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THE BELLE OF THE SHANNON. 1
1 The title and metre are suggested by Mahony's most musical
verses in praise of The Bells of Shandon.
I.
With swate sensashuns,
And palpitashuns,
And suspirashuns,
Which thrill me through!
Here in Limerick, city Of maidens pretty,
A tender ditty I'll chant to you.
II.
With maid and man on,
A stamer ran on,
Where silver Shannon In glory glames!
Shure, all big rivers He bates to shivers,
Rowling majestic,
This King o' Strames!
III.
There, blandly baming,
As we went staming,
Och, was I draming?
I first did note,
Such a swate fairy,
As super mare,
No, nor yet in aere,
Did iver float!
IV.
Her very bonnet
Desarves a sonnet,
And I'd write one on it,
If I'd the time.
But something fairer,
And dear, and rarer,
In coorse, the wearer,
Shall have my rhyme.
V.
With eyes like mayteors,
And parfect phaytures,
Which aisy bate yours,
Great Vanus, fair!
I'll ne'er forget her,
As first I met her,
On (what place betther?)
The cabin stair!
VI.
Her darlint face is
Beyond all praises,
And thin for graces,
There's not her like.
All other lasses
She just surpasses,
As wine molasses,
Or salmon pike!