530 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



For a list of later versions see Essai d^un Catalogue, &c., by H. D'Arbois 

 de Jubainville. 



2. The Texts and Versification. — The poem A is from Lealhar 

 na h ZTidhre, wbere, with its preface, it occupies all p. 119 and two lines 

 over. The poems B and C occupy each an exact half -page of the Book 

 of Leinster, 146 /3 and 147 a. The general type of the metre of A and 

 C is the stanza called dechnad 7nhecc, consisting of four pentasyllabic 

 verses, each ending in a monosyllable, verses 2 and 4 rhyming. In B 

 the type is ramiaiyecht 7n6r, four heptasyllabic verses, each ending in 

 a monosyllable, verses 2 and 4 rhyming. In all three poems, however, 

 many of the stanzas are irregular. Twelve stanzas of C are in ' ' chain- 

 verse," the opening part of the stanza being linked to the foregoing 

 stanza by the repetition of one or more of its closing words. Less 

 evident is the linking which will be found in most of the stanzas both 

 of B and C, the closing and opening verses of adjacent stanzas being 

 joined by alliteration. 



3. Tlie Matter of the Poems. — The poem A is in effect a Christian 

 interpolation in the epic tale of the Battle of Mucrama, which 

 belongs to the "Leinster Cycle." Such interpolations may represent 

 efforts on the part of the poets to secure the toleration of the Church 

 for the traditional pagan literature of the country. The vision of 

 angels is manifestly founded on Jacob's dream. Stanza 27 contains 

 an allusion to a secret burial like that of Hoses or of St. Patrick.^ 



The poems B and C seem to be the work of one person. They 

 have in common (1) the linking of verses noted above; (2) a number 

 of similar allusions and expressions; B 1-8 = C 29, 30; B 17, 18 

 = C 37, 39 ; B 20 = C 23 ; B 22, 24 = C 25, 26 ; (3) both poems con- 

 tain similar precepts of conduct for a prince. These two poems are 

 not without literary merit. One of them, C, has already been ear- 

 marked by Dr. Atkinson in his analysis of the "Book of Leinster " 

 prefaced to the Academy's facsimile. The following points of interest 

 may be noted : — 



Art keeps a hunting-seat (sudi selca), A 1. 



Deer are excluded from a sacred enclosure, A 9. 



Women make pilgrimages to a battle-field (or tomb?), All. 



Corpses are washed before burial, A 24, 27.- 



The details of a chief's equipment for battle, B 8, C 29. 



1 See 0' Curry on this piece, MS. Mat., p. 391. 



' This may account for such font-like stones as are found in the souterrain of 

 Grange. 



