The King's Threshold; and On Baile's Strand Part 3

_Chamberlain._ It is the men who are learned in the laws, Or have led the King's armies that should sit At the King's table. Nor has poetry Been altogether driven away, for I, As you should know, have written poetry, And often when the table has been cleared And candles lighted, the King calls for me And I repeat it him. My poetry Is not to be compared with yours, but still Where I am honoured, poetry is honoured In some measure.

_Seanchan._ If you are a poet, Cry out that the King's money would not buy, Nor the high circle consecrate his head, If poets had never christened gold, and even The moon's poor daughter, that most whey-faced metal, Precious; and cry out that none alive Would ride among the arrows with high heart Or scatter with an open hand, had not Our heady craft commended wasteful virtues.

And when that story's finished, shake your coat Where the little jewels gleam on it, and say A herdsman sitting where the pigs had trampled Made up a song about enchanted kings, Who were so finely dressed one fancied them All fiery, and women by the churn And children by the hearth caught up the song And murmured it until the tailors heard it.

_Monk._ How proud these poets are! It was full time To break their pride.

_Seanchan._ And I would have you say That when we are driven out we come again Like a great wind that runs out of the waste To blow the tables flat.

_Chamberlain._ If you'd eat something You'd find you have these thoughts because you are hungry.

_Seanchan._ And when you have told them all these things, lie down On this bare threshold and starve until the King Restore to us the ancient right of the poets.

_Aileen._ Let's come away. There's no use talking to him, For he's resolved to die, and that's no loss: We will go watch the hurley.

_Monk._ You should obey The King's commandment and not question it, For it is G.o.d himself who has made him king.

_Essa._ Let's hear his answer to the monk.

_Seanchan._ Stoop down, For there is something I would say to you.

Has that wild G.o.d of yours that was so wild When you'd but lately taken the King's pay, Grown any tamer? He gave you all much trouble Being so unruly and inconsiderate.

_Aileen._ What does he mean?

_Monk._ Let go my habit, Seanchan.

_Seanchan._ Or it may be you have persuaded him To chirp between two dishes when the King Sits down to table.

_Monk._ Let go my habit, sir.

What do I care about your insolent dreams.

_Seanchan._ And maybe he has learnt to sing quite softly Because loud singing would disturb the King Who is sitting drowsily among his friends After the table has been cleared----

_Monk._ Let go.

[_SEANCHAN has been dragged some feet, clinging to the MONK'S habit._

_Seanchan._ Not yet; you did not think that hungry hands Could be so strong. They are not civil yet-- I'd know if you have taught him to eat bread From the King's hand, and perch upon his finger.

I think he perches on the King's strong hand, But it may be that he is still too wild.

You must not weary in your work; a King Is often weary and he needs a G.o.d To be a comfort to him.

[_The MONK plucks his habit away. SEANCHAN holds up his hand as if a bird perched upon it. He pretends to stroke the bird._

A little G.o.d, With soft well-coloured feathers, and bright eyes.

_Aileen._ We have listened long enough.

_Essa._ Let us away, Where we can watch the young men at the hurley.

_Seanchan._ Yes, yes, go to the hurley, go to the hurley, Go to the hurley, gather up your skirts, Run quickly. You can remember many love songs; I know it by the light that's in your eyes, But you'll forget them. You're fair to look on, Your feet delight in dancing, and your mouths In the slow smiling that awakens love.

The mothers that have borne you mated rightly, For they had little ears as thirsty as are yours For many love-songs. Go to the young men: Are not the ruddy flesh and the thin flanks And the broad shoulders worthy of desire?

Go from me. Here is nothing for your eyes, But it is I that am singing you away, Singing you to the young men.

[_The two young PRINCESSES BUAN and FINNHUA come in. While he has been speaking AILEEN and ESSA have shrunk back holding each others hands._

_Aileen._ Be quiet; Look who it is that has come out of the house.

Princesses, we are for the hurling field.

Will you come too?

_Princess Buan._ We will go with you, Aileen, But we must have some words with Seanchan, For we have come to make him eat and drink.

_Chamberlain._ I will hold out the dish and cup for him While you are speaking to him of his folly, If you desire it, Princess.

[_He has taken up dish and cup._

_Princess Buan._ Give me the cup.

My sister there will carry the dish of meat: We'll offer them ourselves.

_Aileen._ They are so gracious, The dear little princesses are so gracious.

[_PRINCESS BUAN holds out her hand for SEANCHAN to kiss it; he does not move._

Although she is holding out her hand to him He will not kiss it.

_Princess Buan._ My father bids us say That though he cannot have you at his table, You may ask any other thing you like And he will give it you. We carry you A dish and a cup of wine, with our own hands, To show in what great honour you are held.

Will you not drink a little? Does he not show Every befitting honour to the poets?

_Aileen._ O look, he has taken it, he has taken it!

The dear princesses, I have always said That n.o.body could refuse them anything.

[_SEANCHAN takes the cup in one hand, in the other he holds for a moment the hand of the PRINCESS._

_Seanchan._ O long soft fingers and pale finger-tips Well worthy to be laid in a king's hand; O you have fair white hands, for it is certain There is uncommon whiteness in these hands.

But there is something comes into my mind, Princess. A little while before your birth I saw your mother sitting by the road In a high chair, and when a leper pa.s.sed She pointed him the way into the town, And he lifted his hand and blessed her hand; I saw it with my own eyes. Hold out your hands, I will find out if they are contaminated; For it has come into my thoughts that may be The King has sent me food and drink by hands That are contaminated. I would see all your hands, You've eyes of dancers, but hold out your hands, For it may be there are none sound among you----

[_The PRINCESSES have shrunk back in terror._

_Princess Buan._ He has called us lepers.

_Chamberlain._ He's out of his mind, And does not know the meaning of what he said.

_Seanchan._ [_Standing up._]

There are no sound hands among you. No sound hands.

Away with you, away with all of you, You are all lepers. There is leprosy Among the plates and dishes that you have brought me.

I would know why you have brought me leper's wine?

[_He flings the wine in their faces._

There, there, I have given it to you again, and now Begone or I will give my curse to you.

You have the leper's blessing, but you think Maybe the bread will something lack in savour Unless you mix my curse into the dough.