BLANNAID. 625 



For she, alas ! his faithless bride, 



Had stolen them from her husband's side. 



The chamber-door he quickly gained, 



To burst its massive strength he strained ; 



But no ! his efforts cease at length 



That bolt defies a mortal's strength. 



Then consciousness, with maddening pain, 



Flashed wildly on his wildered brain ; 



That she whom he had won and loved, 



The fair Blannaid, had faithless proved 



And, with a paramour to fly, 



Had left him there alone to die ! 



He shouted and a mingled cry 



Of rushing hundreds made reply : 



He shouted, and then tried once more 



In vain to burst his prison-door : 



He listened and the din outside 



Rose louder, and was spread more wide. 



He shouted o'er that loud alarm, 



Even 'till his voice was riven, 

 The vigour to his single arm 



Of twenty men is given ; 

 The barrier that had bound him fast, 

 Gives way before his strength at last. 



XVI. 



He darted through with speed of wind, 

 As though the avenger were behind. 

 Is it the summer's early day 

 Shoots through that hall its vivid ray ? 

 Is it the quivering lightning gleams 

 Across his path its blood-red streams ? 

 Oh ! no, the sheeted, blazing glare, 

 Which winds around his footstep there, 

 Is not the day, or lightning dire 

 His father's fortress is on fire ! 

 And he enclosed, unarmed, alone, 

 Must view destruction's work go on ; 

 And like a dying hound must see 

 The insults of his enemy, 

 Without the power one life to take, 

 Though fruitless yet for vengeance sake ! 

 Where are his Clana Deagha now? 



Who, if he wound one single horn. 

 Had bounded like the mingled flow 



Of torrents on a stormy morn : 

 And hearing but that single note. 

 Had made his lordly banner float, 

 Where thousands met a bloody grave, 

 And stream o'er victory's topmost wave ! 



XVII. 



O'erthrown in heart and mind he stood, 

 And idiot-like gazed on the flood 

 Of smoke and flame that rolled and roared 

 Along, and sparks that upward soared : 

 M. M. No. 90. 4 C 



