a«^tt?w»^asai3rsTO5^d2^2«i&w.^ A Ai 0- : : 6 'alifornia Jional lility '***&***■ ■£&^-f&&toi&i&&&3&^G7S*&: ^T"S u y / V ELLAUNA: Helena of tf)c tEfnileeutf) CTcntitQ? : IN FOUR CANTOS: WITH NOTES. BY MARY DEDICATED, WITH PERMISSION, TO THE HOUSE OF LEIX. " Thus while I trace the measure wild u Of tales that charm'd me when a child, " Rude tho' they be, still with the chimo "Return the thought* of earl) time ; "And feelings rous'd in life's lirst diy, 4 ( ilow in the liue and prompt the lay," Scott- ^6^S^«^ DUBLIN: PRINTLD AJiD rVBUaBED BY V1IIUM HKKBT tlHBEH, COliXCX-GBirX. I81& A, DEDICATION. tN those days to which memory ever reverts " w itfa a, smile or a tear," as I listened to the Peasant'* oral tale of long departed Chief fains, — Fancj again embodied the Heroes of "oth< r days," (he Maidens of long remembered beauty, — and the " Legend" of Ellauna was formed. Circumstances have induced me to offer this com- pilement of my Youth to the public eye; and under whose especial patronage could I so filly place it, as with the lineal descendants of those, whose past atchievments first suggested it — nho, whilst they acre unrivalled in the tented field, shored their lore of Learning and Religion by (he many costly remains, which time hath spared to this date to prove it ; — therefore to the " House of Leix" is Ellauna dedi- cated by (heir Very humble Servant, MARY. DvMin, S ■i.tcmbcr 29tli, 181*. 857097 ELLAUNA.— Canto First. THE SHRINE. W HAT sees the musing rustic now. Amid the wreck of time? — She views Kildara's cloister'd dome, And blessed Brigid's shrine. Its guardian meek she can perceive, Attentive lend her ear, — Ellauna's tale of weal or woe, So pitiful, to hear. ELLAUNA. Canto dFivjst, THE SHRINE. JLVESPECTET) Abbess, woud'st thou know The suffering 1 of my days ; Thy servant's hours of joy or woe Obediently I trace. Thou didst not rule Coill-DairagK s fane, When first my story mov'd j( l ) And requiems by thy virgin train Were sung' for him I lov'd. 8 ELLAUNA* But thou hast view'd the widow's tear Shed o'er the trophied tomb, Which marks the murder'd Hero's bier For ages yet to come. And dost with pity's tend'rest tone, Demand this tale of fate j Which, Lady, to your ear alone I fully shall relate. Not boastingly I speak my birth, O'More, of gentlest blood, My sire, yet lives in princely worth, And lives surnamed the good. flight valiant was the chief in arms, Thus Birga's knights allow ,( 2 & 3 ) To Kilda, rich in wealth and charms^. He pledged the nuptial vow ; THK SITRI M The pride of Byrne and Whelan's race, Whose dwelling by the stream, Rocks, woods, and hills, and valleys grace, The poet's sweetest theme. For there, in early Christian times, Did pious Mogue dwell; And there, beneath fair spreading limes, The faithful built his cell. 9 A consecrated Chapel rose, And nigh the Castle stands ; The Hermit still his name bestows On the Lord Marcher's lands.C 4 ) May goodly trees for ever shade And fence that holy place, Nor sacrilegious axe invade Where sleeps my mother's race. B 10 EIXAUNA. But war hath sunk the Whelan state- Sir Daniel Byrne 's no more,( 5 ) Yet Teighmogue's hospitable gate Shall distant heir restore. Two daughters and a blooming boy The lovely Kihla bare ; The blessings of connubial joy Were Arth-Mac-Conmaol's share.C G > Majestic Bkagela first born, And next the blue-eyed Cahir ; Our harper sang my birth, may-morn, And nam'd Ellauna fair. But ah ! there came a weeping hour Prophetic of my doom j Dermody felt the drizzling show'r, And view'cl the sudden gloom. rHE SHRINE J I Doth storms, he cried, the Ma) invade. And dull the natal strain — The Sun shall brighter i ise, sweet maid, And thou duo honors gain. Buagela's darkly rolling eye Her inward thought express' d, And well her high arch'd-brows imply The pride which rules her breast: And none her fancies might restrain, For thus our father will'd, That all shou'd please — and none shou'd pain His best-belo\ed child. Nor lover cou'd her youth delight, " Nor v. ou'd she deign to wed; Tho' Baron hold and banner'd Knight Her beauty captive led : 12 ELLAUNA. Bat her unbending haughty soul Preferr'd a single life, Unsubjected to such controul, As waits the happiest wife. Caiiir seem'd born to rule and please, And tho' but yet nineteen, By all the martial sept of Leixt 7 ) Was held in high esteem; For lately on the eastern shore, Mac-Murrough led the van ;( 8 ) His well-timd arrow drank the gore Of Swart, the royal Dane.C 9 ) At Rheban's strongly scited fort, We at this time sojourn'd; For unaware, by night, fierce Swart Our Donamaise had burn'd.C 10 ) i in: SHRINE. 13 As Lord St. Michael helps the foe, O'MoRE on Rheban seiz'd — The Boise lies' lofty turrets too/ 12 ) Th' angry Chieftain raz'd. Nigh was our kinsman, Girald's court, Ath-le-gar; with its tow'r/ 13 ) Which Orothea More had brought To Oftaley in dow'r. Peace came — yet Conar's kindred race With Arty disagree ;( 14 ) A barren pasture's bound, to trace Sole cause for enmity. Th' hostile bands march tow'rd the heath, Which now opposing lay/ 15 > And rest that night their shields beneath Awaiting dawn of day. 14 ELLAUNA, Gean-Mieere spake the words of peace, And with returning day, The herald bards bade discord cease And part th' expected fray j Full pleasant was Q'Dempsey's wile, Which such success attends ;( 16 ) " For ah! 'tis hard to reconcile " The foes that once were friends." And graceful stood each Chieftain's lieir As lovely in their youth, They interchange the mutual spear. As guages of their truth. Two days, camp'd on the heath, they feast, The golden goblets foam — : The third, the cup of concord taste, And part well pleased for home/ 17 ) i in: SHRINE. 15 \f;m, vain man! thus rules with powY, And proudlj beat's liis state ; Beyond his glance, the heavy hour Which brings reversing fate. Cahir, deeply skillM in Grecian lore, Wou'd taste it at its souree ; And hence a red-cross galley bore Him, on liis destin'd course/ 18 ) At JFoj/s rich altar by the ford, The priest preferred a prayVj That atigel ministers might guard The well beloved Cahir. Thrice blessed Moy ! thy fanes no more, That like the Templars fell;( »> A sinful ^Toy shall yet restore Tliv Malls, old rhymers tell, 16 ELLAUNA. In Sicily the youth arrives, And thence to Athens sped ; But, whether that he yet survives Or numbers with the dead No tidings e'er hath reached our ears, Tho' twenty years be past Since Arty-More, with parting- tears His worthy heir embrac'd. Too silently did Kilda mourn The absence of her son, And hence o'erpast the mortal bourne Ere ninety days had run. I scarcely had three lustrums gain'd When my lov'd mother died ;( 20 > And sure I cause had to be pain'd, Of all her sex the pride. TIIH SHKINE. 17 ;Sh«: died in hope's beatic slate ; But had she liv'd to know Her darling- Cahir's uncertain fate, How great had been her woe. Saint Francis, was our house's guide, My grateful ancestry An Abbey, for his Monks supplied In lovely Strad-Balie.C 2 i > But Brigid was my Mother's aid, And her last dying- pray'r, Unto the heav'nly visioned maid Bequeathed her soul — and Cahir. Next Month at the seraphic shrine. The zealous Chief with haste Attends the rosary divine,C 22 ) Which honoreth her feast. C 23 ) Barefoot — O'aLore, in sackcloth clad, Presents in humble guise,' ^ ) Such off 'ring as his faith display'd, And holy Hope implies. A Silver Censor wrought with gold, Bv Cross of Rubies crown'd ;( l25 ) Whilst Eni'rald Shamrocks fitly fold( 26 Their mystic foliage round.( 2? ) For Rildas soul, he first implor'd Remission and relief From penal fire : and deplor'd £ach sinner's mortal grief. The mitred Abbot, blest my sire, And promis'd in three days, That Kilda freed from " penal fire" Should walk the fields of ease. THE SHRINE 19 For Calm- he next address'd the saint, And crav'd her patronage; His daughters share with suited train This pious pilgrimage. Then, for our living - and our dead, Twelve Nuns chaunt Litanies; " Depart m. peace " blest Walter said/ 28 ) u Whilst pray'rs, with incense rise." J. rtd of Canto the First E LL A U NA. — Ca n to Seco/ul THE MARRIAGE. WE Sing of Wedlock's blibful bonds, The pure delights of Love ; We wish each Warrior's chosen fair, As kind and true to prove. To gallant Knight, and Lady bright, We give the festal cheer ; Far hence, the deep ill-omen'd sigh, And hasty gushing tear. ELLAUNA. (ganto Secant). THE MARRIAGE. Here Eustace first beheld, and soon With supplicating air Entreats my sire, as heavVs own boon To grant " Ellauna fair" None look'd on Eustace* lofty mein ; The Eustace' sparkling eye/ 29 ) But found respect, or gave esteem ; Could heart his suit deny? 24 ELLAUNA. And Ellauna was all his pride — Too mighty bliss to last — Ah I little reck'd his happy bride > What hand her joy should blast. Our garden was as Eden fair, Hard by the river side — My native lovely Birga there Rolls swift its silver tide. Amid this garden's wild'red ways Sir Eustace built a tow'r, A refuge from the summer rays. And call'd " my Lady's bowW" And from our nigh and splendid home We hither oft retir'd, To pass the sultry hours of noon, Or night's pale lamp admir'd.C 30 ) M LRRJ v | Ta > —two la! y< ars bad flown, M On downy wui^s aw av , Our Little Im>\ just walk'd al< i On hi&f and my birth-da Many a stately knight and dame Were summon' d to the hall, And many true retainers came To keep our Festival. To ardent Philip, and just James, We first in Chapel paid( u ) Such honour as the Martyr claims Who "faith's" strait paths essay 'el. Then hied we with our chosen mates, Unto my Lady's bow'r : For there my loving 1 Lord entreats To spend the banquet hour D 26 ELLAUNA. The mimic arras dress* d the scene With ev'ry gaudy fle-w'r, The couches velvet, fairy green. With roses broid'red o'er. My robe the tiut of am'ranth true/ ^ ) With glowing Zapphires brac'd ;( 33 ) A splendid Carknets varied hue My auburn tresses grac'd.( 34 > Excuse those tears — alas ! the hour, Which turn'd those ringlets grey ; Such force had grief and terror o'er This tenement cf clay.