Page:Songs, Legends, and Ballads.djvu/110

98 Alas! alas for "Wexford! once upon that holy day Came a wondrous shoal of herring to the waters of the Bay. The fishers and their families stood out upon the beach, And all day watched with wistful eyes the wealth they might not reach. Such shoal was never seen before, and keen regrets went round— Alas! alas for Wexford! Hark! what is that grating sound? The boats' keels on the shingle! Mothers! Wives! ye well may grieve,— The fishermen of Wexford mean to sail on Martin's Eve!

"Oh, stay ye!" cried the women wild. "Stay!" cried the men white-haired; "And dare ye not to do this thing your fathers never dared.