THE DALCASSIAN'S WAR-SONG—1014.
I.
Dalcassia's warrior-bands, now,
The chase forego, the chase forego;
Far nobler game demands, now,
The spear and bow, the spear and bow—
From mountain, glen, and valley,
In bright array, in bright array,
Round Erin's standard rally!
Let cowards stay! let cowards stay!
The sun-burst that floats o'er us
In banner'd pride, in banner'd pride,
Has ever waved before us
O'er victory's tide! o'er victory's tide!
II.
Who, who, like craven falters,
Nor bravely draws, nor bravely draws,
To guard his country's altars,
And homes and laws! and homes and laws!
Who fears, with cause so holy,
The pirate Dane, the pirate Dane?
Although the Saxon, lowly,
Now brooks his chain! now brooks his chain![1]
The sun-burst that floats o'er us
In banner'd pride, in banner'd pride,
Has ever waved before us
O'er victory's tide! o'er victory's tide!
III.
Still victory's smile is beaming
Where Murrough leads, where Murrough leads;
And where his blade is gleaming
The foeman bleeds! the foeman bleeds!
Old Brien's dark eye's glancing
Along th' array, along th' array;
- ↑ Irishmen should never forget that, at the time of the glorious victory of Clontarf, the English, our present masters, bowed beneath the Danish yoke.
