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INTRODUCTION.

REMAINS OF ANCIENT IRISH LITERATURE.-IMPORTANCE
OF OUR OLD DOCUMENTS.—EARLY FILEAS.-IRISH
MUSIC.-PRINCIPAL BARDS FROM THE ERA OF CHRIS-
TIANITY TO THE CONVERSION OF THE IRISH, AND
THENCE TO THE LAST CENTURY.-THEIR EDUCATION,
CHARACTER, AND PRODUCTIONS.-IRISH LANGUAGE.-

WELL ADAPTED FOR LYRICAL COMPOSITION.—METRE
AND VERSIFICATION.TITLE OF THE PRESENT WORK.
-ITS ORIGIN AND PROGRESS.-CONCLUSION.

AFTER ages of neglect and decay, the ancient literature of Ireland seems destined to emerge from obscurity. Those memorials which have hitherto lain so long unexplored, now appear to awaken the attention of the learned and the curiosity of the public; and thus, the literary remains of a people once so distinguished in the annals of learning, may be rescued from the oblivion to which they have been so undeservedly consigned. That the ancient Irish possessed ample stores in their native language, capable of captivating the fancy, enlarging

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