( ^ ) The gems were pluck'd from SelinCs crest; At Siege of Cesarea : Benignant William's crozier bless'd( 3G ) The future Knight of Lea. I UK MAIUlUCiL. And such, my Lord's fond gifta that morn In honour of my day; So wilFd his favours t' adorn The Matron of the May. To give to pleasure higher zest, My sister came at noon ; The first time e're the lovely guest Had favor' d so our dome. How all adniir'd the black ey'd maid,. Her seeming- like a queen ; A length'd garb of gold brocade Adds graces to her mien. A Persian 'tire of di'monds rare/ u7 Her jetty locks surround ; Her arms bared, as lillies faic, By equal bracelets bound* 28 ELLAUNA. Cf brilliants round her iv'ry neck, A matchless chain she wears, And brilliant were the loops which deck The pendants at her ears. My father on affairs of state, Had gone to Tarah hill ; His arm a shield in battles' heat, His voice the Senate's will. And his hereditary care,( 3S ) As treasurer to bring The tribute of Lagenia fair,( 3i ») To Eire's acknowledged king\( 40 ) The hard sang Love and Hymen crown'd, But rising as he paus'd, His harp sent forth the saddest sound That ever terror caus'd.C 41 ) THE M \ Kill \GE. 29 Cried witty NeAL, "I nvarr d ;i --trim, " i touch' d (lit- chords unskiird ; ** Good CaiTil, take your seat again, 4i And soothe this pretty child." So soft a prelude Carril sung", As nigh excited tearsj So bold an air the finale rung. As quite clispelTcl our fears. Our humbler friends, with revels light Sport o'er the tented lawn ; The bonfire's blaze outlasts the night, And mocks the blushing dawn. And now the guests in Lady's bow'r, Perceive the rising sun; His beams steal on the genial hour, And warn them to be gone. 30 ELLAUNA. Their kind adieus to favor'd hosts, Our courtesies engage ; Unheeded Bragela arose And softly spoke her page. Unmark'd she left the festal rooms, 'Till looking to the gate, Surpriz'd we see her ready grooms ; Her maids and warders wait. # Ere words our wonder could express, Bragela re-appears; Nor longer coidd our speech repress,- A travelling hood she wears. We cry, O dearest sister stay, Thou canst not leave us so ; My bright and charming Lady, nay, I vow, thou shall not go. THE M.VRRIAC.K. $| Our bands, which hers had gently seiz'd, She rashly flung- a\v;i\ : Replied, and wildly on us gaz'd, 44 The bound must needs obey." Equerry 'gainst the portal leans, Where prane'd her milk-white steed ; She lieu and grasp'd the silver'd reins, And urg'd his utmost speed. Astonished, motionless we stood At this uncommon scene ; No cause assign'd for such a mood,. So swift her act had been. My true love said, " grieve not for her, " Nor heed her discontent j " Thou know'st her fashion — ant to err, 44 And quickly to repent." 32 ELLAUNA. " Most likely an oifence she dee. " Our vassals' noisy mirth ; " For recollect how she esteems "The dignity of birth." ie Lord Aylmer's heart her image wears, " 3Iethinkshe told his flame ;( 42 > " And no good will I fear she bears " Unto the Saxon name." " Remembrst thou that Bragela, " On Nigra's besom swoon'd, " E'en at the altar ; that bless'd day " On which our hands were joined." ** Nor all our fond remonstrance, love ? " Until the yesterday ; " Could e'er the wayward maiden move, « To visit Woody Lea.'\«) THE M.VRRI.UiE. 33 '* On her caprice we'll not debate; " Your frame all languid shews : " Come, let us to the Castle straight, "And seek a short repose." Onward, we to our chamber past, But much my mind did muse On this strange parting' — 'twas the last Which nature sadly rues. Kind Lady, much I fear my tale All patience will exceed ; Your wishes o'er my doubts prevail. And tempt me to proceed. Then let me hasten o'er the nisht Of sorrow and of blood ; Tho' yet I shudder to recite Its sad vicissitude. 84 ELL ATTN A. The second^ since Bragela's flight, Comes sad and low'ring on; And dusky clouds obscure from sight, The setting: of the sun. Yet most oppresive was the heat, For not a zephyr sigh'd : Tho' e'en to win a cooler seat The battlements we try'd. Descending thence we gaily haste Unto the fav'red " bow'r;" This sullen twilight hour to waste, And scent the dew-bath'd flow'r. A wounded raven cross' d our path ; 6i Poor bird!" the Knight exclaim'd; Low thunder muttered heav'ns wrath, A flying owlet scream'd. 1 Mi; M VRRIACiE. Our babe I carried in m\ anus; Time sweetly stole away : He slept ; and gazing- on his charms, Two lengthened hours delay. " He's stole Ellauna's rosy cheek,'* My gallant husband cried ; " The dimpled mouth, and look so meek " Of my beloved bride." " Yours," I replied, " his open brow, " Presaging victon ! " And 0, Sir Knight you must allow, " He boasts your speaking eye." Thus* with his aim around my waist The moments we employ ; He stoop'd— he bless'd— and he embrac'cL The dear imconscious boy.. 35 ELLA UNA. His mantle of Aurora bright^ 44 ) He listless had untied ; His sword — the warrior's delight, Had fallen by his side.( 45 ) A darker shadow cast the door He started from his seat ; And instantly — Almighty pow'r ! Lay gasping at my feet! He spoke, I knelt his words to hear, But Oh, they were his last ! His dying accents reach'd my ear Like winter's chilling blast. His noble spirit burst its chains, And wing'd its flight away From earthly woe, and earthly pains, To realms of endless day. End of Canto the Second, ELLAUNA.— Canio Third. THE WIDOWHOOD. O'ER the bier of the stately, The ardent and brave, Wails the harper, who lately Blithe melodies gave — " Lo } his Knighthood evinces " Each banner that flies; « Fairest daughter of princes " How woful thy sighs." " Surely branches of glory " Such stein shall send forth; " And time's future story " Emblazon their worth." « The spoils of dark Selim see " Grace Eustace ever ! « Shall the stone of his fame be " Forgotten ? Never !" ELLAUNA. CTanto €jjttt. THE WIDOWHOOD. JLiADY, you sigh; but when you know, What yet remains behind, You well will guess what weight of woe Lies heavy on my mind. The dawning of the day had broke Upon our sadden'd plain, When thrilling screams of horror 'woke Me, to a sense of pain, 40 ELLAUNA. From my deadly swoon I gazed, And feebly lean'd to hear; My baby, weeping, sore amaz'd, — Struck on the mother* s ear. My love's gash'd bosom next I meet His hand in mine was clasp'd ; And Br anno howling at his feet, I saw — and I relaps'd. Sorrow streamed from every eye, Terror blanched each cheek ; Whilst not a trace remained whereby The murderer to seek. Four weeks my reason weakly reigns QuelFd by the sad event: My father plac'd the dear remains Beneath this monuments 16 ) J if;: w IDOWHOOD. 41 But, ah! his " bloodgvuts" yet distain Into this present hour ; Nor mortal art can w;isli them clean. From off the fatal floor.C 47 ) Old Col man the Angus fine Frere, My friend and chaplain dear, By words of "faith" by fast, and prafr, A 11 ay 'd my mental fear. But, never have I* left the bow'r Since that disastrous night, I count the changing 1 seasons o'er, Where last he bless 1 d my sight. Nor Knight, nor Lady entertain' d 3 Nor view'd my father's house — His visits only are maintained : None else rny heart allows 42 ELLAl'NA. Save, that perennially I come The sacred lamp to trim ;( - 8 ) To watch a night the Eustace tomb ; And tell my beads for him. You saw the mourner from the grate, And hasten' d to relieve ; And here since matin hour hath sat And listen'd to my grief. And oft your interposing words To Paradise led on ; And now, an earthly joy affords, Enquiring for my son. He grew beneath kind Column's care, So learned, just, and wise, That from Ardmachias' College rar6, He bore the golden prize. ! HE WIDOWHOOD. 43 At seventeen, he vow'd a vow, Beyond me to controul, His Uncle's doubtful fate t«> know, The purport oi' Ins soul. *' Shall I," cried he, "be Arty's heir; ," Perchance O'More a slave! ° Perish the villain thought, 'twou'd bear " Fitz-Kustaco to the o T ave."( 49 ) u Three years, I've sworn by Holy-Rood, " In quest of him to roam ; '* The watchful providence of God " Will had me safely home. 1 ' " Reverend Colman, dry that tear, " And at your natal place, u Unto the Saint, whose name you bear, " A stately Church I'll raise." 44 ELLAUNA. '* Doubtless mother, I'll return, " And I'll return well sped ; " For never had he cause to mourn, " Whom truth and justice led." I press'd the mind-ennobled boy- More closely to my breast ; I wept, yet felt a mother's joy At honor's high behest. And hope as if from heav'n obtain'd, Hath o'er my mind prevail'd ; Tho' eighteen moons have slowly wan'd, Since gallant Rowland sail'd. And cheeringly it bids me trust A prosperous event, For he who rules with judgment just In mercy will relent.——-. TH E \\ [DOW 1I«. «ii>. 43 Now fitl\ Lady do \ ou ask, " Remains the li'in*- unknown?" The qu( stion on A ; how sad the task, The hapless truth to own. But vainly since that set ae of woe, My sir-.', with all his pow'r, Hath sought the arm that struck the blow And marr'd my summer bow'r. And oft my son with pious care, Invok'd the pow'r divine To listen to an Orphan's pray'r, And yield his foe and mine. Yet saintly Abbess, thou shall hear, Confided to your breast, That, which unto a mortal ear, Hath never been express'd. 4(5 ELLA UNA. My sister's chiefest fav'red maid Was Nigra, once a slave Whom Florence More, the late crusade Eaptiz'd, in Jordan's wave : When wounded by a pagan snare, A tedious death in store ;( 50 ) Unto our Isle, with christian care, His proselyte he bore. — And sure if Daemons e'er can boast A power o'er our days, *Twas then, the wily Arab cross' d The stately porch of Leix.( 31 ) She was a fiercely temper' d wretch ; Tho' strange it be to tell, Her influence o'er Bragela such, She rul'd her at her will. THE WIDDWil'iiil). 17 Forgive your servant's lmg'ring tale, I n\\ tiling t<> disclo Another name — which must reveal T1h j author of her woes. In my third month of widowhood, When calm to fate resign'd, My nurse's son before mo stood — An humble, prudent hind: The subject matter of his words Dear Lady, I repeat : He liv'd as keeper of the herds At Rhebans southern gate. A covered path ; an T>~u-door, My father's secret Wi From vulgar gaze hig-h trees secure, Alone he kept the k 48 ELLAtJNA. From the exterior court this led Unto the Commons-road ; And in this court the " Barbar" st< Was gen' rally bestow'd. The time was more than ev 'nin ** 1 Is policy hath plaim'd.'