THE WORLD'S DEBT TO THE IRISH 
that doth love equal and indifferent justice better 
than the Irish, or will rest better satisfied with the 
execution thereof, although it be against themselves, 
so as they may have the protection and benefit of the 
law when upon just cause they do desire it.’ ”’ 
The revision of these ancient Irish laws pre- 
served much of what was old and modified only 
what was absolutely necessary. The conservative 
spirit of the Irish themselves and above all of St. 
Patrick and his immediate successors is very well 
illustrated in the way in which the great Irish sagas 
have come down to us so almost completely un- 
changed. The fact that the ancient Irish laws were 
left similarly undisturbed to a very great extent has 
made them a valuable monument and a wonderful 
document for the study of customs, laws and 
language of the older time among a people who re- 
mained to such a supreme extent unmingled with 
other nations. Dr. W. K. Sullivan in his Introduc- 
tion to Dr. O’Curry’s Lectures on “The Manners 
and Customs of the Ancient Irish” says in this 
regard: 
“Though it were true, therefore, that in ancient 
times Ireland was an isolated corner of the earth, 
whose inhabitants were no better than savages, still 
the study of the ancient language of the people, and 
such historical traditions and legends of them as 
may have survived, would be valuable. But the 
ancient language, laws, and traditions of Ireland are, 
in truth, among the most valuable—nay, indispens- 
able—materials for the solution of the problem 
188