What is your message?

YOUNG MAN.

I am of Aoife's army.

FIRST KING.

Queen Aoife and her army have fallen upon us.

SECOND KING.

Out swords! Out swords!

THIRD KING.

They are about the house.

FOURTH KING.

Rush out! Rush out! Before they have fired the thatch.

YOUNG MAN.

Aoife is far away. I am alone.

I have come alone in the midst of you To weigh this sword against Cuchullain's sword.

(There is a murmur amongst the Kings.)

CONCOBAR.

And are you n.o.ble? for if of common seed You cannot weigh your sword against his sword But in mixed battle.

YOUNG MAN.

I am under bonds To tell my name to no man, but it's n.o.ble.

CONCOBAR.

But I would know your name and not your bonds.

You cannot speak in the a.s.sembly House If you are not n.o.ble.

A KING.

Answer the High King.

YOUNG MAN.

(Drawing his sword.)

I will give no other proof than the hawk gives That it's no sparrow.

(He is silent a moment then speaks to all.)

Yet look upon me, Kings; I too am of that ancient seed and carry The signs about this body and in these bones.

CUCHULLAIN.

To have shown the hawk's grey feather is enough And you speak highly too.

(Cuchullain comes down from his great chair. He remains standing on the steps of the chair. The young Kings gather about him and begin to arm him.)

Give me that helmet!

I'd thought they had grown weary sending champions.

That coat will do. I'd half forgotten, boy, How all those great kings came into the mouse-trap That had been baited with Maeve's pretty daughter.

How Findabair, that blue-eyed Findabair-- But the tale is worthy of a winter's night.

That buckle should be tighter. Give me your shield.

There is good level ground at Baile's Yew-tree Some dozen yards from here, and it's but truth That I am sad to-day and this fight welcome.

(He looks hard at the Young Man, and then steps down on to the floor of the a.s.sembly House. He grasps the Young Man by the shoulder.)

Hither into the light.

(Turning to one of the young Kings)

That's the very tint Of her that I was speaking of but now: Not a pin's difference.

(To the Young Man)

You are from the North Where there are many that have that tint of hair Red brown, the light red brown. Come nearer, boy!

For I would have another look at you.

There's more likeness, a pale, a stone pale cheek.

What brought you, boy? Have you no fear of death?

YOUNG MAN.

Whether I live or die is in the G.o.ds' hands.

CUCHULLAIN.

That is all words, all words, a young man's talk; I am their plough, their harrow, their very strength, For he that's in the sun begot this body Upon a mortal woman, and I have heard tell It seemed as if he had outrun the moon, That he must always follow through waste heaven, He loved so happily. He'll be but slow To break a tree that was so sweetly planted.

Let's see that arm; I'll see it if I like.

That arm had a good father and a good mother But it is not like this.

YOUNG MAN.

You are mocking me.

You think I am not worthy to be fought, But I'll not wrangle but with this talkative knife.