_(Trumpet outside.)_

_Gatekeeper_: (_Coming in_.) There is company at the door.

_Queen_: Who is it?

_Gatekeeper_: Servants, and a company of women, and one that would seem to be a Prince, and young.

_Princess_: Then he is come asking me in marriage.

_Dall Glic_: Who is he at all?

_Gatekeeper_: They were saying he is the son of the King of the Marshes.

_King_: Go bring him in.

_(Gatekeeper goes_.)

_Dall Glic_: That's right! He has great riches and treasure. There are some say he is the first match in Ireland.

_Nurse_: He is not. If his father has a copper crown, and our own King a silver one, it is the King of Sorcha has a crown of gold! The young King of Sorcha that is the first match.

_Dall Glic_: If he is, this one is apt to be the second first.

_Queen_: Do you hear, Nuala, what luck is flowing to you?

_Dall Glic_: Do not now be turning your back on him as you did to so many.

_Princess_: No; whoever he is, it is likely I will not turn away from this one.

_Queen_: Go now and ready yourself to meet him.

_Princess_: Am I not nice enough the way I am?

_Queen_: You are not. The King of Alban's daughter has hair as smooth as if a cow had licked it.

_(Princess goes_.)

_Gatekeeper_: Here is the Prince of the Marshes!

_(Enter Prince, very young and timid, an old lady on each side slightly in advance of him_.)

_King_: A great welcome before you....

And who may these be?

_Prince_: Seven aunts I have....

_First Aunt: (Interrupting.)_ If he has, there are but two of us have come along with him.

_Second Aunt_: For to care him and be company for him on his journey, it being the first time he ever quitted home.

_Queen_: This is a great honour. Will you take a chair?

_First Aunt_: Leave that for the Prince of the Marshes. It is away from the draught of the window.

_Second Aunt_: We ourselves are in charge of his health. I have here his eel-skin boots for the days that will be wet under foot.

_First Aunt_: And I have here my little bag of cures, with a cure in it that would rise the body out of the grave as whole and as sound as the time you were born.

_(Lays it down_.)

_King: (To Prince_.) It is many a day your father and myself were together in our early time.

What way is he? He was farther out in age than myself.

_Prince_: He is ...

_First Aunt: (Interrupting_.) He is only middling these last years. The doctors have taken him in hand.

_King_: He was more for fowling, and I was more for horses--before I increased so much in girth. Is it for horses you are, Prince?

_Prince_: I didn't go up on one up to this.

_First Aunt_: Kings and princes are getting scarce.

They are the most cla.s.s is wearing away, and it is right for them keep in mind their safety.

_Second Aunt_: The Prince has no need to go upon a horse, where he has always a coach at his command.

_King_: It is fowling that suits you so?

_Prince_: I would be well pleased ...

_First Aunt_: There is great danger going out fowling with a gun that might turn on you after and take your life.

_Second Aunt_: Why would the Prince go into danger, having servants that will go following after birds?

_Queen_: He is likely waiting till his enemies will make an attack upon the country to defend it.

_First Aunt_: There is a good d.y.k.e around about the marshes, and a sort of quaking bog. It is not likely war will come till such time as it will be made by the birds of the air.

_King_: Well, we must strive to knock out some sport or some pleasure.

_Prince_: It was not on pleasure I was sent.

_First Aunt_: That's so, but on business.

_Second Aunt_: Very weighty business.

_King_: Let the lad tell it out himself.