Silent, O Moyle

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  • A song by Thomas Moore based on the legend of Fionnula, Lir's daughter, who was turned into a swan by her stepmother Aoife. Referenced on Page 548:

... and I wound around my swanchen's neckplace a school of shells of moyles marine to swing their saysangs in her silents...

  • swanchen → German Schwänchen: little swan
 Silent, Oh Moyle, be the roar of thy water,
 Break not, ye breezes, your chain of repose;
 While murmuring mournfully, Lir's lonely daughter
 Tells to the night-star her tale of woes.
 When shall the swan, her death-note singing,
 Sleep with wings in darkness furl'd?
 When shall heav'n its sweet bell ringing,
 Call my spirit from this stormy world?
 
 Sadly, Oh Moyle, to thy winter-wave weeping,
 Fate bids me languish long ages away;
 Yet still in her darkness doth Erin lie sleeping,
 Still doth the pure light its dawning delay!
 When will that day-star, mildly springing,
 Warm our Isle with peace and love?
 When shall heav'n, its sweet bell ringing,
 Call my spirit to the fields above?