17.
Wear, Fingal, thy trapping![1] O'Connell, proclaim[2]
His accomplishments! His!!! and thy country convince
Half an age's contempt was an error of fame,
And that "Hal is the rascaliest, sweetest young prince!"[3]
18.
Will thy yard of blue riband, poor Fingal, recall
The fetters from millions of Catholic limbs?
Or, has it not bound thee the fastest of all
The slaves, who now hail their betrayer with hymns?
19.
Aye! "Build him a dwelling!" let each give his mite![4]
Till, like Babel, the new royal dome hath arisen![5]
Let thy beggars and helots their pittance unite—
And a palace bestow for a poor-house and prison!
20.
Spread—spread for Vitellius, the royal repast,
Till the gluttonous despot be stuffed to the gorge!
And the roar of his drunkards proclaim him at last
The Fourth of the fools and oppressors called "George!"
21.
Let the tables be loaded with feasts till they groan!
- ↑ ["The Earl of Fingall (Arthur James Plunkett, K.P., eighth earl, d. 1836), the leading Catholic nobleman, is to be created a Knight of St. Patrick."—Morning Chronicle, August 18.]
- ↑ Wear Fingal thy ribbon ——.—[MS. M.]
- ↑ And the King is no scoundrel—whatever the Prince.—[MS. M.]
- ↑ [There was talk of a testimonial being presented to the King. O'Connell suggested that if possible it should take the form of "a palace, to which not only the rank around him could contribute, but to the erection of which every peasant could from his cottage contribute his humble mite."—Morning Chronicle, August 18.]
- ↑ Till proudly the new ——.—[MS. M.]
