Midsummer morn, in woodland nigh, the birds began to singThey see not now the milking-maids-deserted is the spring! Midsummer day- this gallant rides from distant Bandon's town— These hookers crossed from stormy Skull, that skiff from Affadown ; They only found the smoking walls, with neighbours' blood besprent, And on the strewed and trampled beach awhile they wildly went— Then dashed to sea, and passed Cape Clear, and saw five leagues before The pirate galleys vanishing that ravaged Baltimore. Oh! some must tug the galley's oar, and some must tend the steed This boy will bear a Scheik's chibouk, and that a Bey's jerreed. 'Tis two long years since sunk the town beneath that bloody band, THE GIRL OF DUNBWY 'TIS pretty to see the girl of Dunbwy Stepping the mountain statelily— Though ragged her gown and naked her feet, No lady in Ireland to match her is meet. Poor is her diet, and hardly she lies Yet a monarch might kneel for a glance of her eyes; The child of a peasant-yet England's proud Queen Has less rank in her heart and less grace in her mien. Her brow 'neath her raven hair gleams, just as if From her beauty-proud eye and her passion-pale cheek. But, pale as her cheek is, there's fruit on her lip, I saw her but once, and I looked in her eye, And she knew that I worshipped in passing her by. I never can think upon Bantry's bright hills, NATIONALITY A NATION'S voice, a nation's voice It is a solemn thing! It bids the bondage-sick rejoice 'Tis stronger than a king. The sound of many waves; Which brightly look through prison-bars And sweetly sound in caves. Yet is it noblest, godliest known, When righteous triumph swells its tone. A nation's flag, a nation's flag — If wickedly unrolled, But in the cause of Liberty, Guard it 'gainst Earth and Hell; Look you, you guard it well! A nation's right, a nation's right— Which deal unto the humblest folk On nations fixed in right and truth May Ireland's voice be ever heard May freedom be her very breath, May son of Ireland fear! So the Lord God will ever smile, With guardian grace, upon our isle. JOHN DE JEAN FRAZER BORN in the King's County about 1809, and wrote largely for The Nation, The Irish Felon, &c. He was a cabinetmaker by trade. Died in Dublin 1852. His 'Song for July 12th represents with much literary grace and skill the form of thought prevalent among The Nation writers towards Orangeism. SONG FOR JULY 12TH, 1843 Air-Boyne Water' COME! pledge again thy heart and hand-- Our motto-Love for ever!' And let the Orange lily be Thy badge, my patriot-brother- Behold how green the gallant stem Yea, more-the hand that plucks the flow'r The stem blooms on--but in that hour While lasts their genial weather; Ev'n thus be, in our country's cause, Till then the Orange lily be Thy badge, my patriot-brother The everlasting Green for me; And we for one another. JOHN O'HAGAN O'HAGAN (born at Newry 1822) entered the ranks of The Nation writers when a young barrister fresh from Trinity College, Dublin, and contributed to that journal much spirited verse over the signature 'Sliabh Cuilinn' (Slieve Cullanthe mountain vulgarly known as the Great Sugarloaf). 'A boyish face, a frank smile, and a readiness to engage in badinage' were, according to Sir C. G. Duffy, the first characteristics that impressed themselves on his associates; but he soon showed gifts of character and intellect that made him one of the most influential and trusted members of the Young Ireland party. After a distinguished career at the Bar he was appointed by Mr. Gladstone first chairman of the Irish Land Commission, and died in 1890. THE SONG OF ROLAND, translated from the French, 1880; THE CHILDREN'S BALLAD ROSARY, 1890. OURSELVES ALONE THE work that should to-day be wrought, Defer not till to-morrow; The help that should within be sought, To do at once what is to do, And trust OURSELVES ALONE. Too long our Irish hearts we schooled By dreams of English justice fooled |