Three Irish Bardic Tales Being Metrical Versions of the Three Tales known as The Three Sorrows of Story-telling. By John Todhunter |
 |
 |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
 | Three Irish Bardic Tales |  |
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 shoreFled 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.
| Three Irish Bardic Tales | |