In the Celtic Past

Dedication

STORIES BY ANNA MacMANUS (ETHNA CARBERY),
. . . AUTHOR OF " THE FOUR WINDS OF EIRINN," AND " THE PASSIONATE HEARTS."

Dublin: 1904

In her high, bright noontide
The shadows fell upon ETHNA CARBERY
. . . At Easter, 1902 . . .

TO YOU IN HEAVEN-

When your head once lay on my breast,
And your hand was closed in my hand,
You drew back the veil from your soul
And asked could I understand.

The letters that flamed in gold flame
On its virgin whiteness I scanned-
"I love you, I love you, O Love"-
And I whispered, I understand.

I thought I did. Foolish we be!
I, in Sorrow's intense solitude
Where the dread hours drag into ages,
Fared far ere I understood.

Yesternight I lifted wet eyes
To the stars, that were as the sands,
And cried, O, my God! it is now,
Only now, that my soul understands.

SEUMAS.

CONTENTS:-

The Sorrowing of Conal Cearnach
The Travelling Scholars
Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne
The Death of Diarmuid O'Dubhine
The Shearing of the Fairy Fleeces
The King of Ireland's Death-Place
How Oisin Convinced Patrick the Cleric
Last Battle of Iliach of the Clanna Rury
The Red Whistler