“Rich and Rare Were The Gems She Wore”

Description

A knight meeting a beautiful lady wearing gems and a gold ring asks why she is not afraid to walk alone in Ireland. She answers: "No son of Erin will offer me harm; For tho' they love woman and golden store, Sir Knight! they love honor and virtue more!"

Notes

Not one of Moore's hits; Granger's Index to Poetry doesn't mention a single anthology containing the piece, and I know of no traditional collections. - RBW

Broadsides

  • Bodleian, Firth b.28(6a/b) View 6 of 8, "Rich and Rare Were the Gems She Wore", R. March & Co. (London), 1877-1884; also Firth b.26(338), "Rich and Rare Were the Gems She Wore"

References

  1. O'Conor, p. 111, "Rich and Rare Were The Gems She Wore" (1 text)
  2. BI, OCon111

About

Author: Thomas Moore (1779-1852)
Earliest date: before 1885 (broadside, Bodleian Firth b.28(6a/b) View 6 of 8)