THE WILD BEAST
When from the gloom and darkness
Some lion voice did roar.
He sprung upon our pathway
To stand our road before.
I cried in vain contention,
“O, let us go our way.”
But to our further progress
The red cat stood at bay.
My hound would not obey me,
So brave and fine was she,
But sprang upon the wild beast
To fight for liberty.
Oh, how my heart was beating
So full of grief and fear
At thunder of the battle
That fell upon my ear.
Oh, great and splendid fighting
Like to the times of Fionn,
Alas! uneven chances,
My dear one could not win;
And sudden to a silence
I opened eyes of pain,
With face towards her foe still
My faithful hound was slain.
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