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University of Virginia Library

Three Irish Bardic Tales

Being Metrical Versions of the Three Tales known as The Three Sorrows of Story-telling. By John Todhunter

Todhunter, John (1839-1916)

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THE DOOM OF THE CHILDREN OF LIR

THE TUNING OF THE HARP.

1.

THE FIRST DUAN. THE DOOM OF THE CHILDREN OF LIR.

THE WITCH-SONG OF OIFA.

FIANOULA'S ANSWER.

OIFA'S SONG OF DOOM.

OIFA'S ANSWER.

2.

THE SECOND DUAN. THE SWANS ON DERRYVARRAGH.

THE SONG OF THE SWANS.

SONG OF FIANOULA.

THE DOOM OF OIFA.

3.

THE THIRD DUAN. THE SWANS ON SRUTH-NA-MOYLE.

4.

THE FOURTH DUAN. THE SWANS IN THE BANNA.

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5.

THE FIFTH DUAN. THE SWANS IN ERRIS DOMNANN.

THE SWANS' LAMENT FOR THE DESOLATION OF LIR.

6.

THE SIXTH DUAN. THE COMING OF THE FAITH.

7.

THE SEVENTH DUAN. THE SWANS' DELIVERANCE.

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THE FATE OF THE SONS OF USNA

1.

THE FIRST DUAN THE COMING OF DEIRDRÈ.

2.

THE SECOND DUAN. THE FOSTERING OF DEIRDRÈ.

3.

THE THIRD DUAN. THE SONS OF USNA.

4.

THE FOURTH DUAN. THE RED KING.

5.

THE FIFTH DUAN. THE FLIGHT FROM ALBA.

6.

THE SIXTH DUAN. THE PLEDGE OF FERGUS.

7.

THE SEVENTH DUAN. THE RED BRANCH HOUSE.

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8.

THE EIGHTH DUAN. THE DEATH OF THE SONS OF USNA.

DEIRDRÈ'S SONG OF THE TREACHEROUS FEAST.

DEIRDRÈ'S LITTLE LAMENTATION FOR THE SONS OF USNA.

DEIRDRÈ'S LAMENTATION FOR THE SONS OF USNA.

THE GREAT LAMENTATION.

9.

THE NINTH DUAN. THE DEATH OF DEIRDRÈ.

THE LAMENTATION FOR THE THREE SONS OF TURANN

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OIFA'S ANSWER.

1

A boon, a boon I yield you,
Ye sorrowful Children of Lir!
Man's reason shall breed within you
Sweet words in the tongue of men.

2

Sweet, sweet be your voices,
Ye mournful Swans of Lir!
The sad, sweet moan of your music
Shall comfort the sick with sleep.

3

Sweet, sweet be your voices,
Ye sorrowful Swans of Lir!
Your song from the seas of Eri
Shall comfort the sorrows of men.

4

Sweet, sweet be your voices,
Ye magical Swans of Lir!
A nation's desolation
Shall witch the world in your song.

13

19

Then from the Swans went Oifa, and hasting from the shore
Fled from her triumph, pale, hate glutted; and the Swans,
Banished from hopes of men, and comfort of their kind
Swam in a knot forlorn into the clouds of doom.