Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FATE OF KING DATHI (A.D. 428), by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Darkly their glibs o'erhang Last Line: Lieth king dathi! Subject(s): Dathi, King Of Ireland | ||||||||
I. DARKLY their glibs o'erhang, Sharp is their wolf-dog's fang, Bronze spear and falchion clang -- Brave men might shun them Heavy the spoil they bear -- Jewels and gold are there -- Hostage and maiden fair -- How have they won them? II. From the soft sons of Gaul, Roman, and Frank, and thrall, Borough, and hut, and hall, -- These have been torn. Over Britannia wide, Over fair Gaul they hied, Often in battle tried, -- Enemies mourn! III. Fiercely their harpers sing, -- Led by their gallant king, They will to EIRE bring Beauty and treasure. Britain shall bend the knee -- Rich shall their households be -- Vhen their long ships the sea Homeward shall measure. IV. Barrow and Rath shall rise, Towers, too, of wondrous size, Tailtin they'll solemnize, Feis-Teamhrach assemble. Samhain and Beal shall smile On the rich holy isle -- Nay! in a little while OEtius shall tremble! V. Up on the glacier's snow, Down on the vales below, Monarch and clansmen go -- Bright is the morning. Never their march they slack, Jura is at their back, When falls the evening black, Hideous, and warning. VI. Eagles scream loud on high; Far off the chamois fly; Hoarse comes the torrent's cry, On the rocks whitening. Strong are the storm's wings; Down the tall pine it flings; Hail-stone and sleet it brings -- Thunder and lightning. VII. Little these veterans mind Thundering, hail, or wind; Closer their ranks they bind -- Matching the storm. While, a spear-cast or more, On, the front ranks before, DATHI the sunburst bore -- Haughty his form. VIII. Forth from the thunder-cloud Leaps out a foe as proud -- Sudden the monarch bowed -- On rush the vanguard; Wildly the king they raise -- Struck by the lightning's blaze -- Ghastly his dying gaze, Clutching his standard! IX. Mild is the morning beam, Gently the rivers stream, Happy the valleys seem; But the lone Islanders -- Mark how they guard their king! Hark, to the wail they sing! Dark is their counselling -- Helvetia's highlanders. X. Gather, like ravens, near -- Shall DATHI's soldiers fear Soon their home-path they clear Rapid and daring; On through the pass and plain, Until the shore they gain, And, with their spoil, again, Landed in EIRINN. XI. Little does EIRE care For gold or maiden fair -- "Where is King DATHI? -- Where, Where is my bravest?" On the rich deck he lies, O'er him his sunburst flies -- Solemn the obsequies, EIRE! thou gavest. XII. See ye that countless train Crossing Ros-Comain's plain, Crying, like hurricane. Uile liu ai? -- Broad is his carn's base -- Nigh the "King's burial-place," Last of the Pagan race, Lieth King DATHI! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FONTENOY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS LAMENT FOR THE DEATH OF EOGHAN RUADH (OWEN ROE) O'NEIL by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS NATIONALITY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE BOATMAN OF KINSALE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE FLOWER OF FINAE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE SACK OF BALTIMORE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE WELCOME by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A BALLAD OF FREEDOM by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A CHRISTMAS SCENE; OR, LOVE IN THE COUNTRY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A NATION ONCE AGAIN by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS |
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