Three Irish Bardic Tales Being Metrical Versions of the Three Tales known as The Three Sorrows of Story-telling. By John Todhunter |
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 | Three Irish Bardic Tales |  |
‘Have I no friends,’ he cried, ‘to wreak upon these thieves—
These traitors, my great wrong, slaying them for me now?’
But not a man of all the Province spoke nor moved
To do his bidding. Then, like one wounded, he groaned:
‘Have I no friend?’ and looked on Eoghan of Fern-moy,
The Son of Durthach, come to make a pact with him,
And craving subsidy. He faltered forth: ‘O King,
If there be found none else to serve thee, that will I;
Although to slay men bound be hateful to my hand!’
These traitors, my great wrong, slaying them for me now?’
But not a man of all the Province spoke nor moved
To do his bidding. Then, like one wounded, he groaned:
‘Have I no friend?’ and looked on Eoghan of Fern-moy,
The Son of Durthach, come to make a pact with him,
And craving subsidy. He faltered forth: ‘O King,
If there be found none else to serve thee, that will I;
Although to slay men bound be hateful to my hand!’
| Three Irish Bardic Tales | |