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diff --git a/33439.txt b/33439.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7a6696e --- /dev/null +++ b/33439.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7270 @@ +Project Gutenberg's A Reading Book in Irish History, by P. W. Joyce + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Reading Book in Irish History + +Author: P. W. Joyce + +Release Date: August 15, 2010 [EBook #33439] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A READING BOOK IN IRISH HISTORY *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Asad Razzaki, The Internet Archive +for some images and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + Some typographical and punctuation errors have been + corrected. A complete list follows the text. + + Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been + retained as in the original. + + Words italicized in the original are surrounded by + _underscores_. + + Words with bold emphasis in the original are surrounded + by =equals signs=. + + + + + A READING BOOK + IN + IRISH HISTORY + + BY + + P. W. JOYCE, LL.D. + + _One of the Commissioners for the Publication of + the Ancient Laws of Ireland_ + + Author of + + "A SHORT HISTORY OF IRELAND" "A CHILD'S HISTORY OF IRELAND" + "IRISH NAMES OF PLACES," "OLD CELTIC ROMANCES" + "ANCIENT IRISH MUSIC" + AND OTHER WORKS RELATING TO IRELAND + + LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. + + LONDON, NEW YORK, AND BOMBAY + + DUBLIN: M. H. GILL AND SON + 1900 + + [_All rights reserved_] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +As this little book is intended chiefly for children, the language is +very simple. But to make matters still easier, all words and allusions +presenting the smallest difficulty are explained either in footnotes or +in the "Notes and Explanations" at the end. + +Advantage has been taken of the descriptions under the several +Illustrations to give a good deal of information on the customs and +usages of the ancient Irish people. + +Although the book has been written for children, it will be found, I +hope, sufficiently interesting and instructive for the perusal of older +persons. + +The book, as will be seen, contains a mixture of Irish History, +Biography, and Romance; and most of the pieces appear in their present +form now for the first time. A knowledge of the History of the country +is conveyed, partly in special Historical Sketches, partly in the Notes +under the Illustrations, and partly through the Biography of important +personages, who flourished at various periods from St. Brigit down to +the Great Earl of Kildare. And besides this, the Stories, like those of +all other ancient nations, teach History of another kind, very important +in its own way. + +Ancient Irish Manuscript books contain great numbers of Historical and +Romantic Tales; and the specimens given here in translation will, I am +confident, give the reader a very favourable impression of old Irish +writings of this class. + + * * * * * + +I make the following acknowledgments of assistance, with pleasure and +thanks:-- + +To the Council of the Royal Irish Academy I am indebted for the use of +the blocks of many Illustrations in Wilde's "Catalogue of Irish +Antiquities." + +I owe to the Council of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland +several Illustrations from their Journal. + +Colonel Wood-Martin has given me the use of the blocks of several of the +Illustrations in his "Pagan Ireland." + +Lord Walter FitzGerald has given me permission to reproduce the drawing +of the old Chapter House door in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, from +the "Journal of the Kildare ArchA|ological Society." + +And lastly, Messrs. Macmillan & Co. have permitted me to print portions +of Lord Tennyson's poem, "The Voyage of Maildune." + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + + I. Legends and Early History, 1 + + II. The Song of Inisfail, 7 + + III. Religion of the Pagan Irish, 8 + + IV. Customs and Modes of Life, 14 + + =The Fate of the Children of Lir.= + + V. The Children of Lir turned to + Swans, 22 + + VI. The Swans on Lake Darvra, 27 + + VII. The Swans on the Sea of Moyle, 32 + + VIII. Death of the Children of Lir, 39 + + IX. Religion and Learning in + Ancient Ireland, 45 + + X. The Red Branch Knights, 50 + + =The Fate of the Sons of Usna.= + + XI. The Flight to Alban, 55 + + XII. Concobar's guileful Message, 60 + + XIII. The Return to Emain, 66 + + XIV. Trouble Looming, 72 + + XV. The Attack on the Sons of + Usna, 75 + + XVI. Death of the Sons of Usna, 80 + + XVII. Avenging and Bright, 84 + + XVIII. The Wrath of Fergus, 85 + + XIX. Ancient Irish Physicians: I. 87 + + XX. Ancient Irish Physicians: II. 89 + + XXI. The Fena of Erin, 92 + + XXII. The Chase of Slieve Cullin, 98 + + XXIII. Saint Brigit: I., 103 + + XXIV. Saint Brigit: II., 107 + + XXV. Saint Brigit: III., 111 + + XXVI. Irish Scribes and Books, 114 + + XXVII. The Gilla Dacker and his + Horse, 120 + + XXVIII. The Fena carried off by the + Horse, 123 + + XXIX. Dermot O'Dyna at the Well, 129 + + XXX. Dermot and the + Wizard-Champion, 132 + + XXXI. Saint Columkille: I., 139 + + XXXII. Saint Columkille: II., 145 + + XXXIII. Prince Alfred in Ireland, 150 + + =The Voyage of Maildune.= + + XXXIV. The Voyage of Maildune, 155 + + The First Island, 157 + + XXXV. An Extraordinary Monster, 160 + + The Silver Pillar of the Sea 160 + + XXXVI. Maildune forgives his enemy, 162 + + XXXVII. Tennyson's "Voyage of + Maildune," 164 + + XXXVIII. Saint Donatus: I., 167 + + XXXIX. Saint Donatus: II., 170 + + XL. Danish and Anglo-Norman + Invasions, 173 + + XLI. The Watchfire of Barnalee, 179 + + XLII. Cahal O'Conor of the Red Hand, 181 + + XLIII. Cahal-More of the Wine-red + hand, 186 + + XLIV. Sir John de Courcy, 190 + + XLV. Sir John de Courcy imprisoned, 193 + + XLVI. Sir John de Courcy accepts + a challenge, 197 + + XLVII. Sir John de Courcy and the + French Champion, 200 + + XLVIII. The Earls of Kildare and + Ormond, 203 + + XLIX. Ancient Irish Music, 208 + + Notes and Explanations, 213 + +[Illustration: Ornament from the Book of Kells. See page 117.] + + + + +I. + +LEGENDS AND EARLY HISTORY.[1-1] + + +In our ancient books there are stories of five different races of people +who made their way to Ireland in old times, with very exact accounts of +their wanderings before their arrival, and of the battles they fought +after landing. But these narratives cannot be depended on, for they are +not real History but Legends, that is stories either wholly or partly +fabulous. Of the five early races, the two last, who were called +Dedannans and Milesians, were the most remarkable; and they are mixed up +with most of the old Irish tales. + + [1-1] It is necessary to know the substance of this first sketch in + order to understand the rest of the book. + +The Dedannans, coming from Greece, landed in Ireland; and having +overcome the people they found there, became masters of the country. +They had the name of being great magicians; and ancient Irish writings +are full of tales of the marvellous spells of their skilled wizards. +They remained in possession for about two hundred years, till the +Milesians came, as will now be related. + +For many generations the Milesians, before their arrival in Ireland, +journeyed from one part of Europe to another, seeking for some place of +settlement. And becoming at length weary of this state of unrest, they +consulted their chief druid, who was a skilful seer, and bade him find +out for them when they were to end their wanderings, and where they were +to settle down. The druid, having thought the matter over for a while, +told them that far out on the verge of the western sea was a lovely +green island called Inisfail,[2-1] or the Island of Destiny, which was +to be their final home and resting-place. So they set out once more, and +fared on from land to land, keeping the Isle of Destiny ever in mind, +thinking of it by day and dreaming of it by night. At last they arrived +in Spain, where they lived for a time. Here they were under the command +of the renowned hero "Miled of Spain,"[2-2] or Milesius, from whom they +came to be called Milesians. + + [2-1] Inisfail, one of the old names of Ireland. + + [2-2] Miled, pronounced _Mee-lAe•_ (two syllables). + +Some old Irish writers say that while they dwelt in Spain, their chiefs, +as they gazed wistfully over the waters northwards, one clear winter's +night, from the top of a tower at the place now called Corunna, saw +Inisfail like a dim white cloud on the sea, in the far distance. +However this may be, the eight sons of Milesius, after their father's +death--many centuries before the Christian era--set sail with a fleet, +and soon arrived on the coast of Ireland. But before they could land, +the Dedannans, by their spells, raised a furious tempest, which wrecked +the fleet and drowned five of the brothers with most of their crews. The +remaining three landed with their men; and having defeated the Dedannans +in battle, they took possession of Ireland. + +[Illustration: A fairy hill: an earthen mound at Highwood, near Lough +Arrow, in Co. Sligo. A fairy moat is also figured at page 15, and a +cairn at page 97.] + +When the Dedannans found that they were no longer able to hold the +country, the legend tells us that they retired to secret dwellings under +old forts, moats, cairns, and beautiful green little hills: and they +became fairies, and built themselves glorious palaces in their new +underground abodes, all ablaze with light, and glittering with gems and +gold. + +From that period forward, till the time of the Danes, there were no more +invasions; and the Milesian kings and people were left to make their own +laws and manage the country as they thought best, without any +interference from outside. + +In the History of Ireland from the settlement of the Milesian Colony +down to the time of St. Patrick, that is, to the fifth century of the +Christian Era, there is a mixture of legend and fact; and it is often +hard to disentangle them, so as to tell which is truth and which is +fable. As we advance, the truth and certainty increase, and the legend +grows less, till we arrive near the time of St. Patrick. From about this +period forward, we are able to tell the main history of the country +without any mixture of fable. + +For a long time in the beginning the Irish people were all pagans; and +the kind of religion they had will be presently described. + +As early as the third or fourth century--long before St. Patrick's +arrival--there were some Christians in Ireland; and it is believed that +the knowledge of Christianity was brought to them from Britain: but on +this point there is no certainty. Their numbers gradually increased as +time went on; and when St. Patrick arrived he found some small Christian +congregations scattered here and there through the country. But the main +body of the people were pagans; and to St. Patrick belongs the glory of +converting them. The history of his life-work need not be told here, as +it will be found set forth in one of the Chapters of the "Child's +History of Ireland." It is enough to say that he arrived in the year +A.D. 432, with many companions to aid him; and that after thirty-three +years of constant toil, he died in 465, leaving the great body of the +people Christians, and the country covered with churches. St. Patrick +was a man of strong will, of great courage--fearing no danger while +doing his Master's work--and possessing mighty power over those he mixed +with and addressed. He was more successful than any other missionary +after the time of the Apostles. + +Some years before St. Patrick's arrival, a great king ruled over Ireland +(from 379 to 405) called Niall of the Nine Hostages. From him were +descended most of the kings who reigned over Ireland after his time till +the Anglo-Norman Invasion.[5-1] + + [5-1] The Anglo-Norman Invasion will be found described at page 175. + +From the earliest ages the Irish of Ulster were in the habit of crossing +the narrow sea to Alban or Scotland, which can be seen plainly from the +sea-cliffs of Antrim; and many settled there and made it their home. In +the year 503, nearly forty years after St. Patrick's death, a great +colony of Irish--men, women, and children--crossed over, commanded by +three princes, brothers, named Fergus, Angus, and Lorne. In course of +time the posterity of these people mastered all Scotland; and from +Fergus, who was their first king, the kings of Scotland were descended. +At that time Ireland was generally known by the name of Scotia, and the +Irish were called Scots; and from them Alban got the name of Scotland. + +[Illustration: Stone Hammers, used when metal was still scarce, or not +known at all. A wooden handle was fixed in the hole. Iron was known in +Ireland from the beginning of the Christian era, and gold, silver, +copper, and bronze, long before it.] + +In old times there were five provinces in Ireland:--Leinster, Ulster, +Connaught, Munster, and Meath. Meath, which stretched from the Shannon +eastwards to the sea, and from Kildare on the south to Armagh on the +north, was about half the size of Ulster. It was the last formed of the +five, and later on it disappeared as a province altogether. The present +counties of Meath and Westmeath occupy only about half of it. In those +times, the county Louth belonged to Ulster, and Cavan and Clare to +Connaught. + +There was a king over each of the five provinces, and over these again +was a king of all Ireland, called the Over-king or head king. The kings +of Ireland had their chief palace on the Hill of Tara in Meath; where +many of the forts and other remains of the old buildings are still to be +seen. But Tara was deserted as a royal residence in the sixth century, +after which the kings of Ireland lived elsewhere. + + + + +II. + +THE SONG OF INISFAIL. + + +I. + + They came from a land beyond the sea, + And now o'er the western main, + Set sail, in their good ships, gallantly, + From the sunny land of Spain. + "Oh, where's the Isle we've seen in dreams, + Our destined home or grave?"-- + Thus sung they, as by the morning's beams + They swept the Atlantic wave. + + +II. + + And lo, where afar o'er ocean shines + A sparkle of radiant green, + As though in that deep lay em'rald mines, + Whose light through the wave was seen. + "'Tis Inisfail--'tis Inisfail!" + Rings o'er the echoing sea, + While, bending to Heav'n, the warriors hail + That home of the brave and free. + + +III. + + Then turn'd they unto the Eastern wave, + Where now their Day-God's eye + A look of such sunny omen gave + As lighted up sea and sky. + Nor frown was seen through sky or sea, + Nor tear on leaf or sod, + When first on their Isle of Destiny + Our great forefathers trod. + +THOMAS MOORE. + + + + +III. + +THE RELIGION OF THE PAGAN IRISH. + + +So far as we are able to judge from our old writings, the pagan Irish +had no one religion common to all the people, and no settled general +form of worship. They had many gods; and it would appear that every +person chose whatever god he pleased for himself. Some worshipped idols; +and we read of certain persons who had spring wells for gods: while some +again adored fire, and others the sun and moon. The people also +worshipped the _shee_ or fairies, who were supposed to live in grand +palaces underground, as described at page 3. The persons who taught the +people all about these gods were the Druids, who were the learned men of +those times. They were believed to be wizards, and some think that they +were pagan priests. + +The pagan Irish had a dim notion of a sort of heaven, a happy land of +perpetual youth and peace. It was believed that there were many happy +lands in different places, which were called by various names, such as +Moy-Mell, I-Brazil, and Tirnanoge. Some were out in the Atlantic Ocean, +off the western coast, while others were down deep beneath lakes, and +some in caves under forts or cairns. They were all inhabited by fairies, +who sometimes carried off mortals: and those whom they brought away +hardly ever came back. A fairy who wished to allure a mortal often +chanted a sort of magical song called an incantation, which exercised a +spell over the person that listened to it. + +There is a pretty story, more than a thousand years old, in the Book of +the Dun Cow, which relates how Prince Connla of the Golden Hair, son of +the great king Conn the Hundred-Fighter, was carried off by a fairy from +the western shore in a crystal boat to Moy-Mell. One day--as the story +relates--while the king and Connla and many nobles were standing on the +sea-shore, a boat of shining crystal approached from the west: and when +it had touched the land, a fairy, like a human being, and richly +dressed, came forth from it, and, addressing Connla, tried to entice him +into it. No one saw this strange being save Connla alone, though all +heard the conversation: and the king and the nobles marvelled, and were +greatly troubled. At last the fairy chanted the following words in a +very sweet voice: and the moment the chant was ended, the poor young +prince stepped into the crystal boat, which in a moment glided swiftly +away to the west: and prince Connla was never again seen in his native +land. + + +THE CHANT OF THE FAIRY TO CONNLA OF THE GOLDEN HAIR. + + +I. + + A land of youth, a land of rest, + A land from sorrow free; + It lies far off in the golden west, + On the verge of the azure sea. + A swift canoe of crystal bright, + That never met mortal view-- + We shall reach the land ere fall of night, + In that strong and swift canoe: + We shall reach the strand + Of that sunny land + From druids and demons free; + The land of rest, + In the golden west, + On the verge of the azure sea! + + +II. + + A pleasant land of winding vales, bright streams, and verdurous + plains, + Where summer, all the live-long year, in changeless splendour + reigns; + A peaceful land of calm delight, of everlasting bloom; + Old age and death we never know, no sickness, care, or gloom; + + The land of youth, + Of love and truth, + From pain and sorrow free; + The land of rest, + In the golden west, + On the verge of the azure sea! + + +III. + + There are strange delights for mortal men in that island of the west; + The sun comes down each evening in its lovely vales to rest: + + And though far and dim + On the ocean's rim + It seems to mortal view, + We shall reach its halls + Ere the evening falls, + In my strong and swift canoe; + And ever more + That verdant shore + Our happy home shall he; + The land of rest, + In the golden west, + On the verge of the azure sea! + + +IV. + + It will guard thee, gentle Connla of the flowing golden hair, + It will guard thee from the druids, from the demons of the air;[12-1] + My crystal boat will guard thee, till we reach that western shore, + Where thou and I in joy and love shall live for evermore: + + From the druid's incantation, + From his black and deadly snare, + From the withering imprecation + Of the demon of the air, + + It will guard thee, gentle Connla of the flowing golden hair; + My crystal boat will guard thee, till we reach that silver strand, + Where thou shalt reign in endless joy, the king of the Fairy-land! + +From "Old Celtic Romances," by P. W. JOYCE, LL.D. + + [12-1] Demons of the air were evil spirits who were supposed to live, + not in underground places like fairies, but in the air. + They were very much dreaded and hated. + +[Illustration: Stone hatchet in the National Museum, Dublin: probably +used as a battle-axe. Before metals came into general use, tools and +weapons of various kinds, in Ireland as well as in other countries, were +made of stone, flint being commonly used for making cutting-instruments, +such as knives. But this was at a very early period, mostly before the +time when our written history begins.] + +[Illustration: Bronze head of Irish battle-mace: now in the National +Museum Dublin. It was fitted with a handle which was fastened in the +socket; and it was used for striking in battle. It is double the size of +the picture. Weapons of this kind were in use at a very early time, long +before the beginning of our regular history.] + + + + +IV. + +CUSTOMS AND MODES OF LIFE. + + +Our old books contain very full information regarding the Irish people, +and how they lived, more than a thousand years ago. + +In early times Ireland was almost everywhere covered with forests; and +there were great and dangerous bogs and marshes, overgrown with reeds, +moss, and coarse grass. Many of these bogs still remain, but they are +not nearly so large or dangerous as they were then. Great tracts of +country were uninhabited, so that the whole population was much less +than it is now. + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish bronze reaping-hook: 6 inches long. It was +fitted with a handle which was fastened in the socket with a rivet. Now +in the National Museum, Dublin.] + +The people hunted and fished a great deal, partly for food, partly to +rid the country of noxious creatures, and partly for sport; for the +forests were alive with wild animals of all kinds, and the rivers and +lakes teemed with fish. But no one then thought it worth while to hunt +foxes and hares for sport, as people do now. They had much grander +game:--wild boars with long and dangerous tusks; gigantic deer; and +fierce wolves that lurked in caves and thick woods. In the cleared parts +of the country there was much pasture and tillage various kinds of corn +and vegetables were grown, and the land was very fertile and well +watered with springs and rivulets. + +[Illustration: A moat: at Patrickstown, near Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Some +moats were burial mounds. See pages 16 and 59.] + +There was more pasture than tillage; and the pasture land was not fenced +in, but was grazed in common. The law was very particular in laying down +rules about the fences of tillage lands--that they should be properly +made, and that when two farms lay next each other, each man should do +half the fencing work. Oxen were generally used for ploughing: horses +seldom. Generally two oxen were put to one plough, but sometimes four, +and sometimes even six. While one man held the plough, another walked in +front to lead the animals. + +On account of the great forests and bogs, there were many large +districts where it was hard to go long distances across country from +place to place: and often impossible. But in all the inhabited parts +there were roads or cleared paths. The roads of those times were however +very rough, and not nearly so good as our present roads. Rivers were +crossed by bridges made of rough planks or wickerwork--for there were no +stone bridges--or by wading at shallow fords, or by little ferry boats. + +The people lived in houses almost always made of timber, generally +round-shaped or oval, but sometimes four-cornered and oblong like our +present houses. In order to keep off wild beasts and robbers, there was +a high embankment of earth, with a deep trench, round every house. Many +of these earthworks still remain all over Ireland, and are well known by +the names _lis_, _rath_, fort, &c.; and some have high mounds commonly +called moats. + +[Illustration: Grain-rubber: 16 inches long. People ground their corn +with this before the invention of querns and milk. The grain was put +between the two stones, and the upper stone was worked backwards and +forwards with the hands. It was very hard and tedious work. See p. 17.] + +The food of the people was not very different from what it is at +present, except that they had no potatoes, which were brought to Ireland +for the first time about 300 years ago: and there was no tea or coffee. +They used oats, wheat, rye, and barley, ground and made into bread; +fish; and for those who could afford it, the flesh of various animals, +either boiled or roast. Oatmeal porridge or stirabout was in very +general use, especially for children. They ground their corn with small +watermills, or with handmills called querns, one of which was kept in +almost every house. Querns were in use before the earliest time that our +history reaches; and water-mills were introduced before the arrival of +St. Patrick. In those early ages there was no sugar, and honey was +greatly valued, so that beehives were kept everywhere. + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish bronze caldron for boiling meat, 12-1/2 +inches deep, formed of plates beautifully rivetted together. It shows +marks and signs of long use over a fire. Now in the National Museum, +Dublin.] + +[Illustration: Irish drinking vessel, called a _Mether_. They drank from +the corners. At meals, the same mether was used by several persons, who +drank from it in turn.] + +For drink, they had, besides plain water and milk, ale, and a sweet sort +of liquor called mead both of which were made at home, and often wine, +which was brought from the continent. There was then no whiskey. + +In those days there were no hotels or inns as there are now, where a +person could have board and lodging for payment; but they were not much +needed then, as travellers were otherwise well provided for. Besides the +monasteries, which, as we shall see further on, were always open and +free to wayfarers, there were, all through the country, what were called +"Houses of public hospitality." The keeper of one of those houses was +called a _Brugaid_ and sometimes a _Beetagh_; and his office was +considered very high and honourable. A brugaid or beetagh had to keep an +open house for travellers who were always welcome, and received bed and +food free of charge. He was obliged by law to keep constantly in hands a +large stock of provisions; and he should have a certain number of beds +and all other necessary household furniture. To enable a brugaid to keep +up such an expensive establishment, he had the house itself and a large +tract of land, free of rent and taxes, besides other liberal allowances. + +The law required that there should be several open roads leading to the +residence of every brugaid; and that a light should always be kept +burning in the lawn at night to guide travellers to the house. + +The people dressed well according to their means. Both men and women +were fond of bright coloured garments, which were not hard to procure, +as the art of dyeing in all the various hues was well understood. It +was usual for the same person to wear clothes of several brilliant +colours: and sometimes the long outside mantle worn by men and women was +striped and spotted with purple, yellow, green, or other dyes like +Joseph's coat of many colours. Those who were able to afford it wore +rings, bracelets, necklaces, gorgets, brooches, and other ornaments, +made of gold, silver, and a sort of white bronze. + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish Gorget for the neck: of gold, reddish in +colour, and very pure: weighs 16-1/3 oz. Now in the National Museum, +Dublin.] + +The Irish metal workers were very skilful. They made brooches, rings, +bracelets, croziers, crosses, and other such articles, in gold, silver, +whitish bronze, gems, and enamel, of which many have been found in the +earth from time to time, and are now kept in museums: and some of them +are so skilfully and beautifully wrought that no artificer of the +present day can imitate them. + +There were men of the several professions, such as medical doctors, +lawyers, judges, builders, poets, historians: and all through the +country were to be found tradesmen of the various crafts--carpenters, +smiths, workers in gold, silver, and brass, ship and boat builders, +masons, shoemakers, dyers, tailors, brewers, and so-forth: all working +industriously and earning their bread under the old Irish laws, which +were everywhere acknowledged and obeyed. Then there was a good deal of +commerce with Britain and with Continental countries, especially France; +and the home commodities, such as hides, salt, wool, etc., were +exchanged for wine, silk, satin, and other goods not produced in +Ireland. + +From what has been said here, we may see that the ancient Irish were +orderly and regular in their way of life--quite on a level in this +respect with the people of those other European countries of the same +period that had a proper settled government; and, it will be shown +further on in this book, that they were famed throughout all Europe for +Religion and Learning. + +The greatest evil of the country was war; for the kings and chiefs were +very often fighting with each other, which brought great misery on the +poor people where the disturbances took place. But in those early times +war was common in all countries; and in this respect there was no more +trouble in Ireland than in England, Scotland, and the countries of the +Continent. + +[Illustration: Flint arrow-heads. The head was fixed on the top of the +shaft with cord of some kind, or with dried gut or tendon. Flint was +used at a very early period when metals were either not known at all or +were still very scarce. The makers of flint implements shaped them by +chipping with stone hammers, in which they were very skilful and +expert.] + +[Illustration: One form of Irish Ornament.] + + + + +The Fate of the Children of Lir[22-1]; or, The Four White Swans. + + + + +V. + +HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR WERE TURNED INTO SWANS. + + +During the time when the Dedannans ruled in Erin, there was a chief +named Lir, who lived in Ulster, and who was much beloved for his +goodness and his hospitality. He had four little children: a girl, named +Finola, who was the eldest, and three boys, Aed, Ficra, and Conn: and +Finola and Aed were twins, as were also Ficra and Conn. Their mother +died when they were very young, and they were then placed in charge of +one of Lir's friends named Eva, who was a witch-lady. + + [22-1] Among the ancient Irish Romantic Tales, three are specially + known as "The Three Sorrowful Stories of Erin," viz. "The + Fate of the Children of Lir," "The Fate of the Sons of + Turenn," both of which relate to the Dedannans; and "The + Fate of the Sons of Usna," referring to the Milesian + people. The greater part of the "Children of Lir" and the + whole of the "Sons of Usna" are given in this book, + translated from the Gaelic. "The Fate of the Sons of + Turenn" is translated in full in "Old Celtic Romances." + +The four children grew up under Eva's care. She nursed them with great +tenderness, and her love for them increased every day. They slept near +their father; and he would often rise from his own bed at the dawn of +morning, and go to their beds to talk with them and to fondle them. And +they were the delight and joy of all the Dedannans, who often came to +Lir's house to see them. For nowhere could four lovelier children be +found; so that those who saw them were always delighted with their +beauty and their gentleness, and could not help loving them with all +their heart. + +Now when Eva saw that the children of Lir received such attention and +affection from all, she fancied she was neglected on their account; and +a poisonous dart of jealousy entered her heart, which turned her love to +hatred; and she began to have feelings of bitter enmity for the +children. + +Her jealousy so preyed on her that she feigned illness, and lay in bed +for nearly a year, filled with gall and brooding mischief; and at the +end of that time she committed a foul and cruel deed of treachery on the +children of Lir. + +One day she ordered her horses to be yoked to her chariot, and she set +out for the palace of the Dedannan king, Bove Derg, bringing the four +children with her. Finola did not wish to go, for it was revealed to her +darkly in a dream that Eva was bent on some dreadful deed; and she knew +well that the witch-lady intended to kill her and her brothers that +day, or in some other way to bring ruin on them. But she was not able to +avoid the fate that awaited her; so she went. + +They fared on towards the palace, which was situated near Lough Derg in +the south, till they came to the shore of Lake Darvra,[24-1] where they +alighted; and the horses were unyoked. Eva led the children to the edge +of the lake, and told them to go to bathe; and as soon as they had got +into the clear water, she struck them one by one with a druidical fairy +wand, and turned them into four beautiful snow-white swans. And she +addressed them in these words-- + + + Out to your home, ye swans, on Darvra's wave; + With clamorous birds begin your life of gloom: + Your friends shall weep your fate, but none can save; + For I've pronounced the dreadful words of doom. + + + [24-1] Lake Darvra, now Lough Derravaragh, in Westmeath. + +After this, the four children of Lir turned towards the witch-lady; and +Finola spoke-- + +"Evil is the deed thou hast done, O Eva; thy friendship to us has been a +friendship of treachery; and thou hast ruined us without cause. But the +power of thy witchcraft is not greater than the druidical power of our +friends to punish thee; and the doom that awaits thee shall be worse +than ours." + + + The witch-lady loved us long ago; + The witch-lady now has wrought us woe; + With magical wand and fearful words, + She changed us to beautiful snow-white birds; + And we live on the waters for evermore, + By tempests driven from shore to shore. + + +Finola again spoke and said, "Tell us now how long we shall be in the +shape of swans, so that we may know when our miseries shall come to an +end." + +"It would be better for you if you had not put that question," said Eva; +"but I will declare the truth to you, as you have asked me. Three +hundred years on smooth Lake Darvra; three hundred years on the Sea of +Moyle, between Erin and Alban;[25-1] three hundred years at Inish +Glora[25-2] on the Western Sea. Until the union of Largnen, the prince +from the north, with Decca, the princess from the south; until the +Taillkenn[25-3] shall come to Erin, bringing the light of a pure faith; +and until ye hear the voice of the Christian bell. And neither by your +own power, nor by mine, nor by the power of your friends, can ye be +freed till the time comes." + + [25-1] The sea between Erin and Alban (Ireland and Scotland) was + anciently called the Sea of Moyle, from the Moyle, or + Mull, of Cantire. + + [25-2] Inish Glora; a small island, about five miles west from + Belmullet, in the county Mayo, still known by the same + name. + + [25-3] The Taillkenn, a name given by the druids to St. Patrick. + +Then Eva repented what she had done; and she said, "Since I cannot +afford you any other relief, I will allow you to keep your own Gaelic +speech, and ye shall be able to sing sweet, plaintive fairy music, which +shall excel all the music of the world, and which shall lull to sleep +all that listen to it. Moreover, ye shall retain your human reason; and +ye shall not be in grief on account of being in the shape of swans." + +And she chanted this lay-- + + + Depart from me, ye graceful swans; + The waters are now your home: + Your palace shall be the pearly cave, + Your couch the crest of the crystal wave, + And your mantle the milk-white foam! + + Depart from me, ye snow-white swans, + With your music and Gaelic speech: + The crystal Darvra, the wintry Moyle, + The billowy margin of Glora's isle;-- + Three hundred years on each! + + Victorious Lir, your hapless sire, + His loved ones in vain shall call; + His weary heart is a husk of gore, + His home is joyless for evermore, + And his anger on me shall fall! + + Through circling ages of gloom and fear + Your anguish no tongue can tell; + Till faith shall shed her heavenly rays, + Till ye hear the Taillkenn's anthem of praise, + And the voice of the Christian bell! + + +Then ordering her steeds to be yoked to her chariot, she set out once +more for the palace leaving the four white swans swimming on the lake. + + + Our father shall watch and weep in vain; + He never shall see us return again. + Four pretty children, happy at home; + Four white swans on the feathery foam; + And we live on the waters for evermore, + By tempests driven from shore to shore. + + + + +VI. + +THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON LAKE DARVRA. + + +Lir and his people, hearing that Eva had arrived at Bove Derg's palace +without the children, became alarmed, and went southwards without delay; +till passing by the shore of Lake Darvra, they saw the swans. And the +swans swam up and spoke to them, at which they wondered greatly. But +when they told Lir that they were indeed his four children whom the +witch-lady had turned into birds, he and his people were struck with +amazement and horror; and they uttered three long mournful