THE DOOM OF IRELAND.
(AFTER JEREMIAH.)
I.
THE children of Ireland imagined a vain thing, and followed false and foolish ideals. Reason and sense and right and truth and justice perished from among the people ; they held fast deceit and imposture, and filled the land with lies. For they walked after the stubbornness of their own hearts ; each acted according to his vanity and boldness. No restraint nor charity availed against their political passions and conceits. They would be " themselves alone."
IL
And in their pride and folly they proceeded from false words to evil actions—even to spoiling and murder and destruction, so that the land from one end to the other was crime-scarred and blood-stained. They set traps and laid in wait, like fowlers, to catch and kill men. Cast down your eyes and look at Ireland's path strewn with the dead. Hear the wail of murdered souls that groan and cry to heaven from every corner. When will the knell of the " Hibernian matins " of Sunday, the 11th of November, cease I In street and field and home, in tram and shop and bed, in market place and railway station, in hospital and church—lives were taken. No place was sacred. The brand of Cain was marked and visible on Ireland's countenance. The whole country was pol- luted with the wickedness of her children and with their evil doings. The pleasant heritage of Ireland was become an abomination and a reproach ; and her glory, that was to her for a name and praise, was besmirched. Holiness and learning were changed for that which has wrought disgrace and damnation upon her. Her light was turned into darkness, for the shadow of violent death covered the land—and no man laid it to heart. Be astonished, 0 ye heavens, and be horribly afraid.
For those who take the sword shall be consumed by the sword—aye, and by famine and by pestilence. For it was meet that Ireland should be subject to the correction of her own wickedness, and her heels suffer violence that her sins should be visited, each in its place and order ; that they that spoiled should be for a spoil, and they that preyed be a prey ; that the ambusher should be ambushed ; and Divine wrath and judgment be shown upon this people. So, like fire that none can quench, a fury has been poured over the land, upon man and upon beast and upon the trees of the field and the fruits of the ground Death is come up into the windows, and the young men fall in the streets. There is come a terrible destruction upon Ireland's substance and dwellings and treasures. Cities are burnt and go up in smoke . inhabitants flee ; lands are laid waste ; churches are dese- crated ; spoliation and murder are everywhere. Ireland's sons have fallen on one another. Her own sword now devours her own children. The Irish people have provoked themselves to the confusion of their own faces and to the ruin of their own country. Self-determination is self- anni hilation.
Go not forth into the field nor walk by the way. For there is terror on every side. The whole land trembleth. No flesh hath peace. The voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstone and the light of the candle have ceased out of this place. Laughter is no laughter. Joy is withered from the sons of Erin. Funerals of the killed throng her thoroughfares ; the dead are lamented, and also are they envied. The country turns into a desolate wilderness. The summer fruits and the harvest are neglected or spoiled. Each men's inheritance is trodden under foot. The sons and daughters of Ireland depart from her shores to where they shall have peace, nor hear the sound of the gun, nor feel the hunger of bread. Woe to thee, 0 Tnisfail I Calamity and affliction have come upon thee ; anarchy and ruin are upon thee ; blood-lust and massacre will follow. Thy doom hasteth fast. Thou art an astonishment and a hissing ; and to thine enemies a laughing-stock and a derision. They mock thee, and as often as they speak of thee they wag their heads. Alas, how art thou spoiled, and thy people con- founded, and thy name and fame gone from thee, and evil and judgment come upon thee. 0 all ye that know and love her, bemoan her, howl and cry, " What hath been done ? How is the beautiful harp broken. How has the noble seed brought forth corruption. What hath happened to the green tree, fair with goodly fruit, that with the fury of a great madness it is blasted and the branches of it shattered to pieces." Iv.
Truly the ways and doings of Ireland's people procured these things—but how long shall it be ? Is not the sword satiate 1 How long shall the land be wasted and its fruits destroyed ? Is her pain to be for ever, and is there no health in her ? The summer is over and the harvest approaches—and yet she is not saved. She hath looked for peace ere now, yet is there only desolation and dismay. Is there no balm in Ireland I Is there no physician there I Sorely smitten has she been, and is there no healing for her 0 God, hast Thou utterly rejected Erin 3 Deal) Thou loathe her ?
V.
Yet listen, for a cry goeth up in Ireland. Her people are ashamed and confounded. They are aghast at their own handiwork. Lamentation and bitter weeping are heard,—" 0 that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for mine iniquities." They would repent, and they long for their innocence. From this time will they not hearken to Thee and turn every man from his evil way And with solemn fast and a laying down of arms will not their mad- ness be brought to an end and Ireland he saved from eternal destruction ?
Wilt Thou not then return and have compassion on the children of Ireland Thou wert once her guide, and for Thy name's sake let not the throne of Thy glory be disgraced for evermore. As often as Thou judgest her, dost Thou not remember her still—the kindness of her early days, how she went after Thee, how she was holiness unto Thee—a firstfruit of Thine increase ? Surely Thou wilt be merciful unto her. And 0 ye saints and scholars, who hallowed her soil, forget not her in these dark days. 0 God, save Thy people, the remnant of Thine Irish people. Even in the latter end proclaim unto them a freedom from the sword, and from the famine, and from the pestilence. Show them the way wherein they should walk and the thing they should do. Let justice and truth and wisdom and charity reign. Let the houses and the fields be bought again in the land. Let the branch of peace grow up unto their happiness and salvation. Z.
Previous page