* J M E \\ i DOWHOOD. I'' " With win,: I have so drugg'd his groom, " With pledges to your health, " That he'll ne'er miss the trust) Roan " 'Till 1 return the stealth/' " Thro' woo. Is and thru' the night I go, "None ever will mistrust, " The arm which aim'd thr stead) blow, " Like your resentment just." " With the morning comes your sire, ft },\y greai revenge to mar, " The secret key wou'd then require, •• Committed to vour care." " The Ktstace, in his bow'ry Ida, " Shall lie full cold e'er then ; ire, my child, to injure th< •' Or such perfection pain." 50 EIXAUNA, u Cease Birga's Lilly, weep not so ; " Quick! thro' the Iron Door,- — " The fittest tidings of vour foe " Come with the midnight hour ! This cruel plot o'erheard indeed By Ansey's faithful son, He swiftly, hut with bootless speed, To shew our danger run The way was long- — by night o'ertae'n — ( 53 Led by an errant blaze, Arising- from the woody fen,( 51 ) O'er which he pathless strays. He reach 1 d not then our castle walls, Until the morning light Dispell'd what yet poor Conall calls, A daemon, or a sprite. inv: wiDcn >ij. 51 "i'v. as ui\ i follow ir's claim Arous'd our sl< eping t rains : urg'd Last ev'ning's boding dream, :.i farther prooi retrains. B) " Bernan Evcm" Done! sware, O'er ten the bridge was drawn, The bowman set, and Eustace there Stood, pointing to the lawn. His \\ faith surely Donel kenn'd, For all about that hour/ ^ ) The master kind — the gen'rous friend Laj welt' ring in his gore. JMy Dftlta heard the Banshie cry( 56 ) Just at the w itching linn •; ^ ", i d< m'd it but a Lullaby( 57 ) And Rowland's fretful chinn 52 EL LA UNA. My women in the gall'ry sate, O'erwearied fell asleep ; When Conall knocking at the gate, Awaken'd them to weep. — The anti-room lay open still, And cold, alas ! the bed ; Uncertain fears their bosoms fill, All to the garden sped : The mystery which met their eycn, The hind cou'd well explain ; But wisely o'er his secret sighs, 'Till I cou'd share his pain. I bound him quick by Brigid's shrine^ 5 *) By wond'rous Columbkille,( 59 > By Patrick's staff, that gift divine, To guard our secret still .( 60 ) ill E WIDOWHOOD. fi3 'Twou'd quite have rent my father's heart, Sore grieving for his sou, The direct tidings to impart By parenl ever known. But longer f cou'd not conceal Mj guilt, (if guilt,) from thee ; But. holy (hunt' ! Your Lower' d veil Reproaches tacitly. Her tearful eyes Ellauna rais'd, Tno knights the aisle approach'd ; Tile n'ems which on their vesture Ida/.'d, Their dignities avoueb'd. To the high Altar on they pass'd, Thrice humbly kiss'd the ground; And thrice heav'n's type of love embrae'd With reverence profound. 54 ELLA UNA, Then rising-, turn'd to BtighVs shrine, When swift as parting light, The glad Ellauna's arms entwine The younger, graceful knight* J cannot paint the mother s tear, How pensively she smil'd , Whilst leaning on the father's bier She bless' d their only child. She felt her brother's warm embrace. Yet look'd with doubtful eyes : Stood you in a spectator s place, You needs wou'd sympathize. But language nature oft denies To scenes resembling this ; Alike to Fate's extremities, Or overwhelming bliss. End of Canto the Third, ELLAUNA.— Canto Four//,. THE < ONPESSION. DOST thou hear St. Francis' bell, Merry, merrily ringing : Or bears'l thou the organ swell And Ihirfa's vestals singing. Look'st thou on Lagenia's smile, Her Mob fvrn proclaiming 5 Or views't thou Saint Mary's aisle, With -acred torches beaming, O' Salnns knights, a goodly train, With solemn pomp advancing; Or each maid, and ev'ry swain On Lci.C fair meadows dancing r>' Regard'st thou von hallow'd gift, The gr iteful chieftain proving; Jjsten'st thou to contrite shrift, Heavenly pity moving. But if the name Of Erin's tame, Did never yet entrance thee, Thou'rt like to blame The rural dame. Who gave the reins to fancy. ELLAUNA. Canto dfouvtlj. THE CONFESSION. Flight circumstances either tra\e Of their adventures past ; But thus 'tis ever with the brave, Of self to speak in haste. Young 1 Rowland sought Messina's port, Mac Arty, sail'd from thence ; One month, where strangers much resortj His partial residence. H 5S JETXAUN^. Prepar'd next tide to quit the bay, And viewing carelessly A brig- new anchor'd at the qua.y r A Dervise caught his eye. A some thin or more than he cou'd name, Attracted still his gaze ; The Dervise with no better claim, As curiously surveys. Such looks must needs to converse lead ; Heav'n's favor on him shone, Who thus in safety, and with speed, Had brought his Uncle home. Cahir said, " I've little to discuss ; "At Athens I delay'd, — il One evening at Areopagus " Too late I rashly stay'd." i ii .: .... 59 u Four Tunis pirates pinion'd mi, " And to i heir \ esse! bore ; 4t As sil(!ili'iil\ |)ll! oul to S( "And reach'd their native shore." " For eighteen years need I relate " The suffering's I endur'd ; Inaction, trifling now to state, " My libert} procur T d." " The meeting with my youthful friend, "Tor aye m\ bosom warms: "His n'i'ous thoughts my thanks transcend, " And pasl expression charms." gifts of heaven on his ln-ad. " and multiply j " So ■:" my father laid " Hi! •. quail] 60 ELL A UN A. " To-day I came in duty bound, " My homage here to pay ; " And thus my dear Ellauna found " A pilot to her lea." " Bragela bears a downcast eye Cahir farther wou'd have spoke, But like to life's last parting sigh Upon the audience broke : A female form sigh'd thus profound, Her gown of sable baize, A linen coif her temples bound, And half conceal'd her face. — "As by the hand of justice led "To fill my cup of woe, " Those whom I've injur'd most," she said, " Shall learn their latent foe." rj*s CON PESSIOIS 6 ' " ybwr habit, Lady, and your mien, " Proclaim yow SOY'reign c;u< . '• J/// confession wilt f/iou d<. ign " In charity to hear." " Behold the daughter of Q'Mosu . " Thus l<»\\ly bends to thee; u Her trespasses to number o'er, " And crave your clemency.'" M Chaste maiden, how sh;ill I begin, — ** And I have much to saj ; " Thou know est nought of guilt like mine " To lead the heart astray." u "Whilst with pure celestial flame, "Thy sacred bosom glows ; '* Thy maker's praises ;.ll the theme. "Thy seraph thought allows.'' 6- ELLAUNA. " Tlie deadly sin of pride s excess, " Hath never discompos'd : " Thou'rt fair, but all thy happiness " Lay not in beauty's boast." - " Full many suitors sought my hand, " But still they were denied ; " Nor wealth, nor pow'r, nor high command 41 Cou'd satisfy my pride." " But ah ! the scomers fate to prove " E'en to its utmost care ; " " Too soon alas ! I learn'd to love, — To love and to despair." a a " The knight my sister's charms preferr'd " Her youthful heart his own ; " Their wishes met my sire's accord, " And Hymen made them one." I !1C C ON I ES JION. " Long ! mourned ; :>t Length confide " Me to a captive wench, " To e\ il passions all allied ; " She urg'd a prompt rev< ?> " Say will it th) belief obtain S " Can it be understood ? " 1 shar'd with her the sin of Cain, " And shed a brothel's blood L" u Repentance truly came that night, — " Alas ! the bloody skein, That marshals aye to mental sight " Triumphant Satan's reign 1" " X. \nd nnite estrang'd my bosom's " Ud time ; "A of L> a t . 64 ELLA UN A. " Tho' yearly penance I perforin " Around the Baptist's fonnt,( (iI t; All for the soul / scut forlorn, " Unshriv'd, to its accompt." " One pang- 'till now my heart was spar'd, " Bv yonder mourner's vow ; " But oil ! when e'er that youth appear'd, " I felt God knoweth how !" 44 Th' ill-starr d Nigra quickly fell, " Self-smitten in despair ; " Her conscience pictur'd forth an hell, " Beyond her strength to hear." i Obedience to my father's will, " Who mourn'd an absent son, " Bound me unto his presence, 'till " Kind heaven led him homy." THE CONFESSION. 65 " O! little thought that brother dear, " From yesterday' 8 embrace, " To-day to see me suppliant here, " His prince!// lines disgrace." " Our Chieftain thinks with off 'ring meet " I come, his grateful vow, " Which personal diseased feet " Forbid him to bestow." " Untouch'd by my polluted hands, " (I durst not e'en behold,) " Bless'd by the Pope, this box contains " A chalice beaten gold. " Cahir-Mac-More, be it vour trust " His sorrow s to assuage, M When he shall Learn his former I toast " Dishonor'd so his age/' I CO ELLA UNA. " For here I saw the comely knight, " And here he lieth low; " Here I renounce the world's delight " For Brigid's strictest vow : If " And here before' her holy shrine " I sever thus my hair ;( 62 ) "To deprecate the wrath divine " I give those jewels rare.'' " These keys will yield my robes full store> " Their splendor once my pride ; " And I endow with all my dow'r, " The convent weal beside." " Then may a sinner urge a boon, " From thee, sweet sanctity ! " And gain the veil to-morrow noon, " And holy sanctuary." Tun CONFESSION*. enilents repose. Cahir wed with Rhoda Conar, bland, A daughter of his friend's ; And still to bless their native land Their endless line distends. ( G3 ) fO THE CONCLUSION. Marian, with the golden hair, The grace of Ullin's halls, Red-handed witty Niae's heir, His bride Lord Eustace calls. Entomb VI beneath New-Abbey spire, Which rose as Rowland vow'd,( 64 > Their effigies for them require Your orison to God ! Remov'd to silver Slaney's banks, Strong- tow'rs Great Eustace rear'd,( G5 > And high amidst baronial ranks His blazon'd shield appeared. But valor's worth and valor's deeds, A varying* title bears ; And such the fortune which succeed* To noble Rosval's heirs.C 66 > THE CONCLUSION. Ellauna, saw an hundred years The glories of her house. ; Her grandson's children bore her hearse, And laid her by her spouse. \ village hearths such themes prevail ti '.-• " affords ; And such the legendary tale A simple dame records. End of Canto the Four (Is. NOTE S. NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. Note 1. Thou didst not rule Coill-Dairagh's Jane, Whenjvrst my story mo:'d, Coili-Dairagh, — (Kildare) from Coill, a wood, and Dcir, an oak. This once famed residence of the Druids es name to the town, bishopric, and fertile County of Kildare, in the province of Lei lister ; in this town was formerly a famous Nunnery, founded by Saint Brigida, a. d. 4-84; nearly at the same time Conlcth formed a society of Monks, under the Augustine rule : both Nuns and Friars were placed by St. Patrick under the guidance of the holv Bri:>id, for thus her legend asserts — the Abbot to be appointed by her suffrage, which right descended to her successors; — from the great do- nations of land and money bestowed on this young princess, and for the better government i f the many churches which the newly converted Irish had built in her neighbourhood, she created the Bishopric oi' Kildare, and appointed Conlcth the first Bis/iop — Elder — Conor* 7G NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. ban, or mitred Abbot, as this dignity was at that time indifferently called. A successor of Conleth's, was NaitJtfraich, formerly servant to this saintly maiden, but raised by his sanctity to this high office. Those convents which were only separated by the Cathedral have been long in ruins; except the choir which is kept in repair for divine service according to the ritual of the Church of England ; and the bishop- ric also maintains its place Again, the annals of the four masters assert'that the Convent owed its foundation to Brigitta, born at Nerica in Sweden, and she and her Nuns unheard of before the year 13G0. In the church- yard is a fine old tower. Note 2 and 3. Thus Birga's knights allow, Birga's knights, — The Birga or Barrow, or the Great River, rises in the Slicve-bloom mountains in Queen's County, and flowing with silently encrcasing waters through the greater part of the province of Leinster, bearing on her silver waves many a stately boat of costly freightage, forms a junction with its sister streams the Suir and the Nore, near the bay of Waterford, in the province of Munster, and thus the fair re-union gains the ocean : these three lovely Rivers are particu- larly remarkable, springing from the same source, im- !.s TO CANTO TUK FIBBT. 