AN GAODHAL.
257
tioned the queen that he might be hanged with a
gad or withe after his own country fashion, which
doubtless, was readily granted him." — Bacon's es¬
says. But, the world has now to decide which of
the two men, the brave but betrayed Irishman, or
the corrupt and bribed judge, most deserved the
gad. This petition, however, if any such was ev¬
er sent, shows that O'Rourke relied on the queen,
and that his real object was to apprise her of his
condemnation. Sir Richard Cox, in his virulent
"History,” inserts another anecdote, from Philip
O’Sullivan, worth relating :— “Being asked why he
did not bow his knee to the queen, he answered
that he was not used to bow. 'How to images?'
says an English lord. 'Aye,' says O'Rourke, 'but
there is a great deal of difference between your
queen and the images of the Saints.” — His head
was placed on a spike, on the tower which former¬
ly stood on London Bridge, and was one of the
"Reorum laesae majestatis capita," of which Hent¬
zner says, he reckoned thirty in 1598, “Ultra tri¬
ginta nos horum numeravimus." — Itin. 115.
Such was the fate of the gallant O'Rourke
Prince of Breitney. For particulars concerning
his private virtues and public character, the read¬
er is referred to the poem here translated, which
is classed by Irish scholars among the specimens
of the ancient style of composition in our language.
John, son of Torna O'Mulconry, of Ardchoill,
in Thomond, Ard Ollam, or laureate of Ireland,
composed this ode, when Brian na Murtha was sa¬
luted chief of his sept, on the death of his brother
Hugh, in 1566. It is one of the panegyrical poems
of the Irish bards, and, as may be seen, does not
contain any of the censurable passages attributed
to these compositions by Spenser. It is written
in the Bearla Feine, or Phœnician dialect of the
Irish, which the poet tells us he used, because the
Bearla rustas, or Plebeian dialect, was unworthy
of his hero. — See the fifth stanza. — The family of
O'Mulconry is distinguished in the annals of Irish
literature, as having produced several eminent
writers.
Fuair Breifne a díol do shaoghlond, (1)
Tar gach aon fhonn daith Ealcca; (2)
Fear ag a ttat (3) gníomha féinnidh, (4)
La taop eaimhfhis (5) na seagsa (6).
A tá traith (7) os cionn Ruarcach
Rear cóir Cruacha [8 do thuidhmhe; 9.
Os clannaibh Briain Mheic Eachach
Is é cleathor [10] is cuibhdhe [11].
Do ní Brian a ré [12] catha
Béus an dalta [13] bhí ag bodhmaind:
Ní thug ó ro ghabh a iodhna [14]
Iomdha [15 dia chéile comhlaind.
TRANSLATION.
O’er heaven-favored Breifny a chief¬
tain commands,
In whom all endowments of excel¬
lence join,
There is not a hero in Erin's green
lands,
Equals Bryan who dwells on the
science-loved Boyne.
A Tanist presides o’er the race of Hy
Brun,
The worthy descendant of Eochy
the king ;
O’Rourke and O'Conor shall grow in¬
to one.
And the hills of each Croghan with
happiness ring.
Sincere are our praises of Breifny's
great lord.
Like the father of Oisin in story re¬
nown'd ;
Since the hour when a stripling he
first drew the sword,
Where the foe dar'd to meet him
he never gave ground.
(To be continued)
GLÚAIS — (Gloss]
1. Saeghlann[eadhon breitheamh no tighear¬
na.
2. Tar fhearann air bith a n-Éirinn.
3. Aga bh-fuil.
4. Gaisgídhe.
5. Allam fioseugaigh .
6. Tobar Seagsa, sé sin, Bóinn.
7. Tighearna.
8. Cruachan Chonnacht.
9. Coimhcheangal.
10. Cliath thighearna
or [eadhon] tighearna no rí.
11. Or imeal cliath iméal.
12. An am.
13. Fionn Mac Cúmhail.
14. Arma.
15. A slinneán.
THE IRISH CLASSES.
It is gratifying to notice that the Irish Clasaes
are progressing most favorably throughout the
country. Our New York friends are working in
the cause with commendable perseverance. In
the Bowery Society Prof. Manahan is training the
members to sing Moore’s and other Irish Melodies
and the Clarendon Hall Society, which first intro¬
duced the study of Irish Music under leadership
of Mr. Cromien is still holding the lead.