cries of +grief and lamentation. And when Lir had heard from Finola how the matter +happened, he prepared to set out in quest of Eva. And bidding farewell +to the children for a time, he chanted this lay:-- + + + The time has come for me to part: + No more, alas! my children dear, + Your rosy smiles shall glad my heart, + Or light the gloomy home of Lir. + + Dark was the day when first I brought + This Eva in my home to dwell! + Hard was the woman's heart that wrought + This cruel and malignant spell! + + I lay me down to rest in vain; + For, through the livelong, sleepless night, + My little lov'd ones, pictured plain, + Stand ever there before my sight. + + Finola, once my pride and joy; + Dark Aed, adventurous and bold; + Bright Ficra, gentle, playful boy; + And little Conn, with curls of gold;-- + + Struck down on Darvra's reedy shore, + By wicked Eva's magic power: + Oh, children, children, never more + My heart shall know one peaceful hour. + + +After this he fared southwards till he arrived at the palace, where he +found Eva. And the king, Bove Derg, when Lir had told him what Eva had +done, was in great wrath; for he loved those little children. And +calling Eva to him he spoke to her fiercely and asked her what shape of +all others, on the earth, or above the earth, or beneath the earth, she +most abhorred, and into which she most dreaded to be transformed. + +And she, being forced to answer truly, said, "A demon of the air." + +"That is the form you shall take," said Bove Derg; and as he spoke he +struck Eva with a druidical magic wand, and turned her into a demon of +the air. She opened her wings, and flew with a scream upwards and away +through the clouds; and she is still a demon of the air, and she shall +be a demon of the air till the end of time. + +After this, Lir and the Dedannans came to live on the shore of the lake, +to be near the swans and to speak with them. And so the swans passed +their time on the waters. During the day they discoursed lovingly with +their father and their friends; and at night they chanted their slow, +sweet, fairy music, the most delightful that was ever heard by men; so +that all who listened to it, even those who were in grief, or sickness, +or pain, forgot their sorrows and their sufferings, and fell into a +gentle, sweet sleep from which they awoke bright and happy. + +At last the three hundred years[30-1] came to an end, and Finola said to +her brothers:-- + +"Do you know, my dear brothers, that we have come to the end of our time +here; and that we have only this one night to spend on Lake Darvra?" + + [30-1] Three hundred years: the Dedannans were regarded as gods and + lived an immensely long time. + +When the three sons of Lir heard this, they were in great distress and +sorrow; for they were almost as happy on Lake Darvra, surrounded by +their friends, and conversing with them day by day, as if they had been +in their father's house in their own natural shapes; whereas they should +now live on the gloomy and tempest-tossed Sea of Moyle, far away from +all human society. + +Early next morning, the swans came to the margin of the lake to speak to +their father and their friends for the last time, and to bid them +farewell; and Finola chanted this lay-- + + +I. + + Farewell, farewell, our father dear! + The last sad hour has come: + Farewell, Bove Derg! farewell to all, + Till the dreadful day of doom! + We go from friends and scenes beloved, + To a home of grief and pain; + And that day of woe + Shall come and go, + Before we meet again! + + +II. + + We live for ages on stormy Moyle, + In loneliness and fear; + The kindly words of loving friends + We never more shall hear. + Four joyous children long ago; + Four snow-white swans to-day; + And on Moyle's wild sea + Our robe shall be + The cold and briny spray. + + +III. + + Far down on the misty stream of time, + When three hundred years are o'er, + Three hundred more in storm and cold, + By Glora's desolate shore; + Till Decca fair is Largnen's spouse; + Till north and south unite; + Till the hymns are sung, + And the bells are rung, + At the dawn of the pure faith's light. + + +IV. + + Arise, my brothers, from Darvra's wave + On the wings of the southern wind; + We leave our father and friends to-day + In measureless grief behind. + Ah! sad the parting, and sad our flight + To Moyle's tempestuous main; + For the day of woe + Shall come and go, + Before we meet again! + + +The four swans then spread their wings, and rose from the surface of the +water in sight of all their friends, till they reached a great height in +the air; then resting, and looking downwards for a moment, they flew +straight to the north, till they alighted on the Sea of Moyle between +Erin and Alban. + + + + +VII. + +THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON THE SEA OF MOYLE. + + +Miserable was the abode and evil the plight of the children of Lir on +the Sea of Moyle. Their hearts were wrung with sorrow for their father +and their friends; and when they looked towards the steep rocky, +far-stretching coasts, and saw the great, dark, wild sea around them, +they were overwhelmed with fear and despair. They began also to suffer +from cold and hunger, so that all the hardships they had endured on Lake +Darvra appeared as nothing compared with their suffering on the +sea-current of Moyle. + +And so they lived, till one night a great tempest fell upon the sea. +Finola, when she saw the sky filled with black, threatening clouds, thus +addressed her brothers:-- + +"Beloved brothers, we have made a bad preparation for this night: for it +is certain that the coming storm will separate us; and now let us +appoint a place of meeting, or it may happen that we shall never see +each other again." + +And they answered, "Dear sister, you speak truly and wisely; and let us +fix on Carricknarone,[33-1] for that is a rock that we are all very well +acquainted with." + + [33-1] Carricknarone, the "Rock of the Seals": probably the Skerry + rock near Portrush in Antrim: but the old name is now + forgotten. + +And they appointed Carricknarone as their place of meeting. + +Midnight came, and with it came the beginning of the storm. A wild, +rough wind swept over the dark sea, the lightnings flashed, and the +great waves rose, and increased their violence and their thunder. + +The swans were soon scattered over the waters, so that not one of them +knew in what direction the others had been driven. During all that night +they were tossed about by the roaring winds and waves, and it was with +much difficulty they preserved their lives. + +Towards morning the storm abated, the sky cleared, and the sea became +again calm and smooth; and Finola swam to Carricknarone. But she found +none of her brothers there, neither could she see any trace of them when +she looked all round from the summit of the rock over the wide face of +the sea. + +Then she became terrified, thinking she should never see them again; and +she began to lament them plaintively. + +[On this incident Thomas Moore wrote the following beautiful song. A +person is supposed to be listening to Finola, and--in the first four +lines of the song--calls on the winds and the waves to be silent that he +may hear.] + + +SILENT, O MOYLE! + + Silent, O Moyle! be the roar of thy water, + Break not, ye breezes! your chain of repose, + While, murmuring mournfully, Lir's lonely daughter + Tells to the night-star her tale of woes. + When shall the Swan, her death-note singing, + Sleep with wings in darkness furl'd? + When will Heav'n, its sweet bell ringing, + Call my spirit from this stormy world? + + Sadly, O Moyle! to thy winter-wave weeping, + Fate bids me languish long ages away; + Yet still in her darkness doth Erin lie sleeping + Still doth the pure light its dawning delay + When will that day-star, mildly springing, + Warm our Isle with peace and love? + When will Heaven, its sweet bell ringing, + Call my spirit to the fields above? + + +At last, while she stood gazing in despair over the waste of waters, she +saw her brothers swimming from different directions towards the rock. +They came to her one by one, and she welcomed them joyfully: and she +placed Aed under the feathers of her breast, and Ficra and Conn under +her wings, and said to them:--"My dear brothers, though ye may think +last night very bad, we shall have many like it from this time forth." + +So they continued for a long time on the Sea of Moyle, suffering +hardships of every kind, till one winter night came upon them, of great +wind and of snow and frost so severe, that nothing they ever before +suffered could be compared to the misery of that night. The swans +remained on Carricknarone, and their feet and their wings were frozen to +the icy surface, so that they had to strive hard to move from their +places in the morning; and they left the skin of their feet, the quills +of their wings, and the feathers of their breasts clinging to the rock. + +"Sad is our condition this night, my beloved brothers," said Finola, +"for we are forbidden to leave the Sea of Moyle; and yet we cannot bear +the salt water, for when it enters our wounds, I fear we shall die of +pain." And she uttered these words-- + + + Our life is a life of woe; + No shelter or rest we find: + How bitterly drives the snow; + How cold is this wintry wind! + + From the icy spray of the sea, + From the wind of the bleak north-east, + I shelter my brothers three, + Under my wings and breast. + + The witch-lady sent us here, + And misery well we know:-- + In cold and hunger and fear; + Our life is a life of woe![36-1] + + + [36-1] Short Irish poems often began and ended in the same words, as + seen in the above translation. + +They were, however, forced to swim out on the stream of Moyle, all +wounded and torn as they were; for though the brine was sharp and +bitter, they were not able to avoid it. They stayed as near the coast as +they could, till after a long time the feathers of their breasts and +wings grew again, and their wounds were healed. + +After this the swans lived on for a great number of years, sometimes +visiting the shores of Erin, and sometimes the headlands of Alban. But +they always returned to the sea-stream of Moyle, for it was to be their +home till the end of three hundred years. + +One day they came to the mouth of the Bann, on the north coast of Erin, +and looking inland, they saw a stately troop of horsemen approaching +directly from the south-west. They were mounted on white steeds, and +clad in bright-coloured garments, and as they wound towards the shore +their arms glittered in the sun. + +These were a party of the Dedannans who had been a long time searching +for the children of Lir along the northern shores of Erin: and now that +they had found them, they were joyful; and they and the swans greeted +each other with tender expressions of friendship and love. The children +of Lir inquired after the Dedannans, and particularly after their father +Lir; and for Bove Derg, and for all the rest of their friends and +acquaintances. + +"They are well," replied the Dedannans; "but all are mourning for you +since the day you left Lake Darvra. And now we wish to know how you fare +on this wild sea." + +"Miserable has been our life since that day," said Finola; "and no +tongue can tell the suffering and sorrow we have endured on the Sea of +Moyle." And she chanted these words-- + + + Ah, happy is Lir's bright home to-day, + With mead and music and poet's lay: + But gloomy and cold his children's home, + For ever tossed on the briny foam. + + Our wreathA"d feathers are thin and light + When the wind blows keen through the wintry night: + Yet often we were robed, long, long ago, + In purple mantles and furs of snow. + + On Moyle's bleak current our food and wine + Are sandy sea-weed and bitter brine: + Yet oft we feasted in days of old, + And hazel-mead drank from cups of gold. + + Our beds are rocks in the dripping caves; + Our lullaby song the roar of the waves: + But soft rich couches once we pressed, + And harpers lulled us each night to rest. + + Lonely we swim on the billowy main, + Through frost and snow, through storm and rain: + Alas for the days when round us moved + The chiefs and princes and friends we loved! + + My little twin brothers beneath my wings + Lie close when the north wind bitterly stings, + And Aed close nestles before my breast; + Thus side by side through the night we rest. + + Our father's fond kisses, Bove Derg's embrace, + The light of Mannanan's godlike face, + The love of Angus--all, all are o'er; + And we live on the billows for evermore! + + +After this they bade each other farewell, for it was not permitted to +the children of Lir to remain away from the stream of Moyle. + + + + +VIII. + +HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR REGAINED THEIR HUMAN SHAPE AND DIED. + + +Great was the misery of the Children of Lir on the sea of Moyle till +their three hundred years were ended. Then Finola said to her brothers-- + +"It is time for us to leave this place, for our period here has come to +an end." + + + The hour has come; the hour has come; + Three hundred years have passed: + We leave this bleak and gloomy home, + And we fly to the west at last! + + We leave for ever the stream of Moyle; + On the clear, cold wind we go; + Three hundred years round Glora's Isle, + Where wintry tempests blow! + + No sheltered home, no place of rest, + From the tempest's angry blast: + Fly, brothers, fly, to the distant west, + For the hour has come at last! + + +So the swans left the Sea of Moyle, and flew westward, till they reached +the sea round the Isle of Glora. There they remained for three hundred +years, suffering much from storm and cold, and in nothing better off +than they were on the Sea of Moyle. Towards the end of that time, St. +Patrick came to Erin with the pure faith; and St. Kemoc, one of his +companions, came to Inish Glora. The first night Kemoc came to the +island, the children of Lir heard his bell at early matin time, ringing +faintly in the distance. And the three sons of Lir trembled with fear, +for the sound was strange and dreadful to them. But Finola knew well +what it was; and she soothed them and said:--"My dear brothers, this is +the voice of the Christian bell: and now the end of our suffering is +near: for this bell is the signal that we shall soon be freed from our +spell, and released from our life of suffering; for God has willed it." + +And when the bell ceased she chanted this lay-- + + + Listen, ye swans, to the voice of the bell, + The sweet bell we've dreamed of for many a year; + Its tones floating by on the night breezes, tell + That the end of our long life of sorrow is near! + + Listen, ye swans, to the heavenly strain; + 'Tis the anchoret tolling his soft matin bell: + He has come to release us, from sorrow, from pain, + From the cold and tempestuous shores where we dwell! + + Trust in the glorious Lord of the sky; + He will free us from Eva's druidical spell: + Be thankful and glad, for our freedom is nigh, + And listen with joy to the voice of the bell! + + +"Let us sing our music now," said Finola. + +And they chanted a low, sweet, plaintive strain of fairy music, to +praise and thank the great high King of heaven and earth. + +Kemoc heard the music from where he stood; and he listened with great +astonishment. And he came and spoke to the swans, and asked them were +they the children of Lir. They replied, "We are indeed the children of +Lir, who were changed long ago into swans by the spells of the +witch-lady." + +"I give God thanks that I have found you," said Kemoc; "for it is on +your account I have come to this little island." Then he brought them to +his own house; and, sending for a skilful workman, he caused him to make +two bright, slender chains of silver; and he put a chain between Finola +and Aed, and the other chain he put between Ficra and Conn. And there +they lived with Kemoc in content and happiness. + +Now there was in that place a certain king named Largnen, whose queen +was Decca: the very king and queen whom the witch-lady had foretold on +the day when she changed the children into swans, nine hundred years +before. And Queen Decca, hearing all about those wonderful speaking +swans, wished to have them for herself: so she sent to Kemoc for them; +but he refused to give them. Whereupon the queen waxed very wroth: and +her husband the king, when she told him about it, was wroth also: and he +set out straightway for Kemoc's house to bring the swans away by force. +The swans were at this time standing in the little church with Kemoc. +And Largnen coming up, seized the two silver chains, one in each hand, +and drew the birds towards the door; while Kemoc followed him, much +alarmed lest they should be injured. + +The king had proceeded only a little way, when suddenly the white +feathery robes faded and disappeared; and the swans regained their human +shape, Finola being transformed into an extremely old woman, and the +three sons into three feeble old men, white-haired and bony and +wrinkled. + +When the king saw this, he started with affright, and instantly left the +place without speaking one word. + +As to the children of Lir, they turned towards Kemoc; and Finola spoke-- + +"Come, holy cleric, and baptise us without delay, for our death is near. +You will grieve after us, O Kemoc; but in truth you are not more +sorrowful at parting from us than we are at parting from you. Make our +grave here and bury us together; and as I often sheltered my brothers +when we were swans, so let us be placed in the grave--Conn standing +near me at my right side, Ficra at my left, and Aed before my +face."[43-1] + + + Come, holy priest, with book and prayer + Baptise and bless us here: + Haste, cleric, haste, for the hour has come + And death at last is near! + + Dig our grave--a deep, deep grave, + Near the church we loved so well; + This little church, where first we heard + The voice of the Christian bell. + + As oft in life my brothers dear + Were sooth'd by me to rest-- + Ficra and Conn beneath my wings, + And Aed before my breast; + + So place the two on either hand-- + Close, like the love that bound me; + Place Aed as close before my face, + And twine their arms around me + + Thus shall we rest for evermore, + My brothers dear and I; + Haste, cleric, haste, baptise and bless, + For death at last is nigh! + + + [43-1] In Ireland, in old times, the dead were often buried + standing up in the grave. It was in this way Finola and + her brothers were buried. + +[Illustration: An Ogham stone. See note, next page.] + +[Illustration: Bronze spear-head. A long handle was fixed in the socket +and fastened by a rivet.] + +[Illustration: Bronze sword. A hilt was fixed on by rivets.] + +Then the children of Lir were baptised, and they died immediately. And +when they died, Kemoc looked up; and lo, he saw a vision of four lovely +children, with light, silvery wings, and faces all radiant with joy. +They gazed on him for a moment; but even as they gazed, they vanished +upwards, and he saw them no more. And he was filled with gladness, for +he knew they had gone to heaven; but when he looked down on the four +bodies lying before him, he became sad and wept. + +And Kemoc caused a wide and deep grave to be dug near the little church; +and the children of Lir were buried together, as Finola had +directed--Conn at her right hand, Ficra at her left, and Aed standing +before her face. And he raised a grave-mound over them, placing a +tombstone on it, with their names graved in Ogham;[45-1] after which he +uttered a lament for them, and their funeral rites were performed. + + [45-1] Ogham, a sort of writing often used on tombstones to mark the + names of the persons buried. It consisted of lines and + points generally cut on the edges of the stone. + +So far we have related the sorrowful story of the Fate of the Children +of Lir. + + From "Old Celtic Romances," by P. W. JOYCE, LL.D. + + + + +IX. + +HOW RELIGION AND LEARNING FLOURISHED IN IRELAND. + + +As soon as St. Patrick had entered on his mission in Ireland, he began +to found monasteries, which continued to spread through every part of +the country for hundreds of years after his time. Though religion was +their main object, these establishments were among the chief means of +spreading general enlightenment among the people. Almost every +monastery had a school or college attached, at the head of which was +some man who was a great scholar and teacher. The teachers were +generally monks: but many learned laymen were also employed. Some +colleges had very large numbers of students: for instance, we are told +that there were 3000 in each of the two colleges of Clonard and +Bangor[46-1]; and many others might be named, which, though not so +large, had yet several hundred students in each. + + [46-1] Clonard, in Meath, on the Boyne. Bangor, in the Co. Down. + +In these monasteries and their schools all was life and activity. The +monks were always busily employed; some at tillage on the farm round the +monastery--ploughing, digging, sowing, reaping--some teaching, others +writing books. The duty of a few was to attend to travellers, to wash +their feet and prepare supper and bed for them: for strangers who called +at the monastery were always received with welcome, and got lodging, +food, and attendance from the monks, all free. Others of the inmates, +again, employed themselves in cooking, or carpentry, or smithwork, or +making clothes, for the use of the community. Besides all this they had +their devotions to attend to, at certain times, both day and night, +throughout the year. As for the students, they had to mind their own +simple household concerns, and each day when these were finished they +had plenty of employment in their studies: for the professors kept them +hard at work. + +There were also great numbers of schools not held in monasteries, +conducted by laymen, some for general learning, such as History, Poetry, +Grammar, Latin, Greek, Irish, the Sciences, &c.; and some for teaching +and training young men for professions, such as lawyers and doctors. And +these schools helped greatly to spread learning, though they were not so +well known outside Ireland as the monastic schools. + +The Irish professors were so famed for their learning, and the colleges +were so excellent, that students came to them from every country of +Europe: but more from Great Britain than elsewhere. The Irish were very +much pleased to receive these foreign students: and they were so +generous that they supplied them with food, gave them the manuscript +books they wanted to learn from, and taught them too, all free of +charge. Ireland was in those times the most learned country in Europe, +so that it was known by the name of the Island of Saints and Scholars. + +But the Irish scholars and missionaries did not confine themselves to +their own country. Great numbers of them went abroad--to Britain and +elsewhere--to teach and to preach the Gospel to the people. The +professors from Ireland were held in such estimation that they were +employed to teach in most of the schools and colleges of Great Britain +and the Continent. + +We shall see that the Northern Picts of Scotland were converted by St. +Columkille and his monks from Iona (see p. 144): and a large proportion +of the people of England became Christians through the preaching of +Irish monks before the arrival of St. Augustine.[48-1] + + [48-1] St. Augustine came to England in the year 596--having been + sent by Pope Gregory--and converted to Christianity those + of the English who had not been already converted. + +The Irish missionaries, who went to the Continent, in their eagerness to +spread religion and knowledge, penetrated to all parts of Europe: they +even found their way to Iceland. Few people have any idea of the trials +and dangers they encountered. Most of them were persons in good +position, who might have lived in plenty and comfort at home. They knew +well, when setting out, that they were leaving country and friends +probably for ever: for of those that went, very few ever returned. Once +on the Continent, they had to make their way poor and friendless, +through people whose language they did not understand, and who were in +many places ten times more rude and dangerous in those ages than the +inhabitants of these islands: and we know, as a matter of history, that +many were killed on the way. Then these earnest men had, of course, to +learn the language of the people among whom they took up their abode: +for until they did this they had to employ an interpreter, which was a +very troublesome and slow way of preaching. But the noble-hearted +missionaries went forth to do their good work; and no labours, +hardships, or dangers could turn them from their purpose. + +More than three hundred years ago the great English poet, Edmund +Spenser, lived some time in Ireland, and made himself very well +acquainted with its history. He knew what kind of a country it was in +past ages; so that in one of his poems he speaks of the time + + + "When Ireland florishA"d in fame + Of wealth and goodnesse, far above the rest + Of all that beare the British Islands name." + + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish solid gold ornament, now in the National +Museum Dublin. It is double the size of the picture, and weighs 5-1/4 +oz. Great numbers of gold objects, shaped like this, are in the National +Museum, some very large--one of them weighing 33 oz.: while others are +quite small, not bigger than a common coat-button. Besides being +ornaments, it is believed that they were used as money, as there were no +coins in use in very ancient times in Ireland.] + + + + +X. + +THE RED BRANCH KNIGHTS. + + +Nearly two miles west of Armagh are the remains of the ancient palace of +Emain, or Emain Macha, often called Emania. They consist of a great +circular _rath_ or rampart of earth, with a deep trench outside it, and +a high mound within, the whole structure covering a space of about +thirteen acres. At one time the circular ring was complete, but of late +years some portions of it have been levelled or removed. The houses in +which the kings and heroes of old, with their numerous households, lived +and feasted, stood mostly within the enclosure, and were all of wood, +not a trace of which remains. This great fort is now called by the +people of the place, the "Navan Fort," or "Navan Ring." + +According to Irish legendary history, Emain was founded about three +centuries before the beginning of the Christian era, by Macha of the +Golden Hair, queen of Ulster; and for more than six hundred years it was +the residence of the kings of that province. But about the year A.D. +331, it was destroyed by three princes from Tara, who invaded and +conquered that part of Ulster; after which Emain was no longer +inhabited. + +Early in the first century of the Christian era flourished the Red +Branch Knights, a band of heroes in the service of Concobar (or Conor) +Mac Nessa, king of Ulster. There were several bodies of them, under +separate commanders, who lived in different parts of the province. These +leaders were the great heroes of the Red Branch, who are celebrated in +ancient Irish romance, and who are mentioned by Moore in his song, "Let +Erin remember":-- + + + "When her kings with standard of green unfurled + Led the Red Branch Knights to danger." + + +Every year during the summer months, various companies of the Knights +came to Emain under their several commanders, to be drilled and trained +in military science and feats of arms. They were lodged in a large +separate building beside Emain, called Creeveroe or the Red Branch--from +which the whole force took its name: and the townland in which this +great house stood is still called Creeveroe. Each day the leaders were +feasted by King Concobar Mac Nessa in his own banquetting hall at Emain. + +The greatest of all the Red Branch heroes was Cu-Culainn--"the mightiest +hero of the Scots," as he is called in one of the oldest of the Irish +books--whose residence was _Dundalgan_, a mile west of the present town +of Dundalk. This dun or fort consists of a high mound surrounded by an +earthen rampart and trench, all of immense size, even in their ruined +state; but it has lost its old name and is now called the Moat of +Castletown, while the original name Dundalgan, slightly altered, has +been transferred to Dundalk. + +Another of these Red Branch Knights' residences stands beside +Downpatrick: viz., the great fort anciently called (among other names) +Dun-Keltair or Rath-Keltair, where lived the hero, Keltar of the +Battles. It consists of a huge embankment of earth, nearly circular, +with the usual deep trench outside it, covering a space of about ten +acres. + +Next to Cuculainn, the most renowned of those knights were Fergus Mac +Roy, Leary the Victorious, Conall Carnagh, and the three Sons of Usna. + +There were, at this same time, similar orders of knights in the other +provinces. Those of Munster were commanded by Curoi Mac Dara, who lived +in a great stone fortress high up on the side of Caherconree Mountain, +near Tralee, the remains of which may be seen to this day. He was a +mighty champion, and on one occasion vanquished Cuculainn in single +combat. The Connaught knights were in the service of Maive, the warlike +queen of that province, whose residence was the palace of Croghan, the +ruins of which still remain near the village of Rathcroghan in the north +of Roscommon. + +In the Book of the Dun Cow, the Book of Leinster, and other old +manuscripts (which will be found described farther on), there are great +numbers of romantic stories about those Red Branch Knights, and about +the Knights of Munster and Connaught, of which many have been translated +and published. + +The most celebrated of all these tales is what is called the _Tain_ or +"Cattle spoil" of Quelna or Cooley.[53-1] Queen Maive, having some cause +of quarrel with an Ulster chief, set out with her army for the north on +a plundering expedition, attended by all the great heroes of Connaught. +During the march northwards, the queen, as the story tells us, had nine +splendid chariots for herself and her attendant chiefs, her own in the +centre, with two abreast in front, two behind, and two on each side, +right and left; and--in the words of the old tale--"the reason for this +order was, lest the clods from the hoofs of the horses, or the +foam-flakes from their mouths, or the dust raised by that mighty host, +should strike and tarnish the golden diadem on the head of the queen." + + [53-1] Quelna or Cooley, the ancient name of the hilly peninsula + lying between the bays of Carlingford and Dundalk: the + name Cooley is still retained. + +The invading army entered Quelna, which was then a part of Ulster and +belonged to Cuculainn. It happened just then that the men of Ulster were +under a spell of feebleness, all but Cuculainn, who had to defend +single-handed the several fords and passes, in a series of combats +against Maive's best champions, in all of which he was victorious. But, +in spite of what he could do, Queen Maive carried off nearly all the +best cattle of Quelna, and, at their head, a great brown bull which +indeed was what she chiefly came for. At length the Ulstermen, having +been freed from the spell, attacked and routed the Connaught army. The +battles, single combats, and other incidents of this war are related in +the Tain, which consists of one main story, with about thirty minor +tales grouped round it. Another Red Branch story is the Fate of the Sons +of Usna, which has been always a favourite with Irish story-tellers, and +with the Irish people in general, and which is now given here, +translated in full. + +[Illustration: A "Cromlech," an ancient Irish tomb: still to be seen in +its place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. This is rather a small one, the +covering stone being only about 6-1/2 feet long. Some cromlechs are very +large: one at Kilternan near Dublin has a covering stone 23-1/2 feet +long, 17 feet broad, and 6-1/2 feet thick: and no one can tell how the +people of old lifted it up.] + + + + +Deirdre; or, The Fate of the Sons of Usna.[55-1] + + + + +XI. + +THE FLIGHT TO ALBAN. + + +Concobar Mac Nessa king of Ulaid[55-2] ruled in Emain. And his chief +storyteller, Felimid, made a feast for the king and for the knights of +the Red Branch; who all came to partake of it in his house. While they +were feasting right joyously, listening to the sweet music of the harps +and the mellow voices of the bards, a messenger brought word that +Felimid's wife had given birth to a little daughter, an infant of +wondrous beauty. And when Caffa, the king's druid and seer, who was of +the company, was ware of the birth of the child, he went forth to view +the stars and the clouds, if he might thereby glean knowledge of what +was in store for that little babe.[55-3] And when he had returned to his +place, he sat deep pondering for a time: and then standing up and +obtaining silence, he said:-- + +"This child shall be called Deir-drAe•[56-1]; and fittingly is she so +named: for much of woe will befal Ulaid and Erin in general on her +account. There shall be jealousies, and strifes, and wars: evil deeds +will be done: many heroes will be exiled: many will fall." + + [55-1] The translation that follows is quite new, and is now + published for the first time. On this fine story is + founded the poem of "Deirdre" by Robert Dwyer Joyce, M.D. + + [55-2] Ulaid (pron. _Ulla_), Ulster. + + [55-3] The druids professed to be able to foretell by observing the + stars and clouds. + + [56-1] "Deirdre" is said to mean "alarm." + +When the heroes heard this they were sorely troubled, and some said that +the child should be killed. But the king said:--"Not so, ye Knights of +the Red Branch, it is not meet to commit a base deed in order to escape +evils that may never come to pass. This little maid shall be reared out +of the reach of mischief, and when she is old enough she shall be my +wife: thus shall I be the better able to guard against those evils that +Caffa forecasts for us." + +And the Ultonians did not dare to gainsay the word of the king. + +Then king Concobar caused the child to be placed in a strong fortress on +a lonely spot nigh the palace, with no opening in front, but with door +and windows looking out at the back on a lovely garden watered by a +clear rippling stream: and house and garden were surrounded by a wall +that no man could surmount. And those who were put in charge of her +were, her tutor, and her nurse, and Concobar's poetess, whose name was +Lavarcam: and save these three, none were permitted to see her. And so +she grew up in this solitude, year by year, till she was of marriageable +age; when she excelled all the maidens of her time for beauty. + +One snowy day as she and Lavarcam looked forth from the window, they saw +some blood on the snow, where her tutor had killed a calf for dinner; +and a raven alighted and began to drink of it. "I should like," said +Deirdre, "that he who is to be my husband should have these three +colours: his hair as black as the raven: his cheeks red as the blood: +his skin like the snow. And I saw such a youth in a dream last night; +but I know not where he is, or whether he is living on the ridge of the +world." + +"Truly," said Lavarcam, "the young hero that answers to thy words is not +far from thee; for he is among Concobar's knights: namely, Naisi the son +of Usna." + +Now Naisi and his brothers, Ainnli and Ardan, the three Sons of Usna, +were the best beloved of all the Red Branch Knights, so gracious and +gentle were they in time of peace, so skilful and swift-footed in the +chase, so strong and valiant in battle. + +And when Deirdre heard Lavarcam's words, she said:--"If it be as thou +sayest, that this young knight is near us, I shall not be happy till I +see him: and I beseech thee to bring him to speak to me." + +"Alas, child," replied Lavarcam, "thou knowest not the peril of what +thou askest me to do: for if thy tutor come to know of it, he will +surely tell the king; and the king's anger none can bear." + +Deirdre answered not: but she remained for many days sad and silent: and +her eyes often filled with tears through memory of her dream: so that +Lavarcam was grieved: and she pondered on the thing if it could be done, +for she loved Deirdre very much and had compassion on her. At last she +contrived that these two should meet without the tutor's knowledge: and +the end of the matter was that they loved each other: and Deirdre said +she would never wed the king, but she would wed Naisi. + +Knowing well the doom that awaited them when Concobar came to hear of +this, Naisi and his young wife and his two brothers, with thrice fifty +fighting men, thrice fifty women, thrice fifty attendants, and thrice +fifty hounds, fled over sea to Alban. And the king of the western part +of Alban received them kindly and took them into military service. Here +they remained for a space, gaining daily in favour: but they kept +Deirdre apart, fearing evil if the king should see her. + +And so matters went on, till it chanced that the king's steward, coming +one day by Naisi's house, saw the couple as they sat on their couch: and +going directly to his master, he said:-- + +"O king, we have long sought in vain for a woman worthy to be thy wife, +and now at last we have found her: for the woman, Deirdre, who is with +Naisi, is worthy to be the wife of the king of the western world. And +now I give thee this counsel:--Let Naisi be killed, and then take thou +Deirdre for thy wife." + +[Illustration: A burial urn. The ancient Irish sometimes buried as we do +now, placing the body in the grave, over which they often raised a cairn +or a cromlech. Sometimes they burned the body and put the ashes in an +urn, which they placed under a cromlech, or cairn, or burial mound. Urns +were always made of clay, which was baked till it was hard. They are +often found in graves, especially under cairns and cromlechs: and they +nearly always contain ashes and bits of burnt bones. Occasionally, as +has been already said (p. 43, note), persons were buried standing up, +especially kings and warriors, who were placed in the grave fully +armed.] + +The king basely agreed to do so; and forthwith he laid a plot to slay +the sons of Usna; which matter coming betimes to the ears of the +brothers, they fled by night with all their people. And when they had +got to a safe distance, they took up their abode in a wild place, where +with much ado they obtained food by hunting and fishing. And the +brothers built them three hunting booths in the forest, a little +distance from that part of the seashore looking towards Erin: and the +booth in which their food was prepared, in that they did not eat; and +the one in which they ate, in that they did not sleep. And their people +in like manner built themselves booths and huts, which gave them but +scant shelter from wind and weather. + +Now when it came to the ears of the Ultonians, that the sons of Usna and +their people were in discomfort and danger, they were sorely grieved: +but they kept their thoughts to themselves, for they dared not speak +their mind to the king. + + + + +XII. + +CONCOBAR'S GUILEFUL MESSAGE. + + +At this same time a right joyous and very splendid feast was driven by +Concobar in Emain Macha to the nobles and the knights of his household. +And the number of the king's household that sat them down in the great +hall of Emain on that occasion was five and three score above six +hundred and one thousand.