great confederation of the pirates who had penetrated into the heart of the country, were defeated by Malachi, the monarch of Ireland. This last victory deserves more than ordinary remembrance, from the fact that it gave freedom to some thousands of Irish captives. In 989, Dublin was besieged during twenty days by the monarch of Ireland; and being forced to capitulate, it agreed that every house should annually pay one ounce of gold to the native hero. Probably this convention was ill kept: for in 994, he was again before that city. The success over the common enemy would have been more signal, had not Brian and the titular monarch been frequently at war with each other. But in 997, they united their forces, and marched on Dublin. Three years afterwards, we find the Danes as vassals in the armies of Brian.[298] [Sidenote: 1000 to 1014.] But we must hasten over the obscure battles of the period, and come at once to that which for ever broke the Danish sceptre in Ireland. In 1014, the Danes, having collected reinforcements from all parts of Europe, and concentrated their strength on the plain of Clontorf, fought a battle memorable in the Irish annals. Fortunately for the natives, the same necessity of combination made them for a moment suspend their private feuds, and march to resist the common enemy. Splendid was the victory which awaited Brian; but he fell, being treacherously assassinated in his tent in the hour of success. From this moment may be dated the destruction of the gigantic enemy. Dying struggles it exhibited, and struggles such as became a giant; but the blow was struck; and, however lingering the disease, the end was sure to be fatal.[299] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ APPENDIX ------------------ A. KING OLUF THE SAINT. (_Foreign Quarterly Review, No. XI._) 1. “King Oluf and his brother bold, ’Bout Norroway’s rocks a parley hold. 2. “‘The one of the two who best can sail, Shall rule o’er Norroway’s hill and dale. 3. “‘Who first of us reaches our native ground, O’er all the region shall king be crown’d.’ 4. “Then Harald Haardrode answer made: ‘Ay, let it be done as thou hast said; 5. “‘But if I to-day must sail with thee, Thou shalt change thy vessel, I swear, with me: 6. “‘For thou hast got the Dragon of speed, I shall make with the Ox a poor figure indeed. 7. “The Dragon is swift as the clouds in chace, The Ox, he moveth in lazy pace.’