An infant's voice has dared proclaim Thus before Jezebel, defiled with blood, CHо. Happy, thice happy, must he prove The child who shares his heavenly Father's love By impious footsteps never trod, To own the bounteous hand divine, The guardian care of Israel's God. O happy youth, so early blest, On Heaven's eternal truth forever rest! N the previous notice of Celtic Literature* attention was given chiefly to the ancient Welsh, though some mention was made of the Gaelic. The third division of the Celtic race belongs to Ireland, in part of which its language is preserved to the present day. The early history of Ireland is wrapped in obscurity, which the patient researches and shrewd conjectures of scholars have but partially dissipated. There was no written literature until after Ireland was converted to Christianity, and not until the eleventh century was the "Book of Invasions" compiled from the tribal traditions. There appear to have been five principal peoples, who arrived in the following order: The followers of Partholan, those of Nemed, the Firbolgs, the Tuatha dé Danann, and the Milesians or Scots. The Fomorians are also mentioned as invaders. Probably all of these belonged to the great Celtic race. The Milesians, followers of Milesius or Miled, came from the south, probably from Spain, not long before the Christian era. They excelled in war, and pushed their conquests not only over the island, but into Scotland and Wales. The earliest fragments of Celtic literature are ascribed to them; these were songs preserved by oral tradition. Although there are some traces of the existence of Christianity at an earlier period, the conversion of the island is justly *See Volume I., pp. 316-336. V-20 305 attributed to the zealous missionary labors of St. Patrick in the fifth century. Ere long the Irish Christians became noted for their faith, and their country was called "the Isle of Saints." From this remote quarter missionary monks were sent to Switzerland and Germany. In their own land many devoted themselves to scholarship, and displayed wonderful art in the illumination of manuscripts. But the destructive invasions of the heathen Norsemen, in the ninth and tenth centuries, interrupted all peaceful pursuits, and cut off the frequent intercourse with the Continent. Celtic literature, so far as it has been preserved, is plainly divided into two divisions, the early Pagan and the Christian; and these again may each be divided into two parts. The scanty relics of the earliest Pagan songs comprise lays of the Milesian invaders and of the bard Cuchulainn. The later Pagan poetry belongs to the period of Fionn (or Fingal) and Oisin (Ossian) in the third century. The early Christian period extends from the fifth century to the ninth; the later Christian period from the tenth century until the English language superseded the Irish in its own home. There were many strange devices in the structure of Celtic poetry. Rhyme was commonly used with many variations; thus, in the earliest fragment is found the peculiar kind of rhyme called "conaclon," by which the end of one line rhymes with the beginning of the next. Some of these Celtic fashions of verse are found also in Latin hymns of the same period, and the question of their origin is hardly settled. In a hymn of the seventh century the lines are alternately Latin and Irish. Alliteration was employed in Celtic poetry, though not as prominently as in Anglo-Saxon verse. nance, or vowel-rhyme, is also found as in Spanish. Our examples are taken chiefly from "Bards of the Gael and Gall," by Dr. George Sigerson, who has carefully followed the original metres. Asso AMERGIN'S INCANTATION. WHEN the Milesians, for the second time, were approaching Erin, they were driven back by a strange wind. Amergin, the Druid poet, then made the incantation, whose "conaclon" rhyme is here imitated. Fain we seek Erinn, Motions to mountains, Fountains and bowers, Showers, rills rushing, Royal king's towers, Bowers for crowning; FAND'S WELCOME TO CUCHULAINN. CUCHULAINN, one of the earliest bards of Erin-perhaps of the first century after Christ-had assisted Labraid in overthrowing his enemies. On his return in his chariot the Princess Fand, who loved him, welcomed him with this song. An infant's voice has dared proclaim Thus before Jezebel, defiled with blood, CHO. Happy, thice happy, must he prove The child who shares his heavenly Father's love To own the bounteous hand divine, On Heaven's eternal truth forever rest! |