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Bunting - The Ancient Music of Ireland, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 99

Bunting - The Ancient Music of Ireland, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 99
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periodical Publisher
Hodges & Smith, Dublin, 1840
periodical Editor
Edward Bunting
periodical Title
Bunting - The Ancient Music of Ireland
volume Number
1
issue Content
ANCIENT MUSIC OF IRELAND.87and stand to their arms. Ardan first sallies out, and slays his three hundred men of might;then Ainli, who makes twice that havoc; and last, Naisi himself: and, till the sands of thesea, the dewdrops of the meadows, the leaves of the forest, or the stars of heaven be counted,it is not possible to tell the number of heads and hands, and lopped limbs of heroes that thenlay bare and red from the hands of Naisi and his brothers on that plain. rfhen Naisi cameagain into the Red Branch to Deirdre; and she encouraged him, unti. said, We will yetescape : fight manfully, and fear not. Then the sons of Usnach made a phalanx of theirshields, and spread the links of their joined bucklers round Deirdre, and bounding forth likethree eagles, swept down upon the troops of Conor, making sore havoc of his people. Nowwhen Cathbad, the druid, saw that the sons of Usnach were bent on the destruction of Conorhimself, he had recourse to his arts of magic; and he cast an enchantment over them, so thattheir arms fell from their hands, and they were taken by the men of Ulster, for the spell waslike a sea of thick gums about them, and their limbs were clogged in it, that they could notmove. The sons of Usnach are then put to death, and Deirdre, standing over the grave,sings their -funeral song, which is thus rendered:The lions of the hill are gone,And I am left alonealone;Dig the grave both wide and deep,For I am sick, and fain would sleep.The falcons of the wood are flown,And 1 am left alonealone;Dig the grave both deep and wide,And let us slumber side by side.The dragons of the rock are sleeping,Sleep that wakes not for our weeping;Dig the grave, and make it ready,Lay me on my true loves body.Lay their spears and bucklers brightBy the warriors sides aright;Many a day the three before meOn their linked bucklers bore me.Lay upon the low grave floor,Neath each head, the blue claymore;Many a time the noble threeReddened these blue blades for inc.Lay the collars, as is meet,Of their greyhounds at their feet;Many a time for me have theyBrought the tall red deer to bay.In the falcons jesses throw,Hook and arrow, line and bow;Never again by stream or plainShall the gentle woodsmen go.Sweet companions, were ye everHarsh to me your sister, never;Woods and wilds, and misty valleysWere with you as good s a palace.Oh! to hear my true love singing,Sweet as sounds of trumpets ringing;Like the sway of ocean swellingRolled his deep voice round our dwelling.Oh! to hear the echoes pealingRound our green and fairy sheeling,When the three with souring chorusMade the skylark silent oer us!Echo now sleep morn and even;Lark, alone ,enchaut the heavenArdans lips are scant of breath,Naisis tongue is cold in death.Stag, exult on glen and mountain;Salmon, leap from loch to fountain;Heron, in the free air warm ye,Usnachs Sons no more will harm ye.
issue Number
1
page Number
99
periodical Author
Edward Bunting
issue Publication Date
1840-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Bunting - The Ancient Music of Ireland

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