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52
THE CROSS IN IRELAND.
FAIR Land, when with her Cross, of yore,
Religion sought thy pagan shore,
Thy sons returned the Stranger's smile
With welcome to the Western Isle;
And listen'd to her truths divine;
And learn'd to love the Cross's Sign;
And, prompted by her voice revered,
Throughout the clime the symbol rear'd.
Religion sought thy pagan shore,
Thy sons returned the Stranger's smile
With welcome to the Western Isle;
And listen'd to her truths divine;
And learn'd to love the Cross's Sign;
And, prompted by her voice revered,
Throughout the clime the symbol rear'd.
They raised it where the rivers glide;
And by the mountain torrent's side;
By lake and rock; by wood and wold;
And, near it, as in charmed mould,
Graves oft were form'd for honour'd bones;
Saints slept beneath those sculptured stones,
And drew the pious pilgrim's feet
To many a far and wild retreat.
And by the mountain torrent's side;
By lake and rock; by wood and wold;
And, near it, as in charmed mould,
Graves oft were form'd for honour'd bones;
Saints slept beneath those sculptured stones,
And drew the pious pilgrim's feet
To many a far and wild retreat.
Still where those old memorials stand
Heaven seems to sanctify the land:
The votary kneels upon the moss,
And prays beside the sacred Cross;
The peasant with regardful eye
And low inflection passes by;
The very children linger there,
And think they breathe a blessed air.
Heaven seems to sanctify the land:
The votary kneels upon the moss,
And prays beside the sacred Cross;
The peasant with regardful eye
And low inflection passes by;
The very children linger there,
And think they breathe a blessed air.
Fair Land, another Stranger came,
And said Religion was her name:
She came with proud dominion arm'd,
And some the fair Seducer charm'd;
But of thine offspring most were true
To Her by whom the Cross they knew;
Who first appear'd, with holy smile,
A Stranger in the generous Isle.
And said Religion was her name:
She came with proud dominion arm'd,
And some the fair Seducer charm'd;
But of thine offspring most were true
To Her by whom the Cross they knew;
Who first appear'd, with holy smile,
A Stranger in the generous Isle.
Though Power sustain'd the Rival's cause,
And fetter'd them with angry laws,
Age after age a yoke of pain
Bow'd down and gall'd their necks in vain.
Woe was their faith's confirming seal,
Till power grew weary of his zeal,
And threw a half relenting smile,
Half sullen, o'er the injured Isle.
And fetter'd them with angry laws,
Age after age a yoke of pain
Bow'd down and gall'd their necks in vain.
Woe was their faith's confirming seal,
Till power grew weary of his zeal,
And threw a half relenting smile,
Half sullen, o'er the injured Isle.
Whether that smile shall yet be bright,
Or yet gleam on with jealous light,
Isle of the Cross! in weal or woe,
Thy Sons their steady truth will shew
To Her who first with grace divine
Taught them to love the Cross's Sign,
And plant it far, on rock and sod,
In honour of the Saviour-God.
Or yet gleam on with jealous light,
Isle of the Cross! in weal or woe,
Thy Sons their steady truth will shew
To Her who first with grace divine
Taught them to love the Cross's Sign,
And plant it far, on rock and sod,
In honour of the Saviour-God.
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