St. Cellach's Death Song

'Tis my Love, the Morning fair,
Floating, flame-like, through the air:
'Tis my Love who sends her, too,
Victor Morning, ever new!

O Morning, fair and tender!
O Sister of Sun's splendour!
Welcome thou, O Morning fair!
Beaming on my booklet there.

At ev'ry house-guest glancing —
All tribes of earth entrancing —
Welcome here, O White-neck rare!
Winsome, wondrous, golden-fair!

Soon my small fleckt book shall tell
That not well my life went past;
Now Maelcron, set on murther,
Fares to further death at last.

Grim fellow,
Gray, grip-beak, gleam-eye yellow, —
Thou, Scall-crow! watchful sitter
Tak'st bitter care of Cellach.

O constant-croaking Raven!
Is thy hunger-craving fresh?
Rise not from this rath-topt hill,
Thou shalt have thy fill of flesh.

The keen Kite of far Cluano
Swiftly for the spoil shall go;
Thence, with strong claws full, will start —
Nor from me will meekly part.

Fox in forest, lurking low,
He shall hear and hail the blow;
He shall bear my flesh and blood
Through the wild, dark, dreary wood.

The red Wolf will leave his lair
In the rath of Drumicdair,
And rush here, quick and quiet,
Chief o'er the robbers' riot.

I saw in sleep a Vision! —
In a recent night of dread:
Four wild dogs rent me, racking,
East and West, through bracken red.

I saw in sleep a Vision! —
On a mission came four men;
Me to one gray glen they bore,
Nevermore to come again.

I saw in sleep a Vision! —
In derision I was brought,
With my Wards to feast, methought,
Each to each, we quaffed of naught.

Little Wren of feeble flight,
Sad thy promise sung a-right;
Methinks to those would slay me
Thou'dst betray me in the night.

O Maelcron! —
What a deed of ill thou'st done!
Eogan's son would plot thy fall
Not for all of wealth unwon.

O Maelcron! —
Wealth to own my life thou'dst sell —
For the world thou hast done well,
Thou hast bargained high for Hell.

I'd give of gold a river,
Sleek steeds and jewels greater,
Thee, Maelcron, to deliver
That thou shouldst be no traitor.

Lo, Mary's Son of glory
Hath said me this sooth story:
"Thou'lt have earth, — thou shalt have heav'n,
I to thee have welcome giv'n!"