Classic Poem

I.

When the world shall condemn,
And friends shall forsake me,
Still heedless of them,
To thy heart wilt thou take me?
When the clouds of disgrace
Are lowering around me,
Will thy fond memory trace
How pure thy love found me?

II.

When life's pangs are past,
And this wild dream is over,
And dust shall be cast
On the corse of thy lover —
As thou pray'st for my rest,
While in sorrow I leave thee,
Let not hate warm thy breast
'Gainst the tyrants who grieve thee!

III.

By thee be their crimes
(Though remembered ) forgiven; —
There yet may come times
Bringing balm for the riven.
— What hope I to see
In yon heaven above me —
Save that Erin is free,
And that thou dost still love me!