THE KING'S MIRROR 23 



Hibernica have certain common features which corre- 

 spond so closely that literary kinship seems quite prob- 

 able. The resemblances, however, are not so much in the 

 details as in the plan and the viewpoint. In the second 

 book of his " Topography," Giraldus recounts " first 

 those things that nature has planted in the land itself; " 

 and next " those things that have been miraculously 

 performed through the merits of the saints." * The au- 

 thor of the King's Mirror has adopted a similar group- 

 ing. After having discussed some of the wonders of the 

 island he continues: " There still remain certain things 

 that may be thought marvelous; these, however, are 

 not native to the land but have originated in the miracu- 

 lous powers of holy men."f This correspondence in the 

 general plan is too remarkable to be wholly accidental; 

 at least it should lead us to look for other resemblances 

 elsewhere. 



In his general description of Ireland the author of 

 the Norwegian work calls attention to the excellence of 

 the land and its temperate climate: " for all through the 

 winter the cattle find their feed in the open." J Giraldus 

 informs us that grass grows in winter as well as in sum- 

 mer, and he adds: " therefore they are accustomed nei- 

 ther to cut hay for fodder nor to provide stables for the 

 cattle." Both writers emphasize the fact that grapes 

 do not grow on the island. In both writings attention is 

 called to the sacred character of the Irish soil, which 

 makes it impossible for reptiles and venomous animals 

 to live on the land, though Giraldus has his doubts as 

 to the supernatural phase of the matter. Both writers 



* Topographia Hibernica, ii, introd.: Opera, V, 74. f C. xi. 



t c. x. Topographia Hibernica, i, c. xxxiii: Opera, V, 67. 



