saved to lambs being taken to market by trading his cloak
Saint Francis was a poet also
he was a little brother of the whole great world and all created things
animals, sun, the moon, and the wind was all his siblings
he did not ask for money, just a scrap of bread. he would sleep on the ground using a rock for a pillow
he preached to all lessons of charity and peace
he was the founder of the society of little brothers
his church was outdoors, sometimes by candle light of the stars
he would sometimes preach to animals
"sisters, cease your song until we have rendered our bounded praise to God"

OU Online Myth-Folklore Class Blog (Fall2018)

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