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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... |
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