Page:The Spirit of the Nation.djvu/92

iv of the battle-field.” To ascend higher, the Dublin Review says, they are “vigorous and bold,” “fitted to grasp the nation;” the Quarterly found in them “great beauty of language and imagery,” and Fraser declared that though they are “mischievous” it “dare not condemn them they are so full of beauty.”

The First Part of the has gone through two editions here; has been bought by men of all creeds and kinds, from the peasantry to the peerage, the soldier and policeman to the Quartermaster-General, from  to

The American papers regularly reprint our verses week by week, and a large edition of the has been issued in New York, and sold throughout the United States, and Canada.

Our little book of rhymes has been circulated enough, and praised enough, then, fully to justify the novel course we took in reprinting them, and the authors may be content with their fame.

This register of what occurred as to the first part is our justification for printing a second. Whether the praise we have got or shall get be deserved or not, sure we are that whoever gives the people of Ireland a lyric literature racy of the soil, reflecting its scenery and manners, blended with its history and panting with its hopes, will marshal them to independence in an array which prosecutions cannot encounter nor armies overthrow. National lyrics to be perfect should be linked