Ballads of Irish chivalry By Robert Dwyer Joyce: Edited, with Annotations, by his brother P. W. Joyce |
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SAINT STEPHEN'S NIGHT. |
 | Ballads of Irish chivalry |  |
194
SAINT STEPHEN'S NIGHT.
I
Without, the wild winds keenly blowO'er weary wastes of wintry snow;
Within, the red fire sheds its glow,
While round and round the dancers go.
Then merrily, merrily, round and round,
O, merrily, merrily, round and round,
To the sweetest music in Ireland's ground,
The heart's glad laugh and the bagpipe's sound.
II
Now what befits Saint Stephen's NightBut loving words and glances bright,
But young and old, with main and might,
To dance around in wild delight?
Then merrily, merrily, round and round,
O, merrily, merrily, round and round,
To the sweetest music in Ireland's ground,
The heart's glad laugh and the bagpipe's sound.
III
There maid and matron, son and sire,With bounding spirits that cannot tire,
Around the bright Saint Stephen's fire
All dance and joke to their hearts' desire.
Then merrily, merrily, round and round,
O, merrily, merrily, round and round,
To the sweetest music in Ireland ground,
The heart's glad laugh and the bagpipe's sound.
| Ballads of Irish chivalry | |