Under the Round Tower

    A deal I'd sweat and little earn

    If I should live as live the neighbours，'

    Cried the beggar， Billy Byrne；

    'Stretch bones till the daylight come

    On great-grandfather's battered² tomb.'

    Upon a grey old battered tombstone

    In Glendalough beside the stream，

    Where the O'Byrnes and Byrnes are buried，

    He stretched his bones and fell in a dream

    Of sun and moon that a good hour

    Bellowed³ and pranced⁴ in the round tower；

    Of golden king and silver lady，

    Bellowing⁵ up and bellowing round，

    Till toes mastered a sweet measure，

    Mouth mastered a sweet sound，

    Prancing⁶ round and prancing up

    Until they pranced upon the top.

    That golden king and that wild lady

    Sang till stars began to fade，

    Hands gripped in hands， toes close together，

    Hair spread on the wind they made；

    That lady and that golden king

    Could like a brace⁷ of blackbirds sing.

    'It's certain that my luck is broken，'

    That rambling⁸ jailbird Billy said；

    'Before nightfall I'll pick a pocket

    And snug⁹ it in a feather-bed.

    I cannot find the peace of home

    On great- grandfather's battered tomb.'