Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Ireland: Vol. V. 1876–79. | | | | Glenismole | | Emmeline Talbot | | Thomas Davis (1814–1845) |
| | A Ballad of the Pale
The scene is on the borders of Dublin and Wicklow. |
|
’T WAS a September day,— | |
| In Glenismole, | |
| Emmeline Talbot lay | |
| On a green knoll. | |
| She was a lovely thing, | 5 |
| Fleet as a falcon’s wing, | |
| Only fifteen that spring,— | |
| Soft was her soul. | |
| |
| Danger and dreamless sleep | |
| Much did she scorn, | 10 |
| And from her father’s keep | |
| Stole out that morn. | |
| Towards Glenismole she hies; | |
| Sweetly the valley lies, | |
| Winning the enterprise,— | 15 |
| No one to warn. | |
| |
| Till by the noon, at length, | |
| High in the vale, | |
| Emmeline found her strength | |
| Suddenly fail. | 20 |
| Panting, yet pleasantly, | |
| By Dodder-side lay she— | |
| Thrushes sang merrily, | |
| “Hail, sister, hail!” | |
| |
| Hazel and copse of oak | 25 |
| Made a sweet lawn, | |
| Out from the thicket broke | |
| Rabbit and fawn. | |
| Green were the ciscirs round, | |
| Sweet was the river’s sound, | 30 |
| Eastwards flat Cruach frowned, | |
| South lay Sliabh Bán. | |
| |
| Looking round Barnakeel, | |
| Like a tall Moor | |
| Full of impassioned zeal, | 35 |
| Peeped brown Kippure. | |
| Dublin in feudal pride, | |
| And many a hold beside, | |
| Over Finn-ghaill preside,— | |
| Sentinels sure! | 40 |
| |
| Is that a roebuck’s eye | |
| Glares from the green? | |
| Is that a thrush’s cry | |
| Rings in the screen? | |
| Mountaineers round her sprung, | 45 |
| Savage their speech and tongue, | |
| Fierce was their chief and young,— | |
| Poor Emmeline! | |
| |
| “Hurrah, ’t is Talbot’s child,” | |
| Shouted the kerne, | 50 |
| “Off to the mountains wild, | |
| Faire, O’Byrne!” | |
| Like a bird in a net, | |
| Strove the sweet maiden yet, | |
| Praying and shrieking, “Let— | 55 |
| Let me return.” | |
| |
| After a moment’s doubt, | |
| Forward he sprung, | |
| With his sword flashing out, | |
| Wrath on his tongue. | 60 |
| “Touch not a hair of hers, | |
| Dies he who finger stirs!” | |
| Back fell his foragers; | |
| To him she clung. | |
| |
| Soothing the maiden’s fears, | 65 |
| Kneeling was he, | |
| When burst old Talbot’s spears | |
| Out on the lea. | |
| March-men, all stanch and stout, | |
| Shouting their Belgard shout,— | 70 |
| “Down with the Irish rout, | |
| Prets d’accomplir.” | |
| |
| Taken thus unawares, | |
| Some fled amain; | |
| Fighting like forest bears, | 75 |
| Others were slain. | |
| To the chief clung the maid,— | |
| How could he use his blade?— | |
| That night upon him weighed | |
| Fetter and chain. | 80 |
| |
| O, but that night was long, | |
| Lying forlorn, | |
| Since, mid the wassail song, | |
| These words were borne: | |
| “Nathless your tears and cries, | 85 |
| Sure as the sun shall rise, | |
| Connor O’Byrne dies, | |
| Talbot has sworn.” | |
| |
| Brightly on Tamhlacht hill | |
| Flashes the sun; | 90 |
| Strained at his window-sill, | |
| How his eyes run | |
| From lonely Sagart slade | |
| Down to Tigh-bradán glade, | |
| Landmarks of border raid, | 95 |
| Many a one. | |
| |
| Too well the captive knows | |
| Belgard’s main wall | |
| Will, to his naked blows, | |
| Shiver and fall, | 100 |
| Ere in his mountain hold | |
| He shall again behold | |
| Those whose proud hearts are cold, | |
| Weeping his thrall. | |
| |
| “O for a mountain side, | 105 |
| Bucklers and brands! | |
| Freely I could have died | |
| Heading my bands, | |
| But on a felon tree”— | |
| Bearing a fetter key, | 110 |
| By him all silently | |
| Emmeline stands. * * * * * | |
| Late rose the castellan, | |
| He had drunk deep,— | |
| Warder and serving-man | 115 |
| Still were asleep,— | |
| Wide is the castle-gate, | |
| Open the captive’s grate, | |
| Fetters disconsolate | |
| Flung in a heap. * * * * * | 120 |
| ’T is an October day, | |
| Close by Loch Dan | |
| Many a creach lay, | |
| Many a man. | |
| ’Mongst them, in gallant mien, | 125 |
| Connor O’Byrne ’s seen | |
| Wedded to Emmeline, | |
| Girt by his clan! | | | |
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