77 '^ r m diately and widely separating, and thus meeting mm ere they finally disappear. The Barrow ie a) called Birga — Emhin — Allium or Evan, from the latter a beautiful Abbey, live miles from Kildare, takes it- name, tig called Monaster-Abhan or Monasti >-/'.- • - oi- fying the monastery on the River ; it was founded by Dermid CfDempsey of Ily-jalUa, and dedicated to St. Mary, a. i>. 1185. This building was also imputed to a society of Monks from Minister, hence the name Evan or Soulh-man; — we read that before Dermid's time it was called De-Rosca-llalle, or the town on the wet meadow. In the troubled times in the year 1611, Adam Loftus, Viscount Ely, held the high court of Chancery in the great hall of the monastery, which remains to this very day, lined with Irish Oak, and forming a part of that noble mansion now called Moore Abbey, in the County Kildare. Queen Elizabeth granted this Abbey with the other possessions of those Cistersians to one of her captains, Lord Moore, now Marquis of Drogheda. Knights, — Curadhs or Carats ; Knights were also caked Finne, a word implying commander of the pro- vincial militia of Ireland: a body of warriors Jarfamed^ centuries before the christian aera : these legions were called Cathas, each Cath contained 3,000 men, officers included; each province (or Kingdom) maintained, or when occasion pressed, could furnish seven legions or T8 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 21,000 men, capable of bearing arms, beside each chieftain's peculiar Cath. None were admitted into into the selected provincial Cath, but men of large stature, without the least deformity in their limbs'; they should be scholars — informed in poetry and history — perfect in the use of the sword, the javelin, and the sling — and so active that each soldier should clear at once a wall as high as himselfj or run under the branch of a tree as low as his knee : it was sueh men as those that Finnc-Mac-CorJudl (Fingal, the hero of Ossian) led to battle; it was with such allies that the Pictish monarch repulsed the Roman legions ; and with the aid of many of the lineal descendants of those long departed, worthies, Wellington conouered ! J IV Of their Finnes or Curadhs, Knight commanders, we shall now speak : — Lughda-Laim-Dehrg, or Luda of the red hand, (from laim hand, and dcarg red) a prince of th.e line of Hebcr o>- Nial, to whom this appellation was given, from the man) bloody and successful battles which he had ou to secure to himself the throne, a circumstance which from the nature of the govern- ment too often stained the royal annals of Ireland. This Luda, in memorial of his victories, instituted the Cnrad-na-ruiad, or the champions of the Red Branch, or more properly the Red Hand : those heroes of Ulster were in their day accounted the most powerful and raliant warriors of the western world ; the Fileas or NOTES TO CAN' TO I III FIRST. Bards celebrate those Knights, soearlyaa the yeaT 104 ij 1 1 io "bloody hand?' is yet the armorial bearing of the posterity of Luda. III.- lineal heir is the present Earl O'Neill, Shanes Castle, County Antrim. The Leinster Knights are of ;i later date — to another of the Heberean princes the Curads-na-muince, or the Knights of the golden collar, owe their origin: they wore a golden chain, their corslets were of gold, a crescent of pure ductile gold ornamented their helmets in front, and their sword-hilts were of the same precious metal. Such are the Bardic representations of the Knight.^ of Leinster; and indeed the many golden crowns, rich swords, silver shields, c^r. &c. found in many parts of the Kingdom yield evident proofs of Erin's former splendor — the hook of Minister says that the prince who installed those Knights was henceforth called Muin-neamh, from Muince, which signifies a collar of gold. We do not hear of any regular cavalry in Ireland, 'till about 150 years before the time of Conary the Great, during whose reign of thirty yc Christ was born; at which time the Island enjoyed a profound and long-unknown period of peace. Note i. On the Lord Marcher's hinds, ' —a name of office, importing 80 NOTES TO CANTO THE EJKST. commander of the warriors of a district, now generally used as a title of honor, and called Marquis. Note 5. The pride of Byrne and IVhelan's race, Byrne and JVhelan, — the descendant of Sir Matthew, or Sir Audeon (Owen) Whelan, is respectably settled in the Co. Carlow, in the person of Pilsworth Whelan of Bath. Sir Matthew or Sir Walter Whelan lived in Teighmogue, at the period of the battle of Worcester ; and to some of the Cavaliers who fled to Ireland, wounded, dispirited, and deprived of fortune in the Royal cause, their castle afforded a safe asylum. The estate passed shortly after, I think by purchase, to their kinsman Byrne: about the middle of the 18th Century, Sir Daniel and Lady Byrne went to reside in England, on the death of their only son Charles, who lies buried beneath a white marble stone in the chancel of Teigh- mogue Church, aged 9 years, the date (as I remember) 1742. This fair manor is now possessed by the Mar- r quis Lansdowne. Teigh, (pronounced Tee) an house, Mogue an appel- lative from the hermit, — hence Teighmogue, or the House of Mogue, which is one mile from the village of Stradbally in Queen's County, and three from Teigh- mahoo or Timahoe, where is a small town, and the ruins .» THfc I 'IK ST. 81 of a Castle and Churcli, with a monastery also imputed Saint Mogue, and which gives name to the Lordship of Timiihoe : a '■■ - from these rains Btands a stately old round tower. — The Earl Castlehaven in his memoir, notes a great battle fought at Timachoo, the 6th October, 1642, — at which time his Lordship com- manded the cavalry of the "Kilkenny Confederates? under General Preston; his opponent thai d-^y was Colonel Monk, afterwards Duke of Albemarle, comman- der of the Parliament forces, and then returning from succouring tin- besiegers of Ballvnakill Castle distant four miles : the Earl was victorious, and the Parliamen- tarians were defeated with great slaughter. This Lordship of Timahoe, with the annexed barony ofStradbally, are the possessions of Thomas Cosby, Ests in the persons of Arthur Moore of Lamberton, and'** 1 I t m t u JVfnnrtw of Oremofga n, in the Queen's County, Lmjs. — Whilst these sheets were in the press — October, 1815 — we arc concerned to narrate of Crem organ: Thai Henry, son of Ir, lies in the narrow house; Ana tliis rude rosary the minstrel o'er him throv A u, i ft from Leix. How statelj was hi-, port, (form'd for noble daring , \n.l none in regal court i ' [I'd his bearing His i \> -. — li i -> < yes of blu \\ ere likr the morning gleaming On Qowrets wet with dew, Chrystal lustre streamin Extinct tin u i II. I : satlj tempered mind Like southern breezes blowing, Benevolent and kind, 84» tfOTES TO CANTO THE FIRS?. Delighted in well-doing, And bless'd iiis day. His heart was valor's own, His monarch's was Uis brand j An dear his native land To Erin's loyal son, *" Vi'df memoirs, } As prov'd in battle 8 aj ' 1798. $ III. We'll sit Avhere Roderick's ! i > n • Sleeps 'neath the dark grej stone, 4 And tales of "olden time," And glorious de< Us rt late: Whilst to the Ceanhr's loud lament The low strung harps repl\ , And choral voices yield assent With plaintive melody, For him that's gone ! But in circle never ending Shaii stand his " house of fame?* And bays and laurels blending, Shall grace young Lois', name, And crown his manly state. Note 8. Mac-MurrougJi led the van, Mac-Murrovgh — or Mac-Murchad, King of Leirtstcr; their peculiar royal domain was named Hy-kinsela t their chief t >wn Carman, (now Wexford) with [nume- rous other fortifications to protect their boundaries from their neighbour Kings. At Cather-lough, (Carlow) a noble castle reared its massive walls, the stately guardian of the Barrow, here a considerable river, — this Castle was uninjured by time, save that it was unroofed and PES TO CANTO THE PI1 II mantled b\ Cromwell's troops; — a perfect flight of stone steps led to the lofty battlements, I have walked them nearly rounds and if memory does not err. 1 nn- derstood thai they were nine feet thick, — I know that a large Wolf Doc and a great Russian Pointer that ac- eompanied u> had lull room to gambol about. January jmk a Gentleman on whose ground tlie Castle »tood, intending to repair and reside therein — . the unskilful workmen in clearing away the rubbish un- dermined the foundation, and in an instant this time* honored monument of glory fell ! as if in scorn of other weapon than the warrior's brand — of other inmate than its princely founder. The descendant of the Kings of Lcinstcr is Walter Qavenagh of Burris Castle, in the County Carlow, Esq. Note 9. His WeU-tim'd now enjoyed by his heir Augustus Frederick Duke of : inster; the Black Castle, now the County goal, was the defence of the bridge — here are the remains of I or three religious houses which O'More either built or liberally endowed. Few strangers who visit Athy, but are made acquainted with the following circumstance — The castle of Woodstock accidentally took fire — the 85 NOTES TO CANTO THE ITHST* son of Orotliea for a moment was forgotten, the terrified domestics recollecting him, flew to the grand staircase, and beheld the Nurse perish in attempting to descend ; all concluded that the infant had shared her fate — on regaining the court they heard a strange noise, and looking