4 NOVEMBER 1899, Page 30

POETRY.

KING'S ROYAL RIFLES. ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS. OCTOBER 20TH.

PEACE to the empty rhetorical prater, Peace to your " patriot " chatter and brag ! What ! did you deem that the Celt was a traitor, Dream that the soldier was false to his flag ? Hurl, if it please you, your windy defiance, Rant of the deeds that you never will do, Eloquent Dillons and frothy O'Briens- Slander not men who are better than you.

Waiting the word that would call them to action, Steeling their courage to conquer or fall, Little they reeked of the babble of faction, Soldiers of Ireland afar in Natal : Only they knew that the guns were before them,

Only they knew there was honour to gain— Charged on the foe for the island that bore them,

Routed and chased him o'er mountain and plain I 'Tie not in speech is a country's salvation:

Lads that can fall with their face to the foe—

These are the men to make Ireland a nation : Slainte,* 0 Irish who fought at Glencoe!

Saxon and Celt tho' they strive to dissever,

Faction may part us and seas are between,—

Soldiers are links to unite us for ever, Soldiers of Erin who died for the Queen !

A. D. GODLEY.