ARCH-SCHOLAR they'll call you, br Kuno Mayer, br Who know the word br Behind the word br The men of learning . . . br But who will tell them br Of the blackbird br That your heart held? br br On an old thorn-tree br By an ancient rath br You heard him sing, br And with runes you charmed him br Till he stayed with you, br Giving clear song. br br He sang o'er all br That Maravaun br Told King Guire; br And he told you how br Bran heard the singing br Of a lovely woman br And sailed for Faerie; br And of how slain princes br Kept tryst with women br Loved beyond br The pain of death, br In days when still br The boat of Mananaun br Bore towards Eirinn! br br Arch-scholar they'll call you br Nay, Rune-master! br You read in texts br Not words only, br But runes of old time; br And when you spoke them br A curlew cried br Over grass-waste Tara, br And a cuckoo called br From the height of Cashel, br And an eagle flew br From Emain Macha! br br Ochone, ochone! br That we'll see no more br In the Eastern or br The Western World br Your great head over br The lectern bending, br Nor hear your lore br By a pleasant fireside.