HIGH in his crystal-lighted @3grianan@1 King Ferodach lay dying; round the couch To glad him they had piled his glittering hoard Of mighty weapons forged for other hands, Of crusted crowns, of @3torques@1 and amulets, Goblets and brooches. Ah, for their bright sake How many a province had he razed and burnt! How many a burgh and @3dun@1 bedrenched in blood!— But hark, amid his very death-throes came His sons all breathless crying, "Away! Away! Our foes, Clan Connla come! Away with all The treasure chests, and cheat their hungry grasp!" Then groaned the king: "Stir not this leprous gold; Too many a noble house has wailed for it. Stiff in their mounds are they who bore these shields, And moved these golden chessmen on the board. See, on yon voiceless harps the strings hang loose Where once their soulful fingers joyed to glide! These goblets, emptied of their royal draught Poured for the sons of song! Unfed, unwarmed, The cleric left my door,—yea, see, to-night No poor man comes to weep or pray for me! So get ye gone and leave me here to God!—" They left him with the gold upon his brow, His sword beside him, his great shield of bronze Laid down his breast. The light of cresset lamps Played through the jewels on his ashen hands, And from the polished vessels heaped around Gleamed back a thousand eyes mysterious. There all night long he cried to God,—"Thy scourge Is grievous, but Thy law is just! Behold, Lest Thou exact my ransom past the grave, Behold, I render up my spoils of blood, Beseeching Thy great mercy!—" Soon the light Of a grey eye looked over Ossory,— It was the morn, and at the sunrise came Clan Connla's henchmen, and hacked off his head. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I WANT TO LIVE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON INTERRACIAL by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON GHOSTS OF THE OLD YEAR by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON UNDER THE CEDARCROFT CHESTNUT by SIDNEY LANIER THE WALL STREET PIT, MAY, 1901 by EDWIN MARKHAM NORTH WIND TO DUTIFUL BEAST MIDWAY BETWEEN DIAL & FOOT OF GARDEN CLOCK by MARIANNE MOORE |