upward to an angle of the tower which had escaped the flames, they saw a large favorite Baboon, with the heir of Offaley in her arms, and clanking her chain for aid ; a ladder was placed, an d Fitz- Girald was safely restored to his despairing parents : the chief of Offaley in remembrance of the signal deliverance of his heir, had enwoven on his banners a Baboon, chained proper, which continues to this day the armorial distinc- tion of that illustrious house — Woodstock survives the shock of time, and is inhabited by a Gentleman's family. Note 14. Peace came, yet Collar's kindred race With Arty disagree, O'Connor Falgia, a chieftain of Ossory, all in to O'More ; their territories joined, and their boundaries were often disputed : O'Connor hath still an hereditary property in Ossory. Note— both upper and lower Os- sory are now included in the Queen's County, and upper Ossory still gives an inheritance and Earldom to its ancient chieftain, Mac-Ghiolla-Phadrig, (Mac-Gil* Patrick} now Fitzpatrick, Earl of Upper Ossory. rO CANTO THE I I :: Sfl Note i 5. J //' hostile bands march tovfrd the heath Which now opposing lay, The Heath, or Ratheen, (the fern wild, or w did) a large Common at the foot of the rock of Donamaise, once part of the domain oi' that grand fortification. Note 16. J-'i'U-pleasant teas O'Dempsci/s voile, Which such success attends, O' Dcmpsey, — Lord Glan-Milere, a mighty chieftain of Ossory, possessed of numerous Castles in the King's and Queen's County, — at Ballybrittas in the latter County are good remains of one. The family vet dwell in Ossory. Note 17. The third, the cup of concord taste, And part welt-pleas* d Jbr home, The cup of concord, — to this day the parting cup is hekl in esteem by the Irish, who call it the Duach-duruss, or drink at the door, (from dun a think, and duruss the house-door) and considered as a pledge of faith and good fellowship. VO NOTES TO CANTO THE fiKST, 1 Note 13. And hence a red-cross galley bore Him, on his destin'd course, Bed Cross — To the Knights Templars, O'More grant- ed a vicarial residence in the Queens County, with the parochial Church, and two thirds of thetythes of Moy- an-augh (or Saint Mary's by the ford) from May Mary, and An-naugh by the ford or waters. The habit of the Knights Templars according to their rule, was of plain white cloth, with a red cross of eight points worn over the heart, and by their professions, their diet should have equalled the simplicity of their habits — they transgressed both vows ; the splendor of their dress and the luxuri- ousncss of their tables in a short time became proverbial. Pope Clement 5th, on 22d May, 1310, suppressed this order, and for the good of their souls and the expiation of their sins, (so says the Bull of their condemnation) gave over to the secular arm, and of course committed to the flames, more than 200 of those unfortunate gentle- men, fifty-six with the Grand Master expired under unheard of tortures, on scaffolds erected under the salon windows during the dinner hour of Clement, at table with whom sat Roger, King of Sicily, their chief ac- cuser, and the Cardinal Councellors. The Pope seized on their temporalities, as the property of the Church, MOTES DOC IN PO THE FIBST. ''I which he bestowed chiefly on the Knights of St John. ii' • - of Malta, — but much was resumed by the King of Sicily, as having been his own or hi^ ancestor's -To return to their Irish possessions; the demesne oi the Knight Vicar retains its local appellation, being called to tis hour Vicarstown s now pan of the estate of the Righl Hon. Henry Grattan, and divided into three large farms, whereof P. Moore, Esq. rents one share — his ancestors deemed thr> whole a trifling religious donation to the Templars — but suck arc the changes of mortality I two thirds of the tythes of St Mary, (or Moy-an-naugh) ) together with the commandery of Kil- mainhaim, (now the Royal Hospital, Dublin) of which the Phcenix-Park was the Demesne, passed from the Templars to the Knights of Malta, and were at the Reformation bestowed by Elizabeth on the Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, who enjoy ti-em to this day: the other third of the tythes of St. Mary belonged to the Fra ciscans oi' Stradbally. Vicarstown is in the Queen's County, 36 miles from Dublin, watered by the Barrow, and divided by the Grand Canal ; it is a Boat- station and mid ray between Monastereven and Athy. Note 19. Thrice blessed Mqy ! thy Janes no more, i'/.ur, like ike Templars feil, Thrice blessed, — Hail thou that art highly favored.— 92 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women, — these words were part ot* the text to a sermon, delivered in Christ-church Cathedral, Dublin, by the domestic Chaplain of the Lord Bishop of Kildare, on the Holy Festival of the Annunciation, 1814. He called meditation on the subject of that day's solemnity, "the sinner s con- solation /' to commit it to memory I made a partial and humble imitation of his " persuasive reasoning." Honor to the Godhead ever, Hail ! the message full of peace ; Abr (Cm 's daughter ', child of favor, Medium of the promis'd grace. Earth-born — ever Virgin — Mother Of the mighty paschal Lamb ; Awful myst'ry ! Man is brother Even to the Great I AM! Not humanity can utter, Thought obtain, or speech define; Jesus tating mortal nature Into union with Divine ! Blessed was the womb which bare him. Sanctified the nurt'ring breast ; " Yea mure blessed those who hear him ;" So Emanuel hath express'd. By faith were Adam's race restor'd then, " Heirs of God— joint heirs with Christ}" All hail to th' Incarnate word then, " Once offer'd — Sacrifice — and Priest." Dearest brethren, thus believing, Great shou'd be our purity ; • all holy council living, Knit in bonds of unity, KOTE8 TO CASTO PHE I IMT, Rememb'ring Cherubim bath uis'n \uiIh ■in. Cor the Goumasi'b birth; •• Glorj in the highesl Heavi n, "Love to Elian, andJoj to Earth! \>" The recital of Gabriel's message involuntarily led to this digression, which I trust my reader for the mission's sake will pardon. Whilst I hope the old rhymer s prophecy may yet be fulfilled, and St Mary's fane upraised with a verier splendor than ever the Templars' altar boasted— and under the guidance of a faithful shepherd careful to carry the lambs in his bosom; and zealous to reclaim, and bind up the wanderer's wounds: "Whore oft in the fervor of youthful devotion, I've pray'd, ami my altar the peasant's rnde tomb; Or grave, where the fist fading emblems of beaut) Recorded the maiden, who died in her bloom — As lately I pass'd bj thj mouldering ruins, I paused, wliilsl I utter'd ms ori ons o'er, With the sigh and the tear thai solicited mercy, Came the though] I might vi-.it St. Mary's no mure; If so, then farewell dearest scenes of my childhood, Farewell i>» my birth-place! adieu t<> the dead! Wou'd these sighs were a n vjui< hi might waft them to heav'o, Aud these tears blot from mein'ry the years that are lied. Note 20. I scarcely had three lustrums gained JVhen my lov'd mother died. Three lustrums, — at fifteen years old I began this legend, from the impression left on my mind by a nur- 9i NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. sery ballad, and the village tales of "olden time " these Jour lines stand exactly as they were written, at the moment I was severely corrected for idly scribbling when I should have been more usefully employed ; — chance threw it a few months past in my way, to divert the loneliness of a sick chamber I finished it — if it fulfils the purpose for which I presume to offer it to the public, God's name be praised and his servant grateful. Note 21. Saint Francis was our house's guide, My grateful ancestry An abbey for his monks supplied, In lovely Strad-Balis. Saint Francis, — the remains of the belfry of this Abbey are^still to be seen — report says that beneath it are vaults, and subterranean passages under the bed of the River Ceallach or K^lley, quite to Knock-ne-brahir, (the hill of the brotherhood) about a quarter of a mile distant — a handsome dwelling-house is built on the scite of the Abbey, to which some rooms of the ancient building are attached. Besides the Abbey there was another religious foundation of which I find no mention made in Archdall's Monasticum — when the present parochial church was rebuilt about 4-0 years ago, a fine old arched gateway was taken down, which enclosed the grave yard on that side — the gentleman from whom I had the mi HE in 95 relation remembered it in perfect repair, and the sexton used to dwell there, |>' rhaps it was heretofore the abode of the hermits of St- Patrick, however the Architect skewed his taste by destroying it, and substituting a light sis fool wall, and r plain gate in its place ii lhai gatewaj mi t I top To i asl .1 glance on yond r stouc, I he sili er tear bead • tin re i>> drop, In liulv li> Ihfl "dead a»d gone." To say whal l> ide me ne' . pair, W licji varied evils' oft oppi — /,',/' efin | that v ith ardent pr i ."r, Kai b i .-ii!, Marj bless'd. A little farther, and on an eminence commanding a- full view of the surrounding scenery, arc the remains of a church, or with more likelihood from the appear- ance, a convent; there is yet one small quadrangular tower, tolerably perfect, beneath which tradition says are passages leading to the town, or to where St. Patricks of the well once stood — tins is a favorite burial place — and the late Cosby Lord Sydney, Baron of Stradbally, Covered in a part similar with the old building', wl his ashes repose : Thus Oak/ell rises with its do To C inopj the il.'-aii : Beneath whose danky walls a friend, From infancy is lay'd. All griev'd within the lonelj vault, The gentle dame to lay, \ . !i mint thi i b, On i it S id * Thti the late Col. C— . died Sunday, October 28, L81CU 56 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST, She heard my voice lifes ebbing hour, And two days silence broke ; AVhen "Mary" was the latest word, The " parting lady spoke." A few paces from the vault rises a simple tomb, in- scribed by the unanimous wish of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, with the most honourable and happily just of all Epitaphs; — '* Here lies the noblest Work of God. " An honest man, " Thomas Gray, " Who died, January 1813, " Aged 72." That this was a place of great note* in the days that are past, we may judge from its name, Strad (streets) and Bally, town, (or the town of streets) and where a poor smithy now stands is still called "the palace;" it is distant from Dublin 40 miles. Patrick's well rises near, and gives name to the Church and Parish, but no longer famed for miracles, or pilgrim troops. — On another old religious scite an handsome Roman Catholic Church is erected dedicated to St. James. Note 22. Attends the rosaries divine, liosaries, — or songs of praise; were hymns composed to the glory of Gcd, and to the honor of the departed; NOII^ NJ CANTO THE tflRST. 