The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-01-05
The First Lying English Historian Of the Country Writes
Eulogistically of the Inhabitants.
Shakespeare Spense Pope Dryden and Johnson Have
Kindly Words for the Emerald Isle.
Have Byron Shelley Scott Thackeray Dickens but
the snarlng and Carpng Carlyle.

1t is striking fact, and not with
out considerable significance, that
nearly all the notable English writers
who have ever had the smallest ac-
quaintance with Ireland and her peo-
pie have been won over to a cordial
recognition of Irish charm. So far as
know, all, with the possible exception
of Carlyle (who, however. liked Irish
men in his peculiar way. We're smit-
ten with the country, and it's people.
Even that professional libeller of Ire
land, Giraldus Cambrensis, spoke in
the warmest terms of Irish bravery
and Irish skill in music. OF the peo-
pie generally he says: Mature alone
has moulded the Irish; and, as if to
show what she can do, has given them
countenances Of most exquisite color,
and bodies of great beauty, symmetry,
height, and strength" His apprecia-
tion of Irish musical ability was so
high that he wrote almost rapturously
upon it, and attributes the introduc-
ti0n of music into Wales (his own
country to Irish harpers. 1t should
be remembered that in the twelfth
century, when he wrote, the vulgar
opinion was that the Irish were hide
Gus and brutal savages.
Lord Bacon, likewise, extols the skill
Of the Irish in music, referring par
ticularly to the Irish harpers, and he
praises the natives-"valiant, hard, and
active"-almost as heartily as Giraldus
Cambrensis. But in one of the great
est writers of the Elizabethan era
namely, Edmund Spenser-we get a
much more enthusiastic view of Irish
valor. His high opinion Of Irish po-
etry and Irish music is too we'll known
to need quotation, but here is Il pas
sage from his "View of the Present
State of Ireland" $500. which is too
little known: II have heard some
great warriors say that in all the SER
vices which they had seen abroad in
foreign countries they never saw a
more comely man than the Irishman,
= nor that cometh on more bravely in
mis- charge. Sure they are very
valiant and hardy. for the most part
great endurers of cold, labors, hunger,
and all hardness, very active and
strong of hand, very swift of foot, very
vigiIant and circumspect in their en-
terprises, very present in perils, very
great scorners Of death. j. The
Irish are come of as mighty race as
the world ever brought forth" Spen-
ser's unbounded admiration of Irish
scenery was the chief inspiration of
his great poem, "The Faery Queen"
in which he celebrates the scenic glory
Of the South. His lovely descriptions
of the river scenery-especially of the
Baclawater, the Funchen, and the Lee
have never been surpassed. Nor was
Ireland's ancient reputation for learn
ing and piety unknown to him. He
specially refers to it in his poems; and
"Spenser and Ireland" would make an
exceedingly interesting article of ITSELF
That Shakespeare held very high
opinion of some Irish qualities is evil
dentin several of his plays. His Cap
tain MacMorris is, above all things
courageous and honorable. But his
knowledge of Ireland and it's people
was not Of the intimate personal ma
ture Of Spenser.
In the next great period Of English
literature Pope and Dryden were most
friendly, but as they were Catholics,
their praise Of things Irish may have
been slightly tinctured by that fact.
Pope in particular had what was ex-
tremely rare in those days, a good
opinion of Ireland's literary capacity.
and his allusion to Ireland as 'the
mother of sweet singers" is often
quoted. But in many respects the most
famous figure of the eighteenth CEN
fury was DR.. Johncon, whose views Of
Ireland and Irishmen are as interest
ing as those Of any Englishman. His
friends were largely Irish, and he rare
ly lost an opportunity of praising
them. Burke. Goldsmith, Arthur Muir
ply, r. B. Sheridan, Malone, Macklin,
and many others were. among them.
He was greatly interested in the rise
of the Irish language, and though he
was greatly mistaken in some Of his
views upon it, he declares in letter
to William Drummond d76O: Il am
glad the old language is taught" Gn
the Highlands). An Irish friend Of
his, DR.. Maxwell, said: "He Gohnson)
had great compassion for the miseries
and distresses Of the Irish nation, par
ticularly the Papists, and severely
reprobated the barbarous debiNtatics
policy of the British government.