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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
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THE FATE OF THE SONS OF USNA
  
THE LAMENTATION FOR THE THREE SONS OF TURANN

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SONG OF FIANOULA.

1

Hot are thy tears, O Lir,
On the feathers of the Swans;
But cold shall rain the rains
Long ages upon thy children.

2

Thou gavest us, O Lir,
A cruel witch for our mother!
Poor father! for thee I weep
She has given thee Swans for children.

3

Three hundred years must we tread
Lake-water in Derryvarragh:
On the saltness of Sruth-na-Moyle
Must welter, three hundred years.
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4

Three hundred years must we cleave
The billows of Erris Domnann:
Till the bell rings in Inis Glory
She cursed us—nine hundred years!
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