Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/127

BRIEN BOIRUMHE. 116 however, of Malachie were useless; the Princes of Leath Cuin were either too much attached to Brien, or dreaded his power, and refused to answer the summons of Mala- chie. On the day appointed, he appeared before Brien, and surrendered to him the insignia of royalty; but Brien with generous humanity, allowed him twelve months longer to take measures to preserve them. So liberal a behaviour exeited no corresponding senti- ments in the breast of Malachie; it rather increased his envy of that virtue which he could not emulate. After employing in vain every art to form a party against Brien, he had the meanness to offer to surrender his crown to O'Niall, on condition that he should defend it against the pretender. His offer was rejected, and he was again compelled to pass through the same humiliating ceremony of surrendering his crown into the hands of his enemy; and, having given hostages for his peaceable behaviour, he retired to the private situation, for which alone he was adapted. The reign of Brien, which commenced in the year 1001, presents a bright assemblage of every virtue which can endear the, heart, and every talent which can adorn the reason. In war, victory pursued his path; in peace the arts embellished his repose. Property respected oppression punished, religion venerated, invasion crushed literature encouraged, and law maintained, were the sacred characteristics of an age which the historian records witlh delight, and the monarch may study with improvement. A fresh irruption of the Danes called the venerable hero again into action, and the sanguinary achievement of Clontarf closed, at the age of eighty-eight, the glorious career of a sovereign, whose "hand was bent on war, but whose heart was for the peace of Erin." O'Halloran gives the following curious description of the battle of Clontarf:- " At the head of 30,000 men highly appointed, Brien marched into Leinster, about the beginning of April 1014,