The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-10-27

BE- brought into causal relation with its
subsequent appearance In tho ecclesiastical
Latin poetry OF tho carly middle agcs2 DR..
SIaERsoN supplies the link. He points ont
that st. S]EpuLlus (Siadal) introduced from
tho Irish in tho year $50 Of our era tho tor
minal sound echo or rhyme into Latin
verse. This innovation was made in hymns.
and as many of these we're at once adopted
and chanted in the Church-indccd some "
them are sung TO this day--thcir influence
in educating the ear and in populnrizing
rhyme throughout Christcndom Gun
scarcely DO ovcrrated. With SEDuLIrs
is coupled st. CoIuMrANus, who in
his lighter poems disclosed his Irish
training by the introduction not only Of al
liberation. but OF terminal rhymes. These
national characteristics OF his poetry were
impressed upon the school OF Bobblo. which
he created. and whence his influence rail-
ated over Italy and trans-Alpine Europe.
I. .s also well known that from the school
OF Irish teachers established In the island
Of Iona went forth n stream OF education
over the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms Of northern
England. where English learning and liter
nture were born. Hero 1t WINS that Anglo
Saxon poetry began with CEpMoN and
ALpHELM. tho first Englishman to write
rhyncd Latin verse. had been a pupil OF tho
Irishman MAILDuFF. tho first Abbot OF
M~almcsbury.
Now for the connection OF Irish models
with Scandinavian literature. For tho
reality and Importance Of this connection
may be cited tho testimony OF Mcssrs.
VIGFussoN and York POWELL. both OF
whom are qualified to speak with authority.
Not only did tho Mortimer establish them
selves ut various points on the east and
west COASTS OF ireland. but tho first
Morse colunists OF Iceland found irish
men already settled there. NJ. Va
FUSION. himself an Icclandcr. says
that among those who formed tho
early Morse settlements in Iceland wcre
many men and women Of pure Irish blood
besides many sprung from mixed mar
riages. and that traces OF tho crossing are
discernibic in tho Irish names borne by
some OF the most famous pcrsonagcs in the
heroic ngc OF Iceland-cspccially among tho
poets. OF whom 1t is recorded that they
| were dark-complcXioncd men. 1t Is MIR.
VIGFussoN's belief that intimate intercourse
! with tho Irish Cclts had much to do with
frightening and refining tho strong but
somewhat prosaic imagination OF til" leu
ton into the more artistic spirit manifested
in the Icelandic Saga. From this
point Of view it is suggestive that
the classic land Of tho Saga was
in the west OF Iceland. where also was
the largest infusion OF Irish blood. Then
again the Eddas. which reveal an ideal OF
beauty and n love OF nature not to be found
In the Saga. bear internal evidence OF hav-
ing been composed by men familiar with
more southern scenes and mnnners-of be-
ing. in short. the mental offspring Of the
conqucrors of Waterford and Limerick. In
BRAGI's Eddie poem there is an unmistak-
able introduction of the characteristic Irish
rhyme method.
Thus 1t seems that Ireland has been able
to act upon the literature OF tho Continent
and OF Britain in two ways. First. directly
by means Of the Irish scholars. thinkers. and
verse makers. who migrated to other parts
Of Europe. and. secondly. through the
medium OF the Morse literature. The latter
affected both England aud Germany. so
that tho Irish spirit has had n double
influence, be it much or little. upon both Of
those countries. Even IL our obligations
were limited to the use OF rhyme and to
the infusion OF the romantic element which
has passed from the Sagas and the Eddas
into German and English poetry. our debt
to Irish literature would be great.