Deirdre of the Sorrows [14]
Deirdre and Naisi had great beauty in their youth." It may be we do well putting a sharp end to the day is brave and glorious, as our fathers put a sharp end to the days of the kings of Ire- land; or that I'm wishing to set my foot on Slieve Fuadh, where I was running one time and leaping the streams, (to Lavarcham) and that I'd be well pleased to see our little apple- trees, Lavarcham, behind our cabin on the hill; or that I've learned, Fergus, it's a lonesome thing to be away from Ireland always. AINNLE -- giving in. -- There is no place but will be lonesome to us from this out, and we thinking on our seven years in Alban. DEIRDRE -- to Naisi. -- It's in this place we'd be lonesome in the end. . . . Take down Fergus to the sea. He has been a guest had a hard welcome and he bringing messages of peace. FERGUS. We will make your curagh ready and it fitted for the voyage of a king. [He goes with Naisi. DEIRDRE. Take your spears, Ainnle and Ardan, and go down before me, and take your
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horse-boys to be carrying my cloaks are on the threshold. AINNLE -- obeying. -- It's with a poor heart we'll carry your things this day we have carried merrily so often, and we hungry and cold. [They gather up things and go out. DEIRDRE -- to Lavarcham. -- Go you, too, Lavarcham. You are old, and I will follow quickly. LAVARCHAM. I'm old, surely, and the hopes I had my pride in are broken and torn. [She goes out, with a look of awe at Deirdre. DEIRDRE -- clasping her hands. -- Woods of Cuan, woods of Cuan, dear country of the east! It's seven years we've had a life was joy only, and this day we're going west, this day we're facing death, maybe, and death should be a poor, untidy thing, though it's a queen that dies. [She goes out slowly.
CURTAIN
ACT III.
Tent below Emain Macha.
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ACT III
Tent below Emain, with shabby skins and benches. There is an opening at each side and at back, the latter closed. Old Woman comes in with food and fruits and arranges them on table. Conchubor comes in on right. CONCHUBOR -- sharply. -- Has no one come with news for me? OLD WOMAN. I've seen no one at all, Conchubor. CONCHUBOR -- watches her working for a moment, then makes sure opening at back is closed. -- Go up then to Emain, you're not wanting here. (A noise heard left.) Who is that? OLD WOMAN -- going left. -- It's Lavar- cham coming again. She's a great wonder for jogging back and forward through the world, and I made certain she'd be off to meet them; but she's coming alone, Conchubor, my dear child Deirdre isn't with her at all. CONCHUBOR. Go up so and leave us. OLD WOMAN -- pleadingly. -- I'd be well pleased to set my eyes on Deirdre if she's coming this night, as we're told.
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CONCHUBOR -- impatiently. -- It's not long till you'll see her. But I've matters with Lavarcham, and let you go now, I'm saying. [He shows her out right, as Lavarcham comes in on the left. LAVARCHAM -- looking round her with suspicion. -- This is a queer place to find you, and it's a queer place to be lodging Naisi and his brothers, and Deirdre with them, and the lot of us tired out with the long way we have been walking. CONCHUBOR. You've come along with them the whole journey? LAVARCHAM. I have, then, though I've no call now to be wandering that length to a wedding or a burial, or the two together. (She sits down wearily.) It's a poor thing the way me and you is getting old, Conchubor, and I'm thinking you yourself have no call to be loitering this place getting your death, may- be, in the cold of night. CONCHUBOR. I'm waiting only to know is Fergus stopped in the north. LAVARCHAM -- more sharply. -- He's stopped, surely, and that's a trick has me thinking you have it in mind to bring
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horse-boys to be carrying my cloaks are on the threshold. AINNLE -- obeying. -- It's with a poor heart we'll carry your things this day we have carried merrily so often, and we hungry and cold. [They gather up things and go out. DEIRDRE -- to Lavarcham. -- Go you, too, Lavarcham. You are old, and I will follow quickly. LAVARCHAM. I'm old, surely, and the hopes I had my pride in are broken and torn. [She goes out, with a look of awe at Deirdre. DEIRDRE -- clasping her hands. -- Woods of Cuan, woods of Cuan, dear country of the east! It's seven years we've had a life was joy only, and this day we're going west, this day we're facing death, maybe, and death should be a poor, untidy thing, though it's a queen that dies. [She goes out slowly.
CURTAIN
ACT III.
Tent below Emain Macha.
[page intentionally blank]
ACT III
Tent below Emain, with shabby skins and benches. There is an opening at each side and at back, the latter closed. Old Woman comes in with food and fruits and arranges them on table. Conchubor comes in on right. CONCHUBOR -- sharply. -- Has no one come with news for me? OLD WOMAN. I've seen no one at all, Conchubor. CONCHUBOR -- watches her working for a moment, then makes sure opening at back is closed. -- Go up then to Emain, you're not wanting here. (A noise heard left.) Who is that? OLD WOMAN -- going left. -- It's Lavar- cham coming again. She's a great wonder for jogging back and forward through the world, and I made certain she'd be off to meet them; but she's coming alone, Conchubor, my dear child Deirdre isn't with her at all. CONCHUBOR. Go up so and leave us. OLD WOMAN -- pleadingly. -- I'd be well pleased to set my eyes on Deirdre if she's coming this night, as we're told.
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CONCHUBOR -- impatiently. -- It's not long till you'll see her. But I've matters with Lavarcham, and let you go now, I'm saying. [He shows her out right, as Lavarcham comes in on the left. LAVARCHAM -- looking round her with suspicion. -- This is a queer place to find you, and it's a queer place to be lodging Naisi and his brothers, and Deirdre with them, and the lot of us tired out with the long way we have been walking. CONCHUBOR. You've come along with them the whole journey? LAVARCHAM. I have, then, though I've no call now to be wandering that length to a wedding or a burial, or the two together. (She sits down wearily.) It's a poor thing the way me and you is getting old, Conchubor, and I'm thinking you yourself have no call to be loitering this place getting your death, may- be, in the cold of night. CONCHUBOR. I'm waiting only to know is Fergus stopped in the north. LAVARCHAM -- more sharply. -- He's stopped, surely, and that's a trick has me thinking you have it in mind to bring