 | The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves |  |
THE SAILOR GIRL
When the Wild Geese were flying to Flanders away,
I clung to my Desmond beseeching him stay,
But the stern trumpet sounded the summons to sea,
And afar the ship bore him, mabouchal machree.
I clung to my Desmond beseeching him stay,
But the stern trumpet sounded the summons to sea,
And afar the ship bore him, mabouchal machree.
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And first he sent letters, and then he sent none,
And three times into prison I dreamt he was thrown;
So I shore my long tresses, and stain'd my face brown,
And went for a sailor from Limerick town.
And three times into prison I dreamt he was thrown;
So I shore my long tresses, and stain'd my face brown,
And went for a sailor from Limerick town.
Oh! the ropes cut my fingers, but steadfast I strove
Till I reached the Low Country in search of my love.
There I heard how at Namur his heart was so high
That they carried him captive, refusing to fly.
Till I reached the Low Country in search of my love.
There I heard how at Namur his heart was so high
That they carried him captive, refusing to fly.
With that to King William himself I was brought,
And his mercy for Desmond with tears I besought.
He considered my story, then smiling, says he,
“The young Irish rebel for your sake is free.”
And his mercy for Desmond with tears I besought.
He considered my story, then smiling, says he,
“The young Irish rebel for your sake is free.”
“Bring the varlet before us. Now, Desmond O'Hea,
Myself has decided your sentence to-day—
You must marry your sailor with bell, book, and ring,
And here is her dowry,” cried William the King!
Myself has decided your sentence to-day—
You must marry your sailor with bell, book, and ring,
And here is her dowry,” cried William the King!
| The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves | |