DEDICATION ΤΟ THE MARCHIONESS OF HEADFORT, PREFIXED TO THE TENTH NUMBER. It is with a pleasure, not unmixed with melancholy, that I dedicate the last Number of the Irish Melodies to your Ladyship; nor can I have any doubt that the feelings with which you receive the tribute will be of the same mingled and saddened tone. To you, who though but little beyond the season of childhood, when the earlier numbers of this work appeared, lent the aid of your beautiful voice, and, even then, exquisite feeling for music, to the happy circle who met, to sing them together, under your father's roof, the gratification, whatever it may be, which this humble offering brings, cannot be otherwise than darkened by the mournful reflection, how many of the voices which then joined with ours are now silent in death! I am not without hope that, as far as regards the grace and spirit of the Melodies, you will find this closing portion of the work not unworthy of what has preceded it. The Sixteen Airs, of which the Number and the Supplement consist, have been selected from the immens, mass of Irish music which has been for years past accumulating in my hands; and it was from a desire to include all that appeared most worthy of preservation, that the four supplementary songs which follow this Tenth Number have been added. Trusting that I may yet again, in remembrance of old times, hear our voices together in some of the harmonised airs of this Volume, I have the honour to subscribe myself, Your Ladyship's faithful Friend and Servant, Sloperton Cottage, May, 1834. INDEX. After the Battle............................ Alone in crowds to wander on................. ......... ...... And doth not a meeting like this make amends Page 34 130 115 11 83 118 55 49 ... At the mid hour of night, when stars are weeping.. Before the Battle............................ Believe me, if all those endearing young charms...... By the Feal's wave benighted...... By the hope within us springing...... 32 25 46 119 32 Come o'er the sea............ Come, rest in this bosom, my own stricken deer.... Dear Harp of my country! in darkness I found thee............. Down in the valley come meet me to-night..... Echo..... Erin! oh Erin! Erin! the tear and the smile in thine eyes.. M 68 76 23 81 119 100 99 27 104 26 4 19 Page Fairest! put on awhile.. Farewell! - - but whenever you welcome the hour Fly not yet; 't is just the hour.............. Forget not the field where they perish'd 112 64 79 7 92 140 From this hour the pledge is given Go where Glory waits thee.......... Has sorrow thy young days shaded How dear to me the hour when daylight dies. ........ How sweet the answer Echo makes I'd mourn the hopes that leave me........ If thou 'lt be mine, the treasures of air............ In the morning of life, when its cares are unknown.. I saw from the beach, when the morning was shining I saw thy form in youthful prime...................... It is not the tear at this moment shed.................................... I've a secret to tell thee, but hush! not here Like the bright lamp that shone in Kildare's holy fane Love and the Novice Love's young Dream My gentle Harp, once more I waken Nay, tell me not, dear, that the goblet drowns........ Night clos'd around the conqueror's way. No, not more welcome the fairy numbers..... Oh banquet not in those shining bowers Oh! blame not the bard, if he fly to the bowers.... .......... ........ Oh for the swords of former time........... .......... Page 102 102 135 104 28 5 137 65 94 63 12 39 108 53 8 ......... 61 19 Oh! where's the slave so lowly 75 Oh, ye Dead! oh, ye Dead! whom we know Oh! think not my spirits are always as light Oh! weep for the hour Remember the glories of Brien the Brave.............. Shall the Harp then be silent, when he who first gave She sung of Love, while o'er her lyre ........... Silent, oh Moyle, be the roar of thy water Silence is in our festal halls 141 Strike the gay harp! see the moon is on high. 133 The Prince's Day.... The Song of Fionnuala. The Song of O'Ruark....................... The time I've lost in wooing.. The valley lay smiling before me............... The wine-cup is circling in Almhin's hall ........... The young May moon is beaming, love......... ........ They came from a land beyond the sea They know not my heart, who believe there can be Tho' the last glimpse of Erin with sorrow I see 121 93 52 41 125 53 36 38 'Tis gone, and for ever, the light we saw breaking. 77 'Tis believ'd that this Harp........... 41 97 22 61 74 61 138 59 11 134 132 |