clared that as the sheep
had only eaten the fleece of the land, they should only forfeit their
own fleece. The _vox populi_ applauded the decision. Mac Con started
from his seat, and exclaimed: "That is the judgment of a king." At the
same moment he recognized the prince, and commanded that he should be
seized; but he had already escaped. The people now recognized their
rightful king, and revolted against the usurper, who was driven into
Munster. Cormac assumed the reins of government at Tara, and thus
entered upon his brilliant and important career, A.D. 227.

Cormac commenced his government with acts of severity, which were,
perhaps, necessary to consolidate his power. This being once firmly
established, he devoted himself ardently to literary pursuits, and to
regulate and civilize his dominions. He collected the national laws, and
formed a code which remained in force until the English invasion, and
was observed for many centuries after outside the Pale. The bards dwell
with manifest unction on the "fruit and fatness" of the land in his
time, and describe him as the noblest and most bountiful of all princes.
Indeed, we can scarcely omit their account, since it cannot be denied
that it pictures the costume of royalty in Ireland at that period,
however poetically the details may be given. This, then, is the bardic
photograph:--

"His hair was slightly curled, and of golden colour: a scarlet shield
with engraved devices, and golden hooks, and clasps of silver: a
wide-folding purple cloak on him, with a gem-set gold brooch over his
breast; a gold torque around his neck; a white-collared shirt,
embroidered with gold, upon him; a girdle with golden buckles, and
studded with precious stones, around him; two golden net-work sandals
with golden buckles upon him; two spears with golden sockets, and many
red bronze rivets in his hand; while he stood in the full glow of
beauty, without defect or blemish. You would think it was a shower of
pearls that were set in his mouth; his lips were rubies; his symmetrical
body was as white as snow; his cheek was like the mountain ash-berry;
his eyes were like the sloe; his brows and eye-lashes were like the
sheen of a blue-black lance."[104]

The compilation of the Saltair of Tara, as we mentioned previously, is
attributed to this monarch. Even in Christian times his praises are
loudly proclaimed. The poet Maelmura, who lived in the eighth century,
styles him Ceolach, or the Musical, and