Imaginations and Reveries Part 14

[Voices of AINLE and ARDAN are heard in the wood.]

ARDAN--I think Naisi went this way.

AINLE--He has been wrapt in a dream since the dawn. See! This is his footstep in the clay!

ARDAN--I heard voices.

AINLE--(entering with ARDAN) Here is our dream-led brother.

NAISI--Ainle and Ardan, this is Deirdre, your sister. I have broken through the command of the king, and fly with her to Alba to avoid warfare with the Red Branch.

ARDAN--Our love to thee, beautiful sister.

AINLE--Dear maiden, thou art already in my heart with Naisi.

LAVARCAM--You cannot linger here. With Concobar the deed follows swiftly the counsel; tonight his spearmen will be on your track.

NAISI--Listen, Ainle and Ardan. Go you to Emain Macha. It may be the Red Branch will make peace between the king and myself. You are guiltless in this flight.

AINLE--Having seen Deirdre, my heart is with you, brother, and I also am guilty.

ARDAN--I think, being here, we, too, have broken the command of the king. We will go with thee to Alba, dear brother and sister.

LAVARCAM--Oh, tarry not, tarry not! Make haste while there is yet time.

The thoughts of the king are circling around Deirdre as wolves around the fold. Try not the pa.s.ses of the valley, but over the hills. The pa.s.ses are all filled with the spearmen of the king.

NAISI--We will carry thee over the mountains, Deirdre, and tomorrow will see us nigh to the isles of Alba.

DEIRDRE--Farewell, dear fostermother. I have pa.s.sed the faery sea since dawn, and have found the Island of Joy. Oh, see! what bright birds are around us, with dazzling wings! Can you not hear their singing? Oh, bright birds, make music for ever around my love and me!

LAVARCAM--They are the birds of Angus. Their singing brings love--and death.

DEIRDRE--Nay, death has come before love, dear fostermother, and all I was has vanished like a dewdrop in the sun. Oh, beloved, let us go. We are leaving death behind us in the valley.

[DEIRDRE and the brothers go through the wood. LAVARCAM watches, and when they are out of sight sits by the door of the dun with her head bowed to her knees. After a little CONCOBAR enters.]

CONCOBAR--Where is Deirdre?

LAVARCAM--(not lifting her head). Deirdre has left death behind her, and has entered into the Kingdom of her Youth.

CONCOBAR--Do not speak to me in portents. Lift up your head, Druidess.

Where is Deirdre?

LAVARCAM--(looking up). Deirdre is gone!

CONCOBAR--By the high G.o.ds, tell me whither, and who has dared to take her hence?

LAVARCAM--She has fled with Naisi, son of Usna, and is beyond your vengeance, king.

CONCOBAR--Woman, I swear by Balor, Tethra, and all the brood of demons, I will have such a vengeance a thousand years hereafter shall be frightened at the tale. If the Red Branch is to fall, it will sink at least in the seas of the blood of the clan Usna.

LAVARCAM--O king, the doom of the Red Branch had already gone forth when you suffered love for Deirdre to enter your heart.

[Scene closes.]

ACT II.

SCENE.--In a dun by Loch Etive. Through the open door can be seen lakes and wooded islands in a silver twilight. DEIRDRE stands at the door looking over the lake. NAISI is within binding a spearhead to the shaft.

DEIRDRE--How still is the twilight! It is the sunset, not of one, but of many days--so still, so still, so living! The enchantment of Dana is upon the lakes and islands and woods, and the Great Father looks down through the deepening heavens.

NAISI--Thou art half of their world, beautiful woman, and it seems fair to me, gazing on thine eyes. But when thou art not beside me the flas.h.i.+ng of spears is more to be admired than a whole heaven-full of stars.

DEIRDRE--O Naisi! still dost thou long, for the Red Branch and the peril of battles and death.

NAISI--Not for the Red Branch, nor the peril of battles, nor death, do I long. But--

DEIRDRE--But what, Naisi? What memory of Eri hast thou h.o.a.rded in thy heart?

NAISI--(bending over his spear) It is nothing, Deirdre.

DEIRDRE--It is a night of many days, Naisi. See, all the bright day had hidden is revealed! Look, there! A star! and another star! They could not see each other through the day, for the hot mists of the sun were about them. Three years of the sun have we pa.s.sed in Alba, Naisi, and now, O star of my heart, truly do I see you, this night of many days.

NAISI--Though my breast lay clear as a crystal before thee, thou couldst see no change in my heart.

DEIRDRE--There is no change, beloved; but I see there one memory warring on thy peace.

NAISI--What is it then, wise woman?

DEIRDRE--O Naisi, I have looked within thy heart, and thou hast there imagined a king with scornful eyes thinking of thy flight.

NAISI--By the G.o.ds, but it is true! I would give this kingdom I have won in Alba to tell the proud monarch I fear him not.

DEIRDRE--O Naisi, that thought will draw thee back to Eri, and to I know not what peril and death beyond the seas.

NAISI--I will not war on the Red Branch. They were ever faithful comrades. Be at peace, Deirdre.

DEIRDRE--Oh, how vain it is to say to the heart, "Be at peace," when the heart will not rest! Sorrow is on me, beloved, and I know not wherefore.

It has taken the strong and fast place of my heart, and sighs there hidden in my love for thee.

NAISI--Dear one, the songs of Ainle and the pleasant tales of Ardan will drive away thy sorrow.

DEIRDRE--Ainle and Ardan! Where are they? They linger long.

NAISI--They are watching a sail that set hitherward from the south.