Twas on Transylvania's Bannat 'When the crescent shone afar, 'Like a pale disastrous planet 'O'er the purple tide of war 'In that day of desolation, "Captive! could the brightest jewel 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 heav'n's blue expansion Fly we then, while none discover! Soon at Rhodes the British lover Clasp'd his blooming Eastern bride. EXILE OF ERIN. THERE came to the beach a poor Exile of Erin, But the day-star attracted his eye's sad devotion, Sad is my fate! said the heart-broken stranger, The wild deer and wolf to a covert can flee; But I have no refuge from famine and danger, A home and a country remain not to me. 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, And strike to the numbers of Erin go bragh! Erin my country! though sad and forsaken, And sigh for the friends who can meet me no more? Oh cruel fate! will thou never replace me Where is my cabin-door, fast by the wild wood? Tears, like the rain drop, may fall without measure; Yet all its sad recollection suppressing, Buried and cold, when my heart stills her motion, And thy harp-striking bards sing aloud with devotion- * Ireland my darling-Ireland for ever. LINES Written at the request of the Highland Society in Lon don, 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 Invincible romantic Scotia's shore ! 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? Yes, though too soon attaining glory's goal, Yet in a mighty cause his phoenix soul Rose on the flames of victory to Heav'n! How oft (if beats in subjugated Spain Peace to the mighty dead!-our bosom-thanks Triumphant be the thistle still unfurl'd, Dear symbol wild! on freedom's hills it grows, Where Fingal stemm'd the tyrants of the world, And Roman eagles found unconquer'd foes. Joy to the band* this day on Egypt's coast Joy for the day on red Vimeira's strand, First of Britannia's hosts her Highland band Is there a son of generous England here The rose, the shamrock, and the thistle twine! Types of a race who shall th' invader scorn, * The 42d Regiment. |