Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Neniae

109
“But a season of declension,
Bull three centuries ago
Beached on every side an acme
Possible e’en here below;
“And our faith in heavenward progress
Bids us think it was the last,—
That the darkness of prediction
Thus belongs to ages past,
“Seeing how the heavenly splendom
Of the Gospel gilds all lands,
Beaming on the vales of Europe,
Broad Cathay, and Afric’s sands.
“In this relic of the Stuarts
Seest thou the last fading shred
Of the clouds of night retreating
When the morn its light has shed.
“Hence we look for a millenium
Of goodness, truth, and light,
When no skirts of gloom o’ershadow,
When all things are pure and bright.”
“Oh! to me it seems too cruel,
In thy musings to ignore
TIT existence of deep suffering
Which feeling hearts deplore.
“Were there no sad proofs around us
Of a great, unconquered 111
Brighter fancies we might cherish
What the future might fulfil.
“Evil passions widely-rooted,
Judas hearts in league with blood,
Must go forth to spend their fierceness
Burning through the multitude.
“Holy war must burn the Evil
Which has marred the face of earth,
Holy war must thin the people
Till expires what gave it birth.