CUCHULLAIN.

He was my son, and I have killed my son. (A pause.) 'Twas they that did it, the pale windy people, Where, where, where? My sword against the thunder.

But no, for they have always been my friends; And though they love to blow a smoking coal Till it's all flame, the wars they blow aflame Are full of glory, and heart uplifting pride, And not like this; the wars they love awaken Old fingers and the sleepy strings of harps.

Who did it then? Are you afraid; speak out, For I have put you under my protection And will reward you well. Dubthach the Chafer.

He had an old grudge. No, for he is with Maeve.

Laegaire did it. Why do you not speak?

What is this house? (A pause.) Now I remember all.

FINTAIN.

He will kill us. O, I am afraid!

CUCHULLAIN.

(Who is before Concobar's chair.)

'Twas you who did it, you who sat up there With that old branch of silver, like a magpie Nursing a stolen spoon. Magpie, Magpie, A maggot that is eating up the earth!

(Begins hacking at the chair with his sword.)

No, but a magpie for he's flown away.

Where did he fly to?

FINTAIN.

He is outside the door.

CUCHULLAIN.

Outside the door?

FINTAIN.

He is under Baile's yew-tree.

CUCHULLAIN.

Concobar, Concobar, the sword into your heart.

(He goes out. A pause. The fool goes to the great door at back and looks out after him.)

BARACH.

He is going up to King Concobar; they are all under the tree. No, no, he is standing still. There is a great wave going to break and he is looking at it. Ah! now he is running down to the sea, but he is holding up his sword as if he were going into a fight. (A pause.) Well struck, well struck!

FINTAIN.

What is he doing now?

BARACH.

O! he is fighting the waves.

FINTAIN.

He sees King Concobar's crown on every one of them.

BARACH.

There, he has struck at a big one. He has struck the crown off it, he has made the foam fly. There again another big one. (Shouting without.)

FINTAIN.

Where are the Kings? What are the Kings doing?

BARACH.

They are shouting and running down to the sh.o.r.e, and the people are running out of the houses, they are all running.

FINTAIN.

You say they are running out of the houses, there will be n.o.body left in the houses. Listen, fool.

BARACH.

There, he is down! He is up again! He is going out into the deep water.

FINTAIN.

Come here, fool; come here, I say.

BARACH.

(Coming towards him but looking backward towards the door.) What is it?

FINTAIN.

There will be n.o.body in the houses. Come this way, come quickly; the ovens will be full; we will put our hands into the ovens. (They go out.)