Say, fair princess! would it grieve thee 'Christian climes should we behold?'Nay, bold knight! I would not leave thee 'Were thy ransom paid in gold!' Now in Heaven's blue expansion When to quit her father's mansion, 'Fly we then, while none discover! Tyrant barks, in vain ye ride!' Soon at Rhodes the British lover Clasp'd his blooming Eastern bride. EXILE OF ERIN. THERE The dew on his thin robe was heavy and chill: For his country he sigh'd, when at twilight repairing He sang the bold anthem of Erin go bragh. Never again, in the green sunny bowers, Where my forefathers liv'd, shall I spend the sweet hours, Or cover my harp with the wild-woven flowers, Erin my country! though sad and forsaken! But alas! in a far foreign land I awaken, And sigh for the friends who can meet me no more! Oh cruel fate! wilt thou never replace me In a mansion of peace-where no perils can chase me? Never again, shall my brothers embrace me? They died to defend me, or live to deplore! Where is my cabin-door, fast by the wild wood? Yet all its sad recollection suppressing, One dying wish my lone bosom can draw: Erin! an exile bequeaths thee his blessing! Land of my forefathers! Erin go bragh! Buried and cold, when my heart stills her motion, Green be thy fields-sweetest isle of the ocean! And thy harp-striking bards sing aloud with devo tion Erin mavournin!-Erin go bragh! 4 4 Ireland my darling - Ireland for ever. LINES WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY IN LONDON, WHEN MET TO COMMEMORATE THE 21ST OF MARCH, THE DAY OF VICTORY IN EGYPT. PLEDGE to the much-lov'd land that gave us birth! Pledge to the memory of her parted worth! And be it deem'd not wrong that name to give, And died he not as heroes wish to die? |