Ballads of Irish chivalry By Robert Dwyer Joyce: Edited, with Annotations, by his brother P. W. Joyce |
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THE SPALPEEN. |
 | Ballads of Irish chivalry |  |
THE SPALPEEN.
I
“When comes across the mountains the winter of the year,With merry jokes and laughter the spalpeens gay are here;
I love the first of autumn, but more sweet Hallowe'en,
For it brings me back my Connall, my rattling gay Spalpeen.
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II
“His hair is like the raven that flies above Knockrue,And stately is his form, and his heart is kind and true,—
He's the kindest, best, and bravest of all I've ever seen,
And until death I'll love him, my rattling gay Spalpeen.
III
“The first night that I met him I found him kind and leal;He took me for his partner and we tripped a mazy reel;
It was ‘The New-mown Meadows’ and then the light Moneen,
And I loved him since that pleasant night, my rattling gay Spalpeen.”
IV
The leaves of dying autumn by chilling winds were tost;The corn was stacked securely, the hills were grey with frost;
When by the turf fire blazing were met at Hallowe'en
The farmers' sons and daughters and many a gay Spalpeen.
V
The old man in the corner sat in his elbow-chair;At all his jokes the laughter rose free from grief or care;
The Banathee sat smiling, and said she'd never seen
A dancer like young Connall, the rattling gay Spalpeen.
VI
They've laughed round many an apple, they've burned the nuts in glee,“And some will soon get married, and some will sail the sea!”
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And told their wondrous legends, each rattling gay Spalpeen.
VII
Then Connall took the daughter, the eldest, by the hand,—It was his own sweet Eileen Bawn, the fairest in the land;
He led her towards her parents with modest manly mien,
While all stood hushed around him, the rattling gay Spalpeen.
VIII
“I've come across the mountains far far from home, to findA girl above all others, both simple, fair, and kind;
She's standing now beside me, the loveliest I have seen:”
So spoke, with gentle bearing, the rattling gay Spalpeen.
IX
“I know she's good and constant—for me would give her life;I have a happy home for her, and ask her for my wife.”
He's doffed the old grey garment—before them all is seen
The lord of many a townland, that rattling gay Spalpeen!
X
Old Father James came early and blessed the loving pair;She's off with her dear bridegroom towards Kerry's hills so fair;
O'er many a fertile valley she reigns just like a queen,
Loving, and loved by, Connall, her rattling gay Spalpeen.
| Ballads of Irish chivalry | |