Page:Irish minstrelsy, vol 2 - Hardiman.djvu/355



The rule de non apparentibus et non existentibus eadem ratio, has long been applicable to the Bardic remains of Ireland. Whatever the public may have heard of our ancient Fileas, it knows but little of their works; hence, an apparently well-formed, though certainly erroneous, conclusion seems to have been adopted, either that no such works have ever been extant, or that they have altogether perished by the hand of time, or in the unparalleled distractions of this unhappy country.