At every portal, every gate,

A guard full trusty, sure,

Was placed to keep all strangers out,
And make the queen secure.

Around the palace walls were ranged
Three lines of warriors, brave;

A triple cord of chosen men,

Who swore the queen to save.

Yet, when the hour of midnight came;
The pleasure at its height;
And gallant nobles homage paid

To win their ladies bright.

Within the midst of this gay throng

Appeared the bard again,

And no one heard him, save the king

Sing softly to Edain.

No bard so beautiful as he,'

All glorious his attire ;

While deftly swept he harp of gold,

And glowed his eyes with fire

1 Every bard was handsome. 'They were gifted, learned, and beautiful; even genius was not considered

THE MINSTREL'S SONG

'MOST beauteous lady come with me

To my palace made of gold;

Thy bed shall be drooped with diamonds rare,
And glitter with wealth untold.

'Delicious nectar from dewy flowers
Shall be given thee all thy days;
And crimson red are the lover's lips
That would kiss thee, sweet, always.

'And thou shalt sleep on the gentle down
That comes from the butterfly's wing;
Thy wine-cup shall be the lily fair;
Thy lover the Danann King.

enough without beauty to warrant a young man being enrolled in the ranks of the poets. A noble, stately presence was indispensable; and the poet was required not only to be gifted but handsome. Then, he was promoted through all the grades until he reached the last and highest, called "The Wisdom of the Gods."

'And nightly thou shalt be lulled to sleep
With a soothing, dreamy strain,
And the music floating through the air
Shall come to thy dreams again.

'And delicate scent of balmy flowers
Shall o'er thee shed incense sweet,
Culled from the gardens of all the earth,
To render thy joy complete.

And thou shalt be my fairy queen
Endowed with eternal youth,

For ever and aye thy love I'll be,

If thou wilt be mine in truth.

'Then come with me, come, sweet lady mine,

To my palace made of gold,

With ivory floors of creamy white,

All beautiful to behold.'

Thus with his golden harp sang Midar to Edain ;

In low seductive voice he uttered this soft strain;

Then drew her tenderly from out her royal chair And pressed her to his heart with none to interfere : He led her down the hall amidst the courtly throng His presence none perceived; none heard his sweet love-song:

None save the king, who sat immovable-fast bound

Struck dumb by Midar's spells: as soon as he had

found

His freedom, then he upraised him, in anger fierce
He bade his horsemen follow; uttering a curse
Upon the sorcerer, he scoured the country wide;
'Come back, Edain, Edain!' impetuously he cried ;
The echoes of the hills took up the mournful strain
In seeming mockery replied-Edain-Edain!'

The monarch message sent to all the kings around, And bade them kill and slay, and utterly confound All of the hated Tuatha-de-Danann race,

And leave of all their forts e'en not a single trace; And royal Danann steeds should perish in their stalls;

For 'twas the king's command to build up all the

walls.

The horses were of noble blood

And leaped their barriers high,
Nor bolts, nor bars, nor prison-walls
Could spoil their liberty :1

Of noble form these fiery steeds,
With golden bridles dight,
Their hoofs with silver gaily shod,
Shone in the bright sunlight.

The chiefs of Erin now forgot
T'obey their king's command,
To find where Midar kept Edain,
And spoil the Danann band;

To capture for himself a steed
Each chieftain vainly tried ;

To mortal man these would not yield,
But ran the country wide.

1 It is said that the Tuatha-de-Danann horses were a breed of noble animals found only in ancient Ireland, where they flourished for several centuries: they were distinguished for their beautiful shape, and high mettle. The last of this race at the death of its owner refused to submit to a baseborn churl; threw the groom, killing him on the spot, and galloped away. Finally he plunged into the lake and was

seen no more.'