The Fair Hills of Ireland. From the Irish. Miscellaneous. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. 1876-79. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes. Ireland: Vol. V

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Ireland: Vol. V. 1876–79.

Miscellaneous

The Fair Hills of Ireland

From the Irish


Translated by Samuel Ferguson A PLENTEOUS place is Ireland for hospitable cheer,
Where the wholesome fruit is bursting from the yellow barley ear;
There is honey in the trees where her misty vales expand,
And her forest paths, in summer, are by falling waters fanned,
There is dew at high noontide there, and springs i’ the yellow sand,	5
On the fair hills of holy Ireland.

Curled he is and ringleted, and plaited to the knee,
Each captain who comes sailing across the Irish sea;
And I will make my journey, if life and health but stand,
Unto that pleasant country, that fresh and fragrant strand,	10
And leave your boasted braveries, your wealth and high command,
For the fair hills of holy Ireland.

Large and profitable are the stacks upon the ground,
The butter and the cream do wondrously abound,
The cresses on the water and the sorrels are at hand,	15
And the cuckoo’s calling daily his note of music bland,
And the bold thrush sings so bravely his song i’ the forests grand,
On the fair hills of holy Ireland.