364
AN GAODHAL.
Translation of the poem by Mr. Michael Burke,
"On the Night of the Great Wind,"
By his Daughter.
Fearful now the retrospection,
As time brings the recollection
Through the vista of reflection.
Shrouding Nature as a pall.
Night terrific dire confusion,
All pervades while no illusion
Calms the fearful, ills profusion
Sternest will and mind enthrall.
Ocean's surges madly raging
Fierce oversteps its limits waging
War o'er loftiest cliffs engaging
Nature's utmost in the strife.
Shuddering all, as cleft asunder
Staunchest links which challenge wonder,
Lightning's flash and deaf'ning thunder,
Terror, woe, and plaint are rife.
Multitudes their crimes forsaking,
From profoundest slumber waking,
Earth in wildest terror quaking,
Masked is Mercy's visage now.
This no time for suppliant pleading,
Clemency is o'er receding,
Far from reprobate unheeding
Wrath but claims high homage now.
From the west high rapid rushing
Crested form in surges crushing
Madly in its progress brushing
All engulfing in its path.
Then aloft petitions wending,
Is another Deluge pending ?
Scoffers cease their sneers, are bending
Can it be dire day of wrath?
Threatening dire annihilation,
Compassing all vast creation,
Where then find an Ark's salvation ?
Who the Noah then to shield?
But 'tis stilled; a mild cessation
Calms wild turmoiled situation,
Comes o'er all a sweet elation
Gales subside o'er flood and field.
High wild Ocean's spray is flying:
High o'er hill and heath defying
Briney showers of crystal lying
Decking mountain, plain and hill:
Rarest vesture thus displaying,
Garb of Nature's own arraying,
With her artist hand portraying
Rarest most bewitching skill.
Day when direst gloom appalling!
Day when lurid planets falling!
Day when on the mounts are calling
Piteous mortals in despair.
Who then stem those ills terrific,
Who the quell sad sighs prolific,
Who shall then yield balm specific
Where the culprits Justice dare ?
Ocean sends its horde of ages,
Names once blazoning History's pages,
In array seers, fools; and sages.
Side by side are friend and foe.
Plain and mound and tomb are rending
Bursting from their centre's sending
Mortals waiting sentence, pending
Fraught with veriest bliss or woe.
All from earliest creation,
All from clime and race and nation,
Deadliest foe and loved relation
Mortal form then reassume.
Gabriel's clarion loudly thrilling
Inmost heart with terror filling
Summons all, to hear unwilling
Merited, unwelcome doom.
Then the few, the pure, the lowly,
Whose one aim salvation solely
Shunned for this broad course unholy
Now celestial garb display,
Then the many who addicted
To base passions well depicted
In dark visage fierce afflicted
Truly do their guilt portray.
Such will be that day of wailing
Such when Heaven its vengeance hailing,
Naught now lustrous wretched quailing,
Once these thoughts provoked a jeer.
Hark!  archangel's trump announces,
Lo! Majestic King denounces,
The great wrathul Judge pronounces,
Sentence terrible to hear.
How portray this separation,
Sundered wide fond loved relation,
Earth's most cruel deprivation
Held not aught resembling this.
One last mute and cold embracing
Kindred, closest links effacing,
Parted ! every thought erasing
Here to woe and there to bliss.
Oh, the joy triumphant sealing
Strifes conflicting, ills congealing
Snares escaped base tempters dealing
Conquerors, the enfranchised throng,
Bright reward ! worth earnest trying,
Champions brave for Heaven denying:
Now with hosts celestial vieing
Joining in angelic song.
Lofty throned in regal splendor,
Saints, apostles, honor render,
