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 |  |
Now a contention rose between the brothers three,
Which of them first should die. ‘The youngest,’ said Ardàn,
‘And that am I.’ ‘Not so,’ said Ainli, ‘spare mine eyes
The sorrow of thy death.’ Said Naisi: ‘Take my sword,
That sword which Manannàn, the Son of Lir, gave once
To Usna: it shall have the slaying of his Sons;
For with it thou mayest smite our three heads at a blow.’
Which of them first should die. ‘The youngest,’ said Ardàn,
‘And that am I.’ ‘Not so,’ said Ainli, ‘spare mine eyes
The sorrow of thy death.’ Said Naisi: ‘Take my sword,
That sword which Manannàn, the Son of Lir, gave once
To Usna: it shall have the slaying of his Sons;
For with it thou mayest smite our three heads at a blow.’
| Three Irish Bardic Tales | |