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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DEIRDRÈ'S LITTLE LAMENTATION FOR THE SONS OF USNA. |
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 | Three Irish Bardic Tales |  |
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DEIRDRÈ'S LITTLE LAMENTATION FOR THE SONS OF USNA.
1
O, pleasant, pleasant my life wasIn Alba of the Mountains,
Contention was none between us,
Myself and thee, O Naisi!
2
But once, once, in thy lightnessThou slewest my sleep with sorrow,
When, victory on thy banners,
Thou camest from Inverness.
3
A hidden kiss was my wronging,My bale was Duntroon's brown daughter:
To her thou gavest, O Naisi!
A kiss in my despite.
4
A milk-white doe did he send her,The messenger of his wooing,
A bright-eyed elf of the forest,
Beside her a frisking fawn.
5
The tale was gall to my gladness,And fire in the jealous woman:
I launched my skiff on the waters,
And the port of my dream was death.
6
Ah, why did ye save your slayer,Ardàn and Ainli, my brothers!
They loosed my tears with their kindness,
They quenched the fire of my heart.
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7
Thrice Naisi swore by his valour,He took his arms for a witness,
That nevermore would he grieve me
Till he joined the hosts of the dead.
8
Ah! were she here whom I hated,And saw him low where he lieth,
Two friends in grief would we wail him,
Her tears would answer my tears.
9
But now alone in my sorrowNo woman weeps with my weeping,
None raises the keene beside me,
None lifts the weight of my heart!
| Three Irish Bardic Tales | |