Page:The Spirit of the Nation.djvu/42

30 V.

And what, though our God, to whom glory and praise!

Hath not left to their children the spoil of those days;

Why, more bright be our honour—more goodly our gain,

That he gave gallant hearts to achieve it again

To the Men of the North.

VI.

For tell us, ye band of the trusted and true—

Ye citizen-soldiers of stern Eighty-Two,

Who lent you the power to resist and o'ercome

The Foe from without and the Tyrant at home?

'Twas the Men of the North.

VII.

And when the dark day of oppression began,

And Power upon reason and truth set her ban,

All threats and seductions they stoutly withstood

Till the cause of their country they sealed with their blood—

These men of the North.

VIII.

But deep as those epochs of glory we prize,

A prouder and dearer is yet to arise;

And we'll shrine it, Benburb and Dungannon, above,

In the temple of national honour and love,

The Men of the North.

IX.

'Tis that day, when the strength of the slumbering North,

Again for the land of our love shall come forth;

And speaking stout words, which stout hearts will maintain,

Proclaim our fair country a again,

The Men of the North.

X.

For the waters of Bann are unruffled and slow,

And as coldly and calmly our pulses may flow;

But as soon shall you roll back its fathomless tide

As turn from their slow-chosen purpose aside

The Men of the North.