cot in which his childhood lay, is an angel from the fields, the hills, the streams, the mountains, and the moors wherein his boyhood sported. 6. We remember, with many memories of delight, too, the beauties of Ireland's scenery. We recollect the fields that are ever green; the hills that bloom to the summit; the streamlets that in sweetness seem to sing her legends; the valleys where the fairies play; the voices among her glens, that sound from her winds as with the spirit of her bards; the shadow of her ruins at moonlight, that in pale and melancholy splendor appear like the ghosts of her ancient heroes. LXXXVIII. THE O'KAVANAGH. J. AUGUSTUS SHEA. 1. The Saxons had met, and the banquet was spread, And the wine in fleet circles the jubilee led; And the banners that hung round the festal that night, Seemed brighter by far than when lifted in fight. 2. In came the O'Kavanagh, fair as the morn, When earth to new beauty and vigor is born; They shrank from his glance, like the waves from the prow, For nature's nobility sat on his brow. 3 Attended alone by his vassal and bard- 4. In eye and on lip his high confidence smiled- 5. "Come pledge us, lord chieftain! come pledge us!" they cried; Unsuspectingly free to the pledge he replied; And this was the peace-branch O'Kavanagh bore"The friendships to come, not the feuds that are o'er !" 6. But, minstrel, why cometh a change o'er thy theme? Why sing of red battle-what dream dost thou dream? Ha! "Treason!'s the cry, and "Revenge!" is the call, As tho swords of the Saxon surrounded the hall! 7. A kingdom for Angelo's mind! to portray Green Erin's undaunted avenger that day; The far-flashing sword, and the death-darting eye, Like some comet commissioned with wrath from the sky. 8. Through the ranks of the Saxon he hewed his red way Through lances, and sabres, and hostile array; 9. And now on the Saxons his clansmen advance, With a shout from each heart, and a soul in each lance: He rushed, like a storm, o'er the night-covered heath, And swept through their ranks, like the angel of death. 10. Then hurrah! for thy glory, young chieftain, hurrah! Oh! had we such lightning-souled heroes to-day, Again would our "sunburst" expand in the gale, LXXXIX. THE BATTLE OF CLONTARF. M. F. CUSACK. 1. The storm was now gathering in earnest, and the most active preparations were made on both sides for a mighty and decisive conflict. The Danes had already obtained possession of England, a country which had always been united in its resistance to their power, a country numerically superior to Ireland: why should they not hope to conquer, with at least equal facility, a people who had so many opposing interests, and who rarely sacrificed these interests to the common good? Still they must have had some fear of the result, if we may judge by the magnitude of their preparations. They despatched ambassadors in all directions to obtain reinforcements. Brodir, the earl, and Amlaibh, son of the King of Lochlann, "the two Earls of Cair, and of all the north of Saxon land," came at the head of 2,000 men; "and there was not one villain of that 2,000 who had not polished, strong, triple-plated armor of refined iron, or of cooling, uncorroding brass, encasing their sides and body from head to foot." Moreover, the said villains "had no reverence, veneration, or respect, or mercy for God or man, for church or for sanctuary; they were cruel, ferocious, plundering, hard-hearted, wonderful Dannarbrians, selling and hiring themselves for gold and silver, and other treasure as well." 2. Gormflaith was evidently "head centre " on the occasion; for we find wonderful accounts of her zeal and efforts in collecting forces. "Other treasure may possibly be referred to that lady's heart and hand, of which she appears to be very liberal on this occasion. She despatched her son, Sitric, to Siguard, Earl, of the Orkneys, who promised his assistance, but he required the hand of Gormflaith as payment for his services, and that he should be made King of Ireland. Sitric gave the required promise, and found on his return to Dublin, that it met with his mother's entire approbation. She then despatched him to the Isle of Man, where there were two Vikings, who had thirty ships and she desired him to obtain their co-operation" at any price." They were the brothers Ospak and Brodir. The latter demanded the same conditions as the Earl Siguard, which were promised quite as readily by Sitric,only he charged the Viking to keep the agreement secret, above all not to mention it to Siguard. 3. Brodir, according to the Saga, was an apostate Christian, who had "thrown off his faith, and become God's dastard." He was both tall and strong, and had such long black hair that he tucked it under his belt; he had also the reputation of being a magician. The Viking Ospak refused to fight against "the good King Brian,” and, touched by some prodigies, became a convert to Christianity, joined the Irish monarch at Kincora, on the Shannon, and received holy baptism. The author of the Wars of the Gaedhil gives a formidable list of the other auxiliaries who were invited by the Dublin Danes. The Annals of Loch Cé also give an account of the fleet he assembled, and its "chosen braves." Maelmordha had mustered a large army also; indeed, he was too near the restless and revengeful Lady Gormflaith to have taken matters quietly, even had he been so inclined. 4. Meanwhile Brian had been scarcely less successful, and probably not less active. He now marched towards Dublin," with all that obeyed him of the men of Ireland." These were the provincial troops of Munster and Connaught and the men of Meath. His march is thus described in the Wars of the Gaedhil:"Brian looked out behind him, and beheld the battle phalanx-compact, huge, disciplined, moving in silence, He was It has been suggested that this was not his real name. Ospak's brother, and Brodir may have been mistaken for a proper name. There was a Danish Viking named Gutring, who was an apos tate deacon, and who may have been the Brodir of Irish history. |