Denis Florence MacCarthy

thumb|Portrait of Denis Florence McCarthy Denis Florence MacCarthy (26 May 1817 – 9 April 1882) was an Irish poet, translator, and biographer, from Dublin. Quotes The cherished traditions of a people, however extravagant they may appear, are in every instance valuable sources of information. No matter what amount of error may have been heaped upon them in their downward course through ages—no matter what incrustations may have formed around them—still like the statue in the block of marble the original form of truth is there, and requires only the discriminating hands of the historian to reveal. The Poets and Dramatists of Ireland: With an Introduction on the Early Religion and Literature of the Irish People, Volume 1 Dublin James Duffy 1846 https://books.google.com/books?id=Wfc_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA18 18 The pillar towers of Ireland, how wondrously they standBy the lakes and rushing rivers through the valleys of our land;In mystic file, through the isle, they lift their heads sublime,These gray old pillar temples, these conquerors of time! From "The Pillar Towers of Ireland" in Poems (Dublin, 1882); quoted by Sean McMahon in A Book of Irish Quotations (1984), p. 91 Youth’s bright palace  Is overthrown,With its diamond sceptre  And golden throne;  As a time-worn stoneIts turrets are humbled—All hath crumbled  But grief alone!Whither, O whither  Have fled awayThe dreams and hopes  Of my early day?  Ruin’d and greyAre the towers I builded;And the beams that gilded—  Ah, where are they?Once this world  Was fresh and bright,With its golden noon  And its starry night:  Glad and light,By mountain and river,Have I bless’d the Giver  With hush’d delight.Youth’s illusions  One by oneHave pass’d like clouds  That the sun look’d on.  While morning shone,How purple their fringes!How ashy their tinges  When that was gone!As fire-flies fade  When the nights are damp—As meteors are quench’d  In a stagnant swamp—  Thus Charlemagne’s campWhere the Paladins rally,And the Diamond valley,  And the Wonderful Lamp,And all the wonders  Of Ganges and Nile,And Haroun’s rambles,  And Crusoe’s isle,  And Princes who smileOn the Genii’s daughters’Neath the Orient waters  Full many a mile,And all that the pen  Of Fancy can writeMust vanish in manhood’s  Misty light;  Squire and Knight,And damosel’s glances,Sunny romances,  So pure and bright!These have vanish’d,  And what remains?Life’s budding garlands  Have turn’d to chains—  Its beams and rainsFeed but docks and thistles,And sorrow whistles  O’er desert plains. "Lament" in Ballads, Poems, and Lyrics (1850), p. 126 External links Category:Biographers from Ireland Category:Poets from Ireland Category:Translators from Ireland Category:People from Dublin Category:1817 births Category:1882 deaths