After a time, Finola spoke to them and said, "My dear brothers, believe in the great and splendid God of truth, who made the earth with its fruits, and the sea with its wonders; put your trust in Him, and He will send you help and comfort."
"We believe in Him," said they.
"And I also," said Finola, "believe in God, who is perfect in everything, and who knows all things."
And at the destined hour they all believed, and the Lord of heaven sent them help and protection; so that neither cold nor tempest molested them from that time forth, as long as they abode on the Western Sea.
So they continued at the point of Irros Domnann, till they had fulfilled their appointed time there. And Finola addressed the sons of Lir—
"My dear brothers, the end of our time here has come; we shall now go to visit our father and our people."
And her brothers were glad when they heard this.
Then they rose lightly from the face of the sea, and flew eastward with joyful hopes, till they reached Shee Finnaha. But when they alighted they found the place deserted and solitary, its halls all ruined and overgrown with rank grass and forests of nettles; no houses, no fire, no mark of human habitation.
Then the four swans drew close together, and they uttered three loud mournful cries of sorrow.
And Finola chanted this lay—