I’d a son like you. He would avenge me
When I have withstood for the last time the men
Whose fathers, brothers, sons, and friends I have killed
Upholding Conchubar, when the four provinces
Have gathered with the ravens over them.
But I’d need no avenger. You and I
Would scatter them like water from a dish.
YOUNG MAN.
We’ll stand by one another from this out.
Here is the ring.
CUCHULAIN.
No, turn and turn about.
But my turn’s first because I am the older.
[Spreading out cloak.
Nine queens out of the Country-under-Wave
Have woven it with the fleeces of the sea
And they were long embroidering at it.—Boy,
If I had fought my father, he’d have killed me.
As certainly as if I had a son
And fought with him, I should be deadly to him;
For the old fiery fountains are far off
And every day there is less heat o’ the blood.
CONCHUBAR.
[In a loud voice.]
No more of this. I will not have this friendship.
Cuchulain is my man, and I forbid it.
He shall not go unfought, for I myself—
CUCHULAIN.
I will not have it.
CONCHUBAR.
You lay commands on me?
CUCHULAIN.
[Seizing CONCHUBAR.]
You shall not stir, High King. I’ll hold you there.
CONCHUBAR.
Witchcraft has maddened you.
THE KINGS [shouting].
Yes, witchcraft! witchcraft!
FIRST OLD KING.
Some witch has worked upon your mind, Cuchulain.
The head of that young man seemed like a woman’s
You’d had a fancy for. Then of a sudden
You laid your hands on the High King himself!
CUCHULAIN.
And laid my hands on the High King himself?
CONCHUBAR.
Some witch is floating in the air above us.
CUCHULAIN.
Yes, witchcraft, witchcraft! Witches of the air! [To YOUNG MAN.
Why did you? Who was it set you to this work?
Out, out! I say, for now it’s sword on sword!
YOUNG MAN.
But … but I did not.
CUCHULAIN.
Out, I say, out, out!
[YOUNG MAN goes out followed by CUCHULAIN. The KINGS follow them out with confused cries, and words one can hardly hear because of the noise. Some cry, ‘Quicker, quicker!’ ‘Why are you so long at the door?’ ‘We’ll be too late!’ ‘Have they begun to fight?’ and so on; and one, it may be, ‘I saw him fight with Ferdia!’ Their voices drown each other. The three women are left alone.
FIRST WOMAN.
I have seen, I have seen!
SECOND WOMAN.
What do you cry aloud?
FIRST WOMAN.
The ever-living have shown me what’s to come.
THIRD WOMAN.
How? Where?
FIRST WOMAN.
In the ashes of the bowl.
SECOND WOMAN.
While you were holding it between your hands?
THIRD WOMAN.
Speak quickly!
FIRST WOMAN.
I have seen Cuchulain’s roof-tree
Leap into fire, and the walls split and blacken.
SECOND WOMAN.
Cuchulain has gone out to die.
THIRD WOMAN.
O! O!
SECOND WOMAN.
Who could have thought that one so great as he
Should meet his end at this unnoted sword!
FIRST WOMAN.
Life drifts between a fool and a blind man
To the end, and nobody can know his end.
SECOND WOMAN.
Come, look upon the quenching of this greatness.
[The other two go to the door, but they stop for a moment upon the threshold and wail.
FIRST WOMAN.
No crying out, for there’ll be need of cries
And knocking at the breast when it’s all finished.
[The WOMEN go out. There is a sound of clashing swords from time to time during what follows.
[Enter the FOOL dragging the BLIND MAN.
FOOL.
You have eaten it, you have eaten it! You have left me nothing but the bones.
