Page:The Collected Poems of Dora Sigerson Shorter.djvu/79



Woe to the House of Breffni, and to Red O'Ruark woe! Woe to us all in Erinn for the shame that laid us low! And cursed be you, Dearvorgil, who severed north and south, And ruin brought to Erinn with the smiling of your mouth.

It is the Prince of Breffni rides quick in the pale of suspects day, Deep in his eyes a shadow, a frown on his forehead lay; And spur and bit not sparing, he rests nor horse nor page, But rides into his castle like a man who wins a wage. And up the twisting staircase, into his lady's room. He strides with frowning forehead, like a man to meet his doom, But from his lady's chamber he comes with sobbing breath. With a joy upon his white lips, like a man escaped from death.