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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE MEN OF 'EIGHTY-TWO by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS

First Line: TO REND A CRUEL CHAIN
Last Line: OUR FREEDOM! IN A CRUISGIN LAN!
Subject(s): IRELAND - REBELLIONS;

I.

To rend a cruel chain,
To end a foreign reign,
The swords of the Volunteers were drawn.
And instant from their sway,
Oppression fled away;
So we'll drink them in a @3cruisgin lan, lan, lan@1,
We'll drink them in a @3cruisgin lan!@1

II.

Within that host were seen
The Orange, Blue, and Green --
The Bishop for it's coat left his lawn --
The peasant and the lord
Ranked in with one accord,
Like brothers at a @3cruisgin lan, lan, lan@1,
Like brothers at a @3cruisgin lan!@1

III.

With liberty there came
Wit, eloquence, and fame;
Our feuds went like mists from the dawn,
Old bigotry disdained --
Old privilege retained --
Oh! sages, fill a @3cruisgin lan, lan, lan@1,
And, boys, fill up a @3cruisgin lan!@1

IV.

The trader's coffers filled,
The barren lands were tilled,
Our ships on the waters thick as spawn --
Prosperity broke forth,
Like summer in the north --
Ye merchants! fill a @3cruisgin lan, lan, lan@1,
Ye farmers! fill a @3cruisgin lan!@1

V.

The memory of that day
Shall never pass away,
Tho' it's fame shall be yet outshone;
We'll grave it on our shrines,
We'll shout it in our lines --
Old Ireland! fill a @3cruisgin lan, lan, lan@1,
Young Ireland! fill a @3cruisgin lan!@1

VI.

And drink -- The Volunteers,
Their generals, and seers,
Their gallantry, their genius, and their brawn
With water, or with wine --
The draught is but a sign --
The purpose fills the @3cruisgin lan, lan, lan@1,
This purpose fills the @3cruisgin lan!@1

VII.

That ere Old Ireland goes,
And while Young Ireland glows,
The swords of our sires be girt on,
And loyally renew
The work of'EIGHTY-TWO --
Oh! gentlemen -- a @3cruisgin lan, lan, lan,@1
Our freedom! in a @3cruisgin lan!@1



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