[60-1] Then arose, in turn, their musicians to +sound their melodious harpstrings, and their poets and their +story-tellers to sing their sweet poetic strains, and to recount the +deeds of the mighty heroes of the olden time. And the feasting and the +enjoyment went on, and the entire assembly were gay and cheerful. At +length Concobar arose from where he sat high up on his royal seat; +whereupon the noise of mirth was instantly hushed. And he raised his +kingly voice and said:-- + +"I desire to know from you, ye Nobles and Knights of the Red Branch, +have you ever seen in any quarter of Erin, a house better than this +house of Emain, which is my mansion: and whether you see any want in +it." + + [60-1] That is 1665. This inverted method of enumeration was often + used in Ireland. But they also used direct enumeration + like ours. + +And they answered that they saw no better house, and that they knew of +no want in it. + +And the king said: "I know of a great want: namely, that we have not +present among us the three noble sons of Usna. And why now should they +be in banishment on account of any woman in the world?" + +And the nobles replied:--"Truly it is a sad thing that the sons of Usna, +our dear comrades, should be in exile and distress. They were a shield +of defence to Ulaid: and now, O king, it will please us well that thou +send for them and bring them back, lest they and their people perish by +famine or fall by their enemies." + +"Let them come," replied Concobar, "and make submission to me: and +their homes, and their lands, and their places among the Knights of the +Red Branch shall be restored to them." + +Now Concobar was mightily enraged at the marriage and flight of Naisi +and Deirdre, though he hid his mind from all men; and he spoke these +words pretending forgiveness and friendship. But there was guile in his +heart, and he planned to allure them back to Ulaid that he might kill +them. + +When the feast was ended, and the company had departed, the king called +unto him Fergus Mac Roy, and said:--"Go thou, Fergus, and bring back the +sons of Usna and their people. I promise thee that I will receive them +as friends should be received, and that what awaits them here is not +enmity or injury, but welcome and friendship. Take my message of peace +and good will, and give thyself as pledge and surety for their safety. +But these two things I charge thee to do:--That the moment you land in +Ulaid on your way back, you proceed straight to Barach's house which +stands on the sea cliff high over the landing place fronting Alban: and +that whether the time of your arrival be by day or by night, thou see +that the sons of Usna tarry not, but let them come hither direct to +Emain, that they may not eat food in Erin till they eat of mine." + +And Fergus, suspecting no evil design, promised to do as the king +directed: for he was glad to be sent on this errand, being a fast friend +to the sons of Usna. + +Fergus set out straightway, bringing with him only his two sons, Illan +the Fair and Buinni the Red, and his shield bearer to carry his shield. +And as soon as he had departed, Concobar sent for Barach and said to +him:-- + +"Prepare a feast in thy house for Fergus: and when he visits thee +returning with the sons of Usna, invite him to partake of it." And +Barach thereupon departed for his home to do the bidding of the king and +prepare the feast. + +Now those heroes of old, on the day they received knighthood, were wont +to make certain pledges which were to bind them for life, some binding +themselves to one thing, some to another. And as they made the promises +on the faith of their knighthood, with great vows, in presence of kings +and nobles, they dared not violate them; no, not even if it was to save +the lives of themselves and all their friends: for whosoever broke +through his knighthood pledge was foully dishonoured for evermore. And +one of Fergus's obligations was never to refuse an invitation to a +banquet: a thing which was well known to King Concobar and to Barach. + +As to Fergus Mac Roy and his sons: they went on board their galley and +put to sea, and made no delay till they reached the harbour nigh the +campment of the sons of Usna. And coming ashore, Fergus gave the loud +shout of a mighty man of chase. The sons of Usna were at that same hour +in their booth; and Naisi and Deirdre were sitting with a polished +chessboard between them playing a game. + +And when they heard the shout, Naisi said:--"That is the call of a man +from Erin." + +"Not so," replied Deirdre, "it is the call of a man of Alban." + +And after a little time when a second shout came, Naisi said:--"That of +a certainty is the call of a man of Erin!" + +But Deirdre again replied:--"No, indeed: it concerns us not: let us play +our game." + +But when a third shout came sounding louder than those before, Naisi +arose and said:--"Now I know the voice: that is the shout of Fergus!" +And straightway he sent Ardan to the shore to meet him. + +Now Deirdre knew the voice of Fergus from the first: but she kept her +thoughts to herself: for her heart misgave her that the visit boded +evil. And when she told Naisi that she knew the first shout, he +said:--"Why, my queen, didst thou conceal it then?" + +And she replied:--"Lo, I saw a vision in my sleep last night: three +birds came to us from Emain Macha, with three drops of honey in their +beaks, and they left us the honey and took away three drops of our +blood." + +"What dost thou read from that vision, O princess?" said Naisi. + +"It denotes the message from Concobar to us," said Deirdre; "for sweet +as honey is the message of peace from a false man, while he has thoughts +of blood hidden deep in his heart." + +When Ardan arrived at the shore, the sight of Fergus and his two sons +was to him like rain on the parched grass; for it was long since he had +seen any of his dear comrades from Erin. And he cried out as he came +near, "An affectionate welcome to you my dear companions": and he fell +on Fergus's neck and kissed his cheeks, and did the like to his sons. +Then he brought them to the hunting-booth; and Naisi, Ainnli, and +Deirdre gave them a like kind welcome; after which they asked the news +from Erin. + +"The best news I have," said Fergus, "is that Concobar has sent me to +you with kindly greetings, to bring you back to Emain and restore you to +your lands and homes, and to your places in the Red Branch; and I am +myself a pledge for your safety." + +"It is not meet for them to go," said Deirdre: "for here they are under +no man's rule; and their sway in Alban is even as great as the sway of +Concobar in Erin." + +But Fergus said: "One's mother country is better than all else, and +gloomy is life when a man sees not his home each morning." + +"Far dearer to me is Erin than Alban," said Naisi, "even though my sway +should be greater here." + +It was not with Deirdre's consent he spoke these words: and she still +earnestly opposed their return to Erin. + +But Fergus tried to re-assure her:--"If all the men of Erin were against +you," said he, "it would avail nought once I have passed my word for +your safety." + +"We trust in thee," said Naisi, "and we will go with thee to Erin." + +[Illustration: A gold box: 2-3/4 inches across: 1 inch deep. Found in a +grave in Co. Cork. Use not known.] + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish bronze lamp. Found in a _crannoge_ (i.e. an +island-dwelling in a lake) in Co. Roscommon. The vessel held the oil, +and the wick projected from the pipe.] + + + + +XIII. + +THE RETURN TO EMAIN. + + +Going next morning on board their galleys, Fergus and his companions put +out on the wide sea: and oar and wind bore them on swiftly till they +landed on the shore of Erin near the house of Barach. + +And Deirdre, seating herself on a cliff, looked sadly over the waters at +the blue headlands of Alban: and she uttered this farewell:-- + + +I. + +"Dear to me is yon eastern land: Alban with its wonders. Beloved is +Alban with its bright harbours and its pleasant hills of the green +slopes. From that land I would never depart except to be with Naisi. + + +II. + +Kil-Cuan, O Kil-Cuan,[67-1] whither Ainnli was wont to resort: short +seemed the time to me while I sojourned there with Naisi on the margins +of its streams and waterfalls. + + [67-1] This and the other places named in Deirdre's Farewell are + all in the west of Scotland. + + +III. + +"Glen-Lee, O Glen-Lee, where I slept happy under soft coverlets: fish +and fowl, and the flesh of red deer and badgers; these were our fare in +Glen-Lee. + + +IV. + +"Glen-Masan, O Glen-Masan: tall its cresses of white stalks: often were +we rocked to sleep in our curragh in the grassy harbour of Glen-Masan. + + +V. + +"Glen-Orchy, O Glen-Orchy: over thy straight glen rises the smooth ridge +that oft echoed to the voices of our hounds. No man of the clan was more +light-hearted than my Naisi when following the chase in Glen-Orchy. + + +VI. + +"Glen-Ettive, O Glen-Ettive: there it was that my first house was raised +for me: lovely its woods in the smile of the early morn: the sun loves +to shine on Glen-Ettive. + +VII. + +"Glen-da-Roy, O Glen-da-Roy: the memory of its people is dear to me: +sweet is the cuckoo's note from the bending bough on the peak over +Glen-da-Roy. + + +VIII. + +"Dear to me is Dreenagh over the resounding shore: dear to me its +crystal waters over the speckled sand. From those sweet places I would +never depart, but only to be with my beloved Naisi." + + * * * * * + +After this they entered the house of Barach; and when Barach had +welcomed them, he said to Fergus: "Here I have a three-days banquet +ready for thee, and I invite thee to come and partake of it." + +When Fergus heard this his heart sank and his face waxed all over a +crimson red: and he said fiercely to Barach:--"Thou hast done an evil +thing to ask me to this banquet: for well thou knowest I cannot refuse +thee. Thou knowest, too, that I am under solemn pledge to send the Sons +of Usna this very hour to Emain: and if I remain feasting in thy house, +how shall I see that my promise of safety is respected?" + +But none the less did Barach persist; for he was one of the partners in +Concobar's treacherous design. + +Then Fergus turned to Naisi and said:--"I dare not violate my knighthood +promise: what am I to do in this strait?" But Deirdre answered for her +husband:--"The choice is before thee, Fergus; and it is more meet for +thee to abandon thy feast than to abandon the sons of Usna, who have +come over on thy pledge." + +Then Fergus was in sore perplexity; and pondering a little he said:--"I +will not forsake the sons of Usna: for I will send with them to Emain +Macha my two sons, Illan the Fair and Buinni the Red, who will be their +pledge instead of me." + +But Naisi said: "We need not thy sons for guard or pledge: we have ever +been accustomed to defend ourselves!" And he moved from the place in +great wrath: and his two brothers, and Deirdre, and the two sons of +Fergus followed him, with the rest of the clan; while Fergus remained +behind silent and gloomy: for his heart misgave him that mischief was +brewing for the sons of Usna. + +Then Deirdre tried to persuade the sons of Usna to go to Rathlin between +Erin and Alban, and tarry there till Barach's feast was ended: but they +did not consent to do so, for they deemed it would be a mark of +cowardice: and they sped on by the shortest ways towards Emain Macha. + +When now they had come to Fincarn of the Watch-tower on Slieve Fuad, +Deirdre and her attendants stayed behind the others a little: and she +fell asleep. And when Naisi missed her he turned back and found her just +awakening; and he said to her:--"Why didst thou tarry, my princess?" + +And she answered:--"I fell asleep and had a dream. And this is what I +saw in my dream:--Illan the Fair took your part: Buinni the Red did not: +and I saw Illan without his head: but Buinni had neither wound nor +hurt." + +"Alas, O beauteous princess," said Naisi, "thou utterest nought but evil +forebodings: but the king is true and will not break his plighted word." + +So they fared on till they had come to the Ridge of the Willows,[70-1] +an hour's journey from the palace: and Deirdre, looking upwards in great +fear, said to Naisi:--"O Naisi, see yonder cloud in the sky over Emain, +a fearful chilling cloud of a blood-red tinge: a baleful red cloud that +bodes disaster! Come ye now to Dundalgan and abide there with the mighty +hero Cuculainn till Fergus returns from Barach's feast; for I fear +Concobar's treachery." + + [70-1] Irish name _Drum-Sailech_; the ridge on which Armagh was + afterwards built. + +But Naisi answered:--"We cannot follow thy advice, beloved Deirdre, for +it would be a mark of fear: and we have no fear." + +And as they came nigh the palace Deirdre said to them:--"I will now give +you a sign if Concobar meditates good or evil. If you are brought into +his own mansion where he sits surrounded by his nobles, to eat and drink +with him, this is a token that he means no ill; for no man will injure a +guest that has partaken of food at his table: but if you are sent to the +house of the Red Branch, be sure he is bent on treachery." + +When at last they arrived at the palace they knocked loudly with the +handwood: and the door-keeper swang the great door wide open. And when +he had spoken with them he went and told Concobar that the sons of Usna +and Fergus's two sons had come, with their people. + +And Concobar called to him his stewards and attendants and asked +them:--"How is it in the house of the Red Branch as to food and drink?" +And they replied that if the seven battalions of Ulaid were to come to +it they would find enough of all good things "If that is so," said +Concobar, "take the sons of Usna and their people to the Red Branch." + +Even then Deirdre besought them not to enter the Red Branch: for she +deemed now that of a certainty there was mischief afoot. But Illan the +Fair said:--"Never did we show cowardice or unmanliness, and we shall +not do so now." Then she was silent and went with them into the house. + +And the company, when they had come in, sat them down so that they +filled the great hall: and alluring viands and delicious drinks were set +before them: and they ate and drank till they became satisfied and +cheerful: all except Deirdre and the Sons of Usna, who did not partake +much of food or drink. And Naisi asked for the king's chessboard and +chessmen; which were brought: and he and Deirdre began to play. + + + + +XIV. + +TROUBLE LOOMING. + + +Let us now speak of Concobar. As he sat among his nobles, the thought of +Deirdre came into his mind, and he said:--"Who among you will go to the +Red Branch and bring me tidings of Deirdre, whether her youthful shape +and looks still live upon her: for if so there is not on the ridge of +the world a woman more beautiful." And Lavarcam said she would go. + +Now the Sons of Usna were very dear to Lavarcam: and Naisi was dearer +than the others. And rising up she went to the Red Branch, where she +found Naisi and Deirdre with the chessboard between them, playing. And +she saluted them affectionately: and she embraced Deirdre, and wept over +her, and kissed her many times with the eagerness of her love: and she +kissed the cheeks of Naisi and of his brothers. + +And when her loving greeting was ended, she said:--"Beloved children, +evil is the deed that is to be done this night in Emain: for the three +torches of valour of the Gaels will be treacherously assailed, and +Concobar is certainly resolved to put them to death. And now set your +people on guard, and bolt and bar all doors, and close all windows; and +be steadfast and valourous, and defend your dear charge manfully, if you +may hold the assailants at bay till Fergus comes." And she departed +weeping piteously. + +And when Lavarcam had returned to Concobar asked what tidings she +brought. "Good tidings have I," said she: "for the three Sons of Usna +have come, the three valiant champions of Ulaid: and now that they are +with thee, O king, thou wilt hold sway in Erin without dispute. And bad +tidings I bring also: Deirdre indeed is not as she was, for her youthful +form and the splendour of her countenance have fled from her." + +And when Concobar heard this his jealousy abated, and he joined in the +feasting. + +But again the thought of Deirdre came to him, and he asked:--"Who now +will go for me to the Red Branch and bring me further tidings of Deirdre +and of the Sons of Usna?" for he distrusted Lavarcam. But the Knights of +the Red Branch had misgivings of some evil design, and all remained +silent. + +Then he called to him Trendorn, one of the lesser chiefs: and he +said:--"Knowest thou, Trendorn, who slew thy father and thy three +brothers in battle?" And Trendorn answered:--"Verily, it was Naisi the +son of Usna that slew them." Then the king said:--"Go now to the Red +Branch and bring me back tidings of Deirdre and of the Sons of Usna." + +Trendorn went right willingly. But when he found the doors and windows +of the Red Branch shut up, he was seized with fear, and he said: "It is +not safe to approach the Sons of Usna, for they are surely in wrathful +mood: nevertheless I must needs bring back tidings to the king." + +Whereupon, not daring to knock at the door, he climbed nimbly to a small +window high up that had been unwittingly left open, through which he +viewed the spacious banquet hall, and saw Naisi and Deirdre playing +chess. Deirdre chanced to look up at that moment, and seeing the face of +the spy with eyes intently gazing on her, she started with affright and +grasped Naisi's arm, as he was making a move with the chessman. Naisi, +following her gaze, and seeing the evil-looking face, flung the chessman +with unerring aim and broke the eye in Trendorn's head. + +Trendorn dropped down in pain and rage; and going straight to Concobar, +he said:--"I have tidings for thee, O king: the three Sons of Usna are +sitting in the banquet hall, stately and proud like kings: and Deirdre +is seated beside Naisi; and verily, for beauty and queenly grace, her +peer cannot be found." + +When Concobar heard this, a flame of jealousy and fury blazed up in his +heart, and he resolved that by no means should the Sons of Usna escape +the doom he planned for them. + + + + +XV. + +THE ATTACK ON THE SONS OF USNA. + + +Coming forth on the lawn of Emain, King Concobar now ordered a large +body of hireling troops to beset the Red Branch: and he bade them force +the doors and bring forth the sons of Usna. And they uttered three +dreadful shouts of defiance, and assailed the house on every side; but +the strong oak stood bravely, and they were not able to break through +doors or walls. So they heaped up great piles of wood and brambles and +kindled them till the red flames blazed round the house. + +Buinni the Red now stood up and said to the Sons of Usna:--"To me be +intrusted the task to repel this first assault: for I am your pledge in +place of my father." And marshalling his men, and causing the great door +to be thrown wide open, he sallied forth and scattered the assailants +and put out the fires: slaying thrice fifty hirelings in that onslaught. + +But Buinni returned not to the Red Branch: for the king sent to him with +a secret offer of great favours and bribes: namely, his own royal +friendship, and a fruitful tract of land; which Buinni took and basely +abandoned the sons of Usna. But none the better luck came to him of it: +for at that same hour a blight fell on the land, so that it became a +moor, waste and profitless, which is at this day called Slieve Fuad. + +When Illan the Fair became aware of his brother's treason, he was +grieved to the heart, and he said:--"I am the second pledge in place of +my father for the sons of Usna, and of a certainty I will not betray +them: while this straight sword lives in my hand I will be faithful: and +I will now repel this second attack." For at this time the king's +hirelings were again thundering at the doors. + +Forth he issued with his band: and he made three quick furious circuits +round the Red Branch, scattering the troops as he went: after which he +returned to the mansion and found Naisi and Deirdre still playing.[77-1] +But as the hireling hordes returned to the attack, he went forth a +second time and fell on them, dealing death and havoc whither-soever he +went. + + [77-1] These champions, as well as their wives, took care never to + show any signs of fear or alarm even in the time of + greatest danger: so Naisi and Deirdre kept playing + quietly as if nothing was going on outside, though they + heard the din of battle resounding. + +Then, while the fight was still raging, Concobar called to him his son +Ficra, and said to him:--"Thou and Illan the Fair were born on the same +night: and as he has his father's arms, so thou take mine, namely, my +shield which is called the Ocean, and my two spears which are called +Dart and Slaughter, and my great sword, the Blue-green blade. And bear +thyself manfully against him, and vanquish him, else none of my troops +will survive." + +Ficra did so and went against Illan the Fair; and they made a stout, +warlike, red-wounding attack on each other, while the others looked on +anxious: but none dared to interfere. And it came to pass that Illan +prevailed, so that Ficra was fain to shelter himself behind his father's +shield the Ocean, and he was like to be slain. Whereupon the shield +moaned, and the Three Waves of Erin uttered their hollow melancholy +roar.[77-2] + + [77-2] The "Three _Tonns_ or Waves of Erin" were the Wave of Tuath + outside the mouth of the river Bann, off the coast of + Derry; the Wave of Rury in Dundrum Bay, off the county + Down; and the Wave of Cleena in Glandore Harbour in the + south of Cork. In stormy weather, when the wind blows from + certain directions, the sea at those places, as it tumbles + over the sandbanks, or among the caves and fissures of the + rocks, utters a loud and solemn roar, which in old times + was believed to forebode the death of some king. + + The legends also tell that the shield belonging to a king + moaned when the person who wore it in battle--whether the + king himself or a member of his family--was in danger of + death: the moan was heard all over Ireland; and the + "Three Waves of Erin" roared in response. See "Irish + Names of Places," Vol. II., Chap. XVI. + +The hero Conall Carnagh, sitting in his dun afar off, heard the moan of +the shield and the roar of the Wave of Tuath: and springing up from +where he sat, he said: "Verily, the king is in danger: I will go to his +rescue." + +He ran with the swiftness of the wind, and arrived on the Green of Emain +where the two young heroes were fighting. Thinking it was Concobar that +crouched beneath the shield, he attacked Illan, not knowing him, and +wounded him even unto death. And Illan looking up said, "Is it thou, +Conall! Alas, dreadful is the deed thou hast done, not knowing me, and +not knowing that I am fighting in defence of the Sons of Usna who are +now in deadly peril from the treachery of Concobar." + +And Conall, finding he had unwittingly wounded his dear young friend +Illan, turned in his grief and rage on the other, and swept off his +head. And he stalked fierce and silent out of the battlefield. + +Illan, still faithful to his charge, called aloud to Naisi to defend +himself bravely: then putting forth his remaining strength, he flung his +arms, namely, his sword and his spears and his shield, into the Red +Branch; and falling prone on the green sward, the shades of death dimmed +his eyes, and his life departed. + +And now when it was the dusk of evening, another great battalion of the +hirelings assailed the Red Branch, and kindled fagots around it: +whereupon Ardan sallied out with his valorous band and scattered them, +and put out the fires, and held guard for the first third of the night. +And during the second third Ainnli kept them at bay. + +Then Naisi took his turn, issuing forth, and fought with them till the +morning's dawn: and until the sands of the seashore, or the leaves of +the forest, or the dew drops on the grass, or the stars of heaven are +counted, it will not be possible to number the hirelings that were slain +in that fight by Naisi and his band of heroes. + +And as he was returning breathless from the rout, all grimy and terrible +with blood and sweat, he spied Lavarcam, as she stood watching the +battle anxiously; and he said:--"Go, Lavarcam, go and stand on the outer +rampart, and cast thine eyes eastwards, if perchance thou shouldst see +Fergus and his men coming." + +For many of Naisi's brave followers had fallen in these encounters: and +he doubted that he and the others could sustain much longer the +continual assaults of superior numbers. And Lavarcam went, but returned +downcast, saying she saw nought eastwards, but the open plain with the +peaceful herds browsing over it. + + + + +XVI. + +DEATH OF THE SONS OF USNA. + + +Believing now that they could no longer defend the Red Branch, Naisi +took council with his brothers; and what they resolved on was this:--To +sally forth with all their men and fight their way to a place of safety. +Then making a close firm fence of shields and spears round Deirdre, they +marched out in solid ranks and attacked the hireling battalions and slew +three hundred in that onslaught. + +Concobar, seeing the rout of his men, and being now sure that it was not +possible to subdue the Sons of Usna in open fight, cast about if he +might take them by falsehood and craft. And sending for Caffa the druid, +who loved them, he said:-- + +"These sons of Usna are brave men, and it is our pleasure to receive +them back into our service. Go now unto them, for thou art their loved +friend; and say to them that if they lay down their arms and submit to +me, I will restore them to favour and give them their places among the +Red Branch Knights. And I pledge thee my kingly word and my troth as a +true knight, that no harm shall befal them." + +Caffa, by no means distrusting him, went to the Sons of Usna and told +them all the king had said. And they, suspecting neither guile nor +treachery joyfully threw their swords and spears aside, and went towards +the king to make submission. But now, while they stood defenceless, the +king caused them to be seized and bound. Then, turning aside he sought +for some one to put them to death; but he found no man of the Ultonians +willing to do so. + +Among his followers was a foreigner named Maini of the Rough Hand, whose +father and two brothers had fallen in battle by Naisi: and this man +undertook to kill the Sons of Usna. + +When they were brought forth to their doom, Ardan said:--"I am the +youngest: let me be slain first that I may not see the death of my +brothers." And Ainnli earnestly pleaded for the same thing for himself, +saying that he was born before Ardan and should die before him. + +But Naisi said:--"Lo, I have a sword, the gift of Mannanan Mac Lir, +which leaves no remnant unfinished after a blow: let us be struck with +it, all three together, and we shall die at the same moment." + +This was agreed to: and the sword was brought forth, and they laid their +heads close together, and Maini swept off all three with one blow of the +mighty sword. And when it became known that the Sons of Usna were dead, +the men of Ulaid sent forth three great cries of grief and lamentation. + +As for Deirdre, she cried aloud, and tore her golden hair, and became +like one distracted. And after a time, when her calmness had a little +returned, she uttered a lament:-- + + +I. + +"Three lions of the hill are dead, and I am left alone to weep for them. +The generous princes who made the stranger welcome have been guilefully +lured to their doom. + + +II. + +"The three strong hawks of Slieve Cullinn,[82-1] a king's three sons, +strong and gentle: willing obedience was yielded to them by heroes who +had conquered many lands. + + [82-1] Slieve Cullinn, now Slieve Gullion mountain in Armagh. + + +III. + +"Three generous heroes of the Red Branch, who loved to praise the valour +of others: three props of the battalions of Quelna: their fall is the +cause of bitter grief. + + +IV. + +"Ainnli and Ardan, haughty and fierce in battle, to me were ever loving +and gentle: Naisi, Naisi, beloved spouse of my choice, thou canst not +hear thy Deirdre lamenting thee. + + +V. + +"When they brought down the fleet red deer in the chase, when they +speared the salmon skilfully in the clear water, joyful and proud were +they if I looked on. + + +VI. + +"Often when my feeble feet grew weary wandering along the valleys, and +climbing the hills to view the chase, often would they bear me home +lightly on their linked shields and spears. + + +VII. + +"It was gladness of heart to be with the Sons of Usna: long and weary is +the day without their company: short will be my span of life since they +have left me. + + +VIII. + +"Sorrow and tears have dimmed my eyes, looking at the grave of Naisi: a +dark deadly sickness has seized my heart: I cannot, I cannot live after +Naisi. + + +IX. + +"O, thou who diggest the new grave, make it deep and wide: let it be a +grave for four: for I will sleep for ever beside my beloved." + + +When she had spoken these words, she fell beside the body of Naisi and +died immediately. And a great cairn of stones was piled over their +grave, and their names were inscribed in Ogham, and their funeral rites +were performed. + +This is the sorrowful tale of The Fate of the Sons of Usna. + + + + +XVII. + +AVENGING AND BRIGHT. + + + Avenging and bright fall the swift sword of Erin, + On him, who the brave sons of Usna betray'd! + For ev'ry fond eye he hath waken'd a tear in, + A drop from his heart-wounds shall weep o'er her blade. + + By the red cloud that hung over Connor's dark dwelling, + When Ulad's three champions lay sleeping in gore-- + By the billows of war which, so often high swelling, + Have wafted these heroes to victory's shore? + + We swear to revenge them!--no joy shall be tasted, + The harp shall be silent, the maiden unwed, + Our halls shall be mute, and our fields shall lie wasted, + Till vengeance is wreak'd on the murderer's head. + + Yes, monarch! though sweet are our home recollections, + Though sweet are the tears that from tenderness fall; + Though sweet are our friendships, our hopes, our affections, + Revenge[85-1] on a tyrant is sweetest of all! + + THOMAS MOORE. + + [85-1] The Red Branch Knights were all pagans; and besides, what + they meant here by revenge was merely punishment for a + great crime. + + + + +XVIII. + +THE WRATH OF FERGUS MAC ROY. + + +Barach's banquet was ended. Fergus, anxious and impatient, returned with +his people to Emain. And when he found that the sons of Usna had been +slain in violation of his pledge, and that his son, Illan the Fair, had +fallen while defending them, his grief and wrath knew no bounds. Caffa +the druid was none the less incensed; and he was in sore anguish: for he +it was, who, trusting in Concobar's deceitful promises, persuaded the +sons of Usna to give up their arms and yield. And he pronounced the doom +of Concobar's race, that neither he nor any of his descendants should +reign in Emain thenceforward for evermore. + +And these two, Fergus and Caffa, collecting their men of valour, spoiled +and laid waste Concobar's territory; till at last a battle was fought +between them, in which the king was defeated, and three hundred of his +bravest Ultonians were slain, besides his son and many other illustrious +persons in his service. Fergus and Caffa then attacked Emain, and burned +and pillaged it, and slew those who defended it. And though the palace +was rebuilt in due time, and continued to be the residence of the kings +of Ulaid for more than three hundred years afterwards, none of +Concobar's descendants possessed it, as Caffa had foretold. + +[Illustration: Bronze celts. A celt was a sort of battle axe; sometimes +made of bronze, sometimes of stone. The right hand figure shows how the +bronze head was fixed to the handle. Great numbers of these celts of +many different shapes, both stone and bronze, are preserved in the +National Museum, Dublin.] + +After this, Fergus and other great champions of the Red Branch, with +three thousand warriors, marched into Connaught, where Ailell and +Maive, king and queen of that province, being at war with Concobar, +welcomed them and took them gladly into their service. And for seven +years they continued to send marauding parties to spoil and ravage the +province of Ulaid, so that many battles were fought, and many heroes +were slain. In the stories of this war we read much of the mighty +champion Cuculainn who was the chief defender of Ulaid against Ailell +and Maive's forces. + + + + +XIX. + +ANCIENT IRISH PHYSICIANS: PART I. + + +Among most nations of old times there were great leeches or physicians, +who were considered so skilful that the people believed they could cure +wounds and ailments as if by magic. In some countries they became gods, +as among the Greeks. + +The ancient Irish people, too, had their mighty leech, a Dedannan named +Dianket, who, as they believed, could heal all wounds and cure all +diseases; so that he became the Irish God of Medicine. He had a son, +Midac, and a daughter, Armedda, who were both as good as himself; and at +last Midac became so skilful that his father killed him in a fit of +jealousy. And, after some time, there grew up from the young doctor's +grave 365 herbs, each with virtue to cure some particular ailment. His +sister Armedda plucked up these herbs, and carefully sorting them, +wrapped them up in her mantle. But the jealous old Dianket came and +mixed them all up, so that no one could distinguish them: and but for +this--according to the legend--every physician would now be able to cure +all diseases without delay, by selecting and applying the proper herbs. + +Leaving these shadowy old-world stories, let us come down to historic +times, when we shall, as it were, tread on solid ground. From the very +earliest times medicine and surgery were carefully studied in Ireland: +and there was a distinct class of professional medical doctors, who +underwent a course of education and practical training. A young man +usually learned to be a physician by apprenticeship, i.e. by living in +the house of a regular physician, and accompanying him on his visits to +patients to learn his methods of treatment. + +A king or a great chief had always a physician as part of his household, +to attend to the health of his family. The usual remuneration of these +men was a residence and a tract of land in the neighbourhood, free of +all rent and taxes, together with certain allowances: and the medical +man might, if he chose, practise for fee outside the household. Some of +those in the service of great kings had castles, and lived in state like +princes. Those not so attached lived on their fees, like many doctors +of the present day: and the fees for the various operations or +attendances were laid down in the Brehon Law.