The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-01-18
ANCIENT IRISH LITERATURE.
Ancient Civilization of the Irish.
NO.. I.

An opinion prevails up to the present time among
the intelligent classes in England that before the conquest
of country by Strongbow its people in state of
barbarism, pretty nearly Identical with that of the New
Zeaanders when first visited by the civilized voyagers of
Europe Tactus indeed tells that in his time the ports
of Hberna equented by traders than those of
Britana fact applicable from the superior fertility of the
western island which, from time immemoria has been
famous for the richness of its pastures its abundance of cattle
and Just the tendency is to foster its capabilities
for the former product scientific agricuurs in the interest
of the modearm class of monopos having declared that
the humidity of the air is adverse cereal crops and that
the finger of Providence points to the cultivation of beef
mutton and possibly flax the extension of the latter how
ever not being much advocated developed linen trade
might interfere with Manchester cotton. In ancient times
in the sixth century, there is to believe that the
temperature of Erin somewhat milder than now vine
yards extensively fosered church and monastery
having attached the tree having been brought
from Gau by the Christian monks Respecting the early
civilization of the insular Ce John Bull is still the Jew
Apea; English history, previously written has shown
him to be impeuous treacherou bloodhirs barbarian
always at with his neighbour when the chance
Cured that he had foreign foe combat and totally de-
void of of those qualities which have made the German
what they If say such obecors the Irish had
made any progress similar to that of other peoples in the
same stage would be manifested first in the remains of an
architecture, and, secondly, in literature AS to
men what have they to show but few churches the most
considerable which date but eight hundred years back
If they civilized people, they absurdy pretend why
have they not pyramids pagan temples, great
of the Gothic order like surrounding nations
The the architectural question finds its solution
simply in the fact that the ancient Ces living in an
island Astounding with great woods constructed their temples
and palaces of their orestshence their anstory naure
but abundant evidences exist to show that their public arch
lecture which in many instances colossal alike dis
tngused by the finest of art and by instances of
rangement and of ornamentaon such might conceive
to be the reflex of the highly ncfu and imaginative nature
of the Ce Almost every of such external civilization
has indeed vanished wood being perishabe material
than stone But tried by the test of literature claims
unon remote antiquity be shownto be toeraby strong
The nerod at which the Ces of Spain and France attained
civilization which enabled them to transmit their history
cannot now be accurately determined most of their early
literary memorials unlike those of the Hndoos having
persisted during the epochs of Roman and subsequent con-
quests Srabo however, expressly states that the Lusanans
possessed chronicles dating back six thousand years. is
this remarkable testimony considered extravaganza
illustrated by the new lights which scientific criticism has
thrown on the antiquity of the migratory epochs.
That the Cets laid the foundation OF Europe has been
long admitted that they drove westward its presne nhabt