Ballads of Irish chivalry By Robert Dwyer Joyce: Edited, with Annotations, by his brother P. W. Joyce |
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THE BRIGADE'S HURLING MATCH. |
 | Ballads of Irish chivalry |  |
177
THE BRIGADE'S HURLING MATCH.
I
In the South's blooming valleys they sing and they playBy their vine-shaded cots at at the close of the day:
But a game like our own the Italians ne'er saw—
The wild sweeping hurlings of Erin go Bragh.
II
Our tents they were pitched upon Lombardy's plain;Ten days nigh the foemen our army had lain;
But ne'er through their walls made we passage or flaw,
Till we showed them the game played in Erin go Bragh.
III
Our sabres were sharp and the forest was nigh;There our hurleys we fashioned ere morning rose high;
With the goal-ball young Mahon had brought from Dunlawe,
We showed them the game played in Erin go Bragh.
178
IV
Our captain stood out with the ball in his hand;Our colonel he gave us the word of command;
Then we dashed it and chased it o'er esker and scragh,
While we showed them the game played in Erin go Bragh.
V
The enemy stood on their walls high and strong,While we raced it and chased it and hurled it along;
And they opened their gate as we nearer did draw,
To see the old game played in Erin go Bragh.
VI
On a sudden we turned from the ball's swift career;And rushed through the gate with a grand ringing cheer;
Ah, they ne'er through our bright dauntless stratagem saw,
While we showed them the game played in Erin go Bragh.
VII
Their swords clashed around us, their balls raked us sore,But with hurleys we paid them in hard knocks galore;
For their bullets and sabres we cared not a straw,
While we showed them the game played in Erin go Bragh.
VIII
The fortress is taken! our loud shouts arise;For King Louis and Ireland they swell to the skies.
Ah, he laughed as he told us a game he ne'er saw
Like the wild sweeping hurlings of Erin go Bragh!
| Ballads of Irish chivalry | |