[89-1] + + [89-1] The Brehon Law: that is, the old law of Ireland. + +Though medical doctors were looked up to with great respect, they had to +be very careful in exercising their profession. A leech who through +carelessness, or wilful neglect, or gross want of skill, failed to cure +a wound, might be brought before a brehon or judge, and if the case was +proved home against him, he had to pay the same fine to the patient, as +if he had inflicted the wound with his own hand. + + + + +XX. + +ANCIENT IRISH PHYSICIANS: PART II. + + +Medicine, as a profession, like Law, History, &c., often ran in families +in Ireland, descending regularly from father to son; and several Irish +families were distinguished leeches for generations, such as the +O'Shiels, the O'Cassidys, the O'Hickeys, and the O'Lees. + +Each medical family kept a book, which was handed down reverently from +father to son, and in which was written, in Irish or Latin, all the +medical knowledge derived either from other books or from the actual +experience of the various members of the family; and many of these old +volumes, all in beautiful handwriting, are still preserved in Dublin and +elsewhere. As showing the admirable spirit in which those good men +studied and practised their profession, and how much they loved it, it +is worth while to give a translation of the opening statement, a sort of +preface, in the Irish language, written at the beginning of one of these +books, in the year 1352. + +"May the good God have mercy on us all. I have here collected practical +rules of medicine from several works, for the honour of God, for the +benefit of the Irish people, for the instruction of my pupils, and for +the love of my friends and of my kindred. I have translated many of them +into Gaelic from Latin books, containing the lore of the great leeches +of Greece and Rome. These are sweet and profitable things which have +been often tested by us and by our instructors. + +"I pray God to bless those doctors who will use this book; and I lay it +as an injunction on their souls, that they extract knowledge from it not +by any means sparingly, and that they do not neglect the practical rules +herein contained. More especially I charge them that they do their duty +devotedly in cases where they receive no payment on account of the +poverty of their patients. + +"Let every physician, before he begins his treatment, offer up a secret +prayer for the sick person, and implore the heavenly Father, the +Physician and Balm-giver of all mankind, to prosper the work he is +entering upon, and to save himself and his patient from failure." + +There is good reason to believe that the noble sentiments here expressed +were generally those of the physicians of the time; from which we may +see that the old Irish medical doctors were quite as devoted to their +profession, as eager for knowledge, and as anxious about their patients +as those of the present day. + +The fame of the Irish physicians reached the continent. Even at a +comparatively late time, about three hundred years ago, when medicine +had been successfully studied and practised in Ireland for more than a +thousand years, a well-known and distinguished physician of +Brussels,[91-1] in a book written by him in Latin on medical subjects, +praises the Irish doctors, and describes them correctly as follows:-- + + [91-1] Van Helmont. + +"In the household of every great lord in Ireland there is a physician +who has a tract of land for his support, and who is appointed to his +post, not on account of the great amount of learning he brings away in +his head from colleges, but because he is able to cure diseases. His +knowledge of the healing art is derived from books left him by his +forefathers, which describe very exactly the marks and signs by which +the various diseases are known, and lay down the proper remedies for +each. These remedies, [which are mostly herbs], are all produced in that +country. Accordingly, the Irish people are much better managed in +sickness than the Italians, who have a physician in every village." + +It is pleasant to know that the Irish physicians of our time who, it is +generally agreed, are equal to those of any other country in the world, +can look back with respect, and not without some feeling of pride, to +their Irish predecessors of the times of old. + + + + +XXI. + +THE FENA OF ERIN. + + +In the third century of the Christian era lived the Fena[92-1] of Erin, +a famous body of warriors something like the Red Branch Knights of an +older time. Their most renowned commander was Finn Mac Cumaill [Cool], +King Cormac Mac Art's son-in-law, who of all the heroes of ancient +Ireland is at the present day best remembered in tradition by the +people. + + [92-1] Fena, spelled _Fianna_ in Irish, and pronounced _Feena_. + +Finn had his chief residence on the Hill of Allen, a remarkable +flat-topped hill lying about four miles to the right of the railway as +you pass from Newbridge towards Kildare, which will be at once +recognised by a tall pillar erected fifty or sixty years ago on the +top, on the very site of Finn's palace. There are now very little +remains of the palace-fort, which, there is good reason to believe, was +at no time very large. Whatever remained of it has been cleared away, +partly to make room for the pillar, and partly by cultivation, for the +land has been tilled and cropped to the very summit. The whole +neighbourhood however still teems with living traditions of the heroes; +and the people all round the hill tell many stories of Finn and the +Fena, and point out the several spots they frequented. As in the case of +the Red Branch Knights, there were Fena in all the provinces, each +provincial troop under a leader. The Fena of Erin flourished for many +generations; but they reached their greatest glory under Finn in the +time of Cormac Mac Art, who was king of Ireland from A.D. 254 to 277. + +No man was admitted to their ranks till he had proved his strength and +activity by passing severe tests in leaping, running, and defending +himself from attack against great odds. They should be educated in the +sort of learning in vogue at the time, and especially they should be +able to repeat many verses and stories recounting the great deeds of the +times of old, so that they might learn to admire all that was brave and +noble, and that in time of peace they might be bright and entertaining +at banquets and other festive gatherings. They were all mighty men in +fight, brave, and strong, and swift of foot: and they were above all +things bound to be honourable and truthful in their dealings, and to +protect the weak--particularly women and children--from oppression and +wrong. + +The Fena loved open-air games and exercises of all kinds, especially the +chase. They had a breed of enormous dogs of which they were very fond, +gentle and affectionate at home, but fierce and terrible in the chase; +and from Beltane (1st of May) to Samin (1st November) they hunted deer, +wild boars, and other game through the forests, and over the hills, +glens, and plains. Though the chief men among them rode on horseback +when travelling long distances from one district to another, they always +hunted on foot, never using horses in the chase. During hunting time +they camped out at night, living on the flesh of the animals they +brought down and on the wild fruit and herbs of the forest. + +At midday, whatever game they had killed during the morning they sent by +their attendants to the place appointed for the evening meal, which was +always chosen near a wood and beside a stream or lake. The attendants +roasted one part on hazel spits before immense fires of wood, and baked +the rest on hot stones in a pit dug in the earth. The stones were heated +in the fires. At the bottom of the pit the men placed a layer of these +hot stones: then a layer of meat-joints wrapped in sedge to keep them +from being burned: next another layer of hot stones: down on that more +meat; and so on till the whole was disposed of. When the hunters +returned, their first care was to bathe, so as to remove the sweat and +mire of the chase. Then they attended to their hair: for they wore the +hair long, and were very particular about combing, dressing, and +plaiting it. By the time their preparations were completed, the meat was +ready: and the hungry hunters sat down to their smoking-hot savoury +meal. + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish ornamented comb in the National Museum, +Dublin.] + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish gold earring, one of a pair found in Co. +Roscommon] + +After the meal they set up their tents, and each man prepared his bed. +He first put down a thick layer of brushwood from the surrounding +forest; on that he spread a quantity of moss; and on that again a layer +of fresh rushes, on which he slept soundly after his day of joyous, +healthful toil. In the old tales these three materials--brushwood, moss, +and rushes--are called the "Three beddings of the Fena."[95-1] + + [95-1] The above account of how the Fena hunted, cooked, ate, and + slept is from Keating, who took it from old Irish books. + +The Fena were in the service of the kings, and their main duties were to +uphold justice and put down oppression and wrong, to suppress robbers +and other evil-doers, to exact fines and tributes for the king, and to +guard the harbours of the country against pirates and invaders. For +these services they received a fixed pay: during the six months hunting +season, their pay was merely the animals they killed, of which they used +the flesh for food and sold the skins. + +An Irish poet of our day has written of the Milesian people in general, +including those Fena of Erin and the Red Branch Knights:-- + + + "Long, long ago, beyond the misty space + Of twice a thousand years, + In Erin old there dwelt a mighty race + Taller than Roman spears; + Like oaks and towers they had a giant grace, + Were fleet as deers, + With winds and wave they made their biding place, + Those western shepherd seers. + + Great were their deeds, their passions, and their sports. + With clay and stone, + They piled on strath and shore those mystic forts, + Not yet o'erthrown: + On cairn-crowned hills they held their council-courts; + While youths alone, + With giant dogs explored the elk resorts + And brought them down." + + +[Illustration: Cairn, on Carns Hill near Sligo: a "cairn-crowned hill."] + +In many modern stories, Finn is spoken of as a giant; but this is a +vulgar notion. The old romantic tales describe him as a tall, strong +man, though not a giant; with much keen wit, sound sense, and great +judgment: and though he was a mighty champion, he ruled his men more by +wisdom, kindness, and justice, than by strength. When quite a young man +his hair became white like silver: how this happened will be told in the +next story. Oisin [Isheen] or Ossian, the renowned hero-poet of the +Fena, was his son. Oscar the son of Ossian was youthful, comely, +kind-hearted, and valiant. Dermot O'Dyna was the handsomest of all these +heroes. He was unconquerably brave, of untarnished honour, generous, and +self-denying, ever ready to take the post of danger, always giving +credit to others, and never in the least boasting of his own deeds. He +is the finest character of all the Fena; and it would be hard to find +his equal in the ancient tales of any country. We have a vast number of +beautiful stories in the Irish language about Finn and the other heroes +of the Fena, a few of which are translated in this book. + + + + +XXII. + +THE CHASE OF SLIEVE CULLINN. + +IN WHICH OSSIAN RELATES HOW FINN'S HAIR WAS CHANGED IN ONE DAY FROM THE +COLOUR OF GOLD TO SILVERY GREY. + + +On a morning in summer, Finn happened to be walking alone on the lawn +before the palace of Allen, when a doe sprang out from a thicket, and, +passing quite close to him, bounded past like the wind. Without a +moment's delay, he signalled for his companions and dogs; but none heard +except his two hounds, Bran and Skolan. He instantly gave chase, +accompanied only by his two dogs; and before the Fena knew of his +absence, he had left Allen of the green slopes far behind. + +The chase turned northwards; and though the hounds kept close to the +doe, the chief kept quite as close to the hounds the whole way. And so +they continued without rest or pause, till they reached Slieve Cullinn, +far in the north. + +Here the doe made a sudden turn and disappeared; and Finn never caught +sight of her after. And he marvelled much that any doe in the world +should be able to lead Bran and Skolan so long a chase, and escape from +them in the end. Meantime they kept searching, Finn taking one side of +the hill and the dogs another, so that he was at last left quite alone. + +While he was wandering about the hill and whistling for his hounds, he +heard the plaintive cry of a woman at no great distance; and, turning +his steps towards the place, he saw a beautiful young lady sitting on +the brink of a little lake, weeping as if her heart would break. Finn +accosted her; and, seeing that she ceased her weeping for a moment, he +asked her had she seen his two hounds pass that way. + +"I have not seen thy hounds," she replied, "nor have I been at all +concerned in the chase; for, alas, there is something that troubles me +more nearly. I had a precious gold bracelet on my hand, which I prized +beyond anything in the world; and it has fallen from me into the water. +I saw it roll down the steep slope at the bottom, till it went quite out +of my sight. This is the cause of my sorrow, and thou canst remedy the +mishap if thou wilt. The Fena are sworn never to refuse help to a woman +in distress; and I now put it on thee to search for this bracelet, and +cease not till thou find it and restore it to me." + +Finn plunged in without a moment's hesitation; and after swimming three +times round the lake, diving and searching into every nook and cranny at +the bottom, he found the bracelet at last; and approaching the lady, he +handed it to her from the water. The moment she had got it she sprang +into the lake before his eyes, and, diving down, disappeared in an +instant. + +[Illustration: Irish bracelet or armlet of solid gold, now in the +National Museum, Dublin. It is double the size of the picture, of +beautiful shape and workmanship, and weighs 3-3/4 oz.] + +The chief, wondering greatly at this strange behaviour, stepped forth +from the water; but as soon as his feet had touched the dry land, he +lost all his strength, and fell on the brink, a withered, grey old man, +shrunken up and trembling all over with weakness. He sat him down in +woful plight; and soon his hounds came up. They looked at him wistfully +and sniffed and whined around him; but they knew him not, and, passing +on, they ran round the lake, searching in vain for their master. + +On that day we and the Fena in general were assembled in the banquet +hall of the palace of Allen; some feasting, some playing chess, and +others listening to the sweet music of the harpers. While all were in +this wise pleasantly engaged, we suddenly missed our chief, and when we +searched for him he was nowhere to be found: whereupon we became +alarmed. Inquiring now from the lesser people about the palace, we found +that the chief and his two dogs had chased a doe northwards. So, having +mustered a strong party of the Fena, we started in pursuit, and +following the track, never slackened speed till we reached Slieve +Cullinn. + +We began to search round the hill, and after wandering among brakes and +rough, rocky places, we at last espied a grey-headed old man sitting on +the brink of a lake. I went up to him, followed by the rest of the Fena, +and asked him if he had seen a noble-looking hero pass that way, with +two hounds, chasing a doe. He never answered a word, neither did he stir +from where he sat, or even look up; but at the question, his head sank +on his breast, and his limbs shook all over as with palsy. Then he fell +into a sudden fit of grief, wringing his hands and uttering feeble cries +of woe. + +We soothed him and used him gently, hoping he might speak at last; but +to no purpose, for he only lamented the more, and still answered +nothing. + +At last, after this had gone on for some time, and when we were about +to leave him, he told us in a whisper the dreadful secret; and then we +all came to know the truth. When we found that the withered old man was +no other than our beloved king, Finn himself, we uttered three shouts of +lamentation and anger, so loud and prolonged that the foxes and badgers +rushed affrighted from their dens in the hollows of the mountain. + +When quietness was restored, we asked Finn how this dread evil had +befallen him; and he told us that it was the daughter of Culann the +smith who had transformed him by her spells. And then he recounted how +she had lured him to swim in the lake, and how, when he came forth, he +was turned into a withered old man. + +We now made a framework litter of slender poles, and, placing our king +on it, we lifted him tenderly on our shoulders. And, turning from the +lake, we marched slowly up-hill till we came to the fairy palace of +Slieve Cullinn, where we knew the daughter of Culann had her dwelling +deep under ground. Here we set him down, and the whole troop began at +once to dig, determined to find the enchantress in her cave-palace, and +force her to restore our chief. + +For three days and three nights we dug, without a moment's rest or +pause, till at length we reached her hollow dwelling; when she, +affrighted at the tumult and at the vengeful look of the heroes, +suddenly started forth from the cave and stood before us. She held in +her hand a drinking-horn of red gold, which she handed to the king and +told him to drink. No sooner had he drunk from it, than his own shape +and features returned, save only that his hair remained of a silvery +grey. + +When we gazed on our chief in his own graceful and manly form, we were +all pleased with the soft, silvery hue of the grey hairs. And, though +the enchantress appeared ready to restore this also, Finn himself told +her that it pleased him as it pleased the others, and that he chose to +remain grey for the rest of his life. + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish bracelet for the wrist. This is of bronze; +but many Irish bracelets were of gold, like that shown at page 100.] + + + + +XXIII. + +SAINT BRIGIT: PART I. + + +Of all the Irish saints, Brigit and Columkille are, next after St. +Patrick, the most loved and revered by the people of Ireland. + +Like many others of our early saints, Brigit came of a noble family. Her +father Dubthach [Duffa] was a distinguished Leinster chief, descended +from the kings of Ireland. For some reason, which we do not know, he and +his wife lived for a time in Faughart near Dundalk, which was then a +part of Ulster: and at Faughart Brigit was born about the year 455. The +family must have soon returned however to their own district, for we +know that Brigit passed her childhood with her parents in the +neighbourhood of Kildare. She was baptised, and carefully instructed and +trained, both in general education and in religion: for her father and +mother were Christians. As she grew up, her quiet, gentle, modest ways +pleased all that knew her. At the time of her birth, St. Patrick was in +the midst of his glorious career; and some say that while she was still +a child she knew him, and that when he died she made with her own hands +a winding sheet in which his body was laid in the grave; which may have +happened, as she was ten or twelve years of age at the time of his +death. + +When Brigit came of an age to choose her way of life, she resolved to be +a nun, to which her parents made no objection. After due preparation she +went to a holy bishop of the neighbourhood, who, at her request, +received her, and placed a white robe on her shoulders and a white veil +over her head. Here she remained for some time in companionship with +eight other maidens who had been received with her, and who placed +themselves under her guidance. As time went on, she became so beloved +for her piety and sweetness of disposition, that many young women asked +to be admitted; so that though she by no means desired that people +should be speaking in her praise, the fame of her little community began +to spread through the country. + +This first establishment was conducted strictly under a set of Rules +drawn up by Brigit herself: and now, bishops in various parts of Ireland +began to apply to her to establish convents in their several districts +under the same rules. She was glad of this, and she did what she could +to meet their wishes. She visited Longford, Tipperary, Limerick, South +Leinster, and Roscommon, one after another; and in all these places she +founded convents. + +At last the people of her own province of Leinster, considering that +they had the best right to her services, sent a number of leading +persons to request that she would fix her permanent residence among +them. She was probably pleased to go back to live in the place where she +had spent her childhood; and she returned to Leinster, where she was +welcomed with great joy. The Leinster people gave her a piece of land +chosen by herself, on the edge of a beautiful level grassy plain, well +known as the Curragh of Kildare. Here, on a low ridge over-looking the +plain, she built a little church, under the shade of a wide-spreading +oak tree, whence it got the name of Kill-dara, the Church of the Oak, or +as we now call it, Kildare. This tree continued to flourish long after +Brigit's death, and it was regarded with great veneration by the people +of the place. A writer of the tenth century--four hundred years after +the foundation of the church--tells us that in his time it was a mere +branchless, withered trunk; but the people had such reverence for it +that no one dared to cut or chip it. + +We are not quite sure of the exact year of Brigit's settlement here; but +it probably occurred about 485, when she was thirty years of age. Hard +by the church she also built a dwelling for herself and her community. +We are told, in the Irish Life of St. Brigit, that this first house was +built of wood, like the houses of the people in general: and the little +church under the oak was probably of wood also, like most churches of +the time. As the number of applicants for admission continued to +increase, both church and dwelling had to be enlarged from time to time; +and the wood was replaced by stone and mortar. Such was the respect in +which the good abbess was held, that visitors came from all parts of the +country to see her and ask her advice and blessing: and many of them +settled down in the place, so that a town gradually grew up near the +convent, which was the beginning of the town of Kildare. + + + + +XXIV. + +SAINT BRIGIT: PART II. + + +Brigit, although now at the head of a great community, and very strict +in carrying out her Rules, still retained all her humility and +gentleness of disposition. With such a large family, there was plenty of +work to do; and it was all done by the nuns, as they kept no servants +and called in no outsiders. The abbess herself, so far as she was able +to withdraw from the cares of governing the establishment, took her part +like the rest in most of the domestic occupations. In some of the old +accounts of her life we are told that she often, with some companions, +herded and tended her flocks of sheep that grazed on the level sward +round the convent. And sometimes she was caught by the heavy +rain-squalls that occasionally sweep across that shelterless plain, so +that her clothes were wet through by the time she returned to the +convent: showing that she took her own share of the rough work. + +Not far from the convent, another establishment was founded, later on, +for men, which afterwards became one of the great Colleges of Ireland. +As the two communities and the population of the town continued to grow, +it was Brigit's earnest desire that a bishop should be there to take +spiritual charge of the whole place. A holy man named Conleth, who had +hitherto spent his life as a hermit in the neighbourhood, was appointed +bishop by the heads of the Church. He was the first bishop of Kildare, +and he took up his residence in the monastery. The name of that good +bishop is to this day held in affectionate remembrance, with that of St. +Brigit, by the people of Kildare and of the country all round. + +[Illustration: Ruins of Kilcrea Abbey, on the river Bride, ten miles +from Cork city. Built in honour of St. Brigit.] + +While the parent convent at Kildare continued to grow, branch houses +under Brigit's Rule, and subject to her authority, were established all +over Ireland; and many establishments for monks were also founded in +honour of her. + +Brigit had such a reputation for wisdom and prudence, that the most +eminent of the saints, and many kings and chiefs of her day, visited +Kildare or corresponded with her, to obtain her advice in doubtful or +difficult matters. Visitors were constantly coming and going, all of +whom she received kindly and treated hospitably. All this, with daily +alms to the needy, and the support of a large community, kept her poor: +for the produce of her land was not nearly sufficient to supply her +wants. For a long time in the beginning she and her community suffered +from downright poverty, so that she had often to call on the charity of +her friends and neighbours to assist her. But as time went on, and as +the reputation of the place spread abroad, she received many presents +from rich people, which generally came in the right time, and enabled +her to carry on her establishment without any danger of want. + +Among Brigit's virtues none is more marked than her charity and kindness +of heart towards poor, needy, and helpless people. She never could look +on distress of any kind without trying to relieve it at whatever cost. +Even when a mere girl living with her parents, her father was often +displeased with her for giving away necessary things belonging to the +house to poor people who came in their misery to beg from her. It +happened on one occasion that her father drove her in his chariot to +Naas (in Kildare), where then lived Dunlang king of Leinster; and +dismounting, he entered the palace, leaving his sword behind--a +beautiful and valuable one--while Brigit remained in charge of horse and +chariot. A wretched looking poor man with sickness and want in his face +came up and begged for some relief. Overcome with pity she looked about +for something to give him, and finding nothing but the sword, she handed +it to him. On her father's return he fell into a passion at the loss of +his sword: and when King Dunlang questioned her reproachfully, she +replied:--"If I had all thy wealth I would give it to the poor; for +giving to the poor is giving to the Lord of the Universe." And the king +turning to the father said:--"It is not meet that either you or I should +chide this maiden, for her merit is greater before God than before men": +on which the matter ended: and Brigit returned home with her father. + +Her overflowing kindness of heart was not confined to human beings: it +extended even to the lower animals. Once while she lived in her father's +house, a party of guests were invited, and she was given some pieces of +meat to cook for dinner. And a poor miserable half-starved hound limped +into the house and looked longingly at the meat: whereupon the girl, +quite unable to overcome her feeling of pity, threw him one of the +pieces. And when the poor animal, in his hungry greediness, had +devoured that in a moment, she gave him another, which satisfied him. +And to the last day of her life she retained her tenderness of heart and +her kindness and charity towards the poor. + + + + +XXV. + +SAINT BRIGIT: PART III. + + +Late in life Brigit's influence over young people was unbounded: for her +very gentleness gave tenfold power to her words. Once, seeing a young +man, a student of the neighbouring college, running very violently and +in an unbecoming manner, in presence of some of her nuns, she sent for +him on the spot and asked him why he was running in such haste. He +replied thoughtlessly, and half in jest, that he was running to heaven: +on which she said quietly: "I wish to God, my dear son, that I was +worthy to run with you to-day to the same place: I beg you will pray for +me to help me to arrive there." And when he heard these words, and +looked on her grave kind face, he was greatly moved; and telling her +with tears in his eyes, that he would surely pray for her and for many +others besides, he besought her to offer up her prayers for him, that he +might continue his journey steadily towards heaven, and arrive there in +the end. That young man, whose name was Ninnius, became in after-life +one of the most revered of the Irish saints. + +But with all her gentle unassuming ways, St. Brigit was a woman of +strong mind and great talents. She not only governed her various +establishments in strict accordance with her own Rules and forms of +discipline, but she was a powerful aid in forwarding the mighty +religious movement that had been commenced by St. Patrick half a century +before. She set an illustrious example to those Irish women who, during +and after her time, entered on a religious life; and though many of them +became distinguished saints, she stands far above them all. No writer +has left us a detailed account of her last hours, as Adamnan has done +for St. Columkille. (See page 150, note, farther on.) We only know that +she died at Kildare on the first of February, in or about the year 523, +and that she received the last consolations of religion from the +grateful hand of that same Ninnius whom she had turned to a religious +life many years before. + +She was buried in Kildare, where her body was entombed in a magnificent +shrine, ornamented with gold, silver, and precious stones. We may be +sure it was a very beautiful work of art, for we know that there was a +noted school of metal workers in Kildare under the direction of St. +Conleth, who was himself a most skilful artist; but this tomb was +plundered by the Danes three hundred years afterwards, and not a trace +of it now remains. + +According to some accounts, the bones of St. Brigit and St. Columkille +were brought to Downpatrick many centuries after the death of both, and +buried in the same tomb with the remains of St. Patrick. Whether this +was so or not, the matter has been commemorated in a Latin verse, of +which the following is a translation:-- + + + "Interred beneath one tomb in Down, a single vault doth hold + Patrick and Brigit and Columkille, three holy saints of old." + + +A well known Welshman, Gerald Barry (Giraldus Cambrensis), who was in +Ireland in 1185, and who wrote an account of it, says that he found "at +Kildare in Leinster, celebrated for the glorious Brigit, the 'Fire of +St. Brigit' which is reported never to go out." This fire was kept up +day and night by the nuns in his time, and for centuries before--how +long no one can tell--probably from the time of the saint herself--and +was continued for centuries after: but it was finally extinguished when +the monasteries were closed up by Henry VIII. in the year 1536. Thomas +Moore, in one of his songs, refers to it in the following words:-- + + "Like the bright lamp that shone in Kildare's holy fane, + And burned through long ages of darkness and storm." + +St. Brigit is venerated in England and Scotland as well as in Ireland: +for in both these countries churches were built in her honour, and many +convents were established under her name and rule. She was also well +known and honoured on the Continent. We need not wonder that her life +has been written by many Irishmen: but English, Scotch, French, Italian, +and German writers have also written about her and have commemorated her +as one of the most eminent saints of the West. + +Convents and monasteries were maintained in Kildare for hundreds of +years after the time of St. Brigit; and "Kildare's holy fane" is still +venerated as much as ever. On the very ridge where the humble little +church was erected fourteen hundred years ago, there is a group of fine +old church buildings, with a tall round tower that overlooks the +splendid plain of Kildare. + + + + +XXVI. + +IRISH SCRIBES AND BOOKS. + + +In old times all books were handwritten, printing being a late +invention. There were persons called Scribes, many of whom made writing +the chief business of their lives. From constant practice they became +very expert; and the penmanship of many of them was extremely beautiful +and highly ornamented, much more so than any writing executed by the +very best penmen of the present day. + +In Ireland, most of these scribes were monks, inmates of monasteries; +but many were laymen. These good and industrious men wrote into their +books all the learning of every kind that they could collect; so that +although the work of writing was slow, the numbers of books rapidly +increased; and very large libraries grew up, especially in the +monasteries. The leaves of these books were not paper like those of our +books, but parchment or vellum, which was generally made from sheepskin, +but often from the skins of other animals. + +Sometimes the scribes wrote down what had never been written before, +that is, matters composed at the time, or preserved in memory: but more +commonly they copied from other volumes. If an old book began to be +worn, ragged, or dim with age, so as to be hard to make out and read, +some scribe was sure to copy it, so as to have a new book easy to read +and well bound up. Most of the books written out in this manner related +to Ireland, as will be described presently; and the language of these +was almost always Irish. For in those times the Irish language was +spoken by all the people of Ireland. + +A favourite occupation was copying portions of the Holy Scriptures, +nearly always in the Latin language; and in this good work some monks +spent nearly all their time, in order to multiply copies of the sacred +books. Some of the greatest saints of the ancient Irish Church employed +themselves in copying the Gospels and other portions of the Bible, +whenever they could get the opportunity, as we shall see in the case of +St. Columkille. + +Copies of the Scriptures, and also prayer books, were generally +ornamented in the most beautiful way: for those accomplished and devoted +old scribes loved to beautify the sacred writings. Many of the lovely +books they wrote are still preserved, of which the most splendid is the +Book of Kells, now kept in the Library of Trinity College, in Dublin. It +is a copy of the Four Gospels, and the language is Latin, though the +letters are Irish. It was written by an Irish scribe eleven or twelve +hundred years ago, but who he was is not known. + +There is no old book in any part of the world so skilfully ornamented as +this. The capital letters are very large--one of them fills an entire +page--and are all illuminated, that is, painted in brilliant colours; +and after the lapse of so many centuries the colours are still very +fresh, though not so bright as when they were first laid on. + +In this Book of Kells, and in others like it, the capitals are +ornamented in every part with a kind of interlaced work, all done with +the pen, in which bands and ribbons are curved and plaited and woven in +the most wonderful way. These plaits and folds are so small and so close +together that one must sometimes use a magnifying glass in order to see +them plainly: in one space, the size of a half penny, in a page of a +splendid old volume, called the Book of Armagh, the ribbons appear woven +in and out more than three hundred times. + +A specimen of this interwoven ornamental work is seen at the head of the +first page of this book; but it gives only a poor idea of the beauty of +the Book of Kells. The frontispiece of the "Child's History of Ireland" +is a perfect copy, in full colours, of a complete page of the Book of +Mac Durnan, which is almost as beautiful as the Book of Kells. The Irish +used this sort of ornamentation also in metal-work and stone-work, of +which an example is given here. + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish Ornamental Sculpture on a Stone Monument.] + +Very often, large volumes were kept, into which were written +compositions of all kinds, both prose and poetry, such as were thought +worth preserving, copied from older books, and written in, one after +another, till the volume was filled. Of all these old books of mixed +compositions, the largest that remains to us is the Book of Leinster, +which is kept in Trinity College in Dublin. It is an immense volume, all +in the Irish language, written more than 750 years ago; and many of the +pages are now almost black with age and very hard to make out. It +contains a great number of pieces, some in prose and some in verse, and +nearly all of them about Ireland--histories, accounts of battles and +sieges, lives and adventures of great men, with many tales and stories +of things that happened in this country in far distant ages. + +The Book of the Dun Cow is preserved in the Royal Irish Academy in +Dublin. It is fifty years older than the Book of Leinster, but not so +large; and it contains also a great number of tales, adventures, and +histories, nearly all relating to Ireland, and all written in the Irish +language. Its name was derived from the following circumstance:--St. +Kieran of Clonmacnoise had a favourite brown cow, whose skin, when she +died, he caused to be turned into parchment, of which a book was made. +But this old book no longer exists: it was lost ages ago; and the +present "Book of the Dun Cow" is only a copy of it. + +Three other great Irish books kept in Dublin are the Book of Lecan +[Leckan], the Yellow Book of Lecan, and the Book of Ballymote. These +contain much the same kind of matter as the Book of Leinster--with +pieces mostly different however--but they are not nearly so old. The +Speckled Book, which is also in Dublin, is nearly as large as the Book +of Leinster, but not so old. It is mostly on religious matters, and +contains a great number of Lives of Saints, Hymns, Sermons, portions of +the Scriptures, and other such pieces. All these books are written with +the greatest care, and in most beautiful penmanship. + +The six old books described above have been lately printed, in such a +way as that the print resembles exactly the writing of the old books +themselves. The printed volumes are now to be found in libraries in +several parts of Ireland, as well as in England and the Continent; so +that those desirous of studying them need not come to Dublin, as people +had to do formerly. + +Many people are now eagerly studying these books and men often come to +Ireland from France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Sweden, Russia, and +other countries, in order to learn the Irish language so as to be able +to read them. But this requires much study, even from those who know the +Irish of the present day; for the language of those books is old and +difficult. + +In many National and Intermediate schools the Irish language is now +taught, and no doubt some of the pupils who attend the Irish classes +will continue their studies after they leave school, till they come to +be able to read our old books. + +A great many old Irish tales and histories have been printed and +translated, and some of them are very beautiful and instructive. Several +of the stories in this book are from the Book of the Dun Cow and the +Book of Leinster. + + + + +XXVII. + +THE GILLA DACKER AND HIS HORSE.[120-1] + + +Once upon a time, when Finn and the Fena were hunting over Munster, Finn +and some of his companions encamped on the slope of Knockainey +hill[120-2] to rest for awhile. And they sent Finn Mac Bressal to the +top of the hill to keep watch and ward, while they amused themselves, +some playing chess, and some viewing the chase all round and listening +to the sweet cry of the hounds. + + [120-1] "The Pursuit of the Gilla Dacker and his horse" is a + humorous story, of which only a few incidents are given + here. The Gilla Dacker was really Mannanan Mac Lir, the + Pagan Irish sea-god, who came in disguise to play a + trick--a sort of practical joke--on the Fena. The whole + story is given in "Old Celtic Romances." + + [120-2] Knockainey: a hill celebrated in story, rising over the + village of Knockainey, in the Co. Limerick. + +Finn Mac Bressal had been watching only a little time, when he saw on +the plain to the east, a Fomor[121-1] of vast size coming towards the +hill, leading a horse. As he came nearer, Finn Mac Bressal observed that +he was the ugliest-looking giant his eyes ever lighted on. He had a +large, thick body, bloated and swollen out to a great size; clumsy, +crooked legs; and broad, flat feet, turned inwards. His hands and arms +and shoulders were bony and thick and very strong-looking; his neck was +long and thin; and while his head was poked forward, his face was turned +up, as he stared straight at Finn Mac Bressal. He had thick lips, and +long crooked teeth; and his face was covered all over with bushy hair. + + [121-1] Fomor, a gigantic warrior, a giant: its real meaning is "a + sea-robber," commonly called a Fomorian. + +He was fully armed; but all his weapons were rusty and soiled. A broad +shield of a dirty, sooty colour, rough and battered, hung over his back; +he had a long, heavy, straight sword at his left hip; and he grasped in +his left hand two thick-handled, broad-headed spears, old and rusty, +that looked as if they had not been handled for years. In his right hand +he held an iron club, which he dragged after him, with its end on the +ground; and it was so heavy that, as it trailed along, it tore up a +track as deep as the furrow a farmer ploughs with a pair of oxen. + +The horse he led was even larger in proportion than the giant himself, +and quite as ugly. His great carcase was covered all over with tangled, +scraggy-hair, of a sooty black; you could count his ribs and all the +points of his big bones through his hide; his legs were crooked and +knotty; his neck was twisted; and as for his jaws, they were so long and +heavy that they made his head look twice too big for his body. + +The giant held the horse by a thick halter, and seemed to be dragging +him forward by main force, the animal was so lazy and so hard to move. +Every now and then when the beast tried to stand still, the giant would +give him a blow on the ribs with his big iron club, which sounded as +loud as the thundering of a great billow against the rough-headed rocks +of the coast. When he gave him a pull forward by the halter, the wonder +was that he did not drag the animal's head away from his body; and, on +the other hand, the horse often gave the halter such a tremendous tug +backwards that it was equally wonderful how the arm of the giant was not +torn from his shoulder. + +Now it was not an easy matter to frighten Finn Mac Bressal; but when he +saw the giant and his horse coming straight towards him in that wise, he +was seized with such fear and horror that he sprang from his seat, and, +snatching up his arms, he ran down the hill-slope with the utmost speed +towards the king and his companions, whom he found sitting round the +chess-board, deep in their game. + +They started up when they saw him looking so scared; and, turning their +eyes towards where he pointed, they saw the big man and his horse coming +up the hill. The Fena stood gazing at him in silent wonder, waiting till +he should arrive; but although he was no great way off when they first +caught sight of him, it was a long time before he reached the spot where +they stood, so slow was the movement of his horse and himself. + + + + +XXVIII. + +THE FENA CARRIED OFF BY THE GILLA DACKER'S HORSE. + + +Patiently and in silence the Fena stood till the giant came up; when he +bowed his head, and bended his knee, and saluted the king with great +respect. + +Finn addressed him; and having given him leave to speak, he asked who he +was, and what was his name; also what was his profession or craft, and +why he had no servant to attend to his horse--if, indeed, such an ugly +old spectre of an animal could be called a horse at all. + +The big man made answer and said, "King of the Fena, I will answer +everything you ask me, as far as lies in my power. As to where I came +from, I am a Fomor of the north; but I have no particular +dwelling-place, for I am continually travelling about from one country +to another, serving the great lords and nobles of the world, and +receiving wages for my service. + +"In the course of my wanderings I have often heard of you, O king, and +of your greatness and splendour and royal bounty; and I have come now to +visit you, and to ask you to take me into your service for one year; and +at the end of that time I shall fix my own wages, according to my +custom. + +"You ask me also why I have no servant for this great horse of mine. The +reason of that is this: at every meal I eat, my master must give me as +much food and drink as would be enough for a hundred men; and whosoever +the lord or chief may be that takes me into his service, it is quite +enough for him to have to provide for me, without having also to feed my +servant. + +"Moreover, I am so very heavy and lazy that I should never be able to +keep up with a company on march if I had to walk; and this is my reason +for keeping a horse at all. + +"My name is the Gilla Dacker,[124-1] and it is not without good reason +that I am so called. For there never was a lazier or worse servant than +I am, or one that grumbles more at doing a day's work for his master. +And I am the hardest person in the whole world to deal with; for, no +matter how good or noble I may think my master, or how kindly he may +treat me, it is hard words and foul reproaches I am likely to give him +for thanks in the end. + + [124-1] Gilla Dacker means "a slothful fellow"--a fellow hard to + move, hard to manage, hard to have anything to do with. + +"This, O Finn, is the account I have to give of myself, and these are my +answers to your questions." + +"Well," answered Finn, "according to your own account, you are not a +very pleasant fellow to have anything to do with; and of a truth there +is not much to praise in your appearance. But things may not be so bad +as you say; and, anyhow, as I have never yet refused any man service and +wages, I will not now refuse you." + +Whereupon the Gilla Dacker was taken into service among the warriors for +a year. + +Then the big man said:--"Now, as to this horse of mine, I find I must +attend to him myself, as I see no one here worthy of putting a hand near +him. So I will lead him to the nearest stud, as I am wont to do, and let +him graze among your horses. I value him greatly, however, and it would +grieve me very much if any harm were to befal him; so," continued he, +turning to the king, "I put him under your protection, O king, and under +the protection of all the Fena that are here present." + +At this speech the Fena all burst out laughing, to see the Gilla Dacker +showing such concern for his miserable, worthless, old skeleton of a +horse. + +Howbeit, the big man, giving not the least heed to their merriment, took +the halter off the horse's head, and turned him loose among the horses +of the Fena. + +But now, this same wretched-looking old animal, instead of beginning to +graze, as every one thought he would, ran in among the horses of the +Fena, and began straightway to work all sorts of mischief. He cocked his +long, hard, switchy tail straight out like a rod, and, throwing up his +hind legs, he kicked about on this side and on that, maiming and +disabling several of the horses. Sometimes he went tearing through the +thickest of the herd, butting at them with his hard, bony forehead; and +he opened out his lips with a vicious grin, and tore all he could lay +hold on, with his sharp, crooked teeth, so that none were safe that came +in his way either before or behind. And the end of it was, that not an +animal of the whole herd escaped, without having a leg broken, or an eye +knocked out, or his ribs fractured, or his ear bitten off, or the side +of his face torn open, or without being in some other way cut or maimed +beyond cure. + +At last he left them, and was making straight for a small field where +Conan Mail's horses were grazing by themselves, intending to play the +same tricks among them. But Conan, seeing this, shouted in great alarm +to the Gilla Dacker, to bring away his horse, and not let him work any +more mischief; and threatening, if he did not do so at once, to go +himself and knock the brains out of the vicious old brute on the spot. + +But the Gilla Dacker took the matter quite coolly; and he told Conan +that he saw no way of preventing his horse from joining the others, +except some one put the halter on him and held him, which would, of +course, he said, prevent the poor animal from grazing, and would leave +him hungry at the end of the day. "But," said he to Conan, "there is the +halter; and if you are in any fear for your own animals, you may go +yourself and bring him away from the field." + +Conan was in a mighty rage when he heard this; and as he saw the big +horse just about to cross the fence, he snatched up the halter, and +running forward with long strides, he threw it over the animal's head +and attempted to lead him back. But in a moment the horse stood stock +still, and his body and legs became as stiff as if they were made of +wood; and though Conan pulled and tugged with might and main, he was not +able to stir him an inch from his place. + +He gave up pulling at last, when he found it was no use; but he still +kept on holding the halter, while the big horse never made the least +stir, but stood as if he had been turned into stone; the Gilla Dacker +all the time looking on quite unconcernedly, and the others laughing at +Conan's perplexity. But no one offered to relieve him. + +At last Conan jumped up on the horse, and tried to urge him on, but all +to no purpose: for the animal never stirred. Another of the Fena now +mounted behind him, and another, and another, till there were fourteen +of them on the horse's back. Then the Gilla Dacker, suddenly tucking up +his skirts, darted away from the Fena, and ran south-west with the speed +of a swallow flying across a mountain side, or of a March wind sweeping +over the plain. When the horse saw his master running, he stirred +himself at once and followed him with equal speed, carrying off the +whole fourteen men, and plunging and tearing along as if he had nothing +at all on his back. + +The men now tried to throw themselves off; but this, indeed, they were +not able to do, for the good reason that they found themselves fastened +firmly, hands and feet and all, to the horse's back. Moreover they found +that their seat was not a comfortable one, for the old horse's backbone +was rough and scraggy, and nearly as sharp as a saw. + +And now Conan, looking round, raised his big voice, and shouted to Finn +and the Fena, asking them were they content to let their friends be +carried off in that manner by such a horrible, foul-looking old spectre +of a horse. + +Finn and the others, hearing this, instantly started off in pursuit, and +for miles on miles they kept the Gilla Dacker and the horse in view, but +were not able to overtake them. At last the horse and his master came to +the shore of the sea in the west of Kerry, and without stop or stay they +plunged forward, moving over the waves the same as on the dry land: and +just as the Fena arrived at the shore, they lost sight of them in the +distance. + + + + +XXIX. + +DERMOT O'DYNA AT THE WELL. + + +Great was the astonishment of the Fena, and great their dismay, on +seeing their comrades carried off in this manner on the back of the big +horse. And now they took counsel; and what they resolved on was, to send +Dermot O'Dyna and a party of the Fena in a ship to search for their +companions. And Dermot and the others went on board, and sailed to the +west for many leagues, till they lost sight of the shores of Erin. At +length they came to an island with steep cliffs all round, so high that +its head seemed hidden in the clouds: and they saw by the tracks, that +up the face of this cliff the horse had made his way. And it was agreed +that Dermot O'Dyna should climb up and explore the island in quest of +their comrades. Then Dermot put on his armour and his helmet, and took +his shield, his two spears, and his sword: and leaning on the handles of +the spears, he leaped with a light, airy bound on the nearest shelf of +rock. Using his spears and his hands, he climbed from ledge to ledge, +while his companions watched him anxiously from below; till, after much +toil, he measured the soles of his two feet on the green sod at the top +of the rock. And when, recovering breath, he turned round and looked at +his companions in the ship far below, he started back with amazement and +dread at the dizzy height. + +He now looked inland, and saw a beautiful country spread out before +him:--a lovely, flowery plain straight in front, bordered with pleasant +hills, and shaded with groves of many kinds of trees. It was enough to +banish all care and sadness from one's heart to view this country, and +to listen to the warbling of the birds, the humming of the bees among +the flowers, the rustling of the wind through the trees, and the +pleasant voices of the streams and waterfalls. + +Making no delay, Dermot set out to walk across the plain. He had not +been long walking when he saw, right before him, a great tree laden with +fruit, over-topping all the other trees of the plain. It was surrounded +at a little distance by a circle of pillar-stones; and one stone, taller +than the others, stood in the centre near the tree. Beside this +pillar-stone was a spring well, with a large, round pool as clear as +crystal; and the water bubbled up in the centre, and flowed away towards +the middle of the plain in a slender stream. + +Dermot was glad when he saw the well; for he was hot and thirsty after +climbing up the cliff. He stooped down to take a drink; but before his +lips touched the water, he heard the heavy tread of a body of warriors, +and the loud clank of arms, as if a whole host were coming straight down +on him. He sprang to his feet and looked round; but the noise ceased in +an instant, and he could see nothing. + +After a little while he stooped once more to drink; and again, before he +had wet his lips, he heard the very same sounds, nearer and louder than +before. A second time he leaped to his feet; and still he saw no one. He +knew not what to think of this; and as he stood wondering and perplexed, +he happened to cast his eyes on the tall pillar-stone that stood on the +brink of the well; and he saw on its top a large, beautiful +drinking-horn,[131-1] chased with gold and enamelled with precious +stones. + + [131-1] The ancient Irish used drinking vessels of various forms + and with several names. A "Drinking-horn" (called a + _corn_: pronounced _curn_) was usually made of a + bullock's horn, hollowed out, cut into shape, and often + highly ornamented with silver rim, precious stones, + carvings, and other decorations. A beautiful + drinking-horn will be found figured in the "Child's + History of Ireland," p. 26. Another kind of drinking + vessel--the mether--has been already noticed here (page + 17 above). + +"Now surely," said Dermot, "I have been doing wrong: it is, no doubt, +one of the virtues of this well that it will not let any one drink of +its waters except from the drinking-horn." + +So he took down the horn, dipped it into the well, and drank without +hindrance, till he had slaked his thirst. + + + + +XXX. + +DERMOT O'DYNA FIGHTS THE WIZARD-CHAMPION, AND AFTER A TIME RESCUES HIS +COMRADES. + + +Hardly had Dermot taken the horn from his lips, when he saw a tall +wizard-champion coming towards him from the east, clad in a complete +suit of mail, and fully armed with shield and helmet, sword and spear. A +beautiful scarlet mantle hung over his armour, fastened at his throat by +a golden brooch; he had a gold torque round his neck; and a broad +circlet of sparkling gold was bended in front across his forehead, to +confine his yellow hair, and keep it from being blown about by the wind. + +As he came nearer, he increased his pace, moving with great strides; and +Dermot now observed that he looked very wrathful. He offered no +greeting, and showed not the least courtesy; but addressed Dermot in a +rough, angry voice-- + +"Surely, Dermot O'Dyna, Erin of the green plains should be wide enough +for you; and it contains abundance of clear, sweet water in its crystal +springs and green bordered streams, from which you might have drunk your +fill. But you have come into my island without my leave, and you have +taken my drinking-horn, and have drunk from my well; and this spot you +shall never leave till you have given me satisfaction for the insult." + +[Illustration: A torque [pronounced _tork_] of gold: a twisted collar +for the neck. Golden torques were much used by kings and other rich +people. Many torques are in the National Museum: but most of them are +better made and twisted more closely than the one here represented.] + +So spoke the wizard-champion, and instantly advanced on Dermot with fury +in his eyes. But Dermot was not the man to be terrified by any hero or +wizard-champion alive. He met the foe half-way; and now, foot to foot, +and knee to knee, and face to face, they began a fight, watchful and +wary at first, but soon hot and vengeful, till their shields and helmets +could scarce withstand their strong thrusts and blows. Like two enraged +lions fighting to the death, or two strong serpents intertwined in +deadly strife, or two great opposing billows thundering against each +other on the ocean border; such was the strength and fury and +determination of the combat of these two heroes. + +And so they fought through the long day, till evening came, and it began +to be dusk; when suddenly the wizard-champion sprang outside the range +of Dermot's sword, and leaping up with a great bound, he alighted in the +very centre of the well. Down he went through it, and disappeared in a +moment before Dermot's eyes, as if the well had swallowed him up. Dermot +stood on the brink, leaning on his spear, amazed and perplexed, looking +after him in the water; but whether the hero had meant to drown himself, +or that he had played some wizard trick, Dermot knew not. + +He sat down to rest, full of vexation that the wizard-champion should +have got off so easily. And what chafed him still more was that his +companions knew nought of what had happened, and that when he returned, +he could tell them nothing of the strange hero; neither had he the least +token or trophy to show them after his long fight. + +Dermot now began to think what was best to be done; and he made up his +mind to stay near the well all night, in the hope of finding out +something further about the wizard-champion on the morrow. + +He walked towards the nearest point of a great forest that stretched +from the mountain down to the plain on his left; and as he came near, a +herd of speckled deer ran by among the trees. Poising his spear, he +threw it with an unerring cast, and brought down the nearest of the +herd. + +Then, having lighted a fire under a tree, he skinned the deer and fixed +it on long hazel spits to roast, having first, however, gone to the +well, and brought away the drinking-horn full of water. And he sat +beside the roasting deer to turn it and tend the fire, waiting +impatiently for his meal; for he was hungry and tired after the toil of +the day. + +When the deer was cooked, he ate till he was satisfied, and drank the +clear water of the well from the drinking-horn; after which he lay down +under the shade of the tree, beside the fire, and slept a sound sleep +till morning. + +Night passed away and the sun rose, bringing morning with its abundant +light. Dermot started up, refreshed after his long sleep, and, repairing +to the forest, he slew another deer, and fixed it on hazel spits to +roast at the fire as before. For Dermot had this custom, that he would +never eat of any food left from a former meal. + +And after he had eaten of the deer's flesh and drunk from the horn, he +went towards the well. But though his visit was early, he found the +wizard-champion there before him, standing beside the pillar-stone, +fully armed as before, and looking now more wrathful than ever. Dermot +was much surprised; but before he had time to speak, the wizard-champion +addressed him-- + +"Dermot O'Dyna, you have now put the cap on all your evil deeds. It was +not enough that you took my drinking-horn and drank from my well: you +have done much worse than this, for you have hunted on my grounds, and +have killed some of my speckled deer. Surely there are many +hunting-grounds in Erin of the green plains, with plenty of deer in +them; and you need not have come hither to commit these robberies on me. +But now for a certainty you shall not go from this spot till I have +taken satisfaction for all these misdeeds." + +And again the two champions attacked each other, and fought during the +long day, from morning till evening. And when the dusk began to fall, +the wizard-champion leaped into the well, and disappeared down through +it, even as he had done the day before. + +The selfsame thing happened on the third day. And each day, morning and +evening, Dermot killed a deer, and ate of its flesh, and drank of the +water of the well from the drinking-horn. + +On the fourth morning, Dermot found the wizard-champion standing as +usual by the pillar-stone near the well. And as each morning he looked +more angry than on the morning before, so now he scowled in a way that +would have terrified anyone but Dermot O'Dyna. + +And they fought during the day till the dusk of evening. But now Dermot +watched his foe narrowly; and when he saw him about to spring into the +well he closed on him and threw his arms round him. The wizard-champion +struggled to free himself, moving all the time nearer and nearer to the +brink; but Dermot held on, till at last both fell into the well. Down +they went, clinging to each other, Dermot and the strange champion; +down, down, deeper and deeper they went; and Dermot tried to look round, +but nothing could he see save darkness and dim shadows. At length there +was a glimmer of light; then the bright day burst suddenly upon them; +and presently they came to the solid ground, gently and without the +least shock. + +At the very moment they reached the ground, the wizard-champion, with a +sudden effort, tore himself away from Dermot's grasp, and ran forward +with great speed. Dermot leaped to his feet; and he was so amazed at +what he saw around him that he stood stock still and let the +wizard-champion escape:--a lovely country, with many green-sided hills +and fair valleys between, woods of red yew trees, and plains laughing +all over with flowers of every hue. + +Right before him, not far off, lay a city of great tall houses with +glittering roofs; and on the side nearest to him was a royal palace, +larger and grander than the rest. On the level green in front of the +palace were a number of knights, all armed, and amusing themselves with +various warlike exercises of sword and shield and spear. + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish bronze shield, 28 inches in diameter, found +in a bog in the Co. Limerick. Shields were often made of yew-wood, which +is very hard: and oftener still of wickerwork, covered outside with +tough hides, generally tanned. Wickerwork shields were sometimes large +enough to cover the whole body. On the inside of every shield was a +crossbar which was held in the hand: and for additional safety a leather +strap fastened to the shield, went round the warrior's neck.] + +To tell all Dermot's adventures here would be too long for this book. +But he remained in that strange country, till he met the wizard +champion and subdued him in fight. And after much searching he found +Conan and the others who had been carried off by the Gilla Dacker's +horse after which they all returned to the ship. And they sailed back to +Erin where, when they landed, they were welcomed with a mighty shout by +the assembled Fena. + + From "Old Celtic Romances," by P. W. JOYCE, LL.D. + + + + +XXXI. + +SAINT COLUMKILLE: PART I. + + +Saint Columkille[139-1] was born in the year 521, in Gartan, a wild +district in the county Donegal, not far from Letterkenny. He was a near +relation of the kings of Ireland of his time; for his father was +great-grandson of the mighty King Niall of the Nine Hostages (see p. 5): +and his mother was related to the kings of Leinster. He spent his +boyhood in a little village near Gartan; and when he was old enough, he +was sent away from his home to a school kept by a distinguished bishop +and teacher, St. Finnen, at Movilla, near the present Newtownards, in +Down. Though he belonged to a princely family, and might easily have +become rich and great, he gave up these worldly advantages for religion, +and resolved to become a priest. + + [139-1] In books he is often called Columba; but in Ireland he is + best known by the name Columkille. This is derived from + _colum_ [pron. _collum_] a dove, and _cill_, or _kill_, a + church: the "Dove of the church." This name was given him + when a boy from his gentle, affectionate disposition, and + because he was so fond of praying in the little church of + Tullydouglas, near where he was born: so that the little + boys who were accustomed to play with him used often to + ask: "Has our little _Colum_ yet come from the church?" + + The sketch given here is taken chiefly, but not + altogether, from Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba." Adamnan + was a native of Tirconnell or Donegal, like Columba + himself. He died in the year 703. He was the ninth abbot + of Iona, of which Columba was the first. His "Life of St. + Columba" is a very beautiful piece of Latin composition. + +[Illustration: Ruins of the Monastery of Movilla, near Newtownards. +(Drawn in 1845.)] + +Having spent some time at Movilla, the youthful Columkille went to +several other Irish Colleges, including that of St. Movi, at Glasnevin, +near Dublin; and as he was a diligent student, he made great progress in +all. The most celebrated of these was at Clonard, in Meath, in which +there were many hundreds of students under the instruction of another +St. Finnen, a great and holy man, who is styled in old Irish writings "a +doctor of wisdom and the tutor of the saints of Ireland in his time." +Here Columkille met many young Irishmen who afterwards became +distinguished saints and missionaries. + +As soon as he was ordained priest, he set about the work of his +life--spreading the Gospel. At that time the high ridge over the river +Foyle, where now stands the old city of Derry, was an uninhabited spot, +clothed with a splendid wood of oaks, from which it got the name of +Derry, meaning an oak grove: this spot was presented to Columkille by +his cousin, prince Aed, afterwards king of Ireland. Here, when he was +twenty-five years of age, he built his first church, round which grew up +a monastery that continued to flourish for many hundred years, so that, +in memory of the saint, the place was long afterwards known by the name +of Derry-Columkille. At this period of his life he was a man of noble +presence, a worthy member of a kingly race, as one of the old Irish +writers describes him:--tall, broad-shouldered, and powerful: with long, +curling hair: luminous grey eyes, and a countenance bright and +pleasing: and he was always lively and agreeable in conversation. + +[Illustration: Remains of a Round Tower at Drumcliff, 4 miles north of +Sligo town: built near the church founded by St. Columkille; but long +after his time.] + +For fifteen years after the establishment of Derry, Columkille continued +to found churches all over the country, among many others those of Kells +in Meath, Tory Island, Swords near Dublin, Drumcliff in Sligo, and +Durrow in King's County, the last of which was his chief establishment +in Ireland. It is recorded that during these fifteen years he founded +altogether three hundred churches and monasteries. These establishments, +like all the other Irish monasteries, were the means of spreading not +only religion but general enlightenment: for in most of them there were +schools; and the priests and monks converted, and taught, and civilised, +to the best of their power, the people in their neighbourhood. + +Many years before this, St. Patrick and the missionaries who worked +under his guidance, had converted the greatest part of the Irish people +to Christianity. But the time was too short and the missionaries too few +to instruct the newly-converted people fully in their faith: so that +although they were Christians, many of them had only a poor knowledge of +the Christian doctrine. In those times there were certain persons in +Ireland called Druids, who were the learned men among the pagans of the +day, and who taught the people the pagan religion known as Druidism. +They hated the Christian faith, and gave St. Patrick and his companions +great trouble by trying to persuade the pagan Irish not to become +Christians. They continued in the country till the time of St. +Columkille, as active as ever though much fewer; and St. Columkille and +the other missionaries of his time had often hard work to win over the +people from the false teaching of these druids, and make good Christians +of them. + +A great part of the north of Scotland was then inhabited by a people +called the Picts. Those of them who lived south of the Grampian +mountains had been converted some time before by St. Ninian of +Glastonbury:[143-1] but the northern Picts were still pagans; and +Columkille made up his mind to leave Ireland and devote the rest of his +life to their conversion. In 563, in the forty-second year of his age, +he bade a sorrowful farewell to his native country, and crossing the sea +with twelve companions, he settled in the island of Iona, in the +Hebrides, which had been presented to him by his relative, the king of +that part of Scotland. Here he built his little church and monastery, +all of wood, and began to prepare for his glorious work. This little +island afterwards became the Greatest religious centre in Scotland: and +grand churches and other buildings were erected in and around the site +of Columkille's humble structures. For many centuries Iona was held in +such honour that most of the kings and chiefs and other great people of +Scotland were buried in it; and to this day it is full of venerable and +beautiful ruins, which are every year visited by people from all parts +of the British Islands. + + [143-1] Glastonbury, a town in Somersetshire, in England, where in + old times there was a celebrated monastery, much reported + to by Irish students. + +The most laborious part of St. Columkille's active life began after his +settlement in Iona. He traversed the Highlands of Scotland and the +Islands of the Hebrides, sometimes in a rude chariot, sometimes on foot, +visiting the kings and chiefs of the Picts, and preaching to them in +their homes; and he founded churches and monasteries all over that part +of Scotland, just as he had done in Ireland. After many years of +incessant labour he succeeded in converting the whole of the northern +Picts. + +When Columkille was at home in his monastery resting from his +missionary labours, his favourite occupation was copying the Holy +Scriptures. We are told that he wrote with his own hand, in the course +of years, three hundred copies of the sacred books, which he presented +to the various churches he had founded; and this good work he continued +to the very last day of his life. Besides mere copying, he composed many +hymns and other poems, both in Latin and Irish. He was always employed +at something. Adamnan says that not an hour of the day passed by without +some work for himself and his monks--praying, reading, writing, +arranging the affairs of the monastery, or manual work: for he took his +own share in cooking, grinding corn, overseeing the men who were working +in the fields, and so forth. + + + + +XXXII. + +SAINT COLUMKILLE: PART II. + + +During St. Columkille's residence in Iona he visited Ireland more than +once, on important business: and we may be sure that he was delighted +when the opportunity came to see again the land he loved so well. The +most important of these occasions was when he came over to take part in +a great Meeting--a sort of Parliament for all Ireland--which was held at +a place called Drum-Ketta in Derry. The proceedings at this meeting +will be found described in the "Child's History of Ireland." + +Amidst all the earnest and laborious efforts of St. Columkille in the +cause of religion, he never forgot his native country. He looked upon +himself as an exile, though a voluntary exile in a great and glorious +cause; and a tender regret was always mingled with his recollections of +Ireland. We have in our old books a very ancient poem in the Irish +language, believed to have been composed by him, in which he expresses +himself in this manner:-- + + + "How delightful to be on Ben-Edar before embarking on the foam-white + sea: how pleasant to row one's little curragh all round it, to look + upward at its bare steep border, and to hear the waves dashing; + against its rocky cliffs. + + "A grey eye looks back towards Erin: a grey eye full of tears. + + "While I traverse Alban of the ravens, I think on my little oak + grove in Derry. If the tributes and the riches of Alban were mine, + from the centre to the utmost borders, I would prefer to them all + one little house in Derry. The reason I love Derry is for its + quietness, for its purity, for its crowds of white angels. + + "How sweet it is to think of Durrow: how delightful would it be to + hear the music of the breeze rustling through its groves. + + "Plentiful is the fruit in the Western Island--beloved Erin of many + waterfalls: plentiful her noble proves of oak. Many are her kings + and princes; sweet-voiced her clerics; her birds warble joyously in + the woods; gentle are her youths; wise her seniors; comely and + graceful her women, of spotless virtue; illustrious her men, of + noble aspect. + + "There is a grey eye that fills with tears when it looks back + towards Erin. While I stand on the oaken deck of my bark I stretch + my vision westwards over the briny sea towards Erin." + + +During his whole life Columkille retained his affection for his native +land and for everything connected with it. One breezy day, when he was +now in his old age in Iona, a crane appeared flying towards the island: +it was beaten about by the wind, and with much difficulty it reached the +beach, where it fell down quite spent with hunger and fatigue. And the +good old man said to one of his monks:-- + +"That crane has come from our dear fatherland, and I earnestly commend +it to thee: nurse and cherish it tenderly till it is strong enough to +return again to its sweet home in Scotia." + +Accordingly the monk took the bird up in his arms and brought it to the +hospice, and fed and tended it for three days till it had quite +recovered. The third day was calm, and the bird rose from the earth till +it had come to a great height, when resting for a moment to look +forward, it stretched out its neck and directed its course towards +Ireland. + +[Illustration: Round Tower of St. Canice, Kilkenny: 100 feet high, and +perfect, except that it wants the pointed cap. St. Canice was an +intimate friend of St. Columkille: but this tower was not erected till +some centuries after the death of the two saints.] + +On the day before the saint's death he went to a little hill hard by the +monastery that overlooked the whole place; and gazing-lovingly round him +for the last time, he lifted up his hands and blessed the monastery. And +as he was returning with his attendant, he grew tired and sat down half +way to rest; for he was now very weak. While he was sitting here an old +white horse that was employed for many years to carry the pails between +the milking place and the monastery, first looked at him intently, and +then, coming up slowly, step by step, he laid his head gently on the +saint's bosom. And he began to moan pitifully, and big tears rolled from +his eyes and fell into the saint's lap: which, when the attendant saw, +he came up to drive him away. Put the old man said:--"Let him alone: he +loves me. May be God has given him some dim knowledge that his master is +going; from him and from you all: so let him alone." At last, standing +up, he blessed the poor old animal and returned to the monastery. + +The death call came to him when he was seventy-six years of age. Though +his death was not a sudden one, he had no sickness before it: he simply +sank, wearied out with his life-long labours. Although he knew his end +was near, he kept writing one of the Psalms till he could write no +longer; while his companion Baithen sat beside him. At last, laying down +the pen, he said, "Let Baithen write the rest." + +On the night of that same day, at the toll of the midnight bell for +prayer, he rose, feeble as he was, from his bed, which was nothing but a +bare flagstone, and went to the church hard by, followed immediately +after by his attendant Dermot. He arrived there before the others had +time to bring in the lights; and Dermot, losing sight of him in the +darkness, called out several times, "Where are you, father?" Perceiving +no reply, he felt his way, till he found his master before the altar +kneeling and leaning forward on the steps: and raising him up a little, +supported his head on his breast. The monks now came up with the lights; +and seeing their beloved old master dying, they began to weep. He looked +at them with his face lighted up with joy, and tried to utter a +blessing; but being unable to speak, he raised his hand a little to +bless them, and in the very act of doing so he died in Dermot's +arms.[150-1] + + [150-1] This simple and beautiful narrative of the last days of St. + Columkille, including the two pleasing little stories + about the crane and the old white horse, with the + affecting account of the saint's death, is taken + altogether from Adamnan's Life. The circumstances of + Columkille's death are, in some respects, very like those + attending the death of the Venerable Bede, as recorded in + the tender and loving letter of his pupil, the monk + Cuthbert. But Adamnan's narrative was written more than + forty years before that of Cuthbert. + + Baithen was St. Columkille's first cousin and his most + beloved disciple, and succeeded him as abbot of Iona. + + + + +XXXIII. + +PRINCE ALFRED IN IRELAND. + + +It has been already stated (p. 47) that in early ages great numbers of +foreigners came to Ireland to study in the colleges. Among those was +Aldfrid or Alfred,[150-2] Prince of Northumbria, one of the Kingdoms of +the Saxon Heptarchy. His history is interesting to us as exhibiting an +example of the class of persons who came to Ireland for education in +those days, and as showing the close relations existing between many of +the royal families of England and Ireland. + + [150-2] This Alfred must be distinguished from Alfred the Great who + lived two centuries later. + +In the year 670, on the death of his father Oswy, who was king of +Northumbria, the throne was seized unjustly by Alfred's younger brother, +Egfrid: whereupon Alfred fled to Ireland. He was all the more ready to +choose this as his place of exile, inasmuch as he was fond of learning, +and he knew well that there were more learned and skilful teachers and +better opportunities for study in Ireland than elsewhere. But he had +another good reason; for his mother Fina [Feena] was an Irish princess +of the family of the kings of Meath. The Irish knew him by the name +"Flann," or more commonly Flann Fina, from his mother. He remained many +years in Ireland, studying with great diligence in various colleges, +till he had mastered most of the branches of learning then taught. He +became specially skilled in the Holy Scriptures, and he also learned to +speak and write the Irish language. + +While he was in Ireland he was for a time under the instruction of St. +Adamnan, the writer of the life of St. Columkille (see p. 140, note); +and so close and affectionate was the intimacy between them, that the +ancient Irish writers often call Alfred Adamnan's foster-son. + +In the year 684 a party of Saxons were sent from Northumbria by Egfrid +across the sea on a plundering expedition to Ireland. Having ravaged the +coast of Meath,[152-1] between Ben-Edar and the Boyne, these marauders +carried off a number of captives, who were held in bondage during the +short remainder of his reign. In the very next year Egfrid was killed in +battle, on which the Northumbrian nobles, who were well aware of +Alfred's virtues and great abilities, sent to Ireland inviting him to +take the throne: and accordingly he returned to England and became king +of the Northumbrians. + + [152-1] Meath, one of the five Kingdoms into which Ireland was + divided. Ben-Edar, the old name of Howth, near Dublin. + +[Illustration: Ancient Irish thin plate of gold, twice the size of the +picture. This is one of the bosses at the two ends of a gorget, like +that figured at page 19. Now in the National Museum, Dublin.] + +The poor captives were still kept in slavery: but Adamnan, seeing now a +chance for their release, proceeded to the Northumbrian court to plead +with his friend and former pupil for their restoration. He was received +most affectionately; and at his intercession the king had the captives +set free. Adamnan then brought them back, to the number of sixty, and +restored them all rejoicing to their homes and friends. + +As soon as Alfred had taken possession of the throne he took careful +measures to have his people instructed in learning, religion, and +virtue, in accordance with what he had himself seen and learned in +Ireland; and he governed his kingdom for nineteen years in peace and +prosperity. + +In several ancient Irish manuscripts, including the Book of Leinster, +there is a poem in the Irish language in praise of Ireland, said to have +been composed by Alfred Flann Fina; of which the following are some of +the verses faithfully translated[153-1]:-- + + +PRINCE ALDFRID'S ACCOUNT OF IRELAND. + + I found in Inisfail the fair, + In Ireland, while in exile there, + Women of worth, both grave and gay men, + Many clerics and many laymen. + + I travelled its fruitful provinces round, + And in every one of the five I found, + Alike in church and in palace hall, + Abundant apparel, and food for all. + + Gold and silver I found, and money, + Plenty of wheat and plenty of honey; + I found God's people rich in pity, + Found many a feast and many a city. + + I found in Munster, unfettered of any, + Kings, and queens, and poets a many-- + Poets well skilled in music and measure, + Prosperous doings, mirth and pleasure. + + I found in Connaught the just, redundance + Of riches, milk in lavish abundance; + Hospitality, vigour, fame, + In Cruachan's[154-1] land of heroic name. + + I found in Ulster, from hill to glen, + Hardy warriors, resolute men; + Beauty that bloomed when youth was gone, + And strength transmitted from sire to son. + + I found in Leinster the smooth and sleek, + From Dublin to Slewmargy's[154-2] peak; + Flourishing pastures, valour, health, + Long-living worthies, commerce, wealth. + + I found in Meath's fair principality, + Virtue, vigour, and hospitality; + Candour, joyfulness, bravery, purity, + Ireland's bulwark and security. + + I found strict morals in age and youth, + I found historians recording truth; + The things I sing of in verse unsmooth, + I found them all--I have written sooth. + + [153-1] It was translated very exactly into prose in 1832 by the + great Irish scholar Dr. John O'Donovan: the Irish poet + James Clarence Mangan turned this prose with very little + change into verse, part of which is given here. + + [154-1] Cruachan or Croghan in the north of the present Co. + Roscommon, the ancient palace of the kings of Connaught: + see page 52. + + [154-2] Slewmargy, now Slievemargy, a low range of hills in Queen's + County. + + + + +XXXIV. + +THE VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE ADVENTURES OF MAILDUNE[155-1] AND HIS CREW, AND OF THE +WONDERFUL THINGS THEY SAW DURING THEIR VOYAGE OF THREE YEARS AND SEVEN +MONTHS, IN THEIR CURRAGH, ON THE WESTERN SEA. + + +In that part of Thomond[155-2] lying opposite the Aran Islands there +once lived a young chief named Maildune. When he was an infant, a band +of marauders landed on the coast, and plundered the whole district, and +slew his father by burning the house over his head. Maildune grew up +knowing nothing of all this, for his mother concealed it from him. But +one day, when he was now a young man, he was contending in certain games +of strength with a number of young persons of his own age, and he +obtained the victory in every contest. At last it came to throwing the +handstone: and when he had thrown it farther than all the others, an +envious foul-tongued fellow who was standing by said to him:-- + +"It would better become you to avenge the man who was burned to death +here, than to be amusing yourself casting a stone over his bare, burnt +bones." + + [155-1] Only a few of his adventures are given here: but the whole + story of the voyage is in "Old Celtic Romances": see page + 164, farther on. + + [155-2] Thomond, North Munster, namely the present county Clare and + parts of Tipperary and Limerick. + +"Who was he?" inquired Maildune. + +"Your own father," replied the other. + +"Who slew him?" asked Maildune. + +"Plunderers from a fleet slew him and burned him in this house; and the +same plunderers are now living in an island far out in the sea, and they +still have the same fleet." + +Maildune was disturbed and sad after hearing this. He dropped the stone +that he held in his hand, folded his cloak round him, buckled on his +shield, and left the company. And having made further inquiry and found +that the story was true, he resolved that he would never rest till he +had overtaken these plunderers, and avenged on them the death of his +father. + +Then he sent for a skilful workman to whom he gave directions to make +for him a triple-hide curragh[157-1] large enough to hold sixty persons +and all things needed for a voyage. This was done: and Maildune chose +his companions; and having laid in a little stock of provisions, and +whatever other things were needed, he put to sea. + + [157-1] Curragh, a boat made of basket or wicker work, covered with + hides. Curraghs were generally small and light: but some, + intended for long voyages, were large and strong, and + covered with two, or three, layers of hide one outside + another. Sometimes the hides were tanned into leather to + give additional strength. + + +THE FIRST ISLAND.--TIDINGS OF THE PLUNDERERS. + +They sailed that day and night, as well as the whole of the next day, +till darkness came on again; and at midnight they saw two small bare +islands, with two great houses on them near the shore. When they drew +nigh, they heard the sounds of merriment and laughter, and the shouts of +revellers intermingled with the loud voices of warriors boasting of +their deeds. And listening to catch the conversation, they heard one +warrior say to another-- + +"Stand off from me, for I am a better warrior than thou; it was I who +slew Maildune's father, and burned the house over his head; and no one +has ever dared to avenge it on me. Thou hast never done a great deed +like that!" + +"Now surely," said one of Maildune's companions to him, "Heaven has +guided our ship to this place. Here is an easy victory. Let us sack this +house, since our enemies have been revealed to us and delivered into our +hands!" + +While they were yet speaking, the wind arose, and a great tempest +suddenly broke on them. And they were driven violently before the storm, +all that night and a part of next day, into the great and boundless +ocean; so that they saw neither the islands they had left nor any other +land; and they knew not whither they were going. + +Then Maildune said, "Take down your sail and put by your oars, and let +the curragh drift before the wind in whatsoever direction it pleases God +to lead us": which was done. + + + + +XXXV. + +AN EXTRAORDINARY MONSTER. + + +During the next few days, the wind bore Maildune's curragh along +smoothly, so that the crew had not to use their oars. The island they +now came to had a wall all round it. When they approached the shore, an +animal of vast size, with a thick, rough skin, started up inside the +wall, and ran round the island with the swiftness of the wind. When he +had ended his race, he went to a high point, and standing on a large, +flat stone, began to exercise himself according to his daily custom, in +the following manner. He kept turning himself completely round and round +in his skin, the bones and flesh moving, while the skin remained at +rest. + +When he was tired of this exercise, he rested a little; and he then set +to work turning his skin continually round his body, down at one side +and up at the other like a mill-wheel; but the bones and flesh did not +move. + +After spending some time at this sort of exercise, he started and ran +round the island as at first, as if to refresh himself. He then went +back to the same spot, and this time, while the skin that covered the +lower part of his body remained without motion, he whirled the skin of +the upper part round and round like the movement of a flat-lying +millstone. And it was in this manner that he passed most of his time on +the island. + +Maildune and his people, after they had seen these strange doings, +thought it better not to venture nearer. So they put out to sea in great +haste. The monster, observing them about to fly, ran down to the beach +to seize the curragh; but finding that they had got out of his reach, he +began to fling round stones at them with great force and an excellent +aim. One of them struck Maildune's shield and went quite through it, +lodging in the keel of the curragh; after which the voyagers got beyond +his range and sailed away. + + + In a wall-circled isle a big monster they found, + With a hide like an elephant, leathery and bare; + He threw up his heels with a wonderful bound, + And ran round the isle with the speed of a hare. + + But a feat more astounding has yet to be told: + He turned round and round in his leathery skin; + His bones and his flesh and his sinews he rolled-- + He was resting outside while he twisted within! + + Then changing his practice with marvellous skill, + His carcase stood rigid and round went his hide; + It whirled round his bones like the wheel of a mill-- + He was resting within while he twisted outside! + + Next, standing quite near on a green little hill, + After galloping round in the very same track, + While the skin of his breast remained perfectly still, + Like a millstone he twisted the skin of his back! + + But Maildune and his men put to sea in their boat, + For they saw his two eyes looking over the wall; + And they knew by the way that he opened his throat, + He intended to swallow them, curragh and all! + + +THE SILVER PILLAR OF THE SEA. + +The next wonderful thing the voyagers came across was an immense silver +pillar standing in the sea. It had eight sides, each of which was the +width of an oar-stroke of the curragh, so that its whole circumference +was eight oar-strokes. It rose out of the sea without any land or earth +about it, nothing but the boundless ocean; and they could not see its +base deep down in the water, neither were they able to see the top on +account of its vast height. + +A silver net hung from the top down to the very water, extending far out +at one side of the pillar; and the meshes were so large that the curragh +in full sail went through one of them. When they were passing through +it, Diuran, one of Maildune's companions, struck the mesh with the edge +of his spear, and with the blow cut a large piece off it. + +"Do not destroy the net," said Maildune; "for what we see is the work of +great men." + +"What I have done," answered Diuran, "is for the honour of my God, and +in order that the story of our adventures may be more readily believed; +and I shall lay this silver as an offering on the altar of Armagh, if I +ever reach Erin." + +That piece of silver weighed two ounces and a half, as it was reckoned +afterwards by the people of the church of Armagh. + +After this the voyagers heard someone speaking on the top of the pillar, +in a loud, clear, glad voice; but they knew neither what he said, nor in +what language he spoke. + + + + +XXXVI. + +MAILDUNE MEETS HIS ENEMY, IS RECONCILED TO HIM, AND ARRIVES HOME. + + +The next land the travellers sighted was a small island. On a near +approach they recognised it as the very same island they had seen in the +beginning of their voyage, in which they had heard the man in the great +house boast that he had slain Maildune's father, and from which the +storm had driven them out into the great ocean. + +They turned the prow of their vessel to the shore, landed, and went +towards the house. It happened that at this very time the people of the +house were seated at their evening meal; and Maildune and his +companions, as they stood outside, heard a part of their conversation. + +Said one to another, "It would not be well for us if we were now to see +Maildune." + +"As to Maildune," answered another, "it is very well known that he was +drowned long ago in the great ocean." + +"Do not be sure," observed a third; "perchance he is the very man that +may waken you up some morning from your sleep." + +"Supposing he came now," asked another, "what should we do?" + +The head of the house now spoke in reply to the last question; and +Maildune at once knew the voice, for it was the voice of the man who +had made a boast of slaying the young chief's father. + +And what he said was:--"I can easily answer that. Maildune has been for +a long time suffering great afflictions and hardships; and if he were to +come now, though we were enemies once, I should certainly give him a +welcome and a kind reception." + +When Maildune heard this he knocked at the door; and the door-keeper +asked who was there; to which Maildune made answer-- + +"It is I, Maildune, returned safely from all my wanderings." + +The chief of the house then ordered the door to be opened; and he went +to meet Maildune, and brought him and his companions into the house. +They were joyfully welcomed by the whole household; new garments were +given to them; and they feasted and rested, till they forgot their +weariness and their hardships. + +They related all the wonders God had revealed to them in the course of +their voyage, according to the word of the sage who says, "It will be a +source of pleasure to remember these things at a future time." + +After they had remained here for some days, Maildune and his companions +returned to their own country. And Diuran took the piece of silver he +had cut down from the great net at the Silver Pillar, and laid it, +according to his promise, on the high altar of Armagh. + + From "Old Celtic Romances," by P. W. JOYCE, LL.D. + + + + +XXXVII. + +TENNYSON'S "VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE." + +("FOUNDED ON AN IRISH LEGEND: A.D. 700.") + + +Of the tale called the "Voyage of Maildune," the oldest copy is in the +Book of the Dun Cow, which was copied from older books eight hundred +years ago: but here the story is imperfect at both the beginning and +end, portions of the book having been torn away at some former time. +There is, however, a perfect copy in the Yellow Book of Lecan.[164-1] It +was translated and published for the first time in "Old Celtic Romances" +in 1879. When this book appeared, the great English poet, Alfred +Tennyson (afterwards Lord Tennyson), read the story, and made it the +subject of a beautiful poem, also called "The Voyage of Maildune." +Portions of the beginning and end of this poem are here given:-- + + +I. + + I was the chief of the race--he had stricken my father dead-- + But I gather'd my fellows together, I swore I would strike off his + head. + Each of them looked like a king, and was noble in birth as in worth, + And each of them boasted he sprang from the oldest race upon earth. + Each was as brave in the fight as the bravest hero of song, + And each of them liefer had died than have done one another a wrong. + _He_ lived on an isle in the ocean--we sail'd on a Friday morn-- + He that had slain my father the day before I was born. + + [164-1] For the Book of the Dun Cow and the Yellow Book of Lecan, + see p. 118. + + +II. + + And we came to the isle in the ocean, and there on the shore was he. + But a sudden blast blew us out and away thro' a boundless sea. + + * * * * * + + +XI. + + And we came to the Isle of a saint who had sail'd with St. + Brendan[165-1] of yore, + He had lived ever since on the Isle and his winters were fifteen + score, + And his voice was low as from other worlds, and his eyes were sweet, + And his white hair sank to his heels and his white beard fell to his + feet, + And he spake to me, "O Maeldune, let be this purpose of thine! + Remember the words of the Lord when he told us 'Vengeance is mine!' + His fathers have slain thy fathers in war or in single strife, + Thy fathers have slain his fathers, each taken a life for a life, + Thy father had slain his father, how long shall the murder last? + Go back to the Isle of Finn[166-1] and suffer the Past to be Past." + + [165-1] St. Brendan of Clonfert in Kerry, commonly called Brendan + the Navigator: born in Kerry in 484. He sailed from near + Brandon mountain in Kerry (which is named from him) on his + celebrated voyage of seven years on the Atlantic, in which + it is related he saw many wonderful things--quite as + wonderful as those of Maildune. + + [166-1] The Isle of Finn: i.e. of Finn Mac Cumaill: Ireland (see p. + 92). + + +XII. + + And we came to the Isle we were blown from, and there on the shore + was he, + The man that had slain my father. I saw him and let him be. + O weary was I of the travel, the trouble, the strife and the sin, + When I landed again, with a tithe of my men, on the Isle of Finn. + + + + +XXXVIII. + +ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE.[167-1] + +PART I. + + +At page 47 of this book it has been related how missionaries and learned +men went in great numbers from Ireland to the Continent in the early +ages of Christianity to preach the Gospel and to teach in colleges. A +full account of the lives and labours of these earnest and holy men +would fill several volumes: but the following short sketch of one of +them will give the reader a good idea of all. + + [167-1] Fiesole in Tuscany, Italy: pronounced in four syllables: + Fee-ess'-o-lAe•. + +Donatus was born in Ireland of noble parents towards the end of the +eighth century. There is good reason to believe that he was educated in +the monastic school of Inishcaltra, a little island in Lough Derg, near +the Galway shore, now better known as Holy Island[167-2]: so that he was +probably a native of that part of the country. Here he studied with +great industry and success. He became a priest, and in course of time a +bishop: and he was greatly distinguished as a professor. + + [167-2] In the "Child's History of Ireland" there is a picture of + the round tower and church ruins on this little island. + +Having spent a number of years teaching, he resolved to make a +pilgrimage to Rome and visit the holy places on the way. He had a +favourite pupil named Andrew, belonging to a noble Irish family, a +handsome, high-spirited youth, but of a deeply religious turn: and these +two, master and scholar, were much attached. And when Donatus made known +his intention to go as a pilgrim to foreign lands, Andrew, who could not +bear to be separated from him, begged to be permitted to go with him: to +which Donatus consented. When they had made the few simple preparations +necessary, they went down to the shore, accompanied by friends and +relatives; and bidding farewell to all--home, friends, and country--amid +tears and regrets, they set sail and landed on the coast of France. + +And now, here were these two men, with stout hearts, determined will, +and full trust in God, exhibiting an excellent example of what +numberless Irish exiles of those days gave up, and of what trials and +dangers they exposed themselves to, for the sake of religion. One was a +successful teacher and a bishop; the other a young chief; and both might +have lived in their own country a life of peace and plenty. But they +relinquished all that for a higher and holier purpose; and they brought +with them neither luxury nor comfort. They had, on landing, just as much +money and food as started them on their journey; and with a small +satchel strapped on shoulder, containing a book or two and some other +necessary articles, and with stout staff in hand, they travelled the +whole way on foot. Whenever a monastery lay near their road, there they +called, sure of a kind reception, and rested for a day or two. When no +monastery was within reach, they simply begged for food and night +shelter as they fared along, making themselves understood by the +peasantry as best they could, for they knew little or nothing of their +language. Much hardship they endured from hunger and thirst, bad +weather, rough paths that often led them astray, and constant fatigue. +They were sometimes in danger too from rude and wicked peasants, some of +whom thought no more of killing a stranger than of killing a sparrow. +But before setting out, the two pilgrims knew well the hardships and +dangers in store for them on the way: so that they were quite prepared +for all this: and on they trudged, contented and cheerful, never +swerving an instant from their purpose. They travelled in a sort of +zigzag way, continually turning aside to visit churches, shrines, +hermitages, and all places consecrated by memory of old-time saints, or +of past events of importance in the history of Christianity. And +whenever they heard, as they went slowly along, of a man eminent for +holiness and learning, they made it a point to visit him, so as to have +the benefit of his conversation and advice; using the Latin language, +which all learned men spoke in those times. + + + + +XXXIX. + +ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE: + +PART II. + + +In this manner the pilgrims made their way right through France, and on +through north Italy, till they arrived at Rome. This was the main object +of their pilgrimage, and here they sojourned for a considerable time. +Having obtained the Pope's blessing, they set out once more, directing +their steps now towards Tuscany, till at length they reached the +beautiful mountain of Fiesole, near Florence, where stood many churches +and other memorials of Christian saints and martyrs. They entered the +hospice of the monastery, intending to rest there for a week or two, and +then to resume their journey. At this time Irish pilgrims and +missionaries were respected everywhere on the Continent; and as soon as +the arrival of those two became known, they were received with honour by +both clergy and people, who became greatly attached to them for their +gentle quiet ways, and their holiness of life. + +It happened about the time of their arrival here, that the pastor of +Fiesole, who was a bishop, died; and the clergy and people resolved to +have Donatus for their pastor. But when they went to him and told him +what they wanted, he became frightened; and trembling greatly, he said +to them in his gentle humble way:-- + +"We are only poor pilgrims from Scotia, and I do not wish to be your +bishop; for I am not at all fit for it, hardly even knowing your +language or your customs." + +But the more he entreated the more vehemently did they insist: so that +at last he consented to take the bishop's chair. This was in or about +the year 824. + +We need not follow the life of St. Donatus further here. It is enough to +say that, notwithstanding all his fears and his deep humility, he became +a great and successful pastor and missionary. For about thirty-seven +years he laboured among the people of Fiesole, by whom he was greatly +loved and revered. Down to the day of his death, which happened about +861, when he was a very old man, he was attended by his affectionate +friend Andrew. He is to this day honoured in and around Fiesole, as an +illustrious saint of those times. His tomb is still shown and regarded +with much veneration: and in the old town there are several other +memorials of him. + +Like St. Columkille, Donatus always cherished a tender regretful love +for Ireland; and like him also he wrote a short poem in praise of it +which is still preserved. It is in Latin, and the following is a +translation, made by a Dublin poet many years ago:-- + + + Far westward lies an isle of ancient fame, + By nature bless'd; and Scotia is her name, + Enroll'd in books[172-1]: exhaustless is her store, + Of veiny silver, and of golden ore.