‘656 
And the Olam, and the beads of the 
people, sat behind the nobles. of their 
lands. { 
And on the table inthe midst) were 
the rolls of other times closed, and the 
writings of Eolus, and the chronicles of 
the Gaal. 
And rolls open to receive the words 
of the days’ as they pass, for thie eye of 
the children of the land that are to 
come. 
And as Erimionn rose from the throne, 
and was about to speak, an uproar was 
raised about Teacmor, and it was told 
within, that men armed stood on 'Tobrad. 
And Eocaid loosed the girdle, and 
opened the clasp of his mantle, and he 
said, 
“ Whlien the laws of Eriare the theme, 
let the sword remain in his scabbard, 
the bow in his case, and Cran Tubail be 
hung up in the tents of the Gaal. 
*“ Reason is the parent of Justice ; 
Justice is the handmaid of the laws ; 
arms are instruments of the passions of 
man. 
“Behold Erimionn beareth not the 
sword in the habitation of the laws. 
“ Heralds, say without— 
‘Let those who are armed depart 
every man to bis tent; and those who 
stand on Tobrad abide in peace.” 
And it was so. 
And Erimionn rose again, and he said, 
“ Pour rings haye been completed 
since Eocaid the son of Fiaca hath been 
chosen to sit on the seat of the chief tn 
Ullad ; since which time the kings, the 
princes of the race, and chiefs of the 
Gaal, have placed bim even here, the 
tie and knot of the cincture that is to 
bind together the affections of all the 
children of the land ; 
“Phat he may do. somewhat to jus- 
tify their thoughts of bim, he bath la- 
boured without ceasing to give the laws 
a form, and strength moreover to protect 
the children of Eri from violence and 
oppression. 5; 
** Itis known unto you, that the Cra- 
imtear have: feigned nine laws*from 
Baal, ne 
“The foundation laid in deceit, “the 
work hath been ‘raiscd by imposture, and 
propped up by ignorance on: this side, 
and by fear on that:sidethereof. - 
“ When I haveinquired of the priests 
that now be, for the ground of the fancy 
of some, of the artifice of others, the an- 
swer of one and of all hath hkeen— 
“ ‘The many of the race are poor, they 
are ignorant, their ways are perverse ; 
they have the desire of all men, to live 
O'Connor's Chronicles of Eri. 
at ease, and. passions exciting them fo 
avarice; yea,’ and to the possession of 
power. Aisiog 
. © Ifthey: be not. controlled: by laws 
other than the work of their fellow man; 
those who haye.ricbes.and dominion will 
hold both doubtfully. Where ignoratice 
prevaileth, fear alone*inspixeth awecand 
respect. i ‘ tele Hes 
* Will the kings, and princes, andno= 
bles, surrender their flocks,-and lierds, 
and masterdom, to the multitude? «>» 
“ Ts it not wiser and better far, that 
the king reverence the. priests? so may 
the servants of Baal keep the minds of 
the Gaal in obedience tothe king. — 
“ Then will the king enjoy in peare 
his large authority, and. the. priest: bis 
small portion of the land... N) fanepd 
“ Such and. such like hath been the 
saying of the priests. 10 ABE 
“* When I. have: inquired, of them, 
What if the pains taken by the pricsts to 
make men ignorant, and to keep. their 
minds in the ways of falsehood, were be- 
stowed by the Olam to instruct them in. 
the lessons of wisdom, in the wordsof} 
truth ? iseanhsd 
“ Still hath the answer of the: pricsts 
been-— iy dayonds 
“ Let the Olam speak untothe poor; 
and all their lessons of knowledge and 
of wisdom will but create in theivniinds 
a hunger for riches, a thirst for dom inion, 
not to be allayed nor quenched till satis- 
fied in both. wily Ri 
“So saith the Cruimtear; neverthe- 
less my opinion differeth from the fancy 
or the artifice of the priest: 
“Therefore, 
“ What if five. of the laws of the olden 
time only be retained to stand on the 
roll, at the head of the laws of Eri, nat 
deceitfully, ascommands from Baal, ac- 
cording to the words of the priests, but 
openly, laws of the land, by consent of 
all the children thereof? 
“ Baal spake notto Astor, 4, 
“ Itis the voice of Reason that erieth 
aloud, if 
« Let not man slay his fellow. > 4 
“ Baal spake not to Lamas, 
“ Tt is Justice that directeth, 
“ Let not man take of the belonging 
of anotlier privately. SH 
“« Baal held not converse with Soth. 
“ Ttis the spirit of Truth that saith,. 
“ Tet not the lips utter what the 
mind Knoweth to be false. Bist 
* Baal opened not his mouth to Al. 
“ Tt is the geiitle voice of tender Pity 
that whispereth, 
“ Man, be merciful. 49 
“ Baal 
