Lays of the Western Gael, and Other Poems By Sir Samuel Ferguson |
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O'BYRNE'S BARD TO THE CLANS OF WICKLOW. |
 | Lays of the Western Gael, and Other Poems |  |
140
O'BYRNE'S BARD TO THE CLANS OF WICKLOW.
God be with the Irish host,
Never be their battle lost!
For, in battle, never yet
Have they basely earn'd defeat.
Never be their battle lost!
For, in battle, never yet
Have they basely earn'd defeat.
Host of armour red and bright.
May ye fight a valiant fight
For the green spot of the earth,
For the land that gave you birth.
May ye fight a valiant fight
For the green spot of the earth,
For the land that gave you birth.
Who in Erin's cause would stand,
Brothers of the avenging band,
He must wed immortal quarrel,
Pain and sweat and bloody peril.
Brothers of the avenging band,
He must wed immortal quarrel,
Pain and sweat and bloody peril.
On the mountain bare and steep,
Snatching short but pleasant sleep,
Then, ere sunrise, from his eyrie,
Swooping on the Saxon quarry.
Snatching short but pleasant sleep,
Then, ere sunrise, from his eyrie,
Swooping on the Saxon quarry.
What although you've fail'd to keep
Liffey's plain or Tara's steep,
Cashel's pleasant streams to save,
Or the meads of Croghan Maev;
Liffey's plain or Tara's steep,
Cashel's pleasant streams to save,
Or the meads of Croghan Maev;
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Want of conduct lost the town,
Broke the white-wall'd castle down,
Moira lost, and old Taltin,
And let the conquering stranger in.
Broke the white-wall'd castle down,
Moira lost, and old Taltin,
And let the conquering stranger in.
'Twas the want of right command,
Not the lack of heart or hand,
Left your hills and plains to-day
'Neath the strong Clan Saxon's sway.
Not the lack of heart or hand,
Left your hills and plains to-day
'Neath the strong Clan Saxon's sway.
Ah, had heaven never sent
Discord for our punishment,
Triumphs few o'er Erin's host
Had Clan London now to boast!
Discord for our punishment,
Triumphs few o'er Erin's host
Had Clan London now to boast!
Woe is me, 'tis God's decree
Strangers have the victory:
Irishmen may now be found
Outlaws upon Irish ground.
Strangers have the victory:
Irishmen may now be found
Outlaws upon Irish ground.
Like a wild beast in his den
Lies the chief by hill and glen,
While the strangers, proud and savage,
Criffan's richest valleys ravage.
Lies the chief by hill and glen,
While the strangers, proud and savage,
Criffan's richest valleys ravage.
Woe is me, the foul offence,
Treachery and violence,
Done against my people's rights—
Well may mine be restless nights!
Treachery and violence,
Done against my people's rights—
Well may mine be restless nights!
When old Leinster's sons of fame,
Heads of many a warlike name,
Redden their victorious hilts
On the Gaul, my soul exults.
Heads of many a warlike name,
Redden their victorious hilts
On the Gaul, my soul exults.
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When the grim Gaul, who have come
Hither o'er the ocean foam,
From the fight victorious go,
Then my heart sinks deadly low.
Hither o'er the ocean foam,
From the fight victorious go,
Then my heart sinks deadly low.
Bless the blades our warriors draw,
God be with Clan Ranelagh!
But my soul is weak for fear,
Thinking of their danger here.
God be with Clan Ranelagh!
But my soul is weak for fear,
Thinking of their danger here.
Have them in thy holy keeping,
God be with them lying sleeping,
God be with them standing fighting,
Erin's foes in battle smiting!
God be with them lying sleeping,
God be with them standing fighting,
Erin's foes in battle smiting!
| Lays of the Western Gael, and Other Poems | |