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Animal Rights History Timeline » [c485-1450] Medieval Ages » Saint Guthlac, Hermit of Crowland

Life of St. Guthlac, Hermit of Crowland

How the Swallows Sat Upon Him and Sung

Felix of Crowland

Life of St. Guthlac, Hermit of Crowland, the Anglo-Saxon Version, Originally in Latin, by Felix of Crowland [ca 8th century], trans. Charles Wycliffe Goodwin (London, 1848); Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks.

It happened on a time there came a venerable brother to him whose name was Wilfrith, who had of old been united with him in spiritual fellowship. Whilst they discussed in many discourses their spiritual life, there came suddenly two swallows flying in, and behold they raised up their song rejoicing; and after they sat fearlessly on the shoulders of the holy man Guthlac, and then lifted up their son; and afterwards sat on his bosom and on his arms and his knees. When Wilfrith had long wondering beheld the birds, he asked him wherefore the wild birds of the wide waste so submissively sat upon him. The holy man Guthlac answered him and said: Hast thou never learnt, brother Wilfrith, in holy writ, that he who has led his life after God's will, the wild beasts and wild birds have become more intimate with him. (53)