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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SLAVES AND SERFS |
 | Ireland for the Irish |  |
SLAVES AND SERFS
Our masters, in the good old times when slavery was known,
Devour'd as now the toiler's meat, but flung him many a bone:
Nay! some, whom men bread-givers call'd, afforded bread also.
But those were days of slavery, a long time ago.
Devour'd as now the toiler's meat, but flung him many a bone:
Nay! some, whom men bread-givers call'd, afforded bread also.
But those were days of slavery, a long time ago.
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The slave was scourged, but was the whip made of his heart-strings too?
He had no wife nor pining babes: how much more bless'd than you!
He knew not blighted hopes, nor fears, which serfs call'd freemen know,—
In those kind days of slavery, a long time ago.
He had no wife nor pining babes: how much more bless'd than you!
He knew not blighted hopes, nor fears, which serfs call'd freemen know,—
In those kind days of slavery, a long time ago.
They do not sell us like the beasts, nor build with human bone;
They do not brand us on the brow, nor call our souls their own;
'Tis true we have outgrown all that. We hunger as we grow.
O, better far the slavery of a long time ago!
They do not brand us on the brow, nor call our souls their own;
'Tis true we have outgrown all that. We hunger as we grow.
O, better far the slavery of a long time ago!
Yet will we grow! God speed the day when serfdom too shall cease;
When Toil, avenging martyr lives, shall reap the children's peace.
Our children's children shall not dream, as they tow'rd heaven grow,
Of the days of worse than slavery, “a long time ago.”
When Toil, avenging martyr lives, shall reap the children's peace.
Our children's children shall not dream, as they tow'rd heaven grow,
Of the days of worse than slavery, “a long time ago.”
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