[172-2] + Her fruitful soil, for ever teems with wealth, + With gems[172-3] her waters, and her air with health; + Her verdant fields with milk and honey flow;[172-4] + Her woolly fleeces[172-5] vie with virgin snow; + Her waving furrows float with bearded corn; + And arms and arts her envied sons adorn![172-6] + No savage bear, with lawless fury roves, + Nor fiercer lion, through her peaceful groves; + No poison there infects, no scaly snake + Creeps through the grass, nor frog annoys the lake;[172-7] + An island worthy of its pious race, + In war triumphant, and unmatch'd in peace! + + [172-1] _I.e._ enrolled in books under the name of Scotia. The + natives always called it Erin. + + [172-2] Ireland had mines of gold in old times; and silver was also + found. Great numbers of Irish gold ornaments, found from + time to time in the earth, are now preserved in Museums. + + [172-3] Pearls were then found in many Irish rivers; as they are, + sometimes, to this day. + + [172-4] The Venerable Bede, a great English historian, writing in + the eighth century, calls Ireland "a land flowing with + milk and honey." + + [172-5] Ireland was noted for the plenty and goodness of its wool. + + [172-6] Ireland had great warriors, and many learned men and skilful + artists (see pp. 20, 47, and 117). + + [172-7] There are no venomous reptiles in Ireland. There were then + no frogs: but these were afterwards introduced from + England. + + + + +XL. + +HOW IRELAND WAS INVADED BY DANES AND ANGLO-NORMANS. + + +From the time of the settlement of the Milesians, as described at page +3, Ireland was ruled by native kings, without any disturbance from +outside, till the arrival of the invaders we are now about to speak of. + +During all these centuries, though there were troubles enough from the +quarrels of the kings and chiefs, learning and art, as we have seen, +were successfully cultivated. But a change came--a woful change--once +the Danes began to arrive. These were pirates, all pagans, from Denmark +and other countries round the Baltic Sea, brave and daring, but very +wicked and cruel, who for a long period kept, not only Ireland, but the +whole of western Europe in terror. They appeared for the first time on +the coast of Ireland in the year 795, when they plundered St. +Columkille's monastery on Lambay Island near Dublin. After this, for +more than two hundred years, the country was never free from them, and +they plundered and burned and destroyed churches, monasteries, +libraries, and homesteads, and killed all that fell in their way, men, +women, and children. They were often attacked and routed by the native +chiefs; but this did not much discourage them and they generally landed +so suddenly, and marched through the country so swiftly, that in most +cases they got clear off to their ships, with all their plunder, before +the people could overtake them. They settled permanently in various +towns on the coast, especially Dublin, Waterford, and Limerick, which +they held for a long time. + +At last they were overthrown by Brian Boru king of Ireland, in a great +battle fought at Clontarf near Dublin, on Good Friday, the 23rd April, +1014, of which a full account may be read in the "Child's History of +Ireland." After this, though no attempt was made to expel them from the +country, they gave little trouble. They became Christians, intermarried +with the natives, and settled down to industry and commerce like the +rest of the people; and there are many of their descendants to this day +in various parts of Ireland. + +For about a century and a half after the battle of Clontarf, eight Irish +kings reigned: but none of them succeeded in mastering the whole +country. Some of these were O'Briens of Munster, the descendants of +Brian Boru; some O'Loghlins of Ulster, a branch of the O'Neill family, +descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages (see p. 5); and some O'Conors +of Connaught. During this period Ireland was greatly disturbed; for the +several kings were continually fighting with each other, striving who +should be head king: so that the next invaders, when they came, found +the country ill prepared to resist them. + +Those who have read the History of England will remember that the +Normans, coming from France under William the Conqueror, took the +sovereignty of England after the battle of Hastings in 1066. About a +century later, their descendants, who were now called Anglo-Normans, +i.e. English Normans, made settlements in Ireland. Their leader when +they first arrived was Earl Strongbow; but in 1171 Henry II., king of +England, came over with an army and took command. In 1172 he annexed +Ireland to the crown of England, that is, he claimed it as a part of his +dominions. The Over-king of Ireland at this time was Roderick O'Conor. +He was unable to repel the new invaders: and after his death there was +no longer a native king over all Ireland. + +King Henry divided nearly the whole island among his lords, who all +went, after some time, to reside in their own territories: but they were +to remain under the authority of the king. These lords soon became great +and powerful, and ruled like princes; and from them descend the chief +Anglo-Irish families, of whom the most distinguished were the Geraldines +or Fitzgeralds, the Butlers, and the De Burgos or Burkes. + +But it must not be supposed that all this was done quietly: for the +native Irish chiefs everywhere resisted these new lords. Although king +Henry went through the form of "annexing" Ireland, it was annexed only +in name. In reality his authority extended over only a small portion. It +took more than four hundred years to annex the whole country: and during +all this time there were constant wars, the Anglo-Normans encroaching, +and the Irish chiefs resisting as best they could. It was only in the +reign of James I., that is, about three hundred years ago, that the +whole of Ireland was brought under English law. + +[Illustration: O'Dea's Castle, Dysart, Co. Clare. Built in the +fourteenth century by one of the Irish chiefs. See the note under St. +Finghin's Church, page 189.] + +[Illustration: Bunratty Castle in the south of Clare, on the Bunratty +River, where it joins the Shannon: built about the end of the thirteenth +century by Thomas de Clare, an Anglo-Norman lord.] + +These Anglo-Normans were a great and famous people, skilful and mighty +in war; and they built splendid abbeys, churches, and castles, all over +Ireland the ruins of which remain to this day. As an example of what +manner of men they were, a sketch of the career of one of them--Sir +John de Courcy--is given in this book (page 190). + +[Illustration: Kilclief Castle, Co. Down. Built by one of the +Anglo-Normans in the fourteenth century.] + +For hundreds of years after the Invasion, people continued to come from +England to live in Ireland both Anglo-Norman and Anglo-Saxon. After +settling down they became good friends with the native Irish, +intermarried with them, learned to speak and read the Irish language, +and quite fell in with the customs and modes of the country, so that it +was said of them that they became "more Irish than the Irish +themselves." A large proportion of the present inhabitants of Ireland +are of this race, mixed up however by intermarriage, with the older +Milesian stock. + + + + +XLI. + +THE WATCH-FIRE OF BARNALEE. + + +During the many wars in Ireland, small parties of men had often to +traverse the country for long distances to bring messages from one +general to another, and for other purposes. They marched by day and put +up at night in the woods, choosing some sheltered corner and making a +big fire of brambles to keep them warm and to cook their food. After +supper they usually sat by the fire, amusing themselves with pleasant +conversation or by telling stories: and when at last it was time to go +to sleep, they wrapped themselves up in their great coats and lay down +round the fire, leaving one of their number to stand guard. + +The following short poem--part of a much longer one--describes how a +small party of four men passed the early part of the night during a +march across country. There was to be a battle in a day or two, and +these four friends met, and each told a story by the Watch-fire of +Barnalee. And they arranged to meet again after the battle, if any +survived. But this turned out to be a sad meeting: there were only two: +the other two lay dead on the battlefield. + + +I. + + There were four comrades stout and free, + Within the Wood of Barnalee, + Under the spreading oaken tree. + + +II. + + The ragged clouds sailed past the moon; + Loud rose the brawling torrent's croon; + The rising winds howled in the wood, + Like hungry wolves at scent of blood. + Yet there they sat, in converse free, + Under the spreading oaken tree,-- + Garrod the Minstrel, with his lyre, + Sir Hugh le Poer, that heart of fire, + Dark Gilliemore, the mournful squire, + And Donal, from the banks of Nier. + + +III. + + Spectrally shone the watch-fire light + On their sun-browned faces and helmets bright + Showing beneath the woodland glooms + Their swords, and jacks, and waving plumes; + As there they sat, those comrades free, + Within the Wood of Barnalee, + Under the spreading oaken tree, + And told their tales to you and me. + + ROBERT DWYER JOYCE, M.D. + + + + +XLII. + +CAHAL O'CONOR OF THE RED HAND: KING OF CONNAUGHT. + + +Roderick O'Connor, the last native king of Ireland retired from the +throne towards the end of the twelfth century, to end his days in the +monastery of Cong.[181-1] After his time, as we have said, there was no +longer a king over the whole country. But for hundreds of years +afterwards, kings continued to reign over the five provinces. Roderick +had been king of Connaught before he became king of all Ireland; and +after his retirement there were several claimants for the Connaught +throne, who contended with one another, so that the province was for a +long time disturbed with wars and battles. + + [181-1] Cong in Mayo, between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask; the + remains of an abbey are there still. + +Roderick had a young brother named Cahal, who was called Cahal of the +Red Hand, from a great blood-red mark on his right hand. He would +naturally have a claim to the Connaught throne when old enough; and as +he was, even when a boy, a noble young fellow, and showed great ability, +the queen of Connaught, jealous of him, feared that when he grew up he +would give trouble, and she sought him out, determined to kill him: so +that Cahal and his mother had to flee from one hiding place to another. + +Finding at last that he could no longer remain in the province with +safety, he and his mother crossed the Shannon into Leinster, where no +one knew him, and there for several years they remained, while he made a +poor living for both, by working in the fields as a common labourer. And +as the fame of the brave young Cahal with the red mark on his hand, had +gone abroad, he always wore a loose mitten on his right hand for fear of +discovery; for he knew well that the queen had spies everywhere +searching for him. + +At this time the people had no newspapers: but there were news-carriers +who made it their business to travel continually about the country, +picking up information wherever they could, and relating all that +occurred whenever they came to a village, or to any group of people who +desired to hear the news. They generally received some small payment; +and in this manner they made their living. + +One day while Cahal was employed with several others, reaping in a field +of rye, they saw one of these men approaching; and they stopped their +work for a few moments to hear what he had to say. After relating +several unimportant matters, he came at last to the principal +news:--that the king of Connaught was dead, and that the leading people +of the province, having met in counsel to choose a king declared that +they would have no one but young Cahal of the Red Hand. "And now," +continued the newsman, "I and many others have been searching for him +for several weeks. He is easily known, for his right hand is blood-red +from the wrist out: but up to this we have been unsuccessful. We fear +indeed that he is living in poverty in some remote place where he will +never be found: or it may be that he is dead." + +When Cahal heard this, his heart gave a great bound, and he stood musing +for a few moments. Then flinging his sickle on the ridge, he +exclaimed:--"Farewell reaping-hook: now for the sword!" And pulling off +the mitten, he showed his red hand, and made himself known. The newsman, +instantly recognising him, threw himself prostrate before him to +acknowledge him as his king. And ever since that time, "Cahal's farewell +to the rye," has been a proverb in Connaught, to denote a farewell for +ever. He returned immediately with his mother to Connaught, where he was +joyfully received, and was proclaimed king in 1190. + +At this time the Anglo-Norman barons who had come over at the time of +Henry II.'s Invasion, nearly twenty years before, had settled down in +various parts of Ireland: and they were constantly encroaching on the +lands of the Irish and erecting strong castles everywhere; while the +Irish chiefs as we have already said, resisted as far as they were +able, so that there was much disturbance all over the country. Cahal was +a brave and active king, and took a leading part in fighting against the +barons. + +After he had reigned over Connaught in peace for eight or nine years, +trouble came again. There was at this time, settled in Limerick, a +powerful Anglo-Norman baron, William de Burgo, to whom a large part of +Connaught had been granted by King Henry II. This man stirred up another +of the O'Conors to lay claim to the throne in opposition to Cahal, +promising to help him: and now Connaught was again all ablaze with civil +war. Cahal was defeated in battle, and fled to Ulster to Hugh O'Neill, +prince of Tyrone, who took up his cause. Marching south with his own and +O'Neill's men, he attacked his rival, but was defeated, and again fled +north. He soon made a second attempt, aided this time by Sir John de +Courcy (for whom see page 190): but he and De Courcy were caught in an +ambush in Galway by the rival king, who routed their army. In this fight +De Courcy very nearly lost his life, being felled senseless from his +horse by a stone. Recovering in good time however, he and Cahal escaped +from the battlefield, and fled northwards. + +Cahal of the Red Hand, in no way cowed by these terrible reverses, again +took the field, after some time, aided now by De Burgo, who had changed +sides. A battle was fought near Roscommon, in which the rival king was +slain; and Cahal once more took possession of the throne. From this +period forward he ruled without a native rival; though a few years +later, he was forced to surrender a large part of his kingdom to King +John, in order that he might secure possession of the remainder. + +But he was as vigilant as ever in repelling all attempts of the barons +to encroach on his diminished territory. Thus when in 1220 the De Lacys +of Meath, a most powerful Anglo-Norman family, went to Athleague on the +Shannon at the head of Lough Ree, where there was a ford, and began to +build a castle at the eastern or Leinster side, in order that they might +have a garrison in it always ready to attack Connaught, Cahal promptly +crossed the river into Longford, and so frightened them that they were +glad to conclude a truce with him. And he broke down the castle, which +they had almost finished. + +Cahal of the Red Hand was an upright and powerful king, and governed +with firmness and justice. The Irish Annals tell us that he relieved the +poor as long as he lived, and that he destroyed more robbers and rebels +and evil-doers of every kind than any other king of his time. In early +life he had founded the abbey of Knockmoy,[185-1] into which he retired +in the last year of his life: and in this retreat he died in 1224. + + [185-1] Knockmoy in Galway, six miles from Tuam: the ruins of the + abbey still remain. + + + + +XLIII. + +"CAHAL-MORE OF THE WINE-RED HAND." + + +The ancient Irish people--like those of several other +countries--believed that when a just and good king reigned, the country +was blessed with fine weather and abundant crops, the trees bended with +fruit, the rivers teemed with fish, and the whole kingdom prospered. +This was the state of Connaught while Cahal of the Red Hand reigned in +peace. And it is recorded that when he died, fearful portents appeared, +and there was gloom and terror everywhere. James Clarence Mangan, a +Dublin poet, who died in 1849, pictures all this in the following fine +poem. He supposes himself to be living on the river Maine, in Germany, +and he is brought to Connaught in a vision, where he witnesses the +prosperity that attended Cahal's reign. This he sets forth in the first +part of the poem: but a sudden mysterious change for the worse comes, +which he describes in the last two verses. The whole poem forms a wild, +misty sort of picture, such as one might see in a dream.[186-1] + + +A VISION OF CONNAUGHT IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY. + + I walked entranced + Through a land of Morn; + The sun, with wondrous excess of light, + Shone down and glanced + Over seas of corn + And lustrous gardens aleft and right. + Even in the clime + Of resplendent Spain, + Beams no such sun upon such a land; + But it was the time, + 'Twas in the reign, + Of Cahal More of the Wine-red Hand. + + Anon stood nigh + By my side a man + Of princely aspect and port sublime. + Him queried I, + "O, my Lord and Khan,[187-1] + What clime is this, and what golden time?" + When he--"The clime + Is a clime to praise, + The clime is Erin's, the green and bland; + And it is the time, + These be the days, + Of Cahal More of the Wine-red Hand!" + + Then saw I thrones, + And circling fires, + And a dome rose near me, as by a spell, + Whence flowed the tones + Of silver lyres, + And many voices in wreathA"d swell; + And their thrilling chime + Fell on mine ears + As the heavenly hymn of an angel-band-- + "It is now the time, + These be the years, + Of Cahal More of the Wine-red Hand!" + + I sought the hall, + And, behold!... a change + From light to darkness, from joy to woe! + King, nobles, all, + Looked aghast and strange; + The minstrel-group sate in dumbest show! + Had some great crime + Wrought this dread amaze, + This terror? None seemed to understand! + 'Twas then the time, + We were in the days, + Of Cahal More of the Wine-red Hand. + + I again walked forth; + But lo! the sky + Showed fleckt with blood, and an alien sun + Glared from the north, + And there stood on high, + Amid his shorn beams, A SKELETON + It was by the stream + Of the castled Maine, + One Autumn eve, in the Teuton's land, + That I dreamed this dream + Of the time and reign + Of Cahal More of the Wine-red Hand! + + + [186-1] Mangan wrote many poetical translations from the Irish, as + well as from the German and other languages. The "Vision + of Connaught" is, however, an original poem, not a + translation. + + [187-1] Irish, _Ceann_ [can], meaning 'head,' one of the Gaelic + titles for a chief. + +[Illustration: St. Finghin's Church, Quin, Co. Clare: originally built +by the Irish: re-built by Thomas de Clare, the Anglo-Norman lord who +erected Bunratty Castle (see p. 177). + +The Irish began to build large churches and castles a little before the +arrival of the Anglo-Normans. The Irish churches of a previous time were +generally small. After the Invasion, the Anglo-Norman barons and the +Irish kings and chiefs vied with each other in erecting churches, +abbeys, and castles.] + + + + +XLIV. + +SIR JOHN DE COURCY. + + +Among the many Anglo-Norman lords and knights who came to settle in +Ireland in the time of Henry II., one of the most renowned was John de +Courcy. The Welsh writer, Gerald Barry, already mentioned (p. 113), who +lived at that time and knew him personally, thus describes him:-- + +"He was of huge size, tall and powerfully built, with bony and muscular +limbs, wonderfully active and daring, full of courage, and a bold and +venturous soldier from his youth. He was so eager for fighting that, +though commanding as general, he always mingled with the foremost ranks +in charging the enemy, which might have lost the battle; for if he +chanced to be killed or badly wounded, there was no general able to take +his place. But though so fierce in war, he was gentle and modest in time +of peace and very exact in attending to his religious devotions; and +when he had gained a victory he gave all the glory to God, and took none +to himself." + +When King Henry II. divided the country among his lords in 1172, he gave +Ulster to De Courcy. But it was one thing to be granted the province, +and another thing to take possession of it; for the Ulster chiefs and +people were warlike and strong; and for five years De Courcy remained +in Dublin without making any attempt to conquer it. + +At length he made up his mind to try his fortune; and gathering his +followers to the number of about a thousand, every man well armed and +trained to battle, he set out for the north. Through rugged and +difficult ways the party rode on, and early in the morning of the fourth +day--the 2nd February, 1177--they arrived at Downpatrick, then the +capital of that part of the country. The Irish of those times never +surrounded their towns with walls; and the astonished Downpatrick +people, who knew nothing of the expedition, were startled from their +beds at daybreak by a mighty uproar in the streets--shouts, and the +clatter of horses' hoofs, and the martial notes of bugles. Whatever +little stock of provisions the party had brought with them was gone soon +after they left Dublin; and by the time they arrived at Downpatrick they +were half-starved. They scattered themselves everywhere, and, breaking +away for the time from the control of their leader, they fell ravenously +on all the food they could lay their hands on: they smashed in doors and +set fire to houses, and ate and drank and slew as if they were mad, till +the town was half destroyed. And the people were taken so completely by +surprise that there was hardly any resistance. + +When this terrible onslaught at last came to an end, De Courcy, having +succeeded in bringing his men together, made an encampment, which he +carefully fortified; and there the little army rested from their toils. +At the end of a week the chief of the district came with a great army to +expel the invaders; while De Courcy arranged his men in ranks with great +skill, to withstand the attack. The Ulstermen who were without armour, +wearing a loose saffron-coloured tunic over the ordinary dress, +according to the Irish fashion, rushed on with fearless bravery; but by +no effort could they break the solid ranks of the armour-clad +Anglo-Normans, who, after a long struggle put them to flight, and +pursued them for miles along the seashore. + +After this victory De Courcy settled in Downpatrick with his followers, +and built a strong castle there for his better security. Nevertheless +the Ulstermen, in no way discouraged, continued their fierce attacks: +and though he was victorious in several battles, he was defeated in +others, so that for a long time he had quite enough to do to hold his +ground. + +But through all his difficulties the valiant De Courcy kept up his heart +and battled bravely on, continually enlarging his territory, founding +churches and building strong castles all over the province. King Henry +was so pleased with his bravery, and with his success in extending the +English dominions, that he made him earl of Ulster and lord of +Connaught; and in 1185 he appointed him Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. +This obliged him to live in Dublin; but he left captains and governors +in Ulster to hold his castles and protect his territory, till he should +return, which he did in 1189. + + + + +XLV. + +HOW SIR JOHN DE COURCY WAS CAPTURED AND THROWN INTO PRISON. + + +By the death of Henry II. in 1189, Sir John de Courcy lost his best +friend: and things began to go ill with him when King John came to the +throne in 1199. For another Anglo-Norman lord, Hugh de Lacy, grew +jealous of his great deeds, and hated him with his whole heart, so that +he took every means to poison the king's mind against him. In a very old +volume, written by some Anglo-Irish writer, there are several +entertaining stories of all that befel De Courcy after his return to +Ulster from Dublin in 1189. Two of these, somewhat shortened and +re-arranged, are given here, and much of the fine old language in which +they are told is retained, as it is easily understood. + +The first story relates that whereas Sir Hugh de Lacy, who was now +appointed general ruler of Ireland by the king, did much disdain and +envy Sir John de Courcy, and being marvellous grieved at the worthy +service he did, he sought all means that he could possible to damage and +hinder him and to bring him to confusion, and promised much rewards in +secret to those who would invent any matter against him; for which De +Lacy had no cause but that Sir John's actions and commendations were +held in greater account than his own. He feigned also false charges +against him, and wrote them over to the king, and sore complained of +him. + +Amongst other his grievous complaints, he said De Courcy refused to do +homage to King John, and he charged him also with saying to many that +the king had somewhat to do with the death of Prince Arthur, lawful heir +to the crown of England[194-1]; and many other such like things. All +these were nothing but matters feigned by De Lacy, to bring to a better +end his purpose of utterly ruining De Courcy. On this De Courcy +challenged him, after the custom of those times, to try the matter by +single combat: but De Lacy, fearing to meet him, made excuses and +refused. + + [194-1] Prince Arthur, the rightful heir to the English throne, was + cast into prison by John: he was soon after murdered, + which, it was believed, was done by John's orders. + +By reason of such evil and envious tales, though untrue they were, Sir +Hugh de Lacy was at last commanded by King John to do what he might to +apprehend and take Sir John de Courcy. Whereupon he devised and +conferred with certain of Sir John's own men how this might be done; +and they said it was not possible to do so the while he was in his +battle-harness. But they told him that it might be done on Good Friday; +for on that day it was his accustomed usage to wear no shield, harness, +or weapon, but that he would be found kneeling at his prayers, after he +had gone about the church five times barefooted. And having so devised, +they lay in wait for him in his church at Downpatrick; and when they saw +him barefooted and unarmed they rushed on him suddenly. But he, +snatching up a heavy wooden cross that stood nigh the church, defended +him till it was broken, and slew thirteen of them before he was taken. +And so he was sent to England, and was put into the Tower of London, to +remain there in perpetual, and there miserably was kept a long time, +without as much meat or apparel as any account could be made of. + +Now these men had agreed to betray their master to Sir Hugh de Lacy for +a certain reward of gold and silver: and when they came to Sir Hugh for +their reward, he gave them the gold and silver as he had promised. They +then craved of him a passport into England to tell all about the good +service they had done; which he gave them, with the following words +written in it:-- + +"This writing witnesseth that those whose names are herein subscribed, +that did betray so good a master for reward, will be false to me and to +all the earth besides. And inasmuch as I put no trust in them, I do +banish them out of this land of Ireland for ever; and I do let +Englishmen know that none of them may enjoy any part of this our king's +land, or be employed as servitors from this forward for ever." + +[Illustration: Ennis Abbey as it appeared in 1780: now carefully +preserved by the Board of Works. Built by Donogh O'Brien, king of +Thomond, in 1242. See the note under Illustration, p. 189.] + +And so he wrote all their names, and put them in a ship with victuals +and furniture, but without mariners or seamen, and put them to sea, and +gave them strict charge never to return to Ireland on pain of death. And +after this they were not heard of for a long time; but by chance of +weather and lack of skilful men, they arrived at Cork, and being taken, +were brought to Sir Hugh de Lacy; and first taking all their treasure +from them, he hung them in chains, and so left them till their bodies +wasted away. + +This deed, that Sir Hugh de Lacy did, was for an ensample that none +should use himself the like, and not for love of Sir John de Courcy: +since it appeareth from certain ancient authors that he would have it so +as that De Courcy's name should not be so much as mentioned, and that no +report or commendation of him should ever be made. + + + + +XLVI. + +SIR JOHN DE COURCY ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE. + + +And now Sir John de Courcy, being in the Tower in evil plight, cried +often to God why He suffered him to be thus so miserably used, who did +build so many good abbeys, and did so many good deeds to God: and thus +often lamenting with himself, he asked God his latter end to finish. + +It fortuned after this that much variance and debate did grow between +King John of England and King Philip of France,[197-1] about a certain +castle which the king of France won from King John. And when King Philip +had often been asked to restore it he refused, saying it was his by +right. But at last he offered to try the matter by battle. For he had a +champion, a mighty man, who had never been beaten; and he challenged the +king of England to find, on his side, a champion to fight him, and let +the title to the castle depend on the issue thereof; to which King John, +more hasty than well advised, did agree. + + [197-1] At this time the kings of England had a large territory in + France so that quarrels often arose between them and the + French kings. + +And when the day of battle was appointed, the king of England called +together his Council to find out where a champion might be found that +would take upon him this honour and weighty enterprise. Many places they +sought and inquired of, but no one was found that was willing to engage +in so perilous a matter. And the king was in a great agony, fearing more +the dishonour of the thing than the loss of the castle. + +At length a member of the Council came to the king and told him that +there was a man in the Tower of London, one De Courcy, that in all the +earth was not his peer, if he would only fight. The king was much +rejoiced thereat, and sent unto him to require and command him to take +the matter in hand: but Sir John refused. The king sent again and +offered him great gifts; but again he refused, saying he would never +serve the king in field any more; for he thought himself evil rewarded +for such service as he did him before. The king sent to him a third +time, and bade him ask whatever he would, for himself and for his +friends, and all should be granted to him: and he said furthermore that +upon his stalworth and knightly doings the honour of the realm of +England did rest and depend. + +He answered that for himself, the thing he would wish to ask for, King +John was not able to give, namely, the lightness and freedom of heart +that he once had, but which the king's unkind dealing had taken from +him. As for his friends, he said that, saving a few, they were all slain +in the king's service; "and for these reasons," said he, "I mean never +to serve the king more. But"--he went on to say--"the honour of the +realm of England, that is another matter: and I would defend it so far +as lies in my power, provided I might have such things as I shall ask +for." + +This was promised to him, and the king sent messengers to set him at +liberty; who, when they had entered into his prison, found him in great +misery. His hair was all matted, and overgrew his shoulders to his +waist; he had scarce any apparel, and the little he had fell in rags +over his great body; and his face was hollow from close confinement and +for lack of food. + +After all things that he required had been granted to him, he asked for +one thing more, namely, that his sword should be sent for all the way to +Downpatrick in Ireland, where it would be found within the altar of the +church; for with that weapon he said he would fight and with no other. +After much delay it was brought to him; and when they saw it and felt +its weight, they marvelled that any man could wield it. And good food +was given to him, and seemly raiment, and he had due exercise, and in +all things he was cherished and made much of; so that his strength of +body and stoutness of heart returned to him. + + + + +XLVII. + +SIR JOHN DE COURCY AND THE FRENCH CHAMPION. + + +The lists were enclosed and all things were prepared against the day of +battle. The two kings were there, outside the lists, with most of their +nobility, and thousands of great people to look on, all sitting on seats +placed high up for good view. Within the lists were two tents for the +champions, where they might rest till the time appointed. And men were +chosen to see that all things were carried on fairly and in good order. + +When the time drew nigh, the French champion came forth on the field, +and did his duty of obeisance, and bowed with reverence and courtesy to +all around, and went back to his tent, where he waited for half an hour. +The king of England sent for Sir John to come forth, for that the French +champion rested a long time awaiting his coming; to which he answered +roughly that he would come forth when he thought it was time. And when +he still delayed, the king sent one of his Council to desire him to make +haste, to which he made answer:--"If thou or those kings were invited to +such a banquet, you would make no great haste coming forth to partake of +it." + +On this the king, deeming that he was not going to fight at all, was +about to depart in a great rage, thinking much evil of Sir John de +Courcy. While he was thus musing, Sir John came forth in surly mood, for +memory of all the ill usage that had been wrought on him; and he stalked +straight on, looking neither to the right nor to the left, and doing no +reverence to anyone: and so back to his tent. + +Then the trumpets sounded the first charge, for the champions to +approach. Forth they came, and passing by slowly, viewed each other +intently without a word. And when the foreign champion noted De Courcy's +fierce look, and measured with his eyes his great stature and mighty +limbs, he was filled with dread and fell all a-trembling. At length the +trumpets sounded the last charge for the fight to begin; on which De +Courcy quickly drew his sword and advanced; but the Frenchman, turning +right round, "ranne awaie off the fielde and betooke him to Spaine." + +Whereupon the English trumpets sounded victory; and there was such +shouting and cheering, such a-clapping of hands and such a-throwing of +caps in the air as the like was never seen before. + +When the multitude became quiet, King Philip desired of King John that +De Courcy might be called before them to give a trial of his strength by +a blow upon a helmet: to which De Courcy agreed. They fixed a great +stake of timber in the ground, standing up the height of a man, over +which they put a shirt of mail, with a helmet on top. And when all was +ready, De Courcy, drawing his sword, looked at the kings with a grim and +terrible look that fearful it was to behold; after which he struck such +a blow as cut clean through the helmet and through the shirt of mail, +and down deep in the piece of timber. And so fast was the sword fixed +that no man in the assembly, using his two hands with the utmost effort, +could pluck it out; but Sir John, taking it in one hand, drew it forth +easily. + +The princes, marvelling at so huge a stroke, desired to understand why +he looked so terrible at them before he struck the blow: on which he +answered:-- + +"I call St. Patrick of Down to witness, that if I had missed the mark I +would have cut the heads off both of you kings on the score of all the +ill usage I received aforetime at your hands." + +King John, being satisfied with all matters as they turned out, took his +answer in good part: and he gave him back all the dominions that before +he had in Ireland, as Earl of Ulster and lord of Connaught; and +licensed him to return, with many great gifts besides. And to this day +the people of Ireland hold in memory Sir John de Courcy and his mighty +deeds; and the ruins of many great castles builded by him are to be seen +all over Ulster. + + + + +XLVIII. + +THE GREAT EARL OF KILDARE AND THE EARL OF ORMOND. + + +The great lords who settled in Ireland in the time of Henry II. became +so powerful that they ruled in the land like so many kings. It was so +hard to reach Ireland in those times, or even to get from one part of +Ireland to another, that their master, the king of England, had +generally very little control over them: and he often found it hard +enough even to find out what was going on among them. So those mighty +barons did very much as they liked. They imposed taxes, raised armies, +and made war on each other, just as if they were independent sovereigns. + +The Fitzgeralds, or Geraldines, were among the most illustrious of those +families. They intermarried with the families of the native Irish kings +and princes, such as the O'Neills and O'Conors; and altogether they fell +in so well with the ways of the country, that the Irish people came to +love them almost better than they loved their own old native kings and +chiefs. And for hundreds of years those Geraldines took a leading part +in the government of Ireland for the kings of England. + +In the time of Henry VII., who became king in the year 1485, Garrett +Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare--the "Great Earl" as he was called--was Lord +Deputy, or chief ruler of Ireland, for the king: and he was the leading +man of his day in Ireland.