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254 THE GOLDEN TREASURY OF |
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WILLIAM DRENNAN, JR.
(1802-1873)
THE BATTLE OF BEAL-AN-ATHA-BUIDH'
'598
B
Y O'Neill close beleaguered, the spirits might droop Of the Saxon—three hundred shut up in their coop, Till Bagenal drew forth his Toledo, and swore, On the sword of a soldier to succor Portmore.
His veteran troops, in the foreign wars tried —
Their features how bronzed, and how haughty their stride —
Stept steadily on; it was thrilling to see
The thunder-cloud brooding o'er BEAL-AN-ATHA-BUIDH.
The flash of their armor, inlaid with fine gold, — Gleaming matchlocks and cannons that mutteringly
rolled — With the tramp and the clank of those stern cuirassiers, Dyed in the blood of the Flemish and French cavaliers.
And are the mere Irish, with pikes and with darts — With but glib-covered heads, and but rib-guarded hearts— .
1 Beal-an-atha-buidh literally means the Mouth of the Yellow Ford, and is pronounced Beal-un-ath-buie. |
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