To hear your sweet and sad complaints, Woe and pain, pain and woe, Are my lot night and noon, To see your bright face clouded so, But yet...... will I rear your throne Again in golden sheen; 'Tis you shall reign, shall reign alone, My dark Rosaleen! My own Rosaleen ! 'Tis you shall have the golden throne, "Tis you shall reign, and reign alone, My dark Rosaleen! Over dews, over sands, Will I fly, for your weal: Your holy delicate white hands Shall girdle me with steel. At home..... · in your emerald bowers, From morning's dawn till e'en, You'll pray for me my flower of flowers. My dark Rosaleen ! My fond Rosaleen! You'll think of me through daylight's hours, My virgin flower, my flower of flowers My dark Rosaleen! The following epitomised narrative of some of the most remarkable passages in the life of our romantic Sea Queen is taken from Owen Connellan's translation of that most interesting work, the "Annals of the Four Masters." The note is a closely-condensed compilation from articles in Authologia Hibernica (for the year 1793), Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, and other authorities. I had already made extracts from the Authologia, when I chanced to find Mr. Connellan's note, and found it so much preferable that I did not hesitate to adopt it. "Grace O'Malley, called in Irish Grainne Maol, commonly pronounced Granu Wail, is celebrated in Irish history. She was first married to O'Flaherty, Chief of West Connaught; and secondly to Sir Richard Burke, by whom she had a son Theobald, who was a commander of note on the side of the English, in Connaught, in the reign of Elizabeth. He was called Sir Theobald Burke, and was created Viscount of Mayo by Charles I. Her father, Owen O'Malley, was a noted chief, and had a small fleet with which he made many expeditions, partly for commercial purposes, but chiefly in piracy. Grace, in her youth, frequently accompanied her father on these expeditions; and after his death, her brother being a minor, she took upon herself the command of her galleys, and made with her crews many bold expeditions. Her chief rendezvous was at Clare Island, off the coast of Mayo, where she kept her large vessels moored, and had a fortress; but she had her small craft at Carrigahooly* Castle (in the bay of Newport, county Mayo), which was her chief residence and stronghold; and there was a hole to be seen in the ruined walls through which a cable was run from one of her ships, for the purpose of communicating an alarm to her apartment on any sudden danger. It is said that her piracies became so frequent that she was proclaimed, and £500 offered as a reward for her apprehension, and troops were sent from Galway to take the Castle of Carrigahooly; but after a siege of more than a fortnight, they were forced to retire, being defeated by the valour of Grace and her men. These exploits were performed by her before and after her marriage with O'Flaherty, but after his death, and her marriage with Sir Richard Burke, she became reconciled to the Government, and, with her followers, assisted the English forces in Connaught, and for her services it is said that Queen Elizabeth wrote her a letter of invitation to the Court, in consequence of which Grace, with some of her galleys, set sail for London, about the year 1575, and she was received at court with great honour by the Queen, who offered to create her a Countess, which honour Grace declined, answering, that both of them being Princesses, they were equal in rank, and they could therefore confer no honours on each other; but Grace said that her Majesty might confer any title she pleased on her young son, a child that was born on ship-board during her voyage to England; and it is said that the Queen knighted the child, who was called by the Irish Tioboid-na-Lung, signifying Theobald of the Ships, from the circumstance of his being born on ship-board; and this Sir Theobald Burke was created Viscount of Mayo by Charles I. "The well-known circumstance of her carrying off the young heir of St. Laurence from Howth, as a punishment for his father's want of hospitality in having the Castle gates closed during dinner-time, occurred on her return from England. "Grace endowed a monastery on Clare Island, off the coast of Mayo, where she was buried, and it is said some remains of her monument are still to be seen there. "Grace O'Malley has been long famous as an Irish heroine in the traditions of the people, and her name is still remembered in song. In various poetical compositions, both in English and Irish, her name is celebrated; and in these songs Ireland is generally personified under the designation of Granu Wail. One of these, which was very popular, was composed by the celebrated Jacobite Munster Bard, Shane Clarach Mac Donnell." MILD as the rose its sweets will breathe, Near Albion's throne stood Grana fair.† * Carrigahooly-in Irish, Carrick-a-Uile--signifying, The rock in the Elbow.. The Queen, surrounded by her ladies, received her in great state. Grana was introduced in the dress of her country-a long uncouth mantle covered her head and body; her hair was gathered on her crown, and fastened with a bodkin; her breast was bare, and she had a yellow bodice and petticoat. The Court stared with surprise at so strange a figure."-Authologia Hibernica. The vestal Queen in wonder view'd "Some boon," she cried, "thou lady brave, "Grana Uile" was one of the many names typical of Ireland, and continued to be so to a late period. The mere playing of the tune, which is an old pipe march, had always a political significance. By CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH, authoress of "The Siege of Derry," &c Here is a political song by a lady, and-place aux dames-it holds the leading place among the poems of the time. It is by "Charlotte Elizabeth." And who is she? We know not; but as the lady rejoices in a nom de guerre, it is quite natural she should choose a siege for her subject, and "A Maiden City" is a fit theme for rejoicing at a lady's hands. Thus our fair authoress has a double right to be the spirited chronicler of the spirited defence of that famous old maid, Derry.-I hope one may say old maid, without offence, to a city. WHERE Foyle his swelling waters A holy temple crowned her, And commerce graced her street, |