The manly oak, the pensive yew, Let merry England proudly rear Strike the wild harp, while maids prepare And, while his crown of laurel-leaves, Yes! twine for me the cypress bough; With pansies, rosemary, and rue,— Then, Lady, weave a wreath for me, XIV. O'Neale observed the starting tear, And spoke with kind and blithesome cheer"No, noble Wilfrid! ere the day When mourns the land thy silent lay, 1 [MS.—“ I would not wish thee {i} degree So lost to hope as falls to me; wert thou such, But if thou wert, in minstrel pride The land we'd traverse side by side, On prancing steeds, like minstrels old, That sought the halls of barons bold."] While thou the gentler souls should move, With lay of pity and of love, And I, thy mate, in rougher strain, Would sing of war and warriors slain. M'Curtin's harp should charm no more ! 1 Drummond of Hawthornden was in the zenith of his reputation as a poet during the Civil Wars. He died in 1649. 2" MacCurtin, hereditary Ollamh of North Munster, and Filea to Donough, Earl of Thomond, and President of Munster. This nobleman was amongst those who were prevailed upon to join Elizabeth's forces. Soon as it was known that he had basely abandoned the interests of his country, MacCurtin presented an adulatory poem to MacCarthy, chief of South Munster, and of the Eugenian line, who, with O'Neil, O'Donnel, Lacy, and others, were deeply engaged in protecting their violated country. In this poem he dwells with rapture on the courage and patriotism of MacCarthy; but the verse that should (according to an established law of the order of the bards) be introduced in the praise of O'Brien, he turns into severe satire: How am I afflicted (says he) that the descendant of the great Brion Boiromh cannot furnish me with a theme worthy the honour and glory of his exalted race!' Lord Thomond, hearing this, vowed vengeance on the spirited bard, who fled for refuge to the county of Cork. One day, observing the exasperated nobleman and his equip uge at a small distance, he thought it was in vain to fly, and pretended to be suddenly seized with the pangs of death; directing his wife to lament over him, and tell his lordship, that the sight of him, by awakening the sense of his ingratitude, had so much affected him that he could not support it; and desired her at the same time to tell his lordship, that he entreated, as a dying request, his forgiveness. Soon as Lord In lively mood he spoke, to wile From Wilfrid's wo-worn cheek a smile. 66 XV. 66 I know their faithful hearts will grieve, To mitigate their parting wo." The harper came ;-in youth's first prime His garb was fashion'd, to express Thomond arrived, the feigned tale was related to him. That nobleman was moved to compassion, and not only declared that he most heartily forgave him, but opening his purse, presented the fair mourner with some pieces to inter him. This instance of his lordship's pity and generosity gave courage to the trembling bard; who, suddenly springing up, recited an extemporaneous ode in praise of Donough, and, reëntering into his service, became once more his favourite." -WALKER'S Memoirs of the Irish Bards. Lond. 1786. p. 141. 4to 1 Among the entertainments presented to Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle, was the introduction of a person designed to represent a travelling minstrel, who entertained her with a solemn story out of the Acts of King Arthur. Of this per. A seemly gown of Kendal green, XVI. He made obeisance with a free Each look and accent, framed to please, Subtile and dangerous and bold But young our lovers,--and the rest, son's dress and appearance Mr. Laneham has given us a very accurate account, transferred by Bishop Percy to the preliminary Dissertation on Minstrels, prefixed to his Reliques of Ancient Poetry, vol. i. 1 [MS.--" Nor could keen Redmond's aspect brook."] |