To whomever this writing of mine may give a moment's thought, a moment's dreaming, I would ask a privilege, to call out of the romantic sunset the memories of Irish writers whom it is deep in my heart to praise, not masters of verse, but those whom in English we call novelists, being too exact in matters of language to name them poets: the Four Masters of Donegal who dedicated their tradition _do chum gloire De agus onora na h Eireann_,--to the glory of God and the honor of Ireland,--so high their motive was. And Thomas Moore, not as author of Irish ballads or of "Lalla Rookh," but as writer of "The Epicurean." And Lever and Lover. And William Carleton from the County of Tyrone. And gentle Gerald Griffin, dead at his desk. And Michael and John Banim, with their "O'Hara Tales." And Sheridan Le Fanu, and Fitz-James O'Brien, who fell fighting for America. And Charles Kickham, who wrote "Knocknagow." And I was all but forgetting Oliver Goldsmith, Dr. Johnson's friend. Old fathers, old masters, I will never believe but that you wrote because it sprang from you as the lark sings in the high air. No little sum of money, no great man's patronage, no doffed caps of the populace, could have moved you to strike out or write in one line. Old fathers, let me say aloud your names; it will give me bravery. And, sirs, take this book kindly to you. It is written caring nothing for money, nothing for light acclaim. Its faults are because I cannot write better yet.... DONN BYRNE CONTENTS PART PAGE I DANCING TOWN 3 II THE WAKE AT ARDEE 57 III THE MOUTH OF HONEY 109 IV THE WRESTLER FROM ALEPPO 169 V THE VALLEY OF THE BLACK PIG 229 VI THE BOLD FENIAN MEN 287 VII THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY 353 PART ONE DANCING TOWN Section 1