AN IRISH HOMER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 45, 2 December 1871, Page 5

AN IRISH HOMER.

About thirty-five year? ago a tall blind man used t© stand at the corner of Essex Bridge, Dublin, singing and reciting ballads which, if not very remarkable for wit, were more or less attractive to his audience on account of their singularity. One of his most striking and effective readings was that of a romantic version of the story of Moses in the bulrushes. This he always prefaced by inquiring, " Is there a crowd about me now ? Is there any blackguard heretic listening to me?" Having been satisfied on these points, Zozimus is reported to have delivered a series of stanzas, of which the following may serve as a specimen ; In Egypt's land, upon the banks of Nile, King Pharoah's daughter went to bath in style; She tuk her dip, then -walked unto the land, And to dry her royal pelt, she ran along the strand. A bulrush tripped her, -whereupon she saw A smiling baby in a wad o' straw; She tuk it up, and Baid with accents mild, " Tare-an-ages, girls, which av yes Oivns the child ?" The poet, living in the O'Connell era, was a great admirer of the agitator, and celebrated O'Connell's election to the mayorality with much enthusiasm. Zozimus died on Friday, April 3, 1846. A priest who went to visit him found the bard in a miserable room, lying on a straw pallet and surrounded by a j horde of ballad-singers, to whom it seems he was teaching the doggrel that was no longer of much use to him. " How are you, Mike ! " said the priest. "I'm dictatin'," was the characteristic reply of the minstrel. He had a grand wake, and a funeral which no doubt Zozimus would have enjoyed but for the inactive part he was compelled to take in it.—" Pall Mall Gazette."