However, again from _this_ he diverges! And, when called upon to decipher the _hieroglyphics upon a stone-roofed Tuath-de-danaan chapel, of the same character as that at Knockmoy_, and discovered here a few years ago, beneath the Christian piles which the early missionaries had built over it, by way of _supersedence_, he throws himself, in his embarrassment, into the arms of _St. Kevin_! associates _him_ with the whole! and that, too, after he had fatigued himself, _until half choked with spleen_, in bellowing out the _ideality_ and utter _non-existence_ of such a personage! On the front of the cathedral erected out of the fragments of the Tuath-de-danaan dilapidations, you will find _Budha_ embracing the _sacred tree_, known _in our registries_, by the name of _Aithair Faodha_, which signifies literally the _tree_ of _Budha_.[541] The _pomegranate_ of _Astarte_--the medicinal apple of _affection_[542]--presents itself, also, in the foliage! The _mouldings_ upon the arch of the western window refer likewise to _her_. And, to complete the union of Sabian symbolisation, the _serpent_ mingles in the general tale! while the traditional story of the adjoining _lake_ having been infested by the presence of that reptile, has a faithful parallel in one of the lakes of Syria! Will it not be believed, therefore, that the _valley_ at which Dohamsonda had alighted, _after he had traversed many realms far away from his own_, was that of Glendalough? And where, I ask, would he be more likely to obtain the object of his peregrination, viz. initiation into _gospel_ truth, than in that country which, from its pre-eminent effulgence in its beatitudes, was exclusively denominated the _Gospel-land_? This, sir, is no _rhetoric_,--no _declamatory exaggeration_. I will reduce it for you, in its simple elements, to the perspicuity of vision. _Bana-ba_ is one of the names of our _sacred island_, which, like all the rest of our _history_, has been heretofore a _mystery_ to literary inquirers! The light bursts upon you!--does it not already? Need I proceed to separate for you the constituent parts of this word? It is compounded, then, be it known, of _Bana_, which indicates good tidings, or gospel, and _aba_, land--meaning, in the aggregate, the _Gospel-land_! And accordingly the pilgrim, when he set out upon his journey in quest of the _Bana_, very naturally betook himself to _Bana-ba_, or the _land of the Bana_, where alone it was to be found! And you presume to say that _Christianity_ is a thing which only commenced last week? “Great God! I’d rather be A _Pagan_ suckled in a creed outworn; So might I standing on this pleasant lea, Have _glimpses_ that would make me _less forlorn_; Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.” WORDSWORTH. CHAPTER XXXI.