In England the garden of beauty is kept That the garden's but carelessly watch'd after all. Oh! they want the wild sweet-briery fence, Which round the flowers of Erin dwell, Which warns the touch while winning the sense, Nor charms us least when it most repels. Then remember, wherever your goblet is crown'd, Through this world whether eastward or westward you roam, When a cup to the smile of dear woman goes round, Oh! remember the smile which adorns her at home. In France, when the heart of a woman sets sail, On the ocean of wedlock its fortune to try, Love seldom goes far in a vessel so frail, But just floats her off, and then bids her good-bye! While the daughters of Erin keep the boy The same as he look'd when he left the shore. Then remember, wherever your goblet is crown'd, Through this world whether eastward or westward you roam, When a cup to the smile of dear woman goes round, Oh! remember the smile which adorns her at home. EVELEEN'S BOWER. OH! WEEP FOR THE HOUR. AIR-Unknown1. OH! weep for the hour, When to Eveleen's bower, The Lord of the Valley with false vows came, The Moon hid her light From the Heavens that night, And wept behind her clouds o'er the maiden's shame: Our claim to this air has been disputed; but they who are best acquainted with national melodies pronounce it to be Irisk. It is generally known by the name of "The Pretty Girl of Derby, O!" The clouds past soon From the chaste cold Moon, And Heaven smiled again with her vestal flame; But none will see the day When the clouds shall pass away, Which that dark hour left upon Eveleen's fame. The white snow lay On the narrow path-way Where the Lord of the Valley cross'd over the moor; And many a deep print On the white snow's tint Shew'd the track of his footstep to Eveleen's door. The next sun's ray Soon melted away Ev'ry trace on the path where the false lord came; But there's a light above, Which alone can remove That stain upon the snow of Eveleen's fame. LET ERIN REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD. AIR-The Red Fox. LET Erin remember the days of old, "This brought on an encounter between Malachi (the monarch of Ireland in the 10th century) and the Danes, in which Malachi defeated two of their champions, whom he encountered successively, hand to hand, taking a collar of gold from the neck of one, and carrying off the sword of the other, as trophies of his victory." Warner's History of Ireland, vol. i. book 9. |