Early Irish Lyrics

Book excerpt: 'Irish poetry is unique in the Middle Ages in freshness of spirit and perfection of form.' So writes Gerard Murphy in the introduction to this classic anthology. The first of the anthology's two sections contains thirty-three poems of monastic inspiration, including well-known works such as the poem of the Scholar and his cat Pangur ban; the second section is devoted to secular works, and features twenty-five poems containing lyrics mainly spoken by characters in the prose sagas. Reprint (3rd Printing)