[80] _Verse_.--See Niebuhr, _Hist_. vol i. pp. 254-261. Arnold has adopted his theory, and Macaulay _has acted on it_. But the Roman poems were merely recited at public entertainments, and were by no means a national arrangement for the preservation of history, such as existed anciently in Ireland. These verses were sung by boys _more patrum_ (Od. iv. 15), for the entertainment of guests. Ennius, who composed his _Annales_ in hexameter verse, introducing, for the first time, the Greek metre into Roman literature, mentions the verses which the _Fauns_, or religious poets, used to chant. Scaliger thinks that the _Fauns_ were a class of men who exercised in Latium, at a very remote period, the same functions as the Magians in Persia and _the Bards in Gaul_. Niebuhr supposes that the entire history of the Roman, kings was formed from poems into a prose narrative. CHAPTER VI. Tighearnmas--His Death--Introduces Colours as a Distinction of Rank--Silver Shields and Chariots first used--Reign of Ugainé Môr--The Treachery of Cobhthach--Romantic Tales--Queen Mab--Dispute which led to the celebrated Cattle Spoil--The Story of the Táin bó Chuailgné--The Romans feared to invade Ireland--Tacitus--Revolt of the Attacotti--Reign of Tuathal--Origin of the Boromean Tribute. [B.C. 1700.] Our annals afford but brief details from the time of Eremon to that of _Ugainé Môr_. One hundred and eighteen sovereigns are enumerated from the Milesian conquest of Ireland (according to the Four Masters, B.C. 1700) to the time of St. Patrick, A.D. 432. The principal events recorded are international deeds of arms, the clearing of woods, the enactment of laws, and the erection of palaces. Tighearnmas, one of these monarchs, is said to have introduced the worship of idols into Ireland. From this it would appear, that the more refined Magian, or Sun-worship, had prevailed previously. He died, with "three-fourths" of the men of Ireland about him, on the night of Samhain,[81] while worshipping the idol called Crom Cruach, at Magh Slacht, in Breifné.[82] Tighearnmas reigned seventy-five years. He is said to have been the first who attempted the smelting of gold in Ireland; and the use of different colours,[83] as an indication of rank, is also attributed to him.