THE

AONIAN KALEIDOSCOPE;

OR,

A COLLECTION OF

ORIGINAL POEMS.

BY P. O'KELLY, ESQ.
Author of Killarney, Giant's Causeway &c. &c. &c

Lork:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR

1824,

280..90.

it

A Prefatory Dedication.

WHEN such a splendid Galaxy of poetical genius adorns our Hemisphere, when a BYRON, a Scorг, a MOORE, a MORGAN, a SHEILL, &c. have gathered the most flourishing Laurels in the field of APOLLO, may be considered presumptuous in me to aspire to be enrolled in the List of Fame; but however, humble the following manipulations may be, I would be wanting to myself, if I did not once more appear before the public, as a candidate for a Pindaric Sprig; the more especially when even MAJESTY deigned to

shed a ray of lustre upon my efforts---but, methinks, I

hear the snarling Critic say, “O'KELLY boasts of the royal countenance beaming upon his obscurity, if so why not return the favor by a Dedication to MAJESTY"? I will stifle in its utterence such theonine malice, by HORACE's apology to AUGUSTUS,

"Cum tot sustineas & tanta negotia solus, "Res Italas armis tuteris, moribus ornes, "Legibus emendes; in publica commoda peccem, "Si nostro sermone morer tua tempora, Cæsar”. Yet not alone to Royalty am I indebted, whilst some of the first Names in the Land grace my List, to whom I Dedicate the following pages, as a small acknowledgment of the gratitude which I owe them, and which shall never be effaced from the breast of him who has the honor of subscribing himself

Their Devoted,

Most Grateful, &

Most Humble Servant,
THE AUTHOR,

Cork, June 24, 1824.

P. O'KELLY, ESQ.

(Author of Killarney, Giant's Causeway, &c. &c. &c.)

All-hail O'KELLY! Nature's Bard divine,

Thou favour'd Minstrel of the sacred Nine ;
Their choicest gifts to thee the Sisters bring,
Fresh from the waters of Castalia's Spring:

Round thy fair brow the laurel wreath they twin'd,
And still their holy fire illumes thy mind.-
If CAMPBELL'S chasteness, and if BYRON's fire,
Or the wild ringing of the Northern Lyre;
If MOORE th' Enchanter's dazzling light of song,
Can bear their names on Times rough tide along;
Lift thy bold head to Heav'n and dare to hope
Thou! too shalt live in thy KALEIDOSCOPE!

For all their varied Beauties are combin'd,

In the bright prism of thy matchless mind:
Which erst in song hast giv'n "Killarney" fame,
Immortal as thy song, great Bard! shalt be thy name.
Çork, June, 1824.

J. J. C.

To P. O'KELLY, Esq. Author of Killarney, &c. &c. &e.

When TARA's splendor had o'erspread the world,
And SCANIA's hordes had wild confusion hurl'd
On Europe else; the Bards in Druid state

Wail'd on their Harps old Erin's future fate;
DAIRE, the Druid chief, in TaRA's hall,

Shook his Divining Urn at BRIAN'S call;

BRIAN th' undaunted! who, on Clontarf's plains,
With blood-stain❜d Sabre smote the haughty Danes;

The mystic Priest thus pray'd; the crowd drew near,
In silent rev'rence of their hoary Seer:

Reveal, Dread BAAL, Heav'ns chief; creation's God, "Who rul'st the world with thy omnific nod,

"The future doom of this thy fav'rite Isle;

"Is peace her lot, or ever-during toil?"

魯

With instant iuspiration heav'd his Breast,

Whilst thus he sang th' Eternal's high Behest.

“Great BAAL shall run his twice three-hundredth race,

Ere Erin's woes from Albion's wrongs shall cease: