Page:Irish minstrelsy, vol 2 - Hardiman.djvu/195

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185


TORNA'S LAMENT FOR CORC AND NIAL,

a. d. 423.1

BY JOHN D'ALTON.


Oh! let me think in age
Of years rolled by,
When in the peace of infancy.
Mid all the ties of holy fosterage,2
The future lords of Erin's doom,
With smiles of innocence and unambitious play,
Passed the rapid hours away:
The royal children of my heart and home,
Nial, the heir of hundred-battled Con,
And Corc, of Eogan-more, the not less glorious son.

Years passed, my plumy eaglets grew.
Their deeds were blazoned far:
O'er many a land with Nial victory flew,
But Corc he never met in war.—