AN ODE .
Sublime, above the circling sea,
Ierne's pict'resque mountains rise;
The God of Nature made her free,
And bless'd her clime with genial skies:
Here L IBERTY'S inspiring voice
Made her courageous sons rejoice —
Their nerves by cooling breezes brac'd;
And oft the fierce invading Danes,
Defeated on our warlike plains,
Fled with tumultuous haste.
How glow'd our Bards with patriot fire,
Whilst heav'nly F REEDOM'S praise they sung;
Their eager fingers swept the lyre,
To sounds of martial glory strung:
The lyre, concordant with the song —
Harmonious, animated, strong,
With love of Virtue fill'd the breast;
Clontarf's gay groves the strain resound,
Where, with unfading laurels crown'd,
Bold Conquest rear'd her crest.
Returning Peace, securely gay,
O'er Ireland's pleasant region stray'd;
No serpent, in the wand'rer's way,
Bask'd, deathful, in the sunny glade:
Pure, flowing down the verdant hills,
Clear fountains pour'd unfailing rills,
That health and chearfulness bestow'd;
Where, blooming o'er the fertile ground,
Kind Nature's bounties spread around,
Deck'd Plenty's sweet abode.
Soft, smiling in angelic grace;
Our island's youthful daughters bloom'd —
Their charming symmetry of face,
The roseate hues of health illum'd —
Vivid as light their spirits flow'd,
And Innocence her smile bestow'd,
To prompt the dance and love-taught song
Whilst youthful bards attun'd the lyre,
And the soft sounds of fond desire
Echo'd the glens among.
In time, this enviable life
Gave place to manners more refin'd,
Then petty chieftains rose, and strife
The youth to martial deeds inclin'd;
Proud Tyranny, with purple vest,
And crown'd with gold, the land oppress'd,
And trampled on the Rights of Man:
Intestine war, inflam'd by pride,
With native blood our vallies dy'd,
And Ireland's woes began.
By treachery invited o'er,
A foreign nation hither came,
Then Liberty forsook our shore,
And Ireland lost her ancient fame;
Yet Patriotism oft assail'd
The proud oppressor who prevail'd,
And kept a slipp'ry footing here;
Whilst vile Disunion's baleful night,
Shut out the rays of Freedom's light,
And foster'd slavish Fear.
Now, how delightfully improv'd —
Our blooming island smiles on day;
By gracious Providence belov'd,
Our fields their richest fruits display:
Kind Commerce here her gifts bestows,
And ev'ry tide that hither flows
Brings the prime produce of the globe;
And hence our snow-white linen bears,
Which foreign beauty proudly wears,
As Health's most cleanly robe,
Encreasing Science here imparts
New views of Nature to the mind,
And, with progressive grace, the Arts
Our soft'ning manners have refin'd;
But Discord sometimes rears her head,
Her hands with human blood o'erspread,
And urg'd by superstitious ire;
'Till Charity's persuasive voice
Shall to the paths of Peace entice,
Then Hatred shall expire.
O! Nature's all-commanding Lord!
Inspire our souls with social love —
May Bigotry, by thee abhorr'd,
Far from our little isle remove:
May Innocence and Virtue here
Prevail — fierce Discord disappear,
And all our efforts tend to peace;
And, join'd in social amity,
May Ireland's natives, truly free,
See all oppression cease.
Sublime, above the circling sea,
Ierne's pict'resque mountains rise;
The God of Nature made her free,
And bless'd her clime with genial skies:
Here L IBERTY'S inspiring voice
Made her courageous sons rejoice —
Their nerves by cooling breezes brac'd;
And oft the fierce invading Danes,
Defeated on our warlike plains,
Fled with tumultuous haste.
How glow'd our Bards with patriot fire,
Whilst heav'nly F REEDOM'S praise they sung;
Their eager fingers swept the lyre,
To sounds of martial glory strung:
The lyre, concordant with the song —
Harmonious, animated, strong,
With love of Virtue fill'd the breast;
Clontarf's gay groves the strain resound,
Where, with unfading laurels crown'd,
Bold Conquest rear'd her crest.
Returning Peace, securely gay,
O'er Ireland's pleasant region stray'd;
No serpent, in the wand'rer's way,
Bask'd, deathful, in the sunny glade:
Pure, flowing down the verdant hills,
Clear fountains pour'd unfailing rills,
That health and chearfulness bestow'd;
Where, blooming o'er the fertile ground,
Kind Nature's bounties spread around,
Deck'd Plenty's sweet abode.
Soft, smiling in angelic grace;
Our island's youthful daughters bloom'd —
Their charming symmetry of face,
The roseate hues of health illum'd —
Vivid as light their spirits flow'd,
And Innocence her smile bestow'd,
To prompt the dance and love-taught song
Whilst youthful bards attun'd the lyre,
And the soft sounds of fond desire
Echo'd the glens among.
In time, this enviable life
Gave place to manners more refin'd,
Then petty chieftains rose, and strife
The youth to martial deeds inclin'd;
Proud Tyranny, with purple vest,
And crown'd with gold, the land oppress'd,
And trampled on the Rights of Man:
Intestine war, inflam'd by pride,
With native blood our vallies dy'd,
And Ireland's woes began.
By treachery invited o'er,
A foreign nation hither came,
Then Liberty forsook our shore,
And Ireland lost her ancient fame;
Yet Patriotism oft assail'd
The proud oppressor who prevail'd,
And kept a slipp'ry footing here;
Whilst vile Disunion's baleful night,
Shut out the rays of Freedom's light,
And foster'd slavish Fear.
Now, how delightfully improv'd —
Our blooming island smiles on day;
By gracious Providence belov'd,
Our fields their richest fruits display:
Kind Commerce here her gifts bestows,
And ev'ry tide that hither flows
Brings the prime produce of the globe;
And hence our snow-white linen bears,
Which foreign beauty proudly wears,
As Health's most cleanly robe,
Encreasing Science here imparts
New views of Nature to the mind,
And, with progressive grace, the Arts
Our soft'ning manners have refin'd;
But Discord sometimes rears her head,
Her hands with human blood o'erspread,
And urg'd by superstitious ire;
'Till Charity's persuasive voice
Shall to the paths of Peace entice,
Then Hatred shall expire.
O! Nature's all-commanding Lord!
Inspire our souls with social love —
May Bigotry, by thee abhorr'd,
Far from our little isle remove:
May Innocence and Virtue here
Prevail — fierce Discord disappear,
And all our efforts tend to peace;
And, join'd in social amity,
May Ireland's natives, truly free,
See all oppression cease.