the patrons of poetry and bardism. Why Cairbre should here be called smooth is not very clear, unless it be in reference to his manners and speech, supposing them to have been such as those of Gwydion would lead one to expect.[1] The obscurity of the allusions is a matter of no great importance; and what one has rather to notice is, that the names of Morann and Cairbre go together in the oath, just as those of Llew and Gwydion are inseparable in Welsh literature. Nay, one may go further and point, as will be done later, to distinct traces of the two corresponding divinities in the ancient inscriptions of Gaul and the Celtic portion of the Iberian peninsula.
Gwydion and Aitherne.
The next group of tales to be mentioned gives us, for comparison with Gwydion and others, a remarkable Ultonian poet called Aitherne, who belonged to Conchobar mac Nessa's court at a time when the Ultonians are represented enjoying such prosperity and power that they were occasionally much puzzled how to find an excuse for invading and plundering their neighbours; but, when no other means of fomenting a respectable quarrel could be found, the poets and bards might be safely entrusted to do the work; for "it was customary," to quote Prof. O'Curry's words,[2] "for distinguished poets and bards (who were also the philosophers, lawyers,
- ↑ The local reference is still more obscure, since, besides the Isle of Man and a district of Man in Scotland, which is partly represented by Clackmannan, there was a Dún Manann, or Fort of Man, somewhere in the territory of Fermoy in the county of Cork: see O'Donovan, Topographical Poems, pp. 102-3, notes 544-6; and the Bk. of Rights, p. 82, note.
- ↑ Lectures on the MS. Materials of Ancient Irish History, p. 265.
