AN GAODHAL.
481
El MAHDI.
Mo bheannacht ort, El Mahdi!
Mo bheannacht ort arís !
Go d-tugaidh Allah cabhair duit
Aig cur do námhad síos !
A shaoi! A shaoi!
Tá agad guidhe
Treun-Éireannach an domhain;
Go m-béidh do thír
Gan mhoíll go saor
Ó lomargáin an Leomhain.
So fógradh dhuit, El Mahdi,
So fógradh carad fíor. —
Na deun aon chonnradh síothcháine
Le Sacsanach go síor.
Tá agad ceart
Anaghaidh neirt —
Is mealltóir náireach, Seághan ;—
Ná glac aon dúais
Air son do chúis',
Acht saoirse bhuan amháin.
D'éist sinn le Seághan, El Mahdi,
Go minic d'éist sinn leis;
Do chreid sinn geallta thug sé dhúinn,
Acht d'oibrigh sé ár sgrios.
Oir in gach geall
Do rinn' sé feall,
Do bhris sé iad gach trá;
'Gus tá ár b-pian,
Le seacht g-ceud bliadhain,
Níos géire fás gach lá.
Acht in do chúis, El Mahdi,
Tá croidhe na h-Éireann leat;
'Gus le do chlann, tá troid go teann
Do shaoirse, faoi do bhrat.
Tá fear a's bean,
Tá óg a's sean
Ó Thorc (1) go Bearnas Mór, (2
Aig guidhe chum Dé,
Go g-cuirfidh Sé
Do léithid dúinn mar threóir.
Buail leat! buail leat, El Mahdi!
'Sná stad ó'n troid go deó,
Cho fhad a's tá aon Sacsanach
I d-tír do dhúthchais beó.
Buaíl leat! Buail leat!
'Gus congbhaigh brat
EL MAHDI.
Translated
BY MICHAEL CAVANAGH.
My blessing take, El Mahdi!
My blessing take again!
May Allah Great enable you
To trash your foes amain !
Oh Sage! for you,
The Irish true.
O'er earth — pray Freedom's God
That Robber Guelphs
Blood-sucking whelps
Be hunted from our sod!
A warning take, El Mahdi!
This friendly caution heed,
A peaceful compact never make
with one of Saxon breed :
With you is "Right"
Confronting Might,
John Bull’s a traitor loon;
No present take
For Justice' sake —
Save Freedom's lasting boon.
We trusted John, El Mahdi!
His words we oft believed;
But, in each treaty with him made,
We ever were deceived :
For pledge and oath,
Were broken both, —
Through seven hundred years,
His blighting curse
Grew daily worse,
SAVE THEN WE GRASPED OUR SPEARS.
But in your cause, El Mahdi!
Old Ireland’s heart beats high ;
'Tis with your sons who bravely fight
Where Freedom's banners fly.
And young and old —
The fair and bold —
From Turk to “Bearna-Mor:"
A leader true
To send — (like you,)
The Lord of Hosts implore!
Strike on! strike on! El Mahdi!
And never hold your hand,
While but one living Saxon foe
Pollutes your ancient land.
Strike! Prophet brave !
Your banner wave,
