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 |  |
DEIRDRÈ'S LAMENTATION FOR THE SONS OF USNA.
THE FIRST SORROW.
1
The daughters of beauty weepIn the desolate halls of Eri,
Hushed are the sons of music
In the lonely House of Kings!
2
Long to me is the dayWithout the Three, without the Three,
Three lions of war, three dragons,
Three sons of a noble King.
3
They were great of heart, they were comelyBeyond the champions of Eri:
Forlorn is the House of Usna,
Broken the great Red-Branch.
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4
Ah! why, why have ye left meYe beautiful Sons of Usna?
Would I had gone to my slaughter
Ere ye were slain for my sake!
THE BEATING OF THE BREAST.
Ochone, ochone-a-rie!
They are gone, they have left me lonely!
Ochone-a-rie! Ochone
For the hearts that beat no more!
They are gone, they have left me lonely!
Ochone-a-rie! Ochone
For the hearts that beat no more!
THE SECOND SORROW.
1
Long to me is the dayWithout the Three, without the Three;
In onset dreadful as thunder,
But gentle to me their love.
2
Like the sister strings of a harp,They made sweet music together;
And I the fourth in their chiming,
Our hearts were sweet strings in tune.
3
When flamed your swords o'er the battleGreat Kings were abasht before you;
But sweet to me were your faces,
Like honey your words of love.
4
Ah! why, why did you leave me,Ye beautiful Sons of Usna?
Would I had gone to my slaughter
Ere ye were slain for my sake!
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THE RENDING OF THE HAIR.
Ochone! Ochone-a-rie!
My head is shorn of its beauty
Ochone-a-rie! Ochone
For the mighty that wake no more.
My head is shorn of its beauty
Ochone-a-rie! Ochone
For the mighty that wake no more.
| Three Irish Bardic Tales | |