midnight
And yet I will not say that the language of genuine indigenous Irish composition is always vulgar and uncouth : on the contrary , I am in possession of some specimens , though by no means of the highest order as to poetic merit , which do not possess throughout a single peculiarity of diction . The lines which I now proceed to lay before you , by way of illustration , are from the pen of an unfortunate young man , of very humble birth , whose early hopes were crossed by the untimely death of her whom he loved . He was a self-educated man , and in after-life rose to high distinctions in the Church to which he devoted himself -- an act which proves the sincerity of spirit with which these verses were written . ` When moonlight falls on wave and wimple , And silvers every circling dimple , That onward , onward sails : When fragrant hawthorns wild and simple Lend perfume to the gales , And the pale moon in heaven abiding , O'er midnight mists and mountains riding , Shines on the river , smoothly gliding Through quiet dales , ` I wander there in solitude , Charmed by the chiming music rude Of streams that fret and flow . For by that eddying stream SHE stood , On such a night I trow : For HER the thorn its breath was lending , On this same tide HER eye was bending , And with its voice HER voice was blending Long , long ago . Wild stream ! I walk by thee once more , I see thy hawthorns dim and hoar , I hear thy waters moan , And night-winds sigh from shore to shore , With hushed and hollow tone ; But breezes on their light way winging , And all thy waters heedless singing , No more to me are gladness bringing -- I am alone .