I FOUND in Innisfail the fair, | |
| In Ireland, while in exile there, | |
| Women of worth, both grave and gay men, | |
| Many clerics and many laymen. | |
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| I travelled its fruitful provinces round, | 5 |
| And in every one of the five I found, | |
| Alike in church and in palace hall, | |
| Abundant apparel, and food for all. | |
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| Gold and silver I found, and money, | |
| Plenty of wheat and plenty of honey; | 10 |
| I found God’s people rich in pity, | |
| Found many a feast and many a city. | |
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| I also found in Armagh, the splendid, | |
| Meekness, wisdom, and prudence blended, | |
| Fasting, as Christ hath recommended, | 15 |
| And noble councillors untranscended. | |
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| I found in each great church, moreo’er, | |
| Whether on island or on shore, | |
| Piety, learning, fond affection, | |
| Holy welcome and kind protection. | 20 |
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| I found the good lay monks and brothers | |
| Ever beseeching help for others, | |
| And in their keeping the holy word | |
| Pure as it came from Jesus the Lord. | |
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| I found in Munster, unfettered of any, | 25 |
| Kings, and queens, and poets a many,— | |
| Poets well skilled in music and measure, | |
| Prosperous doings, mirth and pleasure. | |
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| I found in Connaught the just, redundance | |
| Of riches, milk in lavish abundance; | 30 |
| Hospitality, vigor, fame, | |
| In Cruachan’s land of heroic name. | |
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| I found in the country of Connall the glorious, | |
| Bravest heroes, ever victorious; | |
| Fair-complexioned men and warlike, | 35 |
| Ireland’s lights, the high, the starlike! | |
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| I found in Ulster, from hill to glen, | |
| Hardy warriors, resolute men; | |
| Beauty that bloomed when youth was gone, | |
| And strength transmitted from sire to son. | 40 |
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| I found in the noble district of Boyle (MS. here illegible.) | |
| Brehon’s, Erenachs, weapons bright, | |
| And horsemen bold and sudden in fight. | |
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| I found in Leinster the smooth and sleek, | |
| From Dublin to Slewmargy’s peak, | 45 |
| Flourishing pastures, valor, health, | |
| Long-living worthies, commerce, wealth. | |
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| I found, besides, from Ara to Glea, | |
| In the broad rich country of Ossorie, | |
| Sweet fruits, good laws for all and each, | 50 |
| Great chess-players, men of truthful speech. | |
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| I found in Meath’s fair principality, | |
| Virtue, vigor, and hospitality, | |
| Candor, joyfulness, bravery, purity, | |
| Ireland’s bulwark and security. | 55 |
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| I found strict morals in age and youth, | |
| I found historians recording truth; | |
| The things I sing of in verse unsmooth, | |
| I found them all,—I have written sooth. | |
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