The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-07-10
The Geraldines,

Orlgnt naShed their battle-spears;
When Capet seized the crown of
France, their iron shields were
known.
And their sabre dint struck terror On
the tanks of the Garonne;
Across the downs of Hastings they
spurred hard by Williams side.
And the gray sands of Palestine with
Moslem blood they. Dyed
But never then, nor thence. till now,
have falsehood or disgrace N
Been seen to soil Fitzgerald's plume.
or mantle in his face.
The Geraldines! the Geraldines!-'tis
true. in Strongbow's van
BY lawless force, as conquerors, thei-
Irish reign began:
And. oh, through many dark cam
paign they proved their prowess
stern,
In Leinster's plains. the MINISTER'S
wales. on king. and chief, and
kerne;
But noble was the cheer within the
halls so rudely won
And generous was the steel-gloved
hand that had such slaughter
done;
How gay their laugh, how proud their
mien. you'd ask no herald's sign
Among a thousand you had known tho
princely Geraldine.
These Geraldines! these Geraldines!-
not long ago our air they
breathed:
Not long they fed on venison, in Irish
water seethed
Not often had their children been by
Irish mothers nursed,
When from their full and genial hearts
an Irish feeling burst!
The English monarchs strove in vain.
by law. and force. and bribe,
To win from Irish thoughts and ways
this more than Irish" tribe;
For still they chung to fosterase, to
hreitheamh cloak, and bard:
What king dare say to Geraldine.
your Irish wife discard?"
Ye Geraldines! We Geraldnes!-how
royalty We reigned
Der Desmond broad, and rich Kill
dare. and English arts disdained;
Your sword made knights. your ban
ner waved. free was your bugle
BY .Gleann's green slopes. and Cain
geans tide. from Rearbha's banks
to Eochail.
What gorgeous .hrines, what breith-
eamh lore, what minstrel feasts
there were
In and around Magh Naudhaid's keep.
and palace-f1l Adare!
But not for rite or feast We stayed,
when friend or kin were pressed:
And foeman fed. when "Crom Abu"
bespoke your lance in rest.
Ye Geraldines! We Geraldines!-since
Silken Thomas flung
King Henrys sword on council board,
the English thames among,
Ye never ceased to battle brave
against the English sway,
Though axe and brand and treachery
your proudest cut away
OF Desmond's blood. through woman's
veins passed on TIL exhausted
tide; ~
His title lives-a sassanach churl
usurps the lions hide:
And. though Kildare tower haughtily.
there's rim at the root, ..".
Else why since Edward fell to earth,
had such a tree no fruit?
True Geraldines! brave Gcraldines!-
as torrents mold the earth.
You channeled deep old Ireland's
heart by constancy and worth:
When Ginckle 'leagured Limerick the
Irish soldiers gazed
To see If in the E-''r< sun dead Des-
monds banner blazed!
And still it is the peasants hope upon
the Curreach's mere,
They live, who'll see ten thousand
men with good Lord Edward
So let them dream till brighter days.
| when. not by Edwards shade,
But by some leader true as he, their
lines shall be arrayed!
| These Geraldines! these Geraldines!-
rain wears away the rock.
And time may wear away the tribe
that stood the battles shock,
But, ever. sure. while one is left Of all
that honored race.
In front Of 1reland's chivalry is that
| Fitzgerald's place;
And. though the last were dead and
gone, how many a field and town.
From Thomas Court to Abbeyfeile.
would cherish their renoWn,
l V~..s ..S~ -.