The Felons

" Good peasant, we are strangers here,
And night is gathering fast ;
The stars scarce glimmer in the sky,
And moans the mountain blast :
Canst tell us of a place to rest ?
We're wearied with the road ;
No churl the peasant used to be
With homely couch and food."
" I cannot help myself, nor know
Where ye may rest or stay ;
A few more hours the moon will shine,
And light you on your way."

" But, peasant, can you let a man
Appeal to you in vain ;
Here at your very cabin door,
And 'mid the pelting rain ?
Here in the dark, and in the night
Where one scarce sees a span,
What ! — close your heart ! — and close your door !
And be an Irishman ? "
" No — no — go on— the moon will rise
In a short hour or two ;
What can a peaceful labourer say ?
Or a poor toiler do ? "

"You're poor? well — here's a golden chance
To make you rich and great ;
Five hundred pounds are on our heads !
The gibbet is our fate !
Fly — raise the cry, and win the gold ;
Or some may cheat you soon ;
And we'll abide by the road side,
And wait the rising moon."
What ails the peasant ? — does he flush
At the wild greed of gold ?
Why seizes he the wanderers' hands ? —
Hark to his accents bold : —

" Ho ! I have a heart for you, neighbours,
Ay, and a hearth and a home ;
Ay, and a help for you, neighbours ;
God bless ye, and prosper ye — come !
" Come — out of the light of the soldiers :
Come in 'mongst the children and all ;
And I'll guard ye for sake of old Ireland,
Till Connall himself gets a fall.
" To the devil with all their gold guineas —
Come in — everything is your own ;
And I'll kneel at your feet, friends of Ireland !
What I wouldn't for king on his throne.

" God bless ye that stood in the danger,
In the midst of the country's mishap ;
That stood up to meet the big famine :
Och ! ye are the men in the gap !
"Come in — with a Cead Mile Failte ;"
Sit down, and don't make any noise,
Till I come for more comforts to crown ye ;
Till I gladden the hearts of the boys.
" Arrah ! shake hands again — noble fellows !
That left your own homes for the poor ;
Not a man in the land could betray you,
Or shut up his heart or his door."