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Stephen Dunford: The Journey of The IrIsh
confidence, vanity, and uncivilised craft of Shane; his composed and polite manners, when treating with the English commissioners, were noticed in contradistinction to the violent and excited expressions of his chiefs. He never committed himself by any hasty or ill-considered step, yet he was able, when the occasion required it — as in his attempt to relieve Kinsale — to put his whole fortune at hazard. He was led astray by neither patriotism nor enthusiasm, as his conduct proved repeatedly; he perfectly knew the measure of his power; and — patient, cool, and conciliatory — was admi- rably adapted to play a losing game; and when he had lost his stake, he exhibited the very un-Irish quality of appreciating existing facts, and having failed in his attempt to make himself not merely The O’Neill, but the ruler of Ireland, acquiesced in his position, and was willing to make the best of circumstances, by sinking back into the position of an English nobleman. He was not a great (but almost a great) man; a most able adventurer, whose reputation has been dwarfed by the small theatre in which he played his part; yet, after every allowance, he was undoubtedly the ablest man whom the Celtic race, since the arrival of the English, has produced.”
The Flight of the Earls
(translated from the Irish by George Sigerson) Lo, our land this night is lone!
Hear ye not sad Erin’s moan?
Maidens weep, true men sorrow,
Lone the Brave Race night and morrow.
Lone this night is Fola’s plain- Though the foemen swarm amain- Far from Erin, generous-hearted, Far her Flower of Sons is parted.
She has none who now can aid her, All have gone before the invader; Banba’s bonds and cruel cross Steal the very soul from us.