I have always regarded with wonder and awe
The conception of Justice embodied in Law:
For it dealt in a highly remarkable way
With Cornelius Molloy and with Peter O'Shea.
Now, Peter O'Shea was by nature a serf,
And he paid (when he could) for his land and his turf:
But Cornelius, his friend, was a broth of a boy--
The Sassenach's scourge was Cornelius Molloy.
Cornelius adopted the Plan of Campaign,
And he tried to tempt Peter, but tempted in vain.
"'Twas the masther, not thim, I conthracted to pay:
'Tis a quare kind of business," said Peter O'Shea.
But the Plan of Campaign, as its authors confess,
Was not, on the whole, a decided success:
And the blackguardly minion whom tyrants employ
Evicted at last great Cornelius Molloy.
The Saxon oppressor, still potent for harm,
Gave Peter a lease of Cornelius' farm:
Which Peter accepted with virtuous joy--
For he lived quite adjacent to Mr Molloy.
Cornelius was angry (and faith he'd a right),
So he came with a party to Peter's by night,
And they shot through the door, with intention to slay
That traitor and land-grabber, Peter O'Shea.
Poor Peter was pained, but he scorned to show fear:
"Sure the law will protect me so long as I'm here:
'Tis an iligant holding and little to pay;
Och! 'twas only wid shnipe-shot!" said Pether O'Shea.
But the Liberal Party observed with dismay
The outrageous proceedings of Peter O'Shea;
And Mr O'Kelly, our pride and our joy,
Made a law for restoring Cornelius Molloy.
Cornelius came back to his former abode,
And Peter was houseless, and starved on the road:
For Justice, whose methods O'Kelly can tell,
Gave Cornelius _his_ holding and Peter's as well.
It is this which inspires us with feelings of awe
For the standards of Justice embodied in Law:
And tenants, the law when inclined to obey,
Will be cheered by the instance of Peter O'Shea.