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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THE GREAT LAMENTATION. |
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 | Three Irish Bardic Tales |  |
THE GREAT LAMENTATION.
1
Ochone for the land left lonely,Without the Three, without the Three!
The warmth of the sun goes with you
To the cold house of the dead!
2
Without them the Red-Branch HouseIs a place of ghosts, of black horror;
The feasts of the mighty mourn them,
The women of Eri weep!
3
My curse on Fergus, that left them,My curse on Buiné, that sold them,
My curse on Cathvah, that bound them,
My curse on Maini, that slew them!
4
And my curse's curse on the KingThat snared them with words of honey,
Black hills of hate be above him,
My curse upon Conchobar!
5
O better than mother's loveWere Naisi's arms around me!
O gentler than loving brothers
Were Ainli and Ardàn!
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6
They fed me with love, they kept meWith spoil in their nest of eagles;
Without them the fields of Eri
Are blasted, and black the skies!
7
Ochone for the Land left lonelyWithout the Three, without the Three!
The warmth of the sun goes with you
To the cold house of the dead!
THE CLOSING OF THE TOMB.
In the house without a fire
Heap the black stones over me;
With Naisi where cold he lies
Let the clods cover me!
Heap the black stones over me;
With Naisi where cold he lies
Let the clods cover me!
| Three Irish Bardic Tales | |