227.
Cormac commenced his government with acts of severity, which were, perhaps, necessary to consolidate his power.

This being once firmly established, he devoted himself ardently to literary pursuits, and to regulate and civilize his dominions.

He collected the national laws, and formed a code which remained in force until the English invasion, and was observed for many centuries after outside the Pale.

The bards dwell with manifest unction on the "fruit and fatness" of the land in his time, and describe him as the noblest and most bountiful of all princes.
Indeed, we can scarcely omit their account, since it cannot be denied that it pictures the costume of royalty in Ireland at that period, however poetically the details may be given.

This, then, is the bardic photograph:-- "His hair was slightly curled, and of golden colour: a scarlet shield with engraved devices, and golden hooks, and clasps of silver: a wide-folding purple cloak on him, with a gem-set gold brooch over his breast; a gold torque around his neck; a white-collared shirt, embroidered with gold, upon him; a girdle with golden buckles, and studded with precious stones, around him; two golden net-work sandals with golden buckles upon him; two spears with golden sockets, and many red bronze rivets in his hand; while he stood in the full glow of beauty, without defect or blemish.