Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/924

 GEORGE FOX

1815-? 743 The County of Mayo

FROM THE IRISH OF THOMAS LAVELLE

ON the deck of Patrick Lynch 's boat I sat in woful plight, Through my sighing all the weary day and weeping all the night;

Were it not that full of sorrow from my people forth I go, By the blessed sun' 'tis royally I'd sing thy praise, Mayo!

When I dwelt at home in plenty, and my gold did much

abound, In the company of fair young maids the Spanish ale went

round 'Tis a bitter change from those gay days that now I'm forced

to go And must leave my bones in Santa Cruz, far from my own

Mayo.

They are alter'd girls in Irrul now; 'tis proud they're grown

and high, With their hair-bags and their top-knots, for I pass their

buckles by

But it's little now I heed their airs, for God will have it so, That I must depart for foreign lands and leave my sweet Mayo.

'Tis my grief that Patrick Loughlin is not Earl of Irrul still, And that Brian Duff no longer rules as Lord upon the hill' And that Colonel Hugh McGrady should be lying dead and

low,

And I sailing, sailing swiftly from the county of Mayo.

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