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Ancient legends, mystic charms, and superstitions of Ireland
Ancient legends mystic charms and superstitions of Ireland Author:Lady Wilde, W R. 1815-1876 Wilde Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: SEANCHAN THE BARD AND THE KING OF THE There is an amusing legend preserved in Ossianic tradition of the encounter between Seanchan, the celebrated chief poet ... more »of Ireland, and the King of all the Cats, who dwelt in a cave near Clonmacnoise. In ancient Ireland the men of learning were esteemed beyond all other classes ; all the great ollaves and professors and poets held the very highest social position, and took precedence of the nobles, and ranked next to royalty. The leading men amongst them lived luxuriously in the great Bardic House; and when they went abroad through the country they travelled with a train of minor bards, fifty or more, and were entertained free of cost by the kings and chiefs, who considered themselves highly honoured by the presence of so distinguished a company at their court. If the reception was splendid and costly, the praise of the entertainer was chanted by all the poets at the feast; but if any slight were offered, then the Ard-File poured forth his stinging satire in such bitter odes, that many declared theywould sooner die that incur the anger of the poets or be made the subject of their scathing satire. All the learned men and professors, the ollaves of music, poetry, oratory, and of the arts and sciences generally, formed a great Bardic Association, who elected their own president, with the title of Chief Poet of all Ireland, and they also elected chief poets for each of the provinces. Learned women, likewise, and poetesses, were included in the Bardic Association, with distinct and recognized privileges, both as to revenue and costly apparel. Legal enactments even were made respecting the number of colours allowed to be worn in their mantles—the poet being allowed six colours, and the poetess five in her robe and mantle; the number of colo...« less