The Irish standard., 1892-09-17
MORSE LITERATURE.

MORSE LITERATURE
It is the Offspring, in Certain Sense, of
Ancient Irish Literature.
Every Irishman who is familiar with
the early history of his native land IS
aware of the fact that from the eighth to
the eleventh century there were con-
slant incursions of the Danes into Ire
land, and that at one period they were
in possession of almost the entire coun-
try. They built the principal maritime
cities, such as Dublin, Cork, Waterford,
Wexford and Limerick, and after the
battle of Clontarf, whore their power
was forever broken by the immortal
Brian Boru in pitched battle on Good
Friday, 1014, many Of the Danish sur
vivors with non-combatants Of the same
race remained in Ireland and became
amalgamated with the Colts. Like the
Normans who afterward invaded the
Emerald Isle, the Danes became more
Irish than the Irish themselves" and
during the rebellion of 1898 their descen-
dants gave proof of their warlike quail
ties on the hills of Wexford and Wick
low, where during a campaign OF four
months with rude weapons in their hands
and led by unskilled officers chosen from
among the people, they met the dis
ciplined British redcoats and slew 10000
of them The Irish in that part OF the
country to- day have Morse blood in their
veins and possess strong spirit OF ma
tlonal independence. We are led to
these remarks from reading an interest
ing lecture recently given in Dublin
before the National Literary Society by
DR.. George Sigerson on the origin and
influence of Celtic literature. In the
course of his learned address he referred
| to the influence exerted on Scandinavian
literature by the Irish. The men from
the north of Europe who visited Ireland
thousand years ago went under the
name of Danes, but the term was not
applied exclusively to the people OF Den
mark as in modern times. The portion
of DR.. Sigerson's lecture bearing on the
Scandinavians is here reproduced IN
compliment to our esteemed neighbor,
the North, which has recently ceased It's
ill-natured attacks on Irish American
citizens. This is what DR.. Sigerson says
on the subject:
To speak of literary relations between
the Irish and the Morse may provoke
some derision. We're not these the fierce
sea kings, the "Danes," whose delight
was in war, and whose avocatlon in peace
was the plumber of churches? They
were, however, paradoxical enough to
build Christ Church, ard to richly endow
it. There were, in fact, many and I'M
portant matrimonial alliances between the
Irish and Morse princes, who often
Joined forces against foes. The Morse
men delighted III the loneliness of the
island. Linn@us, in later days, fell on
his knees before the splendor of furze
bush in blossom, and we can readily
imagine how tears came into the eyes of
the Arctic royers when they beheld the
fresh green OF Avoca, or were dazzled by
the crimson and gold of Benn Edair,
which they called Howth. Irish music
charmed them, and even now some OF
our old airs awake echoes along the Nor
land fiords. The latest and most dis
tingulshed authorities declare that Irish
history has largely Influenced that OF the
Scandinavian. They were in close and
continuous contact, in peace and war,
with the Irish, "whose ancient civiliza-
cation was superior and therefore
stronger"
Mr.. York Powell also speaks OF the
Irish blood of the poets Of Northern
literature. Thus we have it on unques-
tionable authority that the noble Morse
literature, which occupies position OF
the greatest Importance, was itself the
offspring, in q certain sense, Of our an
Gent Irish literature. Irish literary
training and talent presided over and
took part in It's composition, gave dra-
matte vividness to it's narrative portion,
grace, method, and myths to it's poetry.
With this knowledge in mind you will
look with better insight into the story Of
the Norsemen in Ireland, and see them
no longer as cloud OF barbarians, but
as brave, adventurous knights, whose
voyages fringed our seas with murmur
of song, and whose cities were the favor
it's resorts Of Irishmen, skilled in letters
and All the arts Of peace and war.