Forget not our wounded companions, who stood * While the moss of the valley grew red with their blood, They stirr'd not, but conquer'd and died. That sun which now blesses our arms with his light, Saw them fall upon Ossory's plain; Oh! let him not blush, when he leaves us to-night, To find that they fell there in vain. ERIN! THE TEAR AND THE SMILE IN ERIN, the tear and the smile in thine eyes, This alludes to an interesting circumstance related of the Dalgais, the favourite troops of Brien, when they were interrupted in their return from the battle of Clontarf, by Fitzpatrick, prince of Ossory. The wounded men entreated that they might be allowed to fight with the rest. "Let stakes (they said) be stuck in the ground, and suffer each of us, tied to and supported by me of these stakes, to be placed in his rank by the side of a sound "Between seven and eight hundred wounded men (adds 'Halloran) pale, emaciated, and supported in this manner, appeared mixed with the foremost of the troops; never was such other sight exhibited." —. · History of Ireland, book xii. chap. i man." Erin, thy silent tear never shall cease, Erin, thy languid smile ne'er shall increase, Till, like the rainbow's light, Thy various tints unite, And form in heaven's sight One arch of peace! OH! BREATHE NOT HIS NAME. OH! breathe not his name, let it sleep in the shade, But the night-dew that falls, though in silence it weeps, Shall brighten with verdure the grave where he sleeps ; And the tear that we shed, though in secret it rolls, Shall long keep his memory green in our souls. WHEN HE, WHO ADORES THEE. WHEN he, who adores thee, has left but the name Of his fault and his sorrows behind, h! say wilt thou weep, when they darken the fame Of a life that for thee was resign'd? Yes, weep, and however my foes may condemn, For Heaven can witness, though guilty to them, With thee were the dreams of my earliest love; In my last humble prayer to the Spirit above, Thy name shall be mingled with mine. Oh! blest are the lovers and friends who shall live The days of thy glory to see; But the next dearest blessing that Heaven can give Is the pride of thus dying for thee. THE HARP THAT ONCE THROUGH TARA'S HALLS. THE harp that once through Tara's halls The soul of music shed, Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls, As if that soul were fled. So sleeps the pride of former days, So glory's thrill is o'er, And hearts, that once beat high for praise, No more to chief's and ladies bright The harp of Tara swells; The chord alone, that breaks at night, Thus Freedom now so seldom wakes, Is when some heart indignant breaks, FLY NOT YET. FLY not yet, 'tis just the hour 'Twas but to bless these hours of shade Like this to-night, that, oh! 'tis pain To break its links so soon. Fly not yet, the fount that play'd In times of old through Ammon's shade,* Though icy cold by day it ran, Yet still, like souls of mirth, began To burn when night was near. *Solis Fons, rear the Temple of Ammon. And thus, should woman's heart and looks At noon be cold as winter brooks, Brings their genial hour for burning. When did morning ever break, And find such beaming eyes awake OH! THINK NOT MY SPIRITS ARE ALWAYS AS LIGHT. OH! think not my spirits are always as light, And as free from a pang as they seem to you now Nor expect that the heart-beaming smile of to-night Will return with to-morrow to brighten my brow. No-life is a waste of wearisome hours, Which seldom the rose of enjoyment adorns; And the heart that is soonest awake to the flowers, Is always the first to be touch'd by the thorns. But send round the bowl, and be happy awhile — May we never meet worse, in our pilgrimage here, Than the tear that enjoyment may gild with a smile, And the smile that compassion can turn to a tear. The thread of our life would be dark, Heaven knows. If it were not with friendship and love intertwin'd |