186
AN GAODHAL.
THE SHAN VAN VOCHT.
Translated from the Irish of
Gabhar Donn
By
M. CARROLL.
1
Oh the time is coming fast,
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
In which I'll see at last,
Says the Shan Van Vocht,
Freedom for my people come,
Freedom radiant as the sun,
Spreading joy from victory won!
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
2
Tho' my sky be dark and low,
Says the Shan Van Vocht,
And tho' I'm filled with woe,
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
It will soon be blue and clear,
And myself be full of cheer,
And my sorrows disappear,
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
3
Tho' my children were dispersed,
Says the Shan Van Vocht,
And young and old oppressed,
Says the Shan Van Vocht,
Soon shall persecution cease,
And those who wronged my race
Shall suffer dire disgrace.
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
4
Tho' my country's desert land,
Says the Shan Van Vocht,
Swept of peasant, sage, and band,
Says the Shan Van Vocht,
She'll be beauteous as the rose,
Filled with people, in repose,
Free, victorious o'er her foes.
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
5
Tho' strong my foe, and free,
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
Tho' weak my arm may be,
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
I will be stronger far
Than my foe, tho' famed in war,
I will free myself from her.
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
6
Tho' my language from me's gone,
Says the Shan Van Vocht,
Tho' my music's full of gloom,
Says the Shan Van Vocht,
I will rout the Bearla wry,
And to Gaelic I'll apply,
And my music shall be spry.
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
7
Now tho' I'm old and dry,
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
Full of grief and doleful cry,
Says the Shan Van Vocht.
I will be as of yore,
Young, and handsome, brave in war,
And they'l never greet me more. —
"Lo! the Shan Van Vocht."
Bearla wry, the crooked Bearla.
Dear Mr. Logan. — The above is an English ver¬
sion of the
Gabhar Donn's "Seanbhean Bhocht"
for the benfit of those who cannot read the original.
The meaning is as closely given as the nature of
the rhyme would permit. If you don't get a better
you may print it if you think fit,
Respectfully yours,
M. CARROLL.
Gaels, remember that the paper, presswork, post¬
age, etc., of your journal have to be paid for before
it reaches you, and that these expenses are consider¬
able. Hence, you ought to be punctual in sending
your support to it and, also, exert yourselves in get¬
ting the support of others. Friends, you ought to
take a personal pride in the fact that you have res¬
cued your nation from the jaws of death. When the
Gaelic movement was inaugurated in this country
twenty years' ago, what was the position of your
race, at home and abroad, compared with what it is
to-day? There is no room for a parallel, for it was
then a passive mass; it is buoyant and active today.
Though your Gael is small in size the results ac¬
complished by it are mountainous in their effects.
The source of the cancer which had nigh gnawed
the heart of the race and nation has been laid bare
and the physicians have commenced the application
of the proper remedy. The dose may be bitter, but
so are, generally, all effective medicinal draughts.
Then, friends, do all you can to circulate your pa¬
per that its usefulness may be extended, and that
your own exertions may become more widely known
If our presentation of the state of the Irish ele¬
ment be correct it exhibits gross criminal neglect
on the part of the people at large, and they should
hang their heads in shame instead of clamoring for
the commiseration of strangers; if it be not correct
we would like to be informed of where the error
lies. Then the Irish deserve scorn and contempt
only until they first demonstrate that they have
done what in them lay to preserve themselves.
THE QUEEN ISABELLA ASSOCIATION
Was organized for the purpose of erecting a statue
to the great Queen Isabella of Castile, to be unveil¬
ed at the time of the Columbian Exposition, and
appeals to the individual public to buy one or more of
of its “Statue Fund Certificates,” which are $5 each
The Cardinal, Archbishops and Bishops have com¬
mended the undertaking. Those willing to assist the
laudable work should address Mrs. Clare Hanson
Mohun, 70 State st., Chicago, Ill.
D'eug ag Spideul na Trócaire, Dú¬
rango, Colo., an naomhadh lá fichead de
'n Mhárt, Séarlus C. Coll, de'n tSliabh
Ruadh, a rugadh deich mbliadhna fichead ó
shoin, i n-Dún-na-nGall. Is an mhór an
díobháil do chúis na Gaodhailge bás an
fhir óig thírghrádhamhuil seo, óir do bhí a
chroidhe 's anam ainti. Iarramuid air
gach Gaodhal Righ na trócaire do guidhe
chum suaimhneas síorruidhe thabhairt do
anam ar g-cara, & cara na h-Éireann.
