ORANGE AND GREEN. 221 Hark! hear that fearful warning! there's death in every tone Oh, save my life till morning, and heaven prolong your own." The Orange heart was melted in pity to the Green; He heard the tale and felt it, his very soul within. “Dread not that angry warning, though death be in its tone I'll save your life till morning, or I will lose my own. Now, round his lonely dwelling, the angry torrent pressed, A hundred voices swelling the Orangeman addressed"Arise, arise, and follow the chase along the plain! In yonder stony hollow your only son is slain!" With rising shouts they gather upon the track amain, And leave the childless father aghast with sudden pain. He seeks the righted stranger in covert where he lay "Arise!" he said, "all danger is gone and passed away! "I had a son-one only, one loved as my life, Thy hand has left me lonely, in that accursed strife. I pledged my word to save thee until the storm should cease, I keep the pledge I gave thee-arise, and go in peace!" The stranger soon departed from that unhappy vale; The father, broken-hearted, lay brooding o'er the tale. Full twenty summers after to silver turned his beard; And yet the sound of laughter from him was never heard. The night was falling dreary in merry Wexford town, When in his cabin weary a peasant laid him down. And many a voice was singing along the summer vale, And Wexford town was ringing with shouts of "Granua Uile."* Beside the waters, laving the feet of aged trees, The green flag, gaily waving, was spread against the breeze In mighty chorus meeting, loud voices filled the town, And fife and drum were beating, "Down, Orangemen lie down." Hark! 'mid the stirring clangour that woke the echoes there, Loud voices, high in anger, rise on the evening air. on "My hair," he said, "is hoary, and feeble is my hand, And I could tell a story would shame your cruel band. Full twenty years and over have changed my heart and brow, And I am grown a lover of peace and concord now. "It was not thus I greeted your brother of the Green, When, fainting and defeated, I freely took him in. I pledged my word to save him from the vengeance rushing on, I kept the pledge I gave him, though he had killed my son." * Generally written Granu-wail. ROBIN REDBREAST. 223 That aged peasant heard him, and knew him as he stood, Remembrance kindly stirred him, and tender gratitude. With gushing tears of pleasure, he pierced the listening train, "Im here to pay the measure of kindness back again!" Upon his bosom falling, the old man's tears came down; 'Deep memory recalling that cot and fatal town, "The hand that would offend thee, my being first shall end; I'm living to defend thee, my saviour and my friend!" He said, and slowly turning, addressed the wondering crowd; With fervent spirit burning, he told the tale aloud. Now pressed the warm beholders their aged foe to greet: They raised him on their shoulders and chaired him through the street. As he had saved that stranger, from peril scowling dim, So in his day of danger did heaven remember him. By joyous crowds attended, the worthy pair were seen. And their flags that day were blended, of Orange and of Green. ROBIN REDBREAST. W. ALLINGHAM. GOOD-BYE, good-bye to summer! Our thrushes now are silent, O Robin dear! In the falling of the year. Bright yellow, red, and orange, O Robin dear! And what will this poor Robin do? The fireside for the cricket, The wheatstack for the mouse, When trembling night-winds whistle And moan all round the house. The frosty ways like iron, The branches plumed with snow- Robin, Robin Redbreast, And a crumb of bread for Robin, THE ANCIENT MARINER. 225 THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER, COLERIDGE. PART I. Ir is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. "By thy long gray beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me? The bridegroom's doors are opened wide, And I am next of kin ; The guests are met, the feast is set: Mayst hear the merry din." He holds him with his skinny hand; "There was a ship," quoth he. "Hold off! unhand me, graybeard loon!" Eftsoons his hand dropt he. He holds him with his glittering eye The wedding-guest stood still, And listens like a three-years' child: The wedding-guest sat on a stone; He cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner. "The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, Merrily did we drop Below the kirk, below the hill, Below the lighthouse top. The sun came up upon the left, Out of the sea came he; And he shone bright, and on the right Went down into the sea. |