FERGUSON

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J. E. C. Welldon

CLXXV
O’BYRNE’S BARD TO THE CLANS OF WICKLOW
(From the Irish)

God be with the Irish host!
 Never be their battle lost!
 For, in battle, never yet
 Have they basely earned defeat.
Host of armour, red and bright,
 May ye fight a valiant fight!
 For the green spot of the earth,
 For the land that gave you birth.
Like a wild beast in his den,
 Lies the chief by hill and glen,
 While the strangers, proud and savage,
 Creean’s richest valleys ravage.
When old Leinster’s sons of fame,
 Heads of many a warlike name,
 Redden their victorious hilts,
 On the Gaul, my soul exults.
When the grim Gaul, who have come,
 Hither o’er the ocean foam,
 From the fight victorious go,
 Then my heart sinks deadly low.
Bless the blades our warriors draw,
 God be with Clan Ranelagh!
 But my soul is weak for fear,
 Thinking of their danger here.
Have them in Thy holy keeping,
 God be with them lying sleeping,
 God be with them standing fighting,
 Erin’s foes in battle smiting!
Sir Samuel Ferguson.

CLXXVI
THE HILLS OF IRELAND
(From the Irish)

A plenteous place is Ireland for hospitable cheer,
 UileacÁn dubh O!
 Where the wholesome fruit is bursting from the yellow barley ear,
 UileacÁn dubh O!
 There is honey in the trees where her misty vales expand,
 And her forest paths in summer are by falling waters fann’d,
 There is dew at high noontide there, and springs i’ the yellow sand
 On the fair hills of holy Ireland.
Curl’d he is and ringleted, and plaited to the knee,
 UileacÁn dubh O!
 Each captain who comes sailing across the Irish Sea,
 UileacÁn dubh O!
 And I will make my journey, if life and health but stand,
 Unto that pleasant country, that fresh and fragrant strand,
 And leave your boasted braveries, your wealth and high command,
 For the fair hills of holy Ireland.
Sir Samuel Ferguson.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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