St. Herbert's Island: Difference between revisions
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Every year, the two saints would meet for a spiritual communion, where Herbert would seek guidance from his friend, and "inebriate each other with draughts of heavenly life....and holy converse"<ref>Newman 1844, pp.43-44.</ref> Bede’s recording of the subject puts the meeting at the Roman settlement of Lugubalia, which is actually {{w1|Luguvalium}} (Carlisle). Cuthbert, who had then reluctantly come out of retirement, had been consecrated at York as the Bishop of Lindisfarne in March 685. Their last meeting probably took place in the latter part of 686, and it was at this occasion that Herbert’s history is consolidated. Bede provides some dialogue between the holy men, which furnishes a possible scenario as to how this momentous congress might have taken place. Translations of various texts differ slightly depending on source, but the general meaning is the same. Bede writes thus:
<blockquote>There was a certain priest, called Herebert, a man of holy life, who had long been united with the man of God, Cuthbert, in the bonds of spiritual friendship. This man leading a solitary life in the island of that great lake from which the river Derwent flows at its beginning, was wont to visit him every year, and to receive from him the teaching of everlasting salvation. Hearing that Bishop Cuthbert was come to the city of Lugubalia, he went thither to him, according to his custom, seeking to be more and more inflamed in heavenly desires through his wholesome admonitions. Whilst they alternately entertained one another with draughts of the celestial life, the bishop, among other things, said, "Brother Herebert, remember at this time to ask me and speak to me concerning all whereof you have need to ask and speak; for, when we part, we shall never again see one another with bodily eyesight in this world. For I know of a surety that the time of my departure is at hand, and that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle." Hearing these words, Herebert fell down at his feet, with tears and lamentations, and said, "I beseech you, by the Lord, not to forsake me; but to remember your most faithful companion, and entreat the mercy of God that, as we have served Him together upon earth, so we may depart together to behold His grace in Heaven. For you know that I have always endeavoured to live according to the words of your lips, and likewise whatsoever faults I have committed, either through ignorance or frailty, I have instantly sought to amend according to the judgement of your will." The bishop applied himself to prayer, and having presently had intimation in the spirit that he had obtained what he asked of the Lord, he said, "Rise, brother, and do not weep, but rejoice greatly because the mercy of Heaven has granted what we desired."<br>
The event established the truth of this promise and prophecy, for after their parting, they never again saw one another in the flesh; but their spirits quitting their bodies on one and the same day, to wit, the 20th of March, were immediately united in fellowship in the blessed vision, and together translated to the heavenly kingdom by the ministry of angels. But Herebert was first wasted by a long-continued infirmity, through the dispensation of the Lord's mercy, as may be believed, to the end that if he was in any wise inferior in merit to the blessed Cuthbert, that which was lacking might be supplied by the chastening pain of a long sickness, that being thus made equal in grace to his intercessor, as he departed out of the body at one and the same time with him, so he might be accounted worthy to be received into the like abode of eternal bliss.<ref>Sellar 1907, pp.294-296.</ref></blockquote>▼
▲The event established the truth of this promise and prophecy, for after their parting, they never again saw one another in the flesh; but their spirits quitting their bodies on one and the same day, to wit, the 20th of March, were immediately united in fellowship in the blessed vision, and together translated to the heavenly kingdom by the ministry of angels. But Herebert was first wasted by a long-continued infirmity, through the dispensation of the Lord's mercy, as may be believed, to the end that if he was in any wise inferior in merit to the blessed Cuthbert, that which was lacking might be supplied by the chastening pain of a long sickness, that being thus made equal in grace to his intercessor, as he departed out of the body at one and the same time with him, so he might be accounted worthy to be received into the like abode of eternal bliss.
Cuthbert's foretelling of his last breath on earth makes for a sobering tale. His words gave tearful woe to Herbert, who wished not to be separated from his friend, physically or spiritually. Cuthbert’s petitioning to God, allowing them both to leave their mortal bodies at the same moment, provides comfort to Herbert by way of their reunion in heaven. Cuthbert knew his time was coming to an end, suffering from a painful illness.<ref>Farmer 2011, p.108.</ref> Along with Herbert's long-term ailments, this had probably been a precursor to his final few weeks or months. Bede mentions, they never saw each other again in body, and to the very day, Wednesday 20 March, 687, even the exact hour, they had mutually passed from a mortal life and, received in everlasting bliss into the kingdom of Heaven.
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==Wordsworth's poem==
The following lines come from Wordsworth’s pen, first composed in 1800. The poem had undergone various changes over the years: 1802, 1807, 1815, 1820, and 1827. Several lines were abandoned, and later adopted, with the whole arrangement being altered multiple times.<ref>Knight 1882, p.201.</ref> Below are the first and last editions of the poem, titled:
{{larger|'''For the Spot where the Hermitage stood on St. Herbert's Island, Derwentwater'''}}
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*Armistead, Wilson (1891). ''[https://archive.org/details/cu31924104091297/page/n5/mode/2up Tales and Legends of the English Lakes]''. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co.
*Farmer, David Hugh (2011). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_zJJtvK2_KsC&pg=PA108&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false The Oxford Dictionary of Saints] (5th Edition). Oxford: University Press.
*Knight, William (1882). ''[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.94990/page/n11/mode/2up The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth]''. Volume II. Edinbugh: William Paterson.
*Newman, John Henry (1844). ''[https://archive.org/details/a678908503newmuoft/page/n7/mode/2up Lives of the English Saints - Hermit Saints]''. London: James Toovey.
*Sellar, A.M. (1907). ''[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38326/38326-h/38326-h.html#toc243 Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England]'' A Revised Translation. London: George Bell and Son. (Project Gutenberg)
*Smith, Alan (2012). ''The Big Lakes of Lakeland''. The Landscapes of Cumbria No.5. Keswick: Rigg Side Publications.
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