Billy Byrne, a beggar, grumbles that he would barely earn a living if he worked like his neighbours, so he stretches out to sleep on his great-grandfather’s worn tombstone in Glendalough. There he slips into a trance-like dream: a golden king and silver lady whirl and sing inside the round tower, rising in an ecstatic dance until they reach the top and sing like blackbirds. The vision is gorgeous and unearthly, full of music and motion. But when Billy speaks again, the wonder has not changed his life. He announces that his luck is broken, plans to pick a pocket and sleep in a feather bed, and admits he cannot find peace on the old family tomb. The mood is half folktale, half deflating joke—lovely and ancient, then suddenly restless and bitter.
Under the Round Tower — Summary
'Although I'd lie lapped up in linen A deal I'd sweat and little earn If I should live as live the neighbours,' Cried the beggar, Billy Byrne; 'Stretch bones till the daylight come On great-grandfather's battered tomb.' Upon a grey old battered tombstone In Glendalough beside the stream, Where the O'Byrnes and Byrnes are buried, He stretched his bones and fell in a dream Of sun and moon that a good hour Bellowed and pranced in the round tower; Of golden king and silver lady, Bellowing up and bellowing round, Till toes mastered a sweet measure, Mouth mastered a sweet sound, Prancing round and prancing up Until they pranced upon the top. That golden king and that wild lady Sang till stars began to fade, Hands gripped in hands, toes close together, Hair spread on the wind they made; That lady and that golden king Could like a brace of blackbirds sing. 'It's certain that my luck is broken,' That rambling jailbird Billy said; 'Before nightfall I'll pick a pocket And snug it in a feather-bed, I cannot find the peace of home On great-grandfather's battered tomb.'