DEIRDRE--A sail!

NAISI--A sail! What is there to startle thee in that? Have not a thousand galleys lain in Loch Etive since I built this dun by the sea.

DEIRDRE--I do not know, but my spirit died down in my heart as you spake. I think the wind that brings it blows from Eri, and it is it has brought sorrow to me.

NAISI--My beautiful one, it is but a fancy. It is some merchant comes. .h.i.ther to barter Tyrian cloths for the cunning work of our smiths. But glad would I be if he came from Eri, and I would feast him here for a night, and sit round a fire of turves and hear of the deeds of the Red Branch.

DEIRDRE--Your heart for ever goes out to the Red Branch, Naisi. Were there any like unto thee, or Ainle, or Ardan?

NAISI--We were accounted most skilful, but no one was held to be braver than another. If there were one it was great Fergus who laid aside the silver rod which he held as Ardrie of Ulla, but he is in himself greater than any king.

DEIRDRE--And does one hero draw your heart back to Eri?

NAISI--A river of love, indeed, flows from my heart unto Fergus, for there is no one more n.o.ble. But there were many others, Conal, and the boy we called Cuculain, a dark, sad child, who was the darling of the Red Branch, and truly he seemed like one who would be a world-famous warrior. There were many held him to be a G.o.d in exile.

DEIRDRE--I think we, too, are in exile in this world. But tell me who else among the Red Branch do you think of with love?

NAISI--There was the Ardrie, Concobar, whom no man knows, indeed, for he is unfathomable. But he is a wise king, though moody and pa.s.sionate at times, for he was cursed in his youth for a sin against one of the Sidhe.

DEIRDRE--Oh, do not speak of him! My heart falls at the thought of him as into a grave, and I know I will die when we meet.

NAISI--I know one who will die before that, my fawn.

DEIRDRE--Naisi! You remember when we fled that night; as I lay by thy side--thou wert yet strange to me--I heard voices speaking out of the air. The great ones were invisible, yet their voices sounded solemnly.

"Our brother and our sister do not remember," one said; and another spake: "They will serve the purpose all the same," and there was more which I could not understand, but I knew we were to bring some great gift to the Gael. Yesternight, in a dream, I heard the voices again, and I cannot recall what they said; but as I woke from sleep my pillow was wet with tears falling softly, as out of another world, and I saw before me thy face, pale and still, Naisi, and the king, with his implacable eyes. Oh, pulse of my heart, I know the gift we shall give to the Gael will be a memory to pity and sigh over, and I shall be the priestess of tears. Naisi, promise me you will never go back to Ulla--swear to me, Naisi.

NAISI--I will, if--

[Here AINLE and ARDAN enter.]

AINLE--Oh, great tidings, brother!

DEIRDRE--I feel fate is stealing on us with the footsteps of those we love. Before they speak, promise me, Naisi.

AINLE--What is it, dear sister? Naisi will promise thee anything, and if he does not we will make him do it all the same.

DEIDRE--Oh, let me speak! Both Death and the Heart's Desire are speeding to win the race. Promise me, Naisi, you will never return to Ulla.

ARDAN--Naisi, it were well to hear what tale may come from Emain Macha.

One of the Red Branch displays our banner on a galley from the South. I have sent a boat to bring this warrior to our dun. It may be Concobar is dead.

DEIRDRE--Why should we return? Is not the Clan Usna greater here than ever in Eri.

AINLE--Dear sister, it is the land which gave us birth, which ever like a mother whispered to us, and its whisper is sweeter than the promise of beloved lips. Though we are kings here in Alba we are exiles, and the heart is afar from its home. [A distant shout is heard.]

NAISI--I hear a call like the voice of a man of Eri.

DEIRDRE--It is only a herdsman calling home his cattle. (She puts her arms round NAISI's neck.) Beloved, am I become so little to you that your heart is empty, and sighs for Eri?

NAISI--Deirdre, in my flight I have brought with me many whose desire is afar, while you are set as a star by my side. They have left their own land and many a maiden sighs for the clansmen who never return. There is also the shadow of fear on my name, because I fled and did not face the king. Shall I swear to keep my comrades in exile, and let the shame of fear rest on the chieftain of their clan?

DEIRDRE--Can they not go? Are we not enough for each other, for surely to me thou art hearth and home, and where thou art there the dream ends, and beyond it. There is no other dream. [A voice is heard without, more clearly calling.]

AINLE--It is a familiar voice that calls! And I thought I heard thy name, Naisi.

ARDAN--It is the honey-sweet speech of a man of Eri.

DEIRDRE--It is one of our own clansmen. Naisi, will you not speak? The hour is pa.s.sing, and soon there will be naught but a destiny.

FERGUS--(without) Naisi! Naisi!

NAISI--A deep voice, like the roar of a storm G.o.d! It is Fergus who comes from Eri.

ARDAN--He comes as a friend. There is no treachery in the Red Branch.

AINLE.--Let us meet him, and give him welcome! [The brothers go to the door of the dun. DEIRDRE leans against the wall with terror in her eyes.]

DEIRDRE--(in a low broken voice). Naisi! (NAISI returns to her side.

AINLE and ARDAN go out. DEIRDRE rests one hand on NAISI's shoulders and with the other points upwards.) Do you not see them? The bright birds which sang at our flight! Look, how they wheel about us as they sing!

What a heart-rending music! And their plumage, Naisi! It is all dabbled with crimson; and they shake a ruddy dew from their wings upon us! Your brow is stained with the drops. Let me clear away the stains. They pour over your face and hands. Oh! [She hides her face on NAISI's breast.]

NAISI--Poor, frightened one, there are no birds! See, how clear are my hands! Look again on my face.

DEIRDRE--(looking up for an instant). Oh! blind, staring eyes.

NAISI--Nay, they are filled with love, light of my heart. What has troubled your mind? Am I not beside you, and a thousand clansmen around our dun?

DEIRDRE--They go, and the music dies out. What was it Lavarcam said?

Their singing brings love and death.

NAISI--What matters death, for love will find us among the Ever Living Ones. We are immortals and it does not become us to grieve.

DEIRDRE--Naisi, there is some treachery in the coming of Fergus.

NAISI--I say to you, Deirdre, that treachery is not to be spoken of with Fergus. He was my fosterer, who taught me all a chieftain should feel, and I shall not now accuse him on the foolish fancy of a woman. (He turns from DEIRDRE, and as he nears the door FERGUS enters with hands laid affectionately on a shoulder of each of the brothers; BUINNE and ILANN follow.) Welcome, Fergus! Glad is my heart at your coming, whether you bring good tidings or ill!

FERGUS--I would not have crossed the sea of Moyle to bring thee ill tidings, Naisi. (He sees DEIRDRE.) My coming has affrighted thy lady, who shakes like the white wave trembling before its fall. I swear to thee, Deirdre, that the sons of Usna are dear to me as children to a father.

DEIRDRE--The Birds of Angus showed all fiery and crimson as you came!

BUINNE--If we are not welcome in this dun let us return!

FERGUS--Be still, hasty boy.

ILANN--The lady Deirdre has received some omen or warning on our account. When the Sidhe declare their will, we should with due awe consider it.

ARDAN--Her mind has been troubled by a dream of some ill to Naisi.