[204-1] We are told in the old accounts of him +that he was tall of stature, of goodly presence, very liberal and +merciful; of strict piety; mild in his government; very easily put into +a passion, but just as easily appeased; a knight in valour, and princely +in his words and judgments. + + [204-1] A further account of the Great Earl, and of some of his + proceedings, will be found in the "Child's History of + Ireland." + +Once he got into a great rage with one of his servants for some blunder. +It happened that two of the gentlemen of his household were looking on: +and one of them whispered to the other, whose name was Boice, that he +would give him a good Irish hobby if he went and plucked a hair out of +the earl's beard. Boice took him at his offer, and knowing well the +earl's good nature, he went up to him, while he still fumed with anger, +and said:-- + +"If so it please your good lordship, one of your horsemen promised me a +choice horse if I snip one hair from your beard." "Well," quoth the +earl, "I agree thereto; but if you pluck more than one, I promise you to +bring my fist away from your ear!" + +And Boice plucked the hair, and won the hobby: but he took good care to +pluck only one, so that his ear escaped the earl's big fist. + +At this time the chief man of the Butlers was James, earl of Ormond: and +he and the Deputy were at enmity, each working with might and main to +put down the other. The earl of Ormond, who was a deep and far reaching +man, not being strong enough to oppose his adversary openly, devised a +plan to entrap him by means of submission and courtesy. Certain charges +had, it seems, been made against Ormond, and he now wrote to the deputy, +who was, of course, in authority over him, asking permission to come to +Dublin to disprove them; which the deputy granted. Accordingly, in the +year 1492, he marched to Dublin with a numerous army, and encamped near +the city. + +Now Kildare's councillors, and the citizens in general, disliked the +presence of so great an army, suspecting some evil design: and besides, +the soldiers used the people ill, often beating and robbing them; so +that instead of peace, this visit of Ormond made all the greater +discord. Yet still, with an air of great respect and humility, he +persisted in asking to be heard, saying he would show that the evil +stories about him were all false. At length, Lord Deputy Kildare +agreed, and the meeting was held in St. Patrick's Church. + +But this meeting was not a quiet or peaceful one; for the two earls, +instead of speaking gentle words of forgiveness, began to accuse each +other of all the damages inflicted on both sides. The citizens too, who +were in great crowds around the church, complained with loud voices of +all the ill usage they had suffered from the soldiers; whereupon they +and the soldiers fell to jars and quarrels, and the whole city was soon +in an uproar. At last, a body of Dublin archers, enraged that such a +disturbance should be raised by "this lawless rabble," rushed into the +church, shouting out that they would kill Ormond, as the leader of them, +and they shot at random hither and thither, leaving their arrows +sticking in the timbers and ornaments of the church, but doing no harm +otherwise. It is probable, indeed, that out of respect to the place, +notwithstanding their rage, they took care to shoot over the heads of +the crowd, so as to kill no one. + +On this, the Earl of Ormond, fearing with good reason for his safety, +fled with a few of his followers to the chapter-house, and slamming the +door, bolted and barred it strongly. Kildare followed and called to him +to come out, promising upon his honour that he should receive no harm. +Ormond replied that he would come forth if the deputy gave him his hand +that his life should be safe; so "a cleft was pierced in a trice +through the chapter-house door," to the end that the earls might shake +hands and be reconciled. But Ormond, still suspecting treachery, refused +to put forth his hand, fearing it might be chopped off, till at last +Kildare stretched in his arm to him through the hole, and they shook +hands. Then the door was opened and the two earls embraced, and the +storm was appeased. + +[Illustration: Old Chapter-house Door, now in St. Patrick's Cathedral, +Dublin.] + +But though this quarrel was patched up, it was only for the time. +Kildare suspected that Ormond had brought his army with evil intent "to +outface him and his power in his own countrie"; while "Ormond mistrusted +that this treacherous practice of the Dublinians was by Kildare +devised." So that, as the old writer goes on to say, "their quarrels +were not ended, but only for the present discontinued: like unto a green +wound, rather bungerlie botcht, than soundlie cured. And these and the +like surmises, with many stories carried to and fro, and in their ears +whispered, bred and fostered a malice betwixt them and their posterity, +many years incurable, which caused much stir and unquietnesse in the +realm." + +The old chapter-house door, which is pictured on last page, still +remains in St. Patrick's Cathedral, where it may be seen leaning against +one of the walls, with the very "cleft" in it through which the two +earls shook hands more than four hundred years ago. + + + + +XLIX. + +ANCIENT IRISH MUSIC. + + +From the most remote times the Irish took great pleasure in music: and +they studied and cultivated it so successfully that they became +celebrated every where for their musical skill. Irish teachers of this +art were thought so highly of that from about the seventh to the +eleventh century, or later, they were employed in colleges and schools +in Great Britain and on the Continent, like Irish professors of other +branches of learning (see p. 47). Many of the early missionaries took +great delight in playing on the harp, so that some brought a small harp +with them on their journeys through the country, which no doubt +lightened many a weary hour at their homes in the evenings, during the +time of hard missionary work. In our oldest manuscript books, music is +continually mentioned: and musicians are spoken of with respect and +admiration. + +The two chief instruments used in Ireland were the harp and the bagpipe. +The harp was the favourite with the higher classes, many of whom played +it as an accomplishment, as people now play the piano. The professional +Irish harpers were more skilful, and could play better, than those of +any other country: so that for hundreds of years it was the custom for +the musicians of Great Britain to visit Ireland in order to finish their +musical education; a custom which continued down to about a century and +a-half ago. + +The bagpipe was very generally used among the lower classes of people. +The form in use was what we now call the Highland or Scotch pipes--slung +from the shoulder: the bag inflated by the mouth. But this form of pipes +took its rise in Ireland: and it was brought to Scotland in early ages +by those Irish colonists already spoken of (page 5). There is another +and a better kind of bagpipes, now common in Ireland, resting on the lap +when in use, and having the bag inflated by a bellows: but this is a +late invention. + +The Irish musicians had various "_Styles_," three of which are very +often mentioned in tales and other ancient Irish writings: of these many +specimens have come down to the present day. The style they called +"Mirth-music" consisted of lively airs, which excited to merriment and +laughter. These are represented by our present dance tunes, such as +jigs, reels, hornpipes, and other such quick, spirited pieces which are +known so well in every part of Ireland. The "Sorrow-music" was slow and +sad, and was always sung on the occasion of a death. We have many airs +belonging to this style, which are now commonly called _Keens_, i.e., +laments, or dirges. The "Sleep-music" was intended to produce sleep; and +the tunes belonging to this style were plaintive and soothing. Such airs +are now known as lullabies, or nurse tunes, or cradle songs, of which +numerous examples are preserved in collections of Irish music. They were +often sung to put children to sleep. Though there are, as has been said, +many tunes belonging to these three classes, they form only a small part +of the great body of Irish music. + +Music entered into many of the daily occupations of the people. There +were special spinning-wheel songs, which the women sang, with words, in +chorus or in dialogue, when employed in spinning. At milking time the +girls were in the habit of chanting a particular sort of air, in a low +gentle voice. These milking songs were slow and plaintive, something +like the nurse tunes, and had the effect of soothing the cows and of +making them submit more gently to be milked. This practice was common +down to fifty or sixty years ago; and many people now living can +remember seeing cows grow restless when the song was interrupted, and +become again quiet and placid when it was resumed. While ploughmen were +at their work they whistled a sweet, slow, and sad strain, which had as +powerful an effect in soothing the horses at their hard work as the +milking songs had on the cows: and these also were quite usual till +about half a century ago. + +Special airs and songs were used during working time by smiths, by +weavers, and by boatmen. There were besides, hymn tunes; and young +people had simple airs for all sorts of games and sports. In most cases +words suitable to the several occasions were sung with lullabies, +laments, and occupation tunes. The poem at page 82 may be taken as a +specimen of a lament. Examples of all the preceding classes of melodies +will be found in the collections of Irish airs by Bunting, Petrie, and +Joyce. + +The Irish had numerous war-marches, which the pipers played at the head +of the clansmen when marching to battle, and which inspired them with +courage and dash for the fight. This custom is still kept up by the +Scotch; and many fine battle-tunes are printed in Irish and Scotch +collections of national music. + +From the preceding statement we may see how universal was the love of +music in former days among the people of Ireland. Though Irish airs, +compared with the musical pieces composed in our time, are generally +short and simple, they are constructed with such skill, that in regard +to most of them it may be truly said that no composer of the present +day can produce airs of a similar kind to equal them. + +There are half a dozen original collections of Irish music, containing +in all between 1000 and 2000 airs: other collections are mostly copied +from these. But numerous airs are still sung and played among the people +all through Ireland, which have never been written down; and many have +been written down which have never been printed. Thomas Moore composed +his beautiful songs to old Irish airs; and his whole collection of songs +and airs--well known as "Moore's Melodies"--is now published in one +small cheap volume. + +Of the entire body of Irish airs that are preserved, we know the authors +of not more than about one tenth; and these were composed within the +last 200 years. Most of the remaining nine tenths have come down from +old times. No one now can tell who composed "The Coolin," "Savourneen +Dheelish," "Shule Aroon," "Molly Asthore," "Garryowen," "The Boyne +Water," "Patrick's Day," "Langolee," "The Blackbird," or "The Girl I +left behind me"; and so of many other well-known and lovely airs. + +The national music of Ireland and that of Scotland are very like each +other, and many airs are common to both countries: but this is only what +might be expected, as we know that the Irish and the Highland Scotch +were originally one people. + + + + +NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. + + +I.--Page 1. + + Ancient, very old, belonging to old times. + + Fabulous, not true. + + Magician, one skilled in magic or witchcraft; an enchanter. + + Spell, a charm, something done by enchantment. + + Wizard, an enchanter, a magician. + + Consult, to advise with. + + Druid. The druids were the learned men among the pagan Irish: they + were believed to be wizards, or magicians. + + Seer, one who can foresee events, a prophet. + + Destiny, lot, what is to come to pass. + + Wistfully, thoughtfully, attentively, longingly. + + Cairn, a great pile of stones heaped up in memory of some person or + some event. A cairn was very often raised over the grave of some + important person. See page 97. + + Missionary, one sent to preach religion. + + Hostage, a person given as a pledge, or security, for carrying out + some agreement. + + Possessing mighty power over people, able to persuade them by his + earnestness and his powerful language. + +II.--Page 7. + + Gallantly, boldly, bravely. + + Destined home: the druid had foretold that Inisfail, or the Isle of + Destiny, was to be their final home. + + Emerald, a precious stone of a green colour. Ireland, from its + greenness, is often called the Emerald Isle. + + Day god, the sun. Some of the pagan Irish worshipped the sun. + + Omen, a sign of what is to come. + + +III.--Page 8. + + Perpetual, lasting always. + + Allure, to entice, coax, or persuade. + + Book of the Dun Cow: see page 118. + + Conn the Hundred-fighter, or, as he is often called, Conn of the + Hundred Battles, was King of Ireland from A.D. 177 to 212. + + Crystal, a sort of transparent mineral: glass, or anything like + glass. + + Marvelled, wondered. + + Chant, a slow, sweet song. + + Azure, a bright blue. + + Verdurous, green, full of verdure. + + Imprecation, a curse. + + Mace, here means a heavy-headed club used in fighting, generally for + striking. + + +IV.--Page 14. + + Noxious, hurtful, injurious. + + Gigantic, very large, giant-like. + + Fertile, fruitful, yielding good crops. + + Wickerwork, basket-work of woven twigs. + + Hospitality, kindness to strangers, free and generous entertainment + of visitors. + + Expensive, costly. + + Establishment, the whole house, and all belonging to it. + + Liberal, plentiful. + + Gorget, an ornamental collar for the neck: the Irish gorgets were + mostly of gold. + + Bronze, a mixed metal made of copper and tin melted together. The + ancient Irish used a sort of white or whitish bronze, which they + called _findruine_ [_finnA'-drin-Aef_]. + + Enamel, a beautiful glassy substance, of various colours, used in + metal work. + + Museum, a place where curiosities of all kinds are kept, especially + objects belonging to ancient times. + + Artificer, an artist, a worker in metals, bone, wood, &c. + + Old Irish Laws: these were called the Brehon Laws. + + Commerce, trade with foreign nations. + + +V.--Page 22. + + Enmity, hatred, malice, ill feeling. + + Gall, bitterness and sourness of heart. + + Treachery, breach of faith, wickedness. + + Chariot, a kind of carriage. + + Druidical, made by the druids, who were believed to be enchanters, + like the Dedannans. + + Clamorous, noisy, screaming. + + Repented, grew sorry. + + Gaelic speech, the Irish language, which all the people of Ireland + then spoke. + + Plaintive, sad. + + Lay, a song, a poem. + + A husk of gore, withered up with grief. + + Anguish, great trouble and misery. + + Anthem, a song, a hymn: anthem of praise, _i.e._ of praise to God. + + +VI.--Page 27. + + Amazement, astonishment, wonder. + + Horror, terror mixed with dislike. + + Lamentation, great sorrow. + + Malignant, full of evil and badness. + + Adventurous, spirited, daring, courageous. + + Abhor, to hate, to detest, to have a horror of. + + Transform, to change the form or shape. + + Society, company. + + The dreadful day of doom, "that day of woe," _i.e._ the Day of + Judgment. The children of Lir had some obscure foreknowledge of + the coming of Christianity. + + Desolate, waste and solitary. + + Tempestuous, stormy. + + +VII.--Page 32. + + Abode, a dwelling. + + Plight, an evil and unpleasant state. + + Endure, to bear, to suffer. + + Chain of repose: as if the breezes were bound down and kept at rest + by a chain. + + Darkness: the darkness of paganism. + + Pure light, and Day star: Christianity. + + Wreathed, twisted, curled. + + Hazel-mead, a kind of mead with hazel nuts put into it to flavour + it. For mead, see p. 17. + + Lullaby, a nurse song: a song to put a person to sleep; see p. 210. + + Mannanan, or Mannanan Mac Lir, a Dedannan chief, the Pagan Irish god + of the sea. + + Angus, a Dedannan or fairy chief, who had his palace under one of + the great mounds on the Boyne between Drogheda and Slane. + + +VIII.--Page 39. + + Matin time, very early in the morning: before day: the time of + first prayer. + + Anchoret, a hermit. + + Matins, very early morning prayers. + + Transformed, changed, turned. + + Waxed, grew, became: waxed very wroth, became very angry. + + Cleric, a clergyman. + + Radiant, bright, joyful, happy looking. + + Lament, a sort of sad song. + + +IX.--Page 45. + + Enlightenment, knowledge, education, intelligence. + + Community, a number of persons living together in the same dwelling + or in the same place. + + Encounter, to meet with, to go against. + + Interpreter, a person who explains in one language what a speaker + says in another. The interpreter has to know both languages. + + +X.--Page 50. + + Rampart, a wall or high bank for defence. + + Structure, a building. + + Household, all the people that live in one house. + + Standard, a pole with a flag, banner, or colours, on top. + + Transfer, to change from one to another. + + Romantic stories, tales of fictitious adventures. + + Diadem, a crown, or a band like a crown, worn round the head. + + Spell of feebleness, weakness brought on by some sort of + enchantment. + + +XI.--Page 55. + + Pondering, thinking deeply. + + Meet, fit, proper, becoming. + + Ultonians, the Ulstermen. + + Gainsay, to speak against, to contradict. + + Ridge of the world, a usual expression in Irish writings. + + Gracious, kind and gentle in manner. + + Attendant, a person who attends, a servant. + + Military service, service as soldiers under pay. + + Betimes, in good time, early. + + Booth, a hut or tent. + + +XII.--Page 60. + + Pledge, security. + + Submission, yielding, coming under a person's authority. + + Knighthood. Knight, a soldier of high dignity: a champion: + knighthood, the dignity of a knight. The ancient Irish often + received knighthood at seven years of age. + + Obligation, a promise, a bond, something one is bound to do. + + Galley, a low flat vessel with oars and sails. + + Chessboard, a board with black and white squares on which chess was + played. The ancient Irish were very fond of chess. + + Re-assure, to make a person sure that things are right, to + encourage. + + +XIII.--Page 66. + + Resort, to go often to a place. + + Curragh, a light boat made of wickerwork covered with hides. + + Persist, to continue without ceasing. + + Perplexity, doubt, anxiety of mind. + + Clan, a number of families or a race of people all more or less + related to each other. + + Slieve Fuad, a mountain near Newtownhamilton in Armagh: the name is + now forgotten. + + Baleful, evil, very bad or wicked. + + Disaster, mishap, misfortune. + + Meditate, to plan, to intend. + + Handwood, a piece of wood to serve as a knocker, kept in a niche + outside the door. + + Battalion, a body of foot soldiers. + + Alluring, very good, tempting a person to eat. + + Viands, food, victuals. + + +XIV.--Page 72. + + Looming, appearing darkly and dimly in the distance. + + Steadfast, firm, fixed, determined. + + Valorous, brave, fearless, valiant. + + Your dear charge, Deirdre. + + Assailants, persons assailing or attacking. + + Misgivings, doubts and fears of something wrong. + + Unwittingly, without knowing. + + Unerring, with a straight aim so as not to miss. + + +XV.--Page 75. + + Hireling troops, soldiers serving for pay: they were not Ultonians + and did not belong to the Red Branch. The troops of the Red + Branch could not be got to attack the Sons of Usna. + + Shouts of defiance, shouts challenging and threatening. + + Assault, a violent attack. + + Marshalling, arranging. + + Treason, treachery, foul play. + + Circuit, a journey around. + + Fissure, a split or chasm. + + Solemn, awful, serious, grave. + + Response, answer, reply. + + +XVI.--Page 80. + + Deeming, believing, thinking. + + Onslaught, a fierce attack. + + Mannanan Mac Lir, the Pagan Irish sea-god. + + +XVII.--Page 84. + + Billows of war, the tide or onward press of battle. + + Wreak, to inflict, to execute. + + +XVIII.--Page 85. + + Incensed, very angry. + + Anguish, great grief, pain. + + Descendants, children, grand-children, &c. + + Spoil, to plunder and pillage. + + Illustrious, famous, noble, great. + + Marauding, plundering, robbing. + + Ravage, to lay waste and plunder. + + +XIX.--Page 87. + + Magic, witchcraft, spells. + + Mighty, of wonderful skill. + + Distinguish, to tell one from another. + + Shadowy, uncertain, legendary. + + Historic times, when there are true accounts of things that + happened. + + Professional, following some profession or calling. + + Remuneration, payment, salary. + + Attached, joined to. + + +XX.--Page 89. + + Reverently, with great respect. + + Gaelic, the Irish language. + + Lore, learning. + + Injunction, an order or charge, an advice that should be followed. + + Extract, to take out. + + Devotedly, with great and anxious care. + + Balm, a sort of ointment that soothes pain and cures. + + Sentiments, thoughts, feelings. + + Comparatively late, late compared with older times. + + Predecessor, one who held an office or place before another. + + +XXI.--Page 92. + + Tradition, accounts handed down from generation to generation. + + Provincial, belonging to one of the five provinces of Ireland. + + Tests, trials. + + Entertaining, amusing, diverting. + + Festive, joyous, gay, with feasts. + + Sedge, a kind of coarse grass. + + Keating: the Rev. Doctor Geoffry Keating, who wrote, in Irish, a + well known History of Ireland, full of old stories: died 1644. + + Oppression, cruelty, tyranny, hardship. + + Suppress, to put down. + + Exact, to make people pay. + + An Irish poet: Thomas Darcy M'Gee. + + Seers: among the Milesians were a good many druids, seers, or + prophets. + + Strath, the level land along a river at both sides; an _inch_. + + Mystic forts, the forts mentioned at page 16: mystic, mysterious. + + Cairn-crowned hills. Many hills have cairns on top, round which the + people often held council meetings. + + Elk, very large deer. Elk resorts, places frequented by elks. + + Modern, belonging to the present time. + + Unconquerably, such that he could not be conquered. + + Untarnished, unstained, pure, with out a spot. + + +XXII.--Page 98. + + Plaintive, sad, pitiful. + + Hesitation, pause, delay. + + Palsy, a sort of sickness that causes shivering or shaking. + + Litter, a sort of bed in which a person is carried. + + Tumult, great noise and confusion. + + +XXIII.--Page 103. + + Revered, regarded with love, honour, and respect. + + Distinguished, eminent, honoured. + + Community, a number of persons living together. + + Permanent, lasting. + + Veneration, love and great respect. + + Applicant, a person who applies. + + Abbess, the head nun of a convent. + + +XXIV.--Page 107. + + Humility, humbleness, lowliness of mind. + + Domestic occupations, the work of the house. + + Sward, a grassy place. + + Reputation, fame, a great name. + + Corresponded with her, wrote letters to her, and received replies. + + Chariot, a kind of carriage. + + Reproachfully, blaming her severely. + + Universe, the whole world. + + +XXV.--Page 111. + + Grave, sober, thoughtful. + + Unassuming, modest, not forward. + + Talents, great cleverness. + + Discipline, strict rules and regulations. + + Illustrious, eminent, noble, famous. + + Detailed, exact, giving all particulars. + + Consolation, comfort, a lightening of trouble. + + Magnificent, grand, splendid. + + Shrine, an ornamental tomb or box: sometimes applied to a small + church. + + Commemorate, to keep in memory. + + Gerald Barry, better known as "Giraldus Cambrensis," _i.e._ Gerald + the Welshman (Cambria, one of the old names of Wales). + + Fane, a temple, a church. + + Long ages of darkness and storm: _i.e._ of wars and troubles. + + +XXVI.--Page 114. + + Scribe, a writer: a person who made it the chief business of his + life to copy books. + + Expert, skilful, ready. + + Accomplished, very skilful. + + Devoted, given up to earnestly, attached. + + Interlaced, woven in and out. + + Magnifying glass, a glass that makes things seen through it seem + large. + + Composition, a piece of writing, a book. + + Library, a collection of books. + + Dun, brown. + + St. Kieran, or more properly Ciaran, lived in the sixth century. + + Clonmacnoise on the Shannon, below Athlone, containing the ruins of + what was once a great monastery and college, founded by St. + Kieran. + + +XXVII.--Page 120. + + Watch and ward: ward means guard: he stood sentinel. + + Scared, frightened. + + Humorous, full of humour or fun. + + +XXVIII.--Page 123. + + + Stud, a number of horses all kept in one place. + + Vicious, wicked, spiteful. + + Conan Mail, or Conan the bald: the Fena were always making fun of + him, for he was big, fat, gluttonous, a great boast, a great + coward, and had an evil tongue. + + Unconcernedly, not caring a bit. + + Perplexity, difficulty and doubt. + + Horrible, hateful. + + +XXIX.--Page 129. + + Took counsel, they advised with one another to know what was best + to be done. + + Explore, to search. + + Dizzy, enough to make one's head giddy. + + Pillar-stone, a tall stone standing up, such as we often see in + Ireland. + + Host, a large body of soldiers. + + Decoration, an ornament. + + Chase, to ornament with thin coatings of metal on the surface. + + Enamelled, ornamented as if with enamel. + + +XXX.--Page 132. + + Wizard champion, a champion having something of the nature of a + wizard or enchanter. + + Circlet, a long thin plate often worn around the head and forehead. + + Determination, a firm resolution to conquer. + + Chafe, to vex. + + Trophy, a prize taken from an enemy in battle. + + Poise, to balance. + + Scowl, to frown darkly and wickedly. + + Terrify, to frighten. + + +XXXI.--Page 139. + + Advantages, benefits, gains. + + Diligent, industrious, hard-working. + + Uninhabited, having no people living in it. + + Presence, appearance. + + Luminous, bright, sparkling. + + Enlightenment, knowledge, learning, instruction. + + Civilise, to refine, to educate, to bring people to live in a decent + and proper way. + + Doctrine, teaching, belief, faith. + + Structure, a building. + + Venerable, old and greatly loved and respected. + + Incessant, without ceasing, continual. + + Occupation, employment, work. + + His relative the king of that part of Scotland: the royal families + of Ireland and Scotland were related to each other (see pp. 5 and + 6), and Columkille was related to both. + + +XXXII.--Page 145. + + Voluntary, by his own choice. + + Ben Edar, Howth, near Dublin. + + Embarking, going on board ship. + + Seniors, elderly persons. + + Hospice, the part of a monastery set apart for the entertainment of + travellers. + + Intently, with close attention. + + +XXXIII.--Page 150. + + Heptarchy means seven kingdoms: for at this time England was + divided into seven parts with a king over each. + + Relations, connexion, friendship. + + Diligence, industry, working steadily. + + Intimacy, close friendship. + + Foster-son. When a man reared up and educated among his family a boy + belonging to another family, he was the foster-father, and the boy + was his foster-son. + + Bondage, slavery. + + Restoration, restoring, giving back. + + Marauders, robbers, plunderers. + + Intercession, pleading for. + + Unfettered of any, not under any other province. + + Redundance, more than enough, great plenty. + + Historians recording truth: to record truth is the chief merit of a + historian. + + Bulwark, a safeguard: "Ireland's bulwark," because Tara was in + Meath. + + Sooth, truth. + + +XXXIV.--Page 155. + + Directions, orders, instructions. + + Revellers, persons feasting, drinking, and making merry. + + Sack, to plunder and destroy. + + +XXXV.--Page 158. + + Extraordinary, very strange, wonderful. + + Keel, the bottom part of a ship or boat. + + Astounding, astonishing, wonderful. + + Oarstroke of the curragh, about 20 feet. + + Circumference, the whole round. + + Extending, stretching. + + Meshes, the open spaces between the threads of a net. + + +XXXVI.--Page 162. + + Reconcile, to become friends again, to come back to friendship. + + Recognise, to know a thing again. + + Prow, the head or fore part of a ship or boat. + + Affliction, trouble and sorrow. + + Reception, receiving or entertaining. + + Reveal, to show, to make known. + + +XXXVII.--Page 164. + + Liefer, rather. + + Let be this purpose, let it lie by, don't attend to it, don't carry + it out: _i.e._ the purpose of revenge. + + I let him be, I let him alone. + + A tithe, a tenth part. + + +XXXVIII.--Page 167. + + Monastic school, a school kept in a monastery. + + Distinguished, eminent and great. + + Pilgrimage, a journey to a place for devotion. Pilgrim, a person who + goes on a pilgrimage. + + Determined will, allowing nothing to turn them from their purpose. + + Relinquish, to give up, to abandon. + + Luxuries, dainties, delicacies. + + Peasantry, the common country people. + + Swerve, to turn away from. + + Consecrated, made sacred and venerable. + + Hermitage, a place where a hermit lives. + + +XXXIX.--Page 170. + + Object of their pilgrimage, the place they chiefly came to visit. + + Sojourn, to dwell, to live in a place. + + Revere, to regard with honour, love, and respect. + + Memorial, something that reminds one of past persons or events. + + Vehemently, very earnestly. + + Envied, people of other nations envied them, or were jealous of + them. + + Triumphant, gaining victories. + + +XL--Page 173. + + Successfully cultivated: the Irish people studied and practised + them and made improvements. + + Pirates, sea robbers. + + Permanently, remaining there always. + + Expel, to drive out. + + Sovereignty, headship, kingship. + + Annex, to join. + + Encroaching, taking up or advancing on what belongs to another. + + Anglo-Irish, partly English and partly Irish. + + Milesian stock, the descendants of the Milesians (see p. 2). + + +XLI.--Page 179. + + Croon, a continuous murmuring sort of musical sound or song. + + Squire, a gentleman who attended on a knight. + + Nier, a river flowing into the Suir from the Co. Waterford. + + Spectrally, like a spectre or ghost. + + Jack, a leathern jacket used for armour. + + Plumes, the feathers of their helmets. + + +XLII.--Page 181. + + Claimant, a person laying claim to something. + + Contend, to struggle or fight. + + Unimportant, trifling, of no consequence. + + Remote, far off, out of the way. + + Recognise, to know. + + Prostrate, down on hands and knees. + + Barons, lords. + + Ambush, or ambuscade, an unexpected attack from a hiding place. + + Reverses, misfortunes. + + Surrender, to give up. + + Vigilant, watchful. + + Truce, an agreement for peace for a while. + + Annals, histories of events as they occurred from year to year. + + +XLIII.--Page 186. + + Cahal-More, Cahal the Great. + + Portent, a prodigy, a fearful sign or omen of evil. + + Entranced, in a trance, in a vision. + + A land of morn, a bright sunny land. + + Lustrous, bright, shining with fine crops and flowers. + + Resplendent, splendid, sunny, bright. + + Anon, immediately, on the spot. + + Port sublime, stately and grand looking. + + Him queried I, I asked him. + + Golden time, a prosperous plentiful time. + + Bland, soft, mild, temperate. + + Dome, a grand building. + + As by a spell, as if by magic; it started up suddenly. Remember this + is all in a dream. + + Lyres, harps. + + WreathA"d swell, sounding all together with sweet musical turns and + shakes. + + Thrilling, moving the feelings and heart. + + Aghast, frightened, pale with fear. + + Minstrel group, those who had been playing the harps. + + 'Twas then the time, we were in the days. The poet + means:--"Something dreadful has clearly happened; but how can this + be, since this is the reign of Cahal-More?" He did not know--in + his dream--of Cahal's death. + + Fleckt, spotted. + + Alien sun, a strange sun: it was of course strange, for it glared + from the _north_. + + Shorn beams, not bright, giving a dull gloomy sort of light. + + Skeleton: the skeleton of a man, a sign of disaster: the skeleton, + and the blood spots in the sky, and the "alien sun" were some of + the portents. + + Castled Maine: there are many castles along its banks. + + Teuton, a German. + + +XLIV.--Page 190. + + Expedition, an undertaking or journey. + + Onslaught, a violent attack. + + Tunic, a loose outer garment. + + Dominions, territories. + + +XLV.--Page 193. + + Disdain, to scorn, to hate. + + Commendations, praises. + + Do homage, to yield obedience. + + Apprehend, to take prisoner. + + Devise, to plan. + + Confer, to take counsel. + + Battle-harness, battle dress with arms. + + Apparel, clothes. + + Passport, permission in writing to pass from one country to another. + + Subscribe, to write one's name. + + Servitor, one in the king's service. + + Furniture: _i.e._ the furniture of a ship--oars, sails, cordage, &c. + + Ensample, old form of _example_. + + +XLVI.--Page 197. + + Evil plight, miserable state. + + Council, a number of men kept by the king to help him with their + advice. + + Enterprise, an undertaking. + + Perilous, dangerous. + + Peer, an equal, a match. + + Stalworth, strong, stout, brave. + + Knightly, like a knight, valiant and stout-hearted. + + Seemly, proper, decent. + + +XLVII.--Page 200. + + Lists, the enclosed ground where a single combat was to be fought. + + Obeisance, courtesy, saluting, bowing to. + + Banquet, a feast. + + Reverence, great respect. + + Intently, with attention, closely. + + Grim, very fierce and angry. + + +XLVIII.--Page 203. + + Baron, a lord of the lowest rank. The ranks are:--baron, viscount, + earl, marquis, duke. + + Independent, not under the authority of anyone. + + Goodly presence, a noble or fine appearance. + + Appease, to pacify. + + Hobby, a middle-sized horse of Irish breed, much valued. + + Adversary, an opponent, an enemy. + + Discord, disagreement, quarrelling. + + Jars, wrangles, quarrels. + + Chapter house, a house or room in a cathedral where the clergy meet. + + Trice, a very short time, as long as one would take to count three. + + Outface, to dare him up to his face. + + Green wound, a fresh wound. + + Devise, to plan. + + Bungerlie, in a bungling manner. + + +XLIX.--Page 208. + + Cultivate, to study, practise, and improve. + + Colonists, persons who leave their native land and settle in some + distant country. + + Dirge, a mournful or funeral song. + + Dialogue, two people speaking in turn, conversation between two. + + Interrupt, to stop for a time. + + Placid, quiet, gentle, peaceful. + + Resume, to take up again. + + Clansmen, the men belonging to a clan. + + National music, music that has grown up gradually among the people + of a country. + + Originally, in the beginning. + +THE END. + + + + +Transcriber's notes: + +Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been retained as in the +original. + +The following corrections have been made to the text: + + Page 5, second line from bottom: named Fergus,[missing comma added] + Angus, and Lorne. + + Page 8, last line: sun and moon.[missing period added] + + Page 13, description of illustration on the right: size of the + picture.[missing period added] + + Page 16, line 1: and not nearly so good[original has goo] + + Page 17, last line: There was then no whiskey.[missing period added] + + Page 28, last line: My heart shall know one peaceful hour.[missing + period added] + + Page 31, line 9: The cold and briny spray.[missing period added] + + Page 49, line 3 of illustration caption: are in the National + Museum,[missing comma added] + + Page 64, fifth line from bottom: three drops of honey in their + beaks,[missing comma added] + + Page 65, line 1: "It denotes the message from Concobar to us,"[close + quote added] + + Page 65, last line: "[open quote added]even though my sway should be + greater here." + + Page 67, line 9: "[open quote added]Kil-Cuan, O Kil-Cuan, + + Page 68, second line from bottom: "[original has ']Here I have a + three-days banquet ready for thee, and I invite thee to + come and partake of it." + + Page 69, fourth line from bottom: accustomed to defend + ourselves!"[original has '] + + Page 70, line 14: "[original has ']Why didst thou tarry, my + princess?" + + Page 82, line 16: "[open quote added]Three generous heroes of the + Red Branch, + + Page 90, sixth line from bottom: More especially I[missing 'I' + added] charge them that they do their duty devotedly + + Page 94, line 15: never using horses in the chase.[original has ,] + + Page 94, line 22: beside a stream or lake.[original has ,] + + Page 94, last line: next another layer of hot stones:[colon added] + + Page 107, line 11: accounts of her life[original has Life] we are + told + + Page 108, caption for illustration: ten miles from[original has rom] + Cork city. + + Page 113, last line: ages of darkness and storm."[original has '] + + Page 132, seventh line from bottom: "[original has ']Surely, Dermot + O'Dyna, + + Page 158, line 2: "Heaven has guided our ship to this place.[missing + period added] + + Page 163, seventh line from bottom: remained here for some + days,[missing comma added] + + Page 164, chapter title: TENNYSON'S "VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE."[original + has '] + + Page 164, line 13: "[original has ']The Voyage of Maildune." + + Page 177, line 3: and they built splendid abbeys,[missing comma + added] churches, + + Page 210, line 2: in every part of Ireland.[missing period added] + + Page 210, line 6: i.e., laments, or dirges.[missing period added] + + Page 213, seventh entry under 'IV.--Page 14.': Establishment, the + whole house, and[original has an] all belonging to it. + + Page 218, third entry under 'XXXIV.--Page 155.': Sack, to plunder + and destroy[original has distroy]. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Reading Book in Irish History, by P. 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