97 sang in the primitive days, at the- tombs of the Saints or Martyrs, by their surviving friends on the anniversary of their death; as a tender token of regard to their memories; and a> an excitement to the newly-baptized, to persevere in " the faith** Note 23. Which honorclh her feast. Feast of St. Bn'gid — observed the first day of Febru- ary, when the good housewives of Ireland send to their neighbours whom they wish to compliment, a Barr- heen-Brache, (a large new-made sweet cake) which is delivered by a Bride-oge, a figure dressed up in the " Maid-?narion" stile. Note 24, Barefoot, O'More, in sackcloth clad, Presents in humble guise, Barefoot — The usual dress of pilgrims in those days, About 300 years after the death of St. Brida. amasnifi- cent shrine was erected to her honor in the Cathedral of Kildare ; and, as her legend says, endowed with wonder working powers. The pilgrims were so numerous, i have been told, that the town could not contain tl and little cells were built against the Convent \ their accommodation. J3ut, if this similitude of . V ^S notes to canto the first. was, as it is said, the gift of the Abbot Finan Mar-Tiar- can G 'Gorman, he did not fill the See of Kildare till about the year of grace, 1151. Note 25. By Cross of Bubies crormCd. Babies or Carbuncles — the brightness which they emit in the darkest night, is not an inapt emblem of "faith" Note 26. IVJiilst emerald Shamrocks ftly fold, Emeralds, — their green colour expresses Hope. Note 27. Their mystic foliage round, Mystic foliage, — the venerable Patrick preaching on the Catholic Faith, (the worship of the Trinity in unity) to give his auditors a lively representation of the truth of this Great Mystery of our salvation, plucked a sprig of trefoil from the grassy hillock, on which he stood, discoursing to the people ; and from the triune indivisible leaf, gave as simple and at the same time as just an ex- emplification of the point which he wished to inculcate as can be well conceived. The rector of St. George's Church, Dublin, that so?i of Bcancirges, preaching on the Epiphany, 1815, places NOTTS T<> CANTO TH1 I I It T. h >se who deny the manifestation ofthe GodJicad, (such :is the disciples of the wofiil apostate Cerinthus,) in i ne condemnation at the Judg ent Day with 1 and those Jews who cried out " Away with this Man .'" painting of their suffering, is too horrible for me to follow. The truly reverend Dean of Ardagh, with uplifted hands, and eyes beaming with piny, as lately from the pulpit displaying the rapture of the Saints when to their beatified vision the glory of the " Trinity" should stand revealed, enquired — " Vfhoamongst ye myhearers, "by the denial of this salutary doctrine will voluntas , " shut yourseh t from the glorious company of the 'f Apostles — the goodly fellowship of the Prophets — the ** noble army of Martyrs — the society of the ( hurch- ** triumphant, the Hierarchy of Angels, and all tluf "immortal pleasures of the Heavenly Court? — and, " O dreadful reverse ! prefer the bonds of the sons of " Lucifer by doubting cf that mystery which it was m "intended mortality should elucidate?" Annually on the 17th day of March, we wear a Shamr ck the trefoil sprig) in honor of the celestial birth-day of oar titular saint: many I fear among us but iittle re lecting on the origin of the practice. 100 NOTES TO CANTO THE FItfST, ! N0TE 28. " Depart in peace" blest Walter said, Walter, — we find a Walter De Vecle, — his appoint- ment to the see of Kildare confirmed by King : Edward III. of England, in the latter end of the 13th Century, End of Notes to Canto the First. NOTES TO CANTO THE SECOND. Note 29, The Eustace sparkling rye, The Eustace, — the article " the" was prefixed to the ] patronymic of the Saxon, to designate the Baronial title. Note 30. Or ?iighfs pale lamp admit' d, Night's pale lamp, — the Phoenicians early introduced the knowledge of Astronomy into Ireland, and it became a favorite study — our heathen progenitors worshipped the Moon, under the name of " Samhain" her chief festival was observed on the last day of October. At Tarah, adjoining the royal palace, was a building called Cluan-Fcart, or the place of retirement till death, (from Cluan retired, and Feart the grave) where a number of noble Virgins dedicated themselves to Celibacy, and to the service of " Samhain" which consisted chiefly in 102 NOTES TO CANTO THE SECOND. singing hymns to her honor, and keeping up the holy fire; on this grand night, all the Druids of Meath re- paired to Tarah— the fires throughout that dominion were to be extinguished that evening, nor to be re-lit but from the sacred blaze, that the year might prove propitious and no loss happen by fire— and a heavy Jne was exacted, if fire was found in any house that night ; the like ceremony was observed at the chief Druidic resi- dence of the provincial Kingdoms — the Moon was sup- posed to govern the winter half-year, as the Sun did the summer — Bel, or the Sun, was the first honored of deities, and a great sacrifice was offered to him on Bel- tine, or the first of May, the cattle were driven between wo fires, in order to preserve them from the murrain, &c. the vestals of Clonfert had also charge of the lamps, which were kept constantly burning to the honor of Bel. It is supposed that those time-defying towers, which seem almost peculiar to Ireland, were built lone before Christianity prevailed, for the express purpose of observatories, and Sir Eustace paid a compliment to the national taste of his lady by building one over her summer apartments- Note 31. To ardent Philip, and just James, We Jirst in Chanel paid, St. Philip and St. James — Their feast is kept 1st of May I M IN K) THE SECOND. 10': Note 12. My robe the lint of Aiarauth true t The Amaranth never fades, and lliis Little" flower is presented -u an emblem of constancy in love or friend- ship. Note 33. With glowing Zapphires brae'd ; Zapphires — A sparkling gem of azure hue — The anci- ents allowed it to possess such an innate quality, that if touched by an unchaste hand it instantly faded; even an unholy thought dimmed its lustre. Note 31. A splendid Carknets varied hue ]\Ij/ auburn tresses grac*d. Carknets — A wreath of flowers composed of gems and jewels ; and worn on the turbans of the Saracen princes. \*ier the Crusades the Jewellers formed such, and the European dames wore them as necklaces, or to ornament their hair. Note 35. Excuse those fears — alas ! the hour, Which 'turned these ri j ; 20t NOTES TO CANTO THE SECOND. Such free had grief and terror o'er 1 his tenement of clay. Ringlets grey — the writer witnessed such an instantane- ous change on a daughter beholding her father's death. Note 36. Benignant William's Crozier bless' d, Benignant William, Archbishop of Tyre — The Turlcis\ and Christian writers agree in praising this worthy pre- late; who, with only his Crozier in his hand might [ safely pass between the Saracen and Crusader's camps. Such is the respect paid to the priestly character, when properly maintained, even by infidelity itself. Maim- burgh, who wrote the history of those spiritual Knight- errants, says, that had his advices been followed, the Christians would not have experienced those extremities which they felt. Yet, doid)tless by the gathering of the Gentiles, and with unbloody hands, Salem shall again be built ; her olive yards again shall yield increase ; her plenteous garners shall be fully stored ; and Jacob's son^ partake of " the blessing." Note 37. A Persian tire of diamonds rare, The Irish Noblesse in " olden time,'' were extravagant to excess — in their armlets, bracelets, necklaces, &c. where jewels could poss'biy be affixed tl;ey wore them. PES i"< INTO THE SECOND. IOS Noti And his hereditary care, Excuse this anachronism — Tat ah or TeinoraJ:, had been long before the Christian sera burned. — (Vide Note I >. Xote 31/. -^i treasurer to bring, 'J 'he tribute of Lagenia fair, Treasurer — In Note 7, we noticed the period in which this office became hereditary with O'More, but of most considerable import when the " Borome Lagenia" or Leinster tribute was imposed. Of the cause of this famous tax we have the following account : Eochy, king of Leinster, married Graine, t It lest daughter to Tua- thal, monarch of Ireland ; and carried her home into that kingdom ; the following year he revisited Tara/i, acquainting Tuathal with the death of his daughter, and soliciting that her sister Phelima might be given him to wile, as the only way to repair his loss, and preserve the alliance; his treaty was accepted, and Eochy (Achaious) took Phelima home to his palace — finding her Bister alive, the treachery and surprize threw her into fits and she died in a few hours. When Queen ( Iraine witnes- si d the sufferings of the tender Phelima, and heard tint 106 NOTES TO CANTO THE SECOND. tale of her husband's baseness, grief and indignation overwhelmed her, and caused her death soon after. The Monarch informed of the death of his daughters, deter- mined on revenge; assembling all his troops, and those of his allies, he marched into Leinster, resolved to de- stroy it by fire and sword. Eochy finding it would be impossible to withstand such a force, sent the " heralds of peace" but Tuathal would listen to no terms, but a " Borome" or tribute, to be paid every second yeai, of 3000 cows. 3000 hogs, 3000 sheep, 3f)00 copper caul- drons, S00O ounces of silver, and 3000 mantles; the King of Leinster and his people were obliged to swear by the sun, moon, and stars; (then the most solemn oath) to pay the tribute, which was exacted for near 600 years, seldom without opposition and bloodshed ; it was at length remitted by Leogary the_Great, as it is said, by the request of St. Patrick. Note 40. To Eire's acknowleg'd King, Eire, — Ireland, it may not be improper here to state was heretofore a Pentarchy constituted by the provincial Kingdoms of Ulster, Leinster, Munstcr & Connaught, the fifth part, the present County Meat.li, was the inheri- tance, and Tarah (the Temora of Ossian) the chief city and imperial residence of the «* acknowledged King Ni> its TO <. WTO TUT SECOND. 