Page:Irish minstrelsy, vol 2 - Hardiman.djvu/147

Rh service; but he was soon after hanged at Tyburn. For such or the like services as those of Kelly, some few of the bribed and renegade Irish were graciously called the Queen's "loving subjects," but such or the like fate as that which he deservedly met with, generally terminated their labours and their lives.

$1$The Gael—the ancient Irish.—In this fine ode the Bard has, with a master hand, introduced the most signal interventions of the Divine Power and Mercy, as examples to support his countrymen in their afflictions, and to inspire them with a hope of future deliverence. With these views he points out the preservation of Noah in the deluge; and of the Prophet Jonah in the deep; the passage of the Children of Israel through the Red Sea; the patience and Divine approval of holy Job; the penitence and pardon of Longinus; the great atonement of our Divine Redeemer, and the miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead. This is one of the noblest purposes to which poetry can be applied, and is in perfect accordance with the inspired effusions of holy writ. It is much to be regretted that the name of the bard has not survived, if it were only to lead to the recovery of any more of his compositions.

This may either allude to the whole of Ireland, from the Monarch Con, who ruled early in the second century; or to the northern half, called Leath Cuinn, from the division of the island between that Monarch and Eugenius king of Munster, which will be found fully detailed in our Histories.