The King's Threshold; and On Baile's Strand Part 10

_Fourth Old King._ No! I will fight with him.

_First Old King._ I claim the fight, For when we sent an army to her land----

_Second Old King._ I claim the fight, for one of Aoife's galleys Stole my great cauldron and a herd of pigs.

_Third Old King._ No, no, I claim it, for at Lammas' time----

_Cuchullain._ Back! Back! Put up your swords! Put up your swords!

There's none alive that shall accept a challenge I have refused. Laegaire, put up your sword.

_Young Man._ No, let them come, let any three together.

If they've a mind to, I'll try it out with four.

_Cuchullain._ That's spoken as I'd spoken it at your age, But you are in my house. Whatever man Would fight with you shall fight it out with me.

They're dumb. They're dumb. How many of you would meet

[_Drawing his sword._

This mutterer, this old whistler, this sandpiper, This edge that's grayer than the tide, this mouse That's gnawing at the timbers of the world, This, this--Boy, I would meet them all in arms If 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 Ullad; 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.

_Cuchullain._ No, turn and turn about, But my turn is first, because I am the older.

Cliodna embroidered these bird wings, but Fand Made all these little golden eyes with the hairs That she had stolen out of Aengus' beard, And therefore none that has this cloak about him Is crossed in love. The heavy inlaid brooch That Buan hammered has a merit too.

[_He begins spreading the cloak out on a bench, showing it to the YOUNG MAN. Suddenly CONCOBAR beats with his silver rod on a pillar beside his chair. All turn towards him._

_Concobar._ [_In a loud voice._]

No more of that, I will not have this friends.h.i.+p.

Cuchullain is my man and I forbid it; He shall not go unfought for I myself----

_Cuchullain._ [_Seizing CONCOBAR._]

You shall not stir, High King, I'll hold you there.

_Concobar._ Witchcraft has maddened you.

_The Kings._ [_Shouting._] Yes, witchcraft, witchcraft.

_A King._ You saw another's head upon his shoulders All of a sudden, a woman's head, Cuchullain.

Then raised your hand against the King of Ullad.

_Cuchullain._ [_Letting CONCOBAR go, and looking wildly about him._]

Yes, yes, all of a sudden, all of a sudden.

_Daire._ Why, there's no witchcraft in it, I myself Have made a hundred of these sudden friends.h.i.+ps And fought it out next day. But that was folly, For now that I am old I know it is best To live in comfort.

_A King._ Pull the fool away!

_Daire._ I'll throw a heel-tap to the one that dies.

_Concobar._ Some witch is floating in the air above us.

_Cuchullain._ Yes, witchcraft, witchcraft and the power of witchcraft.

[_To the YOUNG MAN._

Why did you do it? was it Calatin's daughters?

Out, out, I say, for now it's sword on sword.

_Young Man._ But, but, I did not.

_Cuchullain._ Out, I say, out, out!

Sword upon sword.

[_He goes towards the door at back, followed by YOUNG MAN. He turns on the threshold and cries out, looking at the YOUNG MAN._

That hair my hands were drowned in!

[_He goes out, followed by YOUNG MAN. The other KINGS begin to follow them out._

_A King._ I saw him fight with Ferdiad.

_Second King._ We'll be too late, They're such a long time getting through the door.

_Third King._ Run quicker, quicker.

_Daire._ I was at the Smith's When he that was the boy Setanta then----

[_Sound, of fighting outside._

_Third King._ He will have killed him.

They have begun the fight!

[_They all go out, leaving the house silent and empty. There is a pause during which one hears the clas.h.i.+ng of the swords. BARACH and FINTAIN come in from side door. BARACH is dragging FINTAIN._

_Barach._ You have eaten it, you have eaten it, you have left me nothing but the bones.

_Fintain._ O, that I should have to endure such a plague. O, I ache all over. O, I am pulled in pieces. This is the way you pay me for all the good I have done you!

_Barach._ You have eaten it, you have told me lies about a wild dog.

n.o.body has seen a wild dog about the place this twelve month. Lie there till the Kings come. O, I will tell Concobar and Cuchullain and all the Kings about you!

_Fintain._ What would have happened to you but for me, and you without your wits? If I did not take care of you what would you do for food and warmth?

_Barach._ You take care of me? You stay safe and send me into every kind of danger. You sent me down the cliff for gull's eggs while you warmed your blind eyes in the sun. And then you ate all that were good for food. You left me the eggs that were neither egg nor bird. [_The blind man tries to rise. BARACH makes him lie down again._] Keep quiet now till I shut the door. There is some noise outside. There are swords crossing; a high vexing noise so that I can't be listening to myself.

[_He goes to the big door at the back and shuts it._] Why can't they be quiet, why can't they be quiet! Ah, you would get away, would you? [_He follows the blind man who has been crawling along the wall and makes him lie down close to the KING'S chair._] Lie there, lie there. No, you won't get away. Lie there till the Kings come, I'll tell them all about you. I shall tell it all. How you sit warming yourself, when you have made me light a fire of sticks, while I sit blowing it with my mouth. Do you not always make me take the windy side of the bush when it blows and the rainy side when it rains?