107 of Eire," to whom the other four K paid ho mid where the Feis or Parliament, according to the Bards, met triennially: this divided sway like that <>i the Saxon Heptarchy presents oar annals an almost con- tinued scene of internal warfare; Temora was burned long before the christian aera, and the then ruling monarch), Conary the First, perished in the flames. The Hill oi J ,.-.ih, with a few miserable huts in the County Meath, tw'i marks the spot where '• (Srsl tin- palace glitter' d K ami the Temple blaz'd " Note 11. His harp sent forth the saddest strain That ever terror cauid, The harp and harper were formerly looked on in a prophetic light; sounds issuing from the untouched chords were deemed ominous of evil, ami hence Lord Kial hints to Carril, to change the subject of his song, from the Knight to his infant heir, Notf. \'2. " Lord Aylmer*s heart her imagr wears, " McthinJiS he told his fame" Michael Lord Aylmer* — contempornry with the first Eustace, about the year 1*212; his descendant I believe i- Sir Fenton A\ Imer, of D' Castle, in the County of Kilduv<„ 108 NOTES TO CANTO THE SECOND. Note *3. CaiCd e'er the wayward maiden move To vidt woody Lsa, % Lei, — the romantic ruins of this Castle, are one mile from Portarlington, (the little Athens of Ireland) in the Queen's County ; the Barrow just there becomes navigable, being 8 or 10 miles from its source, but only for small boats till you reach Monastereven, which is 5 miles farther clown the river,) this Castle belonged either to O'De.aipsey or O'Moue, and was among the last which submitted to the Conquerors' amis. There was an alliance between the Prince of Leix and Lord Eustace — though I by no means affirm the catastrophe of the Legend. But of the " bowery" woo's which once surrounded Lea, a few trees near the ruins are all that remain— on the opposite shore, by the Church-yard stile, the long-famed Ash of Lea rears its majestic head, — as if Nature in sport had placed it there in contrast to the denuded Country round it — I have heard that a troop of horse found shelter beneath its branches — it is ten years since I viewed it, and certainly be ore, or since, I never saw so large a tree : about 100 years ago, hereabout was a continued wood, a great uncle of mine, as my father has told me, in his youth used to go from branch to branch of the trees from his home to Portarlington, a distance of seven miles — He died aged 90, A. D. 1771. CANTO THJ Carigra-uile, or the reck in the elbow, now the bay of Newport in the County Mayo; her Castle still remains called Carig-a-Oidy. On her return from the English Court, she landed at Beu-adir, (Howth) and walked up 110 NOTES TO CANTO THE SECOND. to the Castle — the gate was -shut, as the family were at dinner — Grace, displeased at this inhospitable appear- ance, seized on the Earl's heir, who was nursing in the demesne; and instantly sailed — nor was the infant re- stored, until a ransom, large as would have entertained her, and her train, was paid to redeem him. This amazon of Hibernia was daughter to Owen (fMailey, widow at this period of O' Flag fieri?/; and remarried to Sir Ricard Burke, stiled Mac- William- Eighter, or Ought er, now Earls of Mayo: O'Mailey bears still a respected name in his native soil. From the period of the valorous Grace's visit, until veryjately, the gates and doors of Howth Castle were always thrown open at dinner time. Note 45. Mis sword — the warrior s delight, Had fallen by his side, A sword to fall from the scabbard, without apparent cause, was supposed to predict that a secret foe was nierh. Since writing this note I have read the same ob- servation, made by that sweet bard of Scotland, whose name I fear to name, least recollecting the far-sounding pibroch of the enchanting " Scott," the reader should throw away in disgust my feeble effort to strike from Erin's Harp one love-lorn ditty. End of Notes to Canto the Second, NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD. [Note i6. Beneath this monument, Monument, — in the ruins of the old cathedral of Kil- darc, is still be seen the monument of a trophied Kiii<'bt, without name or date. O 7 Note 47. But ah ! his bloodgouts yet distain, Unto (his present hour, Nor mortal art eon tcash them clean From ojf the fatal Jloor. Blood^oittS) — remaining on the fatal spot, and incapa- ble of being cleansed, until the apprehension and death of the assassin, or by some other atonement in the shape of restitution made to the family of the deceased, lias been a long received tradition; — that bloodgouts do remain, I have witnessed — in my childhood a poor tra- 112 NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD, veiling tinker was found dead, lying against the vanl- gate of an uninhabited house, near my duelling — -Bis head had apparently been often knocked against the pier which streamed with his blood — the pier was washed but the stain remained ; this I had a daily opportunity of viewing for years — I never heard that the murderer was discovered — those piers were removed four or five years ago. At E e, in the King's County, a few years past, the master of the house, going up stairs, fell over and was killed on the spot, (at that time the ballustrade had not been put up,) the housekeeper as- serted that he was intoxicated; but it was generally believed that she had thrown him over, as she was a furious tempered woman, and had been overheard by the other servants, speaking in an angry tone the moment before — none witnessed his death but herself; — • however it was impossible to wash the " bloodgoufs" from the wall against which he had dashed in his descent : painting bad in vain been used by the family who in- habited it in the Spring of 180o, whether since iff ed I cannot tell : this relation is well known to the inhabi- tants of Birr. Note 18. The sacred lamp to trim, The sacred lamp, — I was assured by an old woman, who was in the " order of Brigid" tl at the Saint left NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD. 113 a lamp which was to be kept perpetually burning by her Nuns and holy widows, who alone had charge of it, till she came again in glory to conduct her "order" to the general judgment : she allowed that she had never seen " tlw lamp" as it was kept by three Nun-, in ;i vault under the steeple of Kildare, to conceal it from " some people ," and as the Nuns died they were replaced: 1 should never have heard another oral tale ot wonder from Margo, had I dared to doubt of this. Certainly adjoining the Convent walls Merc is a ruined building called " the Jire-housc" where we are told there was formerly a lamp kept perpetually burning, to the honor of " the holiest Virgin of Erin" Note 49. ti -Tvsoiid bear. " Fitz-Eustace to ths grave" Fitz-Eustace — the son of Eustace, hence came the family names of Fitz-James, Fitz-Gerald, &c. the Irish or Scottish Mac, bears the same sense as the Saxon litz. Note 51. When mounded by a Pagan snare, A tedious death in store ; Wounded — It is asserted that the Asiatics posses, tl t fetal secret of conveying to their adv^sjuu^ Poisn , 1 114 NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD. either by darts or otherwise, which will operate quick or slow, according to the wishes of those treacherous foes. "Note 51. The stately porch of Leix, Leix, the palace of OMore, — though occasionally lie resided at his other Castles, the Fort of Leix was the last which after the most obstinate resistance yielded to the English forces, and was instantly levelled with the ground — so that not a vestige remains, save the his- torical memorial, and even that imperfect, some think- ing it to have been Donamaisc, .others the Fort of Mary- borough, certain it is that a neighbouring Nobleman is hereditary Constable of the now visionary Fortress of Maryborough, to which charge a handsome salary per- tains ; the town contains a squadron of horse, and is a Corporation under the governance of a Burgher-master and his deputy Bailies.— With the "Fort of Leix," fell the poiiccr of O'More ! In the immediate domain of Leix stood a famous Abbey, but not a stone remains to mark the spot; tra- dition only gives a prophecy of the founders, " that Abbey-Leix should flourish ever" In process of time this portion of Leix came into the possession of Vesey, Lord Be Vcsci ; the present inheritor treads in the steps of his kte father and admirable mother, good as she was beau* . I I - TO CAN I'O THE 1111110. 1 1 J ttful Mow must the bear! <>f this young noblema i pand when he stands at the il porch of Leis" and beholds the varied beauties, which his genius planned) and his fortune executed — how would our lovely Erin flourish) if his contemporaries would " go and do likewise" Abbey" Lcix as rum bounded is distant from Maryborough, 4 or 5 miles, and the only part of the principality, which is yet distinguished by the name ol " Lriz" if we except the Castle, Cataract and Town of Lcixlip, 7 miles from Dublin, which might perhaps have formerly belonged to Queen's County, 01" at least to its chieftain, who doubtless had possessions near to Laigh-nas, (now Naas in County Kildare.) Note 52. The red roan, swifter than the wind, Flies with my guiding handy Red-roan. — Being in Queen's County this Summer, the following story of the swiftness and sagacity of a iiorsc, was related to me by a person who lives on the spot where tradition records it to have occurred; I will give it in his own words: — "When the English were *• putting us clown, Madam, Antony More had a great •** battle with them in the mountains: he lost it. and afl <; his men were killed or taken. — having a very fine: "* foreign horse, he fled for his life, till lie came to the •« very brink of the mountain, when the poor gentleman 116 NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD. " been faint and weary, he threw himself off and fell " asleep — his horse stood by him — hearing the enemy •* coming, he pawed his master, but that not awakening " him completely, he took him in his mouth by the back, " (for Antony was lying on his face) and raising him a 14 bit from the ground, let him tall... this quite roused " him to a sense of his danger — he strove to mount, " but taint with his wounds, found it difficult ; the " horse knelt down, and helped his master all he could; " I told you, Madam, they were upon the very brink, * and the English so near, that the horse to avoid them, " made three leaps into the valley below ! and carried " Antony safely home; — and from that hour to this, a " townland in the lordship of TimaJwe, has been called "Avgh-Antonah, from Augh, an horse, pronounced Aw, and " Antonah, Antony." — The farmer also told me, " that " till within these 15 or 16 years, since the Insurrection, '* 1798, never a blade of grass was suffered to grow " upon the three spots where Augh landed in his flight." William added, " that last March, 1815, some "bogs" " digging, discovered ruins of a Castle, and a great il parcel gathered one moonlight night, and dug until *' they came to a room, but they got afraid and left it." It would be curious to pursue this search, perhaps this was Antonah's Castle, to which Augh instinctively fled by such a desperate short cut. NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD. 1 1 7 Note 53. Tie way was long, by night o'ertd'en, Led by an errant blaze, Errant blaze, — what horrible tales we hear of the Will o' tli' wisp ! — the malignant spirit, we are given to understand is mighty fond of raising an ignis fatuus to further his evil designs. Note 5-k Arising from the woody fen, Rheban is distant from Lea, IS or 20 miles, along the Barrow side ; then full of woods and marshes. Note 55. His wraith surely Doncl kcniCd, The wraith or faitch or angel, who assumes the ap- pearance of those who arc about to put off mortality, is as fully believed in, now, as in those days when Rhoda looked out of the window and beheld St. Peter. Note 46. My Dalta heard, $c. Dalta, — Foster father, it also signifies" the preceptor.' 