THE UNION

Three in one, but one in three,

God, who girt her with the sea,

Bade our Commonweal to be:

Nought, if now not one.

Though fraud and fear would sever

The bond assured for ever,

Their shameful strength shall never

Undo what heaven has done.

South and North and West and East

Watch the ravens flock to feast,

Dense as round some death-struck beast,

Black as night is black.

Stand fast as faith together

In stress of treacherous weather

When hounds and wolves break tether

And Treason guides the pack.

Lovelier than thy seas are strong,

Glorious Ireland, sword and song

Gird and crown thee: none may wrong,

Save thy sons alone.

The sea that laughs around us

Hath sundered not but bound us:

The sun's first rising found us

Throned on its equal throne.

North and South and East and West,

All true hearts that wish thee best

Beat one tune and own one quest,

Staunch and sure as steel.

God guard from dark disunion

Our threefold State's communion,

God save the loyal Union,

The royal Commonweal!