And pour fresh courage in our hearts,
To triumph over Danaan arts;

And we our votive gifts shall bring
To thee of every precious thing,

And altars to thy name shall blaze
Through all the isle for endless days!

THE sun had gone down,

Amid glory and splendour, And eve's purple light

Came down mellow and tender,

But mists gathered fast

On the heights of the mountain,

And rushed down its sides

Like an overcharged fountain;

The lightnings leaped forth

From the black clouds that bound them,

And thunders peeled out

'Mid the crags that surround them,

And the island they gazed on

With looks of devotion,

Now seemed but a fog

On the breast of the ocean!

The tempest swept on

Over breakers and billows,

And shattered their fleet

Like a light bark of willows,

As onward they dashed,

Through the darkness that lowered,
Till, scattered and broken,

They lay overpowered

By spells of enchantment

That strongly came o'er them,

And shut out the hope

THE spell had spent itself at break of day;

The storm had ceased, the war of elements o'er, But, oh! for those whose hopes were cast away! Like surges breaking on a rocky bay!

The signs of wreck were strewed along the shore, And mast, and helm, and torn sail were seen Struggling at intervals to gain the land. In pairs or singly, with rough waves between The scattered fleet, now reft of all command, Save what each single warrior brought to bear To light up hope once more, and shut out grim

despair!

II.

The ships were parted, some were borne away
Through rocky islets of the western wave,
Others were driven along the Irish sea
Until they came to Inbher Colpa's Bay;

74

Here Heremon landed, sad, yet bold and brave And fierce as ever sprung upon the strand,

Unfurled the Sunburst to the morning breeze And took possession, while each flashing brand Leaped forth, as warriors on their bended knees,

Raised them aloft to heaven, and fondly swore To make their homes or graves upon the shore.

III.

The largest portion of the fleet was cast

In whirling blasts along the rocky coast
And treacherous isles of Desmond, where at last.
The valiant IR, with all his crew, were lost
Amid the raging elements; but most

Of all the rest made Inbher Secine's shore 75
Where Heber and Amhergin, tempest-tost
And shattered, through the breaking billows bore
Aloft the standard to the isle which cost

The proud Milesian so much toil and woe,
Which nerved them stronger still to meet the foe.

ODE IX.

THE FIRST BATTLE-THE MARCH.

"The landing of the Milesians took place in the year of the world 2736, according to the Hebrew computation, on the 17th day of the month of Bell, or May. The Damnonii having in the meantime, collected their forces with singular expedition, attacked Heber in his entrenchments. Heber had taken possession of his camp at Sliagh Mis, in the county of Kerry, where an obstinate engagement took place, the third day after his landing; but the superior valour of the Milesians prevailed, and the Danaans left 1,000 men killed on the field of battle. The Milesians themselves lost 300 men, two Druids, and two ladies, Scota and Fais, with some leading officers."-M'DERMOT'S "HISTORY OF IRELAND."

I.

MEN of bright Migdonia's land,
Couch the lance and draw the brand,
Sound the timbrel loud and long,
Thunder forth our warriors' song;
Like the midnight tempest's roar
Breaking on a rocky shore,
Let the trumpet's fiercest sound
With our war-tramp shake the ground.

II.

Rear the holy Sunburst high

Ere our Day-God lights the sky,

Bear upon the silver throne

Jacob's consecrated stone, 76

Which upon the Red Sea shore
Moses gave our sires of yore,
Strew the sands his footsteps trod,
Onward !-see the beams of God!

III.

Warriors! let the glorious past
Nerve us like the bugle's blast,
Guide the arm, and point the lance,
As our shining ranks advance;
Sweeping o'er the fallen slain
Like a whirlwind on the main,
Whilst one Danaan taints the air
Crush the brood and do not spare!

ODE X.

THE BATTLE-THE ENGAGEMENT.

O'ER the broad valleys of high Slieve-na-Mis, 77
Whose peaks are hid among the clouds they kiss,
The squadrons meet in battles' bright array
Just as the portals of the opening day

Had flung their slanting beams along the glen,
Now filled with hostile ranks of armed men,
Impatient to begin the murderous strife,
Panting with rage and prodigal of life.

The Danaans moved with caution o'er the bank, Close and compact as serried rank on rank,