Ireland for the Irish Rhymes and Reasons Against Landlordism with a Preface on Fenianism and Republicanism. By W. J. Linton, Formerly of the Irish "Nation" |
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THE KNAVE OF SPADES |
 | Ireland for the Irish |  |
42
THE KNAVE OF SPADES
What gambling Graspall might have done,
With common sense or heart
To learn the truth that all are one
And each of all a part!—
But Graspall, “hedging” on the Turf,
Mortgaged his native glades;
And staked the fortunes of the Serf
Against the Knave of Spades.
With common sense or heart
To learn the truth that all are one
And each of all a part!—
But Graspall, “hedging” on the Turf,
Mortgaged his native glades;
And staked the fortunes of the Serf
Against the Knave of Spades.
Had Graspall cared for good advice!—
Pshaw, man! while Rent gave him
Wine, women, horses, cards and dice,
Advice was not his whim.
Ill cards,—he rack'd his tenants then;
Paid loaded dice with raids:
And lost the lead of honest men,
To play the Knave of Spades.
Pshaw, man! while Rent gave him
Wine, women, horses, cards and dice,
Advice was not his whim.
Ill cards,—he rack'd his tenants then;
Paid loaded dice with raids:
And lost the lead of honest men,
To play the Knave of Spades.
Fool! will it now advantage thee
To think thou couldst have been
The lord of grateful tenantry?
Thou Meanest of the Mean!
You might have bless'd our country parts,
And—highest of all grades—
Have been the royal King of Hearts,
Not the mere Knave of Spades.
To think thou couldst have been
The lord of grateful tenantry?
Thou Meanest of the Mean!
You might have bless'd our country parts,
And—highest of all grades—
Have been the royal King of Hearts,
Not the mere Knave of Spades.
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