The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere

Nobles of Ireland! they your work arraign
That won your victory! Lightning-like the thrill
Of Liberty speeds on! O land, be still!
Your patriots toiled, your vales rejoice in vain.
‘Our Nation wears no more the servile stain!
Our People turns no more the Conqueror's mill!’

369

Nation and People have ye none! Your Will
Tyrannic knits anew the severed chain!
Nobles of Ireland that would fain be free
Set free your Irish Helots! From that hour
Nation and People equalled shall ye stand
With England, side to side, or brand to brand!
Boast not till then a Freedom void of Power:
A laughing Devil mocks such Liberty!

The refusal of Parliamentary Reform, and of Catholic Emancipation, rendered the Irish Constitution of 1782 a nullity.

University of Virginia Library

I. THE IRISH CONSTITUTION OF 1782.