gentleness, the beauty and heroic ardour or the imaginative splendor
of the episodes in his retelling of the ancient story. There are
writers who bewitch you by a magical use of words whose lines
glitter like jewels, whose effects are gained by an elaborate art
and who deal with the subtlest emotions. Others again are simple
as an Egyptian image, and yet are more impressive, and you remember
them less for the sentence than for a grandiose effect. They are
not so much concerned with the art of words as with the creation
of great images informed with magnificence of spirit. They are
not lesser artists but greater, for there is a greater art in the
simplification of form in the statue of Memnon than there is in
the intricate detail of a bronze by Benvenuto Cellini. Standish
O'Grady had in his best moments that epic wholeness and simplicity,
and the figure of Cuculain amid his companions of the Red Branch
which he discovered and refashioned for us is, I think, the greatest
spiritual gift any Irishman for centuries has given to Ireland.

I know it will be said that this is a scientific age, the world
is so full of necessitous life that it is waste of time for young
Ireland to brood upon tales of legendary heroes, who fought with
enchanters, who harnessed wild fairy horses to magic chariots and
who talked with the ancient gods, and that it would be much better
for youth to be scientific and practical. Do not believe it, dear
Irish boy, dear Irish girl, I know as well as any the economic
needs of our people. They must not be overlooked, but keep still
in your hearts some desires which might enter Paradise. Keep in
your souls some images of magnificence so that hereafter the halls
of heaven and the divine folk may not seem altogether alien to
the spirit. These legends have passed the test of generations
for century after century, and they were treasured and passed on