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XI.

Nor when the war is waged
With Error, and the brood

Of Darkness, will your aid

Be wanting in the cause of Light and Love,
Ye Ministers of that most holy Church
Whose firm foundations on the rock
Of Scripture rest secure!

What tho' the Romanist, in numbers strong,
In misdirected zeal

And bigotry's blind force,

Assail your Fortress; though the sons of Schism Join in insane alliance with that old

Inveterate enemy,

Weening thereby to wreak

Their covenanted hatred, and effect
Your utter overthrow :

What tho' the unbelieving crew,
For fouler purpose aid the unnatural league ;
And Faction's wolfish pack

Set up their fiercest yell, to augment
The uproar of assault :

Clad in your panoply will ye be found, Wielding the spear of Reason; with the sword Of Scripture girt; and from your shield of Truth Such radiance shall go forth,

As when, unable to sustain its beams
On Arthur's arm unveil'd,

Earth-born Orgoglio reel'd, as if with wine;

And from her many-headed beast cast down
Duessa fell, her cup of sorcery spilt,

Her three-crown'd mitre in the dust devolved,
And all her secret filthiness exposed.

XII.

O thou fair Island, with thy Sister Isle
Indissolubly link'd for weal and woe;
Partaker of her present power,
Her everlasting fame;

Dear pledges hast thou rendered and received
Of that eternal union! Bedell's grave
Is in thy keeping; and with thee
Deposited, doth Taylor's holy dust
Await the Archangel's call.

O land profuse of genius and of worth, Largely hast thou received, and largely given!

XIII.

Green Island of the West,

The example of unspotted Ormond's faith
To thee we owe; to thee

Boyle's venerable name :
Berkley the wise, the good:

And that great Orator who first Unmask'd the harlot sorceress Anarchy What time, in Freedom's borrowed form profaned, She to the nations round

Her draught of witchcraft gave:

And him who in the field

O'erthrew her giant offspring in his strength, And brake the iron rod.

Proud of such debt,

Rich to be thus indebted, these,

Fair Island, Sister Queen

Of Ocean, Ireland, these to thee we owe.

XIV.

Shall I then imprecate

A curse on them that would divide Our union?.. Far be this from me, O Lord! Far be it! What is man,

That he should scatter curses?.. King of Kings, Father of all, Almighty, Governor

Of all things, unto Thee

Humbly I offer up our holier prayer!
I pray Thee, not in wrath

But in thy mercy, to confound

These men's devices! Lord,

Lighten their darkness with thy Gospel light, And thus abate their pride,

Assuage their malice thus !

NOTES

AND

ILLUSTRATIONS.

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