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Alfred the Great on Erin (1898)

The Venerable Bede assure us that the Irish of his time were a friendly people, as they are to this day. To them the Angles and Saxons had been in the habit of resorting in search of knowledge, and amongst these was no less a person than Alfred the Great, one of the most beneficent and far-seeing monarchs who ever reigned in the world. He has left his opinion of Ireland and the Irish on recordin a poem, a portion of which we now quote : —

I found in Munster unfettered of any,
Kings and queens and poets a many-
Poets well-skilled in music and measure,
Prosperous doings, mirth and pleasure.

I found in Connaught the just, redundance
Of riches, milk in lavish abundance ;
Hospitality, vigour, fame,
In Cruachan's land of heroic name.

I found the country of Connall the glorious,
Bravest heroes, ever victorious ;
Fair-complexioned men and warlike,
Ireland's lights, the high, the starlike !

I found in Ulster, from hill to glen,
Hardy warriors, resolute men ;
Beauty that bloomed when youth was gone,
And strength transmitted from sire to son.

I found in Leinster the smooth and sleek
From Dublin to Slewmargy's peak ;
Flourishing pastures, valour, health,
Long-living worthies, commerce, wealth.

I found, besides, from Ara to Glea,
In the broad rich country of Ossorie,
Sweet fruits, good laws for all and each,
Great chess players, men of truthful speech.

Ifound in Meath's fair principality
Virtue, vigour, and hospitality.
Candour, joy fulness, bravery, purity-
Ireland's bulwark and security.

I found strict morals in age and youth,
I found historians recording the truth ;
The things I sing of in verse unsmooth,
I found' them all-I have written sooth.

Notes

From the NSW Newspaper The Freeman's Journal 3 Sep 1898 p. 5.

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australian traditional songs . . . a selection by mark gregory