11$ NOTES TO CANTO THE THIR». Note 57. -the Banshie cry, Just at the witching time^ Yet dcem'd it bat a lullaby, Banshie, — the spirit of Death: she mourns in plain- tive strains, either near the abode, or the burial ground of that family over whom she is destined to watch* whenever her prophetic ken foresees approaching fate — every Banshie hath a peculiar dress — some appear young* others old — for they are seen as well as heard — and few months pass in Ireland, even at this enlightened period, but we hear stories of the " wailing Banshie.'* Note 58. I bound him quick by Brigid's shrine, Brigid's shrine, — the sanctity of this oath among the peasantry is still in force, although the shrine hath long disappeared. Note 59. By tvond'rous ColumbJcille, ColumbJcille, — the miracles of this Saint, fill volumes of Legends — it appears true that he was a very holy Man, and indefatigable in his mission. VOTES TO CANTO till, itnih. 119 KOTL I I) i Patricks staff, that gift divine, Patrick's staff, — This Croxier, according to Jocelyn, was placed in the hand of Patrick, by "our Lord" himself, who condescended to revisit Earth, and in an island oft" the Mediterranean to bestow thil precious gift — the annals call it the " staff of Jesus ," and that it still remains in the Cathedral of Armagh. Those three Saints were contemporaries, and were all interred under, or near the High Altar of the Cathedral of Downpatrick ; Colu/nu's body was translated to Hi/, (or Jona,J the chief island of the Hebrides, famous for its mo- nasteries, and being the burial-place of many Kings ; — it is alledged that Bri^id was removed to France; — but Patrick when he lay dying at the abbey of Savl, in Downshire, and when Brigida journeyed then to re- ceive his last benediction and to present to him his shroud, which she had woven ha self, — he then made her promise that a large stone, five feet long (for Patrick was low of stature) and three broad, might be placed over him in the grave, that so his remains should never leave Ireland. Among the many histories of these Saints, which hare been written, very few agree as to particulars. End of Notes to Canto the Third, NOTES TO CANTO THE FOURTH, Note 61. " The? yearly penance I perform, " Around the Baptist's fount, Baptist's fount, — there are many holy wells in Ireland dedicated to the Baptist ; midway between Rheban and Athy, and opposite the Castle of Bert, (the seat of Mr. De Burgh) is a pretty little island named Tcigh-Berara? (from the ruins of an old Church dedicated to 5/. Barbara) here is a well sacred to St. John, — annually on Midsummer Day, (June 24th) the Barrow is gay with devotees rowing over to perform pilgrimage, on their bare knees round the veil — cither to benefit, ac- cording to their hope, the soul of their departed friends or relatives, or as a penance for their own sins, or to •btain some particular favor for their souls' Of bodies* ft J 21' NOTES TO CAN fO THE FOURTH, health ; — their solemn devotions over, the feast and all the peasant's harmless holiday commences. The spring is pure and sparkling, and possesses on that day, according to received opinion an healing quality — the woman who serves the water, (but only on this day) expects a trifle, and the Ferryman looks for a double fee. Note 62. " And here, to deprecate ike "wrath divine, " c J sever thus my hair, Seveiing the hair, — this ceremony takes place at the altar, just before the novice pronounces " the solemn who s" Bragela, in the ardour and sincerity of repen- tance, performs before her time this act of humility — none of the conventual rides could have appeared severer or shewed more the religious obedience of the Irish Noblesse, than the total change of their robes ; used to the most splendid decoration, even to profusion — what a transition was it to the habit of an Augustine Nun ! Note 63. Their endless line distends, E?idless line, — "O," the emblem of Eternity — still dis- tending — as such it was the distinguishing titles of the ...l I s TO CANTO THE F0UA1 II. 1 [ibernian Princes; so that when you ad tressed Mori or any other of EriiCs chiefs, it expresse | the - «ne ai "your highness** doth in the language of th present da/. Note 6-k Entomb'd beneath Nea-Abbey spires, Which rose as Roidand vow'd, New-Abbey, — the ruins of this Abbey arc one mile from Kilcullen in County Kilclare; the io under and his wife were buried here, and on their tomb their effigies were placed side by side, dressed in the proper habit of their day, their hands upraised as in the act of prayer — the inscription requesting the orison of the passenger for the souls of Rowland Eustace and Mary, his wife:— this "stone of his fame" continued until the year 1784, when a Roman Catholic Church was erected beside the Abbey walls, and by some mischance this beautiful monument of ancient workmanship was destroyed. Note 65. Strong toxv'rs Great Eustace reared. Strong towers, — Balfy-more-Eustace, or the town i the Great Eustace: of this magnificent City, as it 9[&s once esteemed, nothing now remains, but a poor village hi the County of Dublin , 12i NOTES TO CANTO THE FOURTH, Note 66. To noble RosvaVs heirs, Rosval, or Bal-tin-glass, or the plains of Bel, or Baal, as Rosval or Baltinglass implies, — now a pretty village in the County Wicklow, where formerly a grove or temple of Baal stood. Eustace, Baron Baltinglass, (or Rosval) by an envious attainder, was deprived of his title ; and his chief estates confiscated in the 1 7th Century. End of Notes to Canto the Fourth dParetoeU atrtncgg. Farewell, farewell, gentle reader, Cheer the Minstrel's rude essay, For the love of Erin speed her, Chaunting thus an " olden lay." Learned Critics, kindly turn ye, Nor rcprovG my feeble song ; Rather aid a Palmer's journey, On a road that's drear and long ; By vow to Sicrr' Leoni bound'n, . Your benevolence to send ; Think on all the ills surrounding Those who on that mission wend. Sec the Pagan Altar blazing, Idols gaining rites divine, Hear the screams of babes unceasing, OfFer'd up at Moloch's shrine ! With the cross and cleansing water, Rend this altar — quench this flame, Save those babies from the slaughter, And enhance the Christian name. For such Converts, lest they weary Thro' a life of woe and pain, Grant an holy dole to Mary, Such the cause which prompts her strain. ERRATA. CANTO FIRST: Page 8, line 16,— for surnamed read surnam'd. — — — 13, line 4,— for raz'd read razed. CANTO SECOND: Page 27, line 3,— /or favours read favour, 27, line 11,— for length'd read lenghten'd, CANTO THIRD: Page 51, line 1,— for follower's read foll'wer's. NOTES TO CANTO FIRST: Page 76, line 9, — its place, a full stop ommitted. 92, line 31,— for n read in. NOTES TO CANTO SECOND: Page 109,— /or in these in our days read in these our days. NOTES TO CANTO THIRD: Page 114, line 14,— for contains read cantoons. 117 4 BernauEvan, — Note ommitted. " Bernan Evan, a miraculous bell, belonging to the Monasterevan Abbey — and sworn by on solemn occasions." >IBSCRIBERS NAMES 11^ Excellency, Charles Earl Whitworth, 5 copies. Her Grace the Duchess of Dorset, 5 copies. The very Rev. Dean of Ardagh, J. Cole, Esq. John Allen, Esq. Clare-st. Joseph Dunne, Esq. Killone, C. Ambrose, Esq. W. Dunne, Esq. Ballymanu . Miss Archer, Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Atkinson, Miss Andrews. Mrs. Barry, Sackville-st. Mrs. Bradford, C. O. Baines, Esq. Mrs. Boyd, Summer-hill, Mrs. Bailey, J. Brown, Esq. Miss Bennett, Mrs. Byrne, Mrs. Brown, Deborah, Mrs. Doyle, James Daly, Esq. Colonel Disney, George Drevar, Jun. Esq. Miss Sophia C. Disney, F. Disney, Esq. Miss Dodd, Moyanna. Mrs. Eames, Gardincr-st. Mrs. Evans, Miss Elwood, Mrs. Elliott. Mrs. Fletcher, Montrose, Miss Ferguson, Miss Burton. T.Cosby, Esq. Stradbally-hall,Miss Forster, Mrs Cosby, do. Mrs. Freeman. Rev. J- Cassan, Teighmague, Henry Grattan, Esq. Jun, Mr. George Clegg, Tinehinch, — Croker, Esq. — 2 copies. John Gardiner, Esq. Sir C. Coote, Bart. Ballyfm. Miss Gaven. Lady Coote, do. Miss Humphry, Donard, Mrs. C rtis, E. H. Mr. Co'.'ir.s, Mrs. Market, Miss Can George Harte, Esq. subscribers' names. Rev. Henry Johnson, J. O . Mrs. Johnson, Mt. Pelier-hill, W. O'Neil, Esq. Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Win. Pigot, Baggot-st Miss James, Right Hon. Robert Peel, &c. B. B. Johnson, Esq. Dublin Castle, 2 copies. Miss Jarriet. Patrick, S. I. — 2 copies, Rev. Josiah Pratt, Secretary Miss Kelly, Kellyville, to the African Mission? Miss F. Kelly, do. [Castles, London, Wm. Kavanagh, Esq. Three E. G. Pilsvvorth, Athy, Miss Kearney. Miss Parker, Mrs. Lloyd, Fitzwilliam-sq. Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Lane, Cash el, Arthur Roberts, Esq, Miss Lanphire, Waterford, Miss Roberts, Miss Leeson, Robert Robinson, Esq. Mary- Mrs. Ledwich, borough, J. Little, Esq. Miss Reynolds, The Hon. Sergeant Moore, Rev. Dr. Slade, Dean of Dub* The Rev. 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