 | Satires And Biography |  |
ORIGIN OF CATCHING A TARTAR.
AN ILLUSTRATION.
SOME centuries ago, the Austrian troopsWere often hack'd and harass'd
By warlike Tartars, who with yells and whoops
Their enemies embarrass'd;
At length the Emperor promis'd in a charter,
To be the donor
Both of wealth and honor,
To any hero who could catch a Tartar.
Two comely lads from blythe Ierne's shore,
Who'd often bath'd their limbs in Loch Killarney,
Amid the German troops their knapsacks bore,
Props of their race were Broderick and Blarney.
These volunteers had stray'd,
In search of plunder,
Thro' a Sclavonian wood;
But Fortune meant the Munster-men no good,
For Blarney heard his terrible comrade,
Roaring like thunder;
“Och Blarney, Blarney! by sweet Ireland's martyr,
“May I be keel hawl'd but I've cotch'd a Tartar!”
“Bring him along!” bawl'd Blarney, big with pride,
“Here's Ireland's boys against the globe, who'll bet me?”
“I can't said t'other!
“Then come yourself and drop your noisy pother.”
But Broderick in a lower note replied—
“By the Holy Father he won't let me.”
| Satires And Biography | |