Like St. Columkille, Donatus always cherished a tender regretful love for Ireland; and like him also he wrote a short poem in praise of it which is still preserved. It is in Latin, and the following is a translation, made by a Dublin poet many years ago:-- Far westward lies an isle of ancient fame, By nature bless'd; and Scotia is her name, Enroll'd in books[172-1]: exhaustless is her store, Of veiny silver, and of golden ore.[172-2] Her fruitful soil, for ever teems with wealth, With gems[172-3] her waters, and her air with health; Her verdant fields with milk and honey flow;[172-4] Her woolly fleeces[172-5] vie with virgin snow; Her waving furrows float with bearded corn; And arms and arts her envied sons adorn![172-6] No savage bear, with lawless fury roves, Nor fiercer lion, through her peaceful groves; No poison there infects, no scaly snake Creeps through the grass, nor frog annoys the lake;[172-7] An island worthy of its pious race, In war triumphant, and unmatch'd in peace! [172-1] _I.e._ enrolled in books under the name of Scotia. The natives always called it Erin. [172-2] Ireland had mines of gold in old times; and silver was also found. Great numbers of Irish gold ornaments, found from time to time in the earth, are now preserved in Museums. [172-3] Pearls were then found in many Irish rivers; as they are, sometimes, to this day. [172-4] The Venerable Bede, a great English historian, writing in the eighth century, calls Ireland "a land flowing with milk and honey." [172-5] Ireland was noted for the plenty and goodness of its wool. [172-6] Ireland had great warriors, and many learned men and skilful artists (see pp. 20, 47, and 117). [172-7] There are no venomous reptiles in Ireland. There were then no frogs: but these were afterwards introduced from England. XL. HOW IRELAND WAS INVADED BY DANES AND ANGLO-NORMANS. From the time of the settlement of the Milesians, as described at page 3, Ireland was ruled by native kings, without any disturbance from outside, till the arrival of the invaders we are now about to speak of.