PACATA HIBERNIA.
" IRELAND at peace." So under the fierce Queen. Men closed the cruel record. 0 strange peace Peace by division, peace by the poisoned cup, Peace by gaunt famine, peace by fire and sword, The peace of desolation. Newer times Saw newer turmoil still subdued, and still Ireland was " pacified," and there was peace,— The peace of Cromwell, William's bitter peace. And still the maxim in her rulers' mouth Was " Sow division, that you may reap peace ; Bleed till the flesh is white; there will be peace." And, though, with freedom spreading, came the will To right and to be righted, still the past Poisoned the present; still the old mistrust Fermented rancour ; and still England dealt
A grudging justice. Now, at the long last, After much travail in the vale of tears, Much wrong, both done and suffered, since Carew Wrote "pacified" three centuries ago, Now in the glory of a milder Queen, Now, in the great lull of her Empire's life, Now, with the temple doors of Janus shut, Comes: there to Ireland promise of a peace, Not on division but on concord based, Not an enforced and not a fettered peace, A peace of trust. Nor soon his name and praiser Shall be forgotten who held out the peace; Whom, whether loved or hated, Ireland knows Constant of purpose, and of word or act Intrepid ; whom wild folk in the proof of time Have learnt to bless and honour; who now stands Holding no scales, nor peddling justice out By drams and scruples, but in liberal mood Proffering help and loyal fellowship.
"Ireland at peace,"—United Ireland then, In loving union to her sister linked, Her separate self not lost, but Ireland still,. Distinct in love, not held apart by hate, Uniting not dividing. Prove it so !
So should the longest reign be longest loved, So for the Empire happiest, that it left Ireland with England and herself at peace.
STEPHEN GWYNN.,
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