And fill each little angel eye

With sparking tears that ask him why He wander'd from his hut for scenes like these?

Vain, vain is then the trumpet's brazen roar, Sweet notes of home-of love—are all he hears, And the stern eyes, that look'd for blood before, Now melting mournful lose themselves in tears!

SWISS AIR.

BUT wake the trumpet's blast again,
And rouse the ranks of warrior men!

Oh War! when Truth thy arm employs,

And Freedom's spirit guides the labouring storm,
Tis then thy vengeance takes a hallow'd form.
And like heaven's lightning sacredly destroys!
For Music! thro' thy breathing sphere,

Lives there a sound more grateful to the ear
Of him who made all harmony,

Than the blest sound of fetters breaking,
And the first hymn that man, awaking

From Slavery's slumber, breathes to Liberty!

SPANISH AIR,

HARK! from Spain, indignant Spain,
Burst the bold enthusiast strain,
Like morning's music on the air,
And seems in every note to swear,

By Saragossa's ruin'd streets,

By brave Gerona's deathful story,
That while one Spaniard's life-blood beats,
That blood shall stain the Conqueror's glory!
But ah! if vain the patriot's zeal,

If neither valour's force or wisdom's light
Can break or melt that blood-cemented seal,
Which shuts so close the book of Europe's right-
What song shall then in sadness tell
Of broken pride, of prospects shaded;
Of buried hopes, remember'd well,
Of ardour quench'd and honour faded?

What muse shall mourn the breathless brave, In sweetest dirge at memory's shrine?

What harp shall sigh o'er Freedom's grave? Oh Erin! thine!

IRISH AIR.-Gramachree.

ADVERTISEMENT

PREFIXED TO

THE FIRST AND SECOND NUMBERS.

WILLIAM POWER takes the liberty of anncuncing to the Public a Work which has long been a Desideratum in this country. Though the beauties of the National music of Ireland have been generally felt and acknowledged, yet it has happened, through the want of appropriate English words, and of the arrangement necessary to adapt them to the voice, that many of the most excellent Compositions have hitherto remained in obscurity. It is intended, therefore, to form a Collection of the best Original IRISH MELODIES, with characteristic Symphonies and Accompaniments; and with Words containing as frequent as possible, allusions to the manners and history of the Country. SIR JOHN STEVENSON has very kindly consented to undertake the arrangement of the airs; and the lovers of simple National music may rest secure, that in such tasteful hands, the native charms of the original melody will not be sacrificed to the ostentation of science.

108

In the poetical Part, W. POWER has had promises of assistance from several distinguished Literary Characters, particularly from Mr. MOORE, whose lyrical talent is so peculiarly suited to such a task, and whose zeal in the undertaking will be best understood from the following extract of a Letter which he has addressed to SIR JOHN STEVENSON on the subject:

"I feel very anxious that a work of this kind should be undertaken. We have too long neglected the only talent, for which our English Neighbours ever deigned to allow us any credit. Our National Music has never been properly collected ;* and, while the composers of the Continent have enriched their Operas and Sonatas with Melodies borrowed from Ireland,-very often without even the Honesty of Acknowledgment-we have left these treasures in a great degree unclaimed and fugitive. Thus our Airs, like too many of our countrymen, for want of protection at home, have passed into the service of foreigners. But we are come, I hope, to a better period both of Politics and Music; and how much they are connected, in Ireland at least, appears too plainly in the tone of sorrow and depression which characterises most of our early Songs. The task which you propose to me, of adapting words to these airs, is by no means easy. The Poet, who would follow the various sentiments which they express,

The Writer forgot, when he made this assertion, that the Public are indebted to Mr. Bunting for a very valuable collection of Irish Music; and that the patriotic genius of Miss Owenson has been employed upon some of our finest Airs.