| Padraic Colum (1881–1972). Anthology of Irish Verse. 1922. |
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| 13. Have You Been at Carrick? |
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| By Edward Walsh (Translated) |
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| HAVE you been at Carrick, and saw my true-love there? | |
| And saw you her features, all beautiful, bright, and fair? | |
| Saw you the most fragrant, flowering, sweet apple-tree?— | |
| Oh! saw you my loved one, and pines she in grief like me? | |
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| I have been at Carrick, and saw thy own true-love there; | 5 |
| And saw, too, her features, all beautiful, bright and fair; | |
| And saw the most fragrant, flowering, sweet apple-tree— | |
| I saw thy loved one—she pines not in grief, like thee! | |
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| Five guineas would price every tress of her golden hair— | |
| Then think what a treasure her pillow at night to share, | 10 |
| These tresses thick-clustering and curling around her brow— | |
| Oh, Ringlet of Fairness! I’ll drink to thy beauty now! ! | |
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| When seeking to slumber, my bosom is rent with sighs— | |
| I toss on my pillow till morning’s blest beams arise; | |
| No aid, bright Beloved! can reach me save God above, | 15 |
| For a blood-lake is formed of the light of my eyes with love! | |
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| Until yellow Autumn shall usher the Paschal day, | |
| And Patrick’s gay festival come in its train alway— | |
| Although through my coffin the blossoming boughs shall grow, | |
| My love on another I’ll never in life bestow! | 20 |
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| Lo! yonder the maiden illustrious, queen-like, high, | |
| With long-flowing tresses adown to her sandal-tie— | |
| Swan, fair as the lily, descended of high degree, | |
| A myriad of welcomes, dear maid of my heart, to thee! | |
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