 | The Poems of Thomas Davis |  |
158
THE MEN OF 'EIGHTY-TWO
I
To rend a cruel chain,To end a foreign reign,
The swords of the Volunteers were drawn,
And instant from their sway,
Oppression fled away;
So we'll drink them in a crúisgín lán, lán, lán,
We'll drink them in a crúisgín lán!
II
Within that host were seenThe Orange, Blue, and Green—
The Bishop for it's coat left his lawn—
The peasant and the lord
Ranked in with one accord,
Like brothers at a crúisgín \lán, lán, lán,
Like brothers at a crúisgín lán!
III
With liberty there cameWit, eloquence, and fame;
Our feuds went like mists from the dawn;
159
Old privilege retained—
Oh! sages, fill a crúisgín lán, lán, lán,
And, boys! fill up a crúisgín lán!
IV
The trader's coffers filled,The barren lands were tilled,
Our ships on the waters thick as spawn—
Prosperity broke forth,
Like summer in the north—
Ye merchants! fill a crúisgín lán, lán, lán,
Ye farmers! fill a crúisgín lán!
V
The memory of that dayShall never pass away,
Tho' its fame shall be yet outshone;
We'll grave it on our shrines,
We'll shout it in our lines—
Old Ireland! fill a crúisgín lán, lán, lán,
Young Ireland! fill a crúisgín lán!
VI
And drink—The Volunteers,Their generals, and seers,
Their gallantry, their genius, and their brawn
With water, or with wine—
The draught is but a sign—
The purpose fills the crúisgín lán, lán, lán,
This purpose fills the crúisgín lán!
160
VII
That ere Old Ireland goes,And while Young Ireland glows,
The swords of our sires be girt on,
And loyally renew
The work of 'Eighty-Two—
Oh! gentlemen—a crúisgín lán, lán, lán,
Our freedom! in a crúisgín lán!
| The Poems of Thomas Davis | |