The Traugh Welcome

Shall a son of O'Donnel be cheerless and cold,

While Mackenna's wide heart has a faggot to spare;

While O'Donnel is poor shall Mackenna have gold,

Or be cloth'd, while a limb of O'Donnel is bare?

While sickness and hunger the sinews assail,

Shall Mackenna, unmov'd, quaff his madder of mead;

On the haunch of a deer shall Mackenna regale,

While a chief of Tyrconnell is fainting for bread?

No, enter my dwelling, my feast thou shalt share,

On my pillow of rushes thy head shall recline:

And bold is the heart and the hand that will dare

To harm but one hair of a ringlet of thine.

Then come to my home, 'tis the house of a friend,

In the green woods of Traugh thou art safe from thy foes;

Six sons of Mackenna thy steps shall attend,

And their six sheathless skeans shall protect thy repose.