his song he was also, like all Welshmen, serious-minded,
as the specimens given in my translation from his works go to prove.

According to Professor Lewis Jones, no poem in the strict metre is more
read than Eben Farrd's "Dinistur Jerusalem" ("The Destruction of
Jerusalem"), translated into kindred verse in this volume, unless indeed
its popularity is rivalled by Hiraethog's ode on "Heddwch," ("Peace").
Two extracts from the former poem are dealt with, and Hiraethog is
represented by a beautiful fancy, "Love Divine," taken from his
"Emanuel."

Finally, three living poets are represented in the Welsh section--Elvet
Lewis by his stirring and touching "High Tide"; Eifion Wyn, upon whom
the mantle of Ceiriog has fallen, by two exquisitely simple and pathetic
poems, "Ora pro Nobis" and "A Flower-Sunday Lullaby"; and William John
Gruffydd, the bright hope of "Y Beirdd Newydd" ("The New Poets"), by his
poignant ballad of "The Old Bachelor of Ty'n y Mynydd."

There is no need for me to dwell upon the rest of the verse in this
volume beyond stating that "The Prodigal's Return" is a free translation
from a poem on that theme by an anonymous Scotch Gaelic Bard to be found
in Sinton's "The Poetry of Badenoch"; that "Let there be joy!" is
rendered from a Gaelic poem in Alexander Carmichael's "Carmina
Gadelica," and that, finally, "Wild Wine of Nature" is a pretty close
English version of a poem hardly to have been expected from that far
from teetotal Scotch Gaelic Bard, Duncan Ban McIntyre.

ALFRED PERCEVAL GRAVES

RED BRANCH HOUSE
LAURISTON ROAD, WIMBLEDON
July 11, 1917

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote A: From "The Ancient Poetry of Ireland," by Professor Kuno
Meyer, to whose beautiful prose translations from Irish verse in that
volume, and in his "Hail, Brigit!" I am greatly indebted.]

CONTENTS

I. IRISH POEMS

THE ISLE OF THE HAPPY
THE WISDOM OF KING CORMAC
IRISH TRIADS

LAYS OF THE IRISH SAINTS

ST. PATRICK'S BLESSING ON MUNSTER
THE BREASTPLATE OF ST. PATRICK
ST. PATRICK'S EVENSONG
ST. COLUMBA'S GREETING TO IRELAND
ST. COLUMBA IN IONA
HAIL, BRIGIT!
THE DEVIL'S TRIBUTE TO MOLING
THE HYMN OF ST. PHILIP

LAYS OF MONK AND HERMIT

THE SCRIBE
THE HERMIT'S SONG
CRINOG
KING AND HERMIT
ON AENGUS THE CULDEE
THE SHAVING OF MURDOCH
ON THE FLIGHTINESS OF THOUGHT
THE MONK AND HIS WHITE CAT
INVOCATIONS AND REFLECTIONS

A PRAYER TO THE VIRGIN
MAELISU'S HYMN TO THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
MAELISU'S HYM