The Irish harp, ed. by M.J. M'Cann

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Michael Joseph M'Cann

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Page 151 - Pent in this fortress of the North, Think'st thou we will not sally forth, To spoil the spoiler as we may, And from the robber rend the prey ? Ay, by my soul! While on yon plain The Saxon rears one shock of grain, While, of ten thousand herds, there strays But one along yon river's maze, — The Gael, of plain and river heir, Shall with strong hand redeem his share.
Page 5 - And no spectacle was more frequent in the ditches of towns, and especially in wasted countries, than to see multitudes of these poor people dead with their mouths all coloured green by eating nettles, docks, and all things they could rend up above ground.
Page 44 - Modern Europe has produced several illustrious women who have sustained with glory the weight of empire ; nor is our own age destitute of such distinguished characters. But if we except the doubtful achievements of Semiramis, Zenobia is perhaps the only female whose superior genius broke through the servile indolence imposed on her sex by the climate and manners of Asia.
Page 6 - For there is no nation of people under the sun that doth love equal and indifferent justice better than the Irish, or will rest better satisfied with the execution thereof, although it be against themselves ; so as they may have the protection and benefit of the law when upon just cause they do desire it.
Page 48 - Kemble was performing, at some country theatre, one of his most favourite parts, he was much interrupted, from time to time, by the squalling of a young child in one of the galleries. At length, angered by this rival performance, Kemble walked with solemn step to the front of the stage, and, addressing the audience in his most tragic tones, said, " Ladies and gentlemen, unless the play is stopped the child cannot possibly go on.
Page 4 - ... were committed on the provincials of Munster (his supposed former adherents) by the English commanders. Great companies of these provincials, men, women, and children, were often forced into castles and other houses, which were then set on fire. And if any of them attempted to escape from the flames, they were shot or stabbed by the soldiers who guarded them. It was a diversion to these monsters of men to take up infants on the...
Page 103 - Besides these murders, there is, in the same collection, evidence, on the report of others, of eight thousand killed by ill usage, and if we should allow that the cruelties of the Irish out of war extended to these numbers, which, considering the nature of several of the Depositions, I think, in my conscience, we cannot, yet to be impartial we must allow that there is no pretence for laying a greater number to their charge.
Page 55 - ... bought his place from his predecessor, and so thought he had a right to all the profits that he could raise out of it, and the whole business of the court seemed to be nothing but extortion and oppression; for it is an old observation, that men who buy justice will also sell it. Bribes went about, almost barefaced, and the exchange they made of penance for money was the worst sort of simony...
Page 106 - Gee), to the number of above 3,000 men, women, and children, ALL INNOCENT PERSONS, in a time when none of the Catholics of that country were in arms or rebellion. Note, that this was the FIRST massacre committed in Ireland on either side.
Page 3 - ... there should none of them fall by the sword nor be slain by the soldier : yet thus being kept from manurance and their cattle from running abroad, by this hard restraint they would quickly consume themselves, and devour one another.

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