The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-11

PEELED from Desmond, and who was
thirsting for revenge. Between the pair a
scheme was laid for the assassination OF
Malon, which was carried out under con-
ditions of peculiar and revolving per6dy.
Molloy summoned Mahon to an amicable
conference, at which the claims OF the two
rival princes might be discussed and
settled. The meeting was to be held at
the house OF Donovan, Eugenian prince.
Mahon went to the meeting without any
suspicion Of the meditated treason; he
was Immediately seized, made prisoner
hurried to the mountains and slain. The
manner Of his death was particularly
horrible, for it is told that when the
murderers drew their weapons the be-
trayed king caught up copy Of the holy
gospels and placed the open volumes as
a shield against his breast. But neither
the sacred book nor the presence of two
priests, who had courageously followed
the doomed king, stayed the murderous
hands. The assassins closed around the
king, in ring OF levelled points, and
plunged their weapons again and again
through the book into his body. Mahon
icll to the grond dead; the priests caught
up the sacred volume, its pages torn with
treason's swords and blackencd with
Dalcassas noblcst blood, and hurried
from the scene OF slaughter to bear the
news OF the murder far and wide
| Whether even such assassins were un-
willing to lay hands upon holy man, Or
whether they wished the news of Ivar's
vengeance and Molloy's treason to be
bruited abroad as soon as might be, they
seem in no wise to have interfered with
the departure Of the priests. Perhaps the
murderers deemed that in Staying Mahon
they had sapped the strength OF Munster.
But they rcckoned without the young
chcitain who had been foremost in the
late war, and whose courage and genius
made him a far more dangerous enemy
to the Danish strength than the monarch
who had been SO foully done to death in
the knocinrcorin Mountains
News of his brothers death was
brought to Brian at kinkora Every
historian has recorded the passion OF grief
and rage which seized upon the young
prince; every historian has told how, like
leader OF Israel or Hellenic hero he
Immediately seized his harp and sang the
death song of his brother and king; every
historian has quoted the mighty words in
which he pledged himself to vengeance
My heart shall burst within my breast
Unless l avenge this great king;
They shall forfeit life for this foul deed,
Or l must perish by a violent death"
Bravely and rcsolutcly Brian fulfilled
his vow. Rousing all his following, he
flung himself first upon his Danish foes
under Ivar OF Limerick, and routed them
completely Ivar, the chief of the traitors,
with his two sons, was slain. Then he
turned the edge OF his sword against the
raised a mighty power OF his own people
and OF Desmond Danes, but they could
make no head against Brian; they were
scattered like chaf1, and Donovan him
self was slain. One alone now remained
OF Mahon's murdercrs, Molloy, son of
Bran. Brian sent him summons to
fight, which Molloy answered by taking
the field with swollen armament But
these, too, like the others, we're dispersed
and scattered by Brian's army, and Mol
10y himself was slain in the thick OF the
fight by Murrough, Brians valiant and
high-spiritcd son. Such was the swift fate
that overlook the slayer OF Mahon.
While this blood-fcud was being con
summated Brians dominions were in
vadcd by Malachy Nor, the famous
Malacly OF the Collar Of Gold. The
precise cause OF the quarrel between these
two illustrious princes seems now to be
somewhat uncertain, but it must have
been fierce, indeed, when it moved so
gallant warrior as Malachy to the un-
generous action OF cutting down the
sacred tree of Adair, under which Brian
himself, and the long line of his Dalcas-
sian ancestors had been crowned. As
soon as Brian had his brothers. vendetta
off his hands he turned the strength of
his arm against Malachy, by ravaging
Westmcath For some time the quarrel
between Brian and Malachy ragged with
intermittent fury, victory sometimes in
clning to one prince and sometimes to
another. At last, however, a common
peril and common enemy united those
hostile monarcl,s. The Danes, their de-
ciinatcd ranks stffcncd by reinforccmcnts
from the far North, were again pursuing
their old policy Of aggression against the
native Irish. Brian and Malachy clasped
hands in amity, concluded truce which
proved to be lasting one, joined their
forces, beat back the desperate Danes,
and entered Dublin. With this crushing
defeat of the foreign foe came the hour
OF Brian's triumph. He claimed the
kingship OF ireland, and called upon Ma
lacly Nor to acknowledge him, course
which Malachy, after little faltcring and
some unsuccessful attempts TO stir up GER
tain Irish princes to mutiny, finally
adopted
Brians reign as King of ireland was
brilliant and prosperous. Commerce, arts,
education, all hourishcd, and the wealth
and peace OF the country became proven
bial. But the old hatred of the Danes,
being smoldering, blazcd at last into de-
termined insurrcction. Aided by treason
among the Irish chiefs and princes, a
formidable army was levied against the
aged king. But age had not cooled the
fiery courage OF Brian's nature. He raised
all his power and met his foes at Clon-
tart on Good Friday, the 23d OF April,