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 | The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere |  |
186
VI. OISEEN'S MISGIVINGS.
When now Oiseen lay sick, and none
Heard in the court, his tread,
To Patrick thus he spake, while blew
The spring breeze on his bed:
Heard in the court, his tread,
To Patrick thus he spake, while blew
The spring breeze on his bed:
‘Patrick! if this be true, that He,
Thy Great One died for man,
Right just it were such chief should rule
All mankind for his clan.
Thy Great One died for man,
Right just it were such chief should rule
All mankind for his clan.
‘If this be true that He who died
For Oscar died, and Fionn,
Then gladly would I die for Him,
Or kéile of his, live on.
For Oscar died, and Fionn,
Then gladly would I die for Him,
Or kéile of his, live on.
‘Patrick, to me this day there came
A thought unthought before,
That Oscar's self perchance with years
Had grown—like me—heartsore.
A thought unthought before,
That Oscar's self perchance with years
Had grown—like me—heartsore.
‘Patrick, if He thou serv'st should keep
My dead son glad and strong
Though reft from me, I pledge to Him
In heaven my sword and song!
My dead son glad and strong
Though reft from me, I pledge to Him
In heaven my sword and song!
187
‘For I have seen the sweet face fade,
The stately frame grow weak:
And I have felt the tear-drop freeze
Upon an unkissed cheek.
The stately frame grow weak:
And I have felt the tear-drop freeze
Upon an unkissed cheek.
‘Patrick, there are who shake in age
Aghast at sins of youth;—
If Faith of thine retrieves the past,
That Faith must needs be Truth.
Aghast at sins of youth;—
If Faith of thine retrieves the past,
That Faith must needs be Truth.
‘For thrice I saw a foul deed done
By youthful chiefs in war;
And once I heard a traitor lie,
Albeit his head was hoar.
By youthful chiefs in war;
And once I heard a traitor lie,
Albeit his head was hoar.
‘But woe to priests that say men sinned
Who erred but by mischance!
My Oscar heard not of thy King—
Who blames such ignorance?
Who erred but by mischance!
My Oscar heard not of thy King—
Who blames such ignorance?
‘For their sake whom I loved I trust:
That Creed thou sing'st is sound,
Though fancies mingled with my songs,
False weed from truthfullest ground.
That Creed thou sing'st is sound,
Though fancies mingled with my songs,
False weed from truthfullest ground.
‘But woe to priests who swear that Fionn
Lies chained and shamed this day!
Burn such with fire, or fling them bound
To be the wild-boar's prey!
Lies chained and shamed this day!
Burn such with fire, or fling them bound
To be the wild-boar's prey!
‘Patrick! I think two men in me
For victory strive and cry;
Pray thou thy God to help the best
And bid the bad one die.’
For victory strive and cry;
Pray thou thy God to help the best
And bid the bad one die.’
| The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere | |