been collected into a pamphlet
with English renderings by Kuno Meyer (under the title of "Four Old
Irish Songs of Summer and Winter," London, 1903). The same writer points
out that the ancient treatise on Irish prosody published by Thurneysen
contains no less than 340 quotations from poems, very few of which have
been preserved in their entirety. To Meyer we also owe editions of two
charming little texts which sufficiently illustrate the lyrical powers
of the early poets. The one is a poem referred to the 10th century in
the form of a colloquy between Guaire of Aidne and his brother Marban.
Guaire inquires of his brother why he prefers to live in a hut in the
forest, keeping the herds and swine of the king, to dwelling in the
king's palace. The question calls forth so wonderful a description of
the delights of nature as viewed from a shieling that Guaire exclaims,
"I would give my glorious kingship to be in thy company, Marban" (_King
and Hermit_, ed. with trans. by K. Meyer, London, 1901). Another text
full of passionate emotion and tender regret ascribed to the 9th century
tells of the parting of a young poet and poetess, who after plighting
their troth are separated for ever (_Liadain and Curithir_, ed. with
trans. by K. Meyer, London, 1902). In the _Old Woman of Beare_ (publ. K.
Meyer in _Otia Merseiana_) an old hetaira laments her departed youth,
comparing her life to the ebbing of the tide (10th century).

Professional literature.

We must now step aside from pure literature and turn our attention to
the various productions of the professional learned classes of Ireland
during the middle ages. The range of subjects coming under this heading
is a very wide one, comprising history, genealogies, hagiology,
topography, grammar, lexicography and metre, law and medicine. It will
perhaps be as well first of all to deal with the learned _filid_ whose
works have been preserved. Irish tradition preserves the names of a
number of antiquarian poets of prehistoric or early medieval times, such
as Amergin, one of the Milesian band of invaders; Moran Roigne, son of
Ugaine Mor, Adna and his successor Ferceirtne, Torna (c. 400), tutor to
Niall Noigiallach, Dallan Forgaill, Senchan Torpeist, and Cennfaelad (d.
678), but the poems attributed to these writers are of much later date.
We can only enumerate the chief of those whose works have been
preserved. To Maelmura (d. 887) is attributed a poem on the Milesian
migrations. Abou