Page:The Tricolour, Poems of the Irish Revolution.djvu/36

 When from the gloom and darkness Some lion voice did roar. He sprung upon our pathway To stand our road before. I cried in vain contention, “O, let us go our way.” But to our further progress The red cat stood at bay. My hound would not obey me, So brave and fine was she, But sprang upon the wild beast To fight for liberty.

Oh, how my heart was beating So full of grief and fear At thunder of the battle That fell upon my ear. Oh, great and splendid fighting Like to the times of Fionn, Alas! uneven chances, My dear one could not win; And sudden to a silence I opened eyes of pain, With face towards her foe still My faithful hound was slain.