English Literature For Boys and Girls | Page 4

Britain, hardly troubled the Green Isle. So for centuries the Gaels of Ireland told their
tales and handed them on from father to son undisturbed, and in Ireland a great many old
writings have been kept which tell of far-off times. These old Irish manuscripts are

perhaps none of them older than the eleventh century, but the stories are far, far older.
They were, we may believe, passed on by word of mouth for many generations before
they were written down, and they have kept the feeling of those far-off times.
It was from Ireland that the Scots came to Scotland, and when they came they brought
with them many tales. So it comes about that in old Scottish and in old Irish manuscripts
we find the same stories.
Many of the manuscripts which are kept in Ireland have never been translated out of the
old Irish in which they were written, so they are closed books to all but a few scholars,
and we need not talk about them. But of one of the great treasures of old Irish literature
we will talk. This is the Leabhar Na h-Uidhre, or Book of the Dun Cow. It is called so
because the stories in it were first written down by St. Ciaran in a book made from the
skin of a favorite cow of a dun color. That book has long been lost, and this copy of it
was made in the eleventh century.
The name of this old book helps us to remember that long ago there was no paper, and
that books were written on vellum made from calf-skin and upon parchment made from
sheep-skin. It was not until the twelfth century that paper began to be made in some parts
of Europe, and it was not until the fifteenth century that paper books became common in
England.
In the Book of the Dun Cow, and in another old book called the Book of Leinster, there is
written the great Irish legend called the Tain Bo Chuailgne or the Cattle Raid of Cooley.
This is a very old tale of the time soon after the birth of Christ. In the book we are told
how this story had been written down long, long ago in a book called the Great Book
Written on Skins. But a learned man carried away that book to the East. Then, when
many years had passed, people began to forget the story of the Cattle Raid. So the Chief
minstrel called all the other minstrels together to ask if any of them knew the tale. But
none of them could remember more than a few verses of it. Therefore the chief minstrel
asked all his pupils to travel into far countries to search for the rest which was lost.
What followed is told differently in different books, but all agree in this, that a great chief
called Fergus came back from the dead in order to tell the tale, which was again written
down.
The story is one of the beautiful Queen Meav of Connaught. For many years she had
lived happily with her husband and her children. But one day the Queen and her husband
began to argue as to which of them was the richer. As they could not agree, they ordered
all their treasures to be brought before them that they might be compared.
So first all their wooden and metal vessels were brought. But they were both alike.
Then all their jewels, their rings and bracelets, necklets and crowns were brought, but
they, too, were equal.
Then all their robes were brought, crimson and blue, green, yellow, checked and striped,
black and white. They, too, were equal.
Next from the fields and pastures great herds of sheep were brought. They, too, were
equal.
Then from the green plains fleet horses, champing steeds came. Great herds of swine
from forest and glen were brought. They, too, were equal.
Lastly, droves and droves of cattle were brought. In the King's herd there was a young
bull named White-horned. When a calf, he had belonged to Meav's herd, but being very
proud, and thinking it little honor to be under the rule of a woman, he had left Meav's

herd and joined himself to the King's. This bull was very beautiful. His head and horns
and hoofs were white, and all the rest of him was red. He was so great and splendid that
in all the Queen's herd there was none to match him.
Then Meav's sorrow was bitter, and calling a messenger, she asked if he knew where
might be found a young bull to match with White- horned.
The messenger replied that he knew of a much finer bull called Donn Chuailgne, or
Brown Bull of Cooley, which belonged to Dawra,