| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Georgian Verse. 1909. | | | | The Minstrel Boy | | By Thomas Moore (1779–1852) |
| | | THE MINSTREL-BOY to the war is gone, | |
| In the ranks of death you’ll find him; | |
| His father’s sword he has girded on, | |
| And his wild harp slung behind him.— | |
| ‘Land of song!’ said the warrior bard, | 5 |
| ‘Tho’ all the world betrays thee, | |
| One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard, | |
| One faithful harp shall praise thee!’ | |
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| The Minstrel fell!—but the foeman’s chain | |
| Could not bring his proud soul under; | 10 |
| The harp he loved ne’er spoke again, | |
| For he tore its chords asunder; | |
| And said, ‘No chains shall sully thee, | |
| Thou soul of love and bravery! | |
| Thy songs were made for the pure and free, | 15 |
| They shall never sound in slavery!’ | | | | |
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