Matheson Collection > Aislinge Meic Conglinne

22 TJie Vision of MacCongliiine.
" I will not speak," said MacConglinne, " until I
have pledges for it."
Pledges and bonds stout and strong were im-
posed on the monks of Cork for its fulfilment, and
5 he bound them upon his pledges.
" Say what it is you want," said Manchin.
" I will," said Aniér : " to eat the viaticum that is in
my book-satchel before going to death, for it is not
right to go on a journey without being shriven.
10 Let my satchel be given to me."
His satchel was brought to him, and he opened it,
and took out of it the two wheaten cakes and the
slice of old bacon. And he took the tenth part of
each of the cakes, and cut off the tenth of the
I c; bacon, decently and justly.
" Here are tithes, ye monks of Cork," said Mac-
Conglinne. " If we knew the man who has better
right, or who is poorer than another, to him would
we give our tithes."
20 All the paupers that were there rose up on seeing
the tithes, and reached out their hands. And he
began looking at them, and said :
" Verily before God," said he, " it can never be
known if any one of you stands in greater need of
25 these lithes than I myself. The journey of none of
you was greater yesterday than mine — from Ros-
common to Cork. Not a morsel or drop tasted I after
coming. I had eaten nothing on the road, I did not
find a guest's welcome on my arrival, but I received
30 [insult], ye curs and robbers and dung-hounds, ye
monks of Cork! The whole of my clothing was
stripped off me, scourges and horsewhips were
laid on me, I was plunged into the Lee, and