tained by force ought not to attaint the blood of any sub-
ject of Dalkey."

The odes composed for these commemorations had
▼aiious degrees of merit. The following are three verses
oftheodeof 1793:—

** If sprung fh)m woman, say,
Did you first know the day,

Without a slurt?
Or must you, like the down,
Spite of your great renown.
Lay your great body down,
Deep in the dirt?

** Lord of all Dalkey lands.
Chief of our jovial bands.
Are you not man?
TVith you though peace doth reign,
Nor blood your isle doth stain,
Nor fiemiine here complain.
Are you not man ?

" What though the realms rejoice
In your melodious voice :

Kings are but men !
And while each subject sings :
* God made us men, not kings !'
With echo Dalkey rings :

' Kings are but men !' "

The last meeting of the society was held on the
20th of August, 1797. It was the year immediately
preceding the breaking out of the rebellion, and the
jails were filled with prisoners accused of treason.
The greater part of the country was treated as under
martial law^ and the soldiers were Uving at ftee quarters



DALKEY ODES. 147

to assist the sheriffs. The United Irishmen were the
great object of suspicion to the goyernment. The mu-
tiny at the Nore had ended only a month previously.
