WOMAN’S voice outsideThey shall be speaking for ever,
The people shall hear them for ever.
[MICHAEL breaks away from DELIA, stands for a second at the door, then rushes out, following the OLD WOMAN’S voice. BRIDGET takes DELIA, who is crying silently, into her arms.
Did you see an old woman going down the path?
I did not, but I saw a young girl, and she had the walk of a queen.
THE GOLDEN HELMET
PERSONS IN THE PLAY
Cuchulain
Leagerie
Conal
Emer, Cuchulain’s wife
Leagerie’s Wife
Conal’s Wife
Laeg, Cuchulain’s chariot-driver
Red Man
Horseboys and Scullions
Three Black Men
THE GOLDEN HELMET
A house made of logs. There are two windows at the back and a door which cuts off one of the corners of the room. Through the door one can see rocks, which make the ground outside the door higher than it is within, and the sea. Through the windows one can see nothing but the sea. There are three great chairs at the opposite side to the door, with a table before them. There are cups and a flagon of ale on the table.
At the Abbey Theatre the house is orange red, and the chairs, tables and flagons black, with a slight purple tinge which is not clearly distinguishable from the black. The rocks are black, with a few green touches. The sea is green and luminous, and all the characters, except the RED MAN and the Black Men are dressed in various tints of green, one or two with touches of purple which looks nearly black. The Black Men are in dark purple and the RED MAN is altogether dressed in red. He is very tall and his height is increased by horns on the Golden Helmet. The Helmet has in reality more dark green than gold about it. The Black Men have cats’ heads painted on their black cloth caps. The effect is intentionally violent and startling.
Not a sail, not a wave, and if the sea were not purring a little like a cat, not a sound. There is no danger yet. I can see a long way for the moonlight is on the sea.
Ah, there is something.
It must be from the land, and it is from the sea that danger comes. We need not be afraid of anything that comes from the land. [Looking out of door.] I cannot see anybody, the rocks and the trees hide a great part of the pathway upon that side.
It sounded like Cuchulain’s horn, but that’s not possible.
Yes, that’s impossible. He will never come home from Scotland. He has all he wants there. Luck in all he does. Victory and wealth and happiness flowing in on him, while here at home all goes to rack, and a man’s good name drifts away between night and morning.
I wish he would come home for all that, and put quiet and respect for those that are more than she is into that young wife of his. Only this very night your wife and my wife had to forbid her to go into the dining-hall before them. She is young, and she is Cuchulain’s wife, and so she must spread her tail like a peacock.
I can see the horn-blower now, a young man wrapped in a cloak.
Do not let him come in. Tell him to go elsewhere for shelter. This is no place to seek shelter in.
That is right. I will tell him to go away, for nobody must know the disgrace that is to fall upon Ireland this night.
Nobody of living men but us two must ever know that.
Go away, go away!
I am a traveller, and I am looking for sleep and food.
A law has been made that nobody is to come into this house to-night.
Who made that law?
We two made it, and who has so good a right? for we have to guard this house and to keep it from robbery, and from burning and from enchantment.
Then I will unmake the law. Out of my way!
I thought no living man but Leagerie could have stood against me; and Leagerie himself could not have shoved past me. What is more, no living man could if I were not taken by surprise. How could I expect to find so great a strength?
Go out of this: there is another house a little further along the shore; our wives are there with their servants, and they will give you food and drink.
It is in this house I will have food and drink.
Go out of this, or I will make you.
[The YOUNG MAN seizes LEAGERIE’S arm, and thrusting it up, passes him, and puts his shield over the chair where there is an empty place.
It is here I will spend the night, but I won’t tell you why till I have drunk. I am thirsty. What, the flagon full and the cups empty and Leagerie and Conal there! Why, what’s in the wind that Leagerie and Conal cannot drink?
It is Cuchulain.
Better go away to Scotland again, or if you stay here ask no one what has happened or what is going to happen.
What more is there that can happen so strange as that I should come home after years and that you should bid me begone?
I tell you that this is no fit house to welcome you, for it is a disgraced house.
What is it you are hinting at? You were sitting there with ale beside you and the door open, and quarrelsome thoughts. You are waiting for something or someone. It is for some messenger who is to bring you to some spoil, or to some adventure that you will keep for yourselves.
Better tell him, for he has such luck that it may be his luck will amend ours.
Yes, I had better tell him, for even now
