Why not her poorest man, Try and do all he can, Soggarth Aroon, Her commands to fulfil Of his own heart and will, Loyal and brave to you, Yet be no slave to you, Nor, out of fear to you- Och! out of fear to you! Who, in the winter's night, When the could blast did bite, Soggarth Aroon, Came to my cabin-door, And, on my earthen-flure, Knelt by me, sick and poor, Soggarth Aroon ? Who, on the marriage-day, Soggarth Aroon, Made the poor cabin gay, And did both laugh and sing Making our hearts to ring, At the poor christening, Soggarth Aroon? SOGGARTH AROON-THE RECONCILIATION. 327 Who, as friend only met, Never did flout me yet, Soggarth Aroon ? And when my heart was dim, Och! you, and only you, And for this I was true to you, In love they'll never shake, JOHN BANIM. THE RECONCILIATION. THE old man he knelt at the altar, And at first his weak voice did falter, For his only brave boy, his glory, Had been stretched at the old man's feet, A corpse, all so haggard and gory, By the hand which he now must greet. And soon the old man stopt speaking, And now his limbs were not shaking, But the old man he looked around him, And I do forgive you, foeman, For the sake of our bleeding land!' AILLEEN. JOHN BANIM. 'Tis not for love of gold I go, 'Tis not for love of fame; Though fortune should her smile bestow, And I may win a name, Ailleen, And I may win a name. And yet it is for gold I go, And yet it is for fame, That they may deck another brow, And bless another name, Ailleen, And bless another name. Oh, when the bays are all my own, Oh, when the gold is wooed and won, I know a brow shall wear, Ailleen, I know a brow shall wear! And when with both returned again, I know a smile will meet me there, And a hand will welcome me, Ailleen, And a hand will welcome me ! JOHN BANIM. 329 INDEX. DRINKING SONGS. PAGE Come, send round the wine, and leave points of belief Moore 131 Oh! think not my spirits are always so light. Oh, the days when I was young Magrath 114 O'Neachtan 115 Concanen 119 When Fame brought the news of Great Britain's success When once I to the tavern go When St. Patrick this order established Why, liquor of life, do I love you so? O'Hara 123 Cunningham 120 Magrath 113 Curran 126 Carolan 117 |