LXXXVII. —THE WAR-SONG OF DINAS VAUR. THE mountain sheep are sweeter, We met a host, and quelled it; We forced a strong position, And killed the men who held it. On Dyfed's richest valley, Where herds of kine were browsing, To furnish our carousing. Fierce warriors rushed to meet us; But we conquered them and slew them. As we drove our prize at leisure, He fled to his hall-pillars, And e'er our force we led off, We there in strife bewildering spearmen and the bowmen. We brought away from battle And much the land bemoaned them Three thousand head of cattle, And the head of him who owned them: Ednyfed, King of Dyfed, His head was borne before us, His wine and beasts supplied our feasts; ANON. THE BRIDAL OF MALAHIDE. LXXXVIII. THE BRIDAL OF MALAHIDE. THE joy-bells are ringing in gay Malahide, 395 The maids are assembling with garlands of flowers, For the lord and the lady, the bridegroom and bride. Before the high altar young Maud stands arrayed! The words are repeated, the bridal is done, As wakes the good shepherd, the watchful and bold, While the new-married lady looks fainting and pale. Son, husband, and brother, arise to the strife, For sister and mother, for children and wife! Farrah! to the battle! — They form into line The shields, how they rattle! the spears, how they shine! On, burgher and yeoman! to die or to do ! The eve is declining in lone Malahide : The maidens are twining gay wreaths for the bride; * At the fifth stanza the speaker's delivery should become louder and more rapid. The young chieftain's summons (seventh stanza) should be loud, bold, and stirring. There is opportunity for several effective changes of intonation in this piece. She marks them unheeding her heart is afar, Where the clansmen are bleeding for her in the war. Hark! loud from the mountain - 't is victory's cry! With foreheads unruffled the conquerors come— Ye saw him at morning, how gallant and gay! Now, weep for the lover his triumph is sped, But, O! for the maiden who mourns for that chief, Ye maidens attending, forbear to condole ! GERALD GRIFFIN (altered). LXXXIX. — THE SUITOR DISENCHANTED. "O, LAURA! will nothing I bring thee The warmest, ere glowed upon earth ; O! crush not his hope in its birth ! ” But the maiden, a haughty look flinging, For I'm not very partial to singing; And they 're poor whose sole treasure is love!" FREEDOM FOR EUROPE. My name will be sounded in story;. I have fought in the proud field of glory; I bring thee a soul that adores thee, But the maiden said, "Cease to impor'tune;* Ah! fame's but a pitiful fortune And hearts are such valueless things!" And the maiden said, "Weep not, sincerest! Do, Edward, go on with your song! If ever my heart again bendeth, It shall bend to another than you. CAN tyrants but by tyrants conquered be, And Freedom find no champion and no child Sprang forth a Pallas, armed and undefiled? 397 ANON. *To preserve the metrical harmony and the rhyme of the verse, the accent in this word must be here put on the second syllable; but the proper pronunciation is im-por-tune. Or must such minds be nourished in the wild, On infant Washington? Such seeds within her breast, or Europe no such shore? But France got drunk with blood to vomit crime; And the base pageant, last upon the scene, Which nips life's tree, and dooms man's worst - his second fall! Yet, Freedom! yet thy banner, torn, but flying, So shall a better spring less bitter fruit bring forth! |