From the preceding statement we may see how universal was the love of music in former days among the people of Ireland. Though Irish airs, compared with the musical pieces composed in our time, are generally short and simple, they are constructed with such skill, that in regard to most of them it may be truly said that no composer of the present day can produce airs of a similar kind to equal them. There are half a dozen original collections of Irish music, containing in all between 1000 and 2000 airs: other collections are mostly copied from these. But numerous airs are still sung and played among the people all through Ireland, which have never been written down; and many have been written down which have never been printed. Thomas Moore composed his beautiful songs to old Irish airs; and his whole collection of songs and airs--well known as "Moore's Melodies"--is now published in one small cheap volume. Of the entire body of Irish airs that are preserved, we know the authors of not more than about one tenth; and these were composed within the last 200 years. Most of the remaining nine tenths have come down from old times. No one now can tell who composed "The Coolin," "Savourneen Dheelish," "Shule Aroon," "Molly Asthore," "Garryowen," "The Boyne Water," "Patrick's Day," "Langolee," "The Blackbird," or "The Girl I left behind me"; and so of many other well-known and lovely airs. The national music of Ireland and that of Scotland are very like each other, and many airs are common to both countries: but this is only what might be expected, as we know that the Irish and the Highland Scotch were originally one people. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. I.--Page 1. Ancient, very old, belonging to old times. Fabulous, not true. Magician, one skilled in magic or witchcraft; an enchanter. Spell, a charm, something done by enchantment. Wizard, an enchanter, a magician. Consult, to advise with. Druid. The druids were the learned men among the pagan Irish: they were believed to be wizards, or magicians. Seer, one who can foresee events, a prophet. Destiny, lot, what is to come to pass. Wistfully, thoughtfully, attentively, longingly. Cairn, a great pile of stones heaped up in memory of some person or some event. A cairn was very often raised over the grave of some important person. See page 97. Missionary, one sent to preach religion. Hostage, a person given as a pledge, or security, for carrying out some agreement. Possessing mighty power over people, able to persuade them by his earnestness and his powerful language. II.--Page 7. Gallantly, boldly, bravely. Destined home: the druid had foretold that Inisfail, or the Isle of Destiny, was to be their final home. Emerald, a precious stone of a green colour. Ireland, from its greenness, is often called the Emerald Isle. Day god, the sun. Some of the pagan Irish worshipped the sun. Omen, a sign of what is to come.