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 |  |
Shrill as a Banshee shrieked the sword at Naisi's thigh,
As Maini loosed the belt, and took it. ‘Put it now,’
Said Naisi, ‘to my lips.’ He kissed the sword, and said:
‘A good friend thou hast been, and trusty. Thou hast kept
My life a thousand times; now shalt thou give me death,
And swiftly.’ Then he said to Maini: ‘Loose our bonds,
For shame it is to slay men bound.’ Their bonds he loosed,
And in their arms awhile they held each other fast,
And tenderly they took their last farewell, and all
The men of Ulster wept, so piteous was the sight.
As Maini loosed the belt, and took it. ‘Put it now,’
Said Naisi, ‘to my lips.’ He kissed the sword, and said:
‘A good friend thou hast been, and trusty. Thou hast kept
My life a thousand times; now shalt thou give me death,
And swiftly.’ Then he said to Maini: ‘Loose our bonds,
For shame it is to slay men bound.’ Their bonds he loosed,
And in their arms awhile they held each other fast,
And tenderly they took their last farewell, and all
The men of Ulster wept, so piteous was the sight.
| Three Irish Bardic Tales | |