ࡱ> 9;8%` bjbjNN .*,, , , , , , , , , , moooooo$h "J , , , , III *, , mI mIII, 0Px "Im0IV"=V"IIV"] , rI> \ W, , , ? , , ,  D The Book of Irish Writers, Chapter 5 Sweeneys Frenzy The conflict between Christianity and Paganism in Ireland provides the basis for some of the greatest Irish stories Sweeneys Frenzy is one. The development of Christianity in Ireland began in the fifth century. The new religion, with its Roman alphabet, meant that pre-Christian stories could now be passed on in writing, and not just orally. But the Christian and pre-Christian worlds were often at odds - and the story of King Sweeney illustrates this perfectly. Sweeneys story is contained in the Cycles of the Kings. Unlike the other story cycles, in which the network of tales forms a whole - however fragmented - the Cycles of the Kings collects stories which cant find a home elsewhere. Even so, these stories bring us nearer to an actual historical Ireland in that some of them contain references to events - and sometimes even people - that we can verify. For example, the Battle of Moira, in 637 AD, plays a part in Sweeneys story. But just in case we think the Cycles of the Kings is entirely historically accurate, it should be noted that another tale the Adventures of Fergus features a leprechaun Sweeney is a king in an area which would now straddle the border of Counties Down and Antrim. Sweeney and his wife Erann argue about the presence in their kingdom of St Rnan - who is trying to convert the people to Christianity. Angered by the sound of Rnans bell, Sweeney rushes out naked and throws Rnans psalter into the lake; hes about to do the same to Rnan, when he has to leave for the Battle of Moira. Rnan gives thanks that he has been spared, but curses Sweeney to a lifetime of naked wandering. An otter returns the psalter, unharmed, to Rnan and he in turn also leaves for the battlefield at Moira. There he blesses the armies - which further enrages Sweeney who tries to kill him with a spear. The spear breaks on the saints bell and its shaft flies into the air. A second curse from Rnan condemns Sweeney also to fly through the air - just as his spear shaft has done. As a supplementary curse, Rnan, who does not come out of the story well, also condemns Sweeney to death at spear point. This action is the preface to what becomes the real point of the story. Sweeney tries to get on with the battle but as a result of Rnans curses feeling increasingly confused and trembling like a bird, he rushes off so fast that his feet hardly touch the ground. At the end of this headlong flight he perches in a yew tree where he is found by a kinsman who tries to help him but the startled Sweeney flees to Donegal. The remainder of the tale is an account of Sweenys travels across Ireland - which he tells in long verse lamentations, often involving the names of the places he travels through and occasionally stops in. At one point, he seeks refuge among the lunatics in Glen Bolcin; at another he stops at Snmh D n (Swim Two Birds) where he praises the beauties of nature and appears to make some sort of peace with God. Throughout his journey, his faithful friend Loingsechn tries to protect him, but in his confusion Sweeney is tormented by isolation, yet rebuffs company. At one point Loingsechn has to disguise himself as a mill-hag - who had previously given Sweeney food - so that he can even approach him. Eventually, the two return to Sweeneys kingdom, with his wits restored - but not for long. The mill-hag who had once helped Sweeney, returns and tempts him into a leaping competition. Although she falls to her death during this, Sweeney is once again astray. After more wandering and torments, Sweeney regains enough composure to think about returning home again, but his old enemy St. Rnan hears of this possibility and his prayers bring down further torments on Sweeney. Eventually Sweeny arrives at St Molings monastery (in what is now Carlow) where the saint himself takes pity on him, listens to and writes down his tale, and arranges for him to he fed each evening. Others are not so charitable - the cook feeds Sweeney by placing milk in a cowpat for him to drink, and her husband runs him through with a spear (as per St Rnans curse). Sweeney confesses to Moling and is given the last rites; finally freed from Rnans curse, he dies. Flann OBrien in his book of 1939, At Swim-Two-Birds, and Seamus Heaney, in his translation Sweeney Astray and in a set of poems based on it, have both used Sweeney as an image of the writer in Ireland: ignored, half-starved and driven mad by isolation. #%67 : ; v } % > T Ծq^JJJJ'hhPh` 6@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhe<@CJOJQJ^JaJ'hhPhE6@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhE@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhF@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPh` @CJOJQJ^JaJ*hhPh` 5>*@CJOJQJ^JaJ*hhPhhP5>*@CJOJQJ^JaJ*hhPhr5>*@CJOJQJ^JaJ%67   GJK ddhgdrdhgdr & / q r >Dw} (F&=6IKc~%ڳڳڠڳڳڍzڳzzzzڳzzzڳ$hhPho@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPh& @CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhL:@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhE@CJOJQJ^JaJ'hhPh` 6@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPh` @CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhr@CJOJQJ^JaJ-=t "%0KZ\syŲŲŲŲŲŲŞŋŲxŲزŲee$hhPhb@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhL:@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhE@CJOJQJ^JaJ'hhPh` 6@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPh` @CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPho@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPh& @CJOJQJ^JaJ'hhPho6@CJOJQJ^JaJ'#$;LT =>JKf*+9;YZchmuڳڠybyy-hhPh` @B*CJOJQJ^JaJph$hhPhe<@CJOJQJ^JaJ'hhPhb6@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhL:@CJOJQJ^JaJ'hhPh` 6@CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPh& @CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPh` @CJOJQJ^JaJ$hhPhb@CJOJQJ^JaJ!fgdhgdr'hrh` 5@CJOJQJ^JaJ,1h. 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