 | The banshee and other poems |  |
117
THE LAMENT OF AIDEEN FOR OSCAR.
Oscar, son of Oisin, the champion of the Fianna Eirinn, or Fenians, was slain at the battle of Gabhra (pronounced Gowra), near Tara, in Meath. His wife, Aideen, daughter of Angus of Ben-Edar (Howth), died of grief, and was buried in the cromlech on Howth, celebrated in Sir Samuel Ferguson's poem, “Aideen's Grave”.
1
The sere woods are quailingIn the wind of their sorrow,
Their keene they might borrow
From the voice of my wailing.
My bed's the cold stone
By the dark-flowing river:
Ochone-a-rie! Ochone!
Thou art gone, and for ever!
2
Ah! why didst thou love meBut to leave me despairing,
My anguish out-staring
The bleak heavens above me?
118
Where hope's morning comes never:
Ochone-a-rie! Ochone!
I have lost thee for ever!
3
The dumb grave mocks my raving.From the dead comes no token,
Where thy good sword lies broken
Thou art cold to my craving.
We may lie down and moan,
But our champion wakes never:
Ochone-a-rie! Ochone!
We are fallen for ever!
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