Donal Oge

O Donal Oge, if you go across the sea,

Bring myself with you and do not forget it;

And you will have a sweetheart

For fair days and market days

And the daughter of the King of Greece

Beside you at night.

It was late last night

The dog was speaking of you;

The snipe was speaking of you

In her deep marsh.

It is you are the lonely bird through the woods;

And that you may be without a mate

Until you find me.

You promised me, and you said a lie to me,

That you would be before me where the sheep are flocked;

I gave a whistle and three hundred cries to you,

And I found nothing but a bleating lamb.

You promised me a thing that was hard for you,

A ship of gold under a silver mast;

Twelve towns with a market in all of them

And a fine white court by the side of the sea.

You promised me a thing that is not possible --

That you would give me gloves of the skin of a fish;

That you would give me shoes of the skin of a bird

And a suit of the dearest silk in Ireland.

O Donal Oge, it is I would be better for you

Than a high, proud, spenthrift lady:

I would mild the cow;

I would bring help to you;

And if you were hard pressed

I would strike a blow for you.

You have taken the east from me

You have taken the west from me.

You have taken what is before me

And what is behind me;

You have taken the moon

You have taken the sun from me,

And my fear is great

That you have taken God from me.