Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Composite volume > Spirit of the nation

SPIRIT OF THE NATION.
And the steed's impatient prancing-
Then let's away ! away ! away I
The sun-hurst that floats o'er us
In hanner'd pride, in banner 'd pride.
Has ever waved before us
O'er victory's tide ! o'er victory's tide
I THE CUESE OF THE EENEGADES,
; Oh, shame light upon them, confusion and scorn I
Be their names sounds accurs'd to our children unborn I
No babe ever bless them — all sterile as base I
No wife ever press them — but perish their race !
Ere first the proud stranger invaded our shore,
A renegade rose up, and tempted him o'er ;
And the Norman marauder no treachery planned,
Till a renegaxle lured him with treason in hand I
The Dane in our feuds found the source of his power ;
Ij Not the people were false, but their chivalry's flower r,
]j And Callachan, rushing from Cormac's old rock,
i I Through Lagenia's shrines carried Paynimry's shock,
I Oh, vain was thy valour, Roydamna revered!
When a Nial's bright sword the idolator cheered;
Such princes, MacMurrough-like, courting the chain.
Deserved not, by heav'n f o'er such people to reign.
No page in our annals but teems with like guilt ;
Each sword-point is blunted 'gainst treachery's hilt I
But for this we had shattered oppression's fell yoke —
But for this through each host of invaders had broke '
And now new Iscariots betray with aiiss,
And barter, like Judas, a birthright of bliss !
[ Motherland ! they stiil wound thee with venomous tootli-
jjijThey slander thy fame, and proclaim it for truth !
iBe the gold of their treason like hell's living fire,
,, No Pactolus at hand, when of torture they tire !