There came an ex-Premier from England to Erin, If not to his tongue, to give rest to his quill. From his country he came in the hope of repairing Some errors whose memory clings to him still. Can we doubt that e’en now, as he traversed the ocean, His conscience recalled with a doubtful emotion The day when, to show to the priests his devotion, He danced to the music of Erin-go-bragh? O fond is my breast, said the time-serving stranger, O Erin! dear Erin! my heart yearns to thee. The day still I rue when we parted in anger, For a place and a party remain not in me. Then grant me once more for a day or an hour The pleasures of office, the semblance of power. O cover my head with the shamrock’s green flower, And I’ll dance to the measure of Erin-go-bragh. O Erin! dear island! though sad and forsaken, In dreams I revisit the Speaker’s right hand; But, alas! with the dawn’s reappearing I waken, Regretful I broke with the Irish brass band. O fate, cruel fate! would’st thou only replace me On the Treasury Bench, with few Tories to face me, With Biggar, O’Donnell, Parnell to embrace me, I’d seem like their leader, though they might command. Where is my great University measure? Prelates and priests, did ye weep o’er its fall? O how can you dwell on its failure with pleasure, Which gave to you Trinity College and all? O my poor pen, long abandoned to railing! O my sad tongue, is thy influence failing? Pamphlets and speeches are both unavailing, My power and my party they cannot recall. O that, all sad recollections suppressing, From the future one bright grain of hope I could draw, I’d sing, over-coming, all memories distressing, Home Rule for ever! sweet Erin-go-bragh! Sea-sick and ill when I feel the ship’s motion, Still joyously homeward I’ll traverse the ocean, And murmur, in token of grateful devotion, Home Rule for ever! and Erin-go-bragh! From “_They are Five_,” by W. E. G., 1877. ―――― In the thirtieth of the Poem Competitions in “The World,” two prizes were offered for poems on “Ireland’s Distress,” the model selected being Campbell’s “Exile of Erin.” The first prize was gained by Captain Walford (Kommitop); the second by Miss Chamberlayne (Hypophosphate.) The Poems were printed in “The World” March 3, 1880. IRELAND’S DISTRESS.