300 Beowulf and Widsith 



twenty-four stanzas/ and another of fifteen. The second of these 

 has been thus translated by Mangan^ (the last line of the first 

 stanza^ as corrected by Hyde) : 



I found in Inisfail the fair, 



In Ireland, while in exile there, 



Women of worth, both grave and gay men, 



Learned clerics, heroic laj'^men. 



I travelled its fruitful provinces round, 

 And in every one of the five* I found. 

 Alike in church and in palace hall, 

 Abundant apparel, and food for all. 



Gold and silver I found in money ; 

 Plenty of wheat and plenty of honey ; 

 I found God's people rich in pity. 

 Found many a feast, and many a city. 



I also found in Armagh the splendid. 

 Meekness, wisdom, and prudence blended, 

 Fasting, as Christ hath recommended. 

 And noble councillors untranscended. 



I found in each great church moreo'er. 

 Whether on island or on shore. 

 Piety, learning, fond affection. 

 Holy welcome and kind protection. 



I found the good lay monks and brothers 

 Ever beseeching help for others, 

 And, in their keeping, the Holy Word 

 Pure as it came from Jesus the Lord. 



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. 

 * The two Meaths then formed a distinct province. 



^ See Edward O'Reilly, 'Irish Writers' {Transactions of the Iberno-Celtic 

 Society, 1820, Vol. i, part i, p. xlviii) ; Reeves, p. 284. 



" Guiney, James Clarence Mangan, pp. 1 18-120; Poems of James Clarence 

 Mangan, ed. Mitchel, pp. 379-381 ; do., ed. D. J. O'Donoghue (London, 

 1902), pp. 38-41. There is a more literal translation by John O'Donovan 

 {Dublin Penny Journal, 1832, pp. 94-5). Cf. Dublin Reviezv 21. 519. 

 "The first stanza runs (Hyde, p. 221) : 



Ro dheat an inis finn Fail 

 In Eirinn re imarbhaidh, 

 lomad ban, ni baoth an breas, 

 lomad laoch, iomad cleireach. 



